The Avatar of the Pattern


Present - None

When Finndo (The Goblin King) destroyed the Orb, the higher functions of Pattern ceased to exist, as did Nimue. Her spirit was released into the void.


Past - Nimue Barimen

Nimue did not arrive at her role by chance; it was a finely choreographed play by Prince Brand and Jack o' the Willows. The Pattern was without an Avatar, as the Serpent and the Unicorn had both been mortally wounded in combat - a malady of weakness Brand did not wish to see repeated with the next Avatar. This was the basis of his plan. Not wanting to trust the Pattern's own choice of a replacement, Brand cast about him for his own possibilities. That it would be a Pattern Childe was a given, but which one? He needed one old enough, as he did not wish to repeat the mistakes he had made with the Star. That left him Ahab's daughter Nimue, or Laughter's son, Haris. Which would be more malleable? He wasn't sure, but instinct pushed him away from the level-headed Haris and toward the hot-headed Nimue.

Once his choice was made, he had to work on mechanics, and for that he needed Jack's help (which was merrily given). That his favorite tool of old, the assassin, Vixen, would become his willing tool of choice for this project as well was a pleasant surprise for him. Vixen, unwittingly, delivered Nimue into his hands. Two curses were laid on the Princess by a Faerie Lord. The first was a simple wasting disease, a curse easily corrected by walking the Pattern. The second was far more insidious, and carefully hidden - should Nimue walk the Pattern, she would die. Nimue did walk the Pattern, and since the Pattern could not bear to lose one of its precious Children, it pulled Nimue into itself, as Brand knew it would.

This accomplished both of Brand's goals: the Pattern had its Avatar (of his choosing); and this Avatar had no physical form, she could never be mortally wounded and would reign as Avatar forever...

Powers

Like the Avatar of Logrus, Nimue had all of the known Pattern abilities, and most likely, powers well beyond those...


Past - The Unicorn


OF Unicorn
"Outrageous Fortune"
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Text and artwork © Wendi Strang-Frost, 1999, unless otherwise noted.
This page was last updated on July 30, 1999.