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Child of the 7th Age · 09-29-2002, 09:42 AM

Harad/Umbar

A sliver of a moon hung high in the sky, giving off only faint illumination. This was not the main gate which led into the city of Umbar but a side entrance. It was wide enough to let an oliphaunt through, but in a totally deserted location.

The entryway boasted a series of deep cisterns outside the city wall used for storing back-up water for the populace. For, in a climate as hot and dry as that of Harad and Umbar, water was a valuable commodity. Only two guards stood at the gateway. These two had their heads down and were deeply engrossed in a game of chance, spinning small bones in front of them on a large, flat stone.

The men never noticed the small party lurking in the surrounding brush. There were three hidden figures: Urken himself, and two of his most trusted household retainers. They approached the gateway with secrecy and swiftness. Within a single instant, both men had been sent sprawling into two of the deep cisterns. Despite their muffled cries, they were certain to remain undetected until at least the next morning when the first shift was to relieve at the gate. By that time, he and his visitors should be long gone.

Urken had sent back a messenger earlier that morning and instructed the two kings how and where to meet him. Their retinues should be approaching any moment now. The priest unlocked the gate with a large key which hung about his waist. Just south of the entrance,inside the city, but hidden to human eyes, was a concealed doorway. This led down by a broad ramp into a system of underground tunnels, with flat and spacious corridors.

These had been designed long ago to accomodate the wagons or oliphaunts loaded with pirate booty, providing a direct link between the port and the small city gate. From there, the raiders could transport their valuables to all parts of Harad. Urken had stationed ten foot soldiers down the hidden ramp, in case his guests proved less than hospitable. He did not think so, but it was better to be safe.

He had no intention of launching an assault on the city itself, which the kings had first suggested. It would be far wiser to slip silently down to the harbor, and take out the Corsairs on the few remaining ships. They would commandeer one or two vessels for their trip up the Anduin. His own guards would occupy the remaining boats and carefully "guard" them on behalf of the Harad Council, perhaps even on a permanent basis. He peered out carefully over the flat plain and thought he saw a distant retinue approach.

[ September 29, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

09-29-2002, 09:42 AM	#79
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Harad/Umbar A sliver of a moon hung high in the sky, giving off only faint illumination. This was not the main gate which led into the city of Umbar but a side entrance. It was wide enough to let an oliphaunt through, but in a totally deserted location. The entryway boasted a series of deep cisterns outside the city wall used for storing back-up water for the populace. For, in a climate as hot and dry as that of Harad and Umbar, water was a valuable commodity. Only two guards stood at the gateway. These two had their heads down and were deeply engrossed in a game of chance, spinning small bones in front of them on a large, flat stone. The men never noticed the small party lurking in the surrounding brush. There were three hidden figures: Urken himself, and two of his most trusted household retainers. They approached the gateway with secrecy and swiftness. Within a single instant, both men had been sent sprawling into two of the deep cisterns. Despite their muffled cries, they were certain to remain undetected until at least the next morning when the first shift was to relieve at the gate. By that time, he and his visitors should be long gone. Urken had sent back a messenger earlier that morning and instructed the two kings how and where to meet him. Their retinues should be approaching any moment now. The priest unlocked the gate with a large key which hung about his waist. Just south of the entrance,inside the city, but hidden to human eyes, was a concealed doorway. This led down by a broad ramp into a system of underground tunnels, with flat and spacious corridors. These had been designed long ago to accomodate the wagons or oliphaunts loaded with pirate booty, providing a direct link between the port and the small city gate. From there, the raiders could transport their valuables to all parts of Harad. Urken had stationed ten foot soldiers down the hidden ramp, in case his guests proved less than hospitable. He did not think so, but it was better to be safe. He had no intention of launching an assault on the city itself, which the kings had first suggested. It would be far wiser to slip silently down to the harbor, and take out the Corsairs on the few remaining ships. They would commandeer one or two vessels for their trip up the Anduin. His own guards would occupy the remaining boats and carefully "guard" them on behalf of the Harad Council, perhaps even on a permanent basis. He peered out carefully over the flat plain and thought he saw a distant retinue approach. [ September 29, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.