Editing Brand and Dalt and the Deep Blue Sea
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Sitting on the edge of the curtain wall he looks out over the vast deep blue sea. Under fluffy white clouds the ships can be seen taking sail to head off into shadow or taking in the sea sheets to raise smaller clothes to work the harbor breezes into docking. A small fleet under the banner of Tosa head out toward the eastern horizon to seek combat in other realms. A pod of dolphins cavorts around the great flag ship of the navy of Amber, much to the pleasure of it captain, Admiral Jopin. | Sitting on the edge of the curtain wall he looks out over the vast deep blue sea. Under fluffy white clouds the ships can be seen taking sail to head off into shadow or taking in the sea sheets to raise smaller clothes to work the harbor breezes into docking. A small fleet under the banner of Tosa head out toward the eastern horizon to seek combat in other realms. A pod of dolphins cavorts around the great flag ship of the navy of Amber, much to the pleasure of it captain, Admiral Jopin. | ||
Footsteps from behind cause the redheaded prince to turn slowly. He regards his brother approaching. Tall, wide, blond, and a stranger to him, thinks Brand of the Dungeons. | Footsteps from behind cause the redheaded prince to turn slowly. He regards his brother approaching. Tall, wide, blond, and a stranger to him, thinks Brand of the Dungeons. | ||
− | Dalt nods, basket in one hand. "Are you thinking of how to fly from Amber? Random tells me he isn't sure he can suppress all your magic. Think you could trump away, | + | Dalt nods, basket in one hand. "Are you thinking of how to fly from Amber? Random tells me he isn't sure he can suppress all your magic. Think you could trump away, font-style?" |
− | Turning around fully, the prisoner prince of Amber smiles as he greets his brother. It occurs to him how strange it is to greet a brother with a smile | + | Turning around fully, the prisoner prince of Amber smiles as he greets his brother. It occurs to him how strange it is to greet a brother with a smile. |
Brand laughs under his breath. | Brand laughs under his breath. | ||
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"Random mentioned it in passing." Dalt says. "Your protective detail mentioned that you were up here. So I raided the kitchens and decided to come check on you myself. As you said, we don't know each other well. Are you hungry enough to change that a little?" | "Random mentioned it in passing." Dalt says. "Your protective detail mentioned that you were up here. So I raided the kitchens and decided to come check on you myself. As you said, we don't know each other well. Are you hungry enough to change that a little?" | ||
− | Eyeing the basket of supplies, decked out in ribbons in the colors of Dame Margot, he nods. "Its a true fact that many a slow knife among our brothers has been sheathed over food and family gossip. I'll happily indulge in both if you managed to get anything good out from under Dame Margot's watchful eyes. Its strange that now that so many of the lost children of House Bariman have returned we can find blood kin we have spent little time with. | + | Eyeing the basket of supplies, decked out in ribbons in the colors of Dame Margot, he nods. "Its a true fact that many a slow knife among our brothers has been sheathed over food and family gossip. I'll happily indulge in both if you managed to get anything good out from under Dame Margot's watchful eyes. Its strange that now that so many of the lost children of House Bariman have returned we can find blood kin we have spent little time with. Benefits of Patternfall and the benevolent dictatorship of King Random. " |
Chuckling Dalt ignores the jab over Patternfall and runs a hand in the basket contents. Withdrawing a trump deck and slipping it into his belt. | Chuckling Dalt ignores the jab over Patternfall and runs a hand in the basket contents. Withdrawing a trump deck and slipping it into his belt. | ||
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Twisting his hands in a stage flourish he conjures two silver tankards and a wrapped pack of four dark red cigars. | Twisting his hands in a stage flourish he conjures two silver tankards and a wrapped pack of four dark red cigars. | ||
− | "See? My magic works well enough. Conjuration at least. I can trump as well, from the highest tower to the deepest dungeons. I certainly didn't walk all the way up here." | + | "See? My magic works well enough. Conjuration at the least. I can trump as well, from the highest tower to the deepest dungeons. I certainly didn't walk all the way up here." |
− | Dalt sets the basket in a | + | Dalt sets the basket in a down cut of the curtain wall and fills the tankards from the pitcher. "Well, tuck in then." |
For a time the two eat in silence. Customs vary from place to place in shadow but in Amber it is considered rude to speak to someone in a meal before they have taken the first sip of their beverage. Brand raises his first and tastes the dark Port brewed in the vineyards of the Bayle estate and sighs. | For a time the two eat in silence. Customs vary from place to place in shadow but in Amber it is considered rude to speak to someone in a meal before they have taken the first sip of their beverage. Brand raises his first and tastes the dark Port brewed in the vineyards of the Bayle estate and sighs. | ||
