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Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2023 22:25:20 GMT
OOC: Eivor can return to her thread from before.
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Post by Admin on Mar 27, 2023 1:04:23 GMT
The cousins part, heading in opposite directions down the path. Ryland finds the way becoming even darker, if possible. Eventually, even the ghosts refuse to continue further down this cold black way.
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Post by Ryland on Mar 28, 2023 3:26:36 GMT
Ryland will slow down his pace and go more defensive. He will walk for a short time, stop, look around, and listen. He wants to take in this part of Arden. As he thinks about it, it makes sense that Arden has dark parts. He wonders why he has never found them before.
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2023 2:56:03 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/7rx8bHX/wolf2~jpg The forest is dark. Almost too dark to see, and shadow shifting along his chosen trail is slow. Eyes appear from the darkness, green and amber pairs—the soft growling of wolves. Ryland feels more than sees the clearing he walks into. The place is lit only by ethereal ghost light. Ahead is a mound of rock or something still cloaked in shadow. "Son of Bleys, you have wandered far down the paths of darkness," Julian says from the top of the mound, his voice colder than the night air. "Have you been following the scent of my newest hellhound?"Ryland sees Edmund in the shadows, on all fours, collared, and the leash rising into Julian's left hand.
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Post by Ryland on Mar 29, 2023 4:36:15 GMT
“Hello, Uncle,” Ryland answers and then turns his attention to Edmund.
“I’ve been looking for Edmund. What happened to him, and how can I help?” Ryland questions while trying to keep his temper in check at seeing his family treated this way.
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Post by Admin on Apr 2, 2023 2:05:30 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/n1Gnsps/Julian~jpg "You have found him. Why do you assume I need assistance in training my animals?"
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Post by Ryland on Apr 4, 2023 0:12:25 GMT
“Uncle, you have always been a right, proper prick. And I respect that.” Ryland states hotly with sincerity.
“I’m sure you need to be while guarding the forests of Amber. But, I’ll not have you treating my cousin like a dog.
You elders get upset when we apologize. Telling us that Amberites don’t apologize, then you treat him like a dog! No. I won’t have it.”
Ryland says, waving at Edmund.
“I’m sure he got himself into trouble somehow. We, Amberites, are good at that.
My generation still like each other, for the most part. We have, um, forever to learn the cynical outlook of your generation. And, until then, we will help each other.
And Uncle, consider that my generation will not grow up isolated like yours. We have all of the Courts, and demons for enemies, without only our kin to stand by our sides.
So, I ask again. Do you know what ails Edmund so I can help him? Or, take him somewhere to heal.” Ryland asks, hoping but moving his hands to his weapons, just in case.
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Post by Admin on Apr 4, 2023 5:58:31 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/7rx8bHX/wolf2~jpg Ryland can feel Julian's eyes bore into him, even in the darkness where he can't see his uncle's eyes. The hellhounds begin to growl. Somewhere out in the darkness, a falcon shrieks. Julian speaks in his slow, cold, almost impeded-sounding way. "Boy, you may call him cousin, but he is my son. My child to treat and train as I please. Your compassion is misdirected - he is why you lost the war in Eshanta. Blame him for the loss of my daughter and Princess Katrina."
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Post by Ryland on Apr 7, 2023 4:50:34 GMT
“I just passed Eivor on the path not an hour ago,” Ryland replies, confused.
The fire dies from his eyes at hearing that some of his cousins fell at the battle.
“Uncle, I’m completely out of my league on how to deal with what you are going through now, and I’ll not presume further.
I wasn’t happy about losing that battle. I didn’t see Edmund on the field.
Will the bodies be interned in Amber? I would be there for the service if I haven’t already missed it.”
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Post by Admin on Apr 10, 2023 1:50:11 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/7rx8bHX/wolf2~jpg "Eivor lives?" Julian asks rhetorically and seems to be impressed, slightly breaking his usual coldness. "Edmund was there and made sure you would lose the battle.""There are greater problems-" Edmund whines before Julian pulls hard on the lead. "You see? He admits to his crime.
