The Fall of an Emperor - II. The Emperor gone

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 early afternoon summer air is very hot and dry around you. The moon is new.

Contents:

Azradi

Alphros

Wolf Hounds

Guard

Well

Obvious exits:

Gate leads to Entrance Hall.

NorthEast leads to Rath Sangahyando.

[Alphros(#31271)]

As the gates of Black Tower are slowly pried open, the invaders begin to stream into the courtyard. The Lady Steward has faded away, but the Council loyalists within the Tower are there to greet the forces of Seaward and Farside, for the battle is not yet over. A grim warning has already been hung out for those still clinging to the Emperor\'s reign: the body of his chief commander, the Tower Captain, suspended from above the main doors of the Tower proper, stained by blood and death.

Alphros gestures to the party in his immediate company to follow him, as the Farside soldiers in his immediate company fan out to meet the Black Guardsmen who rush to intercept them. The defenders are disorganised though, perhaps by some internal ploy that has caught them offguard.

\"I feared the Emperor would seek to escape when the sun set, and so I sent my own men to waylay him. Come, let us on, quickly, it is by Ajnabi\'s head alone that this war will be ended.\"

\"You think he has not escaped, then?\" Eruphel says, pausing next to the lord of Farside, allowing her sword to lower all the way to the floor, the tip resting on stone.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Scimitar yet drawn, Azradi follows Alphros - looking warily about as the Farsiders engage with the remaining loyalists forces. \"What about his wife and daughter, brother?\" she adds to Eruphel\'s question.

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       \"I do not think you will get what you seek, Lord Farside. The False Emperor is cunning and is likely long gone from this place.\" Mirdanath speaks to Alphros as they enter the Courtyard of Black but looking upon Lady-Claimant nods and advances. \"You five, stay with the Lady. The rest, with me.\"

Raising their blades once again in anger, the warriors of House Sikkiyn march into battle their souls seeking revenge for the murder of Lord Lominakh. Thus soon many have slicked their blades with the Imperialist\'s blood including their commander. War is not without its casualities as soon more of Mirdanath\'s men lay slain or wounded upon the grounds of Black.

\"Mirdanath!\" Eruphel calls after the Heir of Sikkiyn before he disappears, \"If you meet a woman named Naureen...spare her.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"We shall see...\" Alphros answers Azradi and Eruphel, no great certainty in his words. A glance at Mirdanath indicates that he is not certain of the Emperor\'s capture, either. \"Captain-- Eruphel. Sister. Bring your trusted ones only. This is for our eyes alone.\"

And with a gesture the Lord of Farside presses forward, hewing at one Black Guardsman who interposes himself between the small party of captains and their destination, the entrance to the Tower proper, already secured by some of the Black Tower turncoats.

\"Mirdanath...Yussef...lets go.\" Eruphel says, dismissing others from Seaward who might also follow with a discreet hand gesture. She follows Alphros into the tower, giving the man he disposes of a quick kick, as if to clear the way.

[Yussef(#19036)]

The wry glance Yussef affords Mirdanath is brief.

He follows suit at the Seaward claimant\'s word.

Zaki spills in to the tower from the street at last. \"My lady, I was told to watch after you.\" he says to Azradi.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Glancing around at the Farsiders, Azradi selects one of the Salkathorim corsairs and two of the Towers\' regular guards. She is about to follow Alphros when Zaki\'s voice stops her. She looks at the young man curiously, and then nods her head. \"Come with us, then.\"

Then turning, she follows her brother.

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 El\'ysnide\'s most trusted soldiers.

Contents:

Corporal Thrisnar

Obvious exits:

Oak Door leads to The Shrine.

Archway leads to Function Room.

Broad Doors leads to Black Tower Foyer.

Gate leads to Black Tower Grounds.

You pass through the Oak Door into The Shrine.

The Shrine

A dark and musty room. It is impossible to see very far in front of you. There is a single candle burning against the near wall. The smell of lamp oil and dried blood fills the air.

