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− | + | ===Jopin and the Arrival of The Forces of Tosa=== | |
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Morning breezes waft over the docks of Amber with the scent of salt and fog heavy in the dawn. | Morning breezes waft over the docks of Amber with the scent of salt and fog heavy in the dawn. | ||
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"By faith, I gat that thy will holds ill will towards me, though I fain have set foot on this fair land? What cause have thee to ado with me or mine?" | "By faith, I gat that thy will holds ill will towards me, though I fain have set foot on this fair land? What cause have thee to ado with me or mine?" | ||
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"Go north God of Lust, if you set foot on my rock I'll gut you like a sturgeon and eat your eggs on toast." | "Go north God of Lust, if you set foot on my rock I'll gut you like a sturgeon and eat your eggs on toast." | ||
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As the ships pass a mighty barge comes in their midst, fueled by sorcery and witcheries, it glides through the seas like a glacier. On its bow stands a cadre of giants, 12 feet tall, clad in shimmering blue/green reardan scale, armed with the shadow weapons Jopin has only heard of. The Deathwheelers, 9' long, with 3 rows of spinning speartips. Each warrior holds his at attention. Jopin notes that the giants are not all men, nor do they all have only 2 arms. | As the ships pass a mighty barge comes in their midst, fueled by sorcery and witcheries, it glides through the seas like a glacier. On its bow stands a cadre of giants, 12 feet tall, clad in shimmering blue/green reardan scale, armed with the shadow weapons Jopin has only heard of. The Deathwheelers, 9' long, with 3 rows of spinning speartips. Each warrior holds his at attention. Jopin notes that the giants are not all men, nor do they all have only 2 arms. | ||
− | Among the giants a titan stands boldly. Heads above the others in runescribed blue green reardan scale, long | + | Among the giants a titan stands boldly. Heads above the others in runescribed blue green reardan scale, long black hair framing a gigantic squared jawed face. Jopin meets eyes with the creature even he must call a man. Three silver trees embossed on his brow beside a stone that shifts colors quickly. A dark blue cloak that covers his shoulders bear 12 sigils of the Saints of Battle, and the arms of the royal house of Tosa. He stands against the seafoam with his hand on the pommel of a mighty greatsword, glowing with blueish white light running along the rune-scribed blade. |
− | + | Jopin catches the titan's eye as the ship passes. Behind Jopin a thin man in brown comes to stand beside him. The titan turns and salutes the pair in passing, though all three know that if the man in brown had remained hidden, no salute would have been given. | |
− | Jopin catches the titan's eye as the ship passes. | ||
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− | Behind Jopin a thin man in brown comes to stand beside him. The titan turns and salutes the pair in passing, though all three know that if the man in brown had remained hidden, no salute would have been given. | ||
Jopin speaks,"so that's Alexandir kosKorag?" | Jopin speaks,"so that's Alexandir kosKorag?" | ||
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Benedict nods." Yes. War God, Premier Saint of Battle, and King of Tosa. I may have to kill him someday. It will take some doing. Hopefully he will die well fighting Amber's foes." | Benedict nods." Yes. War God, Premier Saint of Battle, and King of Tosa. I may have to kill him someday. It will take some doing. Hopefully he will die well fighting Amber's foes." | ||
− | Nodding, Jopin agrees. "I'll get a crypt ready. I can think of few enemies of Amber I would rather see dead more then | + | Nodding, Jopin agrees. "I'll get a crypt ready. I can think of few enemies of Amber I would rather see dead more then he." |
− | " | + | "Mayhaps,old friend. But Azcala comes too and we may have cause in time to hate them more. By the way, King Random sends you his greetings" |
Turning to Benedict, the old admiral pales. "No..I'm retired." | Turning to Benedict, the old admiral pales. "No..I'm retired." | ||
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The lighthouse keeper of Amber says," well, it will all end in tears. | The lighthouse keeper of Amber says," well, it will all end in tears. | ||
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− | + | . | |
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− | + | === The Arrival of the Cult of the Savior/Slayer. === | |
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Fort chuckles as he puts his hand on Venki's shoulder, earning a scowl from him before settling down. | Fort chuckles as he puts his hand on Venki's shoulder, earning a scowl from him before settling down. | ||
− | Fort, ” Venki, my friend, you really can't blame Relt about this. You did touch the rock. Jeremy touched the rock. Dolki, Alex, Mitcholt, Zatonic | + | Fort, ” Venki, my friend, you really can't blame Relt about this. You did touch the rock. Jeremy touched the rock. Dolki, Alex, Mitcholt, Zatonic, Digan, even Caland all touched the rock. I declined to touch the rock, you will remember. Relt is just responding to the magic of you folks having touched the rock. For the love of Mac you and I both know the difference is semantics. So shut the hell up about it, please. ” |
Venki rises, drawing a deep breath before speaking softly, clearly holding a tight reign on his panic. | Venki rises, drawing a deep breath before speaking softly, clearly holding a tight reign on his panic. | ||
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Venki looks about at the departing notables..”Hey... guys?.. He called me Venki Who Touched a Rock?.....Did Reltorious just make a joke? Please tell me one of you heard him make a joke? ” | Venki looks about at the departing notables..”Hey... guys?.. He called me Venki Who Touched a Rock?.....Did Reltorious just make a joke? Please tell me one of you heard him make a joke? ” | ||
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− | === | + | ===Drums and Duty-Random & Truman=== |
− | + | Sitting behind the sort of drum kit that is worthy of the King of Amber, Random set the sticks aside and reaches for his tankard. Setting his cigarillo aside he looks over at the nephew he is about to dump a metric ton of crap on. He watches him sling his ax aside and reach for his own tankard. | |
− | + | Sighing, and lays out his cards. | |
− | + | “So this is the problem. The shadows ebb, flow, and swirl in ways that boggle the mind. I've sat in Jewel of Judgment and felt the way things flow and seen the islands of stability like rocks in the oceans. Amber is a huge island. It has shadows moving around it crashing on the sand. Squiggles like Bursain, Trasidy, Alamond, and even Azcala, are their own rocks. Avalon is another huge island. Mandalay is another. Each time a shadow crashes it gains a little something and loses a little something.” | |
− | The | + | “Its an imperfect metaphor, but it will have to do. The shadows obviously don't move but its the perceptions of the powers regarding them that I saw while in the jewel. But there is an exchange..I need people to observe it. The exchange isn't rocks and brush and oceans..Its people, thoughts, music, art, architecture... it could be anything. I need people that will note little things, as well as big things.” |
