From Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu Mon Jun 7 09:10:32 1993 Date: Sun, 6 Jun 93 20:51:28 EDT From: Kris.Fazzari@um.cc.umich.edu To: thari@umich.edu Subject: Amber Log Kris' Campaign Log 2 During the evening, Ariana goes looking for Driscoll, but finds that he is no longer in the villa. The next morning, Heather sends Maeve out to buy her some clothing appropriate for Mirelle's shadow. When Maeve returns, she puts on the new clothing and goes down to breakfast. She finds Mirelle there setting out fruit and asks her where Driscoll is (popular fellow, isn't he?). Mirelle says that he's left, so Heather asks for someone to bring Maeve home. Mirelle agrees to do so. Ariana passes Heather on the way to breakfast, and makes a comment about Heather's pallor, which Heather ignores. Heather leaves the shadow and trumps Brand, who asks her for an update. She tells him that Driscoll has left, and he asks her to come through to him to discuss this. When she does so, he proceeds to maroon her in the center of the Primal Pattern, and tells her psychically that she'd better hope that Driscoll finds her soon. He then breaks the contact, and she is unable to trump him. When Ahab wakes up, he is unable to find Corwin. He finds Bleys and asks about Corwin's whereabouts, but Bleys doesn't know. Ahab asks to borrow some weapons so he can break his mother out of the dungeon. They discuss Ahab's role in upcoming events, and Ahab admits that he'll be content to stay on the sidelines during the fight, but he'd like to bring his mother to see Bleys, in case she wants to help. Felix heads for the summer estate to join his mother. He notes, with some surprise, that she appears to be opening the house up, even though it is too early in the season. When he asks her why, she says it was Gerard's idea. Gerard, she tells him, is out doing something with the fleet. She asks him about his day and how long he's planning to stay. He's somewhat uncertain about when he'll be leaving and makes up a story about sailing down the coast with Ariadne, claiming that she came from down the coast. Isabeux asks him what ports he stopped at, and he gives her the name of a likely one. While they are sitting down for some dessert, Felix notices three figures fleeing for Rebma's stairs, pursued by several horseman. Felix goes to investigate, but they have all disappeared down the stairs by the time he gets there. Felix asks the next set of approaching guards what's happening, and he is told that the King has been assaulted, and they are pursuing the attackers. Felix asks if Oberon is back, but they tell him that it was Eric who was attacked. Felix heads back to the summer estate, somewhat confused by all this, and tells his mother what has happened. She immediately gets up and leaves, and Felix is left alone with the dessert, which he sets to polishing off. After waiting for some time for Heather to return, Mirelle, Ariana and Maeve sit down to breakfast. Maeve seems worried about her mistresses absence. After breakfast Mirelle tells Ariana that she must bring Maeve back to Heather's shadow, and invites Ariana to make herself at home. A short while later, Ariana is reading in the library when she feels a tremor. She goes outside and sees huge dark clouds approaching, and is rocked by another tremor. She evacuates her people and frantically looks for Mirelle's trumps. She finds them in Mirelle's personal quarters, and runs out of the building with them, narrowly avoiding a falling column on the way out. She trumps Mirelle and tells her what is happening. Mirelle tells her to run for two trees located behind her villa and shift shadow out of there. Ariana takes her retinue and quickly does so. As she leaves, she notices the shadow seems to be ripping apart and sees a yawning void beyond. She runs faster. Heather is changing back into her normal (Georgian) clothes, when she notices someone watching her. Dworkin asks her how she got there and she tells him that Lord Brandon placed her there. Dworkin changes to a larger, nastier looking form and begins to walk the Pattern towards her. Heather frantically finishes putting on her undergarments and tries to trump Driscoll. Ariana is barely keeping ahead of the storm. She tries shifting shadow to get away from it, but it still persists. After a little while, she encounters Mirelle, who her and her guards. Ariana asks if horses wouldn't be helpful, and no sooner does she think this than they come across a heard of horses. They mount them and continue fleeing. They are soon joined by Driscoll, also on horseback, who asks them what happened. After hearing Ariana's description he tells her that the storm will die off in time, they just have to stay ahead of it. Ahab begins Hellriding for Rebma. The weather begins to turn stormy, and he is unable to