Obvious exits:

Oak Door

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       Hearing the words of Lady Eruphel, Mirdanath finishes off a Black Tower Guard by the use of a brutal slash across the throat. Of course as a result of his neck veins being cut, blood sprays forth like a fountain of gore covering the Heir in a matter of seconds. Whiping his eyes clear on his sleeve, the man of Seaward withdraws from the combat to follow Eruphel into the Tower. \"Athir, you have command!\" He shouts back to his men who now continue the fight against black.

Mirdanath walks ahead of the Lord and Lady-Claimant now, his vigil constant as his gaze dances about his surroundings.

[Alphros(#31271)]

The small party makes its way through the Black Tower, where signs of battle between the Imperialist remnant and the Black Paladins can already be seen bodies belonging to both factions lie hither and thither, and in places doors have been barricaded where the servants and courtiers of the Tower have taken shelter to wait out the battle. Loyalists to the Emperor occasionally rush to meet the interlopers, but the warriors of Farside and Seaward accompanying them break off to intercept the Black Guardsmen.

By the time they reach a chamber deeper within the Tower, the Shrine, there are only that handful left: Eruphel and Azradi, Mirdanath and Yussef, Zaki, and Alphros. The all-pervading darkness of the Tower\'s shrine is broken only by a single lamp that has been set upon the floor, its dim light wavering against the thick gloom. A single Black Paladin stands on duty by a narrow secret door, now open, so easily concealed in the darkness. Upon recognising the party as the Council and its captain, he nods to them in silence and gestures.

\"Let us see,\" Alphros says, simply and grimly, before disappearing within and down below. His blade is still drawn.

Now, even Eruphel has blood on her armor and clothing, and she wipes the back of her hand on her face, smearing on more blood than she removes. It is her own, but the wound in negligible, and more an excuse to leak than a threat to her health. In the shrine, the smoke and the darkness puts the woman on edge, and as Alphros slips through the narrow door, she takes a deep breath and sighs, looking dubiously at the passage. \"Gentlemen...one before and one after, please.\" she says, waiting for the first to go.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Azradi secures her grip on her scimitar and glances behind her to Zaki. \"Draw your weapon,\" she instructs quietly. Then turning, she follows Alphros through the formerly secret door and down into the darkness.

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       Having never lowered his scimitar, the Heir to House Sikkiyn steps infront of Lady Eruphel as he ducks into the passage. \"I\'ll take the front, my Lady.\" He then disappears through the door with a smirk on his face. \"Now we\'re really in the Black.\" Chuckling to himself he moves deeper into the darkness.

[Yussef(#19036)]

A snort.

\"After you, Cap\'n,\" Yussef says, wry glance settled on the Sikkiyn\'s back ere it is removed from his sight quiet is the temper of his voice.

Eruphel looks at the two men, her face unreadable, then descends into the darkness after Mirdanath.

Zaki draws his blade slowly, testing the weight and balance. His eyes are wide, darting from face to face, place to place. is ears twitch slightly, head turning to detect hidden dangers in the darkness. He stands close by Azradi, tense, blade twitching slightly toward unexpected noises and echoes. Veins protrude from his temples, betraying the readiness that lies below the calm. \"Yes, Lady,\" he says,and descends into the passage.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros leads the way down into the darkness, as quickly as he dares, for the passageway is dark and the stairs are narrow and worn by the marching of the ages. As the small party progresses, the Lord draws back his veil, for the light of the shrine quickly fades and what lies ahead is slow in growing.

But when finally the party emerges into the shadowed catacombs beneath the ancient Tower, they find that there is someone there to meet them.

[Yussef(#19036)]

The sounds of war, muffled by mortar and stone, fade to an increasingly distant murmur with each step. And yet now and again steel sings its sharp note a man cries out in agony, or many feet shuffle in the halls above with startling clarity.

[Qute(#19829)]

And that person waiting within the shadows of the catacombs happens to be a robed and veiled figure of a woman her attire being reminiscent of a certain kitchen maid within the Black Tower. \"Follow me,\" the young voice echoes out, and a hand beckons for the newly arrived group accompanied by Alphros to follow the mysterious woman\'s lead.

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"Qute,\" Alphros mumbles softly in acknowledgement to the robed figure.

