Elendor
Tea, Crumpets, Oaths (Spoilers!)
The Corsair Alimah and Mirag, Lady Regent of the Black Tower, share tea and pastries.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Umbar
Game Date: September 1, 3046
Description: Black Tower Grounds
You stand before the black marble walls of a dark fortress. To the left is a training area equipped with all the necessary tools to train the Black Guard and the infamous Black Paladins. A massive gate has been afixed to the main entrance into the Tower, its twisted and blackened bars appear both wicked and amazingly heavy. It is guarded by a small company of Black Guards, and a pack of trained wolf hounds. The Tower's bulk dominates the skyline in either way, it looms dark as midnight over the city of Umbar. Though the Tower's rebuilding, completed by Lord Talan, has the Tower rebuilt to the most minute detail, a single well remains in the center of the Tower Grounds, the last vestige of Lord Lukthil's fall and the only original part of the Black Tower remaining above ground.
The sky is clear and the sunlight shines brightly. The late morning autumn air is hot around you.
[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:
Early Morning on Mersday, Day 1 of September.
Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.
Real time is: 16:57:39 MDT on Sun Apr 12 2009.
Early morning finds the heat of the day not yet bearing down on the city, and one Corsair, a woman, asking the guards of this tower for entrance. "Who is in charge here?" Alimah demands of the guards. "I wish to speak to someone of authority."
[Mirag(#31700)] There are two guards at the door, a slight thin one with a large mustache and a short fat one with severe acne. The tall thin one speaks, his voice jolly, "Why that'd be Mirag, our Lady Regent, formerly the Steward here. Is that who you're looking for?"
"That would be her, yes," Alimah nods. "Is she available? Would you send word that the Corsair Alimah wishes to speak with her?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The short, fat, surly one calls out to those within the gates, "Tell the Lady that the Corsair Alimah wants to talk to her!"
Alimah grimaces at this less than formal announcement of her visit, but says nothing.
[Mirag(#31700)] The tall thin one shakes his head. "He don't know how to behave yet. He's not used to working for a Lady."
But, informal announcement aside, a few moments later, a willowy woman, dressed in black lace, starts walking towards the gate.
And, as the woman arrives, Alimah bows. "My Lady Regent. Greetings. I hope I haven't taken you away from anything important? I am Alimah, Corsair of Umbar."
"Alimah, daughter of Kalim, the Corsair," she adds.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman smiles. "It is actually good to have an interruption from the daily matters that ensure the Tower comes back into order with the fleeing of the emperor. Perhaps you would like to come in and have a cup of tea whilst we talk?"
"Tea, yes," the Corsair smiles. "Before the sun gets too unbearable to drink it. Lead on, Madame Regent."
Entrance Hall
You find yourself standing in an outrageously long, yet narrow room. The walls reach several dozen feet in height and the ceiling is draped in an undeterminable mural. The coolness of the dark stone marblesque walls radiates throughout the room, giving it a more than eerie atmosphere. All along the walls, huge, thick torches flicker at a height almost double that of any ordinary man. Their light draws out shadows of guards and of the tall, cylindricle support towers. At the far northern end, the room comes stops at a set of humongous broad doors, guarded by yet another of the Lord Mirag's most trusted soldiers.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman leads to her chambers where a modest tea has been set. Bread with spreads, some fruit, and some small pastries. The room is homey and quiet, with some soft touches and a very large amount of black. Gesturing to an upholstered seat, the Lady Regent smiles. "Please, have a swat, and I will pour you some tea."
"Thank you." Alimah pulls up a chair and settles into it, taking in the tea and foods with a quick glance that seems approving. But she waits politely for the Regent, her focus on the woman and not the refreshments.
"And how are things with the Black Tower since the Emperor fell? How is the balance of power between the Towers of late? Evenly distributed?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman takes her time pouring two cups of tea. "Do you take honey? milk?" Mirag asks as she takes her own seat across the table. She pauses, listening to the question. "That is an interesting question, indeed. Things are beginning, slowly, to function more smoothly, though I have had to assert my authority...firmly. As for the balance of power in Umbar...well...we shall see. Two Towers are newly reclaimed, my own and Seaward, and Farside has had a bit longer to put itself in order. What have you heard?"
"Milk and honey, please."
"I have heard," Alimah answers, "that there ay be a claimant to the desert tower who has shown up in Farside, but I do not know the person's name. Only a rumor of it. I have not yet sworn to a tower lord. I was considering Farside. Leaning heavily that way, in fact. But...I wish, of course, to see the advantages of swearing my allegiance to other Tower Lords. Farside...they have Squires, apparently, proven in battle. But I missed most of the fighting except for the final attack against the Emperor. Quite curious, that was."
