Part 2/7:
Sauron, desperate to solidify his power, invites Adar to join his mission. However, Adar swiftly declines, seeing Sauron's promises as empty. A violent encounter leads to Sauron's severe injury, but in a shocking twist, Sauron manages to escape, using dark magic to transform into Hal Brand, a guise he adopts for centuries.
As Hal Brand wanders through Middle Earth, he stumbles upon the people of the Southlands, who are fleeing Orc attacks. Under dire circumstances, he cleverly acquires a royal emblem before assuming a false identity that allows him to blend in further with the local population.