[Azradi(#20135)]

At the bottom of the treacherous, dark stairway Azradi bumps into her brother lightly, letting out a small frustrated sound. She moves quickly to his side and ahead to prevent a similar encounter from the others behind her. Her eyes fall on the dim figure curiously and then she glances to Alphros, whispering, \"You expected this?\"

Eruphel emerges from the stairway as well, her cheeks slightly flushed with the exertion of the chase. But in the roots of the tower, now she appears only confused. \"What. What has happened?\" she asks, sword still ready, but lowered.

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       When Mirdanath emerges into the catacombs, he lets out a tsk before shaking his head as if he is aware of some knowledge that the others are not aware of. The heir\'s eyes are in a state of constant dance as they move at the slightest of noises. When he sees the woman standing cloaked, he shrugs to himself before moving to continue to follow Azradi and Alphros.

[Yussef(#19036)]

Steel grating on stone heralds Yussef\'s appearance in the archway from above -- though the sound is quick in its demise spears are of little use in such narrow places. His glance falls wary on the figures ahead, ere it is thrown over his shoulder to Zaki.

He comments none, treading on in silence, with care.

[Qute(#19829)]

Offering a single nod in greeting to the Farside Lord, the robed woman then turns away to lend her back to Alphros\' group silently, and continues on through the dank shadows of the catacombs. For those familiar with the layout of the area beneath Black Tower, it seems that the woman is heading towards the exterior of the tunnels. \"We must keep up the pace,\" her voice echoes again, and the sound of her footfalls quicken as she runs just a bit further ahead of the group.

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"I had... hoped, for this,\" Alphros answers as he follows after the robed figure. \"For these plans had to be laid very carefully... Very carefully. And then one could but pray for success.\"

After a long, silent pause. \"The Lady Steward and her allies have done as they promised, and arranged for our success.\"

And now...it is a chase. \"Stay close to me, Yussef, Mirdanath...\" Eruphel says, though she tries to pace herself to conserve energy. \"Where does this lead?\" she asks no one in particular. \"And what could you have hoped for in here?\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"The Great Lord smiled upon your plans, then,\" Azradi replies, still whispering. She follows Alphros, her eyes straining to pierce the dim shadows of the catacombs.

[Yussef(#19036)]

\"This, I think,\" Yussef tells Eruphel on words flown on a breath, quietly so as he comes abreast with a sidelong glance, \"Is the Emperor\'s escape route.\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       As the others talk back and forth of plans going sucessfully, Mirdanath chuckles to himself once again in a knowing way. Keeping pace with the others, he decides to place his shield upon his back as he runs. It sounds easy enough for one standing still but it is another matter when you are deep underground with little light while at a run.

He succeeds however, and soon has his other arm free as he follows.

[Qute(#19829)]

Yussef\'s guess is silently answered as a soft, but growing, sound of numerous footsteps are heard running many yards ahead of the group, somewhere off in the upcoming tunnels. Qute as of yet remains silent, merely keeping up a good pace ahead of the others as she veers off to the right, in the direction of the thunderous footsteps.

[Alphros(#31271)]

And just like that, the footsteps end. Through the darkness and labyrinthine shadows of the catacombs, the small company -- led by the cloaked Qute -- finds its way to a small central intersection where flows a thin stream of water, smelling as if it has run thither from the Bay of Umbar itself.

A dozen men and women or more stand there, some armoured as the newly-reformed Black Paladins, others as elite Crusaders of Farside. Two dozen more bodies lie about hither, some of them belonging to the aforementioned men, others clad as the elite Imperial bodyguard.

One of the Crusaders, their Captain Melkizidek, steps forward and salutes to the new arrivals. With a glance for Qute, he addresses them: \"He has... escaped,\" he frowns behind his mask-helm. \"His guard is dead, but...\" The Crusader gestures to half a dozen dead men. \"Te Emperor\'s prowess has not dimmed even while in hiding. He is gone.\"

[Alimah(#24218)]

\"Or more to the point, what are we doing down here? For what purpose?\" That voice echos unfortunately through the tunnel just as the thundering footsteps stop, coming from someone in the small group.

