Duncan to stop the Twisted Way

Michael James Watson

Taking several steps several things happen at the same time. Outside the pattern spectators stand in horror. One though sits down and conjures a bottle of Oh Be Joyful for one hand and unconsciously does one hand card shuffles while intently watching. A dark cloud comes into being and a lightning bolt touches Duncan's head. It doesn't slow his walking but sends lightning shivers around him. The torrent of created animals stops and several hundred beasts fall to the ground to start fighting each other. A lightning nimbus from Thin Gerard surrounds the table and viewers, keeping the view of the pattern clear of the animal cacophony. Queen Deirdre and a disturbingly fat Benedict arrive looking surprised but take interest in the spectacle quickly. Xandra stares in horror. Karieeena watched emotionlessly. Hannah stands, turns and vomits, briefly distracting Queen Deirdre.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex had jumped up from her seat as Duncan stepped on the pattern. Had she thought of walking it to see if it would help, yes, had she thought Duncan would do it.... yeah he would, in fact he IS walking that pattern. Alex her hands clench into fists. Staring at Duncan. Almost trying to focus for him. Though she had no idea how hard this would be. She had only walked the pattern once, even if it was the primal one. She can't take her eyes of the whole spectacle. and mostly from Duncan. that lightning.. what does it do to him. Hearing the vomit sounds from Hannah near her she doesn't look away but just holds a piece of cloth, Alex has usually with her to wipe her hands, to Hannah to wipe her mouth. It clearly takes alot of self control not to run towards the pattern. Or to shout to Duncan, but then what would she shout, idiot? she was planning to do the same thing. Be carefull...? bit to late for that isn't it? Don't die? yeah... i am sure he is very much trying not to. i love you.... well that might be the wrong time and place. So Alex just watches, intense look, mind focused on... purely on Duncan and what he is doing. Seeing his steps, seeing him as much as possible. Getting her breath under control and be ready to jump into action if he needs help.

Michael James Watson

Deirdre says to Thin Gerard," What does this mean?" He says, "The pattern zorched Erik and Corwyn. Its torched 695 others since. Its not killing him. He and that one there are higher order shades then us and our enraged pattern." Fat Men says,"Will this mollify it?". Thin Gerard shrugs.

Amber Bronkhorst

Without breaking her stare at Duncan's trail Alex tilts her head slightly as she answers. "If it is indeed part of the primal pattern and as close to it as our own pattern it should be doable for Duncan. Not pleasant. Clearly. I do doubt one walk might be enough to calm it down enough to be not enraged anymore. " Addressing the thin Gerard but without looking "You said only you can use magic here. Does that include trumps? If so i need to know now, if Duncan needs immediate medical attention i need to take him away to where they can help him the quickest. " Her voice sounds all the while very neutral, plain. As if she was planning a grocery trip. She is clearly in her tactical state of mind to have back up plan on back up plan. As noone knows here present what this might do to the shade, the pattern and Duncan. And by the unicorn she would not let her first mission as second warden end in a disaster.

Michael James Watson

As the lightning flashes around Duncan he continues to walk. Time is slow for him but the chamber starts filling. Practitioners of the 3 sigils arrive and activate them to send the battling beasts off down the funnel tunnel. The people of the holding fill the room watching someone finally walking the pattern. The effort is clearly far greater then for regular walks, though Alex has little to compare it to. After a bit Deirdre walks over and picks up a tea cup and sips. "Well, Gerry, what does this mean? Will it mollify it? " Gerard says, "One walking? Hardly. A thousand maybe. Maybe not. We walk a shade of the pattern that is calm. This is a shadow of the highest order pattern and it may take a lot of placating."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex doesn't move from.her position to afraid to interfere with the things going on. As she is not answered Alex just flips with a half eye on her cards to make sure those she immediately would need are on top. Even if her face holds a neutral look her full body is tensed up and ready to jump into action to assist Duncan. Muttering between her teeth. "You big idiot you can do this..."

Michael James Watson

JAx says, "Over 600 dead Ardenites and its still testy? Had any of them gotten this far? " Gerard says, "No. Not a one. So he is its order or higher. " Jax asks, "You said it was a shadow of the highest pattern? You saying now he might be higher?" Gerard says,"I am saying whatever level this pattern is and that walker is, the pattern accepts him. Say what you like., " After that is quiet.. There is something surreal about watching someone walk the pattern and this is even more intense. When he reaches the senter their is a huge booming sound. The rush of animals returns as if it had never been off. In the far side of the room Duncan lays steaming and sparking electically. Coiled around him is a thin, baby green dragon just barely as big as he is. The two seems entertwined and they curl.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex just let them speak and guess about which order of shade they are. When Duncan reaches the center and then the boom happens Alex just starts to sprint. Towards where he now lays steaming and sparkling. At the point where Alex reaches Duncan she drops to her knees to help him but due to the coiled little dragon around him Alex doesn't immediately touch. "Duncan, are you there? Are you conscious?"