[Mirag(#31700)] Adding milk and honey to one tea cup and a generous amount of honey to the other, Mirag pushes the appropriate tea cup over to Alimah. She drums her fingers on the table for a few moments before responding. "Black is a very prestiguous Tower, of course. It was even before the Emperor. It is the one most strongly affliated with the Dark Citadel and shares ownership of the Black Paladins, as it were."
"Yes, true," Alimah sips carefully at the hot tea. "The Black Paladins are of course the most obvious advantage that your Tower has in terms of influence. But...I would think you might want a more subtle influence as well? That you might in fact want some Corsairs aligned with, and not just the...devotees of the Dark Citadel. It gives you wider reach, no?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman takes a sip of tea and a thoughtful expression comes over her face. "Black Tower has not traditionally had Corsairs of its own, but you do make an interesting point. What exactly do you propose?"
"I do not know per se. It was an idea I had this morning when I awoke, and I decided to pursue it. I grow...frustrated with the Farside Lord. He has many followers and wide influence here, perhaps too much so. He had men of Gondor in his tower, and yet they were not sold to slavery but allowed to return home." Alimah frowns. "I have not sworn to him yet...but...if I were to swear to the Black Tower first and still retain my vague position for Farside, perhaps I could be of use?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Indeed, it strikes me that you could be of much use under such a circumstance. Would you wish to be? For the risks would be great, though the rewards commiserate," the willowy woman says, her voice thoughtful.
"I wish to be of use," Alimah replies firmly. "I wish not to be a nameless face to this Lord Alphros, someone he nods to in passing. I wish to make a name for myself."
[Mirag(#31700)] Steepling her fingers, the willowy woman nods. "Then let us talk of where you would best fit here."
Picking up her tea for a sip, Alimah nods. "You tell me, Madame Regent. What do you need most? Certainly not my fighting skills--you have that. But...what else? You have heard of the black roses found in the catacombs near where the emperor escaped?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "I have. I wonder if it speaks to a return of one of Umbar's secret societies," the willowy woman says, sipping tea thoughtfully.
"I don't know--I cannot say," Alimah shakes her head. "There were 23--Lord Alphros held them at great value and insisted they all be collected. They played a song when breathed on. But when we left the catacomb, there were 21 only. Two are missing ,taken by one of the members of our party, I am sure. And there was more..."
[Mirag(#31700)] "More?" the willowy woman takes anothe sip, looking intrigued.
The emperor's daughter is here, hidden in Farside." Alimah says this calmly, between a sip of tea.
[Mirag(#31700)] "Yes, the poor child, left behind by both her parents. Hopefully she will get better care here," the willowy woman says, shaking her head.
"Ah...so that bit of information is not news to you. But...I thought it might be. How can I serve you, then?" Alimah asks.
[Mirag(#31700)] "Perhaps...it would be worth finding out if the black roses do mean anything and whether the Emperor's daughter is being well cared for. I look for information, information of any kind," the willowy woman says, having a sip of tea.
"The Farside lord holds that information close to his vest. He will have to trust me in order to tell me more. So...if we are to do this arrangement, what do I get out of it?" Alimah says, setting down her tea cup.
[Mirag(#31700)] "What would you like?" the willowy woman asks softly, toying with a pastry.
"A title, but more than that--the prestige and influence to go along with it. If I prove loyal, I want to be your second in command," Alimah says.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman nods. "Then it shall be so. I need a trusted Steward, someone with more battle experience than I have. My husband..." There is a slight pause and the reason, perhaps, for the black lace becomes clear. "But that is in the past now. Would you like a pastry?"
"I am sorry to hear that," Alimah says after a pause. SHe shakes her head to the offered pastry. "You have my sympathies, and if I can aid you in that way, then yes. I believe we have an understanding, yes?" She smiles.
"But what of the warrior Amgad--rumor was the High Priestess took him from Harad when she left?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "We have an understanding, indeed. "Yes, he escorted the high priestess home to Nurn. Rumor has it she had an illness she needed to recover from. But they said they would return. Meanwhile, there are two high level positions. That of Captain of the Tower Guard, which Amgad holds...and the newly vacated position of Steward."
Again Alimah nods. "What are the Steward's responsibilities?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Keeping the daily life of the Tower running. Sitting in for the Tower Lord or Lady in meetings or negotiations where she can't be present. That sort of thing," the willowy woman says, smiling. "It is a position of great responsibility.
