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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 3, 2023 22:57:03 GMT
"Aye, no one can know the turning of the worm." Eugenia stifles a yawn as the adrenaline of the long journey drains away. "I'll leave you to your skulking." She strolls back to the crew who are also starting to fade.
To Cody, "The Henchmen Guild may have the same dress code but this guy has an actual face under the brim of his hat." She smirks.
"So what's his deal?"
Eugenia drapes her arms around Cody's shoulders, mostly to keep herself upright. "Basically, he says the Scotch here is sub-par..."
"Oh, and he wants you to stop wasting time and to get yourself to Amber."
Cody looks at his crew and notices the bags under their eyes and realizes how hard they've all been pushing themselves. "Alright, let's pack it in." He signals the rest of the crew. "Square things up and let's go."
Deeks is the only one with local currency, so he covers the tab. Cody (over)compensates him with some precious jems he's gathered.
Together, they troop back to the palace. Cody gives the trench-coated fellow a nod on the way out. Returning to their suite, they all head to their beds.
TBC...
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 5, 2023 1:27:57 GMT
<OOC> I was going to do something else but I've run out of steam. Ball's in your court. </OOC>
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Post by Admin on Dec 5, 2023 3:01:54 GMT
They find the castle to be just as busy at night as it was during the day if things like night and day have any meaning in this city.
They are awakened the following day by the sound of trumpets blowing from the courtyard below. A sergeant or someone begins to bellow orders, and they hear marching.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 5, 2023 8:56:18 GMT
<OOC> This is what I had in mind for the TBC - Hope it doesn't throw too much of a monkey wrench into your nefarious plans. </OOC>
As the din in the courtyard awakens most of the crew, a very bag-eyed Reggie quietly re-enters the suite.
Groggily Eugenia asks, "Baby brother, where have you been to be sneaking back in like this?" She gives an accusing look to her brother with a wink to insinuate that he had found illicit companionship overnight.
Cody's attention is split between the courtyard and the common room.
With a strained voice Reggie says, "I did what needed to be done."
"That's cryptic. Care to elaborate?" Jessup enquires.
"I couldn't sleep without checking on the Puffer. Turns out it has - erm had - scared off the local fauna and was threatening the farm stock. Not surprising really." Reggie says with tears in his eyes. "quiet a few folks were getting up at arms saying that something had to be done. So I did."
"You did what, Reggie!?" Cody says, starting to bristle.
"The humane thing. What I knew and didn't tell you all along." Reggie says, puffing himself up to face Cody. "She's too big and too hungry to stay in Rebma, and she's too beaten up to take back out to one of your Shadows any time soon."
"Back at Station the Puffers are all in bad shape 'cause of what-ever is happening with your peoples' powers messing up the environment. Star storms are cooking the Puffers in orbits and sea storms are bashing them Green-Side."
"The only reason Council allowed us to take such a large breeder's clutch is because they wanted some of the Puffers back when the environment settles back down. On my suggestion, they've sent breeder's clutches to a few different systems throughout the Flux to ensure the survival of the species."
"But, it's cruel to keep Mother Puffer in one place without enough daylight to supplement her diet." <OOC> Yes, Adult Puffers also photosynthesize and need to migrate between planets to survive. </OOC>
"Go on..." Cody snarls as Deeks looks on with concern and Jessup comes up behind Cody to hold Cody's shoulders.
Reggie says, "Anyway, I knew this was Mother Puffer's last trip. I was just hoping that she wasn't going to be a neuscence so soon, but she was. So I spent all night securing the hatchlings in farm pens. So they won't be a threat to the local ecology for years. Hopefully they'll mature after your people sort out the powers. Some will be able to stay in your Golden Circle and we can return some to Station."
"Instead of letting the locals go all pitchforks and torches, I severed Mother Puffer's brain stem and extanguinated her humanely. They'll take care of the butchering and that'll keep the locals fed for a good while. Even the barrels of blood we collected from Mother Puffer will keep the Hatchlings fed for months."
"But she was a gift! You can't take back a gift!" Cody seethes.
Jessup interceeds, "This is a gift, Cody. What you might call a diplomatic coup for you too. Eat some humble pie for the witch queen by saying you misjudged the impact that the Puffer would have on the local fauna, economy, etcetera. That Reggie and Eugenia will remain in Rebma with the hatchlings and make sure they are kept in check and can be moved afield when the time is right. Trained, and so on..."
"In the meantime, get yer arse up to Amber and do whatever it is you can do to fix things."
"No pressure."
Eugenia adds, "This way, Reggie gets to stay in Rebma instead of herding the Puffer back out of town. He can study the local Ichthyological stuff that makes his heart go pitter-pat and I can check out the local magic school."
