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Post by XuLiang on Mar 30, 2024 2:29:40 GMT
(OOC - I'm going to start using bold for what he says, and just green for what he is thinking.)
Lord Han’s eyes narrow at Cody’s outburst. I am starting to see why Flora dreads these encounters so much. I must have been a breath of fresh air. While I needed training on the finer points of etiquette, at least I had an understanding of courtly behaviour and situational appropriateness. A cold hardness creeps into Xu’s voice, “Using such words at the wrong time might cost you your head and the head of your companions. Your experience in the church should have taught you that Amber is a firework factory, and you are wandering around with a lit torch. We are attempting to keep ahead of a multi-faceted rapidly escalating problem, and you are multiplying and increasing the difficulty of dealing with it.”
At the comments about the power of the Abyss Xu sits back. A small fan appears in his hand from his sleeve and he taps his chin with it absently in thought. I would not let him near the Pattern, the risk is too great.
“The doppelganger information was for you to understand things you might hear about sightings of your mother and not give you false hope. Or to let you be a bit more discerning on what leads you follow. If you had the power of the Pattern at your disposal you would be able to pursue your heart’s desire. You would not chase a Shadow and what you found would not be a doppelganger. If your heart’s desire existed, you would find it.”
Let us see what the Regent has to say.
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2024 4:00:14 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/28Y9wNs/Calvera~jpg "Your mother fought by my side against the Hounds of Chaos in Corwin's realm. Afterwards, the Chaos Lord Jaxiam killed her," Calvera tells him. "Like Xu, I wonder why you didn't come back to Amber sooner. Deirdre would have tried to return here if she freed herself from the Abyss. Her trump cards would have brought her back or could have been used to contact one of us.
"Was Lorelei the reason for your side trip to Rebma before coming here? And why pass over the chance of coming into the castle?"OOC: I should always update page before starting to write a response and notice that there was a page break. |
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Post by Admin on Mar 30, 2024 4:19:26 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "Like Xu, I wonder why you didn't come back to Amber sooner. Deirdre would have tried to return here if she freed herself from the Abyss. Her trump cards would have brought her back or could have been used to contact one of us.
"I can't understand your reason for a side trip to Rebma. I don't understand your reason to visit the Church. You admit to having only been in Amber for a short while as a youth, so why did you feel knowledgeable enough to comment on the politics and policies of Amber? in return, you have caused a dispute between the realms at a time when further complications can not be tolerated. You abused the Bishop, who has now been put to the inquisition, and the Church has fractured further. And in this room, you spout theories about Amber, Patterns, and the Jewel of Judgement, all subjects which you know nothing about. How can we view you as anything other than an agent of chaos meant to spread discord among the populace? Why did you meet with the royalty in Rebma at the time an assassination was done in this castle, and the killer fled to Rebma?" |
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Mar 30, 2024 4:30:34 GMT
Cody looks at Lord Han and scowls, "In present company I thought that my candor would be appreciated, and I would rather that you hear it directly from me than through other channels."
"It is ironic, is it not, that the seat of order is so chaotic?"
Cody is enticed with the concept of being able to pursue his heart's desire. Sounding too good to be true.
Cody's head turn snaps to face Calvara, "How is that possible if by all other accounts she is still lost to the Abyss?!"
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Post by XuLiang on Mar 30, 2024 6:41:46 GMT
(OOC – As far as I can see I don’t see any point where he says he wonders why he didn’t come back sooner. I think that was Flora, am I missing something?)
Xu mentally shakes his head. Such behaviour in his Father’s house would have gotten him a serious beating. Such a statement in the court of the Emperor would have cost him his head. How could he make such assumptions about people he had never met before and are clearly his superiors in status and rank? He looks to Lord Calvera to gauge how he is reacting to what Cody is saying.
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Mar 30, 2024 7:47:39 GMT
<OOC> I wasn't expecting a second post. And there's a lot to unpack here. </OOC>
Cody's attention turns to Regent Floramel, "I should think that if M returned, she would come looking for me." Especially if it is so easy to find someone using the power of Pattern.
