Act One, Scene 1: The Aftermath of Civil Discord
Where is everyone?
Game starts with a flashback to Brea sneaking into Tir-na to walk the pattern there. Lysander keeps in trump contract with her. Brea walks though Tir-na, witnessing a weird battle where the attackers of Amber are using firearms. She sees Eric die, then Corwin. She sees Gerard laying on the ground missing his legs, too. She dismisses most of this, since guns don't work in Amber, and so does Sander, who's watching through the trumps. Brea gets to the pattern and walks it without mishap, then has the Pattern take her to Benedict in shadow.
Lysander tells his dad about the weird visions, but Gerard is mostly just miffed that Sander helped Brea walk the pattern, so he doesn't listen much.
Within a week, Corwin attacks and the Tir-na visions come to pass. Lysander spends the fight 'guarding the Pattern' (not his choice). Fiona leaves after the battle to 'find Bleys.' Deirdre takes over the regency, and there was much rejoicing (not).
Quinn feels a disturbance in the Force (tm) while riding his inter-shadow train -- he's getting a bad vibe from all the elders keeling over during the fight. He trumps elders trying to find out what's going on until he gets to a drugged up Gerard in a hospital room. He gathers up some gear and heads for Amber.
Brea feels nothing disturbing, and continues exploring shadow, having met Benedict and worked out with him a little. Ben's busy, so Brea continues through shadow, practicing her new abilities.
Theseus is in his shadow, pulling an all-nighter with a crazy puzzle. He notices in the morning paper that there's been some nasty murder in the big maze around the city, and all puzzle-solvers are invited to investigate, provided they sign a waiver. (Puzzle solving is like a social class there). He goes to check it out.
Brea gets bored with shadow hopping and trumps back to Amber with her new horse... she runs into Deirdre and has a little argument with her. She asks to be put in charge of the calvary, but Deirdre gives her the navy to get even. Brea trumps to the Cabra lighthouse so the flagship can pick her up.
Quinn hellrides to Amber and rides to the castle, where he sees his dad Julian in a coma and Gerard missing his legs. Quinn meets Sander, then asks Deirdre if he can take Julian to one of his shadows where he can get some medical attention. Deirdre says okay, and Quinn teleports Julian there.
Theseus investigates the crime scene where they are hanging out artist renderings and plaster imprints to anyone who has the right id. Theseus wants to investigate the rest of the maze, too, so he signs a waiver and heads off in the direction he thinks the wolf things that killed the picnickers went.
Brea gets the navy organized and trumps Deirdre requesting a change of assignment. Deirdre denies the three point shot and sends Brea into the Golden Circle to check out some reports of raiders -- she's worried about another attack. Brea decides to take her new flagship: the ship the Corwin sailed to Amber with, since it has about 70 cannon with powder that works in Amber -- always a good thing.
Theseus encounters a black, burnt area in the northeast corner of the maze... it feels nasty to him, so he retreats back to the city, but runs into a couple wolf/rat/lizard things... they force him into a retreat -- backing him into the black splotch behind him. He gets the idea to trump one of the elders for help... except he keeps trying to trump elders that are either dead, or out cold. (It doesn't sound funny, but it was :) He finally trumps Gerard, who pulls him through just as one of the wolves latches onto his boot.
Theseus falls onto Gerard, and the wolf flies across the infirmary and into Sander, who's reading a comic book. Gerard throws Theseus off of him just as Sander throws the wolf off (like father like son, I guess), and Theseus and the wolf collide in mid air and crash to the ground. Theseus hops up and stabs the R.O.U.S. a couple times to keep it down. Theseus finds out about his dad (Eric) being dead, and sorta freaks out. After awhile, he decides to visit the body, but runs into an unexpected doorway in a side hall. He enters the mystery hall, [some stuff happens I didn't get to see], and he eventually emerges from Eric's crypt down on the east side of Kolvir. Vaughn (Flora's son) is sitting there, and walks back up to the castle with him.
Quinn arrives at his Mars city, and finds out that one of the 'canals' has collapsed and is now a huge canyon, and creatures are coming up out of this canyon to attack nearby settlements: six-legged blue hounds, spider-headed men, and bat-wasps... also blue. Quinn tries various planetary defense plans on the creatures, with less than satisfying results (ie: some are still alive). He then tries to erase the blackness that is at the bottom of the huge canyon, but his mental attack is thrown back at him, and he blacks out. When comes too, a messenger from his Middle-earthy shadow has arrived via his Shadow-Train and tells him that dark things are coming out of the land once known as Mordor. (GM: The shadow is like Middle Earth in the Fifth Age, so the One Ring story happened a LONG time ago...) Quinn thinks he's going to be pretty busy for awhile.
Where us everyone at the end?
Where is everyone?
Where is everyone at the end?
Log by Mike Garner
Where is everyone?
Where is everyone at the end?
Log by Mike Garner
The Theseus Chronicles
or
Things to do in Shadow when you’re Dead
or
Artichokes, artichokes, where is my shoe?
or
Things in Heaven and Earth, Session 4
"Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower.
Pity, you ancient stones [...]
Whose envy hath encircled your walls."
In the beginning...
Where is everyone?
We begin with Lysander teaching Benedict’s men how to play Frisbee. Yeah, this should go over well.
Theseus is drooling.
In the meantime, Breeann considers having a servant clean the entrails off her sword. Realizing the pen is not mightier than her sword, she decides to do it herself. She is not happy. Then she sleeps.
Theseus is still drooling.
Caught by surprise by Benedict, the Frisbee hits Lysander in the chin. He manages to catch it, though. When ‘Sander swallows his balls back down, Benedict tells him of a little mission. He is to go to a neighboring town (about 30 miles) and pick up some supplies. Amber’s "Do-Boy" reluctantly agrees.
Theseus continues to drool.
In the midst of the drool-a-thon, he has another one of his twisted chess dreams. He needs a woman, bad. Unfortunately, Quinn and Breeann join him for this dream as well. In the dream, Bree punches Brand right in the chops, and Brand makes her crispy, shooting her across the board. She wakes up. Quinn, in an act of pure heroism, gets the f**k out of Dodge. Theseus’ dream changes to Tir’na Nog’th, and he falls. Luckily, he wakes up before he becomes a stain.
Breeann wakes from her dream with phantom pains on her chest and fist. She smiles and gets ready to leave.
Quinn also wakes up. Realizes he was not in his own dream. Hears the pathetic cries of a dreaming Theseus, plummeting to his death (NOT) and goes to investigate. All is well with the Thesee-meister, so he goes to breakfast with Gerard.
Lysander reaches the town after some killer single-track. He finds out that eight big-ass catapults are his cargo. He does the ‘Rawhide’ thing back to Benedict’s camp. Naturally, he gets a funny feeling (no, not THAT funny feeling) in the forest. They reach the river. AMBUSH! Flaming arrows plus wooden catapults equals mass turmoil. Chaos ensues.
While this is happening, Breann finishes packing and Trumps Anthony, the first mate of Corwin’s flagship, the "Le Roué." Anthony answers and pulls her through. She finds Ander and gives him a stack of letters for him to give to Deirdre. He also gives him those three damned Trumps to return to Theseus. Not wanting to be near Amber, Breann sets off for a Shadow reminiscent of medieval times.
