A New Trainee

The Square of Judgement

An aura of dark foreboding hangs over this place. A huge gallows sits in the far western edge of the square. The apparatus dominates the square--a rope hangs ready. In front of the gallows, a tall whipping-post juts upward. The post is rough and scarred from use. You shudder when you envision the goings-on here--you can almost hear echos of the screams reverberating from the srurrounding buildings.

In front of the all the gruesome devices of death and torture, a series of lines are painted on the ground. Evidently, the area is also used for \'gentlemen\'s duels\' and training for combat.

Leading north and south from the square are several rows of shops and stalls selling all manner of goods. All around the periphery of this dark square are brightness and colors, scents, sounds and sights of the great Market of Umbar. Vendors shout out their wares to passers by in a cacophony of trade. Beyond the gallows to the west stands the impressive facade of the

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Dusk on Hevensday, Day 28 of September.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 20:22:51 MDT on Tue Apr 21 2009.

The arrival of autumn in Umbar is marked only by the slightest decrease in the unending heat: The slightest of breezes has set up and the air is no longer oppressively hot--just hot. Today, somewhere around mid-morning, the Corsair Alimah arrived at Nelladel\'s quarters with no forewarning and, after insisting that the young woman wrap her head and hair in a long silk scarf that would cover most of her face as well, marched her out of the Farside Tower, along with two guards.

No explanation was given, no words were said as they marched to the city\'s inner ring of streets, arriving at last in the Square of Judgement.

Alimah pauses, turning to the northern woman. \"This is where you and your husband will hang should you betray us.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Light grey eyes narrow, the only part of Nella\'s dainty, pale face that is very visible. \"I am nothing but a girl. Why would I have hidden myself as a stowaway on a frightening boat to come here, if I only wanted to betray you?\" The words are quite loud, even through the scarf. \"Why would I give up a life of riches to come here and be hung? Does that make sense to you?\" Despite her fear, she is her usual, flippant self in her reply.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

A large group of individuals can be heard, the thuds of feet on stone, then a scuffle off down the alley to the south, a single plaintive scream that gurgles and then ceases entirely. Then comes a sound of voices raised in laughter and then the steady thud of leather on stone as the group departs leaving only a single body to indicate that they were there at all, slowly oozing blood down along the alleywalls to spill out onto the street. Finally, Jugartha returns from the alleyway and wiping his hands on a piece of sacking, digging at his fingernails with a needle as he wanders past the entrance to the famous square of judgement where he stops to look in for interesting things.

\"That has some logic to it,\" Alimah answers, looking only briefly at the woman. Instead, her gaze constantly watches the southrons moving around and about them, scanning the crowd for threats.

The scream and the sound of thudding feet of course draw her sharp gaze, held in that direction and only relenting somewhat when Jugarth emerges from the alley. \"There are many here,\" she continues to Nelladel, still watching the southron man, \"that would kill you outright, Farside protection and noble motives notwithstanding. So...why did you come here? You are not welcome.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] \"I came for two reasons,\" Nelladel says, her eyes hard and unflinching throughout the noises that mean only one thing. She swallows hard, perhaps not visible beneath the long scarf. Otherwise, she is unmoving. \"First, I came here because my husband came. Is there no one you care for enough that you would give your life for them? I came to protect him. I also came because another man- one I trust- convinced me that Lord Alphros is the rightful king of Gondor. I am a good girl, and I wish to serve he who is most deserving of the throne. That is Alphros. If they kill me, they have wasted a supporter, someone knowledgeable and able.\" Nella shrugs her shoulders, \"I have accepted that my death is likely imminent,\" she tells, blinking eyes that have been long devoid of tears.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

Long legs carrying him quickly into the square, having spotted something of interest to him. Though apparently not with the duo speaking there, passing by the order himself a cup of fermented fish jelly on a stick. Sucking on his lollipop he moves to leave the square when a word catches at his ear and like a hook and forcing his head to one side to hear closer and clearer. \"Oh don\'t worry devil woman. Anyone who attempts to kill you, I will speak most angrily with them.\" A wink then as he slurps on his fish lollipop, lodging it in his cheek \"And here I thought when we first met that you came to Umbar to look for me.\"

\"To serve Lord Alphros...I see.\" Alimah frowns, distracted from Jugartha as the man changes course for the fish. \"As for me, that is not your business, nor is it my business to answer any question you might pose or pretend to be your friend. I protect you because I serve Lord Alphros, via his sister. How will you serve our Lord? If he sends you back to Gondor, what could you possibly do there for him or his cause? You are, after all, a silly girl, as you admit.\"

