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Cathryn is staring at the space recently vacated by Cassandra and Ingold. She tries to trump Benedict, and fails.
Cathryn asks Corwin if he still has the other Greyswandir, claiming that it needs to be returned to its own reality. Corwin plays stupid.
Cathryn tries to explain to Corwin about different realities, basing her argument on her inability to use the Logrus in other places. Corwin maintains that there are many places where the Logrus or the Pattern do not work. "Maybe you just aren't advanced enough in your Logrus studies. I'm sure that someone like Merlin could have done it." "Where is he?" "In stasis, for some reason."
Cathryn complains about Corwin not playing enough attention to their concentration, and tells him that one of his Sha'um stole her trump of him. Corwin tells her to ask Dworkin for another one. "No matter how hard I kept trying to lose Eric's trump for a while, he kept handing me spares."
Cathryn goes over to ask Dworkin for another trump of Corwin. He's busy chatting up an ambassador's daughter, so Cathryn punts.
Cathryn uses her Jewel to turbocharge a trump to reach Benedict. She tries to give him an update on the demon situation regarding Ingold's rock, and Benedict says that he and Zack are currently prosecuting a war, and a bit busy. Cathryn tells Benedict that Ingold stopped by and refused to do anything about the demons.
Cathryn looks for a not particularly objectionable suitor, but none of them are around.
She tries to trump Stormy. Nothing. She approaches Flora.
Malachai notices Cathryn approach him, the two Floras, and Serena. Cathryn asks Flora how long these affairs last. "It ends when everyone is off their ass drunk.... the party is over when nobody can still move"
Cathryn and Malachai chat. Cathryn mentions that Cassandra left, and didn't take her bodyguards with her. Malachai approaches Corwin. "She's missing." "Yes, I know." Corwin expresses concern. Malachai says that Darkstar gave him a trump of Cassandra. "There aren't any trumps of Cassandra." Malachai shuffles through his deck, pulls out a trump, and hands it to Corwin. Corwin takes it, concentrates on it, and nothing happens. "Are you sure it isn't just a portrait?"
Malachai suggests trumping Ingold, and Corwin says that Ingold didn't want any trumps done of him - he was afraid that his father might get hold of one. They try to consider who is here that they could trust to help trump Cassandra, and come up with nobody.
Cathryn asks the Floras if they have come up with any suitable prospects. They each hand her a list. The one from here handed her the Amber list, the one not from here gave her the Chaosian list. Most of the ones from this end of Reality aren't psychically well endowed. Heading the Chaosian list are the four people with "Realms" after their name. Nobody really here that she can chat up.
[New software package - Logrus Notes]
Cathryn takes the list, gives it to Martin, and tells him to invite these people.
Cathryn approaches Dworkin. "So, wanna blow this joint before the guest of honor notices?" "I am the guest of honor." "Do you have an extra trump of Corwin?" "Let me see." Dworkin pulls out a deck of trump and flips through it. It looks like a Corwin flip book. He finally picks one out and tosses it to her. "That would be the standard fee." "What is the standard fee?" "Why don't you come up to my rooms and we can discuss that?" Much ranting ensues, and an audience accumulates. Cathryn slips out of the crowd and returns to Flora.
Cathryn asks Flora if there is a standard fee for Dworkin's trump. "I don't know if there is a standard fee, dear, but I had to pay a fee for some of mine." Cathryn shudders, and returns to Dworkin. He hasn't noticed that she left.
[Dworkin used to be head of the Mathematicians Guild]
Zack is poling along across a sea of demons with Benedict, in an attempt to save Celeste, Darkstar, Ilkandacian, and Norton.
Zack gets a note from Ilkandacian. He reads it, and Benedict points his sword at it. Zack tells Benedict that he's been invited to a tiff, so they should hurry with what they are doing. Benedict acts upset that there is a battle in the Courts to which he has not been invited. They head in the direction of the Abyss.
