DRAFT Run log for 980915

Major Events:

• Why We Shouldn't Kill Brand / My Summer Essay / By Celeste

Status of the Characters

A couple of the demon Jeans are keeping an eye on Faythe, playing with her in the hope of breaking her out of her undesired behavioral patterns. Jean Prime is probably going to be put to sleep by Flora. The tired mattresses in Amber are going to take naps, and the tired mattresses in Chaos will swap out, allowing the other mattresses to take over the demon-puppets. All of the unattached mattresses in Chaos have burrowed into demons to cut down on sensory overload. Logrus Jean is at the Pattern. Rocky Jean is in the rocky home.

The tendri'd Ilk is wandering around Chaos, checking out armies, Houses, and Guilds. Osric, Cailin, Tate, Cassandra, Celeste, Ilk, Corwin, Zack in Norton, and several Jeans are on House Cara. Ilk and Norton are on grand tour. Ilk is about to be shot across the Primal Pattern at Dworkin by Suhuy, observed by the Suhuy ghost and Logrus Jean.

Why We Shouldn't Kill Brand / My Summer Essay / By Celeste

"I believe some explanations are in order."

Corwin has settled back, and has somehow acquired a drink in his hand. Celeste's attention is focused mostly towards Corwin and Cassandra. Corwin has a small dagger that he is honing while he listens. Cassandra leans over and scolds her father. He continues honing the blade with his sandy hand.

"I became aware, some number of years ago, that Brand was under an external influence that was, in fact, not just controlling his actions, but also rewriting his memories."

"I believe what he is doing in the guild is trying to purge the last remnants of that particular influence. It may in fact be an influence that is related to the name that we don't mention that is related to all of those white statues. That would he the person who in fact has been using him for a number of years, since I was seventeen, and who was behind all of the machinations behind Pattern-redraw."

"And I realize that those allegations are going to be unbelievable without some form of evidence, but I cannot determine how to exhibit that evidence."

... personality shifts, observed over the years.

She managed to find out that there are some kinds of barriers that block out the interference, leaving him completely uninfluenced for a while.

Jean - "Like what?"
Celeste - "Certain locations that I'm assuming she cannot access."
Jean - "Like where?"
Corwin - "Perhaps it might not be a good idea to announce them here, in case she overhears and decides to invade them as well."

Corwin questions Celeste. "Let's call her Fiona, for sake of convenience. Someone we know that wouldn't do this. So this Fiona has the ability to alter or change memory, according to you."

"To an extent."

"Who is to say that this Fiona didn't go in and alter your memories of the events instead of his?"

"He has an inroad into his mind, a hook if you will."

....

Corwin - "Could you illustrate the differences?"
Celeste - "Yeah, I could."
Corwin gestures.
Celeste makes a view screen and stares at it blankly for a moment as a test pattern runs across the view screen. "Yeah, i can illustrate it, which will probably clear up something that has been misunderstood until now."

An image of Celeste and good Brand shopping in Amber city appears. Shopping, nice. They get on their horses to return, and he starts to change over, his eyes start getting cold...

[See scene in Celeste's logs and subsequent cover up]

Corwin - "How do we verify that that is an accurate memory and not just something that you have been fabricating? Would you allow me in to check?"
Celeste - "Sure"
Corwin - "Would you allow Andron in to check?"
Celeste - "As you wish."
Corwin - "I'm fairly sure that you could fool me, but I'm also fairly certain that the Guild second of the Psionicists' Guild would be able to manage."
Celeste - "Fine, get him."

A discussion occurs, and it is determined that confirmation can be done later.

Celeste says that at some point Brand may have made a bad choice and agreed to learn from this "Fiona", and has been unable to break free since.

Corwin confirms that this is why they went to the Torturers' Guild from Ilk. Ilk nods.

Celeste - "Brand doesn't remember his actions."

Corwin - "Convenient, that."

Corwin - "They saved me once, you know."
Celeste - "What?"
Corwin - "His mood swings. I was standing on his favorite rug."
Celeste - "The hand-woven one?"
Corwin - "Yeah."
Celeste - "Yes. He is rather fond of that rug."
Corwin - "I don't know why - he didn't want me to bleed on it. I saw his mood shift just before then."

Discussion continues.

Corwin - "So, I have a hypothetical question for you"
Celeste - "Yes, Uncle Corwin?"
Corwin - "If someone has no recollection of their actions, are they responsible for them?"
Celeste - "That would depend on whether or not they actually did them. If someone has no recollection of their actions because someone is acting through them and blocking out their memories of those actions..."
Corwin - "I have a problem with your thesis. I've known him for most of his life, and he has had his mood swings since he was very young."
...
Celeste - "I know at what point he made his mistake. He said no to something he should have said yes to."
Corwin - "...cause one of the things that I have trouble with is why did this tutor pick this vessel?"
Celeste - "No. Because this vessel gave her a back door."
Corwin - "But why did she court Brand, instead of say me or Benedict."
Celeste - "Perhaps it was easier to get to."
Corwin - "That's what I'm asking."
Celeste - "Does it matter?"
Corwin - "Yes."