Jugartha\'s remark draws a sneer from the Corsair, who puts one hand on the hilt of her scimitar. \"Sir,\" she says, having no recognition in her eyes of him. \"You have met the lady?\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel looks surprised- the first emotion to show in her gaze since they have come here- at the man who holds some sort of treat. \"Thank you, sir,\" she says, an innocent enough to presume he speaks the truth, however roughly he put it. \"Thank you for your kindness.\" But then she raises a brow, \"Why would I have come to Umbar to find you?\" Nella asks, clearly confused. Her gaze slips back to Alimah, and with a cold voice, she answers, \"Maybe not so silly as you think. I am smart. I know history and art. And I can learn to hold a sword, if that is how the Lord Alphros decides I would best serve him. I will do anything he asks. Even if it means returning to Gondor.\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Frightening our guest again,\" comes a woman\'s friendly voice from behind Jugartha. She is tall, very tall, and nearly as tall as the black man in front of her. Swathed in red and gold silks, the lower portion of her face is hidden but her grey eyes and voice mark her unmistakably as the Farside lady Azradi.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

Leaning slightly closer, the reek of fermented fish strong on his breath as the lollipop is lodged up in his cheek. \"You know why.\" a wink and making a rude gesture with his right hand as he stands up and glancing back towards Azradi \"I wouldn\'t dream of frightening your guests. I\'l llet life handle that one. I\'m not dangerous at all. Just a gentle little kitty I am.\"

\"I repeat,\" Alimah says, trying to force herself now between Jugartha and Nelladel as the man gets too close for comfort, \"who are you and how do you know this woman?\" She tilts her head toward Nelladel.

\"Captain.\" Alimah looks confused as Azradi arrives and addresses Jugarth, though she does not yield her position in guarding the Gondor woman. \"You know this man?\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Yes,\" Azradi confirms, stepping from behind the tall black man. \"I know him. He\'s a kitty cat, it\'s true - much in the same way I am.\"

Her eyes fall upon the Gondorian woman. \"Did I hear rightly? You still wish to learn to fight?\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel shows fear for the first time today, her eyes going wide when Jugartha makes that gesture. \"Oh,\" she murmurs faintly. Yet Nella\'s eyes light up when she spots Azradi here. \"Lazy Azradi,\" she greets, dropping into a deep curtsy. \"It is wonderful to see you.\" Nella doesn\'t skip pleasantries, but her grey eyes show how eager she is to answer, and in the next breath, replies, \"Yes, lady, I do wish to learn. That is my dearest wish.\" She solemnly gazes at Azradi.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

From behind Azradi, Jugartha extends his tongue towards Alimah and goes crosseyed. Then laughing at something he pulls the fish gelatin pop from his lips and nods his head \"I\'m no one of import woman, don\'t worry about me.\" he smiles and slurps noisely on it as he steps away and moving as if to walk off, but only a few steps as he finds himself a touch of shade to relax in. \"I am Jugartha, Black Paladin for the Black Tower and the Dark Citadel. So be nice to me, someone decided to give me power.\" laughing at that, a deep menacing sound that erupts from his belly. \"Give her a chance, why not? She might proove to be the one to kill that usurper of Ecthelion.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Azradi removes the cloth from her face and studies the Gondorian woman with a critical eye. She cants her head to the side, considering. \"Lend her your scimitar, Alimah.\"

\"I see...\" Briefly, Alimah\'s eyes travel to Azradi as Jugartha introduces himself. \"I am the Corsair Alimah,\" she returns to him. And then to Azradi, \"she has mentioned wanting to learn to fight several times, Captain.. And...Jugartha might be right, in fact. We should give her a chance...and put her to the test with it, as well. See just what she is willing to do for Lord Alphros if she so claims her loyalty lies with him.\"

\"My scimitar?\" Alimah frowns, but draws the curved blade from its scabbard.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Our blades are much heavier than those of your men,\" Azradi comments as the other Corsair offers Nelladel her scimitar. \"Before you can learn to wield it, you must learn to hold it.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel stares as she is offered the scimitar, unsure what to do. Yet, not wanting to appear stupid or useless, she quickly reaches for it, taking it by the hilt. \"You\'re right,\" she says almost immediately to Azradi. \"It -is- heavy.\" Determinedly, her hand tightens its grip.

[Nelladel(#7905)] A glance is spared to Jugartha, as Nella cannot help but ask, \"Kill who?\"

\"Well...an enemy of Lord Alphros, I would suppose,\" Alimah shrugs, carefully watching what the northern woman does with the deadly blade--and staying out of the path of its swing. \"But...not a man of Umbar. A Gondorian would be more fitting, would it not, Captain?\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Hold your arm out from your body at shoulder level,\" Azradi instructs, \"Keep your wrist and the sword straight, level to the ground.\"

\"One step at a time,\" the Corsair Captain says, smiling. \"First she needs to learn to fight before she can kill someone.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella lifts the scimitar with great effort. She absentmindedly bites her lower lip as she extends her arm as instructed. A trembling wrist and forearm hold the sword relatively straight and level. Her gaze strays from the weapon to Alimah and Azradi. \"Like this, lady?\" she asks, taking a deep breath.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