Greetings to Lord Zacharias from Lord Ilkandacian: It is my duty and pleasure to inform you that House Helgram has just launched an attack of at least battalion strength against a minor House Cara force, at <location near the Abyss specified>. Your assistance in this tussle would be appreciated. <Mention of various political significance> Yours, Ilkandacian
Corwin catches Malachai's eye and says that Norton has just trumped him, and that Norton knows where Cassandra is, but that Corwin has been invited to help deal with a dust-up first. They chat. Corwin and Malachai plan on going to play. Malachai convinces Serena that she probably should not attend. She pulls a knife from the small of her back and hands it to Malachai, saying that it will protect him. It tingles slightly in his hand. He goes over to Corwin. Corwin pulls out a trump of himself and trumps himself.
Norton gets a trump call. It's Corwin. They chat. He's coming through, and bringing reinforcements.
The first thing that Malachai sees when he comes through is a dozen Erics, sitting around looking self-important and trying to up-stage each other. Some of them are getting into what look like environmental suits. He sees Norton, who looks like Norton. He sees is a large section of battlements, a four-story deep sea of demons, some troops standing around, and a couple of Godzillas, Gameras, and Mothras romping through the demons. Then he sees the large cats that seem to resemble Sha'um, but they don't seem as complete as Sha'um. The Erics also look like one-off copies of the real thing.
Corwin, Malachai, Norton, and Ilk chat about troop dispositions, and so on.
Zack spots a Godzilla, and another one, and a few Mothras. They're stomping around crushing things unseen beneath the sea of demons. He isn't sure which side they are on, and neither is Benedict, but Zack assumes that the monsters are probably related to the battle in some way, so they head in that direction.
A Godzilla tells Norton that a raft is approaching. Norton telescopes his legs. Zack sees Norton's head above the demons, and conjures a sign. Norton changes an arm into a neon sign, and the two of them chat via their signs. Zack and Benedict head towards the bobbing Norton head.
Norton returns to ground and says that Zack and one of his lackeys are approaching.
Ilk invites the second of the Warriors' Guild to counsel the general staff. Corwin and Malachai talk tactics. Malachai notices that the plans he and Corwin are discussing are at least one level higher than the old ones, possibly more.
Zack and Benedict arrive. Zack introduces Ilk to Benedict. When they shake hands, Ilk notices that either Benedict has very little Pattern, or that he controls it extremely well.
Norton starts making Benedict-ish troops. Benedict offers advice on improving them.
Zack opens a Faerie gate.
Zack asks after Celeste. Norton and Ilk fill him in on the story.
Malachai notices a sizing up happening between Benedict and two of the bodyguards.
Malachai, Zack, and Ilk toss ideas for battle forms at Norton, who starts making stranger and stranger things.
Zack enters his Faerie gate and talks with Titania. She asks after Darkstar; he says that a rescue is under way, but that they've been sidetracked by a couple of armies. She agrees to lend him some Sidhe troops. Zack brings two battalions of Sidhe warriors through to the battlefield.
Ilk Logrus-looks for concentrations of troops. He is blocked in six areas. Two are the areas reported by the Tremere, one has a Godzilla rampaging through it, and three are unknown.
Ilk asks Zack if he could take a look at the three unknown spots, as a Pattern-mage would be less likely to be noticed and successfully counterattacked against than a Logrus-mage here.
Norton tells the group that Snarsht might show up for the fun.
Corwin asks if there are any other major names that could be called in. Eventually they decide to contact House Jesby, via Cathryn. Corwin trumps Cathryn. They chat. He tells her that there is an interesting situation developing in the Courts and that she might want to be on the winning side. Corwin offers to trade her the situation here in exchange for Cathryn's word to leave some space between herself and Cassandra, who seems to believe that Cathryn is responsible for several assassination attempts on her. He asks her to relay the invitation to Flora as well before she leaves.
Cathryn goes to find Flora. The Floras have cornered Serena, who is looking a bit panicked. Cathryn tells Flora that Helgram is trying to wipe out all of their opposition in the Courts, and that the Shifters Guild and the Dancers Guilds have come out against them. Cathryn then Logruses a note to Jesby, who sends back a note back saying, "Fascinating. We'll look into it."
