|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2023 4:35:25 GMT
Xinith pulls, and Hammett steps into some strange Ways — a cavern of shrouded ghostly forms where distance and perspective are meaningless. Demons have odd tastes in decor.
"Welcome to a little cozy corner of Lorcas Ways," the demon says.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Nov 13, 2023 16:40:17 GMT
Hammett looks around in wonder, "Wow. The descriptions you have given me in the past do not do the real thing justice." He tries to adjust himself to the altered perspectives, he knows it will take time, but he does have experience with similar situation from his own shadow and past travels.
"The Lorcas Ways. I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to visit. Thank you for having me."
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 15, 2023 3:52:49 GMT
"It's a new gig. The Big Man made an offer I couldn't refuse. Lorcas may be a minor House, but the Boss has major plans."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Nov 17, 2023 5:53:44 GMT
"Congratulations on the new job! Who is this "big man"? Anyone I would have heard of?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 17, 2023 6:13:27 GMT
"The Lord Lorcas. Maybe you met him in the past? If not, you must have drank some of the family's Nightberry wine. It's the real bonus I get by working here."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Nov 17, 2023 6:18:46 GMT
Hammett shakes his head, "No, I haven't met him, but yes, I do know the Nightberry wine. That's really good stuff. Was-" He catches himself, "-is very popular at Wormwood's, at least when I can get any in."
He looks around the room more closely, "So what is your new position entail? What's the Lord have you doing?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 21, 2023 2:49:08 GMT
"Security," he say with a laugh, a wink, and tapping the side of one of his noses. "There's been a rash of murders around the Courts for a while now. I'm here protecting Lorcas. And you know sometimes the best defense is a good offence.
"So why the urge to visit the Courts? Someone after you in Amber?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Nov 21, 2023 4:40:05 GMT
"Congrats on getting that gig! As for me, well someone always seems to be after me. As far as I know they still think I'm to blame for the explosion that killed King Random. But, no. Kasaba finally seems to be quieting down again, so I am getting Wormwood's rebuilt, but that is going to take some time, so I figured it might be a good time to finally take you up on the offer to visit and also poke around and see if Princess Coral is staying here in the Courts. Maybe get a chance to talk with her and earn some brownie points with the folks in Amber. Heck, if you need some help with your new security gig, I can try and help with that as well."
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 23, 2023 4:33:42 GMT
"That Vada was something. Did I hear that someone called Brian finished her? Some of her minions are supposedly still around making a nuisance of themselves.
"Merlin is keeping Thelbane locked up tight. No one has seen him or Coral or the rest of them in ages. Although, I've heard rumours that things aren't good between them and even that she has left the Courts and gone back to Amber.
"Lorcas may have something for you to do. At the least he will want to know about his nephew Dirk."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Nov 23, 2023 7:00:29 GMT
"Dirk is Lorcas nephew? I didn't know that. I've only met Dirk once when he came by Wormwood's back in the day. And yes, Brian of Ayalos killed Vada. I was there when he did it, although I hear her body has vanished. Probably taken by those minions of hers I suppose."
If there is a chair handy he'll take a seat and relax, "That's funny about the rumors of Carol being back in Amber, because back in Amber the rumors are that she is here in the Courts. I guess rumors are the same all over. No one knows, so they just say the most dramatic thing they can think of. How is the security job going? Any major threats you've had to deal with?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 29, 2023 5:39:12 GMT
"Yes, it was probably the minions. Odd that there would still be rumours of them. Usually, no one wants to risk being associated with a deal that has gone that bad. It makes one wonder.
"I'm inclined to believe in the rumours from this side of the divide. Not only from a misplaced sense of patriotism but also because if the story about her bearing Brand's gem is true, then this wouldn't be an amicable place for her, nor she for it. The Eye of the Serpent is also called Shadowripper, and we have fragile shadows in these parts.
"As I said, there have been numerous killings over the last while, but a few less than planned balanced by some others that were unexpected."
He refills Hammett's glass with more of the wine.
"Now that you're here, Lorcas will want to meet you. Unless you've come as an assassin? If that's the case, then I will regret having to kill you. It's the job, you understand."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Dec 2, 2023 7:06:49 GMT
Hammett nods and raises his glass in thanks for the refill before taking a drink.
"That is a good point about Princess Coral. And, no, no assassination plans here. As I said, and no offense, but I haven't heard much about Lord Lorcas and I had no idea you were now working for him when I reached out to you. Do you think he'd want to meet me? I might not be a total nobody, but I am hardly a somebody. But if you think he would, then I would be happy to make his acquaintance."
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2023 1:19:28 GMT
"I think you and Lorcas would find each other to be natural allies. Although I would dare say to him that he's hardly a somebody, even he will admit that his is not one of the great houses. Not yet."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hammett on Dec 5, 2023 1:27:39 GMT
Hammett smiles, "Well then lets go meet Lord Lorcas. And maybe you can give me a tour along the way? I've heard many tales about how strange the "Ways", is that the right word? The "Ways" are here in the Courts. Heck, most of those stories were from you and the guys."
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2023 3:47:50 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/fx2fYZC/Lorcas4~png "Lorcas hews closer to the demonic compared to most of the other Lords of Chaos. His ways are similar and unlike the more human-friendly ways of others. Step where I step and nowhere else. Speak what I speak and nothing else."Xinith leads him through rapidly changing shadowlands, both disconcerting and dangerous. As in the demon's home, these places do not follow any of the usual topologies and geometries of shadows near to Amber. The perilous journey ends in the strangest shadow yet - infinity radiates from a catseye marble. Plants and furniture distort Mercator-like throughout the space. Some of the chairs look as if he sat in them, he would slide off into other cryptic dimensions; in the rest, he would sink down, down into a singularity. Lord Lorcas is there seemingly a part of, yet also apart, from the space. He stands at a table upon which is a gameboard of white squares in greater numbers than Chess. Many different pieces are on the board. A sinuous band of green colour crosses the board closer to Lorcas than his absent opponent. "Hammett, from the other side," Xinith says before retreating into alternate space. |
|