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− | + | “Currently I have Cogswell Mal At Riess as the ambassador to Mandalay. Hes kind of a wackadoo but a loyal one. He's musical as well as military so I thought he was a good choice since as a veteran of Patternfall and a Duke, he seemed respectable in rank. But it turns out that he isn't a good at noticing things. I don't expect Mandalay to be a military threat but that's all Cogswell seems to think is important for me to know. I don't need someone who only knows one song. I need someone who can play lead, but can strum the rhythm if the song requires it. And I think I need someone not only of rank, but of blood.” | |
− | + | “Mandalay is the center of Shadow, regardless of how the ebbs and flows of shadow veils work. If trends are coming from Chaos to Amber they will pass by there. And visa versa. Things bouncing off the squiggles will show up there as well. I need a clever eye, a ready wit, and person able to sing lead, but still be able to work with the chorus.” | |
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+ | “I also need someone to hang out with Adrian and his collection of Lords and lunatics as a Lord of the House Bariman. He has seven of my own siblings as Lords; Orsoloa, Sand, Elfwine, Hamilton, and Joseph. As well as Fleece and the ½ of Deirdre that is bonded to him. Toss in some of your cousins, Nadine, Kenshin, Houk, Dashel, Tender and Ghost, and that's a lot of family firepower outside of Amber. His other lords are a collection of nature gods as well as lots of musicians and artists. And of course Fleece's pack of Chaos hounds that turned on Chaos when Fleece did.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “I don't expect him to raise an army but I do expect an attack on our culture. He can export music and theater that can change public opinion. He has Orson Wells running a road company of Les Misérables that spent a decade in the Dramaturge and is in Thelusia now. It opens in Amber soon. Like i need an anti-royalist theater production now? Bleys practically made my reign a farce at the beginning when he was on his drunk ambition tour. Adrian has friggin' David Bowie scouting concert venues here. Warohl prints made in Mandalay are turning up in Amber art galleries and it would not surprise me if Adrian didn't have Warhol as a Lord already. Branch Rickey, John McGraw, and Juke Talwig manage a baseball league in the Dramaturge with 80 teams spread across 30 shadows in the Green Sway and they are trying to get minor leagues set up in a half dozen Golden Circle kingdoms as well as cities along the Jeweled Road.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The problem is that Adrian knows that music, theater, art, and sports are things i really can't thump. I just need to know whats coming better so i can plan for it.” | ||
− | + | “Another problem is that Mandalay is officially neutral in the battles between Chaos and Amber. So its like Casablanca for agitators. The Blade of Bursain is lost right now and whoever finds it can do a heck of a lot of damage with his lordship of Bursain. I won't bore you with the magical details but i need to know if there are rumors about where the Blade is. Such rumors will be scrubbed clean by the time they get here but they will be fresh and new in Mandalay. Azcala has been sending Jaguar and Puma cultists down the Jeweled Road for 20 years now and while CHAD has been pretty good at keeping them out of the city they are infiltrating the Golden Circle kingdoms. Azcala has a friggin Embassy in Mandalay. Lastly, Borlak is on the move. He usually raids around Regor since those shadows protect him from Vance's starships and my riflemen. The last thing i need is Borlak bringing his Flowing Horde to Amber.” | |
− | + | “So...Truman, i'd like you to take the post of Ambassador to Mandalay from Amber. Go, hang out with the lords, chat up the family members, spend time in the Dramaturge. Hell, Adrian might offer to let you walk the Mark. I'll be encouraging your kin to drop by and visit you. With the exceptions of Bleys, Flora, Vance, you and I, few of the Amber side kin have spent much time in Mandalay.” | |
− | + | Sitting with a crooked frown, Truman does a one-hand roll and lights the wrap, with a offhand flick. | |
− | + | “Well now, Random, it sounds like i have little choice in the matter. Still, I have been through the Dramaturge a bunch. You know of course that Hamilton, Dashel, Vance, and I run a Famous Concert Tour business out of the place. I've done Woodstock a couple times with them, as well as some stuff at the Fillmore, some Dead shows, Mozart directing “the Magic Flute”, “Ajax”, staring Sophocles. Took a few tours to the games in Rome, but that was a bit...gruesome. Oh, and a really bizarre tour of Musicals with really bizarre combinations of actors in lead roles. John Wayne and Elinor Roosevelt in “Hello, Dolly”, Charlie Chaplin and Whoppie Goldberg in the “King and I”; That kind of thing... I suppose i could lead some of the kin around there without too much trouble. Dashel would probably better at that. He maybe a lord in Mandalay but he considers himself more cosmopolitan. As for the rest, I'll keep busy.” | |
− | + | Tapping off the wrap and taking a chug of the dark, he continues. | |
− | + | “I hate to be a greedy weasel about it Random, and I'll do it of course, but whats in it for me? I get a staff I'm sure. Valuable parting gifts? Copy of the home game?” | |
− | + | Random nods, “Of course.. Well, You'll have plenipotentiary powers of course... But there is one other thing. Tell you what, you go get your affairs in order. When you are ready call me.” | |
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− | + | Hours pass as Truman gets his traveling kit together. Putting his blade on his belt, and his guitar on his back, he opens a trump to the King. | |
− | + | “You ready? Come ahead” Random extends his hand. | |
− | + | “Ya, i suppose.” Truman grasps it and steps forward. | |
− | + | Arriving at the flat rock plain, the crooked trees, and the glowing artifact of the Primal Pattern. Dworkin stands at the center of the pattern. Fiona and Gerard look from mouth of the cave leading back to Dworkin's apartments. | |
− | + | “Ah, well, this isn't what i expected.” Truman looks around the stark landscape he has only heard rumors of before. | |
− | + | Random walks to the start of the pattern. Reaching under his tunic, he withdraws the Jewel of Judgment. | |
− | + | “Come ahead. Take this and walk the pattern. When you get there Dworkin will guide you in attuning it." | |
− | + | "Ah, Random, ...You want me attuned to the Jewel of Judgment? Really? I know a few power words but its been years since i toyed with sorcery." | |
− | + | Ranom says, "I know. Im going to have Fiona come to Mandalay on the sly and tutor you on sorcery. I know this is a lot to dump on you but i trust your sense of Duty. And frankly i trust your father's willingness to turn you over his knee if need be. " | |
− | + | "Adrian is attuned to the Jewel, and got it on this pattern as well. Adrian will know how seriously I'm taking the post if i send someone known to be in my inner circle, hell in my garage band, who also has the same attunement he has. Dworkin and I spoke in depth about it and we think that if he offers to let you assay the mark you should, and you have my permission."“ | |
− | + | Nodding, overwhelmed, he takes the stone and begins walking, feeling the strain of the effort an octave above his previous passages through the pattern. | |
− | + | Reaching the center, Dworkin takes his hand and the stone. “Concentrate on the stone. Look into it deeply. Transport into the center. I'll follow you in. “ | |