For ‘Sander, the ambush is going badly. He’s doing his best "Fezzig" imitation, but the rocks only help so much. He pulls out Benedict’s Trump. Sorry, Charlie... "The Trump you have reached...B-E-N-E-D-I-C-T...is not in service. Please make a note of it." He goes for Brea’s Trump...
Gerard is very happy to have Quinn’s company for breakfast. He just loves talking Pattern philosophy and magical hocus-pocus first thing in the morning. Yeah, sure. Anyway, Quinn tells Gerard how to attune the JoJ, and asks Gerard to tell Benedict.
Breann accepts the call and decides to help Lysander. The two of them kick some major zombie-ass. The leader of the invaders dissolves into a shadow. Not good.
After breakfast, Quinn calls his mother and goes to see Julian. He’s doing better, so Quinn returns him to Amber. Asks Gerard to keep an eye on him.
Theseus goes to the kitchen and eats. Well.
Quinn then talks to Deirdre. Tells her he wants to take the JoJ to rescue Fiona. Deirdre says "not without me." Quinn agrees, then goes to the kitchen to find Anax. He finds Theseus there, eating. Well. They eventually wake Anax and return to Deirdre. Theseus then tells them of the naughty things Osric did to his brain. No one is happy. Gerard is there...just in case.
Lysander and Breeann continue on and eventually return to Benedict’s camp. They find Benedict in his tent.
Quinn calls up the Pattern and Mindwalks it. (Has an idea for future points allocation -- GM) The nefarious bunch pull Fiona’s Trump and call. They eventually break through and feebly attempt to free her. She’s naked. Then Quinn gets the idea of cutting the chains, through the Trump, with Greyswandir. They call Gerard. He presents the weapon...
Breeann cleans more entrails off her sword and talks to Benedict.
Lysander teaches Benedict’s men how to play soccer. Again, this should go over well.
The Masters of Disaster wake up...blind. Things are flying by real close-like.
Breeann endangers her life by being a snot to Benedict.
Eventually, the blind ones’ eyesight comes back. The big things are rocks. They scurry to safety: Anax flies, Quinn *bamph*s, and Theseus...well, Theseus surfs.
Quinn gathers Deirdre and Gerard. They go to the tower, forgetting about poor Theseus and Anax.
Theseus gets bounced around for a little while, but eventually Trumps the rest and goes to the tower. Anax gets smeared on a rock. Icky. He’s not dead, though.
Long story short, the group frees Fiona. Theseus gawks at her incessantly. He picks her up, Quinn grabs Gerard, and they all make like Dorothy... "You’ve had the power all along..." They all go back to the Infirmary. Deirdre and Gerard leave. Quinn finds a cot and collapses. Theseus tenderly lays Fiona on the bed (knock it off, you sickos) and admires her.
In the end...
"She were an excellent wife... for Benedict."
Where is everyone?
We start with Benedict talking to Breann, who is still being a snot. "Either stay or return to Amber...your choice." She finally leaves Benedict alone.
In the meantime, Lysander is teaching Benedict's men soccer. Again, Benedict catches Lysander by surprise and the soccer ball hits 'Sander in the face. Benedict hands Lysander a map. He tells Lysander to take thirty men and the catapults. The destination is marked on the map.
Ouch! Theseus gives himself a good hydrogen peroxide cleansing. Then, he calls for a nurse, who helps bandage him up. During this, Gerard comes into the infirmary. He asks Theseus' opinion regarding Greyswandir. Theseus is far from optimistic, but ensures Gerard he is working on a Trump of the sword. Gerard leaves. Theseus stays in the infirmary, drawing Greyswandir.
Breann, still with Benedict, notices him looking up into the sky. Apparently he feels something in the wind, because he asks Breeann to catch up to Lysander, as he may need some help. She agrees, packs, and goes.
Quinn returns to the infirmary. He checks on Fiona, then asks Theseus if he can teach the others how to identify a Trump caller. He said "Probably." He then asked about Trump Defense. Theseus told him that, from what he understood from his father's arguments, any initiate of the Pattern could muster a similar defense. Quinn agreed and left. Theseus continued to work on the Trump of Greyswandir.
Lysander begins to set up camp. Breann catches up to him. They see an approaching storm. A little while later it begins to rain...hard.
Theseus continued to work on the Trump of Greyswandir.
Bree starts manipulating Shadow, trying to erase the storm. She has minimal success. She calls Lysander and asks him if he has a Trump of someone who can help her. He says 'No...but I can help.' Bree agrees, and they begin to pace in the tent.
Theseus continued to work on the Trump of Greyswandir.
The two of them manage to tame the storm. Lysander climbs to the top of a hill to do some "Moonlight Grass Surfing." Breeann is bored. She polices the camp then goes to sleep.
Theseus finishes the Trump of Greyswandir. He falls asleep. The bad, bad nurses wake him up. He goes back to sleep. He does not dream about chess (*hubba, hubba*).
At dawn, Lysander goes to a nearby creek to wash his clothes. A rider comes and heralds Benedict's upcoming arrival. Soon thereafter, Benedict arrives. He moves the catapult closer to the edge of "The Black."
Theseus wakes up and is hurting. The nurse helps him change bandages again, and he goes back to sleep.
Benedict informs Bree and Lysander of the plan: They will fire the catapults at points Benedict knows there are enemy concentrations. They will be forced to come out and fight or get pummelled. When they do come out, Breeann will be in charge of the first military unit. Lysander will command the second.
The bombing begins. The foe eventually begins their attack from the rear, THEN the front. The forest burns.
Benedict Trumps Lysander during the battle. He tells 'Sander to rescue a unit which is trapped by the flames. Lysander gets on the catapult and shoots himself to the rescue.
Theseus tells Gerard about finishing the Trump for Greyswandir. Theseus also admits he is not eager to use it. Gerard agrees. Theseus volunteers to stay and keep drawing Trumps.
During the battle, Breann is confronted by the woman who took Benedict's arm. Lysander is met by some scary pale guy.
Breann stabs the woman with a dagger. Then the woman hits Breann's jaw with the pommel of her sword. Her two front teeth shatter. The woman gets Trumped away.
Lysander fenced with his opponent briefly. The enemy cut Lysander's hand real good. But then Lysander got his good hand on him...say no more.
Benedict visits Breann after the fight. Suggests a nearby Shadow, where he knows a good dentist.
Vaughn goes to the infirmary to check on the family. Theseus gives him the slip.
Breann goes to visit the dentist. He fixes her mouth and wires her jaw shut.
Lysander gets his hand bandaged.
Where is everyone at the end?
Where is everyone?
Ander begins the session with some serious swashbuckling, boarding the huge zombie-crewed enemy vessel with a party of twelve Amber marines from the galleon La Rou. Captain Anthony had objected to Ander, his commanding officer, leading a boarding party, so Ander had put Anthony in command and continued with his plan.
