Editing Volume One: The Vampire of the Dungeons (section)

====<big>The Squirrel and The Pangolin at The Primal Pattern of Amber</big>====


*'''Michael James Watson'''
Arlo- "Hello. I gather things are sorted out? Jeremy's imp was just here. I'm not wild about imps running around the castle. Bad enough to have so many cousins"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Yes, things are sorted out. Martin just Trumped to King Random. You're in Amber? Is Random? I do need to go back to the Hunting Lodge to get Kevin, but I must report to King Random as soon as possible... once Martin is done getting his ass chewed off, I will be next in line."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Arlo-"Come ahead now. I want to show you something"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer reaches for Arlo's hand.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
He brings you through to a flat plain with an ancient tree. to onside a hill that has a large cave mouth. Above is the sea, as if the water went upwards.
Turning he sees the Pattern of Amber, more vibrant then ever. Seeming colorful but unusually so.
Realmer realizes he is seeing the Primal Pattern.
Sitting in the sent is a Squirrel. It wears a little tricorner hat and has a knife on a belt around its waist. It sits on its haunches in the dot of the center of the pattern. Arms crossed, looking stern.
"I was about to Trump Random but i didn't want to startle it when you called."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer stares at the Squirrel and the 'knife' on his belt. When he speaks, it is softly but not whispered. He addresses Arlo but is still looking at the Squirrel.
"My first question should be; what are YOU doing HERE, Arlo?... but later. I think I know who... or what that Squirrel is..."
[Is the Squirrel standing ON the Pattern? Or in the spaces between the lines?]
Realmer approaches the closest edge of the Primal Pattern without touching it and Psychically 'bows' to It, the Primal Pattern.
Then Realmer looks at the Squirrel and physically bows to it. Then addresses it in a friendly and formal tone, as he would any Ambassador from another land.
"Hello. My name is Realmer. Welcome to Amber. How may I be of service to you?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
The animal is standing at the very end, from where one teleports.
"Well, I'm on Pattern Guard Duty at the moment. It just showed up a few moments ago. Walked right across the pattern to the center when i tried approaching it. Ah...You aren't bleeding are you by chance?"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer turns his head to look at Arlo then looks himself over while saying, "Not that I am aware of... appears not. What have you in mind?" Then turns back to look at the Silent Squirrel.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"Well, Cat is in the library. The Unicorn is in Arden. and sadly, the only other primal i know the location of is the Butterfly, who teases around Doria. I happen to know Cat and Squirrel are not friends. An d i can't summon the unicorn"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Well... to the best of my knowledge, I can't summon any Primal either. And the only one I am aware that I know is the Pangolin..."
Realmer sighs. "That means contacting Jurt. Considering where we are, 'that decision is way above my pay grade', as Bill Roth would say. Hey Bob! You wouldn't happen to be a Primal in disguise, are you? Something Grandfather never told me?"
Realmer chuckles then stops suddenly. Realmer's head tilts to one side, he holds up a hand slowly, with his index finger extended in the 'wait a minute' gesture.
"Grandmother." Is all he says in a quiet voice as he backs away from the Primal Pattern slowly, his mind racing.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"I don't think Squirrel is going anywhere, Arlo. It looks like he his waiting. I don't think we could scare him off if we tried. You call Random, I'm calling my Grandfather."
Realmer slips Dworkin's Trump from his sleeve and focuses on his Image, reaching for contact.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin walks out of the cave, slowly.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Realmer has a sense like he is on a Trump, but no idea why .
Dworkin-"Hmm That's a problem now... He's back. been here a few time when i was on duty. "
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer slips Dworkin's Trump back up his sleeve and stares at his Grandfather in silence for a moment.
"A few times. And he has never tried to communicate with you? Just sits there? Waiting and looking stern."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Has anyone else seen him? Has anyone tried Magic or other means to communicate? Has anyone tried walking the Pattern to the center to... see what he wants?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin-"First of all, magic is dicey here at best. Dangerous at worst. Constructs built here are mighty because the chances of success are so small that practitioners, mainly me, prepare extensively. secondly, Primal beasts are notoriously stern and aloof. Lastly, i never met this one till it showed up and it refused to answer polite questions. You were going to call Jurt with the Pangolin? Interesting... I sent a query to the Unicorn but there are too many people here. By two. lastly.. as much as i want the Red Sword, I'm not inclined to walk the pattern while he is out there."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Speaking of Magic and Constructs; what are the chances my Artifacts will survive if I were to walk it? I know they are not Pattern Artifacts... but they are close. Jurt and the Pangolin being here are above my pay grade. And I know I would leave if the Unicorn requires it to speak with the Squirrel, and I think Arlo would too. But if the Squirrel wanted to speak with the Unicorn, I think it would have happened already. No.... the Squirrel is waiting for something... or someone specific. It is too bad He is being so uncommunicative."
Realmer calls out to the Squirrel. "Squirrel. Can you please give us some kind of sign as to what you want?" Realmer waits a moment and watches his reactions.
"Is there someone specific you wish to speak to?" Again, wait and watch.
"Would you like someone to come out there to you?" Wait and watch.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin looks Realmer over.."If your set foot on the pattern your toys would mostly unravel. If i was to lay my protection on them they would survive. But now is not the time. "
The squirrel hears your question, salutes.
Arlo-"Call Jurt. My call."