The news of an assassination should be more of a surprise but by the way things are going it appears to be de rigueur.
"I thought that I was clear and concise about my reasons for visiting the Cathedral and forthright about what transgressed. I'm not sad about the Bishop's fate but I do very much regret that my actions have fractured the Church further."
"I had a long discussion with Princess Fiona. Her asking me if I knew anyone in Amber. As a way of easing my transition. The only person with whom I have any report with is Princess Lorelei. It only made sense that I stop in Rebma first so I told Fiona as much."
Cody says with frustration, "Seriously, Princess Fiona told you nothing of her cajoling me to come to Amber? Nothing of me? Or these same theories that we had discussed? Of my intended route via Rebma?"
"Well, I can tell you now that my visit to Rebma was a huge disaster."
"I figured that my visit to Rebma would be brief and low key but we arrived in Rebma about the same time as King Brian. So all the stops were pulled out and there was a state dinner held in his honour."
"Everything was going well enough despite Queen Moire and Princess Llewella's distain for M and by proxy myself. A polite chill. It was nice at least to meet with Princess Lorelei."
"It reached the point in the festivities where everyone gets a turn at flattering the guest of honour and complimenting the hostesses and the others assembled, when a rabble rouser by the name of Lord N'Realle gets up on his soap box and rallies the assembly to rebel against Amber. There was much table thumping and precieved acceptance from the assembly."
"I was mortified that such a stand be made during a state affair!"
"His petition is that Amber abuses Rebma. His solution is to tear out Faiella-Bionin to cut off Amber's access to Rebma."
"His complaint is that the people of Amber go into Rebma 'For Sushi!' Clearly innuendo."
"I tried desperately to defuse his sentiment. Even offering to take his petition to you on his behalf so as to bridge the gap quietly and diplomatically."
"I couldn't stress the point that Amber and Rebma are allies and must stand together against any external threats."
"Everything I said to the man, he twisted back to mean something else."
"Discussing the matter with Queen Moire, Princess Llewella and Princess Lorelei privately after dinner. They said that I should not bring Lord N'Realle's petition to you and that they would deal with the matter themselves."
"I only mention this to you now because of this assassination you tell me of. That it may be one of his faction and not sanctioned by the Royal House."
Cody is agitated by the harshness of questioning but holds fast, "I spout theories as lines of enquiry. Spit-balling ideas of what may be the cause of these Pattern Storms and how we might remedy the situation."
"I'll tell you one more. On speaking with King Brian, he told me that the Black Road is emerging through the vale and causing blight. I stopped there on my way up to Amber yesterday morning from Rebma. I wanted to see it for myself. I couldn't get any insight except perhaps Corwin's curse has not been satisfied afterall."
"Lastly, my knowledge comes from a number of sources. Starting with what M instilled during my inaugural voyage to Amber. The rest comes from the Courts. Rumours and gossip in the ale halls give hints to what I may direct my attention to in the Stacks and Archives of the Libraries. Particularly in the Seminary. Aside from what is written, what are the Clergy themselves but a giant gossip mill."
"I dedicated my life to the Sheltering Coils Temple and Mission House for saving my life. Moving from Acolyte to taking vows of poverty and becoming a Monk, to enrolling in the Seminary."
"Religion concerns itself with creation. Abyss, Logrus and Pattern. Constructs of Power on which Worlds and Shadows drapped."
"I'm not so ignorant of the metaphysical."
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Post by Admin on Mar 31, 2024 5:49:02 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/j5FLskF/Florimel~jpg "There are few in Rebma with the skill to use the mirrors as they were done, Moire and Llewella among them. It was too sloppy to have be Moire, so...
"Your claim to knowledge is based on the drunken ramblings of acolytes and scribbled notes from monks who have never been anywhere near Amber or the Pattern? And you trust in what they've fantasized?
