DRAFT Run log for 970121

Damiana Confesses That She is Random's Mother and the Rightful Queen of Amber

[logger's note: this section is mostly quotes, and the speakers should be self-evident from context where they are not explicity mentioned.]

The AD&D run is waiting in a reception room in Random's Chaosian ambassadorial digs, waiiting for Random to de-stone. Martin is with them, hitting on Damia and occasionally Cyndia as well.

They are invited upstairs; Martin follows and continues hitting on Damia

They are brought into a shabby office, where a key is acquired, which is then used to open a different room. Random is inside, throwing up into a large container. A moment later, they see him holding a small porcelain bowl, looking slightly disgusted. He looks at Damia, then turns, and looks at Cyndia.

Damia says Cyndia has business with Benedict, and that she has business with Random.

Cyndia and Damia are the only ones brought into Random's room.

Random asks a guide to show Cyndia to Benedict, he's probably in the Warriors' Guild, and could you drop this note off at House Jesby on the way over?

Cyndia and the guide (who is retconned to be not Martin) grab Carlton and head out.

The gentleman that initially conducted them into the room re-enters the room and says that the others in that party were moved to guest quarters - the birds were messing up the reception room.

Random says, "So, you must be my daughter by Irrilia."

"Who's Irrilia?"

"Princess of one of the Kingdoms of the Mist."

"Is it serious? Are you going to marry her?"

Random admits that she decided that he was unworthy and threw herself into the water and melted.

They chat... "The last time I saw you, you were a little boy."

"Were you a servant in the castle?" "No." "A friend of my father?"

"Random, I'm your mother."

They talk briefly about Oberon, and Random says that Dworkin made him go missing.

"What would it take to convince you?"

"More than you can provide."

"I can describe your birthmarks, what you did as a kid..."

Damia leads Random into describing his uncorking of most of Castle Amber's wine cellar in order by color, size, and density - Corwin led him into that one.

"But I got back at him." "How?" "You tell me." "The chambermaid in the closet?" "No, that was Caine."

"Do you remember Corwin's axe?" "Yes." "Then you should remember." Damia describes the fate of Corwin's axe, much to Random's distress.

"But I don't believe you anyway. If you were really my mother you wouldn't have run off."

Damia explains that she was in Amber looking for her sister Paulette, and was wrapped up in how she thought in an attempt to find her. "It pleased Oberon to call me that."

They continue their conversation.

"Hey Martin! Meet your grandmother."

"We've met, but not as such."

"So, how many other grandchildren do I have?"

"One or two, depending..."

"You'll have to explain that."

He explains that his youngest son was adopted under the terms of being his youngest son.

"My second eldest daughter is currently head of House Jesby"

"...not sure if my eldest daughter is still among the living."

"Vialle, my wife, is about to give birth, as soon as she decides to."

He proceeds to explain how she is waiting in a slow-time shadow, waiting for the universe to improve before bringing a baby into it.

Damia starts humming.

"You really are her!" Random breaks down, and starts crying.

*knock* *knock*

Damia sends Martin to open the door. He does so, and Cathryn is there.

Cathryn announces, "Sorry to interrupt, but I need to find Bleys so I can kill him."

Cathryn starts explaining the recent chaos in Chaos. Martin, the only one in the room paying attention to her, asks, "Jesby is missing? Our grandmother just showed up."

Cathryn walks over to the sideboard, grabs the strongest thing she can find and consumes it in a big gulp. The smell makes Damia dizzy from several feet away. Cathryn starts seeing things with a sharp tinged look, and other things slow down. "Ilkandacian, want a drink?" Ilk, who has been waiting outside the doorway enters, accepts the proferred drink, and treats it with the respect that it deserves.

*knock* *knock*

Cyndia, Carlton, and their guide are heading towards the Warriors' Guild.

A rook lands on Cyndia's arm, then falls off laughing. "You've got to hear this - Damia masquerading as Paulette was Random's mother!"

