The Pretender Chronicles - The Beruthiel\'s Cat is Taken

Archipelago

Around you spreads a small volcanic archipelago located quite far away from the shorelines of Middle-Earth. Although discovered thousands of years ago, this archipelago which the Numenorean discoverers named Alkatyll is most often avoided by the sailing peoples, as these are known as beautiful but hazardous waters. Thirteen small, rocky isles arise around the larger main island. Sharp shoals peek up from the waters between and around these isles, and several atolls greet the approaching sailors well before reaching the archipelago itself.

In the middle of the archipelago is the dominating main island, a slim island some three miles long and one-half to one mile wide. The whole isle seems to be a high plateau of mild vegetation lifted above the waterline, as there does not seem to be a single natural harbour on the isle - only countless rows of deadly shoals before vertical and corroded cliffsides between fourty and seventy yards high, the windward side constantly being rammed by angry waves.

In the daylight hours, one can easily tell why the ancient Numenoreans called these rocky, barren isles beautiful among the deadly shoals and shallows spread coral reefs of a million colours, sparkling through the water in bright daylight like a sea of gems. The reef is at its most beautiful on the leeward side of the main island, where the tall ocean waves never strike and where the water is clear and transparent.

The day sky is clear with only slight wisps of clouds overhead. The late afternoon summer air is very hot and dry around you.

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Daytime on Sunday, Day 19 of June.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 20:20:12 MDT on Wed Mar 18 2009.

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The Archipelago, always beautiful, is stunning this day under a bright sun and clear skies. The treacherous azure waters sparkle with blinding brilliance.

Its deceptive shoals discourage common traffic and thus makes these waters the perfect course for a ship seeking a quiet entry from the Bay of Belfalas to the Bay of Umbar

Or for ships who seek to prevent such stealth. Two such ships sail among the jutting tolls and sharp shoals: A heavy raider of azure and a light warship of Gondorian make. Both sport the dread black sails of the Corsairs.

The Saqrwa\'il is not simply sailing, however. It is maneouvering. The crew can be heard shouting and relaying orders. \"Sails trimmed, Captain! Hard to starboard, aye! Depth two an a half fathoms!\" People rush about the deck in what would appear to be a battle...against the Variyah?

The islands provide stealth for incoming ships but have also hidden the sails of the two Corsairs until the last moment. Now there is simliar activity on board the white-sailed ship that cuts through the waves. Her sails are trimmed, her crew stands ready, though not seemingly armed..and a flag of peace is hoisted into her masts, where it flutters in the wind.

A cloaked figure comes to the railing to watch the approaching ship--a man, his cloak appearing either black or a deep dark green in the sunlight.

Sawsan swallows a few times and presses her right hand to her stomach, her skin still a pale, sallow parody of it\'s normal, honeyed hue.

[Nelladel(#7905)] A petite, smaller figure joins the cloaked man at the railing. Though this figure is also cloaked, it is clearly female, for the edges of a skirt peek out from beneath. Nella is tense, and was much too restless to stay off the deck- this she conveys to the man beside her with a grim look.

\"Damn! Watch her ram!\" comes a woman\'s voice from the aft deck of the Variyah. \"Keep our course, dead ahead there\'s no room starboard!\"

\"Unfurl the lateen, leap ahead of her!\"

\"Ship ahoy, Captain!\" comes the shout from the crow\'s nest. \"Gondorian! She flies the flag of parely!\"

\"Now it comes to it,\" the green-cloaked man on the deck of the Gondor ship says, looking to the two women near him. A freak of the wind might make his voice carry, though he does not shout.

\"Steady....\" This is said to the two women again, but it also seems to apply to the ship, which has slowed its course and does not seem to be trying to outrun the Corsair...nor is it maneuvering to attack.

