![[previous]](gu-prev.gif){kind=small}
![[next]](gu-next.gif){kind=small}
Back to the index.
Amaranth has been deposited on a small rock in a very tight orbit to experiment with a book. She takes off her environment suit and starts reading. One spell summons a demon which hands her a case of domestic beer and a crisp new twenty-dollar bill, makes sure that I-80 is nowhere to be seen, and then jets off. The next spell creates a sucking vortex. She goes through the vortex, and when she emerges the ship is landing to pick her up. The captain says that is has been fifteen years since they dropped her off. She returns with the ship to acquire some ingredients for her spells, and arrives at the Citadel to find Tabitha waiting for her.
Tabitha says that her empire is in some kind of a crisis - it seems that some kind of demon has been attacking their outposts and trying to take over. Amaranth fails to claim responsibility.
On the way to her rooms to bathe and change, she sees Mandor. "Daddy!" She gives him a hug. Mandor says that he came here tracking an assassin; Amaranth's presence here helps explain the presence of the assassin. He asks after the aura of magic around her, and they discuss learning. Mandor contacts Tabitha and Samantha magically, tells them that he's taking Amaranth off to learn from the Mages' Guild, and gates his daughter and himself off to Chaos.
[Insulin to compensate for the saccharine nature of the interactions is requested by various players]
A member of the Mages' Guild leads them off to Jenoir and Andron, who are seated around a dining table. Mandor bows very low to them; they bow not so low in return.
Jenoir speaks. "Mandor - how may we assist you?"
"I would like to present to you my daughter, who would like to be taught magic."
"Does she have the talent for it?"
Mandor turns to his daughter. "Do you mind being examined by the guild-mistress of the Mages Guild?"
"No."
Jenoir does something that feels to Amaranth as if each of her nerves is being stimulated in turn.
Jenoir looks over at Mandor. "May we inquire as to the other half of her parentage?"
Mandor grins and says, "No, you may not."
Jenoir makes an announcement to the room at large. "This is my new apprentice."
A place is set for Amaranth at the breakfast table, and Jenoir dismisses Mandor, who leaves.
Some of the circumstances of Amaranth's situation are explained.
[How fucked you are!]
Ilkandacian arrives, and is announced as such.
Appropriate bows happen. Amaranth bows as apprentice to old lord to head of house.
Ilk invites them to join in the Hendrake-stomping. They accept, and invite Ilk to join them in breakfast. He does so.
In the room are Celeste, Mecha-Jean, Neville, Boba Frog, a Pattern-Suhuy, one Ilk that only Jean can see, what appears to be Suhuy, and what appears to be Ilk.
Mecha-Jean can see Pattern Suhuy; Celeste and Neville cannot.
Ilk chats with Cassandra via the Jean-band; Cassandra is busy on her side of the barrier but would like the Dzurlord army. The Ilk that looks like Suhuy goes off to fetch them from where they were left in Suhuy's realm. Ilk finds six of the Dzurlords lying dead next to a newly grown tree; Sethra claims their souls are inside the tree awaiting revivification. Sethra also says that they will need to talk to Cassandra in order to receive their marching orders. Jean talks to Flora, who trumps her son. Flora asks Jean to give her a few of the Dzurlords on their way through. Jean buds into the six soul-less bodies. Much annoyance occurs. A note is written for Cassandra, in the hope of acquiring written orders for the Dzurlords in return. Jean tries unsuccessfully to pass the note through himself until Ilk suggests that Jean give the note to someone else and touch them.
Jean hands Cailin the note, and Mecha-Jean pulls him through, takes the note, and pushes Cailin back again. Cailin ends up near a sea. Jean tries again, and Cailin ends up in Amber next to Flora, who says that he doesn't look Dzurish. Finally, he ends up next to the Jean that sent him through the first time, and is vocally annoyed.
Mecha-Jean hands the note to Ilk, who passes it to the one in Suhuy's ways. Unfortunately, Sethra cannot read Thari. Ilk and Sethra discuss the futility of written orders. Jean tells Cassandra that she might want to go over himself.
Cassandra trumps the Corwin in Norton's head. He says that he'll help Cassandra get back.
The sole surviving bodyguard dives and has a finger on Cassandra before Jean touches her. Cassandra and the bodyguard appear in Suhuy's realm. Cassandra notices that six of the Dzurlords are standing out of line.
Cassandra - "Is there a problem?"
Jean - "No problem."
Cassandra - "Dress that line!"
Jean - "What's that mean?"
Cassandra glares at the six.
Jean - "Hi, Cassandra."