"Oh dear, I don't know whether to congratulate her or offer apologies."

Carlton is laughing.

Cyndia sends the rook back to acquire more information.

Martin opens the door, and Benedict is there.

"Random! I heard there was someone here... you wouldn't happen to know what that is all about... do you, Paulette?" (with a significant look at Damia)

Random breaks down again.

"... you'll be glad to know you've devastated Oberon. He hasn't slept with anyone since."

Damia pours herself another big drink.

Benedict tells Cathryn that Schnarst is tracking down the imposter... Schnarst informed him of that fact, saying that if he got in his way, he would not be long as head of the Warriors' Guild.

Cathryn asks Benedict, "So, where's Bleys?" He thumbs over a trump. She tries it, nothing.

Damia sends a rook to Cyndia to tell her that Benedict is here.

..."my mommy's back!" - Random, sobbing

Cathryn hands over the next strongest bottle to Random, having finished the strongest one herself. "He's lost it completely."

"Cathryn, I'm terribly sorry. I'm sure he was a much more mature... before." "Well, not really..."

Damia asks Benedict, "Where's Oberon?" "Burning in the nether hells." "What?" "We don't get along."

Martin says that Cathryn's party is in two hours.

"What? Bleys managed to sneak in an imposter and destroy my house in less than a cycle?" Cathryn takes the bottle back from Random.

Benedict turns to Cathryn, "I have an idea."

The Adventures of Regent Malachai

Malachai is heading into town, looking for bad places where Caine might be passing the time.

One inn is filled with dead bodies, including the innkeep and his wife. "Do not cross the Left Hand" is written in blood on the wall. The corpses were messily killed in a fight, their money is piled conspicuously by their heads, and they have copper coins on their eyes.

At the second inn, the barkeep alive. "Malachai!" He explains that Caine is sleeping and he's not safe to wake, but he damaged the inn so badly it's about to fall down. Caine apparently didn't like the patrons - they were too quiet, so he killed them to make them louder. A number tried to rush him, and he flung them about into the supports. He's on the roof, singing loudly. They'be been sending barrels up to him occasionally.

Malachai climbs up onto the roof.

Caine is lying over the trap door, snoring badly, and cradling a barrel.

Malachai calls out, "Hello, Caine!" Caine wakes up, and hands the barrel to Malachai, saying, "have a drink!" Malachai does so.

They chat briefly. Malachai mentions that the building is about to collapse. Caine jumps off, and lands in front of the fleeing inkeeper who faints. His wife is cowering in the doorway piled high with all of their possessions. Caine grins.

Caine explains that the Left Hand is a joke that Corwin and he started years ago; Caine thought they had killed them all off ages ago.

They infiltrated the underground and each decided to become cabinet members - "he was the Left Hand, I was the right hand. Occasionally we would switch to keep them off balance."

When Malachai tells Caine about the first inn, he becomes annoyed. "They aren't supposed to go around killing people in town Amber. Nobody can do that, except for Amberites. And soldiers. And people we designate..."

Malachai asks Caine to take care of it. "On one condition." "What?" "Find someone to play the Right Hand."

Caine tosses a heavy bag at the wife and disappears into the shaadows.

Malachai hears a scream from the marketplace, and heads that way. It sounds like a riot. There is a major food fight going on, with wares flung about...

Tazik is in the middle of it. She's having a blast. Malachai tries to trump Serena, and catches a glimpse of lots of noise and bodies - over there.

Serena is mashing some vegetable matter into the face of a guy that two others are holding down. She tells Malachai that Tazik started it when they accused her of stealing.

There are a number of guards involved in the fight.

Malachai and Serena start riding up towards the castle, leaving Tazik to her fun. Malachai receives a trump call from Benedict.

Benedict asks after Bleys.

