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Session 13

Page history last edited by Dawn 3 years, 2 months ago

12/20/2020

(Rook, Lilja, Harlequin)

 

(Recap of known spikards, please add any missing)
Kraken = Bleys (sword)
Phoenix = Brand (sword?)
Tapir = Corwin (sword, assumed, missing)
Owl = Grandcrab?>Greer>Crow>Robin>Dantaylion (sickle)

 

House associations with old gods:

Kraken: Triton

Lion: Barriman

Jackal: Anup

Oak: Dendra

Bat: Keres

 

Scene 1: “Bid for Trump” (Li)

 

Li and Nef coordinated a visit by Li and Miriam to House Anup. Beautiful seating area, “borderline speed dating” (6 suitors for Miriam)

  • Maskini (he): jackal form, well-dressed, ostentatious jewelry. Polite, a little distracted. Shepherds and studies civilizations.
  • Tena (she): friendly, enthusiastic – genealogy, historical and speculative. Has planned out her “dynasty” for when she has kids “So, I’m thinking 20 as an initial brood…” Miriam expresses some slight concern.
  • Menkauhor (they): stone obelisk (not a typo), communicates by text scrolling across surface -- ancient form of Thari. Miriam is nonplused
  • Neferuher (he): The Goodest Boi. Miriam has art appreciation feels for his dancing.
  • Amenemsou (they): Much Jackal Very Anup Wow. They like “paying attention to people” esp politics in Chaos. Miriam neutral.
  • Maanai (she): likes BOOKS – scholarship, esp house Urqhart’s library envy

 

Li: Thannnnk you and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

 

Miriam and Li discuss options. Miriam is a little hesitant but seems to favor Nef and Maanai. She expresses concern that some will lose interest when/if she is replaced as the royal trump artist.

 

Li suggests a “date” with the likely candidates.

 

 

Scene 2: “Casual Chats with Crow&Rook” (Rook)

 

Underground cavern. Ceiling looks like night sky, floor is a cloudy mist with lights emanating from. Stone coming up from the mist, floating platforms hold “rooms” (bedroom, library, etc.) floating stones make stairs and paths. The sort of room a gothy teenager who can mold shadow would make.

 

Rook: You felt when I was in danger? (Fighting a god)
Crow: Yep. Weird instinctual feeling
Rook: Cool, just curious. Since you’re, you know, super dead and all.
Rook: Speaking of which… You know you can’t stay here like this, right?
Crow: Yeah, okay? Back to the deadlands?
Rook: …or oblivion?
Crow: “Sounds a bit more ominous”
Rook: Better than existing as someone’s token?

 

They discuss farther, and Crow is not opposed, but everything is kind of unknown. Rook asks Crow to help with “the god situation” including the apparent tampering with reality/shadow/memory.

 

Rook asks Crow to be a little more anonymous/circumspect in appearance when he goes out, especially for the upcoming party. Crow agrees.

 

Rook: Anything else you want to talk about?
Crow: “Nothing important.”
Rook: “It… doesn’t have to be important.”

 

They chat farther about feelings and relationships. Toast to a fresh start.

 

Rook talks about their trip to Tir and how their visions were all centered around Crow. Tells Crow about the Pattern and bloodline. Wonders if that had an effect on Crow. Some discussion on Pattern & deadlands and…

 

Crow grows more anxious toward the end of the convo. “A lot of stuff going on, I guess.” Expresses a desire to be helpful.

 

 

Scene 3: The More You Know… (Harlequin)

 

Harlequin is spending a significant amount of time in the Black Archives. Lots of speculation, references to books that don’t seem to exist. Sorcerers collaborated to bind the gods and harness the power for the sorcerers themselves.

 

11 spikards, 12 existed at one point. Some gods might not have been bound beyond just the serpent. Items gain a degree of awareness. Can’t find where they are now. Swayvil might have one.

 

Harlequin believes that the church or House Urqhart may be other places to check.

Harlequin trumps Li and steps through to Hendrake. Harlequin checks on Winter. Gifts a dagger/seal (covert, identifies as answerable only to the Black Watch, may have other properties TBD). Harlequin and Li order Winter to continue resting.

They have tea and catch up and share info. Harlequin mention research that may be in Church hands. Li mentions intention to visit Urqhart ways. Harlequin requests a pass to the library. They chat socially and Harlequin requests Winter report in when better.

