Aht Urhgan Mission 18: Passing Glory/Plot Details

Aht Urhgan Whitegate
The adventurer appears in front of Imperial Whitegate

Arzizah: You want to know what's behind the gate? This gate leads to the Imperial Ward. You may only enter by the grace of Her Magnificence, the Empress, or if you have Al Zahbi citizenship. No place for a mercenary like you. Be on your way.

???: Now, hold up there.

Naja Salaheem: I know how standin' around all day can start to grrreate on ya nerves.

Arzizah: And who might you be...? Ah, a Salaheem's Sentinels employee. What is your business here? You have just as little chance of passing through the Imperial Whitegate. Have you come to deliver a message?

Naja Salaheem: Hmph. For the sake of something that insignificant... do ya think... that the prrresident of Salaheem's Sentinels... would come all the way to the Imperial Whitegate!? My employee, <>, and I are her to the invitation of Grand Vizier Razfahd. You're always sayin' that anyone with the permission of the Empress has the right to pass through the gate. Am I rrright?

Arzizah: That is correct.

Naja Salaheem: Then ya shouldn't have a prrroblem with anyone bearin' the signed invitation of her highest official.

Arzizah: ... Yes. Well. This seems to be in order. Not so fast. I have to check this with my superior.

Naja Salaheem: Lala-lala-la-

Suddenly Gessho appears.

Gessho: Greetings!

Naja Salaheem: Gessho! Ya scared the livin' daylights outta me!

Gessho: My apologies, President Naja. <>. I came as soon as I learned your destination from Abquhbah. I most humbly ask you a favor. The Empress wishes to hear the tale directly from one who has boarded the ghost ship... And you must bring one other acquaintance, correct? It is rare that one manages a glimpse of Her Magnificence in person. If I might be the one to accompany... !!! (What a terrible visage...)

Arzizah: Your invitation has been verified. You may pass through the Imperial White... !? Halt! Who are you supposed to be!?

Gessho: I am a colleague to these people.

Arzizah: Halt, I say! You may not pass without permission!

Gessho: You do me injustice! I am an employee of Salaheem's Sentinels, and a mercenary in service of your Empire.

Arzizah: Being a mercenary has nothing to do with it.

Naja Salaheem: Gessho. I hate to be the one to say it, but your fashion sense may be a little rrrevealin'... And ya don't look like someone on the way to meet the Empress. Even if by some fluke of the imagination you were allowed to pass through this gate... before you made it to the palace... I would grab ya by the scrrruff of the neck and march ya back to the office! I will not have the rrreputation of my company drrragged through the mud!

Gessho: How unreasonable...

''Inside the Imperial Palace. The adventurer and Naja bows in front of the throne.''

Nashmeira: You may look upon us... Be welcome, mercenary, Naja Salaheem. For uncovering the truth behind the ghost ship in the name of our Empire... we are truly grateful.

Naja Salaheem: Your Magnificence.

Nashmeira: However...

Naja Salaheem: !?

Nashmeira: We are... We are troubled... The Ashu Talif... A vessel of the lost kingdom, Ephramad...

Ovjang: I understand your trepidation, Your Magnicence... However, we should leave the ghost of Ephramad in the past, where they belong. In any case... With the most powerful army in Urhguum under the command of Your Magnificence... there is nothing to fear!

???: Nothing to fear...

Rishfee: According to reports from the staging points, that ghost ship still sails the Cyan Deep... If this vessel truly is the Black Coffin -- the symbol of Ephramad's resistance that supposedly sank two hundred years ago...

Amnaf: There is little chance of stopping the commotion amongst the lost kingdom's descendants once they finally learn the truth. And even without this added disturbance, the never-ending beastmen attacks have the civilans in the Commoners' Ward at boiling point. It is not just the appearance of the Black Coffin -- if Admiral Luzaf has risen from the grave... This unrest will explode into violence. The capital will disintegrate from within...

Rishfee: Great Walahra... We must speak with Captain Raubahn and reassign a number of the Immortals to investigation these spectral corsairs.

Amnaf: Yes. There is not time to waste...

Ovjang: Immortals. Lower your voices.

???: Silence.

Nashmeira: <>. Your efforts have served the Empire admirably. We have prepared a reward... Mnejing...

Mnejing: Your reward...

Obtained:Glory crown.

Nashmeira: That Glory crown is a symbol of our trust in you... We are the Empress... The Empress and Aht Urhgan are as one... Our trust is the trust of the Empire... Our wishes are the wishes of the Empire...

Ovjang: You know... This palace is terribly boring when it's quiet.

Mnejing: That mercenary... <>...

Ovjang: Yes, I should like to pull that one's strings again. Things have certainly become lively. We have the beastmen, the Dark Rider... and now the Black Coffin and Prince Luzaf...

Mnejing: ...

Ovjang: I wonder how it will all turn out!

Mnejing: That is what the mercenary is for...

Ovjang: Yes! I wanted to speak more with <> about the ghost ship. We had him come all the way to the palace... but had so little chance to ask the details! Yes... It is our wish that <> be presented before us once again...

Mnejing: ...

Ovjang: ... Hehehe.

Mnejing: That was terrible.

Ovjang: Did you say somethng!?

Mnejing: ...M-most certainly not!

Ovjang: You!

The Grand Vizier appears.

Razfahd: ...

Nashmeira: Grand Vizier...

Razfahd: ...

Nashmeira: Grand Vizier. How does the eastern front progress?

Razfahd: Your Magnificnce. What have you been doing in my absence?

Nashmeira: We do not...

Razfahd: What have you done!?

Nashmeira: ...

Razfahd: If it true that you signed my name to invite a mercenary into the palace!? I have heard the rumors... Your games go too far... Listen to me. If you are continue your role as Empress, you must learn some discretion. Perform the functions you are entrusted with, and to everything else... you must close your yes and cover your ears. This is the only way to ensure your safety. Do you understand? I am concerned for your well-being. I do not wish Her Magnificence to soil her hands with the Empire's dark secrets. You must learn to be prudent, as I am.

Nashmeira: Grand Vizier... There is such a thing as worrying too much...

Ovjang: Yes, yes. You worry far too much. Overprotective! Overprotective!

Razfahd: Silence!

Aphmau: I-I'm sorry...

Razfahd: Let me remind you. Your Magnificence can do nothing alone...

In front of the palace.

Naja Salaheem: Rrright. Don't ya have something to give me?

Do you have something for Naja? Choice was "I suppose".

Naja Salaheem: That's my boy! Nice to see you've figured out the system. Don't look so glum. That kind of thing should be worn by someone who has nothin' left to accomplish. But seein' as how you carried out your task, I'll give ya this Imperial mythril piece instead. In the distant future, after you've worked for... years...and years... and a few more years on top of that... and managed to become the best mercenary ya can be, I'll be rrready to hand over the Glory crown to ya. Hehe. Of course, if ya start slackin' off, I might change my mind and just sell it on the auction house.

"Your Glory crown was swapped for an Imperial mythril piece!"