[Azradi(#20135)]

The run through the damp, moldy catacombs has not winded Azradi. She comes up to the scene and quickly takes in the details until settling her gaze on the one known to her: Captain Melkizidek. \"How long ago?\" she asks, her gray eyes looking beyond the cluster of elite warriors to the distance beyond speculation written clearly upon her young features.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Melkizidek shrugs uncertainly. \"An hour, perhaps. When he learnt of the downfall of his Tower Captain,\" the Crusader Captain gives Qute a long glance, \"He fled with the coming of the night, realising he was forsaken and betrayed.\"

Eruphel\'s breathing is a little labored by the time the chase is done, and she stands to the side, holding a stitch at her waist as she just stares at the group. She turns away for a moment, pacing and trying to regain her composure, before turning once more to the lord of Farside, his followers, her own men, and the woman of Black. \"So that\'s it. He\'s escaped. By the Eye!\" She grits her teeth for a moment, then relaxes once more. \"But still, he has fled. He has conceded. We have won?\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       As the news reaches his ears, Mirdanath is far from surprised, but none the less he still speaks. \"I am sure you tried your best Captain. The man was near to the level of Lord Lominakh in skill and killed both of our last Lord and the swordsman Annadur.\" Whiping the blood off his blade onto his already ruined clothes, the heir to House Sikkiyn sheathes his scimitar for now.

\"We can send ships to scour the Bay but I\'d say if he has already been gone an hour, we will now find him. He has likely out onto the seas by now or escaped onto land out of our reach.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"Our ships already control the seas,\" Alphros notes grimly, \"Between the corsairs of Seaward and Farside and the Gimilzain, I do not think he can escape that way. Which means...\" The Lord of Farside gazes into the shadows of the catacombs exit, which lead to the graveyard of Umbar and, thus, the lands beyond.

\"I can only assume he has sought refuge in the sands.\"

[Qute(#19829)]

Her gaze meeting the Captain\'s glance in her direction, Qute\'s expression and posture turns into one of pride upon the mentioning of the deceased Tower Captain. Nodding once, the woman remains silent as she listens to the inquiries of the others within the group, before speaking up for herself. \"And how do you think he\'d gotten the news of the death of his Tower Captain so quickly?\" A slight pause, before she asks a separate question, \"And shouldn\'t a search party be sent to look for him out in the desert?\"

[Alimah(#24218)]

\"There are desert dwellers loyal to you, no Lord Alphros?\" a woman speaks up. It is Alimah, but she is set in a dark corner of the tunnel, face shadowed. \"Have them track him. It cannot be that difficult for those who know the sands?\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros nods to both Qute and Alimah. \"The deserts are vast and the Haradrim tribes many, and only the Narakshi in the north -- beyond use to us -- have reforged their alliance to the Council. There were those loyal to the Emperor who would shelter him, and keep us beyond him...\" And with a considering glance for Eruphel. \"And there is one here who, far more than I, has ties to the desert tribes.\"

Alphros nudges the body of one of the Imperial bodyguards with the tip of his scimitar in answer to Qute. \"Any one of them could have warned the Emperor. I do not think he was unprepared.\"

The sun falls, chill winds buffet the Tower and the howling of the dogs begins.

[Yussef(#19036)]

A sigh.

Yussef\'s mien is ashen, glance passing the dead one by one, marking their faces -- some known, others not -- and the devices on their gear their wounds. Though Eruphel\'s questions draws his attention away, it then shifts to Alphros under a perched brow. It lingers there a while ere he looks away.

He speaks no word guesses and counsels are plentiful.