"That...would be nice," Alimah smiles. "And...I can earn this by proving my worth to you with information from Farside, such that I find? Or would advise that to be too dangerous...and likely to destroy my reputation and thus my usefulness in negotiating on your behalf?" That though makes the Corsair frown.
[Mirag(#31700)] "You can prove your worth partly with information, but also partly by starting to help recruit people to the Tower. Look for where we can reestablish ourselves. Help me see who is loyal," the willowy woman says.
The Corsair hesitates, thinking. "Well...if I am to recruit people, then I need to be openly sworn to you and this tower. People will not give me the respect I will need if I do it otherwise. As for recruiting, what would you advise I say?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Remind them of the great history of Black Tower, the affliation with the Dark Citadel, the blessings of the Dark Lord. And that now, with the cleansing, there are many positions of worth open," the willowy woman says, and then takes a bite of a pastry.
"I will," Alimah nods. She picks up a pastry after all and nibbles on it delicately. "And so...I am openly a part of the Black Tower? Or not? How do we proceed from here?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Hmm. I think that perhaps that would be wise, yes. It would offer you a certain protection and would give you the authority to recruit," Mirag says, thoughtfully.
"Agreed," Alimah nods. "The other way--my original idea--wouldn't work under these circumstances. All right then. Do you have an oath? Just my word of honor? Is there anything I need to know or do?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "You need merely swear your fealty to me and to Black Tower and I will bestow a title on you. Assistant to the Lady Regent for the moment, I should think," the willowy woman says. "And your first task, perhaps, might be to see if you can persuade the woman in the marketplace who makes these fabulous pastries to come work here."
Alimah laughs and sets down her half-eaten pastry as she stands. "That I can do. On both counts. I think, also, that I might try to persuade Farside's Gondorian captive to come for a visit. A pleasant visit, mind you--if she is treated right and subtly influenced, she could be useful to the Dark Tower when she is returned to Gondor. If she is..."
"But...for an oath. I swear my fealty and loyalty to the Lady Regent Mirag of the Dark Tower, and to the Dark Tower and its cause, upon my life."
[Mirag(#31700)] "Then may it be so, Alimah, my assistant. I thank you for your loyalty and I hope that we shall have many productive meetings such as this one," the willowy woman says.
"I look forward to it." Alimah smiles. "I must take care of...some...details at Farside. Excuse me?"
You stand before the black marble walls of a dark fortress. To the left is a training area equipped with all the necessary tools to train the Black Guard and the infamous Black Paladins. A massive gate has been afixed to the main entrance into the Tower, its twisted and blackened bars appear both wicked and amazingly heavy. It is guarded by a small company of Black Guards, and a pack of trained wolf hounds. The Tower's bulk dominates the skyline in either way, it looms dark as midnight over the city of Umbar. Though the Tower's rebuilding, completed by Lord Talan, has the Tower rebuilt to the most minute detail, a single well remains in the center of the Tower Grounds, the last vestige of Lord Lukthil's fall and the only original part of the Black Tower remaining above ground.
The sky is clear and the sunlight shines brightly. The late morning autumn air is hot around you.
[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:
Early Morning on Mersday, Day 1 of September.
Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.
Real time is: 16:57:39 MDT on Sun Apr 12 2009.
Early morning finds the heat of the day not yet bearing down on the city, and one Corsair, a woman, asking the guards of this tower for entrance. "Who is in charge here?" Alimah demands of the guards. "I wish to speak to someone of authority."
[Mirag(#31700)] There are two guards at the door, a slight thin one with a large mustache and a short fat one with severe acne. The tall thin one speaks, his voice jolly, "Why that'd be Mirag, our Lady Regent, formerly the Steward here. Is that who you're looking for?"
"That would be her, yes," Alimah nods. "Is she available? Would you send word that the Corsair Alimah wishes to speak with her?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The short, fat, surly one calls out to those within the gates, "Tell the Lady that the Corsair Alimah wants to talk to her!"
Alimah grimaces at this less than formal announcement of her visit, but says nothing.
[Mirag(#31700)] The tall thin one shakes his head. "He don't know how to behave yet. He's not used to working for a Lady."
But, informal announcement aside, a few moments later, a willowy woman, dressed in black lace, starts walking towards the gate.
And, as the woman arrives, Alimah bows. "My Lady Regent. Greetings. I hope I haven't taken you away from anything important? I am Alimah, Corsair of Umbar."
"Alimah, daughter of Kalim, the Corsair," she adds.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman smiles. "It is actually good to have an interruption from the daily matters that ensure the Tower comes back into order with the fleeing of the emperor. Perhaps you would like to come in and have a cup of tea whilst we talk?"