subtract it away. After he gives up on this, a chasm suddenly appears to one side, and eventually intercepts his course. He shifts shadow to make himself and the horse lighter, and jumps the chasm. The weather clears and he continues on his way. Ariana, Driscoll, Mirelle and company finally outdistance the storm. Driscoll removes his sunglasses to wipe the sweat off of his face, and Heather's trump contact slams into him. Ariana asks Driscoll if he's all right, but he waves her off. Heather asks Driscoll to pull her through. Driscoll asks her what's happening, but she insists on being pulled through immediately. Driscoll reaches out to do so, but when he grabs her hand, there is a crackling noise, and suddenly he is in Heather's arms, bleeding all over the Primal Pattern. The Pattern crackles as the blood spreads, and Dworkin begins screaming and contorting in pain. Ariana, having watched Driscoll just vanish from in front of her, tries to trump him, and after some concentration manages to get through. She sees that Driscoll is injured and brings him (and Heather, who was still holding Driscoll) back. She begins tending to Driscoll's wound, which is in his abdomen. Oddly enough, it doesn't look like a normal stabbing wound, and it's burned around the edges. Mirelle just stands around and looks upset. When questioned, Heather denies knowing what happened. Ariana tells Mirelle that Heather and Driscoll appeared to be in the center of the Pattern, but it was outside. They feel the ground tremble and look for another shadow storm, but they don't see anything wrong. Ahab and Felix encounter each other as Ahab heads for the stairway and Felix heads for the castle. They also feel the ground tremble. Felix tells Ahab about the attack on Eric, and Ahab asks Felix to take his horse back to the castle (it's rather worn out). Ahab then heads down the stairs. Felix heads for the library, but it is guarded, and there is a commotion from inside. He asks one of the guards where his relatives are, and they tell him that they're in the library, so Felix goes inside. He finds Eric with his right arm bandaged, talking to someone via trump. Julian and Flora are also present. He asks what happened, and Julian tells him that Eric was attacked by Corwin. Felix tells Julian about the people he saw running to Rebma, and mentions that he encountered Ahab going there as well. Julian is concerned by this, especially when he learns that Ahab had a battle-axe with him. Julian tells Felix to go get some supper. Ahab descends for a while, passing the remains of one of the guards on the way down. Towards the end, he runs into the rest of the guards as they are returning. They stop him and ask if he's going to Rebma. He sarcastically asks where else he would be going on the stairs. He learns from them that Dierdre has escaped and, along with Corwin and Random, has been given sanctuary by Queen Moire. They ask him if he's planning to stay, and where his loyalties lie. He tells them that he's planning on returning to Amber later that evening, and that if Eric wants to know his loyalties, he can ask Ahab himself. He continues on his way, and asks at the castle gate to be taken to see Dierdre. He learns from her that she managed to escape on her own, although she seems amused to learn that he was planning to try and free her himself. Ahab tells her that he's glad that she's free, but he won't take sides unless he's forced to. He tells her about the tremors, and decides to return to the Amber library and do some research. Ariana finishes tending to Driscoll, and begins questioning Heather about her role in his injury. Heather at first won't say how she got to the center of the Pattern. Mirelle asks her if it was Brand, which she denies. When she is shown Brand's trump she admits that he was the one who placed her on the Pattern, but she knows him as Lord Brandon Rathcavren. She won't, however, say why he put her there. Ariana accuses Heather of having stabbed Driscoll under Brand's orders, and refuses to let her near him. Heather sniffs, walks away, and starts shifting shadow. Ariana orders her guards to build a litter for Driscoll and returns Mirelle's trump deck. Mirelle says she will trump Sand and have her round up Heather. Heather trumps Maeve and has her bring her home. Ahab ascends the stairs and trumps back to Amber, startling the guards stationed in the hall. They tell him that his relatives are in the library, and he goes there, entering just as Julian is saying "He took a battle-axe with him, did he?" Ahab responds that he left it there which Julian looks happy to hear. Ahab makes a comment about Eric not having much luck with swords lately, which gets a smile out of Julian. He asks Ahab what has been happening in Rebma, and Ahab tells him that Dierdre is planning to remain there for the