Waves of unnatural cold poured from the hold as a tall blond fop rode levitated out of it. His skin was icy white and he wielded a long sword that boiled fog as if it were cold as liquid nitrogen. He --let's call him Mr. Frosty-- and exchanged courtesies with Ander and then attacked by touching his sword's point to the deck and sending a splash line of supercold ice at our hero. Ander dodged, but the frostline caught a marine behind him, whose arm froze and then shattered as he fell.
Ander charged across the deck at Mr. Frosty, felling four undead sailors along the way, and dodged another frostline with damage to his left boot. Ander swatted away several of Frosty's deckward stabs, then fended off more direct attacks. He pretended inferiority, then knocked Frosty into the hold and jumped in after him. While fencing, they talked, and Frosty claimed that he had been hired to menace Amber's sea lanes. The hold cramped Ander's style a bit and Mr Frosty nicked his thigh. Freezer burn, Ouch! Ander bored in for the kill, but Frosty switched to all-out defense and whistled for help. Scores of undead marines chased Ander up to the deck.
As ordered, Ander's marines had loaded the catapult with one of the deadly flaming discs. Ander aimed it at the masts and called in a broadside from the La Rou. The combined attacks annihilated the deck, apart from where Ander's men stood on the forecastle. They Trumped to Cpt. Anthony from the burning wreck. The La Rou lingered, but there was no further sign of Mr Frosty or his corpse. Ander and company sailed towards Amber.
Scudamore the Castellan directed Quinn to the Baths and Hans, the Masseur of whom all others are but shadows. Aaaahhh.
Later, Quinn checked on the Infirmary. Theseus was still making Trumps, Fiona was still sleeping and Julian looked better. Quinn examined Fiona through the Lens: yes, she really was Fiona. (Quinn was getting better at cultivating paranoia.) Fiona had new protective spells on her; evidently she had awakened at some point. She also had freshly fluffed pillows, water, juice, damp towels... Theseus was attentive.
Quinn asked Theseus about the possibility of tapping Trump conversations. Theseus allowed that some people could manage it. Theseus added that the Greyswandir Trump was done and that neither he nor Gerard were anxious to use it, and looked significantly at Quinn. Maybe later. Theseus allowed Quinn to treat him with a healing spell -- just looking at Theseus' bandages made Quinn wince. Theseus returned to marathon Trump creation.
Quinn asked Deirdre about Osric and Finndo. They decided to attempt a family meeting or council of war, preferrably that evening. Benedict's opinions concerning his brothers would be especially valuable, but Benedict seldom answered Trumps. However, Sander was with Benedict, so Quinn used a borrowed a Trump him.
BREANN was fitfully catching up on her beauty sleep with her front teeth (upper and lower) newly capped and bridged and her jaw wired shut. Benedict brought her some hot soup/medicine/narcotic, mixed it with wine and insisted his grouchy niece drink it.
Benedict's men taught Sander a team sport that involved kicking a big mushroom "ball" into a hole. Primitive, but not completely bogus. Sander accepted a Trump call: Gerard. His father told him there had been New Developments. Gerard wanted Sander to ask Benedict Trump back, soon. And return himself when he could.
Another Trump for Sander: Quinn needed to talk to Benedict, too. Sander yanked Quinn through irritably and led him to Benedict. Poor Sander is Benedict's secretary. Three tents from Benedict's Sander stopped, dusted himself off, arranged his UNIFORM (Quinn blinked) carefully and adopted a serious and military manner. Pretty close, anyway. Sander marched smartly to Benedict's tent and tapped the flap.
"Enter." They did so. "Lysander. Quinn?" Benedict was at a camp desk, turning to look at them.
Quinn almost lost it, BENEDICT'S RIGHT ARM WAS GONE; Staring would be rude. Possibly fatal. Benedict fiddled with a ball-point pen. Blur, stop. Blur, stop. Yeah, yeah, dominance reinforced.
Quinn automatically went to Parade Rest. "Benedict. I've come from Deirdre, A number of problems have come up that you should know about." Deep breath. "For one thing, it seems that both of your full brothers are alive."
Benedict dropped the pen.
"By that you mean Finndo and Osric?" Benedict asked. (What, did he have OTHER full brothers?)
"Yes." Quinn explained about Theseus contacting them and the results. That Osric had probably been involved in imprisoning Fiona --that got a raised eyebrow-- and that she had been freed. Benedict considered. Sander, attempting invisibility in the corner, caught Benedict's eye.
"Lysander. What did you want?" Sander jumped.
"I thought he was just showing me to your tent," Quinn offered.
"Yes!" Sander agreed enthusiastically.
Benedict looked at Quinn. "Tell Deirdre I will be there. I'll bring Lysander and Breann as well." He returned to his paperwork.
Lysander and Quinn left hastily. Quinn Trumped to Amber.
On the La Rou Ander saw to Roger, the frosted marine. Roger lost his arm to the bicep -most of it had shattered- but would live. Ander's own freezer burn looked like it would heal in a week; Ander regenerates FAST.
Ander sped the La Rou to Amber and arrived in late afternoon. He took Captain Anthony and the navigator with him to the Castle.
Breann was half in the bag due to Benedict's potion. She did NOT want to go to Amber, or even get up. Benedict's *gentle* persuasion carried the day.
Deirdre interrupted Theseus' herbal bath to tell him about the family meeting
Quinn realized that Morgenstern had been cooped up in the stables for a week and was probably starting to go nuts. He and Morgenstern went for a two hour ride halfway across Shadow, with Morgenstern doing all the shadow shifting himself, at race car speed. Morgenstern got them back on time. Quinn tossed his cookies and called for grooms. He had worn heavy cycling leathers, goggles, a helmet and a defensive spell and was still trashed. And Morgenstern needed more. There was only one solution: Sander. Quinn asked: Morgenstern practically grinned.
Scudamore, the Castellan, informed Ander of the family meeting.
Quinn gently woke Fiona. She was muzzy and exhausted and in no condition to attend the meeting. He agreed to stay in light Trump contact with her during the festivities.
The meeting was held in the second floor banquet room. Benedict, Gerard, Deirdre (wearing the Jewel), Sander, Breann, Theseus, Quinn and Ander attended.
Information:
Ander suggested Deirdre Trump Finndo. Deirdre wavered. Quinn asked if they should arm themselves; Benedict said it would not matter. YIKES. At Theseus' suggestion, Quinn held the Jewel and fed energy to Deirdre while the others prepared to back her up.
From Deirdre's spoken side of her conversation with Finndo it seemed that:
And, "No, CERTAINLY HE CAN COME THROUGH NOW," she said the last loudly.
Swords were drawn, Quinn faded back and raised the Lens to maintain the energy feed. Deirdre pulled a medium sized man through, dressed in riding leathers with a rather cruel face marred by a vertical scar that intersected an eye. Deirdre introduced him as Kethos. Breann glared at Kethos, who responded with a mocking pleasantry. They'd met.
Kethos
Deirdre had food sent up and left, saying they had much to think about. Ander went after her to talk and Quinn handed her the Jewel in passing.
Quinn told Sander that Morgenstern needed some exercise --OH YEAH! Big grin (Sander)- and liked the idea of running with him. Quinn recommended body armor and goggles.