− | + | The experience is musical, he feels the glow inscribe itself on his sense of self. Standing in the crimson center Dworkin is suddenly there beside him. The gyrating patterns around him moving like writhing snakes around him. Dworkin reaches out and grasps small broken sections of writhing snakes, drawing them together and passing them through the stunned Truman. Dworkin weaves expertly the writhing strands through the Ambassador to Mandalay. He feels the writhing inscriptions impose themselves on his soul. | |
− | + | Coming to awareness he stands in the center of the patter. Dworkin supports him as he recovers from his weakness. The stone on its chain hangs around Dworkin's neck. | |
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− | + | “Go to the Dramaturge. Walk to Mandalay from there. Your patent of appointment is in your satchel.” | |
− | + | Moments pass and the transport completes. The new Ambassador to Mandalay contemplates the changes in his life that a few hours could make. | |
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− | + | ===A briefing by Benedict === | |
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Random looked out over the west wall to the lit city below. Its lights were new and set a different look to the city from the torches of his youth. Les smoke and tar, more fairyland glow. Like Disneyland with nightly bloodletting. | Random looked out over the west wall to the lit city below. Its lights were new and set a different look to the city from the torches of his youth. Les smoke and tar, more fairyland glow. Like Disneyland with nightly bloodletting. | ||
− | Beside the king on the battlements stood two people as he pondered the news. A third | + | Beside the king on the battlements stood two people as he pondered the news. A third stoods far aside, waiting. |
Bleys leaned next to the king, passing a blue bottle to him. | Bleys leaned next to the king, passing a blue bottle to him. | ||
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“It was a pretty splashy mess. I don't think the Azcalans expected it. Not sure I did and I've seen them fight in Tosa.” | “It was a pretty splashy mess. I don't think the Azcalans expected it. Not sure I did and I've seen them fight in Tosa.” | ||
− | + | Ran passed the bottle around to Bleys and Fortunadas, “Do tell.” | |
“First, I don't think the Azcalans had weapons able to penetrate the mithril and Reardan panoplies of the Paladins or their ACOs. They rained down edged hell and trampled the wounded. Beyond that the majority of the tosians were not...line fighters. Heros, like Elites. Irregular Heavy Elite A Infantry. Mixed weapons, mixed armors, mixed fighting styles, mixed battle cries. Noisy as fuck. The Azcalans kept trying to move forces in lines of battle to face them but they moved too fast. Hyper-fast almost.” | “First, I don't think the Azcalans had weapons able to penetrate the mithril and Reardan panoplies of the Paladins or their ACOs. They rained down edged hell and trampled the wounded. Beyond that the majority of the tosians were not...line fighters. Heros, like Elites. Irregular Heavy Elite A Infantry. Mixed weapons, mixed armors, mixed fighting styles, mixed battle cries. Noisy as fuck. The Azcalans kept trying to move forces in lines of battle to face them but they moved too fast. Hyper-fast almost.” | ||
− | Bleys | + | Bleys-”Adventurers from the Stone of Skull shadows in Tosa... Spice addicts. Tosian melange doubles one's speed. You see the blue in blue eyes on them and that's it Their wizards and their magics specialize in haste magic as well.” Fort nods, his own blue in blue eyes shaded by night and his foppish feathered hat. |
Ben nods, “Indeed. The ones that were wounded, suddenly had one of the drunk clerics that Harriet led running into the middle of battle, swinging maces and cudgels to tag the injured, who popped up like jack-in-the-boxes and began rending flesh again. Its as if the clerics knew the moment a warrior fell.” | Ben nods, “Indeed. The ones that were wounded, suddenly had one of the drunk clerics that Harriet led running into the middle of battle, swinging maces and cudgels to tag the injured, who popped up like jack-in-the-boxes and began rending flesh again. Its as if the clerics knew the moment a warrior fell.” | ||
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“My commanders were anxious anyway and it was quite a sight. I admit my own blood-lust was rising. About then a commander of the Azcalans, likely a high noble in jaguar robes, came to the rear of the Tosians. Red Digan pointed at him and his flesh melted like boiled wax. He sat his horse bereft of flesh and looked up at us like he felt betrayed by the gods of war. Then his skeleton fell apart. His horse came trotting up to Digan like a puppy. I had to let my commanders go or they were going to mutiny. So we took battle to them at 15 to 1 odds against. “ | “My commanders were anxious anyway and it was quite a sight. I admit my own blood-lust was rising. About then a commander of the Azcalans, likely a high noble in jaguar robes, came to the rear of the Tosians. Red Digan pointed at him and his flesh melted like boiled wax. He sat his horse bereft of flesh and looked up at us like he felt betrayed by the gods of war. Then his skeleton fell apart. His horse came trotting up to Digan like a puppy. I had to let my commanders go or they were going to mutiny. So we took battle to them at 15 to 1 odds against. “ | ||
− | “12th Legion lost perhaps 2000 troops | + | “12th Legion lost perhaps 2000 troops initially, 6000 wounded initially, in the first few minutes.. But those drunken healers started riding among us healing our people like nothing I've ever had the power to use. It was....extraordinary. “ |
Bleys “That's high praise from you, Brother. I've rarely heard you so keen with your regard.” | Bleys “That's high praise from you, Brother. I've rarely heard you so keen with your regard.” | ||
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Random spits the sweet whiskey of Amber and chokes briefly. Beside him Bleys and Fortunadas laugh. | Random spits the sweet whiskey of Amber and chokes briefly. Beside him Bleys and Fortunadas laugh. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Xolotl and Zentalas=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The blackness was strong, the screams of pain deafening around him and the wrongness of the thing he created was dragging scars across his soul. Sparkling lights crashed up around him as the work he did wounded the inscription below him and the imprint within him. He fought his powers and his soul. | ||
+ | |||
+ | To the side three people watched as the fabric of the universe was torn before them. Lives ruined, worlds crushed, earthquakes, tidal waves, rains of fire, rains of toads, rains of molten cinnamon candy. | ||
+ | |||
+ | They drank the blue agave nectar and watched. | ||
+ | |||
+ | In time he completed the arc, his footstep leaving the red stain behind him. Echoes of horror flooded through shadow as the warriors of the Jaguar filled the gaps forged in shadow. What had been a deeply broken pattern of Amber was now a fine shadow of the Sigil of Azcala, though its tinge was not quite as red and its blood-lust not quit so fierce yet. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He staggered to the ground, caught by the Woman in Feathers. | ||
+ | |||
+ | "You magnificent man! It worked! It can be done! It can be carried out to the Halls of Amber itself!" | ||
+ | |||