Michael James Watson

Duncan rolls his head back to look up at Alex. She notices his blue eyes are now light green. "Tired...but refreshed....joy... I can't keep my thoughts straight. What happened?"

Amber Bronkhorst

She places both hands on either side of his face and stares in his now green eyes. Then as the adrenaline subsides for herself she smiles again, and while still holding his head she plants a kiss on his lips. "Well we were all watching with various levels of worry and curiousity as you walked this enraged pattern. Lightning struck you but didn't seem to harm you. And when you were done you were thrown clear across the room. With this little fellow entangled with you. And you might want to check a mirror. ... doesn't look bad honestly." Seeing now Duncan is okey Alex puts her trump cards she had on speeddail away. Visible her muscles lose some of the tension she felt during Duncan's walk. " i do not think it mollified the enraged pattern enough but it absolutely had an effect." She now looks at the green baby dragon entangled with Duncan. Leaning a bit closer she whispers not knowing who is in hearing range. "Duncan they might have questions on how you were, so far the only one among hundreds who have tried to walk it. And they might want more to try now." Alex does a quick glance to her back. She already had heard Xandra was upset that she was perhaps of a higher order shade.... and she won't know what the rest might feel about this. If Duncan can walk it. So can Alex and so can Dalt who might return.

Michael James Watson

Duncan turns his head to regard the dragon. They look each other in the eye for a long moment before it untangles. Quick but clumsily it leaps into the torrent of Beasts edge, dragging a muscled silver tip free, feasting upon it. Alex looks up and catches Xandra's eye as she steps through a trump.b. Jax shakes his head, saying something to her then remains behind.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex still on her knees next to Duncan ready to helping him up she smiles. "Seems you made a friend during your walk. " With amazement she watches the dragon feast regarding the strength and beauty of the creature. Finally looking up at Jax and seeing Xandra leave she frowns slightly but then again Xandra was not her worry, they worked together to get here. But if she wants not to deal with it further is up to her. "The stream of beasts hasn't stopped. You think it did help at least a bit? And are you physically alright? Do you need assistance? I can call someone."

Michael James Watson

He leans against her, "T'Sev....hungry.....tricky people here...No half measures.....Random...." He falls hard asleep.

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex catches Duncan she tries to shake him slightly. "Duncan, please wake up. " She groans then looks at the dragon. "Okey little guy i don't know if you understand me but i am sending Duncan to safety if you want to be with him you better come here. " Her heart is pounding... tricky people... no half measures. She had no clue what that meant but she cannot protect herself and a deep sleeping Duncan. Alex reaches back in her bag and pulls out the trump cards she had stored again the right ones should still lay on top. She looks at 3 of them she had picked. Vance, Brand, Arlo. Since she is not sure what his physical condition further is she decides on Vance. And if Duncan needs to contact Random that is a good enough line as well. Not waiting on the dragon's response Alex focusses on the trump of Vance.

Michael James Watson

The trump has a sticky sense and a light probe, then opens, "Alexandra Mira? To what do I owe the surpise contact? and what the galloping hell is that behind you!?!?!?!"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex frowns at the strange sensation and reacts shocked at his reaction. She assumes he means the pattern and twisted way. In a hurried tone she says "Hey, sorry to disturb, we're at beasthold. Duncan walked the enraged pattern here and i hope he is merely exhausted but i don't know he needs help. " With that she pushes Duncan towards Vance giving herself time to look back at what made Vance give such a reaction. And in the hope to see where Karieeena and Hannah are.

Michael James Watson

Vance steps through, drawing a long thin blade with chilling pattern inscriptions.. Behind him steps Vander, his starfleet uniform suddenly replaced by black scale armor that Alex saw Arlo wearing, Eric's armor called Shatterbound. Vander kneels by Duncan. The green dragon turns and roars at Vander, taking several steps toward them. Duncan raises a hand and the dragon stops but rears in preparation to attack. Vance says, "An actual Enraged pattern...Ive only heard of them..and who the fuck..." Alex sees Queen Deirdre, Thin Gerard and Fat Benedict stepping through the torrent of beasts. Fat Benedict holds a large bore firearm. Gerard a wizard's staff. Queen Deirdre is now in battle armor with sword and shield. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into Alex??!?! Where the hell are we?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex turns fully now Vance and Vander had stepped through. Seeing Queen Deirdre, Thin Gerard and fat Benedict approaching bearing weapons she looks worried and slips her bow of her shoulder. "Well my first disaster of a mission to see what this Twisted Way is. Lead some rangers and elites here following a spike. This is a shade Beastkeep or Beasthold. This pattern, they can't walk but Duncan could, and just did, he made a new friend along the way." She says gesturing from the stream of beasts the pattern and then to the dragon. "I am not certain to why they have pulled weapons they seemed interested in Duncan walking the pattern. Though he is the first to succeed since its installation, or so i understand. So they might just be worried who you are, or not happy Duncan survived.... or something entirely different is going on." Standing she puts away her trumps and makes sure she has her bow attack ready. Her eyes do keep scan beyond the stream of beasts in the hope to spot Karieeena and Hannah. Looking worried back to Duncan she adds " we were trying to stop the stream of beasts being send into shadow and to us.... hence Duncan tried the pattern, but it doesn't seem to have changed."

