![[previous]](gu-prev.gif){kind=small}
![[next]](gu-next.gif){kind=small}
Back to the index.
Rhiannon is looking worried, clearly expecting a *boom*
Corwin, Benjamin and Cassandra are forming one group, talking with Random, Cathryn, and Martin. Martin is wearing Werewindle.
Caine arrives, well-groomed and dressed in black leather, with a beautiful woman on his arm (Aramek) that he introduces as Brianna.
Bleys arrives, perfectly groomed, wearing a pattern-blade, Andauntrick.
Out of the Princes and Princesses, Benedict, Fiona, Llewella, Flora, and Julian are all absent.
Oberon arrives, wearing the Sword of State, the Jewel of Judgement, his crown, and carrying a scepter. The crown and the scepter are highly magical. He sits down, the anthem plays, and he then stands up briefly to acknowledge the respect.
The herald calls Benedict and Ingold into court. Ingold is wearing no visible weapons, has a very supressed magical aura, and is wearing a pendant with Benedict's seal on it. Ingold walks up to Oberon and kneels, and Oberon recognizes Benedict as Ingold's father. Oberon asks Ingold if he accepts the post of Marshall of Amber, and Ingold pauses just long enough to discomfort Corwin and then accepts. Oberon draws the Sword of State, knights him, gives him titles and rank, hands him the Sword of State, and asks him to stand his right. The herald hands Ingold the seal of his office, a pendant with Oberon's symbol. Ingold exchanges pendants gladly, and his aura becomes non-magically visible as a blue-grey with swirls of black in it. All of the mages recognize that as a cheap spell.
The herald calls Johann, son of Benedict, and Sir Erik walks in, wearing the same pendant. Ingold hands the Sword of State to Oberon, the ceremony is repeated, and Johann is appointed to the Captain of the Castle Guard. Johann receives a chain of office. Oberon then returns the Sword of State to Ingold.
The herald calls in the former captain of the guard, and Prospero approaches the dias. In an elegantly crafted speech, Johann formally relieves him of command, and asks him to remain in a staff position.
The herald calls Malachai forward. Benjamin draws a breath to cheer, and Cassandra prepares to cover his mouth, but Corwin touches his shoulder and he stops. Oberon formally acknowledges Malachai as Corwin's eldest and Ranger One in Arden, and gives him land and titles.
The herald calls Caine forward. Oberon acknowledges him as Admiral over the fleets of Amber, reaffirms him in his lands and titles, and deeds him an island somewhere. Caine then whispers to the herald, who calls Gerard forward. Gerard hands off his baby to a prissy-looking lady, who appears shocked to be actually holding Gerard's baby. Caine asks Gerard if he is willing to relinquish the southern fleets and Gerard agrees, then returns to his seat and takes his baby back. Velaria starts quietly chewing her father out -- she apparently wanted the baby.
Random makes eye contact with the herald, who then invites Random into court. Random gives a speech thanking Oberon for his ambassadorial post, and then asks the herald to call forward his daughter Cathryn, heir to Jesby, into court. Random acknowledges Cathryn as his daughter by Jesby, and lists Jesby's full titles, a task which requires several minutes to complete.
Random calls Martin into court, and tries to call his permanently youngest son Talos, but he isn't there. Random says that they stand as a family, like Oberon to his sons. Martin gives a speech proclaiming that he is pleased about his new siblings. Oberon accepts Cathryn into the family, says that any lands and titles he could give her would be a mere pittance given what she is to inherit, but gives her a dutchy too, just as a simple token, and gives her a symbol as well. Random pulls out a nice wooden case and gifts it to Cathryn. Random, Cathryn, and Martin leave court.
The herald and Rhiannon look at each other. The herald is about to dismiss court, when Oberon says "One final announcement". He states that certain of his children have not followed the four simple laws, and that there will be an inquest and maybe one or more of the members may not be members afterwards. Oberon appoints Bleys head investigator in this matter.
"...and, as a final note, my daughter Llewella is no longer welcome in my court". Oberon leaves, and the herald dismisses court. However, people remain in the room to talk.
Stormy is introduced to Bleys looks Stormy up and down, and says, "Stop that! You're a puppy dog!" Stormy changes his base form from a helpless puppy dog to a kitten, and says, "So nice to meet yet another of you."
Cathryn opens the case and looks through the trump deck contained therein. It's a modified standard deck, with no trumps of her, but one of Martin, one of Suhuy, and some for places down at the Chaos end of shadow. Cathryn thanks Random, and keeps an eye on Bleys.
Malachai goes to Bleys and company, and asks about the investigation. Bleys responds that he may not be at liberty to discuss the matter. Bleys asks if Malachai knows Stormy, and he answers affirmatively. They chat about paternity for a while, and Random joins the conversation part-way through. Stormy says that he should return to the discussion in the formerly locked room.
Cathryn walks over to Corwin, and says, "I'm sorry, I hope you can still consider me someone that you can trust." "We'll talk about that some other time, over some very potent alcohol."