+ | Looking up, the great sorcerer shook his head. "Not by me you crazy bitch. This nearly killed me. I can't say I'll recover now. If you think this can be done to greater shadows, or shadows of the pattern itself, you are more insane then i ever imagined. But know this; What i did today, is mine. This place. It is not of Amber, nor is it of Azcala, and if our family wants it, they can come against me. I claim Founder's Right. It may be a small thing, but its mine. Now.. Go.. or die" | ||
+ | |||
+ | The two men disappeared immediately, leaving the Woman in Feathers alone. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She yelled, "You can't mean that? After everything it took to get this far? Tonacat will reward you with sacrifice and hearts and ..." She began to scream as the fire started at her feet, racing up her calf. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He rose, slowly, scowling but healing. The shattered realms forgetting their pain, embracing their lord. giving unto the creator in his need. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Woman in Feather and Flames turned and stepped into shadow. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Dosri in Nu Yark with Zicatalas of Azcala=== | ||
+ | Looking out the window over the city of Nu Yark, she chuckled softly at how strange this vasty lands were compared to the magical realm of her birth and her struggles. Its towers, its magics, its technology. What required all her powers to manage in the healing of her own body on her home world, was done in clinics on nearly ever block in this mighty world. What they could do in their cutting edge hospitals was beyond her belief and only cost money she could gather with ease in this brutal world. | ||
+ | |||
+ | She thought of her sister, Lady, and the other Nine the Dominator took. The flawed creatures Lady had taken. Mighty they all were. Yet none of them had ever sipped champagne looking out on a scene like this. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A couple thousand feet below, at street level, the masses of people went about their business unaware of the realms around them. She could only look out the window and let her mind boggle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Pouring thirty ounces of tequila she walked to sit in the chas-lounge on her balcony. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Bringing the bottle with her because she knew her guest would be thirsty too. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Her silky negligee clung loosely to her frame as she settled beside the bronzed god of war. His scent lay heavy on her body. Sweat and other scents, her nose could lightly detect. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Gold wing for your thoughts?” Handing him the bottle. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My thoughts? Dosri, I am afraid all good things must come to an end. Gold wing or not, my thoughts turn to my father and war. “ | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Ya, I figured they would, but I don’t understand why? The devil knows I’m no fan of Amber but I don’t see the percentage in attacking it. Its not like you can destroy it. “ | ||
+ | |||
+ | He turns on the lounge, picking up the bottle and chugging off a draft. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “My father thinks there is a percentage. He thinks destroying Amber means supplanting it. He thinks the balance that Random has created between Amber, Avalon and Mandalay is going to rend his realm of its powers. He is almost certainly right.” Taking another chug he drops his head to the bottle’s rim. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Reaching over to grab the bottle and his hand, Dosri says, “I can’t follow you. I'm no pawn of Random and I'm new to having family but i don't share your father's beliefs. I don’t want to fight you.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | He nods, gently pulling the bottle from her hands, drinking, and passing it back to her. Standing he pulls her into his embrace, she comes into it eagerly, again. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Gripping her left teat gently, he drives the knife hard into her chest, cutting left and right to pull the heart from her dying chest. | ||
+ | |||
+ | His hand pulls from her chest a rubber facsimile of a heart, marked "Property of Lebek High School" | ||
+ | |||
+ | She looks to him, frowning, in pain, with a scowl of betrayal, “Ah, Zictalas, did you think I kept my heart there after I learned who you were? Go…Leave this realm now. When I see you next, you had best be armed.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Stepping back, nodding in regret hearing his true name from her lips, dropping the toy heart to the ground, “I must have the real one. Many of the real ones, dear. In time” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Turning he steps into shadow. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Picking up the bottle, drinking deeply before pouring the fiery liquid on her open wounded chest, she says aloud, “Your place or mine, lover” | ||
===5261-Doings at Thin Whip's=== | ===5261-Doings at Thin Whip's=== | ||
Line 574: | Line 388: | ||
Nala learns the rough points as Carissa and Custus play and trade games. | Nala learns the rough points as Carissa and Custus play and trade games. | ||
− | In Time Thin Whip wanders by, looking over everything, a set of trumps ruffling thought his off hand, a drink in his other. Catching Carissa's eye he nods, "Care for a refill of the good stuff, Have that drink | + | In Time Thin Whip wanders by, looking over everything, a set of trumps ruffling thought his off hand, a drink in his other. Catching Carissa's eye he nods, "Care for a refill of the good stuff, Have that drink i mentioned? " |
Cari plays eagerly. Not surprisingly she is good. She continues drinking and will help Nala learn how to set up shots and the rules of the game. At the end of the last game when Thin Whip comes up, she nods. “I think my new friend could use a break. “. She winks and heads off with Jurt. | Cari plays eagerly. Not surprisingly she is good. She continues drinking and will help Nala learn how to set up shots and the rules of the game. At the end of the last game when Thin Whip comes up, she nods. “I think my new friend could use a break. “. She winks and heads off with Jurt. | ||
Line 582: | Line 396: | ||
Cari has travelled all over the world. As long as it’s not human she is not picky about meat as long as it’s well cooked. She accepts the food and nibbles. She hadn’t eaten during pool play, but now that it is leisure time. “So thank you for your hospitality,” she says looking him over carefully. | Cari has travelled all over the world. As long as it’s not human she is not picky about meat as long as it’s well cooked. She accepts the food and nibbles. She hadn’t eaten during pool play, but now that it is leisure time. “So thank you for your hospitality,” she says looking him over carefully. | ||
− | ""I don't get up to the castle much these days but recently | + | ""I don't get up to the castle much these days but recently i noticed your card in my deck. I like to make my acquaintance to my kin as best I can. I doubt Ginger would have brought you here unless he expected me to drag you off at some point. His obligation to the crown for past sins is to watch over the cousins. While my own generation is further along then the grandchildren of Oberon I still am ranked in that kinship. You have an earth vibe, as so many of the Cousins seem to have. " |
− | "Earth vibe?" she pauses, "Oh yes, Earth, that is indeed where I grew up. Yes, technological, non-magical, early space age. A gun age. I see the appeal of course, but | + | "Earth vibe?" she pauses, "Oh yes, Earth, that is indeed where I grew up. Yes, technological, non-magical, early space age. A gun age. I see the appeal of course, but i like my worlds a bit more frisky. " |
