Ashiq

Asad al-Ashiq did not know the Soviet Azerbaijan of his parents and grandparents, born not long before independence. He grew up listening to his grandparents’ tales of Azerbaijani history and culture, and listening to his grandfather play the baglama, a traditional Azerbaijani stringed instrument. From the time he could walk, Asad proved such a prodigy with the baglama his family was amazed. With his musical talents and beautiful singing voice, Asad hoped to win a scholarship to a conservatory to study music, but while he was an adolescent, the true nature of his talents became known.
Monsters and evil spirits stalked Asad and he learned that he had the potential to become a true Ashiq, a shamanistic master of mystical music. His mentor, an aging Ashiq, helped to save Asad’s life, and to fake his death, both to throw enemies off the trail and to keep his family safe. For years, Asad—now with only the surname “alAshiq”—learned from his master before the old man passed on, leaving his fine baglama in his student’s hands.
Ashiq uses magic woven by his music to combat mystical threats and to help people where and when he can, although he still faces enemies who would see him destroyed to prevent him from fulfilling the potential of becoming the greatest of his line ever known.