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Wiping his mouth Brand says, "That was delightful.. Allow me to provide an after-dinner smoke in thanks for a fine lunch." | Wiping his mouth Brand says, "That was delightful.. Allow me to provide an after-dinner smoke in thanks for a fine lunch." | ||
− | Hands the cigar to his younger brother and they both light. | + | Hands the cigar of to his younger brother and they both light. |
Brand nods and waves the cigar while taking a chunk of cheese in hand. | Brand nods and waves the cigar while taking a chunk of cheese in hand. | ||
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"My siblings will all say Oberon was a distant, neglectful, and controlling father, yet each of us can point to periods of time, mostly in shadow, where we each spent long stretches one on one with him. Those were certainly times when we were directly under his thumb. He was naturally in charge. He casts shadows of people who have that natural knack of receiving deference. Yet during each of these times were many hours spent in conversation, over drinks, food, and cigars in many cases. Over corpses and womanly charms sometime. Bloodshed is a bonding experience and most of us shed blood beside our undoubted liege lord and father. So how did some of us become bitter? " | "My siblings will all say Oberon was a distant, neglectful, and controlling father, yet each of us can point to periods of time, mostly in shadow, where we each spent long stretches one on one with him. Those were certainly times when we were directly under his thumb. He was naturally in charge. He casts shadows of people who have that natural knack of receiving deference. Yet during each of these times were many hours spent in conversation, over drinks, food, and cigars in many cases. Over corpses and womanly charms sometime. Bloodshed is a bonding experience and most of us shed blood beside our undoubted liege lord and father. So how did some of us become bitter? " | ||
− | + | <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">'''''Oberon and his Three broods'''''</div> | |
"You know the rumor that he has 47 children? Well, He has three distinct '''''Broods''''', and a little fourth one. The First brood he had no control over. | "You know the rumor that he has 47 children? Well, He has three distinct '''''Broods''''', and a little fourth one. The First brood he had no control over. | ||
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Brand continues his lessons. "Its not common knowledge that he had what he called his First Brood. We are his second brood. You, dear brother, I would set in the third brood. As well as Coral, Pierre, Hamilton, Kibar, Kundjiq, Joseph, Jacques, and the Eves. All siblings that either grew outside his control, if not outside his knowledge. All wearing the stain of his neglect. Some ignorant of their birthrights. Some willful enough to be uncooperative even to him. Some come too late to be useful." | Brand continues his lessons. "Its not common knowledge that he had what he called his First Brood. We are his second brood. You, dear brother, I would set in the third brood. As well as Coral, Pierre, Hamilton, Kibar, Kundjiq, Joseph, Jacques, and the Eves. All siblings that either grew outside his control, if not outside his knowledge. All wearing the stain of his neglect. Some ignorant of their birthrights. Some willful enough to be uncooperative even to him. Some come too late to be useful." | ||
− | "But its the First Brood that haunts him. They were born when he was young and had little or no power to control them. He sought initiations and rites in the young shadows of Amber and many were vastly powerful and wild. He had fathered children in those wild places. They were ruined in one way or another, broken things. Adrian, Fleece, AvReet, Eater, Vox, Hinarik, and Nalshik, To some degree Osric and Finndo and Benedict | + | "But its the First Brood that haunts him. They were born when he was young and had little or no power to control them. He sought initiations and rites in the young shadows of Amber and many were vastly powerful and wild. He had fathered children in those wild places. They were ruined in one way or another, broken things. Adrian, Fleece, AvReet, Eater, Vox, Hinarik, and Nalshik, To some degree Osric and Finndo and Benedict fit in this group as well." |
Dalt looks sly to his red haired brother,"Clymnea? " | Dalt looks sly to his red haired brother,"Clymnea? " | ||
− | Brand-'The Duchess of al Marat? Well, he certainly knew her well enough. well enough to have | + | Brand-'The Duchess of al Marat? Well, he certainly knew her well enough. well enough to have three children with her and make her Queen of Amber for a thousand years. Yes, discovering he had fathered her poisoned his relationship with Osric and Finndo. Benedict as well to some degree. Have you made a pilgrimage to see her yet?" |
Dalt shakes his head, "No. Though I have received an invitation. " | Dalt shakes his head, "No. Though I have received an invitation. " | ||