Not to be left out Deeks adds, "I'll get us signed on with the local Musician's Guild so we have a side gig. And otherwise work with Reggie in the fishery."
"And you're coming with me to Amber?" Cody asks Jessup.
"Yes" Jessup answers and kisses Cody on his neck.
"Alrighty, then..."
"Reggie, hit the rack. Good job I guess. I just wish you let me in on your plan a little sooner." Cody sighs. "Now, let's get some breakfast and find out what all the hullabaloo is outside." Cody's stomach turns a bit with the notion. "I hope lord unreal isn't launching an attack on Amber. That's going to make things a little awkward squeezing past the Faiella-Bionin demolition crew on our way up."
Cody isn't used to life in a palace and hopes maybe this is just a regular bit of pomp and ceremony. Changing of the guard type routine and nothing serious.
The crew gets cleaned up and dressed for the day and heads to the dining hall for breakfast.
Along the way, Deeks stops a servant. "Pardon me. We were wondering about the military maneuvers happening outside?"
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Post by Admin on Dec 7, 2023 5:48:57 GMT
When he looked out at the castle guard, he saw other people looking down from the windows as well. It seems to be one of the usual surprise training orders. Coincidence?
The dining hall is mostly empty. The people there eat quickly and then rush back to their duties.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 8, 2023 4:55:25 GMT
Sitting down for breakfast Cody drafts a letter in the most florid and eloquent language that he can muster:
Therein apologizing for his hubris and explaining that although the large Puffer had to be sacrificed, the hatchlings are the true gift to the realm. And to please accommodate his friends for as long as they wish to remain. Promising that they will be good and free citizens contributing to society. To accept Eugenia into apprenticeship with the Mages to assess her aptitude for Mirror Wright and/or related magics. Reggie and Deeks into the Fishery Guild and all into the Musician's Guild.
Cody continues by thanking Rebma for their hospitality, and excusing himself and Captain Jessup as they continue on to Amber.
All the time Cody spent in Seminary copying scripture and writing sermons is paying off with excellent penmanship. Although he does have to stop once in a while to translate some phrases from Deamon into Thari before continuing.
After a couple of rough drafts, Cody shows the letter to Jessup to read through. She passes the letter around to the other crew members for input, errors and omissions before handing it back to Cody.
"You bake a fine humble pie Lord Cody." Jessup says and the others chuckle.
Eugenia adds, "If it doesn't put you into her good graces, it will at least move you out of her bad ones..."
Cody sets down the final version and makes copies. Addressing them to Her Royal Highness Queen Moire, with copies to Princess Llewella, and Princess Lorelei.
With breakfast done and letters written, Cody and crew share goodbyes.
Cody entrusts the letters to a squire to deliver. He and Jessup collect their belongings from their suite and make their way to Faiella-Bionin to begin their long climb from the depths to the mountain.
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Post by Admin on Dec 10, 2023 7:03:57 GMT
Up the watery stairs, through the smoky, rainy woods past lumberjacks and labourers clearcutting Garnath, past the city gate, then up the side of the mountain. The city looks the same and quite different from what he remembers. The monuments to Eric and Oberon are new along with the under construction ones for Random, Caine, and Gerard. The castle is the same aside from walls of new ivy-free stone.
The guards at the gates stop them.
"Names and reason for entering the castle," they're asked.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 11, 2023 4:01:00 GMT
<OOC> I didn't realize that the route to Castle Amber would take Cody and Jessup through Garnath. </OOC>
Cody and Jessup are wearing hooded Monk's Habits over their turquoise coloured Arachniform Silk wetsuits to keep themselves warm and dry in the chilly wet weather plaguing the region. Hopefully the Habits will help them blend in with the locals.
Looking around the man-wrought devastation in Garnath, Cody shakes his head in disbelief. To Jessup, "It's all good and well as a make-work project I suppose, but I doubt it has any effect on pushing back the Black Road. If that's actually what all this is."
Trying to gauge how much of the oppressive atmosphere is just from the weather and to confirm or deny the existence of the Black Road re-emergence Cody pulls Jessup off the beaten path for a minute. Double checking that there aren't any other people nearby. There's a sense of familiarity but it's just an uncertain memory.
"If the Pattern is truly weakened in this area, I should be able to open a rift. Maybe even feel out the parameters of the Road." Cody says. He then proceeds to attempt to open a small rift into the Abyss. No larger than his head. Like holding a football in front of his face between his hands.
If successful, Cody will reach an arm into the Rift and project out of it a beam of anti-energy to act as a feeler. Carefully feeling the ground and air around himself to test between 'normal' and Black Road ground. Like taking a long stick to feel the depths of a bog.
Depending on his success or failure, Cody will take the data collected and report them to the Regent.