On the Saqrwa\'il, only one figure is actually still, relatively speaking. This figure, Su\'ad, shouts another order. \"That\'s the way, boys! Load the grappling hook on the ballistae...\" comes a female voice, though it is barked in a deep, authoritative voice. The crew aboard the heavy raider begin to run in different directions, when the cry from the other Corsair Heavy travels the short distance across the blue waters, and the crew aboard the Saqrwa\'il also pause in their actions, searching the scenery. It takes only a moment. \"Hard about! Trim the sail!\"

[Sawsan(#20113)] The one female, her cloak thrown back and her hood off, clutches the railing as she watches, her expression lightening to show excitement and a touch of fear. \"Land.. if only for a moment of time to kiss the land.\" She says quietly to her companions.

Nelladel(#7905)] \"Land!\" Nella echoes the sentiment, ready to be done with the sea for a while despite its beauty. She reaches out to grab hold of Ceredir\'s arm, her knuckles white. \"I feel useless, just standing here,\" she mutters to both who are with her at the railing.

From high in the sails of the Gondorian ship, a voice calls: \"Grappling hooks! Prepare to be boarded!\"

The green-cloaked man looks up, and then to the two women next to him. \"Soon. Soon enough we will be on land...and you may not like it so much. But remember what drew you here and what it might portend.\"

\"Signal the Saqrwa\'il,\" orders Captain Azradi. \"Flank her, portside. Ready to fire, but hold. Enemy flies under parley.\"

The scarlet clad corsair lifts a brass spyglass to her eye and scans the Gondorian ship - sweeping across its prow and the name written there. Then suddenly she throws her head back and laughs loudly. \"And to think, I thought all Northerners humorless. Very well, veer to starboard. Archers in the nest, ballistae loaded.\"

And so the light Variyah speeds ahead, raven prow breaking the waters. She flies the banner of Farside and another below it some might recognize it as banner of House Azulada.

\"Belay the grappling hook, Cap\'n?\" a crewman asks. \"No. Continue.\" Su\'ad answers, and comes down from the back of the ship to stand at the railing to the side. As the ship turns, she passes to the other side to keep a better look, pulling out her spyglass. The black sails turn from the wide silhouette of the broadside to the lean silhouette of an oncoming warship. \"Ten degrees to port.\" the captain calls.

[Sawsan(#20113)] The one who stands with her cloak thrown back lifts her small chin a touch higher, watching with wide eyes as the ships manuever. Her lips part and she breaths a little faster, but she does not hide. No. Sawsan remains in plain view.

On The Saqrwa\'il, by her Captain\'s side, the youth goes quietly, calmly, a veritable island of stillness in the comings and goings of the ship\'s business. The butt of his spear thumps upon the planks with his strides. Black tresses, windswept and damp of sea-spray swing heavily to and fro about his face that too calm. Oddly calm. His black glance, however, is astir.

\"Ten to port, aye aye Cap\'n!\" The helmsman calls, busy at the wheel.

\"She flies her colors...\" the green-cloaked man says as he peers through a borrowed spyglass at the Variyah coming toward them. \"We are either very lucky...or we are about to meet a swift death....I recognize that banner.\" He points toward the House Azulada banner.

\"It flew in the camp of the Haradhrim in Harlonder and is the banner, I believe, to the sister of the claimant to the throne. And the woman who murdered our Lieutenant General. Have care.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] \"So long as it is quick,\" Nella says of her death, looking at Ceredir. Her lips are pressed in a thin line as she watches the ships. She continues to hold onto his arm, as if for support. Her face isn\'t fearful, but very solemn as she looks on.

Now within easy hailing distance, the Variyah comes along side the Beruthiel\'s Cat\'s starboard. The sleekly modified war ship (no doubt a prize of war) slows. \"Hail Beruthiel\'s Cat! I am Captain Azradi anAzulada, a corsair of Farside Tower. What do you seek in our waters?\"

Sawsan clutches the railing even tighter, her face alight with excitement, color finally returning to her cheeks. There isn\'t a speck of fear at this moment, despite the words uttered near her. No.. she\'s rushing towards this moment with bright eyes, even if she\'s standing still.

[Nelladel(#7905)] It\'s the petite, pale woman who speaks up now, throwing off her cloak to reveal her bright eyes and dark hair. Head held high, Nella calls back to the woman who has spoken, \"I am Nelladel...of Pinnath Gelin. We seek out the man called Alphros.\" Nella then watches the woman, unblinking.

