STAR WARS: RETROSPECTION- Brothers

Melkor also moves to the coffin.

"It seems this world will not let you rest in peace, mother." -He speaks bitterly.

The Castellan says nothing, standing over her cold and lifeless body as the funeral procession resumes its places. Soon he steps away, taking his place at the head of the column and moving towards the Archway as the soldiers clear the Creature away.

Einar falls in behind him, ignoring you as he walks past.

Melkor takes his place slilently, eager for the ceremony to end.

He is wary of more unpleasant surprises, though.

The procession resumes marching solemnly into the Archway, carrying you down a sharp flight of stairs downwards into the mountain. The halls are dimly lit by crackling torches, casting a flickering light against the darkness of the stone corridors.

You pass entrances, dozens of them, that lead off into the tombs of respective ruling families of Erengard's past.

The Tomb of House Esgabath is the deepest into the mountain, to date. Of all the Castellans of Erengard, the line of House Esgabath has been the most recent. It is also notable for longevity; the Esgabathian dynasty has lasted since the New Sith Wars, one thousand years ago, when the first Castellan Esgabath came to the need of his people and helped drive the Creatures into the North and resist the Sith armies that came.

Describe what distinguishes the tomb of the Esgabaths, if you like, but generally it is a gloomy and dim place.

Despite his troubled thoughts, Melkor suddenly feels the weight of the ages around him. He glances uneasily as they pass dark corridors leading to ancient tombs, imagining the countless generations of Castellans observing him from their cold graves. Would they condemn him for plotting to kill his own brother? He wonders how many of them raised to power through the corpses of their own Kin.

Tomb of House Esgabath is gloomy like others, decorated by the sculptures presenting the past glory and battles of the House, including Melkor`s grand-grandfather giving his life to save the Voivode of Antonon. At the top of the tomb is impressive marble statute of the K`rresh beast, the sigil of the House.

(K`rresh resembles a huge white wolf)

You are not sure about how brothers have gotten along in past dynasties, Melkor. You do know that rarely do the Castellans have more than a single son.

The K'rresh seems to glare down at the funeral procession as it moves into the Esgabathian tomb.

Lining the walls of the tomb are the caskets, containers that flash-freeze the bodies of the dead for preservation purposes. Each emits an eerie green glow. Within them are the corpses of your ancestors, the men wearing battle armor and the women wearing elegant gowns, all with the appearance of having died yesterday. Their skin, however, is ghastly white, part of the freezing process.

At the farther end are empty containers. Your father leads the party towards them.

Melkor looks at his ancestors in morbid fascination. Al least his mother will never lose her beauty...

Upon reaching the nearest empty container, your father operates a computer panel at one side of the container. Within a few moments, the cryo-chamber hisses open with a rush of air colder than the frigid cavern, and your mother's container is ushered towards it.

Slowly, methodically, your father then presses a control on the side of your mother's casket. The grav-engines hum briefly and the casket tilts into a vertical position, your mother secured by a miniature tractor beam.

Finally, the Castellan guides the casket of his dead wife into the cryogenic capsule and, with a final hiss, closes it. There is a clank as the lock seals, rather permenently.

"It is done," the Castellan says. "My wife was a brave, strong woman. She was worthy enough to be called a Erengardian in death, though she was not of this planet. Her deeds in Maurenburg and abroad in the fields of Erengard, inspiring our men in the armed forces, will be remembered for eternity, as have all Countesses been recalled. I commit her to this tomb, so that she may live on in greatness in the pantheon of our ancestors."

The inside of the view-glass of the container frosts over, obscuring any clear view. Combined with the eerie green lighting of the cryogenic chamber, Countess Milena appears almost other-worldly, a supernatural figure trapped until the mountains crumble.

Staring at the corpse, Melkor is the last to leave. He silently promises that Einar will not have this world and be allowed to ruin everyting his mother has achieved.

The funeral procession files past the monument that is Countess Milena, then take their leave of the tomb. It seems all have left but for yourself, your father, and Janus.

"So, it is over," Janus says, standing beside you, arms folded.

"Indeed." Melkor considers Janus for a moment.

"I decided to stay on Erengard for a while."

"How long?" Janus asks. "You cannot stay away from the Academy on Coruscant for too long or they'll drop you from the program."

"It is the matter of priorities, then.... it seems this world needs me more."

"As your friend, I cannot allow you to abandon your studies," Janus says. "Not after all the effort you went through to gain access to the Academy. But... I will do my best to extend your stay on Erengard. I'm sure your reason will be appreciated."

Soory, been a bit busy recenty...is there an obvious reason to extend the stay?

Sowing the seeds of dissent to ensure that Einar does not become the Castellan and bringing to justice this committer of matricide might be an incentive, though it is possible that your father might totally disown you if all the credits he spent to get you into the Coruscanti Imperial Academy were wasted on a drop-out student.

That would leave you... pretty much nowhere.

Janus mentioned he could make sure your leave was extended, of course.

"How would you ensure it, my friend?"

"I'm good with people, Melkor," Janus says. "They will understand that the death of your mother requires more attention than your studies."

"I would appreciate if you could do this..."

Actually, how popular is Einar right now? I assume most of nobility is happy with his stern ways?

They are indeed. There are some that would prefer a more diplomatic rule, as opposed to how your father and Einar are running things now. But for the most part, he is well-liked, especially as alternatives haven't presented themselves.