Eruphel looks at Alphros a bit curiously and nods sagely. \"I have family in the desert,\" she concedes. \"...on my father\'s side. I can send word for them to watch for him. I owe them a letter anyway.\" At that, Eruphel sheathes her sword, unneccessary now. \"Or...I can go out there myself. But there is much to be done in my tower...much that is desperately needed.\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"I suspect the Emperor will find nothing more than sanctuary among the desert tribes to the south,\" Azradi replies, sheathing her scimitar. \"But no support to regain his throne. They do not like strangers. Or so I am told by one who knows southern tribes well.\"

\"We certainly should search for him, but I think the restoration of peace and order in Umbar should be our main priority.\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       Sighing openly now, the Seawarder looks about the catacombs. \"You can\'t exactly tract folks through the desert. The sands shift and all tracts disappear on the wind. Let us not forget that the Emperor was once the most powerful man in Umbar. If he does not wish to be found. I do not think we will do so. He has campaigned in Far Harad and returning victorious gained many connections to the south. We should just be happy that the Council controls the City now and as long as we maintain our vigil over Umbar, we have nothing to fear of that dune rat.\"

\"He wants us to fear his return but there is no need to as long as we all realise that if we drove him out once, we can do it again.\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

No battle for the moment,\" Azradi says, catching Zaki\'s look of uncertainity. She smiles wanly at the young man.

[Qute(#19829)]

Qute nods somewhat disappointedly to Mirdanath\'s explanation, and her features twist into an expression of frustration and worry. She does this not after hearing the unfeasibility of tracking down the Emperor, but after the answer from Alphros as to how the Emperor could have been warned ahead of time. The veiled woman then turns to look back towards the Captain in expectance.

[Alimah(#24218)]

\"Let him have his kingdom of sand, if that is what he wishes,\" Alimah says with a shrug.

\"Now what?\" she asks bluntly.

Zaki hesitates, and then nods. Sheathing his blade, but leaving it unclasped, he says, \"I have been been betrayed many times before, m\'lady. I will not allow myself to lapse into supposed security.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros nods his head in agreement and summary: \"If the Emperor finds solace in the deserts, then he has no more hope of retaking Umbar from without than the ancient Lords of Umbar did when they led the Haradrim to try and retake our city form the Gondorians, unsuccessfully.\"

At that moment, Melkizidek gestures. \"Another thing...\" And at this he exchanges a knowing glance with Qute, and then directs the attention of the newcome party to the something by the shadows into which the Emperor presumably made his escape.

Black roses -- twenty three in number, should one carefully count them -- lie in a seemingly random yet also too-neat arrangement, as if tracing the fleeing steps of the former Emperor of Umbar. Their petals are obsidian black, though their steps are stained with blue and red and violet and other hues, so as to be almost rainbow-coloured. The Crusader Captain shrugs his shoulders helplessly.

Zaki says, \"I hope that will not jeopardize the civility of your conference.\"

[Qute(#19829)]

\"Oh, relax - I don\'t think you\'ll be doing any more fighting today,\" Qute speaks up again, glancing over to Zaki, assuming he may have already had some sword-action earlier that day. Not a second later, however, the woman directs her attention over to the black roses lying upon the ground. Squinting her eyes and leaning forward just a bit as if to make out what they are, perhaps in disbelief, the kitchen maid asks inpatiently, \"Well -- what are those?\"

[Yussef(#19036)]

\"Roses twenty and three...\"

Yussef\'s glance cover the flowery tracks under a brow creased in thought. He murmurs, even upon looking askance at the Captain Melkizidek: \"What do they mean?\"

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"A wise course,\" Azradi responds to Zaki, nodding her head in approval. \"And no, you do not.\"

But Melkizidek draws her attention to the strange path of roses. The Corsair Captain walks towards it and crouches, reaching out to touch one of the petals. \"What do you make of this? Could someone in his party intend his betrayal?\"

Zaki says, \"Or perhaps, an effort at misdirection...\"

\"Maybe...\" Eruphel says, staring at the roses. She walks toward them and bends down to take one with a blue stem. \"Maybe we should just follow them and see what else fell out of his pockets.

[Qute(#19829)]

Qute almost nods quite enthusiastically to Su\'ad\'s suggestion of following the tracks, however decides against it and says, \"Nay we should send a group of men to see where they lead. Like he said, whoever put them there might be trying to mislead us.\" She sends an acknowledging nod towards Zaki.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Melkizidek shrugs. \"I do not know where they came from, or how they fell in such a manner in the heat of battle, but they lead nowhere beyond, nor make any other pattern that I can mark. Perhaps you can divine better...\"

\"Gather them up. All of them. We\'ll figure it out later.\" Eruphel says, putting the rose she carries into a strap of her armor for safekeeping.