Su\'ad draws her sword as the ships come close, the declared intention giving her pause. \"Ready the hook!\" she cries out to her crew, then in a louder voice, \"Ship of Gondor! Lower your sails and drop anchor, and prepare to be boarded!\" she calls out in challenge. The ships are nearly alongside now, and Su\'ad calls for the sails to be loosed. Almost right away the lines go lax and the sail flutters in the slight wind.

There\'s the flash of some emotion in the eyes of the green cloaked man next to the one who names herself Nelladel. Or maybe it is the sun glinting off the water. The man says nothing, only looks steadily toward the woman on the Variyah.

\"/Lord/ Alphros,\" corrects Azradi sharply. She smiles as Su\'ad\'s orders ring out from the opposite side of the Beruthiel\'s Cat. \"You heard Captain Su\'ad, prepare to be boarded!\"

To her own crew she says: \"Grappling hooks, draw your swords - but harm no one unless they resist. They are still protected by the flag of parley!\" The last is stated quite loudly perhaps as a reminder for the other ship.

Sawsan drops her chin as shouts are traded, then lifts her chin again as the warning is given. She finally releases the railing and steps back, well out of the way of any grapling hook that my come her side.

A slight nod of the head of the green-cloaked man, and the sails are furled and an anchor dropped. The man himself steps back from the railing, keeping his hands carefully away from the sword and dagger he wears.

The crew of the ship is sparse at best, and none are armed. Of passengers on deck, only Sawsan, Nelladel and the man in green can be seen.

\"Who is your Captain? It can\'t be you, girl!\" Azradi adds, turning back from shouting orders to look at the girl who addressed her.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nelladel looks back at the corsair captain as she is addressed by \"girl.\" She frowns faintly, then raises both hands in a gesture of surrender. \"No, of course not,\" she says hurriedly, seeming eager to agree with anything the woman says or demands. She follows Sawsan\'s lead in stepping away from the railing, keeping her hands up in that same gesture to show she has no weapons.

[Curugil(#10108)]

\"I am the pilot,\" says a man stepping forward. He wears no uniform. \"This vessel has been chartered by private parties to go to these waters.\"

Sawsan takes another step, her weight shifting a little unevenly. She adjusts her cloak again to show that there is no glint of metal, then lifts her small hands to her sides to show they are empty. Does she look afraid? Still no.

From portside, the ballistae is fired, like a giant crossbow, and a hook comes sailing across leading a heavy line. At first, it seems like the hook will sail clear over the Gondorian ship and grapple the Variyah, such is the initial force. But with every additional foot, the line weighs down the hook and slows the thrust to the point that the hook barely makes it at all! But the iron catches, and right away the crew of the Saqrwa\'il begins to heave, pulling the ships closer. The dread black sails are furled, and as the ships finally touch rail to rail, the Captain and a few of her crew hop over, onto the visiting (and now beleaguered) ship.

On The Saqrwa\'il, mutters rise amidst the corsair crew: \"Parley!\" Scoffs one. \"Their women can wear white in token of parley when they fatten my purse!\"

\"Sell?! Waste, such a waste!\" Answers another, to which a third retorts: \"\'Tis all them pale wenches\'r good fer, m\'boy! Now shut it, \'ere we go!\"

And then, they move.

Similar actions occur on the Variyah and soon enough, Captain Azradi and perhaps a dozen corsairs tread the Cat\'s boards. She looks over the pilot, girls and the green clad man. It is the last on whom, her gaze falls on and bores angrily. \'You! Ceredir, is it? Be glad I have more honor than you else I would run you through now for stabbing Yildirim!\'

She stares at him a moment longer, then turns to Su\'ad and says in Hardraic. \"We will bring them to Alphros. Split the crew and notable between our ships. A skeleton crew assembled from the Saqrwa\'il and Variyah will sail the Cat into dock. These may be more turncoats for my brother\'s cause. Agreed?\"

\"Of that, we may speak later, perhaps, Captain,\" Ceredir answers steadily. \"But...I have news of interest for your brother. These folk..\" he gestures to the women, \"are drawn to the cause of your brother. And we are not alone.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella stands very still as the corsairs begin to board the ship. Yet, though she looks pale, she tries to catch the female captain\'s gaze when Ceredir speaks of why she has risked her life to come on this trip, wanting to show her sincerity. She nods to affirm his words. \"Nothing else could have brought me here,\" Nella adds quietly after Ceredir.