... someone is using someone in the family to get at the family.

Corwin asks how much is Brand and how much is Brand-inspired and how much he would have gone along with were he aware of what was going on.

Cassandra speculates how much of his thoughts were shaped by outside influence.

Celeste - "I would say it probably happened when he was still a teenager or younger."

"He had a nasty temper, even as a child. He killed three of his nurses."
"He's a redhead."
"He killed three of his nurses."

"Not accidentally."

[He's in the Torturers' guild. he's punishing himself]
"Punishment involves restitution for loss."
"Why don't you go after her?"

"I don't know if you'd want to see them all."
"I'm curious."
"I don't know if you'd want to see them all."
"Why not?"
"Some of them are fairly nasty."
Some of the

"Holding one of Benedict's children at arms reach as he raped his wife, just before crushing Benedict's child's life out?"

"That level of nasty."
"I cleaned up after that one."
"Thanks for sharing, Dad."
"Actually, you might have heard of the aftermath of that one. Sir Erik managed to incapacitate his father with a..."

"I'm just wondering what else you have to offer, as the field is currently strongly balanced against him."

"Have you seen the flip side?"
"Yes, I've seen him very nice. Well, as nice as an Amberite gets."
"Such as?"
"He had a passion for birds."
"Yeah?"
"With his own hands and the sweat of his own brow, because none of his powers worked there, he fashioned an epidemic to save a group of birds... he got quite ill during it, too."

Celeste glances over at the view screen and shows an image of Brand, in the aviary, playing with Brandt. She lets it run for about ten minutes or so.

Celeste - "That's one of those places where the influence cannot reach him."
Corwin - "So why didn't he stay there?"
Celeste - "You can't hide forever."
Corwin - "Why not? Unless he enjoyed some benefit of the illness."
Celeste - "I think it still reached in and touched him, now and then."
Corwin - "So, no place you know is completely safe for him?"
Celeste - "... I may know of some place that is safe. And were I to get him there, I would keep him there."
Corwin - "Would that involve you staying with him there as well?"
Celeste - "Probably"
Corwin - "And you're willing to make this sacrifice?"
Celeste - "Probably."
Corwin - "Is this place varied enough to keep an Amberite busy for the millennia that an Amberite would last?"
Celeste - "I believe so"
Corwin - "Is this place on the other side of these cracks that Ilkandacian keeps claiming to run into?"
Celeste - "No"
Corwin - "So perhaps you could allow visitors. Interesting."

Celeste - "If we had Andron collect up all of the memories of people that had interacted with Brand and give them to him..."
Corwin - "It would drive him insane."
Celeste - "And he'd go kill himself. Would that make you feel better?"
Corwin - "No. Because if he kills himself and he is guilty, he has not made restitution. And if he kills himself and he is not guilty, it would be a waste. I know that if I lost my memory, I would want what I lost."

"I will suggest it to him"
"Perhaps you should offer it - if you suggest it, it may sound like you are for it, and you are not."
"It would be clear that I am not for it"

and what the torturers' guild is doing to her

"And we can begin hunting down this "Fiona" to gain restitution"
"She's all yours."

Celeste - "If you take me along, he will want to go along"
Corwin - "Even if that means being used against you?"
Celeste - "I don't know - I'm not Brand, I'm not going to second-guess him."
Corwin - "I would guess from the scene that you have shown us that he would object to hurting you."
Celeste - "Perhaps."

Corwin - "Care for a hunt? I'm thinking of taking out a contract. Have to do things right these days."
Cassandra - "Take out a contract if you will. I cannot guarantee who will receive a contract"
Corwin - "I may have some influence, being a guild second and all."

Corwin - "It might not be for his death, but for aiding and assisting - I remember you being upset about not being able to kill."

Celeste questions Corwin's use of gender. Corwin reassures her that he is not indicating that the contract would be on Brand.

Corwin tells Cailin that everyone here is convinced that Oberon has gone around the bend. Corwin mentions the locked room party, and elaborates on the duration by telling him that Gerard's wife gave birth during the party. He also mentions the presentation of Gerard's arm.

Cassandra asks Celeste what Brand did to rectify the situation after finding about these events.

Osric asks Celeste why Brand didn't seek assistance. Corwin actually helps Brand's case, explaining to Osric that Amberites are an arrogant bunch, and tend to believe that...

Celeste - "Is he always this insufferable?"
Cassandra - "We're an arrogant bunch."