[Alphros(#31271)]

\"The vaults of Farside have been under a long... examination. Do you have a safe, secret place that you can keep these in Seward?\" Alphros asks with a gesture to the roses.

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       The heir House Sikkiyn frowns as he stares at the roses upon the ground. \"No. First we must record their shape. Though it is not something we recognize easily, it does not mean that it doesn\'t have a meaning. Everything must be recorded from the number to the colour and the sequence in which the colours are layed out.\"

[Qute(#19829)]

Before anyone else has time to gather up all the roses, Qute is quick to head over to the small collection of flowers and bend down to snatch no less than five or so of the oddly-coloured specimens. A slight expression of disappointment passes over her face upon Alphros\' question, and she makes to tuck one of the roses away into her robes within the darkness of her surroundings.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros pauses, and then a small, mysterious smile forms on his face. \"Wisely suggested.\" He looks to Qute. \"Is there someone in the Tower that you trust who can come speedily to mark and draw the likeness of this...?\" he points to the roses.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"The color of the Towers...\" muses Azradi. She picks up a violet-stemmed rose and rises, looking towards Alphros. She rejoins him, studying her rose. \"But what is the significance of twenty-three?\"

Zaki nods, showing to all the etching he had already began on a scrap of armor taken from an unfortunate guard.

[Yussef(#19036)]

\"Ware the thorns!\"

The exclamation echoes dully, and perhaps too late -- Yussef\'s widened glance flicks between the roses now held by Azradi and Eruphel.

\"Heh. Our vaults are nearly empty...though not through any weakness of the vaults themselves.\" Eruphel says, pulling out the blue-stemmed rose once more, and regarding it. \"I can keep them safe, be assured, Lord Alphros. Anyone may come and examine them, with escort, of course.\"

[Qute(#19829)]

Hearing the suggestion made by Mirdanath, Qute hesitantly places around three roses back down where she had gotten them, taking time to put them back in the correct order. The fourth and fifth roses, however, have conveniently disappeared.

[Alphros(#31271)]

As the effort to preserve the strange roses goes on, the Crusader Captain pipes up again. \"There is another thing, my lord,\" this time Melkizidek speaks directly to Alphros, who turns to face him, though he makes no attempt to mask his word from anyone else. \"As it has been long suspected from the rumours, the Empress-Consort made her escape some time ago... The people of Black Tower,\" he nods to Qute, \"Can confirm it. And why we have lost your... quarry, Ajnabi has left one thing behind at least.\"

Melkizidek gestures for Alphros to follow him, and the Lord does so. They disappear into the shadows in another direction, where some of the other Crusaders are keeping watch.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Looking a bit like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, an incongruous image for a grown woman clad in armor and spattered with blood - Azradi looks generally apologetic and returns to place her rose where she had found it.

Passing Zaki on her way, she glances to the sketch he\'s made. \"Ah, it looks like someone has already begun to document this puzzle. No need to fetch another.\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       Looking down at the shape restored as the roses are turned to their original resting place, Mirdarah lets out a sigh again. Sticking out a finger in a counting fashion, the Heir frowns. \"Alright who has the other roses? Put em down. Yussef said that there was twenty and three. And there definately isn\'t twenty three there.\"

A hand now rests upon the hilt of his scimitar. Perhaps he believes some force might be required?

Still regarding her rose, Eruphel sighs, and the petals make the smallest sound...she thinks. She stares at the black rose in wonder, and after a few moments, gets the idea to blow on it. Now it sings a beautiful chord, much to her wonderment. \"Listen to that! It made a noise!\" But...noticing the actions of the others, she puts her rose back down as well, hovering nearby protectively.