Ander compared guesses with Quinn concerning the other side of Deirdre's conversation with Finndo.
Deirdre cornered Sander, who tried to not look apprehensive, "Benedict says you've been doing some work for him. I'd like you to go out to Arden and check on the patrols there. "
"Delighted!" Sander said and ran off for supplies: padding, goggles, a bushel of apples.
Breann signaled to Ander, several times, that she wanted to talk (well, communicate) with him. Ander didn't notice or didn't care. Then Kethos sat next to her and she stalked off.
Ander talked to Kethos, drawing him out. Kethos said he had been working for Finndo, "Out in the Courts", and some border work out in Shadow. Finndo had trouble with Osric which was not Kethos' strong suit. They (Kethos and Finndo) had not known what kind of reception they would get in Amber. He thought Finndo and Oberon had been too alike to tolerate one another.
Kethos coaxed Gerard into briefing him on current events in Amber. Gerard clearly didn't know what to think of his new nephew.
Ander found Victor reading in the library and talked with him for a while.
Sander and Morgenstern thundered through Arden --WAH HOOO-- to a ranger post. Sander flipped out of the saddle in front of the post leader.
"Dudes. You OK?"
"Well, yes, my lord, I..."
"Great!" Sander leaped back into the saddle and thundered away.
Where is everyone at the end?
Log by Randy with a 'T'
Where is everyone?
Deirdre announced that the memorial for Eric and Corwin would be held on the morrow, and that Florimel would attend.
Quinn put a date and time clock in the Great Hall so that it could be viewed through Trumps of it, and arranged to pay a servant to keep it accurate.
Sander and Morgenstern returned after midnight. Sander was trashed, muttering "Kill me," on the way to bed.
Quinn arose early the next day, breakfasted and checked on Julian and Fiona in the infirmary.
Ander, another early riser, introduced Victor to fencing. Victor, a former cop hand to hand combat instructor, proved a quick study. Ander's wounded leg gave him some trouble.
Breann had breakfast sent in to her rooms, but dumped the trays after finding Kethos' note: Hope you're feeling better. Courtesy. Politeness. How Dare He?!
Theseus concentrated furiously on drawing yet another Trump in the infirmary as Fiona dressed behind a screen.
"Do you want to join me for breakfast?" asked the now-clothed object of his desires.
"What?" Theseus' mind skipped several beats.
"Have you eaten already?"
Eat? What is 'eat'? What is -- "No. Yes. Please." He stood and joined her. She took his arm. He didn't faint.
Sandor, defiant in a neon Barenakedladies T-shirt, ate more than Gerard. A LOT more.
Gerard affably wore sunglasses --Gargoyles-- to cut the glare.
Breann met Ander and Victor on the way to breakfast.
"How does the morning find you?" asked Ander.
GLARE
Ander smoothly passed his sister a note; it disappeared.
Quinn achieved a variety of psychic contact with the comatose Julian, who was awake inside his head.
"Father."
"Quinn. I had the worst dream. I dreamt that Corwin came through Arden with an army, equipped with working firearms... " Thoughts flew openly across Julian's normally controlled face. "I'm in a coma, aren't I?"
"Yes you are. But your body is mostly healed --a good start anyway. Maybe we can get you out."
"I don't see any doors."
Total darkness all around them.
Julian's white scale armor spread up from the soles of his feet to cover him. He relaxed a bit.
"We need a point of reference," Quinn said, out of ideas. "I'll get help."
Quinn pulled out and found that forty minutes had passed. Damn. He Trumped Fiona (finishing breakfast; Theseus might have eaten, he wasn't sure) and explained.
"Try to Trump him and pull him through..." Fiona advised. "No, wait, I should be there. If you do it wrong you'll pull him inside out physically."
Kethos joined the breakfast crowd. Breann left, fuming, and spilled Ander's drink in his lap with a reall cool cross-the-room shot with a table knife. Ander changed, returned and asked the table at large what the schedule was. There were several hours untill the memorial service, Gerard told him. Flora would rise and take brunch in a couple of hours. Otherwise, they were free. Ander asked after the name of the captain of the castle guard -Morgan-- and went looking for that man.
Ander found Captain Morgan making the rounds of the guard posts. Ander questioned him about castle security during the service, especially about the Pattern room. Morgan got his drift and Suggested that Ander take advantage of the clear, cloudless nights to stroll about the top Kolvir. Ander agreed, and asked that Morgan look after Victor and see to training him, should Ander take a trip. Captain Morgan agreed. Ander went to his rooms for a nap in anticipation of a busy night.
Theseus, Fiona and Quinn contacted Julian via Trumps. While Quinn and Fiona were mulling what to do Theseus started spraypainting the dreamscape. Julian and Quinn were startled, Fiona was intrigued. Julian sat on a Theseus-rock.
"Ahhh." Then he frowned. "Nice scenery, but my neck is killing me."
Theseus grinned at him. "You're feeling pain again. That's good --good that you're feeling things. "
Fiona and Quinn sat and enjoyed the show. Theseus finished up in quick order and glowed at Flona's "Well done!"
Julian rubbed his neck and looked at his son. "Who hit me with a sledgehammer?" "A .50 calibre machine gun, I believe."
Julian winced. "Well, I'll try to wake up now."
They broke Trump contact and waited. Julian opened his eyes and schooled his face into bland self -control.
"The pain is.. manageable. How long have I been out?" He slowly flexed his hands. "A week," Quinn answered. "You've had microsurgery and magic to put everythinhg back where it belongs and glue it together."
"Someone should take Morgenstern out."
Quinn cleared his throat. "I did that yesterday and I could barely move, after." Pause.
"Then I had Sander take him out." (Jullan's hand froze, then made a fist.) "He's been doing some work for Benedict," (Jullan's eyebrow rose and Quinn nodded) "and he was the only one aval 'lable with the stamina and strength."
"I bet he was worn out."
"He didn't took good. I think Morgenstern went easy on me."
Julian smiled thinly. "Most people think I wear the armor for combat. It's for riding. Especially the branches. The branches are the worst. I think I'll sleeep...
"Want to go for a ride?" Sander asked Vaughn.
"Do we have time?"
"Sure." Sander took Vaughn by the arm and hustled him along.
"What are you wearing armor for?" Vaughn asked suspiciously. "Wait. What? That's MORGENSTERN!"
Sander dragged Vaughn along. "You don't want people to think you're chicken." "AAAAAUUUUGHHH!"
Quinn asked Theseus and Fiona if the Trumps were being monitored as Finndo claimed.
Theseus and Fiona did esoteric Trump things for a while with one of his Trumps.
Eventually Theseus spoke up. "Oh! We should stop that now."
"What, what?" Quinn asked nervously.
"It's being monitored --sort of a thread."
"Try the Greyswandir Trump." Theseus did: no thread.
"Let's go for it," said Theseus with sudden resolve.
"Wait. Weapons, backup, .." Quinn temporized.
"I don't want any help."
Quinn turned to Fiona. "Do you have a Trump of Theseus handy?" "In my rooms. I'll stay here. Go and have the servants let you in." Quinn ran off .