"Tea, yes," the Corsair smiles. "Before the sun gets too unbearable to drink it. Lead on, Madame Regent."
Entrance Hall
You find yourself standing in an outrageously long, yet narrow room. The walls reach several dozen feet in height and the ceiling is draped in an undeterminable mural. The coolness of the dark stone marblesque walls radiates throughout the room, giving it a more than eerie atmosphere. All along the walls, huge, thick torches flicker at a height almost double that of any ordinary man. Their light draws out shadows of guards and of the tall, cylindricle support towers. At the far northern end, the room comes stops at a set of humongous broad doors, guarded by yet another of the Lord Mirag's most trusted soldiers.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman leads to her chambers where a modest tea has been set. Bread with spreads, some fruit, and some small pastries. The room is homey and quiet, with some soft touches and a very large amount of black. Gesturing to an upholstered seat, the Lady Regent smiles. "Please, have a swat, and I will pour you some tea."
"Thank you." Alimah pulls up a chair and settles into it, taking in the tea and foods with a quick glance that seems approving. But she waits politely for the Regent, her focus on the woman and not the refreshments.
"And how are things with the Black Tower since the Emperor fell? How is the balance of power between the Towers of late? Evenly distributed?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman takes her time pouring two cups of tea. "Do you take honey? milk?" Mirag asks as she takes her own seat across the table. She pauses, listening to the question. "That is an interesting question, indeed. Things are beginning, slowly, to function more smoothly, though I have had to assert my authority...firmly. As for the balance of power in Umbar...well...we shall see. Two Towers are newly reclaimed, my own and Seaward, and Farside has had a bit longer to put itself in order. What have you heard?"
"Milk and honey, please."
"I have heard," Alimah answers, "that there ay be a claimant to the desert tower who has shown up in Farside, but I do not know the person's name. Only a rumor of it. I have not yet sworn to a tower lord. I was considering Farside. Leaning heavily that way, in fact. But...I wish, of course, to see the advantages of swearing my allegiance to other Tower Lords. Farside...they have Squires, apparently, proven in battle. But I missed most of the fighting except for the final attack against the Emperor. Quite curious, that was."
[Mirag(#31700)] Adding milk and honey to one tea cup and a generous amount of honey to the other, Mirag pushes the appropriate tea cup over to Alimah. She drums her fingers on the table for a few moments before responding. "Black is a very prestiguous Tower, of course. It was even before the Emperor. It is the one most strongly affliated with the Dark Citadel and shares ownership of the Black Paladins, as it were."
"Yes, true," Alimah sips carefully at the hot tea. "The Black Paladins are of course the most obvious advantage that your Tower has in terms of influence. But...I would think you might want a more subtle influence as well? That you might in fact want some Corsairs aligned with, and not just the...devotees of the Dark Citadel. It gives you wider reach, no?"
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman takes a sip of tea and a thoughtful expression comes over her face. "Black Tower has not traditionally had Corsairs of its own, but you do make an interesting point. What exactly do you propose?"
"I do not know per se. It was an idea I had this morning when I awoke, and I decided to pursue it. I grow...frustrated with the Farside Lord. He has many followers and wide influence here, perhaps too much so. He had men of Gondor in his tower, and yet they were not sold to slavery but allowed to return home." Alimah frowns. "I have not sworn to him yet...but...if I were to swear to the Black Tower first and still retain my vague position for Farside, perhaps I could be of use?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Indeed, it strikes me that you could be of much use under such a circumstance. Would you wish to be? For the risks would be great, though the rewards commiserate," the willowy woman says, her voice thoughtful.
"I wish to be of use," Alimah replies firmly. "I wish not to be a nameless face to this Lord Alphros, someone he nods to in passing. I wish to make a name for myself."
[Mirag(#31700)] Steepling her fingers, the willowy woman nods. "Then let us talk of where you would best fit here."
Picking up her tea for a sip, Alimah nods. "You tell me, Madame Regent. What do you need most? Certainly not my fighting skills--you have that. But...what else? You have heard of the black roses found in the catacombs near where the emperor escaped?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "I have. I wonder if it speaks to a return of one of Umbar's secret societies," the willowy woman says, sipping tea thoughtfully.
"I don't know--I cannot say," Alimah shakes her head. "There were 23--Lord Alphros held them at great value and insisted they all be collected. They played a song when breathed on. But when we left the catacomb, there were 21 only. Two are missing ,taken by one of the members of our party, I am sure. And there was more..."
