SESSION FORTY-NINE
Outside the palace, the horns and bugles of Auran legionaries resounded through the town. With the remaining Aurans due to arrive to counter-attack in minutes, there was little time to spare. Mahmud ordered the Mamelukes to the walls to defend the palace, and he and Ethlyn joined them there. In the courtyard, Senef began the lengthy ritual that would summon a dragon.
Not more than 5 minutes later, a half-century of legionaries had taken up positions in the buildings and towers outside the palace. From the highest minaret, a legionary shouted: “Legate Arjenus, we heard the alarm!”
Ethlyn called back “Who is speaking?” “Centurion Nestor. And to whom am I speaking? “Ethlyn, Emperor’s Talon.” The Emperor’s Talons are the elite bodyguard and enforcers of the Empire, answering directly and only to the Tarkaun. Their black cloaks and bronze badges are feared and respected throughout Aura.
“Ethlyn, of the Fated?” called back the Centurion skeptically. “That is just what the Emperor wanted you to believe,” she swiftly responded.
“The Emperor is dead. Who do you serve now?” Ethlyn hadn’t heard the news of the Emperor’s death so she was taken aback. “Um…The Emperor is dead, but our mission remains. Thereafter we shall serve whoever the Emperor acclaims!” she said.
“Are the Emperor’s Talons supporting the Butcher’s claim on the throne?” the centurion asked. “The Emperor’s Talons are here to weed out corruption and kill the Mad Dog,” came Ethlyn’s stern reply.
“Ah… what do you mean by corruption?” The centurion sounded concerned. “You have nothing to fear. Your service has been honorable,” replied Ethlyn.
There was a lengthy pause as the legionaries discussed what to do. Then came a roar behind Ethlyn – a mighty dragon, the coppery brown of burnished sand, had appeared in the courtyard behind her. The creature was out of line of sight to the legionaries outside the walls.
“We are ready to serve,” announced centurion Nestor at last, “but we ask that you show us your badge of office and warrant.”
Ethlyn clambered onto the paw of the great dragon inside the gates. “Of course! Come forward, Nestor and you shall see my warrant.” The gates were opened and Ethlyn revealed herself to the stunned centurion. Nestor staggered back at the sight of the dragon.
“This is my warrant. The Talons on this dragon,” declared Ethlyn. “We are the Dragons of the Desert, and we now rule Khaibar. Come forward or be destroyed!” It was a great moment to announce a new name change.
The legionaries knew they were outmatched, and presented themselves to Ethlyn. There were not even very many of them: A scant 48 soldiers were all that remained. The rest of the town’s garrison was dead in the barracks, having been slaughtered by the Mad Dog’s assassins during the coup.
Ethlyn interviewed each of the soldiers in turn, vetting their leaders and assessing their loyalty. “Legionaries! You have a choice to make. Join us, or be gone from this land. Be loyal to us, and we shall be good to you. Cross us and it will not go well for you.”
Mahmud strode forward and threw the head of Farouk before them. The dragon, smelling food, gobbled the head down in moments, unintentionally adding to the horror of the moment.
The legionaries of Khaibar were in turmoil. The Butcher and Legate Arjenus had done little to earn their loyalty. Many of them had been assigned to distant Opelenea for most of their adults lives and had taken native wives. But the Fated had a dark reputation, despite Ethlyn’s resounding speech. In the end 36 of the 48 swore to serve. These were proclaimed as “The Dragon’s Talons”.
The others were disarmed and sent away. Bellona chased after one of the departing centurions. “Marcus, when you return to Aura, tell the mages at the Academy that Balen died a hero’s death.” The soldier looked at the [Cha 8] elf with contempt. “Balen was a traitor. He helped destroy Kirkuk. He didn’t deserve a good death.” Seeing the sudden glowering of the sorceress, Marcus added, “but I’ll be glad to mention it.”
The party now had their soldiers pile the many dead into a great pyre in the courtyard. Dozens of brave soldiers had died during the night, at the Mad Dog’s hands or the Fated’s. When the pyre was ready the dragon took flight and set them aflame.
Instantly panic gripped Khaibar. “A dragon is attacking the palace!” “FIRE!” Alarmed residents took to the streets, fleeing for the city gates. Others took advantage of the confusion to begin to loot. The city teetered on the brink of anarchy. Ethlyn took flight on the dragon, and blew the Trumpet of War. Magical tones not heard in a thousand years rang over the casbah. “We are the Dragons of the Desert,” she cried. “We are here to free you from injustice, and rule you with wisdom!” This gesture, and vigorous action by the remaining town guard, soon restored order.
The party now asked for a tour of the palace. Centurion Nestor obliged. One of the early stops was the pit-trap which had cost the life of Wazir. Nestor showed how the trap was controlled, and revealed the hideous giant crayfish that lived within. “What did Arjenus feed this thing?” asked Suad. “Mostly harem-girls that he’d grown tired of,” said Nestor, expressionless.
