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Post by Admin on Sept 26, 2022 18:33:25 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/w0Rp6DX/sand~png The entrance leads into a twenty-foot-long passageway, walls of white marble carved into shapes of people and mythological animals. Some of the figures are highlighted with inlaid gold and silver. Beyond is a covered walkway that extends around the wall, pilasters holding up the roof. The rest of the space is a large garden with streams, shrubs, and trees surrounding a large central pond where lotus flowers float on the water. Peacocks wander the grounds, and birds of paradise fill the branches of the trees. The music of the songbirds is even louder in the garden. Across the pond is another opening in the wall, which overlooks a bay dotted with small islands. Brian was sure that there was no body of water in the area before he entered the Villa. Opposite him, a white divan is set beside the pond. A tall woman reclines upon it. Black is her dress; auburn is her hair. A glass of wine is in one hand, and the other is picking olives from a bowl. "King Brian, I welcome you to my home," she says. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Ah, Lords Ryland and Edward have also chosen to join us. Unlike you, Brian, they rudely brought their filthy horses into my fine garden, and no doubt tore up my plants."Edward's horse is munching on the leaves from one of the trees.
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Post by Brian on Sept 26, 2022 21:37:49 GMT
I turn to Ryland and Edward nodding for a moment before returning to our host.
"Since I was not seeking you in Shadow....and my hunch would be Ryland and Edward are of the Tuatha'de'Kolvir......I would be suspicious if they were seeking you in shadow. If they were I would imagine they might have disembarked from their steeds. You have the privilege as our host to know our name, but we do not know yours yet."
I look around "This is a most pleasant place. I am at least appreciative I can have a break from my hunt here."
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Post by Ryland on Sept 27, 2022 1:59:59 GMT
“Good Traveler.” Ryland acknowledges Brian.
Ryland slightly inclines his head toward the woman. “Lady of the Garden, you surprise me. I had not expected so beautiful a flower to find here.”
He looks back over his shoulder and then to the lady.
“Would you have us tether the mounts outside the gates or in the statue courtyard? That is assuming you are welcoming travelers?”
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Post by Edward on Sept 27, 2022 4:59:29 GMT
Edward will dismount and take the reigns, and offer to take Rylands as well.
"I do apologize My Lady. I wasn't sure what to expect."
and he will lead the horse(s) back outside and tether them up near some shade, or at the least, near grass of some sort.
within moments, he will return and give a slight bow to the Lady and the other Gentleman whom is keeping her company. As he returns to his position, he will take notes of the surroundings and décor. He murmurs under his breath..."Looks Mediterranean."
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2022 20:36:35 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/w0Rp6DX/sand~png While Edward lads the horses away, the woman shifts her head to look toward the peach-coloured sun, In that glimpse of her profile Ryland recognizes her from a portrait in the castle, a painting not often viewed by visitors or the family. She is his long-lost aunt, Sand, whom he has never met. "Why, of course, I am welcoming travellers; I wouldn't have brought you here otherwise, now would I?
"Me? I see that Ryland has figured it out - I am Princess Sand of Amber and other places, and you are welcome to my villa." she says as Edward returns to the group. "Rest," she says and chairs appear beside the three men. "Eat and drink," small tables bearing glasses of wine and plates of fruit appear. "When I saw three of my royal cousins making such haste through shadows for such unknown purposes, my curiosity compelled me to bring them to my home and have them tell me their tales."
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Post by Brian on Sept 27, 2022 20:39:14 GMT
OOC: Does Sand bare an extra resemblance to Kat?
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2022 20:52:59 GMT
OOC: not that Brian can see.
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Post by Brian on Sept 27, 2022 20:53:31 GMT
Brian thinks for a moment “ I find it interesting you knew of me and I had to scrabble for recognition when I first came to Kolvir. I wouldn't suppose someone passed tale of me onto you?”
I sip the drink slowly “A Cousin by the name of Leonil blew up the castle. King Random and his wife are dead. Gerard was apparently slain by a lady of Chaos named Vada. I brought an end to her life. However she was seeming to steal an artifact in a place called Kasba. ((OOC: or whichever the proper spelling of the place is)). In response to Edward’s comment about earth I reply “Sadly their version of Rick’s is offered by a cousin of ours.....though he doesn’t play out cards by the name of Hammett. He is currently wanted as an outlaw by the Throne of Amber. When I accused Flora of doing that to manipulate Hammett she was particularly cross with me
. There was a Cousin of ours, a son of Gerard’s, who was being used as muscle by Leonil. When he stole the artifact that Vada was seeking out. Also I think the Rebman’s were smuggling arms into the warzone....to the point the soldiers had to bring in resources to counter magic users. I had to take a medical break after that particular battle and I ended up coming to a shadow with a Giant explosion.” I go into detail describing the explosion. A person....likely a cousin named Coy is out and about causing trouble. Made me have to fight a whole riot.....He has a sister who is also accused of causing trouble.
