The Stalemate of Terror(TA 1564-1570)

Copyright Eric Dubourg 2001

Edited by Joe Mandala and Cory Rushton for The Guild Companion

Northern revenge came unexpectedly with the assassination of King Imruzr II in Nllond by aSorijan spy, during the r'n Aval (12 - 20 Manjaz 1564), the Day of Revival that Zimrbal hadinstituted at the beginning of the Tumakveh dynasty. Belkli and Anardil were in rzyan whenthey learned of the disastrous event (18 Manjaz 1564) two days after the assassination; Sakalthrwas in Korlea when the news reached him.

Sakalthr returned to Nllond and, after conferring with Queen Blkali concerning his father'sfuneral, convoked a special session of the Invocate Council for Vetrashu the fifteenth. Sakalthrwas unaware of her marriage to Anardil and hoped to name an heir to the Tumakveh throne byfinding a husband for Blkali. With Queen Belkli approval, Sakalthr became the Regent of theRealm on 22 Manjaz.

Dozens of potential husbands presented themselves for marriage to Queen Blkali, and manyamong them were of Tumakveh blood. The Regent saw them all, including Gimilbl, the only sonof the Northern King. None of them showed the qualities of a Tumakveh, and without the Queen'sknowledge, he decided that no one would have the throne. He himself was the best qualified toprotect the realm, until a true descendant of the Tumakveh arrived.

Nevertheless, the Invocate Council remained in session, attended by Queen Blkali and PrinceAnardil. For Sakalthr, Prince Anardil's presence was a shock, as he hadn't seen fit to invite theforeigner. Addressing the Invocate Council, he spoke of the dignity of the Tumakveh. Pointing tothe gathered claimants, Sakalthr cried: "Do you really wish to have as King a puppet of Umbar,like the false king of the North? Or a king like Atanatar II of Gondor, whose only purpose ispleasure and whose realm wastes away under his luxurious hand? Choose one of these lordlings,and you shall have such a King as that!"

These words surprised many in the Council, and after a very long debate controlled by Sakalthr,the Council agreed to nominate none of the claimants to the throne. Given the number of hispersonal supporters in the Council (both genuine and "bought"), Sakalthr was confirmed asRegent; he was in appearance the second most important ruler in the realm, and in reality the first(given that the Queen completely trusted him). In his political tactics, Sakalthr was trulydescended from Zimrbal Ironhand, who created of the Tumakveh monarchy through cunning andstrength. But the Regent never sought to crown himself as the new king of Bellakar, though it wasnot beyond his capacity to do so. He had no desire to be compared with the unworthy andusurping kings of Northern Bellakar.

This unexpected turn of events disturbed the Northern King, Nlzagar, who had thought to gainsovereignty in all Bellakar through his son Gimilbl. Just a few months after the Council, on 15Vatrul 1564, Nlzagar ordered his spies into Southern Bellakar to destabilize the Queen's regime.

This was the beginning of a dangerous stalemate between the two realms.

The Regent, Queen Blkali and Prince Anardil were major targets for assassination, but there wereother targets, like asapthubths, generals commanding the Army and even powerful andinfluential merchants. Two years were necessary to fully establish the Stalemate of Terror, as theassassins needed to establish themselves in the South. Assassination attempts against QueenBlkali (22 Tamun 1564) and Prince Anardil (13 Manjaz 1565) in Nllond heralded the beginningof the Stalemate. The Queen and the Prince were seriously wounded, but not killed. Others (likesome of the Tumakveh claimants) did not survive, and many Southerners perished during theTerror Stalemate.

Nlzagar did not achieve his desired instability, as the land was controlled by the iron hand ofSakalthr the Regent. In 23 Tamun 1565 (while the Queen was recovering in Korlea from herwounds, Prince Anardil at her side), the Regent reestablished the secret society known as the FreeSharks. Their objective was to seek any information that might help keep the realm stabilized, andto act against the North. All the agents received their orders from the Regent, not the Queen, whowas not even aware of their revival.

Sakalthr progressively came to know every secret of all the influential leaders of the South,enabling him to better control them. This worked very well, and limited the number of lordswilling or able to turn traitor. He was also able to propagate false rumors, which led to theexposure of many of the northern assassins. But unlike Castamir, he always sought the happinessof his people. In 12 Mizir 1566, he learned of the secret marriage between the Queen and PrinceAnardil. He had always harbored a bitter hatred for the Dnedain of Gondor and Umbar, betweenwhom he made little distinction, and blaming them for most of the ills that had befallen Bellakarsince the 10th century Tedjin Wars. Enraged, Sakalthr still chose not to reproach the Queen,keeping the information to himself.

The Free Sharks were also responsible for the security of the Queen. However, on one occasion,their protection failed. On 22 Ishat 1566, the Queen was again badly wounded by an assassinationattempt that nearly succeeded. When the Regent learned the disastrous news, he exploded in rageand wrath against those Sharks who were not even able to protect their Queen.

Leaving to his lieutenants the reorganization of the army and the upgrades to the strongholds ofSouthern Bellakar with which he was engaged, he immediately traveled to Nllond. He wentdirectly to the Queen's chamber, without waiting to be announced. He surprised the Queen, whowas with Prince Anardil. Not pausing to acknowledge their relationship, Sakalthr spoke: "Thesituation is not under control, my Queen, and I must take precautions to save your life. The FreeSharks were not able to protect you. I fear there was a traitor among them. In the near future,perhaps these assassins will succeed, as they did with the assassination of the asapthubth ofrzyan two weeks ago, and many others. You must flee Bellakar, wait for the end of thisconflict. The only safe land is Gondor. Prince Anardil, return to your own country with ourQueen."

The Queen was unwilling to leave Bellakar, but the will of Sakalthr was strong. The Queen left hernative country from rzyan on 28 Ishat 1566, accompanied by Prince Anardil. Many Bellakaranapproved of this departure, hoping that the Queen would soon return. The Queen arrived safely inOsgiliath, after a long and roundabout voyage. The Regent assumed all power in name of theQueen, and avoided being deposed, though many Tumakveh claimants tried to remove him. Hemoved ruthlessly against such attempts, showing no pity for the aspirants as he condemned themto death.

The end of the stalemate was the prime objective of the Regent, although reunification was in theback of his mind. Four years were needed to stabilize the Southern realm, and to resist the Corsairassaults. Despite their failure to protect the Queen, the Free Sharks were instrumental in thepreservation of the realm. When a Free Shark managed to assassinate Nlzagar by direct order ofthe Regent on 22 Tamun 1570, the Stalemate was over and a period of Northern instability began.

The southern kingdom then enjoyed stability and prosperity, with the return of the merchantsfrom distant Arnor and the Seven Lands. The merchant festivals and all the religious days,neglected during the Stalemate, were fully reestablished. By 1580, it was Sakalthr's turn to pursuethe reunification of Bellakar.

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