Not even bothering to untie his own blade, the weighty steel only having been drawn once since he came to Umbar, and then, not even in anger as Jugartha steps to one side to regard Azradi and Nelladel and sucking on his lollipop. \"We could perhaps shave the weapon down, more of a saber then a true scimitar, though trying to slice through the pale skins armor with a saber is an exercise in near futility. You need the extra weight to cut trhough steel, leather, flesh and bone.\"

Though she does not take her eyes off Nelladel, Alimah barely suppresses a smile at Azradi\'s comment. \"Yes...patience is not one of my strong points,\" she grins. \"But of course--learn first, prove her loyalty second.\"

\"If she is too weak to hold a scimitar that will slice through chain, then her target will have to be without armor, no?\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Yes, exactly like that,\" Azradi smiles. \"Now hold it like that until I tell you to lower it.\"

She turns to Jugartha. \"Or she can build up her strength like we did when we trained. At least she\'s an adult, we were children.\"

\"I am hungry,\" she announces then, gesturing to the Paladin\'s \"lollipop\". \"And that looks disgusting.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel smiles at the praise, though it is quickly replaced by a look of concentration again. She continues to hold the weapon for several minutes, waiting until Azradi tells her to lower it. She doesn\'t move except for her trembling forearm, which slowly begins to ache. \"It stank of rotten fish,\" Nella contributes, of course overhearing the conversation.

[Jugartha(#19019)]

Offering over the fermented fish gellatin pop to Azradi \"It\'s good for you Princess. Enjoy.\" as he moves to approach Nelladel and offering Alimah a smile as he steps behind the Gondorian and leaning forward he blows softly at the back of her neck. \"Just hold it there. My father built up my strength using red hot steel spikes. You hold your weapon, because if you drop it, you\'ll lose that limb.\" moving away and shoving it up into Azradi\'s face \"Eat Princess, your backside is vanishing before my eyes and that\'s a tragedy.

\"Enough?\" Alimah asks, holding out her hand for the scimitar, but directing the question to Azradi.

\"She can build up her strength--I will be happy to work with her. But may I suggest that her first kill not be against a target we want dead. Perhaps she can serve as an executioner\'s assistant for some time? Get the feel of what it takes to slice a sword through a man? If she botches it up, it matters not.\"

This time, though, Jugartha\'s actions bring only a smile from Alimah.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Wrinkling her nose and arching away from the disgusting fish goo, Azradi bats at the Paladin\'s arm. \"Keep that disgusting thing away. You spend far too much time watching my backside, I think.\"

At Alimah\'s comment, the Farside lady glances at the struggling Nelladel. \"Not yet, a bit longer.\"

\"And Alimah,\" she continues, turning her regard to the other Corsair woman, \"I think that is a wonderful idea. Increase her strength and stamina. Start her running as well.\"

\"Yes, Captain. In the heat of the day, of course,\" Alimah grins. \"As soon as you deem she has held the scimitar long enough for the moment, I\'ll take her back to the tower and have her run..and with weights, too.\" She seems to relish the idea, and waits only for Azradi to order it so.

[+UPOLL] Azradi has changed the Umbar Poll to: \"Stinky Fish Goo!\".

[Jugartha(#19019)]

Popping the lollipop into his mouth and sucking on it as he looks over Nelladel \"I\'d suggest you force her to do it naked, but that\'s just for my own entertainment. But that\'s important also.\" he smiles and inclining his head towards the trio he turns on his heel, the metal acoutrements scraping sparks on the cobbles as he saunters off, past them back towards the marketplace.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel continues to hold the scimitar aloft, her face calm but concentrated, until she is finally told to hand it back to Alimah. She only nods to the things that Alimah and Azradi discuss for her to do. \"I spend too much time being idle now, as it is,\" is all that Nella says about it. She stretches her sore arm a little. Only once the scimitar is out of her grasp does she stare, shocked, at the retreating Jugartha, one hand clenched in a fist.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"You can lower your arm, then,\" Azradi orders, smiling encouragingly at the Gondorian lady.

\"But don\'t kill her,\" the Corsair woman warns, \"She is not used to this sort of activity nor this heat.\"

Her gaze travels to the departing Jugartha. \"And I was, in fact, on my own errand rather than chasing down our guest. So I will bid you both a good afternoon.\" Lifting and end of her scarf, she covers the lower portion of her face once more and follows after the Paladin.

\"Of course, Captain,\" Alimah nods, answering briskly. \"Come on,\" she says in an annoyed tone to Nelladel, taking her scimitar back and gesturing for the two guards with them to follow. \"Naked will do you no good--you have to learn to fight and stand the heat with clothing and armor on anyhow. And he..\" she jerks her head toward the retreating Jugartha, \"just wants a reaction out of you. So don\'t give it to him.\"

She snorts and pushes the northern woman ahead of her back toward Farside, one hand on the hilt of her scimitar all the while.