Flora has the head herald tap his stick on the ground and announce that the party is now a rolling party. Most of the people present look around being confused. A few of the ambassadors that have been to Flora's rolling parties before flee the room. Random pushes his way into the room. Castle Amber fades out.
Corwin turns to whomever is near him and says, "I believe that I have just invited the entire Pattern-party." Norton creates more Erics to serve drinks.
There is a flattening of demons near them, and the entire Pattern-party is there. Flora and Flora turn to all of the Erics and say, "Erics!" Martin is standing in the center of the room with Werewindle stuck in the ground in front of him, concentrating. It is vibrating slightly.
Ingold screams once, and Cassandra feels a heavy onslaught. She tries to push it back. Celeste examines the situation, and helps out. Cassandra notices some help, at a higher level than she can handle. Celeste notices that Cassandra's power is raw, and tries to improve on it.
After a bit, the pressure lets up. Celeste tries to weave a web of protection around the room. About three minutes into her weaving, that god channel gets a lot quieter. The scream is completely gone. Celeste extends mentally in Ingold's direction, and hits hard magical shields. Celeste tries to convince Cassandra to bug Ingold. Cassandra tries, and hits a wall. She can't tell if they're Ingold's or not.
A very familiar rock pops into existence in front of Malachai. He backs away, not taking it. The rock follows.
Ilk didn't notice any imposition of Pattern.
Malachai, Zack, and Ilk briefly discuss the rock. Ilk and Zack look at it - no scads of Pattern power, just enough to keep it in front of Malachai. Malachai takes the rock.
Cathryn looks around. There are demons on three sides, and a war party with massive battlements on the fourth. There are giant lizards and other huge things stomping through the demons.
She Logruses a note to mom telling her that the Pattern-party has been moved to the center of the Courts, and the note is stolen en-route.
There is a roar like a hurt Godzilla, and a Godzilla falls, with Snarsht tearing it's throat out. Norton asks Snarsht if he is displeased with his work, and Snarsht replies that it attacked him. Snarsht leaps over the demons and battlements, lands in the center of the encampment, and lies down, sized about triple normal human size. Norton reanimates the Godzilla.
Dworkin walks over to Snarsht and waggles his finger in Snarsht's face. Snarsht acquires a giant grin and licks Dworkin from head to toe. Dworkin shudders all over, and runs off into the demons. The demons burst into flames all around him.
Zack discovers that four of the six spots are inhabited, the known two spots with combat-based shifters, probably shock troops, and the other two with magic-heavy troops. The magic-heavy forces are not moving directly towards them - they're moving laterally, towards the Abyss.
Norton chats with those inside the trap. He tries to contact Ingold, and the note appears in front of Malachai.
[Step away from the rock, please]
The group is confused briefly about the rock.
Ilk suggests that Norton try to shift the rock into Ingold. The rock resists turning into Ingold. He suggests trying Darkstar. It turns into a tiny Darkstar-ish bug.
There is a spike into the shifters' trap. Celeste and Cassandra fight it. Ingold remains behind his shield.
Flora is told that Rainbow is running the trap, and says, "Bad boy", pulls a butterfly out of her pocket, and starts mauling it. The intrusion into the trap fails.
Ilk writes onto REN's note asking for advice. "Get more allies"
Ilk chats with Cathryn, then sends a Logrus tendril to House Jesby, with support from Norton. The House is moving, and is covered in Pattern. Ilk mentions this to Cathryn, who expresses disbelief.
Norton pushes Zack into the shifter trap. Cassandra and Celeste are popped out by Zack's entrance. Zack manages to contact Ingold using Pattern, grabs him, and then Norton pulls both of them back out of the trap. Zack tries to contact Ingold through the new and different shield, and fails.
Ilk notices a massive amount of Pattern power in that cylindrical thing, and his shadow storm goes out. He starts backing up. Cathryn does so as well. Martin tries to cut through the shield with Werewindle, and fails. Corwin tries with Greyswandir and fails.