The activated Trump showed a courtyard identical to Castle Amber's, with Greyswandir stuck through a big white stone
"Interesting," said Fiona, almost purring.
Theseus hesitated, muttered "Should I?" and stepped through. Nobody around. The sword wouldn't budge. Theseus swore and -barely- picked up the rock. Theseus looked around more carefully. It was Tir-na Nog'th-na Nog'th. IN DAYLIGHT. No stars in the sky. Theseus tried his Trumps. Blocked. A couple hurried off across the courtyard, dressed in mourning finery. The memorial service? Theseus tried to free Greyswandir again, gave it everything... it worked. OK, still stuck in Tir-na Nog'th but REALLY well armed.
Ander dreamed of the memorial service.
Quinn returned to Fiona with the Trump, the completely inactive Trump. He and Fiona looked at each other for bright ideas. Nope.
Theseus lurked through the soundless (save for his own sounds) world to find a good tactical position overlooking the memorial service.
Breann visited the library and found Victor reading. He was able to help her find a book about Brigid, the woman who had broken her jaw and cost Benedict his right arm.
Theseus found a man occupying his chosen position, wearing black and carrying a crossbow. Theseus sneaked. The villain shot. Theseus jumped out --the man was gone.
Ander, in his dream of the funeral, saw Quinn nailed through the throat by a crossbow bolt shot from up the slope. Benedict flowed up the hill towards a man with two swords but no crossbow. Ander charged after with his naginata.
Benedict's lightning fast lethal stroke missed Theseus because the assassin shot the prince through the heart. Theseus saw the killer's face: Caine! Pointing the crossbow at Theseus now... Theseus dropped but was hit in the shoulder anyway.
Ander found Theseus and the corpse of Benedict. He tried to speak, Theseus tried, but they were silent to one another. Immaterial as well. Ander wrote "sword" on the rock, and Theseus let him touch it. They could talk now.
"GET ME OUT OF HERE!" yelled Theseus, bleeding. "Where are you?"
"In your dream."
They still could not touch one another and the Trumps were still dead. Suddenly Theseus twisted Greyswandir and slapped Ander in the head with the flat.
Ander awoke with his head ringing, Theseus beside him holding Greyswandir and bleeding all over his sheets.
Ander hit him.
The fascinated Victor read aloud to Breann about Brigid, leader of the Moonriders of Ghenesh. She had once (LONG ago) defeated Bleys and Julian in the field --they weren't cooperating very well-- but her battalion was stopped singlehanded by Benedict. She then fought him one on one for forty-five minutes until Gerard arrived with reinforcements. Benedict later informed Bleys and Julian that they could choose to work together smoothly, or could work in small pieces.
Theseus struggled futilely with Ander for Greyswandir.
Fiona and Quinn felt Theseus' Trump go cold and then heard the noise from Ander's rooms. They walked in on the odd tableau: bed, blood, sword, ect.
Ander called out cheerfully, "Hi, Aunt!"
"Ander. I had heard you were back."
"Quinn --let me show you the dream before I forget it." Quinn cooperated. EEK. He showed Ander what had led up to it.
Fiona started working on Theseus' wound.
Quinn asked Theseus "Who shot, uh, in-" and caught the Trump Theseus flipped at him: Caine. Quinn looked unhappy and flipped the card back.
Gerard rolled in. "Looks like you had a little trouble."
Theseus was obviously running through his chances of keeping Greyswandir. Slim and None.
"Do you mind?" No, Gerard was not about to give up his claim.
Theseus tossed the sword point down next to Gerard. Gerard examined it. "There's blood on it. How did that happen --oh it's YOURS."
Victor paused in reading to Breann to point out that she had got off easy in her fight with Brigid. Breann didn't kill him.
Quinn tried to figure out what Caine could have against him.
Elegant Florimel puked her guts out after someone poisoned her. The dose would have killed some of the younger, wimpier (Quinn) family members.
Sander returned and heard all the gossip.
Theseus grumped about losing his own sword in Tir-na Nog'th
Where is everyone at the end?
Where is everyone?
But first, some foreshadowing...
And now for our feature presentation...
Lysander returns to Amber and naps.
Breann gets a massage. She's peeved at something or other. Kethos walks by, and Bree has murderous thoughts. She showers.
Ander and Theseus are in the infirmary. Ander pulls a Trump and checks on Anthony, his second-in-command. Anthony says he will arrive after the memorial service. He goes down to Amber City and wanders for a while.
In the morning, Deirdre has been going around, asking if anyone had anything to say at the funeral. Only Theseus volunteers to speak.
Theseus and Fiona go to the dining room for breakfast.
A few hours later, the memorial service takes place. Quinn is in a back and breastplate... needless to say, hi-jinks ensue. Theseus says a few words in respect, as do Deirdre, Gerard and the High Priest of the Unicorn.
After the ceremony, Ander pays Theseus his respects.
Ander briefly visits Breann. He then goes to visit Deirdre.
Quinn talkes to Kethos after the ceremony about Finndo and whether he's any good as a leader.
Theseus turns down sex, shrugging off a nobleman's daughter trying to "console" him.
Quinn pokes around in his shadows with Pattern lens, checking out the current status... he makes arrangements to kicks some Shadow Stain buttocks. He goes to Deirdre to borrow the JoJ, and uses it to set some stuff up in shadow and for spying on Finndo, then pays for the use by showing her how to use the Jewel as a Pattern Lens, which Deirdre finds quite nifty.
Sander gets another one of Benedict's infamous visits. Lysander has to go to a Golden Circle shadow. Apparently, the shadow Aramyst has been crying for Amber's aid. Sander is to gauge the shadow's need for assistance. He then tells his father where he is going.
Anthony and Rodrigo find Ander. Ander goes to the main hall, where Breann is eating. Deirdre arrives. Anthony is made captain of the "Le Roue'." Rodrigo is made First Mate. Deirdre leaves. Ander then takes the men to meet Gerard. They find him having breakfast in the dining room. Also there are Florimel, Fiona, and Theseus. Introductions ensue.
Breeann dozes off in the Great Hall.
Sander rides for half a day. Reaching his destination, he stays at an inn.
Theseus is returning to his room after the ceremony. He daydreams, and
ends up in the Hall of Mirrors. He is tormented by Eric, Sand, and the
Cloaked Figure Breann and Ander meet in the "Stone Garden." They decide to order up a
"Good Morning" burger (1/2 of beef; rich, creamery butter; mayonnaise;
four kinds of cheese; a slice of ham; bacon; a fried egg) for Florimel.
Sander does "The Nasty" with a woman he met at the inn.
Breann and Ander and Vaughn (recently abandoning Mom) go to Tir'Na Nog'th. They see a procession as 'Finndo' arrives. As he dismounts, Finndo morphs into Brigid. The only
"local" that notices is Theseus, whom everyone ignores. They navigate the
Pattern, and go party.
Sander does "The Deed" with the same woman he met at the inn. Again.
Fiona and Theseus go for a walk. Fiona suggests going to Tir'Na to
retrieve Theseus' sword.
Sander does "The Horizontal Mambo" with the same woman he met at the inn.
Again.