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"Hinarik is a walking corpse. A Necromancer of great powers. I spent some time with him and eventually had to fight him to not be made into a necromanic follower of his. It was a close thing. He has little interest in Amber since most of his powers function in realms close to Chaos. He is more like the great Chaos Lords then any the children of Oberon or Dworkin, yet he hates Chaos more then any of us do. Most of us had little interaction with Chaos till the drive toward Patternfall. Few of us achieved the State of Affairs to reach the Courts of Chaos. And when Bleys, Fiona, and I finally did, we regretted it almost immediately. I was in the whirlwind of my own personal angst and madness by then but I realized that I did not want unbroken Chaos to rule and my madness made me think my version of Order, my Brandenburg, would be a stronger bastion of Law then the fey thing Dworkin created with the Unicorn." | "Hinarik is a walking corpse. A Necromancer of great powers. I spent some time with him and eventually had to fight him to not be made into a necromanic follower of his. It was a close thing. He has little interest in Amber since most of his powers function in realms close to Chaos. He is more like the great Chaos Lords then any the children of Oberon or Dworkin, yet he hates Chaos more then any of us do. Most of us had little interaction with Chaos till the drive toward Patternfall. Few of us achieved the State of Affairs to reach the Courts of Chaos. And when Bleys, Fiona, and I finally did, we regretted it almost immediately. I was in the whirlwind of my own personal angst and madness by then but I realized that I did not want unbroken Chaos to rule and my madness made me think my version of Order, my Brandenburg, would be a stronger bastion of Law then the fey thing Dworkin created with the Unicorn." | ||
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<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">'''''The Madness of Prince Brand'''''</div> | <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">'''''The Madness of Prince Brand'''''</div> | ||
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Taking a deep draw on his cigar and exhaling the red smoke over the battlements above the seas of Amber. | Taking a deep draw on his cigar and exhaling the red smoke over the battlements above the seas of Amber. | ||
− | "Dalt, whatever you or my other siblings and kinsman may think, I have paid for my crimes. not entirely, and not in a coin they can understand to be sure. Deaths happens and a trillion souls can shuffle off and swap themselves between bodies every day and not reflect a fraction of the amount of sorrows experienced. The fault for them can be spread around a lot too. Certainly trillions died, this time, due to my ambitions but the next day something else caused new deaths. So who is to blame for my crimes? I am. In the end | + | "Dalt, whatever you or my other siblings and kinsman may think, I have paid for my crimes. not entirely, and not in a coin they can understand to be sure. Deaths happens and a trillion souls can shuffle off and swap themselves between bodies every day and not reflect a fraction of the amount of sorrows experienced. The fault for them can be spread around a lot too. Certainly trillions died, this time, due to my ambitions but the next day something else caused new deaths. So who is to blame for my crimes? I am. In the end i accept the blame for them. I don't expect forgiveness just understanding. The Oracle of Night warped my already potent arrogance. Lords of Chaos fed my ambitions with dreams of glory and acts of power. they taught me deep secrets. They fed me lies and I was eager to believe them. They showed me Bariman Way, hanging ancient and empty in the stuff of Chaos. Dworkin once ruled there. It waits filled with potent artifacts and ancient servants waiting for the return of their Master, whomever he may be. They told me they would recognize my realm and my people as Allies." |
− | "In the end, | + | "In the end, i brought war to my kin . Maneuvered Oberon off his throne. Convinced brothers and sisters to support me in treason. Led the forces of Chaos in war till they pushed me aside. Allowed my capture. Too much...too much happened...for naught. In the end i was struck in the throat by a silver arrow and fell into the abyss. There i suffered as few might ever know. I lived ages of torment. I was sacrificed to the Serpent. Flayed, slain, revived, and sold as chattel in the slave markets of the Abyss by creatures beyond description in their horror. I saw things that put the crimes done by me or by my father in perspective." |
− | "Once | + | "Once i clawed my way out of the Abyss i was a broken thing. My mind was lost, moment to moment. I dragged myself through shadow suffering indignity after indignity. I might have a few minutes of comprehension to organize my effort to survive before my self-awareness faded away. I went toward Regor and found sanctuary in my mother's empire. I convalesced for centuries in the deep shadows there, regaining my mind. Those years i was smothered by the Czarina of Regor. I'm not sure which was worse; the Abyss or Clarissa." |
− | "I was angry at first when Vander captured me in Regor and brought me here. I was certain my fink brother would put my neck below the ax. Any other brother, or sister almost certainly would have. Caine sank a knife in my stomach the first time he saw me here, before he had heard the King's ruling. Benedict watched me like a hawk, from far away, out of the range of my rhetoric, ready to swoop and kill. Gerard embraced me, said he was sorry for my pains, then kneed me to the groin...hard. Corwin told me that the moment he saw me away from Castle Amber was the moment | + | "I was angry at first when Vander captured me in Regor and brought me here. I was certain my fink brother would put my neck below the ax. Any other brother, or sister almost certainly would have. Caine sank a knife in my stomach the first time he saw me here, before he had heard the King's ruling. Benedict watched me like a hawk, from far away, out of the range of my rhetoric, ready to swoop and kill. Gerard embraced me, said he was sorry for my pains, then kneed me to the groin...hard. Corwin told me that the moment he saw me away from Castle Amber was the moment i would face his wrath. All my local siblings have come to give me their rarely kind regards." |