Osric asks if it is possible that Oberon was also under influence.

...

Corwin asks if a tool or meter or something could be made to detect the changes or influences. Osric holds up his Gwen-detector, and says that he might be able to tailor one from Brand's memories.

Osric asks why Brand didn't warn family members, and Corwin tries to explain Amberite arrogance again.

...

Corwin - "I wonder why this individual tipped their hand? Obviously they knew of your knowledge of them if they had access to all of Brand's memories..."
Cassandra - "Perhaps they only had access to the memories while..."
Celeste - "...didn't like me. doesn't like me at all."
Corwin - "But you're still alive."
Celeste - "Maybe he was not entirely out of control at all times... I saw him fight for control at times."

They wonder

Corwin asks Cassandra to check with her new tutor if any contracts were taken out on Celeste.

Ilk hints a bit in Celeste's direction, until Celeste admits that the thing that was in Brand may have gone looking for another target, and has been watching her recently. Corwin becomes annoyed, and asks why the conversation wasn't held in a safe place. Celeste says that both places are by invitation only, and that she could not take this entire group there.

Andron Examines Celeste

Ilk sends a tendril out looking for Andron. Andron is in his and Jenoir's house. Ilk conjures a note on the end, asking Andron if we would be willing to stop by for a visit, mentioning verifying the accuracy of Celeste's memories and another matter of Celeste's.

Celeste notices a gathering of power a polite distance away from the group on the roof.

Andron appears next to Ilk. Ilk bows appropriately. Celeste asks Andron if that energy is his, and he declines.

Ilk asks Osric to check that direction with his meter. The only hint is off the side of the house somewhere, and it barely makes the needle quiver.

Celeste goes over to poke at the spot. Andron raises an eyebrow at her. She realizes his intent behind the energy, and raises an eyebrow back.

Andron questions Ilk regarding his summons, and is told that some memories needed to be examined, and that Celeste would like to talk with him regarding other matters.

Ilk acquires Andron's attention, then passes him the image of the last bit of Toram, pent in a Pattern construct, walking towards the Primal Pattern, along with a footnote that there is possibly something inside the one he is about to scan that is trying to possess her.

Andron bows to Celeste. He bows to her as a doctor to a patient. She curtsies. He offers her his arm, and she takes it. They walk off to the side.

Andron pulls Celeste aside. The scintillating bit of scenery goes with them. She has a deep moment of discomfort, and he says, "Ah, we're alone now. What did you wish to show me?" "What do you mean, we're alone now?" "The things possessing your brain are fixed now, unable to move." Celeste says that she wants to get rid of them, and Andron says that it might be dangerous - it would take part of her mind with it.

He cannot show her which parts of her mind were possessed - she doesn't have the language. "Were you to be apprenticed to my guild for a while..."

She tries to show him the memories regarding Brand, and has trouble recalling them as she did before. She explains to Andron. "You have, in your brain, a place that is safe." "Yes?" "We should go there so that I can un-freeze the parts of your mind and we can observe it."

She opens a gate home. It looks like Clarissa's Darkover, and it's a tower. They step through. They're in a tower. It looks like Clarissa's tower. They head upwards to the matrix room, but it's missing. They go to the aviary, and she notices that the birds are moving erratically.

Andron unfreezes it. She tries to recall the memories, and succeeds. She shows him the memories. They were edited. She asks Andron to restore them. Each time that Brand started to change in Celeste's presence, there was a status check with the piece in her. The rest of her memories are intact. The piece during Pattern-fall - there was a flow of life-force from him to her at the time.

[She saved Brand's life, then recreated him in her dreams]

Celeste thanks Andron for his assistance, and asks him about the matter of applying to his guild.

Andron reaches sideways and hands her a small glass container with a small green demon in it.

Celeste - "How interesting"
Andron - "Application process."
Celeste - "This is the application process?"
Andron - "This is one of our administrators. He'll walk you through the process."
Celeste - "Nice to meet you."
Administrator - "Obviously you are worthy, for Andron spends time in your presence."

Andron - "Would you like to share the pieces that were incomplete?"
Celeste - "Not at this time"

They go back through the gate.

In Norton's Head

Ilk makes mental contact with Norton. He's in a small lounge in Norton's head. Norton is lying on a barcalounger, snoring. There is a sign over him, reading "I'm Zack. I can sleep." There is are half-eaten boxes of bon-bons and a box of bat-wings next to the barcalounger.

Ilk tries to pass information out to Ilk. He apparently succeeds, for he receives an offer for a deck of cards. The attempt to pass a deck of cards through fails. Ilk tries to to create a deck of cards. It's very hard, due to Zack's self-image and the Pattern. He starts working on an escape pod in the form of a barcalounger.

--EORun--