Breeann and Ander and Vaughn party the night away. They stay the night in
a cozy chalet.
Sander does "The Nude Lambada" with the same woman he met at the inn.
Again.
Quinn wanders into the hall of mirrors and gets shot by a Really Big Gun (tm).
Theseus and Fiona go to Tir'Na and recover Ophan. Theseus has a dizzy
feeling. Fiona wants to check something out.
Sander does "The Undercover Macarena" with the same woman he met at the
inn. Again.
Breann and Ander go to a Film Festival, as Vaughn met a woman last
night. *hubba*hubba*
Sander "Knocks Boots" with the same woman he met at the inn. Again.
Theseus and Fiona go to Fiona's room. No one is there. They go to
Theseus' room. Ghost Fiona's on top. *hubba*hubba*
Breann and Ander are having lots of fun. They have a nice, elegant
dinner. A Spanish waiter is hitting on her.
Sander... aw, you get the picture.
Theseus' funky spell gets worse. It apparently starts hitting Fiona as
well. They Trump back to the Great Hall. Fiona almost falls, but Theseus
catches her. She starts undressing him, He starts undressing her. He
picks her up and carries her to his room, past a confused valet. Between
moans, she says, "Take me, These... uhh... "
Sander wakes up. The woman (who's name he doesn't know) leaves. He gets
ready, and he is told there is an entourage to escort him to the castle.
Breann and Ander and Vaughn party.
When Sander reaches the entourage, the woman he just spent the night with
is with them.
Breann and Ander and Vaughn party some more.
The woman is the Crown Princess of Aramyst. D-OH!
Breeann and Ander convince Vaughn to get a tattoo. Breeann seraches for a
watch for Ander. She realizes she's being followed. She ducks into a
warehouse. She's not alone.
Sander goes to see the King. He's told the King is busy, so Sander kills
a few hours. He returns. The King knows. "Marry her or there will be a
civil revolt... you wouldn't want that, would you?"
Breann is stalked by an elf, who she dispatches. He has freinds. She
kills most of them, but one has the drop on her. Kethos kills it before
anything happens. Kethos says he has to talk to her. Breann pronounces,
"I'm on vacation!" He says he will speak to her later and leaves. Breann
returns to the others, and they go back to the chalet.
Sander calls Gerard. He tells his father he's... getting married to the
Crown Princess Daelyn of Aramyst.
Breann sleeps on the couch. She gets woken up by a Trump call, which she
accepts.
Gerard reams Sander, then asks his son to let him go to Aramyst. He does.
Kethos is Breann's caller. He and Breeann have a very disturbing talk. She
tries to wake up Ander, who is gone.
Gerard speaks to the King of Aramyst. He cannot get Lysander out of
marrying Daelyn.
Quinn wakes up in the infirmary, covered in stage-blood and with some actual wounds.
Ander wakes up to a gun to his face. "I've been waiting a long time for
this, you son-of-a-bitch." He's kidnapped by a woman with a striking
resemblance to Katherine.
Breann Trumps Deirdre and borrows Ander's Trump. She tries calling him.
Nothing. She returns to Amber.
Theseus wakes up. Fiona walks into the room, brushing her teeth, wearing
a green terrycloth bath robe. "Are you still in bed? Get up already..."
Theseus' jaw drops. "You don't want to miss Lysander's wedding, do you?"
Breann goes to her appointment with Kethos as dawn breaks, and faces off in the fencing positions that Eric and Corwin had in the last big assault on Amber.
(In case you missed it, everyone's ending scenes were the same as their starting scenes... the GM was experimenting.)
Where is everyone at the end?
Where is everyone? Kethos told Breann something while fencing that agitated her a great deal.
Ander found himself in a damp dungeon, chained to the wall, wearing only
boxer shorts.
Theseus and Fiona arose and found that they had shredded each other's
clothing in their lustful haste the night before.
Sander discussed marriage with Gerard as servants helped them dress for the
wedding. Sander was remarkably lucid, scoring twice on his dad, a sign that the
Apocalypse was nigh.
Quinn woke up in the infirmary with broken, cracked and bruised ribs. He
vaguely rememberd glimpsing Sander in a tuxedo -- obviously a hallucination;
what kind of painkillers were they giving him? He entertained Julian and Theseus
(who walked in then) by explaining how he got shot in the Hall of Mirrors while
talking to Sand. Theseus said that he had visited the Hall shortly before and
seen both Sand and Mr.X. They'd been disappointed that he wasn't someone else.
Ander's cell door opened and in walked his captor, a young woman with a
remarkable resemblance to Breann, or Deirdre.
"You've made my stay most hospitable," he ventured.
"Yes. Your execution is in an hour." Smile. "You won't have to
stay here long."
"Why am I being executed?"
"I don't want to dignify that with a response. It's obvious why this is
happening. Your actions demanded it."
"What actions?"
She grimaced and looked around for something to hit him with. Nothing. "Come on, you've got to help me out here."
She glared at Ander, then pulled out a card (possibly a Trump) and showed it
to him: a little dark-haired kid, maybe eight years old.
"I don't know who this is."
"This is my little brother," she said in a hard, venomous voice,
"About a year and a half ago he disappeared for a while. We found him in
the woods, bleeding. He was in a coma for three months.
When he woke up he said he'd been contacted by someone using one of these.
They reached through and grabbed him. The stabbed him and poured his blood all
over a fancy drawing on the ground. And the person he described was you. His
Father. For that, since you obviously have no regard whatsoever for any of your
children, I think it's safest for me and my brother to take you out of the
picture before you decide to use us for anything else."
"Um. I can assure you that I haven't the foggiest idea of what you are
talking about."
"Are you or are you not an Amberite, son of Deirdre, the current regent
of Amber?"
"Yes, I am."
"Were you or were you not living in a shadow with one Katarina several
hundred years ago?"
"Well, I think so."
"You were a musician, were you not?"
"You had a dinner date after one of your concerts. You had a long
discussion after which she revealed that the was having your second child, at
which point you stormed out of the restaurant and were never seen again,
abandoning your wife and your two year old daughter."
"My second child?"
"She hadn't told you about me yet. She decided to tell you about your
daughter since you were finally going to get the son you wanted."
"You're my daughter?"
She stared at him for a while enraged. "I'm going to enjoy this
beheading. I was a little squeamish about it at first, but... no, I think I'm
getting to like the idea. Yes I'm your daughter but nobody told you about me
because you wanted a son and you didn't want to hear about anything else."
"I did?" Ander paused. "I'm very pleased to meet you. What is
your name?"
Breann and Kethos ate lunch together on one of the balconies. Fiona and Theseus got together to plan the day and Fiona brought up the
Question that was to plague nearly everyone all day: What do you get Sander for
a wedding present? Theseus had an answer: make him a very good sword.
Julian told Quinn about the wedding --not a hallucination-- and brought up
the Question. Quinn suggested a really good mount. Nothing really like
Morgenstern (WHATEVER Morgensten was) but something to match Sander's strength,
endurance and personality. Julian took them hobbling down the stairs to consult
Big M.
Kethos brought up the Question to Breann. She suggested S&M gear and sex
toys. Kethos wasn't sure if she was recommending gag gifts or she Knew Things
about Sander.