− | "Corwin talks in his ego books as if he is the first Amberite to live in those. Frankly | + | "Corwin talks in his ego books as if he is the first Amberite to live in those. Frankly i don't see the appeal. Nu Yark is a far more entertaining collection of shadows with a lot more diversity. High levels of tech, frequent use of sorcery, nearly all the shadow magics. and manno...the rock wails.. stars and crashes and fire and rage...billions of people, hundreds of races, and little oversight...still, it is a bit too close to chaos for me. The last thing one needs is a disapproving lady of chaos dropping by while one is in the middle of a flying J, right? .Anyway... I didn't want to talk to you to encourage you to leave town... |
She nods indicating he should continue. Inwardly, she thinks those shadows sound much more her style. | She nods indicating he should continue. Inwardly, she thinks those shadows sound much more her style. | ||
− | "What | + | "What i did want to encourage is an open mind once the righteous prigs among the elders start harping on you about the dangers of Chaos, and the wicked foesman of their own blood. Such as me. My brother Despil is the Ambassador to Amber and as such is as much a politically correct nanny as any of them. But there are others. Despite our birthplace there are things about this end of shadow that are much more entertaining, even safer. Life is cheep in Chaos and royal blood is little defense. Here at least one isn't executed without due process and some kind of explanation. |
− | "So, | + | "So, i am eager to put myself in the good graces of any Amberite i might. Some, well, its easy to see will be less likely to be open minded: Military types, fanatics of Ambers. Those that carry ancient grudges that they had no involvement in. Those kind look down their noses at hedonists like me. " |
All the while he's been running his hands through card riffs. You notice that he seems to fidget all the time, even in small ways, and is always in movement. Drinking sips of wine almost as breaths. Lastly he flips a card out and it glides expertly in front of you. It has his image. | All the while he's been running his hands through card riffs. You notice that he seems to fidget all the time, even in small ways, and is always in movement. Drinking sips of wine almost as breaths. Lastly he flips a card out and it glides expertly in front of you. It has his image. | ||
Line 620: | Line 434: | ||
Bleys steps over and sits on the edge of the table Custus and Nala are playing on. Custus starts to say to Bleys but a tiny glance makes him decide to change his shot choice. | Bleys steps over and sits on the edge of the table Custus and Nala are playing on. Custus starts to say to Bleys but a tiny glance makes him decide to change his shot choice. | ||
− | Bleys chuckles "Quite charming, isn't he? Bear in mind the story of the turtle and the scorpion. Jurt is often his own worse enemy. He's sloppy too. Oh | + | Bleys chuckles "Quite charming, isn't he? Bear in mind the story of the turtle and the scorpion. Jurt is often his own worse enemy. He's sloppy too. Oh i like him. He reminds me of myself in my youth. He may have a bright future in Amber. He gave you cards...I won't suggest discarding them, but why don't you let me look them over? I'll make sure he isn't eves dropping through them. He easily could be." |
She reaches into her jacket. "Seems like charming is in no short supply here." It's offered as an observation not a dig, she puts her hand in her jacket and pulls out the cards and hands them to Bleys. "He seems to want to make friends in high places," she offers by way of explanation. She keeps the prophesy comments to herself. | She reaches into her jacket. "Seems like charming is in no short supply here." It's offered as an observation not a dig, she puts her hand in her jacket and pulls out the cards and hands them to Bleys. "He seems to want to make friends in high places," she offers by way of explanation. She keeps the prophesy comments to herself. | ||
Line 641: | Line 455: | ||
After the current game is done she will ask Bleys, “Play a game with me?” | After the current game is done she will ask Bleys, “Play a game with me?” | ||
− | "Of course. Its been awhile since | + | "Of course. Its been awhile since i played before tonight. Ive been horribly polite and political for a couple decades." |
Taking a stick, and sorting the balls, sets and racks them | Taking a stick, and sorting the balls, sets and racks them | ||
Line 666: | Line 480: | ||
Bleys leans against a wall. "You have not been here long. I doubt Random has walked you through the pattern yet? Nor have you gone to Fantalin for your year of Royal Rights education, correct?" | Bleys leans against a wall. "You have not been here long. I doubt Random has walked you through the pattern yet? Nor have you gone to Fantalin for your year of Royal Rights education, correct?" | ||
− | "I was told that you would be walking the pattern after your year at Fantalin. Its the way its been for the incoming cousins. From everything Random has said you hadn't walked the pattern. So | + | "I was told that you would be walking the pattern after your year at Fantalin. Its the way its been for the incoming cousins. From everything Random has said you hadn't walked the pattern. So i looked... But you have been through the pattern, Its inscribed in your genes already. So i accessed a certain awareness i have through the jewel. it showed me Gerard walking you through the pattern when you were young. Thats tricky. We sometimes forget Gerard can be clever. He must have had a good reason at the time to do something so radically unexpected. I imagine you probably don't remember it, or it comes as a vivid dream or reflected when you took acid or drank to much as the universe being overly colorful. It would have given you greater dexterity. Powered your endurance. It would give you a sense of internal power that probably fed your normal self-confidence. Im not aware of others who walked the pattern as young as you have. When you walk it again, perhaps you will discover why you don't remember such an experience. Still....Its something you might want to speak to Gerard about" |
Cari combs back into her memories but can’t remember ever having met her Father before or having walked the Pattern. She shakes her head. “We will have a talk,” she mutters. “He claims that he didn’t know of me till relatively recently. “. She smiles sardonically, but her words are sincere. “Thank you for taking a stir-crazy woman out tonight. I appreciate it.” | Cari combs back into her memories but can’t remember ever having met her Father before or having walked the Pattern. She shakes her head. “We will have a talk,” she mutters. “He claims that he didn’t know of me till relatively recently. “. She smiles sardonically, but her words are sincere. “Thank you for taking a stir-crazy woman out tonight. I appreciate it.” | ||
− | He laughs, "Oh, the pleasure was mine! Till | + | He laughs, "Oh, the pleasure was mine! Till i ran into you my plan was to go check on my horse and make sure they were grooming him to my standards. Maybe get in some sword practice. A visit to Thin Whip was the furthest thing on my mind. As for Gerard....If he lied to you about that, don't hold it against him. We've had a lot of reasons to be secretive over the years." |
He gives you a short nod and a wicked smile and goes off on his business. | He gives you a short nod and a wicked smile and goes off on his business. | ||