Su\'ad\'s eyes are darting about wildly at first, watching every hand and every move...or trying to. Finally she calms a bit, her sword tip lowering. She also recognises the tall, pale man, but has nothing to say to him particularly. \" Aye, Captain Azradi. I\'ll take some...you take some. You should take that turncoat though. He might go swimming if he comes with me.\" she says, then turns to her crew, pointing to a few of them in turn, singling out a few good ones. \" You, you, you...cross over.\" The men she points to begin to also board the Cat. Then Su\'ad turns back to the pale northerners. \'Chartered by private parties to go to these waters, eh? Well you\'ve made it. Welcome to Harad.\' It doesn\'t sound like much of a welcome.

Sawsan keeps her hands up where they can be seen, her weight resting just a little crooked and to the left, her expression calm, eyes bright with.. is that still excitement? Or zeal. She doesn\'t turn around, but does watch folks steadily.

[ \"You have a great deal of faith in my own self-restraint,\" replies Azradi to Su\'ad, grinning wickedly. She returns her attention to the men and women before her. Her grin fades and is replaced by her earlier scowl. \'Your crew and passengers will be split between the Saqrwa\'il and Variyah. Our people will sail the Cat into harbor. You may consider yourselves, for the moment, something in between well-treated prisoners and restricted guests. When we reach Umbar, you will be installed in the Embassy under guard until Lord Alphros finds time to attend to you. If he so desires, you may gain permission to enter Umbar proper.\'

\" Check below,\" she directs the corsairs that boarded with her, \" Transfer any you find there to either our ship or Captain Su\'ad\'s.\"

[Yussef(#19036)]

The youth on Su\'ad\'s heels, short and thin in the company of northerners, bears naught on his face where others of her crew scowl or sneer whenever they glance on the folk of Gondor. And they do more than glance some stare openly and appreciatively at Nelladel and Sawsan, some grinning from ear to ear -- and of these, all fade at Azradi\'s words -- even whilst they heed their orders.

No, impassive is what he, Yussef, is, his own glance held on Ceredir and not the two women.

\'Yes.\' Ceredir answers Azradi with that one word, his face not betraying any reaction. \'There are three more of our number below. One you will recognize and then...you will see that our mission is true. And more so...\' he gestures to Nelladel, \'you will see my own sincerity. For this is my wife that I have brought with me. Would I risk her own life were I not sincere? But...Lord Alphros will decide.\'

Briefly, Ceredir now turns to the two women. \" It may well be that we will earn what we feared here--our deaths. If Baiz cannot convince them of our purpose here, all will be lost.\"

Sawsan frowns a little at Ceredir, proving that she can hear at least. Then she\'s watching those that swarm around them, eyes bright with intelligence. Slowly, she starts to lower her hands to her sides.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella bows her head to the captain when Ceredir gestures at her. She only acknowledges her husband\'s Sindarin words with a knowing look. Then, as they speak, she looks around at the many corsairs who have boarded. Though he does not watch her, Nella\'s eyes linger on Yussef, grateful to see at least one face without a menacing sneer or leering look.

[Su\'ad(#20109)]

�������� Su\'ad glowers at the group, and begins drawing a dividing line between the Gondorian crew. \"You you you you...\" On and on she goes until it is even. \"On my ship, down in the hold. Then to the ladies the Corsair captain turns, judging each with a guess. To Nelladel and Sawsan she points. \"And you two. You will be guests on my ship.\" She says something in Haradaic, and some of the grinning crew\'s faces fall. \"Right away now!\" she barks.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"Oh yes,\" sneers Azradi, her gaze resting now on Ceredir and his wife, \"solid proof. The men of Gondor are so well-known for their treatment of women. You and the men below will come with me. Go.\"

To her crew she says something in Haradaic and they scurry to herd half of the Cat\'s crew over to the Variyah.\"

\"Wait!\" Ceredir calls. \"At least let my wife come with me? No matter what you think how the men of Gondor treat women, we do protect our wives and love them.And our...our circumstances are different.\"

[Yussef(#19036)]

The gratitude however, seems wasted.

