Anthony al-Osman
Known in certain circles as "Fat Tony", Anthony al-Osman is the current Lord Proprietor and Captain-General of the Regiment of the Blackfriars', landlord of the Blackfriars' Redux, and is of noble Raspurid stock.
Born in 1652 AN to Ardashir Malik Mirza Khan al-Osman (1622-1712) and an unknown native woman of Tiegang, Anthony al-Osman was one of the Babkhan disaspora whose ancestors had come to south-eastern Apollonia in the aftermath of the 1598 Babkhan Holocaust.
Noted for his corpulence, Anthony al-Osman was of scant notoriety on any other account prior to his acquaintance with the Society for Benevolent Investment, a relationship only uncovered after the leaking of the Iron Harbour Papers. The society was believed to be the silent partners behind the pub management company operating the Blackfriars' Redux, where Anthony had inherited the position of landlord from his father in 1712 AN.
Biography
Anthony al-Osman was born in Tiegang and grew up in a small village on the outskirts of the city. His father, Ardashir Malik Mirza Khan al-Osman, was a noble Raspurid who had been exiled from Babkhan following the 1598 Holocaust.
Education and early life
As a child, Anthony was educated by tutors who were hired by his father to teach him the ways of the Raspurid nobility. He learned the history and culture of his people, as well as the martial arts and other skills necessary for a member of the ruling class.
Despite his privileged upbringing, Anthony was not a particularly accomplished student. He struggled with subjects like mathematics and science, and preferred to spend his time playing with his friends or indulging in his love of food.
As he grew older, Anthony's father became increasingly disappointed with his lack of progress. He began to fear that Anthony would not be able to take over the family business and maintain their status in Tiegang society.
In an effort to toughen him up, Anthony's father enrolled him in a military academy in Tiegang. But Anthony's lack of discipline and tendency towards laziness made him a poor candidate for military service, and he was eventually expelled from the academy.
Feeling like a failure, Anthony returned home and began to work in his father's pub, the Blackfriars' Redux.
In the family trade
After his expulsion from military academy, Anthony al-Osman returned to Tiegang and began working at the Blackfriars' Redux, the pub owned by his father. At first, he was assigned menial tasks like cleaning and serving customers, but as he grew more comfortable with the work, he began to take on more responsibilities.
Over the years, Anthony learned the ins and outs of running a successful pub. He learned how to keep the place clean and well-stocked, how to handle difficult customers, and how to keep the books. He even developed a knack for cooking, and would often prepare meals for the customers himself.
Despite his growing competency, Anthony's father remained skeptical of his abilities. He was afraid that Anthony would not be able to take over the pub and maintain their family's standing in Tiegang society.
His father's fears were not wholly without foundation. Anthony, who was known for his love of food and drink, comtinued to indulge in his vices a little too much. He would often drink to excess and eat too much, and this began to take a toll on his health.
As he grew more and more overweight, Anthony's father became concerned about his son's well-being. He tried to intervene and get Anthony to take better care of himself, but Anthony rebelled and continued to indulge his cravings.
One night in 1687, after drinking too much, Anthony stumbled into the wrong part of town and ended up in a seedy tavern. There, he met a young woman named Yuan Mei, who was known for her beauty and her scandalous reputation.
Mei, who quickly sized up the elephantine bulk of Anthony as an easy mark, began to seduce him. She flirted with him, flattered him, and eventually convinced him to go back to her room.
The next morning, by his own subsequent account, Anthony woke up in Mei's bed, naked and with a terrible hangover. He quickly realised the gravity of the situation, and tried to leave without being seen.
But it was too late. Someone had seen him coming out of Mei's room, and word quickly spread throughout Tiegang. Soon, everyone was talking about the scandal, and Anthony's reputation was in tatters.
His father was furious, and threatened to disown him if he didn't clean up his act. Anthony, who was ashamed and humiliated, vowed to change his ways. He stopped drinking, and worked harder than ever to prove himself to his father and to regain his lost respect.
But as time went on, Anthony began to prove his worth. He worked hard and showed a keen understanding of the business, and gradually won his father's respect and trust.
To avoid any further scandals and restore his family's reputation, Anthony al-Osman's father encouraged him to marry a suitable woman from a respected merchant family.
Anthony, who was still feeling the shame of his earlier scandal, was hesitant at first. But he knew that his father was right, and that a good marriage would be the best way to restore his reputation and secure his future.
He began to look for potential partners, and eventually set his sights on the daughter of a wealthy Jingdaoese merchant. The girl, whose name was Mei Ling, was a beautiful and accomplished young woman, and Anthony was immediately smitten.
But wooing Mei Ling was not an easy task. She was from a prestigious family, and her father was not keen on the idea of her marrying a man from a junior branch of a Babkhan family.
Undeterred, Anthony set out to prove himself worthy of Mei Ling's hand. He worked harder than ever at the Blackfriars' Redux, and began to build up a substantial fortune. He also made sure to attend every social event and function that Mei Ling and her family were present at, and made a point of being charming and attentive.
Slowly but surely, Anthony began to win Mei Ling over. She was impressed by his dedication and his work ethic, and began to see past his earlier scandal.
In the end, Anthony's persistence paid off. Mei Ling's father agreed to the marriage, and the two were wed in a lavish ceremony in 1692 AN. Anthony was overjoyed, and knew that he had finally earned his father's respect and regained his own self-worth.
After their marriage, Anthony al-Osman and Mei Ling settled down in Tiegang and began to build their lives together. They moved into a spacious and well-appointed home, and Anthony continued to work hard at the Blackfriars' Redux to provide for his new family.
Mei Ling, who was an accomplished seamstress, began to work on creating beautiful and intricate garments for herself and her new husband. She was also an excellent cook, and would prepare delicious meals for Anthony and any guests they might have.
As the years passed, Anthony and Mei Ling were blessed with children. They had two sons and two daughters, who were all raised to be respectful, obedient, and well-educated.
Despite the challenges of raising a family and running a business, Anthony and Mei Ling were happy and content. They worked hard and supported each other, and their love grew stronger with each passing year.
Their family life was not without its challenges, but Anthony and Mei Ling faced them together, and their love and devotion to each other never wavered. They were a strong and happy family, and were respected and admired by all who knew them.
As the al-Osman children reached the age of nine years old, Anthony and Mei Ling made sure to prepare them for the notoriously rigorous entrance exam for the prestigious School of the High Inquisitor of Tiegang.
The School of the High Inquisitor was known for its strict academic standards and its rigorous curriculum, and only the brightest and most gifted students were accepted into its ranks.
To prepare their children for the exam, Anthony and Mei Ling hired tutors to help them with their studies. They also made sure to provide them with the best education possible, and encouraged them to work hard and strive for excellence.
The children, who were all intelligent and dedicated, took their studies seriously. They spent long hours studying and practicing, and did their best to impress their tutors and parents.
In the end, all four of the al-Osman children passed the entrance exam and were accepted into the School of the High Inquisitor. Anthony and Mei Ling were overjoyed, and proud of their children's achievements.
The children went on to excel at the school, and became known for their intelligence, their dedication, and their hard work.
Association with the Society for Benevolent Investment
Landlord of the Blackfriars' Redux
Despite his early struggles, Anthony eventually learned to manage the pub effectively, and inherited the position of landlord from his father in 1712 AN. Mei Ling supported him in his new role as landlord, and together they continued to run the pub and raise their family.
Issue
With Mei Ling:
- Ahmed (1693)
- Fatima (1695)
- Ali (1697)
- Zara (1699)