− | + | ===Family Details in the Library with Arloxedra=== | |
− | |||
− | === | ||
''The Story as told, during an interlude in the Library of Amber by Arloxedra, to cats and kin.'' | ''The Story as told, during an interlude in the Library of Amber by Arloxedra, to cats and kin.'' | ||
Line 768: | Line 580: | ||
Yet since the initial call, more children keep coming in. | Yet since the initial call, more children keep coming in. | ||
+ | |||
+ | v=== A conversation on Squiggles by Dworkin === | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random sipped his rum wishing, not for the first time, that people would stop talking to him. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The small room was paneled in deep woods and held a dozen chairs around a oddly shaped table, cut from a slice of a gigantic tree. Many of the chairs were filled. Besides the king was Princess Fiona, Princes Bleys, Benedict, Caine and Delwin, Lords Vance & Arloxedra, and Dean Aries Colbriese. Shannon Feldane's narcissism did not allow him to see that he was out of his depth in such company. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random sat on the edge of the table. Two decks of cards sit on the table, spread out roughly, his hand mindlessly pushing them around. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Alright, Dworkin, explain this to me as if I was a five year old. What is the problem with this particular squiggle?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dworkin, squatted next to the wall, looking over two glowing parchments for reference. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “A squiggle, and I hate that name but its been used for millennia, is a short marking created by the Jewel of Judgment. Now there are many of them, in a wide variety of formats. When Amber was young, Oberon used the Jewel quite often. It was a powerful tool. In those days, Osric, Finndo, Benedict and I often created items using the jewel before we understood how completely connected the Eye of the Serpent was to the Pattern of Amber. We wrought too well” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Walking to the bar he filled a tankard with red wine and sipped a moment in contemplation. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Some of the squiggles are simple things. Corwin's Grayswandir, Bleys' Werewindle, Gerard's Ashendale, the Hammer of Thunder, and a couple dozen weapons have such markings. As do the Crowns of Amber, Rebma, Thulusia, Diega, and Calrobon. The Brolic Ducal Coronet. Braldig's ring ” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dworkin pauses to chuckle then continues. “Margot's coronet. The Warbanner of Amber. The Lance of the Elites. The Barbecue at Oberon's Fire in Calrobon. These and constructs like them were created using the Jewel on an existing work. They cast their own shadows. As do the original family trump decks I created for Oberon and the King Random Decks I created for you.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “As you know, the Pattern of Amber was created by the Jewel, as was, recently, the Mark of Mandalay and the Pattern of Avalon. These were full works; each are complete manifestations of an image of reality existing in the Jewel. Smaller inscriptions created such systems as Azcala, Regor, Trasidy, Alamond, Thule, and Atlantis. These limited shadow systems rank in power near each other but far from Amber or Avalon or Mandalay. You understand so far. My most benevolent liege?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random nods, wishing for a rising thermal and a free day. “This is the 5 year old version?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “No, but the 5 year old version comes later. As I was saying; The lesser systems, while finished works, represent partial elements of full works existing in the Jewel. Each is potent, has its shadows, its sigils, its sorcery, its creative energy, its inscriptions and its potent forces.” | ||
+ | Sighing deeply, “Now consider two things. Broken Patterns and the Sigil Mal at Reiss. One can learn sorcery and gain powers using each of these but neither is a correct representation of an existing image in the Jewel of Judgment.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random nods, “Are we getting to Bursain?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Yes.. now, these blades, hammers, coronets, inscriptions, are finished works. But Bursain is not. When Finndo assumed the throne of Amber he did it in an emergency and to defend Amber. But in the end, after a hundred year reign, he had to flee an angry Oberon who wished to see him dead. Now Osric and Benedict, likely Cymnea and Margot and a few others around at the time would almost certainly agree that Oberon overreacted. But be that as it may Finndo fled, with the Jewel, before the avenging wrath of Oberon, King of Amber.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Now Finndo was no slouch in the magic game. At the time he was almost as mighty as Oberon was, and considering my limitations, as great as I was. He was a good king. Sure, he was grim, and pragmatically evil, and Finndo the King cast shadows that made many realms experience dark cruel ages. He was a bad choice as king but at the time the only Choice. Osric had ambitions. Benedict had, has, the mark of Doom on him. So at the time it made sense. But Oberon did not see it that way.“ | ||
+ | |||
+ | “When Finndo fled he was in fear of his life and he did what he needed to do. He inscribed a mark, much like Corwin did, in the face of impending destruction. But unlike Corwin, he stumbled. He completed enough of the inscription to create the realm, take a seat as its ruler, and cast up walls around himself to keep out others. Azcala, Regor, and Alamond all have such barriers. He remained in the new realm, created kingdoms, effects, sorceries, and all such things that come with a Limited shadow system. But the manner of its creation meant there were loose ends that could not be finished later. Still, only the most esoteric sorcerers could hope to tell the difference. He engraved the Sigil of Bursain on a chunk of the Rock Kolvir, blasting it loose and tossing it into shadow. and the first shadow of the Inscription arrived on his personal blade, the Rock Guard, a Jewel Inscribed item in its own right.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Are you ready for the 5 year old version now?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nodding random said, “For the Love of the Unicorn, yes please” | ||
+ | |||