[Mirag(#31700)] "More?" the willowy woman takes anothe sip, looking intrigued.
The emperor's daughter is here, hidden in Farside." Alimah says this calmly, between a sip of tea.
[Mirag(#31700)] "Yes, the poor child, left behind by both her parents. Hopefully she will get better care here," the willowy woman says, shaking her head.
"Ah...so that bit of information is not news to you. But...I thought it might be. How can I serve you, then?" Alimah asks.
[Mirag(#31700)] "Perhaps...it would be worth finding out if the black roses do mean anything and whether the Emperor's daughter is being well cared for. I look for information, information of any kind," the willowy woman says, having a sip of tea.
"The Farside lord holds that information close to his vest. He will have to trust me in order to tell me more. So...if we are to do this arrangement, what do I get out of it?" Alimah says, setting down her tea cup.
[Mirag(#31700)] "What would you like?" the willowy woman asks softly, toying with a pastry.
"A title, but more than that--the prestige and influence to go along with it. If I prove loyal, I want to be your second in command," Alimah says.
[Mirag(#31700)] The willowy woman nods. "Then it shall be so. I need a trusted Steward, someone with more battle experience than I have. My husband..." There is a slight pause and the reason, perhaps, for the black lace becomes clear. "But that is in the past now. Would you like a pastry?"
"I am sorry to hear that," Alimah says after a pause. SHe shakes her head to the offered pastry. "You have my sympathies, and if I can aid you in that way, then yes. I believe we have an understanding, yes?" She smiles.
"But what of the warrior Amgad--rumor was the High Priestess took him from Harad when she left?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "We have an understanding, indeed. "Yes, he escorted the high priestess home to Nurn. Rumor has it she had an illness she needed to recover from. But they said they would return. Meanwhile, there are two high level positions. That of Captain of the Tower Guard, which Amgad holds...and the newly vacated position of Steward."
Again Alimah nods. "What are the Steward's responsibilities?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Keeping the daily life of the Tower running. Sitting in for the Tower Lord or Lady in meetings or negotiations where she can't be present. That sort of thing," the willowy woman says, smiling. "It is a position of great responsibility.
"That...would be nice," Alimah smiles. "And...I can earn this by proving my worth to you with information from Farside, such that I find? Or would advise that to be too dangerous...and likely to destroy my reputation and thus my usefulness in negotiating on your behalf?" That though makes the Corsair frown.
[Mirag(#31700)] "You can prove your worth partly with information, but also partly by starting to help recruit people to the Tower. Look for where we can reestablish ourselves. Help me see who is loyal," the willowy woman says.
The Corsair hesitates, thinking. "Well...if I am to recruit people, then I need to be openly sworn to you and this tower. People will not give me the respect I will need if I do it otherwise. As for recruiting, what would you advise I say?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Remind them of the great history of Black Tower, the affliation with the Dark Citadel, the blessings of the Dark Lord. And that now, with the cleansing, there are many positions of worth open," the willowy woman says, and then takes a bite of a pastry.
"I will," Alimah nods. She picks up a pastry after all and nibbles on it delicately. "And so...I am openly a part of the Black Tower? Or not? How do we proceed from here?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "Hmm. I think that perhaps that would be wise, yes. It would offer you a certain protection and would give you the authority to recruit," Mirag says, thoughtfully.
"Agreed," Alimah nods. "The other way--my original idea--wouldn't work under these circumstances. All right then. Do you have an oath? Just my word of honor? Is there anything I need to know or do?"
[Mirag(#31700)] "You need merely swear your fealty to me and to Black Tower and I will bestow a title on you. Assistant to the Lady Regent for the moment, I should think," the willowy woman says. "And your first task, perhaps, might be to see if you can persuade the woman in the marketplace who makes these fabulous pastries to come work here."
Alimah laughs and sets down her half-eaten pastry as she stands. "That I can do. On both counts. I think, also, that I might try to persuade Farside's Gondorian captive to come for a visit. A pleasant visit, mind you--if she is treated right and subtly influenced, she could be useful to the Dark Tower when she is returned to Gondor. If she is..."
"But...for an oath. I swear my fealty and loyalty to the Lady Regent Mirag of the Dark Tower, and to the Dark Tower and its cause, upon my life."
[Mirag(#31700)] "Then may it be so, Alimah, my assistant. I thank you for your loyalty and I hope that we shall have many productive meetings such as this one," the willowy woman says.
"I look forward to it." Alimah smiles. "I must take care of...some...details at Farside. Excuse me?"
Players: Alimah,Mirag,Di
Located in: Haradrim