Chaos ensues as people try to figure out what to do with the cylinder.
Ilk and Cathryn notice that Shiryu and Fereth are approaching.
Shiryu arrives, raises his hand, and when he has everyone's attention, says, "Whose is that?", indicating the Ingold-cylinder. Shiryu looks around at everyone. Cathryn points to Zack. Nobody else does anything obvious.
Celeste's mage awareness goes away. Cassandra's light saber goes out.
Snarsht pushes Norton forward. Shiryu reaches forward and shakes his hand. "Ah, good, you are the lost apprentice."
Fereth raises his hands, and everything stops. Celeste, Norton, and Zack notice the stopping. Then everything starts up again, and the Ingold thing is gone, Celeste is gone, and Cassandra is gone. Celeste and Cassandra think that they're still there, but nobody else can perceive any of them.
Rainbow shows up, takes the mangled butterfly from Flora, hands her another while looking rather henpecked, pets the mangled one, and puts it back inside him.
Rainbow threatens Ilk, who cowers.
Rainbow - "I didn't think that any shifter could survive in that trap"
Ilkandacian - "I am certain that anyone unfortunate enough to be stuck
in a trap created by one of your skill would be doomed."
Rainbow - "I'll look you up later to investigate this further."
Norton is introduced to Rainbow, who has also heard of the missing apprentice. When Rainbow is told that Cathryn is having a Pattern-party, he grabs a Hendrake and shapes it into a small Hendrake-in-a-box for Cathryn's Pattern-present. The face that bobs up and down on a spring is not moving - it's trapped in a moment of ultimate agony.
Norton apologizes to Shiryu, and starts explaining that he was just trying to rescue a friend of a friend named Darkstar... Shiryu says that Darkstar was banished from the Courts ages past and that if he was in them that ban would have to be enforced. Zack creates a Faerie gate below Darkstar and drops him into Faerie.
Zack asks after those who are no longer there, and Shiryu mentions that those were shifted out of phase because they had gained Rainbow's ire, and that eventually he would calm down and then he could let them out.
House Jesby was being carried through shadow by Ferro, despite Jesby's objections. Shiryu and Fereth left the House to come here when it left the Courts.
Cathryn tries to use the Jewel to find Ferro. She gets the focused attention of Dworkin, who comes through the Jewel, and asks her if she is here to take him up on his payment.
Snarsht and Dworkin look at each other. Dworkin starts incanting something, and Snarsht starts incanting a counter, and they start going back and forth. Fereth steps into the middle and says, "Guys, the enemy is out there.", and suddenly Cathryn is in the middle of Hendrake forces. Those forces are not next to her. She is rotated by Pattern, then pulled back. She complains to Dworkin, and he says that he needed to see the enemy. Cathryn then returns his jewel and the trump of Corwin, saying, "I think these belong to you". Dworkin accepts them and puts them away.
Shiryu periodically turns to empty areas corresponding to where Cassandra and Celeste are and says, "Stop that!"
Ilk suggests that perhaps Norton should give Dworkin his trumps back. Norton asks Snarsht if it would be wise to give Dworkin his trumps back, and Snarsht responds in the negative.
Dworkin turns to Shiryu and says that his brother was supposed to meet him here a few hours ago. Shiryu says that nobody has seen him for some time now - he's probably out training an apprentice somewhere. Dworkin complains, "but he's my brother!" and proceeds to throw a temper tantrum.
Rainbow walks over, looks Celeste up and down, says, "I forgive you. You can come out of hiding." He goes over to Cassandra, and says, "I forgive you. You can come out of hiding." He goes over to a third space, and says, "You, I have an argument with, but we can deal with it later. You can come out of hiding." Fereth raises his hands, there is a moment of no-time, and then they're back. Ingold is there in place of the cylinder, adjusting his clothing.
Ilk's shadow storm is back, and under his control. It's laced with Pattern-energy, yet is still a shadow storm, and is still under Ilk's control. Apparently Dworkin put it back.
And the invasion begins.
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