moment. Ahab asks where Brand is, and suggests that the family should talk to him. When Julian tells him that Brand is unreachable, Ahab tells him that the quakes felt earlier could be the result of shadow storms. Eric finishes his trump contact, and Ahab tells him about his earlier encounter with Brand about the book on shadow physics. Eric thinks this information may explain some things that have been happening. Ahab and Felix leave the library together, and Ahab asks Felix where his father is. Felix tells him that Gerard is out at sea and the two of them plan to go out for some dinner. Ahab excuses himself to get some dry clothes. He changes quickly and trumps Gerard. When Gerard answers, he berates him for not telling him in advance about Eric's plans to become Lord Protector, so that he could stop Dierdre. He breaks the contact and meets Felix outside the library. While they ride into town, Ahab puzzles over who was trying to stop him from getting to Rebma. During their meal, Ahab offers to take Felix to check out an interesting shadow, and Felix agrees. After dinner they set off along the path that Ahab had found to Heather's shadow. Mirelle pulls through Sand, who asks Ariana to track down Heather and keep an eye on her. Sand gives her a trump of herself and instructs her to ride with the image of Heather in her mind. Ariana asks what to do if she finds other Amberites with Heather, and Sand tells her that it will depend on the Amberite. If it is someone lie Brand, she should stay hidden and contact Sand. Sand gives Ariana her trump to facilitate this Ariana instructs her people to guard Driscoll and rides off. Heather frantically packs and leaves for Driscoll's shadow, instructing Maeve to mislead anyone who comes looking for her. Ahab and Felix reach Heather's shadow and they knock at the gate. As the gatekeeper approaches, Ahab positions himself behind Felix, which confuses him. They ask the gatekeeper to take them to the lady of the house, and are told that she died a week ago. Ahab asks to be taken to the executor of her estate, which turns out to be Maeve. The servant agrees to check and begins to slowly make his way back to the house. Felix asks Ahab what's going on, and why Ahab hid behind him. Ahab explains that some strange things have been happening with shadow lately, and he thought the owner of the house might have some useful information. He says that he moved behind Felix because he'd been to the house before, and they might not remember him fondly. Ahab mentions that the last time he was there, one of the servants got a trump call. Ahab then starts ranting about the deceitfulness of Amberites, and asks Felix about Ariadne. He wants to know if she did anything other than ask him about the Pattern. Felix looks pained and activates his psychic barrier device. Ahab presses him and Felix evades the question badly. Ahab keeps pressing, asking if she did or said anything unusual, but Felix says he promised not to tell. The servant returns and says that Maeve has gone to bed, and they should try again in the morning. They ask when would be convenient to call on her, and are told around 11:00 the next day. They spend some time in a fast time shadow and return at around 11:00. They are brought to see Maeve, who gasps when she sees Ahab. She asks if he's going to behave this time, to which Ahab responds that he behaved the last time. He promises her that he will act like a gentleman and asks to see her mistress, claiming he suspects that she's not really dead. Maeve tells that she is indeed dead, so there's no way he can talk to her. Ahab asks to see a portrait of the deceased, which Felix recognizes as one of Heather. They also see a portrait that looks just like Fiona. Ahab tells Maeve that Felix saw Heather just the other day, so there's no way she could be dead for a week. He tries again to persuade Maeve to put him in contact with Heather, but Maeve says that she has no way to do that. While they are talking, Felix touches the portrait of Fiona and it turns cold. He tells Ahab, who tries the one of Heather, which also turns out to be a trump. Meanwhile, a week has passed for Heather, who has broken into Driscoll's apartment and is living there. She feels the contact, and thinks that it might be Driscoll, since it is very weak. She goes out onto the balcony and accepts the call. Ahab introduces himself and tells her about the shadow path he came across. He asks her what her lineage is, and she responds by asking why he's contacting her. He tells her that strange things have been happening in shadow, and that he and Felix are investigating. Heather asks to see Felix, but he has his barrier up so she can't see him. She describes him and when he says Felix matches the description, she says she's coming through. Ahab mentions that it would be polite