[Qute(#19829)]

\"Oh, yes, they\'re the tower colors,\" Qute nods affirmatively to Eruphel, as if to take the attention away from the missing flowers. The woman takes several steps back, away from the scene, and back towards the group in silence. A cautious glance is given to Mirdanath, before the robed woman shrugs helplessly, raising her empty hands as if to show she has nothing. \"I don\'t know - they\'re the ones who took the roses,\" she says in response, now looking back to Eruphel in awe upon hearing the sudden sound. \"What made a noise?\" The woman blinks perplexedly, casting a brief glance to the flower in Su\'ad\'s hand, then back up to the other woman as if not believing it came from the rose.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Crouched beside Eruphel to replace her own rose, Azradi watches her curiously. She blows on her own rose - another sound rings out. \"Mine does too!\" she exclaims excitedly. She does not seem to notice that her brother and the crusader Captain have disappeared into the shadows. She reluctantly places her rose back in it proper place.

[Alimah(#24218)]

Alimah stays back from the roses and their thorns. \"Seems like a lot of trouble to go to for someone fleeing for their lives. Why would they do that? As a sign? poison?\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       As Qute speaks, Mirdanath\'s face hardens and he stares long and hard into her eyes but he says nothing....for now. Rather his gaze then turns to Alphros and stays there until he nods. \"Lady Eruphel, have I proven myself to you so that our accord may finally be carried out?\"

It is only after finishing the sentence that he finally turns to face the Lady-Claimant.

Zaki pauses each time someone speaks, considering their perspective. He frantically scratches into the maleable metal, diagrams and notes also recording the missing roses, although he was not paying enough attention to discern who holds them.

\"You most certainly have proven yourself. However, I believe Seaward does still have a fleet master of some sort. Rest assured though, I will fulfill my accord with you.\" Eruphel says, her face somewhat hardened.

[Yussef(#19036)]

Coming forward, spear shifted to the shield-hand, Yussef touches lightly Azradi\'s shoulder, eyeing the roses wary, but with wonder all the same, \"Please, Cap\'n.\"

\"If they are poison...\"

[Qute(#19829)]

\"What\'s that you have there?\" Qute just now turns her attention away from the sound-making roses, and back onto Zaki scribbling a diagram onto the metal. She takes a few steps towards him, and leans in towards the metal plate with a squinted gaze, as if to examine what he has written down. A spare glance is cast towards Yussef, perhaps having overheard the mention of possible poison.

[Alimah(#24218)]

\"It has to be poison,\" Alimah says, with a slight nod to Yussef. \"Look at how they were all drawn to the flowers.\" The last word has a barely contained sneer in it.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"I know,\" Azradi replies to Yussef, having just replaced her rose. She rises and looks at the Zaki\'s sketch even as Qute does. \"It looks fine to me. Wait...\" the Corsair woman glances from the sketch to the roses and then back. She frowns. \"There are two missing.\"

[Alphros(#31271)]

As the discussion continues, Alphros reemerges from the shadows. With him stride two of the Crusaders and Melkizidek, and a smaller cloaked figure shrouded in darkness. And, of all things, he wears a small smile.

\"Azradi,\" he says as he returns, interrupting the discussion. And then he does something strange: he takes her hand, and kisses it. \"The Emperor may have escaped, but we are victorious. Finally. I must return to the Tower, now.\" He leans in to whisper a single word into her ear, indicating the robed figure with a nod, before reaffixing his veil. The features beneath -- pale, grey eyed, and distinctly Numenorean -- are once more lost. \"We will speak again, upon the morrow. Melkizidek will see that the Black Tower is secured enough for the Black Paladins and the Steward to assume total control of their own abode once more.\"

Then to Alimah and Yussef, the Lord adds: \"Of what you have seen here, my fellow citizens, some things are to be measured carefully, and spoken only with great thought. I trust you in this. And I ask that you come and see me when all is done for your rewards for your long and faithful service.\"