Malachai explains the current situation in Amber to Benedict. no Bleys, no Oberon, just Caine. Ingold is off looking for Corwin, Erik disappeared into a firy trump contact, Corwin is presumed dead, ... Malachai mentions that he trumped Gerard, and that Oberon is with him.

Benedict says that Paulette is here...

[much laughter ensues as Tia realizes that Damia is the Queen of Amber, except maybe when Clarissa is around]

"... it souns like Bleys, or the entire red-headed cabal is trying to undermine the Courts of Chaos, which is my current home."

They chat about the redheads.

They've attacked the Houses that our House is associated with - Jesby, which is newly linked, and Cara, the house that Zack belongs to.

Benedict: "the honorable ones.. you, me, Gerard, usually Corwin."

[the group in Random's is listening to Benedict's half of the conversation]

Malachai offers aid to Benedict; Benedict says that he will call upon it, being more pleased with the current head of Amber than the old one.

Back in the Courts of Chaos

Cathryn asks for reassurance that Random isn't next in line for the throne of Amber.

Cathryn declares her intent to torture and then kill Bleys. Benedict mentions that, since Oberon isn't currently on the throne of Amber, that just might not be completely illegal.

Benedict hands Damia Oberon's trump. It's blocked.

Benedict trumps Gerard.

"No, i am not sorry that i am not Malachai."

"I see."

"It is not on my behalf that I disturb His Nibs; just tell him that Paulette is back."

and Benedict closes the trump contact

Damia tries Oberon's trump again, blocked.

Benedict: "Cathryn - I think that i know where Fiona is - grey sphere in Clarissa's realm."

Getting someone out of a grey sphere? Ilk knows of one person who can do that... he left with Suhuy. A Logrus-search quickly reveals that he's not currently within the Courts.

Cathryn pulls Benedict aside for a private conversation.

A rook reaches Cyndia and tells her that Benedict is back where they started.

Their guide says that paths are non-commutative within the courts -- going back is harder than going forward, unless they go through some places with different environments. Environments like no atmosphere, and no gravity.

Carlton makes two compartments, one for Cyndia, and one for the rooks.

Carlton tries to seduce Cyndia; fade to black.

Damia is comforting Random.

Martin is sitting around being weirded out over having hit on his grandmother.

Cathryn throws up a ward, which is fairly decent, and was easier to throw up than usual.

Cathryn says that her next obvious action after finding the House is to walk the Pattern.

Benedict offers to sponsor her, and says that Random would do it as well, but suggests some training first.

Cathryn mentions having seen a little girl who didn't know anything about it walk it.

Benedict suggests Malachai as a good teacher, and he's Regent of Amber, too.

Cathryn tells Benedict that Tir is a way to cross between alternate Ambers, and wants that kept quiet as a surprise for Bleys.

There is yet another knock at the door.

Cathryn looks at Martin significantly, and he opens the door.

A member of Random's staff and a balloon-shaped thing enter.

The staff member bows to Cathryn appropriately, and gets out of the way. The balloonish thing bounces in, and sits in a corner.

Damia asks, "Carlton, where's Cyndia?" "She was unavoidably detained..." "But she sent the rooks, and they said she was returning"

Cathryn looks between the staff member and Carlton.

"Carlton, let her out!" "But I'm trying to seduce her!"

Damia introduces the newcomers to Cathryn as her grand-daughter.

Ilk continues sipping quietly at his drink while Logrus-searching for Stormy.

Cyndia: "so... congratulations?"

Cathryn introduces Ilk to the mob as Ilkandacian, head of House Cara. Ilk winces.

Ilk asks Damia if he should refer to her as Damia, Damiana, or Queen Paulette of Amber. Damia winces, and replies that either Damia or Damiana would be preferable.

Damia notices some similarities between Cyndia and Benedict.

Cyndia asks if Benedict is familiar with a Lady Cynthia of Cobalt, and he winces.

"...are you, perhaps, intimating that you are older than you appear?"

Benedict then introduces Cathryn to his daughter Cyndia and his son Carlton.

