Editing AmberShadowOfADoubt:Session8

==Session #8: *****==

The session begins with Federico getting a note from his grandfather Jirel (sp?) while staying at a hotel in the city of Amber.  He meets Jirel and Pirea (sp?), whom Jirel introduces as his mother.  She is happy to be reunited, saying that he was taken from them.  She says that his father is Prince Caine.  He at first wants to sell them on a plan to steal an item from Castle Amber -- the Jewel of Judgement!  Neither are happy about this, and while they are discussing this, Jirel receives news that they have identified a Chaosite spy.  

Back in Rebma, Alexandra receives a trump call from Blaise.  He explains in detail that Brand bled a cousin of hers over the "Primal Pattern" which has helped cause the Black Road.  However, Alexandra says that she doesn't trust anyone and doesn't care at this po

: '''Blaise:''' You are of the blood -- you can have anything you want. 
: '''Alexandra:''' ...
: '''Blaise:''' Well, except for trust and love and stuff like that, of course. 
===Manfred Joins the (Chaos) Army===

Elsewhere in Rebma, Manfred surveys the battle lines, which seem to be doing well.  He receives a note from Queen Moire that Virgil is going to be headed up to the Rebman embassy in the city of Amber, to be near his sister Vialle, in two days time.  Her note suggests that he might safeguard Virgil's journey -- i.e. leave Rebma.  He slips off to a quiet part of the city, and swims up to the surface, shifting shape along the way.  He bursts from the sea in his "hideous demonic form" and flies to the armies of Chaos which are besieging Amber.  

There he brazenly pushes his way in to see the leader, General Posman (sp?).  He calls himself "Helchre" and claims that he would have credentials sent over when it could be arranged, and in the meantime he wants to help with the fighting.  Leaving, he contacts Dara (the younger) via trump and asks her to arrange that someone in Chaos speak for him to General Posman.  She agrees, and shows signs of sadness but asks for nothing when Manfred offers to help.  

He goes with five others to make an attack on the front, where he is eventually opposed by Caine.  They break off with some estimate of each others' fighting, and he takes in a survey of the fighting.  Upon returning, the general informs him that they would have new reinforcements (including golems) in a week and a half.  

===Interrogating Merlin===

Back in Castle Amber, Eric began asking questions of Merlin about Chaos -- which Janica and Merlin's father Hector join in.  Merlin is age 11, but appears to be age 20 or so.  

Merlin says much about Chaos -- the different houses, the nature of Logrus (which he has navigated already), and he reports that they have tested that someone can have both Pattern and Logrus as found via Manfred.  This raises some eyebrows, and Janica concludes firmly that Manfred is a Chaosite spy.  He says in particular about House Sawall.  

Afterwards, Hector gives him some particular advice about sex -- and specifically advising him to stay away from Manfred, with some homophobic overtones to his speech toned down to complete obscurity since Janica is nearby. 

Meanwhile, amidst the armies besieging Amber, Manfred's identity as Helchre is confirmed -- with the general commenting that his family is apparently not happy at his having left his "studies".  He gives an impassioned speech about the ridiculousness of sitting cloisered, when the pinnacle of Chaos' conquest was nearly within their grasp.  

===Fighting the Chaosite Spy===

Directed by his grandfather Jirel, who has the spy secretly surrounded by crossbowman, Federico goes into a bar to meet with the spy.  Hooded, he sits at the table.  The spy knows that he's being set up, and tries to negotiate, but Federico isn't willing to give him anything and he eventually flees.  He slips out of Federico's grasp, is wounded but not stopped by the crossbowmen, and escapes.  

Federico then calls Alexandra on trump to come help out, with the offer "Would you like to beat something up?"  She agrees, and the two of them eventually catch up to the spy as he is diving into the ocean.  Alexandra reaches him first and wrestles with him in the water.  They eventually knock him unconscious and drag him back out to shore.  

===Dara's Surrender and Revelation===

Dara then contacts Hector via trump, and announces that she would like to surrender.  Hector pulls her through into his room, with Merlin there.  They contact Eric and soon guards are sent and she is brought in chains to speak with him.  
She reveals many secrets about Chaos.  She starts that Brand was the first to reveal about the existance of Amber to Chaos, and went to the Courts with Blaise and Fiona.  With the Sawalls, they planned to capture Oberon and install Blaise on the throne.  Oberon was indeed captured and is still alive held by the Sawalls.  

This is stunning news to the Amberites.  Eric takes it with good grace, though clearly he is disappointed in some way.  Still, he plans to mount a rescue expedition.  

===Manfred Enters Amber===

After two days with the Chaos army, Manfred takes time off -- citing needing to deal with his family.  Still in his demon form, he flies to the beach near the top of the magical stairs leading down into Rebma, the Faiella-bionin.  He then lays down for a suntan.  Virgil's heart is nearly broken back down in Rebma as Manfred has disappeared, and leaps when he sees Manfred on the beach.  They go up the long staircase into the city of Amber together, and stay at the Rebman embassy. 

After dinner, he gets a trump call from Brand.  Brand has no immediate issue, but they chat about their plans for everything.  Brand explains that he wants to wipe out the old Pattern which will sweep clean most of the existing Shadows, and create a new one, asking for Manfred's help in defending him against the hordes of Chaos as he creates a new one.  Manfred says that he likes the idea of reform, but wants to do something about the Courts of Chaos as well.  He also says that he is attached to his own (alternate) Earth, to which Brand responds that that shadow is going to be hedged as the protected center of his new order.  

===A Gathering of Forces===

Back in Castle Amber, Eric is gathering much of the family to discuss the plan to rescue Oberon.  He calls in Flora, Caine, Deirdre, Random, and Gerard.  Gerard reveals that he has been talking to Benedict, who appears as well though everyone else had assumed that he had been dead for decades (if not centuries).
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-See also [[Liz on Session 8]].
+==Session #8: *****==
-==Session #8: Chaos Revealed==
 The session begins with Federico getting a note from his grandfather Jirel (sp?) while staying at a hotel in the city of Amber.  He meets Jirel and Pirea (sp?), whom Jirel introduces as his mother.  She is happy to be reunited, saying that he was taken from them.  She says that his father is Prince Caine.  He at first wants to sell them on a plan to steal an item from Castle Amber -- the Jewel of Judgement!  Neither are happy about this, and while they are discussing this, Jirel receives news that they have identified a Chaosite spy.