Cassandra - "Jean!"
Cassandra discusses the situation with Sethra and Ilk, then goes back to the six and tells them off.
Jean - "Oops."
Jean trumps them through, multiplexing the process. The missing two bodyguards catch up to Cassandra before she goes through.
Most of the Dzur get through. About ten percent are scattered around to various Jeans, including three that end up in Flora's care. Iterations occur, until there are only three missing. Cassandra insists that the last three come through, and finally gets them after Flora is done with them.
Cassandra fills in her troops on the current situation.
Jean asks someone to keep an eye on the tree, and then Ilk takes the seven Jeans and leaves. No Jeans are left in Suhuy's ways.
Breakfast in Jenoir and Andron's place ends and Jenoir gates herself, Andron, Amaranth, and Ilk (currently looking like Vlad) to the gathering. The Ilk that looks like Suhuy, six butch-looking elves, and a demon Jean arrive at about the same time.
Jenoir introduces her new apprentice around. Celeste welcomes them as a representative of the head of the House, and tells Andron that she will place herself at his disposal at his convenience.
Ilk asks Jean to invite Norton to join them. Jean does so, and Norton asks Cassandra if he can bring Masque to the other side of the barrier with him and have his master look at her. She agrees. Jean sends them all through. Faythe, the penta-Jean, and Norton arrive. Masque going through is uncomfortable for Jean; the werewolves are not. When the sixty werewolves arrive, they notice that there is no moon and turn into naked, over-muscled guys. Ilk and Celeste conjure clothing.
The penta-Jean carry Faythe off and put her to bed.
Norton introduces his newest minions to Roderick, and his greeter leads them off for a quick orientation.
Norton sends Norton a messenger telling him to tell Snarsht about the undead cat.
Ilk mentions that the corpses need to be intact.
Jean - "Does it count if they're all
squished?"
Andron - "A bucket is undignified, but is
good enough."
Tactics are discussed in Norton's head. Norton makes Frogdallorian Pattern-armor for Neville, Amaranth, the Jeans, Jenoir, and Andron.
Norton leaves the undead werewolves behind to guard Faythe and Celeste.
The mob goes through. Celeste trumps Norton and holds the contact open before Norton goes through; three of the Ilks tendri out and the fourth remains ectoplasmic.
There is a stone crypt on the other side of the trump gate. There is a picture of Amaranth on the wall with daggers through its left and right eyes. Jenoir looks at it and says, "Lovely resemblance."
Those who are aware of magic perceive a massive wash of power sweeping over them. All four Ilks are busy shielding the group from massive amounts of Logrus. Nobody else in the group notices the Logrus attacks.
A book falls out of Amaranth's bag and opens to a page. She grabs the components and casts. A major grounding bolt shoots out of her and grounds a chunk of the magical attack. Those who can perceive power levels can tell that she's massive - not in brain the size of a planet levels, but redhead-Amberite levels.
Celeste tries to cast through Norton. She can't really handle it, but the Cailin in Norton's head can act as her hands. They work on shielding.
Amaranth casts the grounding spell again.
Pharaban's signature is not present in the magical attacks, and all of these spells were newly cast within the last half hour.
Norton is disappointed at the lack of anything dead present. Cailin in Norton's head asks after and is shown how to ground magical energy. A bolt of energy similar to Amaranth's shoots out of Norton.
Jean is alert and stuff. There is nobody else in this room. People look for ways out. Ilk spots Pattern in the walls around the room. Norton throws an Eric-grenade at the wall. It screams, "I am a Prince of Amber!" and splats against the wall.
Jean kicks at one of the walls. The far wall falls down, revealing their seventeen targets. Neville identifies them and mentions their true names. Norton breaths flame at them, but doesn't reach their targets.
Ilk becomes very busy - they're all very good with the Logrus, and one of them is at his level.
Norton fires a dart out of his blow-gun. It weaves around drunkenly. Ilk notices tendrils moving the dart around, and helps it.
Celeste and Cailin cast ice on and around the enemy. It stops about half-way between them, and fluctuates back and forth depending on their concentration.
Amaranth's book is flipping between pages.
Various Dzur-Jeans spot for Mecha-Jean, who tries to blast the wall behind the enemy. The quantum continuity cannon rips a hole between the groups, and the god lightning falls through the hole and splatters against the wall behind the enemy.
Amaranth summons the demon again. It complains about being out of beer. She orders it to charge and attack, but not to damage the enemies' bodies.
Norton starts creating rock gargoyles and sending them forwards.
The demon is fighting its way forwards against what appears to be high winds, while grumbling.