"It's LORA," Ander's daughter answered him. "Does that ring
any bells?"
"Lora? Very nice to meet you. I assume you know something of Shadow. You
brought me here."
"Mom said you were frustrating but I had absolutely no idea --why are
you doing this? Why are you saying you don't know what's happening?"
"You've never been to Amber."
"No! I've never been to Amber and I've no desire to go! It's full of
people like you who do things like that to my little brother!"
"Listen to me for a minute," Ander said earnestly.
Lora took a deep breath, crossed her arms and nodded.
"You have to believe me. Katerina told you things that are totally
untrue."
"So you didn't live with her in Germany?"
"Yes, I did."
"So she didn't tell you about your chidldren?"
"No."
"Are you sure? She didn't --because you ran off and she didn't see you
again for several hundred years."
"She manipulated me. That woman stole something very important from me.
If you know where she is I would like to talk to her."
"I don't know where she is. I haven't seen her since my brother woke
up."
"That makes sense to me. Listen very carefully. She has manipulated you.
She has used you."
"How do I know you're not doing that to me right now?"
"Hm. Yeah. Your grandmother is Regent of Amber. You've told me things
that she needs to hear immediately. It's very important.
You need to take some time.."
"We don't have any time. You're about to be executed."
"No, no, I want you to go upstairs. Think about what I've told you.
Think about some things your mother has told you. Ask yourself could I possibly
be capable of doing the things she says I've done."
"She didn't tell me that you did this to my brother. HE told me, he
described you perfectly and he'd never heard a description of you before."
"There are strange things in Shadow. I can tell you that I did not do
this. I want you to go take five minutes and think about this. Then I want you
to come down and take me to my son. The three of us are going to Amber where you
are going to repeat everything you know to your grandmother. And, I assure you,
if I've done something wrong she will punish me."
Lora walked out, looking thoughtful.
Fiona liked Theseus' design and helped. After a few minutes of preparation,
she dragged him through a wall out to the shadow where she had ordered the sword
months ago, and, oh yeah, metal etching supplies as well. Theseus Trumped them
back to Amber (using one of his new TurboTrumps --very nice, said Fiona) to etch
a Trump into the sword.
Julian communicated psychically with Morgenstern, who snorted and zipped of
Somewhere to find a gift horse for Sander. Then he and Quinn went off to lunch.
Breann wrote a note to Sander apologizing for missing the wedding ("something
even more disturbing has come up"), wrapped a bunch of S&M gear in
a T-shirt and went in search of someone to deliver it. She and Kethos found
Theseus and Fiona working on a sword in the Grand Hall. Theseus accepted the
package, the two couples eying each other with veiled 'How the Hell Did That
Happen?' looks.
Lora returned to Ander's cell. "I, ah, asked the man in charge of this
place to do the execution for me. He agreed to do it as a favor to me, and
because he knows you. I just asked him to cancel it... but he insists."
"Who is he?"
"The guy who taught me things, like how to transport you here. Someone I
met.
"I know this is a tough time for you, but something else occured to me.
Have you ever heard the name 'Anax'?"
"No, no."
"Does your mother have any friends?"
"No. Nobody that I've met. She always comes and goes by herself. She
doesn't usually come here and when she does she doesn't want anybody else to
know she was here."
"Where is your brother?"
"He's not here. I keep him somewhere else. I don't want him to be part
of the negotiations. When sorcerers learn things, you have to trade for the
knowledge. I didn't want him to become involved in my negotiations in learning
things from him so I just keep him away. He doesn't know about him."
"We've got to get out of here."
"He can kill me very easily, you know. You KNOW that. If I take you out
of here --he has his mind set on watching your head bounce down some stairs--
he's not going to be happy. He's very, very powerful." Lora ran down as she
realized her efforts to convince herself had failed.
"You'd better close your eyes. This is going to be strange," she
said, producing small crystal sphere. She touched it to a chain and melted a
link, then did the other side. "We've got about five minutes. The guards
are that way."
Ander attempted a hug but Lora shied away. They decided to go to the Shadow
Earth and to pick up Ander's son later, as his father's appearance would terrify
him. Lora opened a transport conduit with her crystal (think 'Sliders') and they
split.
Breann and Kethos went down to the Pattern room and began walking it, Breann
in the lead.
Ander and Lora popped out into Ander's (Karl's) old apartment. Lora had been
there before, trashing it. They ound some of his things in boxes. He dressed and
took wallet, ID, and credit receipts with them.
Nap over, Breann Trumped Gerard and asked him to send out a rescue party if
they didn't return within two days. He agreed, grousing about no-shows. They
checked wheir weapons. Kethos held Breann's shoulder, she told him "Be
ready for anything," and they vanished.
Quinn found Deirdre in her office and straightaway she asked the Question.
Quinn said that he was giving them a vacation house, and asked to use the Jewel
to take care of some details. Deirdre handed it over after a hesitation, smiling
crookedly.
"You know, my father would spin in his grave if he knew I was lending
out the Jewel for wedding presents."
Quinn gave her a wicked grin in return. "Feels good, don't it?"
Pause, grin. "Yes, it does."
Quinn arranged to transfer ownership of a chalet in one of the Olympus Mons
ski villages to Sander, two ShadowRail passes and for a Shadow path (a nice,
safe road) to connect Aramyst to the nearest ShadowRail line.
Ander took Lora to his favorite bar, Giuseppi's, for a working lunch. They
worked out time equivalencies so that Ander could show Lora Giuseppi's Blackhawk
season books that proved that he was busy in public before, during and after the
period of her brother's abduction. Besides, most sadistic black sorcerers don't
maintain professional sports careers on the side. He sifted through the receipts
to try do get a hint of what Katherine's plans had been, with little luck.
Ander and Lora left and bought a clothes for her and a camera for him. The
local library was perused for articles about the wedding shootout and the
aftermath. The Blackhawks were doing terrible. They dropped by Victor's house
where Ander took photos of a child's birthday party; Victor's loved ones seemed
to be safe. Ander then took Lora to a zoo, stole a camel and started
shadowalking (Lora freaked) towards Amber.
Breann and Kethos were in a completely dark place.
"Alright, I'll bite. Where the Hell are we?" asked Kethos.
A deep raspy voice responded "Who Is This?"
"Uncle?" --Breann.
"I don't recognize that voice."
"Breann."
"This a bad place for you to be."
Breann and Kethos checked the place --a dank dungeon cell-- out by touch.
Thick doors, heavy chains, huge bolts. "I have good news and bad news," she said.
"I can't imagine it would be that good."
"If we're not out of here in forty-eight hours most of Amber's army will
come looking for us."
"The bad news?"
Breann finished checking her pockets. "I can't figure out how to get out
of here." Pause. (To Kethos) "Well, do you have any means of making a light?"
"Who is the other person?"
"Finndo's son, Kethos." -- dead silence from the prisoner.
Kethos spoke up: "Ah, pleased to meet ya." He did have matches, but
being able to see Breann's Trump of Amber didn't help it work.
Ander worked on hellriding, a technique he had heard of but never tried. Lora
threw up.