Cyndia mentions that they misplaced a third...

"apparently, paternity has hit me quite hard, recently."

"?"

"Ingold was seen around recently."

"And?"

"He's my son."

Damia drops the bottle. It bounces. Cathryn tries to trump Malachai. He's out of range. Damia tries to trump Gerard, and is blocked.

Cathryn tries to trump Stormy, and reaches the equivalent of an answering machine, leaves a message, mental only.

Cathryn asks Damia where she is from... Cobalt, another center of power.

Cathryn: "... and you left my father without even telling him you were leaving."

Cathryn and Damia talk; Cathryn accusing, Damia defending.

Random staggers in, and hands some strange fruit around.

Random eats the pulp. Ilk is careful with his, and a few drops from Cyndia's fall onto her hand and are absorbed.

Serena Hooks Malachai?

Malachai is trumped by Gerard. Gerard asks how Benedict found out that Oberon was with him, Malachai apologizes, mentioning a hard day. Gerard says that Malachai may be off the hook, as Paulette has apparently turned up. They hope that their trump conversation is amusing Clarissa, who undoubtedly knows everything that they are saying.

Gerard and Oberon are in a slow-time shadow.

They mention that Gerard's son is possibly wandering around unattended.

Malachai and Serena are almost back at the castle. Serena is shaking out the vegtable matter. Malachai brings up the ambassadorial liason job, and she agrees to take on the post, although only temporarily.

They go to lunch. Malachai doesn't sit at head table, but it sidles up closer to him.

A number of young, nubile females (the vapids) surround Malachai, cooing over him. Malachai informs them that if they want to suceed Clarissa, they should take it up with her.

There is a disturbance at the door.

A large cat, not colored like Deryse, and not quite as big as Trialla, it's the one that Gerard was wrestling with, sticks her head into the hall. She looks around, looks around some more, and looks pitiful.

Malachai stands up and goes over to Serena; the head table makes a place for him. He asks her to help him deal with that Sha'um. "Good idea - I'll ask Dapple to join us." Dapple runs up and starts butting heads with the big cat.

Serena has a document that she got from Flora, that she could use to get rid of the vapids. They could just announce their engagement. "We'll talk about that this evening... "

The cat's head pops out of the door, and Dapple heads back to them.

Malachai heads out to get lunch. Someone comes up to Malachai and says that there is a large woman at the gates demanding entrance. It's Tazik. Malchai orders them to let her in.

There is a small commotion, "ah, they've met - dapple's friend and tazik. The cat backed over her."

Malachai suggests that Serena introduce the two; Serena wrangles an invitation to dinner and a possible proposal.

Back in the Courts of Chaos

Ilk pulls Benedict aside once he is done talking with Cyndia, and casts a ward.

He mentions that Carlton has a variant on a shapeshifting disease that he has seen before to Benedict. They pull Cyndia into the ward and ask her if she knows anything about it. Ilk suggests that the Shapeshifters' Guild might be able to do something about it.

Ilkandacian also brings up the matter of the Pattern chains, but nobody knows how to drop them. Ilk suggests that Cathryn, having been trained to take over her House, might be able to arrive at a diplomatic solution to the hordes of rioting demons.

When Cathryn's ward goes down, Ilk drops his ward as well.

Cyndia asks Cathryn for a diplomatic solution - she offers nothing successful.

The group waffles.

A small magical working appears in the center of the room, it's the Warlord. She recognizes Ilk and Cathryn and asks if a solution was reached regarding the rioting demons; Ilk replies that they're working on the problem.

More waffling ensues.

There is another working, and Mandor appears. "I believe that there is an issue that you may want to know about..." he has a lead. Only Cathryn can see the working or hear Mandor's message.

The group heads out.

Cyndia mentions the shapeshifting disease stuff to Carlton.

Ilk puts up a powerful ward over he and Cathryn; they chat about a mutual search.

--EORun--