to ask and then pulls her through. Heather goes to the sitting room and asks Ahab to put the portrait back. Ahab hands it to Felix and asks him to hide it in one their saddlebags. Felix cuts the portrait out and puts it away. Ahab returns to the sitting room and asks Heather about her lineage again. Ariana arrives outside the mansion and asks the gatekeeper to be taken to see Heather. His jaw drops at her clothing (or lack thereof, since she's still dressed in a Hellenic style), and he hurries back to the house. He passes Felix on his way out to the stable, and Felix notices Ariana sitting at the gate. Ariana sees Felix and trumps Sand to tell her about it. Sand cautions her to be careful, and Ariana breaks the contact. She calls out to Felix and asks him why he's there. He's somewhat flustered and says he was just out exploring. She keeps questioning him, and he eventually spills that he is there looking for Heather. Ariana continues to ask him questions in an attempt to find out if he is there alone or with others. Heather is told that there is a new guest at the gate. She has Ariana and Felix brought into the parlor. Ariana learns that Ahab is there and tries to leave the room and tell Sand. As she is leaving, she runs into Heather, who has Ahab with her. Ahab thinks that Ariana looks like Eric and tells her so. Heather has tea and scones served. While they all eat, there is much arguing, in which several things are revealed. Heather tells Ahab that she met Felix in Mirelle's shadow, and that he was brought there by Ariadne and asked to leave by Driscoll. Ariana hears Heather referred to as Lady Rathcavren, and tells the others that she thinks Heather is Brand's daughter, which Heather denies. She also blames Heather for Driscoll's injury. Ariana mentions that she found Heather and Driscoll at the center of a Pattern which seemed to be outside, at which point Ahab trumps Fiona in. Once Ariana realizes what he's doing, she tries to leave, but Felix stands between her and the door. Ahab asks Fiona about a Pattern Ariana described. She asks him what he knows about it. He tells her what he's learned from Heather and Ariana Heather and Ariana demand to be allowed to leave. Ahab leaves the room and trumps Eric. He tells Eric that there is a woman walking around who looks a lot like him, as well as a possible daughter of Brand, and asks if we wants to come through. Eric says that he'd rather not, but asks for a description of the shadow. Ariana is finally allowed to leave, and she tries to trump Sand, but is blocked. She goes back and listens at the door. Heather is making unhappy noises about being held hostage in her own house, so the others agree to leave. Heather notices that Fiona has a ring like Brand's, and asks to talk privately with her. Heather also demands that Ahab return her portrait. Ariana shifts shadow away and tries to trump Sand again. Sand pulls her through, and Ariana tells her what happened. Sand suggests putting as much distance between them and Fiona as possible. Back in Heather's shadow, Fiona reveals that Heather's mother was a shadow of her. Heather expresses unhappiness with the way she was set up by Brand. Fiona assures her that it's not her fault. Ahab and Felix return from the stables with the portrait. Fiona tells them that Heather was merely a pawn and that she should not be held responsible for what happened. Heather tells Fiona about Dworkin and the damaged Pattern. Fiona reveals that the damaged Pattern was the real Pattern, and that all the other Patterns are reflections of it. She also tells them to return to Amber and avoid being taken to any Pattern, since Amber blood can destroy it. Fiona then disappears. Ahab tries to trump Bleys, with no success. He tries Dierdre next, and gets through. He urges her to tell Corwin that now is not a good time to invade Amber, with all of the problems that are occurring with the Pattern. Dierdre tells him that it's too late, Corwin is already engaged in a sea battle. Ahab learns that several weeks have passed in Amber since he left. Ahab tries trumping Corwin and fails. He trumps Gerard and tells him what's happened. He asks him to try and arrange a ceasing of the hostilities, which Gerard agrees to do. Ahab lectures Heather about what Brand has done, and why this is more important than the current throne war. Heather offers to help, but won't commit herself to their side. Ahab is getting ready to leave, without returning the trump, when Driscoll arrives and asks what Ahab is planning to do next. As they discuss this very question, Driscoll reveals that Brand's sorcerous skills have improved a great deal recently. Ahab asks if there is anyway to counter this, and Driscoll suggests getting Bleys or Fiona's help. Ahab asks Driscoll to return with him to Amber, but Driscoll would rather not. Ahab