"Now we need to decide what to do with you. Walking the Pattern is the usual plan. Feel honoured that your death on the thing will allow us to say that you are not a member of the royal family and, therefore, everything you said was nonsense and not Amber's policy. An embarrassment to Moire and Llewella and may start a civil war under there when it is seen how incompetent they were to give you such honours, and N'Realle and his followers will feel that they've been played for fools with your honours and thatMoire purposely made you spout that rot about equality. Or, I could have you sent to the dungeons for assaulting a Bishop. I'm certain other punishments will come to mind as the day progresses." |
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Mar 31, 2024 7:31:46 GMT
Cody thinks about the assassination. How like the Courts.
Cody shrugs, "I learn what I can and replace the false with the true as I go along. I suspect that at least some of the information nears the truth or you would have outright laughed in my face."
"I discussed it all with Princess Fiona and she didn't mock me. At least about that."
Cody shifts in his seat, "I realize that it is a long shot, hearing that Amber Castle has been exploded with great loss of life and damage to structure, but if Princess Dierdre's Suite is even partially intact..."
"I may yet have some small proof of my identity. Clothing, journals, my few possessions I left behind."
Adjusting his sash and fidgeting with a brooch Cody ruminates on the Pattern, "Perhaps Lord Suhuy misinformed me. Maybe the powers I do possess will have no impact or consequences with the Pattern or I. It would be a gamble. That I survive and leave the Pattern intact."
"Or we're both destroyed..."
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Post by XuLiang on Apr 1, 2024 10:06:32 GMT
(OOC – How is Calvera reacting to this?)
Xu has a slight frown on his face and is clearly troubled by Cody’s declarations about his powers his fan continues to tap his goatee and he has a bit of an unfocused look to his eyes. “There could be a way to get at least an idea of the interactions of Pattern energy and his Abyss energy. Direct physical contact with an object infused with Pattern energy.” He looks at Cody and the Regent.
“From the records, Pattern weapons almost instantly felled Chaos warriors with only minor wounds. Just touching such an item might give us some insights to how he would react to contact with the Pattern itself. It isn’t without risk, but it would be a lesser risk than damage to the Pattern itself or Lord Cody. I would further suggest the test be done outside, as there have already been several explosive incidents in the castle, and we do not need another one.”
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Apr 1, 2024 21:05:25 GMT
Cody grins at Lord Han. With a laugh he says, "That's ridiculous. Will you put this task on some poor knave or are you yourself volunteering to prod me like some unspent ordinance? Who's going to stand in the blast zone with me?"
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Post by XuLiang on Apr 2, 2024 2:09:45 GMT
Lord Han's gaze is steady. ”Is it ridiculous to stress the safety of every life in the castle when a simple precaution safeguards them? And yes, I will volunteer to do it because I believe either nothing will happen, or it will cause you discomfort, perhaps burning you.”
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Apr 2, 2024 3:52:38 GMT
Still laughing Cody replies, "Fair enough."
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Post by Admin on Apr 2, 2024 4:15:25 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/28Y9wNs/Calvera~jpg "You must be listening to the wrong people. I saw what I saw, I spoke with her, and she was Deirdre. If you don't trust me and want further proof, then find Corwin's daughter Natalia. She was with us and will tell you the same story.
"How told you she was always in the Abyss? What did they gain by making you believe that?" |
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Post by Admin on Apr 2, 2024 4:23:59 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/28Y9wNs/Calvera~jpg "Corwin has such a weapon. Rinaldo has his father's now. To my knowledge, there are no others. If there are, then they've been hidden away for many years, even through the Black Road times when they would have been most useful." |
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Post by Cody D'Avalon on Apr 2, 2024 4:31:17 GMT
Cody scowls at Prince Calvara, "Good point I suppose. Princess Fiona for one. She said that I was wasting my time searching. Which I took to mean it was a lost cause in her eyes."
"Then Queen Moire and Princess Llewella appeared to share this same sentiment."
"None of them indicated that M had returned. Only implying that she was lost forever."
"I only ever thought that if she still lived, I would find her, or she would find me."
"I won't call you a liar but if I ever cross paths with Natalia I will ask her to corroborate."
"Who is to gain? I suppose whatever factions wished to keep me in the Courts?"
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