Yussef steps forward then, ceasing his vigil of Ceredir as he grasps Nelladel brusquely by the arm. His command is quietly spoken, but no less firm all the same:

\"Move.\"

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella shoots a hopeful look over her shoulder at Ceredir, and calls out, \"I love you!\" even as someone steps forward to grab her arm. She only spares her captor one glance, and looks dismayed to find that it\'s the one corsair who wasn\'t sneering. She does what he asks and begins walking immediately in silence, eyes downcast.

[Su\'ad(#20109)]

�������� Su\'ad whirls about as Ceredir requests that his wife stay with him. \"She will be safe. But I can think of no better reason not to swim home than to keep her with us.\" Su\'ad\'s eyes narrow, her voice brassy-harsh.

Sawsan sets herself in motion, her steps slightly uneven thanks to a bit of a limp. For any that notices, she favors her right leg just a touch.

\"Yes,\" Ceredir answers with humility, \"I deserve that.\" He looks to Nelladel, eyes filled with worry, brows knitting as she is led away. Some words are said to her, quietly, in Sindarin, answering, from the sound of it, likely professing his love for her as well.

[Azradi(#20135)]

\"She will not be harmed, assassin!\" Azradi snaps at Ceredir. \"Now move!\"

Gesturing to a pair of sturdy corsairs to force the man if needed, Azradi turns and heads starboard to where her own ship lies abreast.

It does take a shove from one of the Corsairs to get Ceredir moving, as the Master Scout keeps looking anxiously back toward his wife for as long as he can.

[Yussef(#19036)]

Something is called out to the Saqrwa\'il, Yussef\'s note short. Shortly thereafter, his spear is flinged across the railings caught by a corsair over there.

Hey you, catch?

His voice, now low, is not unkind as he loosens his hold of that arm and tells Nelladel quietly with a nod toward the tongue\'twister ship: \"Careful.\"

And to Sawsan, on a note more firm, as he holds out a hand for her to cross by: \"And you, quickly!\"

Sawsan dips her head to Yussef and.. hey, that hand is held out to her.. so reacting completely out of habit, she places her small hand in his for support as she moves. Surely that\'s what it was there for, right? She\'s not dawdling, honest. It\'s that slight limp.

[Nelladel(#7905)] Nella\'s light grey eyes seek her captor\'s face once more. \"Thank you,\" she whispers to him, offering a fleeting smile despite her fear and uncertainty as she moves across onto the unfamiliar ship. She swallows a lump in her throat as she thinks of Ceredir, and keeps moving.

[Yussef(#19036)]

Then Yussef, too, leaves the to him alien deck. From her ship, no doubt to Su\'ad a corsair calls:

\"Cap\'n! All aboard and accounted for!\"

With the crews so dispersed, and the guests aboard the Haradaic ships, Su\'ad sighs once and goes about naming the positions of the native crewmen who will be sailing the Gondorian ship in to port. Finally she looks at Azradi. \" \'I love you!\'\" she snorts. \" Nice touch. Do you think she\'s really his wife?\"

Laughing, Azradi shakes her head. \" I have no idea. Gondorian mating rituals are a mystery to me. I do not know how they can ever truly trust in a woman\'s love with they way they treat them.\"

\" I wasn\'t talking about Gondorian mating practices or Gondorian women roles...I just don\'t know how we can believe anything he says. \" Su\'ad answers, then she jumps over the railing to her own ship. \" Cast off!\" she shouts, which must be Haradaic for \'cast off!\' because immediately the crew begin untying the warships lashings.

[Azradi(#20135)]

Azradi returns to her ship, laughing. In similar fashion, the crew begins to uncouple the ships while the Haradrim crew of the Cat prepares her to sail.