Stormy asks Bleys about Oberon's rules, and Bleys starts listing them. One. No killing family members. Two. Never cross one of his pronouncements, regardless of the spirit or the letter. How do you know what pronouncements he has made? They're in a case outside, and there haven't been that many formal pronouncements.
There is a disturbance at the back of the room, and a winded individual makes a beeline for Malachai and says that Arden is under siege.
Stormy Trump-looks at Arden, and sees lots of troops, hellhounds, and Julian. They're moving siege engines in towards Arden.
The messenger realizes that everyone is listening to his missive, lowers his voice, and continues, saying that he was dispatched immediately after they saw troops.
Cassandra, Johann, and Caine (dragging Aramek along behind him) head towards Malachai. Malachai glances at Corwin and Cassandra, and Johann pulls out Zack's trump.
Cathryn tries to Logrus a note away, but fails to reach to Chaos.
Stormy starts giving Malachai a full rundown on the invasion force, and everyone in the group starts questioning him -- not concerning his methods of acquiring the information, but asking for further details.
Julian has significant numbers of troops that appear very well-trained. According to Caine, they look like some of Benedict's shock troops. He says that they're very tough, and highly resistant to magic.
Malachai sends the messenger to find Ingold. Stormy starts studying the siege engines. Cassandra asks Random if they can return to the Courts. Random wants to watch the fun, but is convinced to leave.
Caine offers Malachai a few hundred rough and tumble sailors and his cabin boy. "Any strings attached?" "Try not to get them killed." Caine trumps out to his ships to prepare.
Immediately after being pulled through the Trump by Benedict, Zack gets another urgent Trump contact. Benedict starts to say something unpleasant-sounding as the Trump connects. It's Sir Erik. "We're being invaded by your father, you might want to be here". Zack asks Sir Erik to wait so he can conclude matters here, but Sir Erik does not, and pulls Zack through. Zack apologizes to Benedict as he is being Trumped out.
"I'm going to fucking kill him", Zack announces as he arrives. "Wait in line," replies Cassandra. "I have seniority," responds Zack.
Stormy offers to trump the entire mob down to Arden, and Corwin says "Do it!" Gerard and Velaria are arguing over who has to stay here and babysit, when Stormy draws his sword and tells it to babysit. Stormy then trumps Zack, Corwin, Prospero, Cassandra, Aramek, Malachai, Malachai's horse, Bleys, Benjamin, Johann, Gerard, and Velaria to one of Malachai's command posts near the invasion.
Arielle and Logan just saw Zack disappear through the trump contact, and suddenly there are troops running past them from the direction of Amber deeper into Arden.
Aramek throws him/herself onto Zack, starts crying on his shoulder, claiming that s/he has done him a horrible wrong, re-introduces him/herself as Brianna, and begs for forgiveness. After a few minutes, Zack realizes who s/he is, and says, "I forgive you, and I want a rematch". Aramek bounces back up.
Cassandra tells Darhyse, who is currently in cloak form, that they're hunting Julian.
Caine trumps Malachai, and starts sending troops through. When the sailors arrive in Arden, they salute Aramek and ask for orders. Aramek sends them to a waiting point - he seems fairly competant.
Stormy starts trying to trump Oberon.
Bleys, Corwin, and Gerard are having an argument over who should tell Malachai that he should be leading instead of being a trump gate. None of them appear particularly worried about the invasion - they seem confidant that they can easily defeat Julian, but don't want to step on Malachai's relatively new authority. Zack approaches the group, and says that he should try to talk to Julian. Malachai asks Zack if he could wait a minute, and Zack is then trumped by Ingold, who starts sending castle troops through.
Stormy establishes a trump contact with Oberon. Oberon seems surprised that Stormy could trump him, and riffles through Stormy's mind while listening to Stormy's description of the situation.
Stormy then tries to hasten the troop transportation by Trump gating the remainder of the troops directly to Arden, but places them onto one of the minefields. *BOOM* Stormy manages to save most of them, but still loses about thirty percent to the mines. Malachai's trump contact is broken by the explosion.
Bleys looks at Stormy. Aramek asks Malachai, "That's a demo of land mines?" "Yes".
Gerard and Corwin rush outside the command post after hearing the explosions to tend to the wounded.
Stormy trumps Caine, apologizes for the explosion, and offers to gate the rest of the sailors across. Caine says, "I don't know you". Stormy mentions that they have been introduced. "Yes, but I don't know you". Stormy walks over to Malachai and pulls him into the trump contact as well, and Malachai reassures Caine that Stormy just didn't know where the mines were, and that he now knows where to send the troops.
Caine looks over his about a quarter of his troops, and infiltrates some Pattern tendrils into Stormy, just to keep an eye on him.
Cassandra is given command of the left flank, comprised of two battalions of Rangers. Johann is given command of the right flank, comprised of the troops from the castle. Aramek is given command of the center, comprised of sailors and the ranger's information network.
Cassandra rides Darhyse towards her command, and Johann heads in the opposite direction.
Stormy brings Caine's troops through safely to an area without mines, and Caine withdraws the Pattern tendrils from Stormy's brain.
The artillery is now firing at will.