 

 

Scene 4: HELLLOOOOOO!!! (Li & Harlequin)

 

Li visits Urqhart ways. During obligatory social, some information is exchanged. Touchstone seems more lucid recently, but is still adventuring. Rosalind is doing better about studies. Lady Urqhart has somehow forced a break from the Academy for her?

Li broaches the topic of House Anup betrothal. Lady U. is open to this.

Li asks for permission to visit the library. Trumps Harlequin. Harlequin gets an odd trump call – first no presence, then Li. They go through to Urqhart library (L-Space!!!). Mek assists both of them.

 

Mek brings back a book by Quelnarroth the Sorcerer King for Harlequin; may predate Courts.

 

Li researches fiction, narrows some down looking for ones that talk about forbidden romances with foreign places that may or may not be Amber, among other things. (looking for Dworkin self-insert fanfic, “Lion,” or “Your Lion.”)

 

Much bad erotica. Li looks for things she can harass Brand with.

 

Li is looking for connections between gods and old houses. (Lion = Barimen, Bat = Keres, Others?) Also looking for mythology that might help.

 

Harlequin feels a Presence over their shoulder as they are magically copying the book as they read.

“Your technique is a little sloppy.” They look up to see a person sitting across from them, no Li. Harlequin offers their name and asks for the stranger’s. “I don’t remember yet.”

 

(BREAK)


Scene 5: And I’ll never have that recipe again, oh nooo... (Rook)


Rook is in the Margrave’s office, trying to get a handle on things. Bleys kicks in the door.

 

Bleys: “Hello!”
Rook: “Hello?”
Bleys: “I am a-courting!”
Rook: “Oh. Is that what this is? I… wasn’t expecting you?”
Bleys: “That’s part of the appeal!”

 

Rook is skeptical, but converses. Bleys says they are “making good progress on the throne” and “have figured out a way to topple Amber” (distract dad, get rid of him).

 

Rook suggests food. Bleys suggests a place in shadow.

 

(BREAK)


Scene 4, cont. (Harlequin & Li, Urqhart library)

The figure sitting with Harlequin: “I was in this room, talking to someone else…” Memory of a locked room. tied up? Bound? People asking why I would write such a thing.

 

Harlequin asks about spikards. They are a mirror… into your soul? Or maybe your soul is the mirror. Spikards gained an agenda? Some theories. Infection? Spontaneous awakening? Puppetmaster?

 

Li notices that Harlequin has disappeared, slight warp in shadow where they were. Tried Logrus, but starts getting a trump call. She answers.

Crow: "I have been stabbed."

Pinned against the wall, hanging from a sword. Stabbed by a red-haired guy, “His voice got weird and he said I was a – what was the word he used? – …discrepancy.”

Li: Uh, ok, feel better! Bye!

 

Li trumps Rook

 

(BREAK)

 

Scene 5, cont. (Rook, riverside café)

 

Rook & Bleys are eating and talking.

 

Bleys: “The blood of Amber can damage the Pattern.”

Primal Pattern, sacrifice identified. Rook asks, Primal Pattern?

 

Rook tries to share info with Bleys without having him transported/spiritually whacked on the head.

 

Li trumps and warns Rook about Bleys and Crow.

 

Rook goes back to talking with Bleys, suggests a dead family member instead of a live one.

 

Bleys suddenly draws his sword and parries, as Crow appears out of nowhere and tries to attack him from behind.

 

(BREAK)

Scene 4, cont. (Harlequin & Li, Urqhart Library)

 

Harlequin talks to the presence, continues copying. Spiraling downward as your mind is being slowly unraveled.

Scribbles – dissolution of self. Harlequin asks what it means. "It’s screams."

 

Harlequin: “Can you summarize?”
(ghost-of-Quelnarroth): “I can try it without my pants”
Harlequin: “If you must…”
(ghost-of-Quelnarroth) leans in very close: “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

 

Li sends a message in, it gets distorted. Harlequin calls Li and catches her up.

 

Li: “Well, call me before you die!”
Harlequin: “Ok!”

 

Harlequin skips ahead past scribbles part. Turns into weird house of leaves shit. (ghost-of-Quelnarroth) keeps trying to convince them to “read it correctly” (start to finish, especially the scribbles and babbling).

 

Harlequin convinces them that they’ll come back later but need to do this right now.