“What was your opinion of Legate Arjenus?” asked Ethlyn. “I’ve never found it in my professional interest to have an opinion on my commanders,” said the centurion. “Good answer,” she responded.
“We should feed the body of Arjenus to the crayfish while the harem girls watch!” said Suad, whose mind had lately seemed to be fraying under the effects of stress and magic. Everyone agreed this was a good idea, and the Dragons were led to the harem of Khaibar.
It was spectacular. A pool of enchanted waters, glowing with soft magical lighting, was surrounded by divans and ottomans, pillows and silks. Over a dozen delightful beauties adorned the waters and furniture, unveiled and scantily clad. Ethlyn strode forward. “Ladies! We have freed you from the tyranny of Arjenus. You are no longer harem girls. You are free!”
The panicked girls began to cover themselves. “Free to do what? Go back to the brothels?” said one. “No, you can do whatever you want!” said Suad. “Can we stay here? It’s awfully nice.”
“Sure,” said Suad. “But first we’re going to feed Arjenus to the crayfish!” Cheers resounded through the harem, and the women gathered to enjoy the mastication of their tormentor. Mahmud demanded that Arjenus’s corpse first be beheaded, so he could place the head on a pike on the walls. The women took the opportunity to spit on the corpse and beat it with their shoes. Then the once-proud legate was fed to the hungry crayfish. Senef got a few hairs from the deceased Wazir’s remains, for use in a reincarnation.
This grisly task finished, the party completed its tour of the palace. Captives were freed, the torture room shut down, and servants set to clean up the gore left by Mad Dog’s work. And then, finally, came the treasury – vast wealth, the jewels and gold of an entire domain, 140,000gp, more treasure than they had seen in one place than in their entire careers. Bellona nearly squealed with glee. Shikra gazed at the treasure and seemed to contemplate it. “We should conquer more cities,” she finally said.
The next day, the 14th, Vahtak Bey came to visit. The dead-eyed thief-turned-vizier arrived in a feverish state, the poison in his body close to killing him. Senef cured him with a simple spell. “The desert heals everything!” “I wish the clerics of Imran had been so kind,” muttered Vahtak. He then produced voluminous paperwork and scrolls – all of the paperwork necessary to run the realm of Khaibar!
The Dragons of the Desert had decided that Ethlyn would be pasha and Mahmud would be grand mufti. These two were soon engrossed in learning about their new realm. The pashalic of Khaibar had 2,340 peasant families and 542 urban families. Sub-domains to Khaibar were four oasis domains, Bab al-Djebel, Bir Muktar, Bou Farfa, and Oued Tal. Below these oases were some smaller oases and many scattered nomadic tribes, totaling another 4,300 families. The realm as a whole was under the ostensible control of the governor of Jubai, who in turn reported to the exarch in Alakyrum. The realm’s garrison was depleted, because many of the Imperial forces had been levied for the Butcher’s campaign in the east. What remained to be called up were the native troops: 60 camel lancers, 60 horse archers, 120 camel archers, 360 composite bowmen, and 720 light infantry with scimitars and shield.
While Ethlyn and Mahmud busied themselves in administration, Senef reincarnated the fallen Wazir. The once strong and dexterous nomad came back in a slow and frail body, but a palpable faith radiated from him. “Imran has sent me back in a new body, but I am still your faithful servant,” he announced. He had returned as a cleric, and made his way to the chapel.
Suad and Zoya set about interviewing the harem girls to see whether any might make suitable henchmen. Suad found none of them met his exacting standards, but Zoya found four that had cunning, agility, and charm. These, she recruited.
From the 14th to the 18th, much was afoot:
Mahmud was gone from the city. He flew to Oasis of the White Palm to retrieve his wife, Aaliyah, and to give his friend and patron the Sheikh gifts. “Sheikh Hassan, my band now rules Khaibar. I am the Grand Mufti of the city. I am taking Aaliyah to be with me in the palace.” The Sheikh clasped his hands in friendship. “May Imran shine on you. Go forth and conquer larger realms. My nephew’s sons will be rulers of men.”
Zoya’s spies in Ber-Gathy sent word that “Omalan, the pasha of Ber-Gathy, was slain in a coup, along with most of his followers. A council of the leading citizens of the town seems to be taking power.”
Shikra’s genie transported the Dragon’s library and workshop from the Oasis of the White Palm to the palace in Khaibar. Suad began to convert the torture chamber and cells into a laboratory for magical experimentation.
Ethlyn and the legionaries tried to hunt down the Mad Dog. Reports had stated that the Mad Dog had vivid blue eyes, dark clothing, and preached sermons from roof tops in the night. But since the coup he had not been seen.
Everyone waited tensely for spies to arrive with word from Jubai and Alakyrum…