Jean throws a throwing knife at the enemy. It doesn't go very far before it stops, vibrates, and falls to the ground.
Andron has sat down.
Jenoir is telling Amaranth to use more expressive spells, and teaches her another one. They cast, and a chasm opens beneath two of the enemy. One jumps clear, the other gets stuck and fails to climb out. "Guys, I can't shapeshift out of this." Amaranth tries the spell herself.
Jean is curling chunks of rock at the enemy.
Celeste starts conjuring a shield around Norton using the true names of their enemies and Cailin's hands.
Amaranth asks Jenoir about that spell, is shown it, and casts it. The demon taps into Amaranth's spell, and starts walking forward at a normal rate.
Jean curls Norton. The demon hitches a ride on Norton. The demon looms menacingly in front of the first nasty-bad Lord of Chaos, and melts. Norton goes to the other end, and splays out through his armor. The Ilk in Norton's head is delighted.
Ilk in Norton looks for the nasties that have Pattern. Corwin points them out. Ilk asks the Suhuy ghost to do something about them, then starts defending the Norton against the Logrus attacks.
The Suhuy ghost walks casually up to one of the enemy, walks into it, and that one looks horrified, turns to another, does something to it, then does something to himself. The two have stopped moving. The Suhuy ghost wanders off, and mentions that the big one shouldn't have been able to break the ceiling.
One of Norton's tendrils goes undead, sprouts fangs, and sucks one of the enemy dry.
Cailin conjures a massive needle and impales one of the nasties. Amaranth prevents that one from shapeshifting. Cailin picks up the spell. Celeste starts working on a counter to the anti-shapeshifting spell and notices that the spell has a limited duration and requires the target's true name.
The two that are frozen have red hair. Celeste tries to check them for Clarissa-ness, and looks on the god channel. Those two are screaming over the god channel. Celeste mind-reams one of the redheads. About half-way through the mind-ream, her trump contact to Norton drops.
Celeste now knows enough about that place to be able to draw a trump gate to it. The reamee thinks that Fiona is his grandmother and that he and his son over there were both visited by Bleys, taken to the Pattern, and instructed in the ways of Pattern. There is an unfortunate backwash. Norton in her head doesn't notice anything in the green door vicinity. Celeste starts doing a trump gate back to where they are.
Pattern Suhuy has frozen two; Cailin has speared two; Amaranth has speared two; Norton has drained four; seven are left. Neville starts pulling the ones that are out of commission back to their side of the battle.
Celeste burns through two quite strong barriers and re-acquires trump contact with Norton.
Ilk points out the big Logrus-user to Norton. Cailin asks Mandor to join in the fun. Six balls circle his tentacles then shoot out, touching all of the enemy but the one that Norton is approaching. Those six just stop. Ilk notices a hint of Melk's signature in the effect. Mandor is applauded, and responds that it is a trivial project with the targets' true names.
All four Ilks are concentrating on the last enemy, which is the one most powerful in the Logrus. The Ilk that looks like Suhuy has been not allowing that one to tendril out.
Norton rips the guy's heart out, he tries shifting to compensate, and Cailin prevents him from shifting. He falls over dead.
Celeste drops the trump contact with Norton and starts opening a trump gate.
When the last target fell, Andron stood up and stretched. He says that we should leave - their reinforcements will be arriving momentarily.
Jenoir says that this place should be preserved, and flexes her magical muscles. What Mandor did was elegant; what she did was impressive. If anyone changes the room, it will revert back to this state. And the spell is anti-entropic.
Norton leaves some spies behind to observe the reinforcements.
Andron says that the frozen one is still screaming over a certain channel and should be stopped. Jean tries to stab him; the slashy-thingy scrapes off the body. Norton tries to use a Jewel of Judgment to bash him over the head. It bounces; Pattern-Suhuy says that he shouldn't do that - the Jewel might break.
Everyone has gone through the trump gate, and the gate is closed behind them.
Mecha-Jean tries to wring out the frozen guy, and fails. Norton puts his happy helmet on the guy and orders him to die, and fails.
Celeste offers to help order the last guy to die; Norton refuses to allow her and asks for Ilk's help. The Ilks help focus power through Norton. Andron looks at them. "Amateurs."
Andron reaches over, puts his hand on the last guy's head, and gives him absolute peace. He doesn't die, but he stops screaming. Norton takes the helmet off, looking sheepish.
Reginald knocks on the door and says that a Mandor is here to see them.
Mandor enters, looks at the bodies, and says that he will ask Silver Lyra to call a council meeting immediately.
Back to the index.