Michael James Watson

Deirdre raises a hand behind to Gerard and Benedict. "Hold a moment.." "Son of Delwin...I assume you are not the Vance known in this realm or a thousand shadow veils on either side. I suggest we take a moment to clearify our situation before things get out of hand." Vance says, "I am not the one with a blade in my hand. Nor do I know a realm where Benedict is fat, Gerard is thin, or Deirdre is in command. So let us say whoever you know me to be is unlike the person I am. This Duncan is the Warden of Arden in the realm of Amber to which I owe fealty. Does that clarify things?" Deirdre sheathes her sword and sets her shield aside. "It does indeed. How fares your Duncan?"

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex again silently groans.... She looks to Queen Deirdre. "Could we please assume all the help i bring in... is from my version of Amber. Because, that i call upon their help they are most likely not bad people, unless of course you see me as a danger then anyone i would bring in could be a threat." She slings her bow around her shoulder again. Then turning again towards Duncan checking how he is. She looks at Vander with a questioning look as he had stayed with Duncan. Then to clarify to Queen Deirdre she explains "With the beasts starting up again and Duncan just slumping over in my arms i felt i needed help protecting my Warden. I hope you understand. But as i understand this is the first time someone surviving the walk of this enraged pattern so we do not know the effects on the survivor. And i know that if in dire need he would be in good hands with Vance. " She nods to Vance.

Michael James Watson

Deirdre and her companions come over, look to Duncan. Thin Gerard raises a sigil and looks through it. Vance raises the sign of Vulsara. TG says, "Well he bears the enraged imprint alright. For better or worse. As well as Amber imprints of a far more elegant, and powerful, design then our own. Calm ones." Vance says, "This imprint.... Duncan...Don't use the imprint of this pattern till you get someone up the food chain to look at it. Arloxedra, Fiona, Dworkin if he can be found. By that i mean don't use it to hang spells. But--- can you carefully see if you can raise it as a sigil?" Duncan lets Alex stand him up. He raises the sigil. It is angry looking and writhing. TG and Vance look carefully. Vance says, "It looks hung with spells already.. Face the wall...tap the spell in the 4th position" He does and a manticore leaps from the sigil. Looking around for someone to attack the 3 sigils glow and the manticore leaps into the rushing of beasts from the pattern into the funnel tunnel." Vance laughs, "That could be handy... Its not a spell thats hung...ITs a summoning point. There are some 30 of them." TG nods, "And that matches the 30 general forms of mass beast the pattern produces. Not including a couple dozen it summons rarely like dragons, Pegasus, hippocampus and platupus. " Fat Ben adds, "Not to mention those hellish endless hordes of hamsters, gerbils, scorpions, or snakes."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex helps Duncan up allowing him to lean on her as long as he needs. She watches silently what the others are discussing. Feeling almost like the grown-ups are talking as she has no clue of some things. She does look surprised seeinf Duncan basically summon a manticore. She looks shocked between Duncan Vance and TG and Fat Ben. "So instead of stopping the stream.... Duncan can now summon them as well..... and uhm not to ask dumb questions but what is with the green little dragon over there?"

Michael James Watson

The locals look over at it. Deirdre says, "Well, Green dragons have been generated by the pattern before. But never youthful ones. " FB-"It seems fragile for a dragon. Maybe we should kill it now rather then wait tilll its a problem."

Amber Bronkhorst

Alex looks at the green dragon and then at Duncan. Thinking of how they were curled up together when Duncan was tossed off the pattern. She looks up at Duncan. "You two have a bond together? It seems very protective over you, but also trusts you that it listens to you." She turns to FB and cocks an eyebrow. "Perhaps not needed, and babies and younglings do tend to look frigile and weak.... as they need to grow and gain strength. " Alex falls silent for a moment realizing she would never ever speak like that to her Benedict... but it was more and more clear these people are very different than the versions she knows and grew up to know. Turning to Vance she asks "I can contact Arlo, he is familiar with the mission i was on to find the origin of the iron spikes. Perhaps he can shine some light on this enraged pattern business as well. I had also my father in mind but he is not allowed to leave of course."