Ingold funnels the castle troops through to Zack.
Cathryn heads to the Warriors' Guild, but Benedict is not there. She tries his trump, and fails to establish contact. She then leaves her note for him at the Warriors' Guild.
Her staff hasn't gathered much information yet about Dalkantyr. It can apparently travel imperviously into the Abyss and the Sea of Chance, is believed to have strafed that House in Chaos, and is believed to be the cause of Snarsht's current ire.
Cathryn goes to meet with Snarsht.
Malachai is trumped by Cassandra and then Johann, reporting that they are in position and ready to attack.
It has become apparent that the troops that Julian is leading are mostly resistant to the mines.
Ilkandacian and his cousin receive a message from House Cara stating that a member of the House is under siege. They decide to gather some troops and go to the rescue (and join in the fun). Ilk asks his cousin if he knows where Cara is, so they can check with him before mustering House troops, and his cousin flashes the ring, and replies that he is currently head of House, and that "Dad is off with Jesby". Ilk grins gives his cousin a vastly exaggerated bow.
They start mustering some House Cara troops as well as some of their personal troops at a Faerie gate near the House, and send a messenger ahead to alert Zack that a number of troops will be arriving to fight under his banner.
Cathryn Logruses Benedict a note successfully, and then finds out that House Cara is mobilizing. She immediately Logruses Ilkandacian a note demanding an explanation, and Ilk replies with "HAVE LEARNED MEMBER OF HOUSE UNDER SIEGE STOP GOING TO HIS AID STOP WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME ALONG STOP WOULD BE GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE LOGRUS TECHNIQUES STOP"
Cathryn follows her tendril to Ilkandacian, and discovers him standing next to a Faerie gate, watching the last of the troops file through into Faerie.
Cathryn tries to convince Ilkandacian that sending troops to help Amber is a political disaster - just look at how close the Patternfall war was! Ilkandacian refuses to be swayed, and after being asked mentions that the decision to intervene was made by the current head of House. Ilkandacian tries to convince her to come along, on the grounds that it will be a great opportunity to show her some new Logrus techniques. Cathryn claims that Faerie is dangerous, and asks if Ilk even knows the rules. Ilk replies that his troops know what not to do.
Finally, Ilkandacian steps through the Faerie gate, and Cathryn follows. They follow the troops through Faerie, but the troops are far enough ahead that Cathryn cannot see that the troops are being escorted by (and having their ranks swelled by) Sidhe warriors.
A messenger arrives for Malachai, and says that troops have arrived to mass under Zack. After some confusion, Zack heads to the Faerie gate, chats for a while with the Cara troops and Sidhe warriors, tells them to engage the rear of the enemy, and conjures up minatures of Julian and the troops he is leading, telling them that if they make it past the troops, they shouldn't attack those on the other side, and that he wants to talk with Julian but that Julian might need to get "beaten up". Zack then steps into Faerie, takes six steps over to the left, and opens a new Faerie gate for the troops to exit from behind Julian's army, then returns to Malachai's command post.
Ilkandacian and Cathryn join with Ilk's cousin, who had been waiting for Ilk just inside Faerie. He relays Zack's orders, gives an overly-friendly bow to Cathryn, and heads out through the Faerie gate. After some waffling about just how safe it would be to wait Faerie, Cathryn exits the gate to join in the fun.
War happens.
Aramek's troops are holding their ground, but have lost about thirty of their number and only killed two of Julian's troops.
Cassandra's troops don't understand the strategy behind the orders that she is giving them - they're used to a different style of fighting - but they follow the orders to the letter anyway.
Johann trumps Malachai asking for reinforcements - they're only barely holding the right flank. They acquire a weapons upgrade from Tazik via Darkstar.
Stormy tries to heal some of the wounded Amberite soldiers, and continues studying the siege engines.
Arielle notices pain in the direction of the battle, and she and Logan start running towards the battle.
Velaria notices what Stormy is trying to do, and starts generating Pattern energy and feeding it to him, after filtering it through magic.
Zack starts heading towards Julian, with Malachai, Bleys, and Corwin providing backup.
Ilkandacian is teaching Cathryn how to rotate foes' hearts in their chests using the Logrus. Occasionally he shows off by pulling an opponent's heart from its chest cavity and holding it in front of its face until it dies. The House Cara and Sidhe forces are being far more successful than the Amberite forces.
Zack is closing on Julian, and tries to magically cloak himself from the troops. He notices Darhyse blurring towards Julian. The troops don't appear to notice Zack until he gets into range, when they start attacking him, and trying to throw nets over him to pull him to the ground. Malachai starts shooting at the soldiers attacking Zack, but the bullets bounce off their skin with limited effectiveness.
Ilkandacian, hearing from his arboreal scouts that Zack is beset, gathers a few dozen of his personal troops, leads them up and over the battle, then tells them to follow him and aid Zack, and starts Logrusing to a point a hundred feet or so above Zack. His troops entertain themselves en-route dive-bombing Julian's, emitting noxious gases, and spitting acid and other nasty stuff on them from above.
Back to the index.