Then with a nod to Mirdanath, Alphros turns to Eruphel. \"Captain Su\'ad-- Eruphel. We have much to speak of,\" he makes the understatement of the century. \"In the meantime, I am making my final command as sole chief of the Council of Umbar by appointing you to formal Regent of Seaward, until such a time as we can debate of Lordship and other things.\" And from his tone there will indeed be much to debate. Alphros gives Eruphel a long look, for so much has changed in the brief time since she parted from him. And then he looks to Qute and adds: \"And please bear word to Lady Mirag, for by the Council\'s dictate the Emperor is formally passed from Umbar and its reaches. She is Regent of Black. For your part in this, and the Tower Captain dead by your hand, you can expect your own reward.\"

[Mirdanâth(#16098)]       \"Are you Farsiders all so slow? I already stated that there were some missing. Someone has the other two or two others each have one.\" This is just a seedling of his anger however as he now turns to face the Lady-Claimant once more. \"There is such as thing as replacement, my Lady. And may I remind you that this is the now the /second/ time you have fiddled with our arrangement. House Sikkiyn grows weary of this, be assured.\"

\"Lord Alphros, what is happening in regards to Flame and Desert Tower?\"

Eruphel glances up as the lord returns, her eyes narrowing as he whispers to his sister. She bows as Alphros recognises her as regent, but her eyes narrow at his tone, and she sets her jaw stubbornly, for those who happen to look closely. \"Thank you, my Lord. There is much to discuss indeed. And now...I have my toys laying all over Tower Black\'s front yard. Excuse me.\" she says, and then to her men, \"Make sure those roses make it to Seaward.\"

[Qute(#19829)]

\"Yes, there are I noticed he included that detail in his sketch,\" Qute says of the missing flowers, with a genuine tone of fear in her voice perhaps from the earlier talk of poisoned roses. However, she says no more, and simply moves away from the pair to step closer to where Alphros stands, bowing slightly at the mention of her small achievement. \"Quite generous of you, Lord Alphros,\" she remarks in an almost fake tone of appreciativity, however nods respectfully to the Lord of Farside.

[Alimah(#24218)]

Acknowledging the orders of Alphros, Alimah bows her head just slightly, but her eyes shift to follow Eruphel and that woman\'s expression. Very slightly, almost imperceptibly, her own eyes narrow.

[Yussef(#19036)]

Eyeing askance the reappearance of Alphros and entourage over yonder, Yussef\'s brow again creases. But he bends at the waist none the less, in wordless deference.

When he stands erect, his glance falls wry and level on Mirdanath, cold, hard, ill-willed -- all these things are held in his blackened regard then. If looks could kill, as it were...

But he says nothing.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Arching her brow, Azradi does not resist when her brother reaches for her hand, but her surprise is obvious when he kisses it. Perhaps she even blushes, though the light is dim. She does smile at him. But when he whispers in her ear, her smile gives way to startlement. She glances quickly to the smaller, cloaked figure. \"I suppose I should follow you soon after then, brother.\"

Though distracted with other matters, the ill-humored lordling\'s insult does not go unnoticed. Offering Mirdanath a dark look, the Farside lady says simply: \"Shut up, you fool.\"

Then giving him not further attention, she walks to mysterious cloaked figure and leans forward to whisper something in its ear. The cloaked head nods, tentatively and a small hand emerges from the depths to clasp Azradi\'s own calloused hand.

[Alphros(#31271)]

Alphros looks to Zaki, the Corsair taking down the pattern of the roses. \"Make sure that is taken to the Lady Eruphel,\" he says. \"For you too have played a part in something great, Corsair.\"

\"Flame Tower acquiesced this evening as we marched upon Black Tower from the west. Desert has long sat in quiet neutrality... I do not think they will resist any return to the Council of Umbar,\" Alphros answers Mirdanath. The Lord of Farside then looks a little sharply to the Seawarder. \"And whatever your arrangements with Eruphel, I suspect you show a little respect to those around whom you stand, regardless of the Tower beneath which they march. Were it not through the long and tireless efforts of many who stand here, you would still be a thrall beneath the imperial overlordship of the Tyrant.\"

But all of a sudden, the self-proclaimed King of Gondor is all humour. He laughs, and for a moment, that fey laughter fills the tunnels. \"Yet Victory is our mistress once more! Come, let us go!\" And with that, he and his escort and the small, strange figure disappear into the shadows.