“Oh....the storms over Amber....the bad Omen. And as I’ve traveled in shadow I see the spirit of Radical Change in the air. Kings are being undone, peoples are starving and struggling, violence, cruel and petty nobles working in greed. In Amber they are developing the Vale of Garnath into properties for the nobilitity to gain wealth. This poison has flown into my own kingdom.”
“I was seeking out Leonil....and Dorian if he was still enslaved to him to find out some answers from them. If I find what is spreading the poison in shadow, I can heal my own lands. I have a great deal of mess to clean up from these disturbances. “
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Post by Admin on Sept 27, 2022 20:53:35 GMT
OOC: You have power! Did the storm miss your city?
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Post by Brian on Sept 27, 2022 21:07:14 GMT
OOC: You have power! Did the storm miss your city? ooc: storm is coming 2nite/2morrow
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Post by Edward on Sept 28, 2022 5:08:27 GMT
Cousins, the three of us. I instinctually knew Ryland was, but this Brian chap? The family tree spreads far and wide, and thin in other places.
Edward will watch Brian for a moment before taking a sip. What kind of person is this? Is this Quality wine? Would she serve her table wine to relatives, or would she bring out the gold for relatives....
This is nice place to relax, a home away from home. Someone in the know would not allow visitors unless they had some sort of control over this realm...or dimension....or shadow. What ever they are called.
still, he sits back and listens to the three talk. He has much to learn on what is going on and needs to find out the details before making any asssumptions.
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Post by Ryland on Sept 29, 2022 3:37:06 GMT
“Aunt Sand and cousin, King Brian. It is a pleasure to meet you both.” Ryland states with a genuine smile.
Ryland samples the various fruits and wine.
“It sounds like you are on a very noble quest, King Brian,” Ryland notes after King Brian’s tale.
“For myself, it started innocently enough; I came home from traveling missing my family. I arrived after the explosion. I only stayed briefly, and now I’m working my way through shadow. I met and enlisted Edward’s help along the way.” Ryland takes a deep breath and continues.
“I’m concerned about everything going on in Amber. For a stable pillar of reality, it was a lot of change to come back to. I’m still wrapping my head around it.” Ryland sighs.
“I’m seeking information about Edmund. It is believed that he is having a rough time of it. Rather than seek him out directly, I’m trying to find out information about his troubles, so we can help him. It has been suggested that he may not be himself right now.
Ryland turns his gaze to Aunt Sand.
“I understand that there are rifts in our family older than myself and older than my father. We certainly like our secrets. I know I can’t avoid family politics, but I sure try to.
The surprise of meeting you is a good one, and I look forward to getting to know my aunt. And, as for another new cousin – they are always welcome. King Brian, we should get together after our quests. I have some skill at barbequing.”
“Aunt, I admired your garden as we came in. Did you make those statues? I’m beginning to learn that one of our many family talents is art. I went to school for drawing and painting. I’ve tried other forms, like sculpting, but I only know enough to see what great works of art you have here.” Ryland said making a sweeping gesture with his hands.
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Post by Edward on Sept 29, 2022 5:17:33 GMT
Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle comes together, but Edward couldn't help but cough a little in his wine as he heard the title "King" next to Brian. He knew they were related, but he wasn't expecting an HRH in the same room. Where were the guards? Where was the pomp and circumstance? Why weren't they all standing, and with Aunt Sand not even bothering to give the man his recognition as her liege...obviously meant he was King somewhere else.
"Sorry, the wine is good, but I must have taken a breath when I was trying to swallow."
he looks to his cup and finds his handkerchief to sop up any dribbles of wine that might have escaped the cup.
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Post by Brian on Sept 29, 2022 9:08:06 GMT
I turn to Ryland "Which version of Edmund? The Real one or the one serving the Purple? Assuming they aren't the same thing. Oh also there are a bunch of people who are....shadow versions of the family in Amber city apparently. Caught up with some sort of cult that seek to serve the needs of those on the bottom in Amber. I of course only found I was a member of the family accidentally. I had to prove I was one....I guess." I sip the wine slowly "The Chantriss Family I believe are working with the Rebman's towards some end."
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Post by Ryland on Sept 30, 2022 4:13:42 GMT
Ryland looks over at King Brian, "Let's say I have been gone for awhile and didn't know there were two of Edmund. I'm looking for the original one, and then, maybe, the other one. And, let's say, I'm seeking information on the 'purple'."
"Cults aren't exactly new in Amber. Why should this one be any different?" He muses aloud.
"Welcome to the family - Normally if there is a question, a simple walk on the Pattern proves a claim of blood. Was yours different?" Ryland nods to him.
<ooc: Do I know the Chantriss family?>
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