Since Cody had been cloistered in his M-unit's suite in the Castle the last time he was in Amber, there is very little that is familiar to him as he and Jessup walk up the mountain.
Coming at last to the Castle Gate Cody and Jessup pull back the hoods of their habits, "Captain Christina Jessup and Lord Cody D'Avalon. Summoned by Princess Fiona to make introduction to Regent Princess Florimel."
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Post by Admin on Dec 16, 2023 3:41:42 GMT
(OOC: I've seen maps where Rebma is off the coast of Garnath, others where it's on the other side. I don't think RZ was consistent in his descriptions or readers didn't get the full info. Maybe I should put a map up but the details are not so important. At least, I don't think that they are. Not yet, anyway.)
Cody has not luck trying to break through Amber and into the Abyss.
There is a steady stream of people going into and out of the castle. The two guards stop a few of them, ask a few questions, then let them in or tell them to screw off. They are unimpressed by Cody's introduction.
"Izzat so? You better be telling the truth 'cause the princess don't like her name being bandied about. What did you say you are the lord of?"
The guard takes off a gauntlet, puts two fingers in his mouth a whistles. Another guard from inside the castle comes out and they have a terse whispered conversation. The inside guard goes back inside the castle. A few minutes later a woman comes out and there is another whispered conversation with her pointing and gesturing towards Cody.
"Alright Lord Cody, you've been grated the privilege to enter the castle," the guard says "But the captain hasn't."
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 16, 2023 4:32:48 GMT
Cody and Jessup roll their eyes at the reception they are receiving.
Jessup scoffs, "Lord of what?! This is Princess Dierdre's son!
"We enter the castle together or we leave together. You can explain your inhospitable attitude to Princess Fiona, who requested my attendance here." Cody says and turns to walk away.
"Maybe we can catch up with Lord N'Realle when we get back to Rebma..." Jessup jokes as she follows.
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Post by Admin on Dec 19, 2023 5:22:04 GMT
"It is unwise to refuse the Regent's invitation," one of the guards says to Cody's back.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 19, 2023 5:29:43 GMT
"It's unwise to refuse entrance to a lady needing shelter from this miserable weather. Especially when the lady is particularly important to this Lord." Cody says over his shoulder as Jessup takes his arm.
"Let's go check out Saint King Brian's miracle."
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Post by Admin on Dec 21, 2023 8:25:36 GMT
The Cathedral of the Unicorn looks understaffed but those in the emerald robes are packing some serious weaponry. In the great entrance hall is a huge white marble unicorn rampant with her horn pointing to the floor in front of her. There is a red stain on the marble floor and it does look kind of like the Unicorn from certain angles, just like some people see the Unicorn burned into toast and unicorn-shaped potato chips.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Dec 21, 2023 22:15:42 GMT
Cody, as a Seminarian in Serpent faith, has studied comparative religion. His long held vehemence directed at the Unicorn has been tempered during his time in Seminary.
Cody spent his formative years in a Matriarchal society so it was natural for Cody to be drawn to a small but devout branch of the Serpentine faith which venerates the first Woman. The Serpent's Bride and All-Mother, Lilith.
All scriptural mention of the All-Mother ends around the time of the first appearance of the Unicorn.
Where proof is lacking faith takes hold. Cody concluded that Lilith is, or became the Unicorn.
Blessed All-Mother the Damnedable Unicorn...
Rather than screaming blasphemies and vandalizing the Cathedral as he would have at the time of Patternfall, Cody takes ahold of his inner turmoil and projects a somber reverence.
Arm in arm Jessup and Cody enter the Cathedral and slowly stroll around. They draw back their hoods and observe all of the enshrined relics and artifacts.
Following Cody's lead, Jessup bows and/or nods as appropriate in the various stations of the Cathedral. Lighting candles as well as making all of the other appropriate jestures as they stroll through and slowly circle back towards the statue.
During this slow and meditative walk, Cody shifts his eyes to allow himself to see a much broader spectrum. Wanting to fill his eyes with more than normal vision of Saint King Brian's miracle.
They circle the statue a holy number of times in the appropriate direction and then come to kneel before it.
Is the blood warmer or cooler than the ambient temperature of the floor?
Is there an ultraviolet glow?
What can be seen beyond normal vision?
It is a sign: Where does it point?
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Post by Admin on Dec 31, 2023 2:05:44 GMT
[OOC: I'm unsure what you're getting at with this super-vision. There is no super sight except with some type of magic.]
The horn of the blood unicorn points out past Kolvir into the land's interior. Where exactly, Cody doesn't know; he's never been around this place other than the brief visit with Deirdre.
The guards hiss as Cody makes his rounds.
"Those are the ways of the heretics, strangers," one says. "Follow the correct way of worship or face the Unicorn's Horn."
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