"The Princess's bones must lay mingled with those of her own people. Which others did not return from the war?"
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Post by Ryland on Apr 10, 2023 5:37:45 GMT
“Oh yes, Uncle, she lives. She isn’t someone that could be mistaken.
I missed the end of the war. I was going after Leonil, and he teleported me away. I didn’t return to the war and followed Edmund here. I came upon the army; briefly, they had retreated, I didn’t hear of anyone dying, and I don’t think the army knows of anyone being lost. They only kept track of who was with them, those that didn’t leave.
My thought was to return to Amber for more news. However, I would look favorably upon any information you have.
I came in during the middle of whatever is going on, I’ve yet to get my feet."
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Post by Admin on Apr 10, 2023 6:28:10 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/7rx8bHX/wolf2~jpg "Edward and that new one, Xu Liang, survived, you say? I guess you all made out better than expected, all things considered. Who else is left? Brian, how was he?"
"We all assumed we knew what was going on, and then the Black Road showed that we didn't. My siblings still don't fully understand the changes in the ordering of things. Had Random known, he would never have let Leonil get so close.
"Did Dorian make an appearance?"
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Post by Ryland on Apr 11, 2023 3:52:49 GMT
“Yes, Uncle, Edward, and Xu Liang survived. Brian left early to attack the castle with Katerina – I do not know of either fate.
Um, of interest, Uncle, is that there were two Kat’s. The one on the demon’s side was clearly out of her mind.
It appears everyone was fighting over a ‘Construct’. Something made of mirrors. They kept using the word Construct as if it had great meaning.
The demons we fought against weren’t what we were expecting. One of my next priorities will be to learn about Demons, A demon general named Malificious, A demon named Agna, Lady of the Forth Pit. And to figure out what magic was used against us. The Demons were under House Jesby. And, late in the battle Malificious killed the second Kat.
Leonil was looking for someone named Hammet. He wanted his head. Leonil was burnt and broken to the point that he couldn’t walk and was carried in a palanquin.
I didn’t see Dorian."
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Post by Admin on Apr 12, 2023 5:46:44 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/7rx8bHX/wolf2~jpg "Constructs are all the rage these days. Merlin got the ball rolling with his Ghostwheel think and now most everyone wants to build one of their own. The fad will pass, they always do. Experts say 80% of these constructs fail in the first three years, either implode under the stress of their power or go insane and need to be put down. Random always looked like he was going off and destroying the things on the weekends.
"If you got mirrors, then you got doppelgangers. I'm surprised the girl lasted as long as she did.
"Jesby is a powerful house. Eivor is a child of it and you say she fought against them? Strange. I didn't see that as something she would do. My Amberness must have rubbed off on her . Avoid Malficious, and know that Agna is a deadly foe.
"Other than Eivor, the best news you have brought is that the conspirators Hammett and Leonil are at odds. It will be a nice break for us if they can end each other before more of us get killed."
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Post by Ryland on Apr 13, 2023 4:13:11 GMT
“Uncle, I understand the desire for power. It is also easy to cut corners. As you said, we are still trying to figure things out, all of us. I can’t fault family for grabbing power. I’m not happy he worked against us, but I’m sure you are handling that.
I feel that I have intruded on your family time enough. I will heed your warnings.
May I note one last thing?
There may come a time when my cousin needs something else; to be around those of his generation. I know that I need to be around the others some. I find myself coming home more and more to see them. And to meet the new ones.
When Edmund is ready for that, you would be doing me a favor by contacting me. As I said, I find I need to be around the others of my generation. Edmund and I had a lot of good times in Arden and other places.
Fair warning, I may punch him in the face for being against us in that battle. But I only suffered wounds to my pride, so I don’t have any more of a grudge than that.”
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