+ | “The limited systems of Azcala, Regor, and Alamond are nearly full patterns. Several of the Broken patterns, and the primal Mal At Reis are imperfect images of existing versions of Patterns withing the Jewel of Judgment. The Squiggle of Bursain is a mighty, but incomplete and unfinished creation. Its ruler was recently slain. Whoever finds the Rock Guard blade becomes the ruler of Bursain. However, if the Rock Guard is driven into a finished inscription such as Azcala, Regor or Alamond, it will be incorporated into those inscriptions. Those three realms are close enough that the length of the Bursain squiggle might complete their inscriptions to create a full existing Pattern as seen in the Jewel of Judgment. Driven into a Broken Pattern, it might elevate it to a full shadow of its pattern, as walking a broken pattern with the Jewel itself has done. Driven into the Primal Mal at Reis might elevate all Mal at Reiss Sigils to a dramatically higher powerful level.“ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Benedict asks, 'So the partisans of Azcala, Regor and Alamond want the blade to create full pattern systems to rival Amber. Owners of Broken patterns want to become owners of a place that a shadow of the full pattern is. And Mal at Reiss sorcerers might be able to go toe to toe with pattern sorcerers. Do I have that right?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Aries Cobresie chuckles “A dozen or so Golden Circle Kingdoms have broken patterns that I know of. A functioning shadow of the Pattern would make them the equal, in esoteric terms, of Thelusia and Remba.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Arlo mumbles, but is heard like a howl in the dark , “I hold a Mal at Reiss. There are a thousand holders of the Sigil that would die trying to drive the blade into the Primal Sigil in the Cogswell Estates. Cogswell included.” Placing his head down on the table. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dworkin nods, “And one more possibility; being unfinished, a person of sufficient talent, and wielding the Jewel of Judgment, could assay the Sigil of Bursain and try to complete it, creating his own pattern. The most difficult part of creating a pattern, as Corwin, Adrian and I can tell you, is the first few steps. After that its terribly difficult but the initial destruction is past. The wielder of the Rock Guard, and holding the jewel of Judgment, could complete a new pattern.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dworkin finishes, “The best case scenario, Random, is that whoever claims the Rock Guard declares themselves King of Bursain. Then the inscription is secure till they are slain. Make them a Golden Circle King or a Grand Duke of Amber and they should survive a few millennia. Problem solved.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random nods, realizing everything that had gone before was a warm up for this challenge to his kingship, gulps his drink. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “So we need the Rock Guard. Vance, this was all part of your vision at the Oracle of Night. How far did you see?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Vance nods to his king,” I saw a bloody mess, and at the time I didn't know all the people I saw. But I have seen the all key players now. Arloxedra and I, Yalla Ganth, Zachary, Truman, Carissa and Vander appeared as green seekers of the Rock Guard. Borlak, Hirokai, Maylon, Derek, Pierre, & Jurt appeared as blue seekers. And Bleys, here, appeared as a jackonapse in the vision.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random nods. | ||
+ | |||
+ | “Very well. We have an artifact of ridiculous power lose and no one knows where it is. Bleys, if you are the Joker in the Bursain Deck, by the Unicorn, you are my Joker or I'll stick you in your tomb and keep you there till Kolvir is sand on the beach. Find that blade. I want it. More importantly, I want a say in what happens to it. Beyond that, the rest of you keep your ears open for information. With any luck we will survive this without the heartrippers of Azcala becoming a superpower.” | ||
+ | |||
+ | As they disperse, leaving empty glasses behind, Dworkin waits. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random asks, “Is there anything you want to add?” | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nodding, Dworkin says, “Take care in particular with Vander, Carissa and Arloxedra. They have been in my dreams." | ||
+ | |||
+ | Random scowls, “Lovely, now they will be in my nightmares,” | ||
+ | |||
===5265-A Conversation in Trasidy === | ===5265-A Conversation in Trasidy === | ||
Line 803: | Line 685: | ||
“The odds? Who are the pieces?“ | “The odds? Who are the pieces?“ | ||
− | “Maylon Hendrake, Jurt Sawell, and Borlak the Ravager on one side. Arloxedra, Carissa, and Vander on the other | + | “Maylon Hendrake, Jurt Sawell, and Borlak the Ravager on one side. Arloxedra, Carissa, and Vander on the other. And a wild card... Im not sure. According to the oracles its a piano player or a demon, maybe both.. ” |
“What do you know of them?” leaning in finally more curious then terrified. | “What do you know of them?” leaning in finally more curious then terrified. | ||
− | + | “Maylon has been to Trasidy many times, as you know. She likes the bloody parts. Jurt does some trade in exotic animals, nothing profane. I've done a tiny bit of work with him. He's been here to find musical acts, magical oddities, yet, he comes from the same bloodline as Maylon. Borlak,..luckily we have not made the acquaintance of him and glad I am of it. I've seen what his horde does to cities. I met Arloxedra when Eric was crowned, as part of your entourage. Nebbish, nervous, critically flawed, with the mark of doom. The others, just visions. Speed, youth, potential. A spare heir, an infant war-god, in case a doomed prince was sacrificed by a pragmatic king. A girl child who walked the pattern holding her father's hand. A demon flayed alive by his brothers till he cursed and rocked the towers of chaos. I can't say which is more dangerous; devils we know or devils we don't. “ | |
“Your advice?” The Lord of Trasidy leans in and asks. | “Your advice?” The Lord of Trasidy leans in and asks. | ||
Line 815: | Line 697: | ||
“Seek them out. “ | “Seek them out. “ | ||
− | + | ===5269-A conversation on Squiggles by Dworkin === | |
− | + | Random sipped his rum wishing, not for the first time, that people would stop talking to him. | |
− | + | The small room was paneled in deep woods and held a dozen chairs around a oddly shaped table, cut from a slice of a gigantic tree. Many of the chairs were filled. Besides the king was Princess Fiona, Princes Bleys, Benedict, Caine and Delwin, Lords Vance & Arloxedra, and Dean Aries Colbriese. Shannon Feldane's narcissism did not allow him to see that he was out of his depth in such company. | |
− | + | Random sat on the edge of the table. Two decks of cards sit on the table, spread out roughly, his hand mindlessly pushing them around. | |
− | + | “Alright, Dworkin, explain this to me as if I was a five year old. What is the problem with this particular squiggle?” | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | Dworkin, squatted next to the wall, looking over two glowing parchments for reference. | |
− | + | “A squiggle, and I hate that name but its been used for millennia, is a short marking created by the Jewel of Judgment. Now there are many of them, in a wide variety of formats. When Amber was young, Oberon used the Jewel quite often. It was a powerful tool. In those days, Osric, Finndo, Benedict and I often created items using the jewel before we understood how completely connected the Eye of the Serpent was to the Pattern of Amber. We wrought too well” | |
− | + | Walking to the bar he filled a tankard with red wine and sipped a moment in contemplation. | |
− | + | “Some of the squiggles are simple things. Corwin's Grayswandir, Bleys' Werewindle, Gerard's Ashendale, the Hammer of Thunder, and a couple dozen weapons have such markings. As do the Crowns of Amber, Rebma, Thulusia, Diega, and Calrobon. The Brolic Ducal Coronet. Braldig's ring ” | |
− | + | Dworkin pauses to chuckle then continues. “Margot's coronet. The Warbanner of Amber. The Lance of the Elites. The Barbecue at Oberon's Fire in Calrobon. These and constructs like them were created using the Jewel on an existing work. They cast their own shadows. As do the original family trump decks I created for Oberon and the King Random Decks I created for you.” | |