and Felix trump back to Amber. Ahab demands that the guards take him to see Eric, but they say that Eric is too busy with the battle to talk to him. Sand tells Ariana that with the damage to the Pattern, their initial mission has been thwarted. She gives Ariana some information about Amber and Ygg, and also some tips on shadow walking. Ariana asks if there is any reason not to go to Amber, and Sand says no, but tells her to be careful, since there's no way to tell what effect the damage to the Pattern has had. She asks Ariana not to tell anyone in Amber about her. Ariana gathers up her servants and starts searching for Driscoll. Ahab heads down to the Pattern room. Felix is walking to the library to try and get another set of trump, when he hears Ariadne calling to him. She says that she's found a trump deck and she's not sure who it belongs to. Felix tells her that it's his, but she thinks it might be Ahab's. Felix borrows the trump of Ahab from her and contacts him. He tells Ahab about the confusion, and Ahab tells Ariadne that it's not his trump deck. Ariadne asks what Ahab is doing, and when he tells her, she asks to come along, since she's never seen the Pattern before. Ahab pulls the two of them through to him. They reach the Pattern room and the guards let them pass, although Ariadne's presence makes them nervous. Ahab begins walking the Pattern and notices that it feels somewhat different than before. Ariadne asks why Felix is walking the Pattern also, to which Felix replies that he doesn't need to Ariadne asks where Ahab's going, and Felix tells her that he thinks he's going to see Eric. Ahab eventually reaches the center of the Pattern and commands it to transport him to Eric. Ahab appears on the battlements and calls out to Eric, startling him. He tells Eric that this fight must be stopped. He's starting to explain why, when they hear a gasp and see Bleys falling from Kolvir. Ahab tries to trump him, but can't get through. Before Bleys disappears into the mist, they see Corwin toss Bleys his trump deck. Ahab explains to Eric what has happened to the Primal Pattern, and that the very fabric of reality is threatened. He suggests that it might be advantageous for Amber to have as many people as possible to fight Brand, which means that this battle has to stop. Eric agrees, and he orders his men to back off of Corwin. He and Ahab then force a trump contact with Corwin and Ahab explains things. Corwin has trouble believing that Fiona gave Ahab true information freely, and suspects that it might be a setup. Eventually Corwin and Eric agree to stop fighting until Benedict can be brought in. Ahab then trumps Benedict and tells him what has happened. He asks Benedict to come through and witness Corwin and Eric's oaths not to kill each other until things have been investigated. Benedict agrees and comes through, at which point Ahab notices that Benedict's right arm is missing. Ariadne asks Felix to walk the Pattern so she can follow him. Felix doesn't want to, so he tries trumping Ahab. Ahab is still explaining things to Eric at this point, so he says that he's busy. They walk to the stairs, but when they reach the beginning of them Ariadne starts crawling up the wall. Felix chases after her up the stairs, but by the time he reaches the top, she is long gone. Driscoll and Heather are left alone in her house. She asks if there's anything she can do to make things up to him, and he suggests that she stay away from Brand. She says that she's not sure that she has any control over that. He tells her that Brand hasn't been heard from in quite some time and asks her how often she saw her father. She says that she never saw him before he showed up bleeding on her doorstep, since he left when she was two years old. He asks if she noticed anything different about Brand, and she mentions the ring she saw on Fiona's finger, which matched one of her father's. Heather offers her help for anything that doesn't involve killing her father. Driscoll suggests getting more information from Ariadne. As they are leaving, Ariana arrives. Driscoll says that he owes her a debt, which makes her smile. She asks him where they are going. He says that they are looking for information. Ariana offers to come along and help. Driscoll asks if she and Heather can get along with one another. Ariana asks Driscoll what happened when he was attacked, and he confirms that Heather wasn't responsible. Ariana says that since Heather was just a clueless pawn, she can live with her presence, and the three of them ride off. Felix trumps Ahab and tells him about Ariadne's wall walking. Ahab is not happy to hear this. He tells Felix that Corwin and Eric have made a temporary truce, and that Bleys fell off of Kolvir. He then asks Felix to try and gather the remaining Amberites together for a meeting.