"Carissa, Gerard's girl, came and expressed her ire over my treatment of her in her youth. Gerard was fairly pissed about that too. A duahgter of mine, Laravela came all this way from the Courts to tell me she lived and to cast her derision on me. Vance, Delwin's son, came and asked me some extremely detailed questions about life in the abyss. Benedict has spent a lot of time here discussing the military might of Chaos and the Black Zone worlds. Delwin himself, has spent time at my cell discussing the esoterica of power magics. Random has even included me in his private council, taking my advice on numerous topics. | "Carissa, Gerard's girl, came and expressed her ire over my treatment of her in her youth. Gerard was fairly pissed about that too. A duahgter of mine, Laravela came all this way from the Courts to tell me she lived and to cast her derision on me. Vance, Delwin's son, came and asked me some extremely detailed questions about life in the abyss. Benedict has spent a lot of time here discussing the military might of Chaos and the Black Zone worlds. Delwin himself, has spent time at my cell discussing the esoterica of power magics. Random has even included me in his private council, taking my advice on numerous topics. | ||
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Nodding Brand says, "Figures. Ours is a overly clever family." | Nodding Brand says, "Figures. Ours is a overly clever family." | ||
+ | <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">'''''Prospects of freedom'''''</div> | ||
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+ | ==''editing place holder''== | ||
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"Do you expect to ever be freed?" Dalt asks. | "Do you expect to ever be freed?" Dalt asks. | ||
− | Brand shrugs..."Maybe, but not for an age of the world. Not till Random's reign is secured by loyalty and experience not just trust in the Unicorn's choice. I don't really want it either. If possible i'd like to include house arrest at my estates east of [[Yaj]] or my island down in the [[Far Isle]]. Even my quarters at the family compounds in [[Acadia]] would be nice. To be able to feel the water beneath my feet would be pleasure. But | + | Brand shrugs..."Maybe, but not for an age of the world. Not till Random's reign is secured by loyalty and experience not just trust in the Unicorn's choice. I don't really want it either. If possible i'd like to include house arrest at my estates east of [[Yaj]] or my island down in the [[Far Isle]]. Even my quarters at the family compounds in [[Acadia]] would be nice. To be able to feel the water beneath my feet would be pleasure. But i don't expect it nor need it. Random offered to let me have a suite built up in this very tower because my quarters in the family wing of the castle would cause me to be a little too close for comfort for some of my kin. I declined. My cell down below is satisfactory. It is comfortably appointed, well stocked with provisions, and I can sleep there without the fear that some relative of mine, or a relative of one of the trillions dead in the Black Road War will come and try their hand at murder. Assassination is to often a talent of those of the Blood of Chaos for me to walk to far from safety. Besides, the pattern is doing something to me. Sorting out the knots created by power and ambition and family relations. " |
"Doing something funny? That sounds ominous' | "Doing something funny? That sounds ominous' | ||
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Brand agrees, "That does seem to be a common theme in the growth of an amberite's life" | Brand agrees, "That does seem to be a common theme in the growth of an amberite's life" | ||
− | + | ==brand working== | |
− | + | "For me", Dalt goes on, "it was Julian. I'm sure you read all our Articles of Submission. Mine tells of how the king worked out my issues using Julian's fists. It took a lot of pummeling to see that Random wasn't Oberon. You know my story im sure. I was born in Eregenor. Thats a bridge shadow between Kashfra and Begma and its traded back and forth so much that it has a lot of partisans either way. Its a lush, growing place with a climate for all kinds of growth. A breadbasket land. Since Begma and Kashfra are both dry, oceanside areas with marginal growing seasons, lands like Eregenor has been a important food source and trade route. They have fought over it for years. My mother was a Unicorn priestess till Amber sided with Begma one too many times. She soured hard. I was raised to hate him. To hate amber. I saw battle before i could walk. I was blooded by the forces of Amber before I could ride. I knew no other way to think other then to hate Amber. It was a big part of my view of the universe. | |
− | "For me", Dalt goes on, "it was Julian | ||
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