 

Whoosh/boom and Harlequin is back in the library, knocking Li’s books around. Li and Mek put things back into place while Harlequin catches their breath.

(BREAK)


Scene 5, cont. (Rook, café)

 

Rook tries to use Logrus to stop the combatants, partially succeeds and yells at both of them to stop.

 

Bleys gets tackled by someone that looks vaguely familiar. It’s Jimothy!

 

Rook tries to physically intervene between Crow and Brand, who has shown up unexpectedly. Brand says he’d like to talk, Rook complains about the difficulties of discussing things in a civilized manner when others are trying to kill each other. Brand says “ok” and he and Bleys disappear.

 

Rook questions Crow, who was running through the Ways and then popped up at the café.

Jimothy: “I’M HELPING!”

 

Brand returns. Takes off his sword belt, tosses it Somewhere Else, takes Rook by the arm, and they BAMF off to someplace else. Rock floating in a void, crystalline lattices.

 

They spar (verbally). Rook outlines what they know about The God Problem, Brand agrees, to a point. Brand says he’s going along until he needs to change the arrangements. He would like to be “away from the influence of gods” and suggests an icon of power that merges amber and chaos?

 

“It’s simple… Take out the pattern, disrupt/destroy enough of the Courts to take down the Logrus, go from there.” Easy peasy, Brand’s your uncle!

 

Rook tries to reason with an egotistical madman. It goes about like one would expect. Brand courteously returns Rook to the café where people in uniforms are questioning Crow. It is going about like one would expect.

 

(EXEUNT)

 

Scene 4, cont. (Li & Harlequin)

 

Lady Urqhart and Li take their leave of each other. Lady Urqhart lobbies for future family ties.

 

Harlequin and Li spend some time making notes and studying back at Hendrake.

Harlequin picks up a trump that they found in Greer’s belongings and tries to step through. Floating in midair. Can’t get traction. Flies around a bit and trumps Li, returns to Hendrake.

 

(EXEUNT)

 

Scene 6: “Must be Thursday…” (Li, Rook, Harlequin)

 

Li goes to check in on Crow, finds both twins. Catches up. They start talking about Jimothy and go to where Crow was taken from. Li trumps Harlequin.
Li: “We have a security issue”
Harlequin: “PULL ME THROUGH!” (comes rushing through trump with sword drawn)
Rook: “Not that kind of issue”
Crow.: “They’re feisty. I like them…”


Voice that comes out of nowhere: “I don’t have long” (It is a Jimothy!)
Li? Rook?: “Do you have something to tell us?”
Jimothy: “Crow called me.”

Jimothy: “I do not know the deadlands as well as that, but if you free Jackal, he might be able to help you.”
Everyone: Uh, no.
Everyone: “…but where is he?”

Jimothy has a vague feeling for the artifact that traps Jackal.

 

Rook asks about severing the tie between Crow and the sickle. Jimothy can’t help much with that, either. Li asks if all the other gods were bound.

Jimothy: “Yes, all except the serpent… and our parents” and confirms that most were confined to rings, not weapons. 

Harlequin & Rook: “Wait wait wait...”
Jimothy can’t remember much, but describes his parents as “Time” and “Space.” Metaphysical debate follows. Jimothy claims to not be people. Rook is unsure that he is not people-like, at least.

 

Rook asks for help with the gods. Jimothy says he’s mostly trying to stop the artifacts themselves, teaming with Crow – they have seemed to have gained their own sentience.

 

Jimothy disappears and Sam appears, crouched in an action pose, wearing a serape and a sombrero.
Sam: “HE WAS JUST HERE!!!”
Everyone: What the heck, man? Uh, I mean ‘god’?
Sam: “He needs to be controlled in some way or he’s going to BREAK SHIT.”

Sam explains that the shadowstorm that killed crow and punched a hole to the deadlands was Owlet awakening and breaking free.

 

Harlequin asks about his folks. Sam explains that they are both abstract, and not, and “Time” and “Space” are probably more or less accurate.

 

They discuss what might happen if the gods break free. Talking about plans, no definite resolutions. Sam goes off to hunt owlets.

 

Sibs discuss possible “solutions” but most of them seem to be “no, that would be bad for reality and life.” Li suggests continuing to figure out where the rest of the spikards are in order to contain them. Things wind down.

 

(EXEUNT ALL)

 

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