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
(Which Question did the Squirrel salute?)
Realmer pulls out his Trump of Jurt and focuses to make contact.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt responds, sitting in a chair next to a pool table. Noise around him.
"Realmer! How fare thee? Been to the wars, eh?"
He might be drunk.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer smiles like a little kid and says in an excited tone:
“You're never going to believe where I'm at and what just fell in our laps.”
Realmer holds the Trump up and spins slowly, making sure Jurt sees Dworkin, then Arlo, then the Pattern behind him, then finally the Squirrel sitting in the center of the Pattern. Realmer's tone returns to normal.
“We need you and Trezziz here now; if you are both willing to come.”
Realmer extends his hand to Jurt.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt steps through the Trump and holding his hand is Untara of Azcala.
Jurt straightens, touches his head, then hers, casting a quick sobriety He dips his hand in to a pocket and brings Treziz up and out. The scaled creature looks around and seems sluggish and scared. Seeing Dworkin a change come over it and it leaps to the ground.
Jurt-"Well, damn....Look at this place.." He bows slightly to Dworkin, "Great Sire, its a pleasure to see you once again. Its been...50 years i believe. "
"Yes, and you seem to have heeded my warning well. And this is Untara.. She is the first Azcalan I have been in the presence of in 4000 years. "
Untara stares at Dworkin wild eyed and wide eyed.
The Pangolin scampers to the edge of the Pattern confidently.
Untara steps toward Dworkin. Unclasping her shoulder broach her loose party gown falls to the ground, leaving her gorgeous form bar save tattoos and scratches and bruises. Her form is comparable to a dark haired Hispanic Flora.
She kneels before Dworkin, placing her forehead to the ground, her palms flat. "Founder. I dared not believe i would ever see you. I bring the pleas of the people of Azcala to remove the ruler of the realm created with your blood. Tonacat is the creature of all nightmare. I beg he be placed with the Ancestors of Darkness and our houses reunited. I flee the wrath of the Puma and the Jaguar. I abase myself to your service."
Jurt.."Ah.. What the hell?"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Hey Jurt. Good to see you. I've had a helluva day. Glad you could join me for part of it. And thanks for bringing Trez..... whoa, what a body."
Realmer does not turn away, but does not stare lecherously either. "Yeah, not the first time I've heard that sentiment today about Tonacat."
Realmer turns towards the Pattern to watch the Primal Creatures. "This will be interesting."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt frowns at Untara, "reunited?...ah... Ya, shes my wife and all but... we have an arrangement. And i keep rethinking the marriage but she has made it clear that Azcalan divorce involves one of the couple bent over an alter for sacrifice. so...."
He turns to look at Trez who seems to be chittering across the pattern with squirrel.
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Do you understand what they are saying?" Realmer asks Jurt.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt "As i can understand it they are saying" chiiterrechatteeryipyipchipeeeeyyaaachatterchattergruntgrunt yip....yipyip"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer playfully punches Jurt in the arm.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Arlo-"I especially liked the Yipyip at the end"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer says to Arlo: "I think the 'chipeeeyyaaa' in the middle was inspired."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin walks up to the group-"Jurt, get her out of her or I'll toss her off into shadow and I can't say where. I don't need or want a slave girl"
Jurt, "toss her off into shadow, eh? Well, I could use the rest"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
Realmer chuckles but says in a more serious tone, "We can't really afford distractions, Jurt. If she can't behave maybe she should be elsewhere right now."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Arlo nods to Realmer "I think that part is Apache for "The Cattle are Dying"
 · 43w
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt-"You tell her. me, I'm wondering why Trez is still chattering with the Squirrel and in my spare time what he means by the Houses of Azcala and Amber reuniting. Life was so much easier when i was just a bartender"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Not my wife. You brought her. Azcala and Amber reuniting.... hmmm.... interesting. And my life was easier too when I was just an Adventurer in Shadow... but life changes and here we are."
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin looks at Arlo and Realmer catching their eye.
He touches Jurt and Pangolin turns and chitters at Dworkin. Dworkin chitters back. Pangolin runs across the pattern to Squirrel. Jurt turns to Dworkin, "Iv never seen her act like that. Would you like to explain what she meant?"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Dworkin shakes his head. "No. Forget. Sleep. " Jurt slumps.
Dworkin turns on Untara, who bows her head.
"Forget. Sleep"
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Jurt and Untara fade from view..
"can't have them remembering being here. Bad enough Pangolin knows.. But they are going to travel together for a bit. Back in time actually to the Far isles.. To speak to Harla. Shes running a long game from the grave by doing everything in the past..Clever girl. "
*'''Michael James Watson'''
Squirrel and Pangolin disappear
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Well, anything 'from the grave' is something the Vampire of the Depths would surely be interested in. Or is this one of those 'tell you about it later' subjects?"
Realmer looks at the Primal Pattern longingly, knowing one day he will walk it, and that day is not today. He stares into the colors of the Primal Pattern until he becomes lost within them, he opens his Psyche to the Pattern and bares his Soul.... then pulls back... regains himself and bows to the source of his Family's power.
*'''Michael James Watson'''
"Arlo, take Realmer with you. I'm going to take this shift and sit here and talk to my old friend."
Arlo nods-"Well, Library? You have a conversation to have with the king today, don't you?"
*'''Daniel Eric Van Campen Sr.'''
"Yes, I do and the Library is as good a place as any."