− | + | “As you know, the Pattern of Amber was created by the Jewel, as was, recently, the Mark of Mandalay and the Pattern of Avalon. These were full works; each are complete manifestations of an image of reality existing in the Jewel. Smaller inscriptions created such systems as Azcala, Regor, Trasidy, Alamond, Thule, and Atlantis. These limited shadow systems rank in power near each other but far from Amber or Avalon or Mandalay. You understand so far. My most benevolent liege?” | |
− | + | Random nods, wishing for a rising thermal and a free day. “This is the 5 year old version?” | |
− | + | “No, but the 5 year old version comes later. As I was saying; The lesser systems, while finished works, represent partial elements of full works existing in the Jewel. Each is potent, has its shadows, its sigils, its sorcery, its creative energy, its inscriptions and its potent forces.” | |
+ | Sighing deeply, “Now consider two things. Broken Patterns and the Sigil Mal at Reiss. One can learn sorcery and gain powers using each of these but neither is a correct representation of an existing image in the Jewel of Judgment.” | ||
− | + | Random nods, “Are we getting to Bursain?” | |
− | + | “Yes.. now, these blades, hammers, coronets, inscriptions, are finished works. But Bursain is not. When Finndo assumed the throne of Amber he did it in an emergency and to defend Amber. But in the end, after a hundred year reign, he had to flee an angry Oberon who wished to see him dead. Now Osric and Benedict, likely Cymnea and Margot and a few others around at the time would almost certainly agree that Oberon overreacted. But be that as it may Finndo fled, with the Jewel, before the avenging wrath of Oberon, King of Amber.” | |
− | + | “Now Finndo was no slouch in the magic game. At the time he was almost as mighty as Oberon was, and considering my limitations, as great as I was. He was a good king. Sure, he was grim, and pragmatically evil, and Finndo the King cast shadows that made many realms experience dark cruel ages. He was a bad choice as king but at the time the only Choice. Osric had ambitions. Benedict had, has, the mark of Doom on him. So at the time it made sense. But Oberon did not see it that way.“ | |
+ | “When Finndo fled he was in fear of his life and he did what he needed to do. He inscribed a mark, much like Corwin did, in the face of impending destruction. But unlike Corwin, he stumbled. He completed enough of the inscription to create the realm, take a seat as its ruler, and cast up walls around himself to keep out others. Azcala, Regor, and Alamond all have such barriers. He remained in the new realm, created kingdoms, effects, sorceries, and all such things that come with a Limited shadow system. But the manner of its creation meant there were loose ends that could not be finished later. Still, only the most esoteric sorcerers could hope to tell the difference. He engraved the Sigil of Bursain on a chunk of the Rock Kolvir, blasting it loose and tossing it into shadow. and the first shadow of the Inscription arrived on his personal blade, the Rock Guard, a Jewel Inscribed item in its own right.” | ||
− | + | “Are you ready for the 5 year old version now?” | |
− | + | Nodding random said, “For the Love of the Unicorn, yes please” | |
− | + | “The limited systems of Azcala, Regor, and Alamond are nearly full patterns. Several of the Broken patterns, and the primal Mal At Reis are imperfect images of existing versions of Patterns withing the Jewel of Judgment. The Squiggle of Bursain is a mighty, but incomplete and unfinished creation. Its ruler was recently slain. Whoever finds the Rock Guard blade becomes the ruler of Bursain. However, if the Rock Guard is driven into a finished inscription such as Azcala, Regor or Alamond, it will be incorporated into those inscriptions. Those three realms are close enough that the length of the Bursain squiggle might complete their inscriptions to create a full existing Pattern as seen in the Jewel of Judgment. Driven into a Broken Pattern, it might elevate it to a full shadow of its pattern, as walking a broken pattern with the Jewel itself has done. Driven into the Primal Mal at Reis might elevate all Mal at Reiss Sigils to a dramatically higher powerful level.“ | |
− | + | Benedict asks, 'So the partisans of Azcala, Regor and Alamond want the blade to create full pattern systems to rival Amber. Owners of Broken patterns want to become owners of a place that a shadow of the full pattern is. And Mal at Reiss sorcerers might be able to go toe to toe with pattern sorcerers. Do I have that right?” | |
− | + | Aries Cobresie chuckles “A dozen or so Golden Circle Kingdoms have broken patterns that I know of. A functioning shadow of the Pattern would make them the equal, in esoteric terms, of Thelusia and Remba.” | |
− | + | Arlo mumbles, but is heard like a howl in the dark , “I hold a Mal at Reiss. There are a thousand holders of the Sigil that would die trying to drive the blade into the Primal Sigil in the Cogswell Estates. Cogswell included.” Placing his head down on the table. | |
− | + | Dworkin nods, “And one more possibility; being unfinished, a person of sufficient talent, and wielding the Jewel of Judgment, could assay the Sigil of Bursain and try to complete it, creating his own pattern. The most difficult part of creating a pattern, as Corwin, Adrian and I can tell you, is the first few steps. After that its terribly difficult but the initial destruction is past. The wielder of the Rock Guard, and holding the jewel of Judgment, could complete a new pattern.” | |
− | + | Dworkin finishes, “The best case scenario, Random, is that whoever claims the Rock Guard declares themselves King of Bursain. Then the inscription is secure till they are slain. Make them a Golden Circle King or a Grand Duke of Amber and they should survive a few millennia. Problem solved.” | |
− | + | Random nods, realizing everything that had gone before was a warm up for this challenge to his kingship, gulps his drink. | |
− | + | “So we need the Rock Guard. Vance, this was all part of your vision at the Oracle of Night. How far did you see?” | |
− | + | Vance nods to his king,” I saw a bloody mess, and at the time I didn't know all the people I saw. But I have seen the all key players now. Arloxedra and I, Yalla Ganth, Zachary, Truman, Carissa and Vander appeared as green seekers of the Rock Guard. Borlak, Hirokai, Maylon, Derek, Pierre, & Jurt appeared as blue seekers. And Bleys, here, appeared as a jackonapse in the vision.” | |
− | + | Random nods. | |
− | + | “Very well. We have an artifact of ridiculous power lose and no one knows where it is. Bleys, if you are the Joker in the Bursain Deck, by the Unicorn, you are my Joker or I'll stick you in your tomb and keep you there till Kolvir is sand on the beach. Find that blade. I want it. More importantly, I want a say in what happens to it. Beyond that, the rest of you keep your ears open for information. With any luck we will survive this without the heartrippers of Azcala becoming a superpower.” | |
− | + | As they disperse, leaving empty glasses behind, Dworkin waits. | |
− | + | Random asks, “Is there anything you want to add?” | |
− | + | Nodding, Dworkin says, “Take care in particular with Vander, Carissa and Arloxedra. They have been in my dreams." | |
− | + | Random scowls, “Lovely, now they will be in my nightmares,” | |
=== 5270-Jurt Ponders === | === 5270-Jurt Ponders === | ||
Line 944: | Line 824: | ||
There was much to consider. Perhaps he should grab a bottle of Old Mink and take Truman out surfing. Maybe he would know how to toss this bucket of kittens around. | There was much to consider. Perhaps he should grab a bottle of Old Mink and take Truman out surfing. Maybe he would know how to toss this bucket of kittens around. | ||
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