Breann used matchlight to shift shadow bit by bit, while Kethos cut the
prisoner free. She saw Something in the shadows that made her shift faster. Soon
they were free of the anti-Trump zone and Trumped to Amber.
Ander and Lora arrived at Castle Amber and left Faust the camel with a
terrified stableboy. (Remember: the kid was used to dealing with Morgenstern.)
They met Benedict going in and were told of Sander's wedding and that Fiona was
going to transport a bunch of them to Shadow Aramyst. Ander introduced Lora and
they continued on in.
Theseus was finishing the work on Sander's sword when Ander and Lora walked
by. Trump shimmered in the Great Hall and Theseus took the blade up in case of
trouble. Kethos and Breann stepped through, Breann carrying a tall, smelly guy
with a shirt over his head. Breann ran up the stairs yelling "Not a word,
Kethos!" Kethos spoke anyway: "Ahh, you probably oughta come up,"
and followed Breann at a run.
Ander delayed Theseus by handing him a stack of things and a note, displayed
his manacles and asked about getting them off. Theseus nodded and bolted up the
stairs. Ander picked up some small tools from Theseus' bench and followed woth
Lora.
Breann handed Theseus a Trump of Gerard as he entered the infirmary.
"Call him and tell him to arrest the impostor!"
Theseus looked at the patient. Benedict, with two arms, emaciated, filthy and
with burnt holes where his eyes should be.
[Theseus screams like a woman.]
"Shut the door!" Breann yelled.
Quinn jog-hobbled to the infirmary, attracted by the commotion. Kethos stuck
his head out. "Uh, it's crowded but come on in here, that's what I'd
suggest."
Quinn entered and went pale when he saw Benedict, caught Breann's eye.
"You were shouting for an arrest --so this is the real one?" Nod.
"Who are you sending to do that? I've seen the fake move and he is
invisibly fast."
"Where is the impostor?" she asked.
"He just left the Hall," Theseus answered.
Ander took off in a sprint.
Breann got hold of Gerard, who protested that the wedding was happening Right
Then, but she convinced him to come. Gerard made his apologies to Sander and
rolled through. Sander started to steam.
Quinn Lensed around the Castle and surrounding area for Faux Benedict: gone.
He sent a guard for the Regent, Trumped Fiona and pulled her through. Fiona went
white and stumbled back into Theseus' comforting embrace.
Ander ran to the stables, began to saddle Faust and noticed Morgenstern. Much
Better! He quickly negotiated a ride to catch up with Faux Ben but unwisely
employed mild threats. Morgenstern let him hop on without saddle or riding
leathers (OW) and blazed out into Shadow with Ander clinging for dear life.
Julian and Deirdre entered and were shocked. Morgenstern's thunderous
hoofbeats sounded outside. Julian glanced out the window and saw Ander and M.
vanishing around a corner. Breann pulled Gerard through to the infirmary.
Sander, already fuming at the complete lack of family support, really started
to blaze when Prince Evan interrupted the wedding at the "objections"
point. Evan's barrister presented a big stack of legal papers. Emperor Norris
said he would take care of it and disappeared into a church office with Evan and
the barrister.
Daelyn was frantic. "Lysander, what's going on? Fix It." Then, half
under her breath, "He said he'd never let anybody else marry me. I didn't
think he'd go this far." She looked up at Sander, "Uh, sorry,"
she said in a miserable little voice that tore at Sander's heart.
"I'll kick his ass," Sander whispered.
Breann tried to reach Ander via Trump and got fleeting impressions of speed,
terror and stinging pain. Quinn noticed Lora standing in a corner. "Who is
that?" She jumped. "I'm Lora, I'm a friend of Kar- Ander's."
Quinn, and others, looked at Lora, at Breann, at Deirdre. 'Friend'... sure,
whatever.
Ander and Morgenstern ended up in a desert with Ander considerably worse for
wear. When he caught his breath and lost the edge of his adrenaline rush, he
noticed that someone was attempting to contact him by Trump. Breann.
"Are you OK? You're on MORGENSTERN?"
Ander scanned the area. A huge bird was the only living thing in sight.
Morgenstern followed it. "Yeah. How's Lora?" Ander finally noticed
that he was weaponless
"Are you high?"
"Not yet."
Breann lent her sword to Ander, an amazing display of sibling trust. Ander
rode over a rise and found himself looking down on a military camp of perhaps
6000 men. The huge bird landed at the command tent and became Faux Benedict. FB
noticed Ander and called out to him, shifting into a tall, thin redheaded man,
identifying himself as Anax and suggesting that Ander leave.
Another Faux Benedict, totally convincing, came out of the command tent to
talk to Anax. Ander confused Anax by asking about Katherine.
Sander intruded on Emperor Norris' discussion with Prince Evan. Evan showed
himself to be an overbearing, obnoxious snob who looked forward to forcing
Daelyn into submission. Stupid, too: Sander called him out and he accepted. They
walked outside the church while Daelyn shouted protests at this testerone-soaked
spectacle. Evan wanted to BOX, and Sander was so happy that he didn't break
Evan's neck with the one punch thrown. Daelyn stalked off to lock herself in a
room with Sander trying to soothe her from outside the door.
The crowd in the infirmary started adding more and more people to the Trump
connection with Ander. Ander stalled the FBs with questions while mentally
urging his kin to attack NOW. He seemed to think that they could funnel an army
in to him in moments. Incoherent debate insued.
Osric looked on with amusement. "Well, this is interesting. Suicical,
but interesting. In fact, it's very--" cut off as Fiona and Quinn bore
down on Osric through his Trump. Osric shifted to O-form momentarily.
Lora nearly panicked, staring at her crystal, until she was sure it held only
the fire, not the intruder.
Theseus tried to follow Brand (?). No luck. He tended Fiona, merely bruised,
instead.
Quinn fought a severe headache to Lens the battle shadow. Damn. Most of
Osric's army was gone. No sign of the enemy commanders.
The scorched and battered combatants picked themselves up. Sander was wearing
the right half of his tuxedo, the left side was tatters and ash.
Quinn Lensed Amber: no intruder, no more casualties, Theseus stalking around
with Greyswandir. Go Theseus!
Everybody Trumped to Amber. Sander heard Morgenstern thunder into the
courtyard and picked up his frantic, exhausted almost-bride. Ander put off
telling Deirdre about her grandchildren. Scudamore and the staff showered all
concerned with medical attention, food and pampering.
Deirdre intercepted Sander as he carried Daelyn inside. "Hello, dear.
Welcome to the family."
Ander demonstrated shapeshifters' existance with the example of the two
Benedicts.
Lora was troubled. "Then... how can you trust anybody?"
"Sometimes you can't."
Everybody gave Sander and Daelyn their presents, wedding or not.
Where is everyone at the end?
Session 9 Log
"Bigger Inside than it Looks"
Participants: Rey (Theseus), Scott (Ander), Jackie (Breann), Juli
(Lysander), Randy, (Quinn) Doyce (GM)
Breann slogged along the Pattern, while Kethos had a much easier time of it in
her 'wake'. They made it and decided to nap at the center so as to be in top
form at their destination.