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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2020 14:21:19 GMT
The whiskey is improving, Calvera takes another sip.
"That was Deirdre. She was killed before Random took the Crown.
Like her I do no belong here. I was wisked away from my own affairs by forces beyond my comprehension for reasons I cannot fathom.
.
We are in the midst of the Game now. I don't know all the players, or how many moves in we are though I suspect its still the opening Gambit.
My opponents have been set back twice now. Though honestly I suspect I am only a minor piece and they move against King Random instead."
"I am Calvera Ericson of Random's Court though lately I have been in voluntary exile. I think it is time I return to the king."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 0:13:22 GMT
"I am Jaxiam of House Sawall. My brother is the King of Choas and my mother descends from Benedict of Amber. My House finds me superfluous as I have 4 older brothers. I finally tired of doing errands for my father Lord Gramble Sawall that any house demon could perform. I met Lord Corwin as I was leaving the Courts we spents some time traveling together and I was invited to visit his home in Chateau D'Ambre. Lord Corwin has been a great source of aid in exploring the reaches of shadow. I have no knowledge of the 'Game' you speak of. I have never been to Amber and know only a little of the royal family and even less the politics of the place."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 3:26:07 GMT
"If your brother is the King you know the game and you know the stakes. You even had the sense to remove your self from the board."
He takes another sip.
"Prince Corwin has never failed to tell anyone his part of it. And for all his faults he is a master story teller.
This is really quite good."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 6:01:09 GMT
Nat arches an eyebrow. "My father does tell an entertaining story." She takes a sip of the wine. "You're my cousin are you not? Uncle Eric's son." Nat sets the glass down. "I've never been to Amber. I've only seen a Trump of Uncle Random. My father did not raise me; Dara saw to that, so I also don't know of the game. I can only assume it's a political one." She makes a face as she picks up her glass and takes another drink. Nat looks at Jax. "I hate politics, but then you know that." She looks at Calvera. "Hell, it's one reason I left home and refuse to return. I refuse to be dictated to or act any other way than the way I want. How well would that go over in Amber, cousin?" She finishes her drink. "If you enjoy the whiskey you should sample the wine. It's exceedingly rare."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 6:09:18 GMT
"Glad you enjoy the drink. After hearing some of Corwin's tales I had to go find at least a copy of the 'Earth' he told me of. One of the thing I enjoyed there was a drink called Bourbon. I managed to convince a few master distillers to come work for me. They have set up a decent operation here on Remus. You are enjoying some of the first made in this shadow in thousands of years. That is the seventh year we made it here. It took a while to find a corn for the mash they were satified with and then a wood for the barrels to age it in. That has been aged 15 years. Nat is right the wine is quite good, and packs only slightly less punch than the bourbon. Care for a smoke?"
Jax opens the humidor and offers around hand rolled cigars.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 13:53:39 GMT
"This is not a political game, though some of the pieces may think so. Its an existential one.
The great powers are moving. The foundations of existence. They are choosing champions. Sifu would tell me that they always are, 'we must each of us choose the person we become and in so doing choose the universe that will become.' Our choices will have more dramatic effects more quickly durning this time. We are on the board now."
He swirls his drink in his glass.
"I also spent time on shadow earth. For some reason the sovereign wanted me to have an understanding of democracy so he sent me to university there.
Do you have a Trump for Amber? It is time I see the Leviathan."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 0:17:45 GMT
Nat listens to her cousin talk about 'The Game' but doesn't understand. She sips her wine and thinks. "I don't wish to be on the board, but it would seem like I've no choice according to you, cousin." Nat stands and starts pacing. "I've never seen Amber, let alone have a trump. I've merely been to a few shadows connected to my father's or the Courts." She looks at Jax. "Do you suppose father or Merlin would assist us? Father is always so... distant with me. Plus you have a relationship with Merlin, not me. Hell, I've encountered the half-brother at a distance or by looking at his Trump. You grew up with him."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 10:28:02 GMT
"As far as I know, Emperor Corwin has pretty much divorced himself from the politics of Amber. He seems to be focused on expanding his empire throughout all the nearby shadows. Napoleon Bonaparte would be green with envy if Corwin had let him live."
"I don't know Merlin as well as you think. He has never seen me as much more than the rebelious teen I was when he started spending most of his time in Shadow. I have interacted with him little since then. After my Logrus Madness ended I spent a few years running my fathers errands, so I only saw him a couple times briefly as he came to The Ways of Sawall for visits. After that I spent most of my time wandering in shadows. Since he was crowned there have been a few official functions and a couple family dinners. Not much personal in those.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2020 2:15:39 GMT
Calvera stands and paces back to the bar. Carefully measuring another 3 fingers of bourbon one handed. His original calm is evaporating.
"Well if you know nothing of what's happening, nor anyone who might be involved,why would the Unicorn send me to you? What did Deirdrie's ghost tell you before you destroyed her?"
--- A skilled fenser which I assume you both are may notice him measuring distances and checking the terrain.
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2020 22:26:52 GMT
Jax reaches into his desk, hits a button sounding a call to summon security, pulls out a pair of high power blaster pistols, points them at Cal's gut.
"Calvera I think it is time you sit down. I am sensing a whole lot of hostility from you right now and am not getting the feeling you have been paying attention to what Natalia or I are telling you. You are acting as if you want to attack someone. I have summoned my security forces. Once they arrive I am going to have one of them hand you a trump to a shadow of Earth. I think it is in your best interest to use it and leave this place and us in peace. The trump will take you to a shadow that lies near the Earth that Corwin spent centuries on so you should be able to make it to wherever you want to go from there. You acting like an asshole is creating a desire for me to see you dead. I am restraining myself from that base impulse. So I hope you take my gift of your life and heed my advice to do your best to learn to be more pleasant with your next hosts. They might not be so forgiving and may just shoot you and be done with it."
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2020 22:40:37 GMT
Natalia moves to stand behind Jax, withdrawing her own guns. She doesn't point them at Calvera, just holds them. "To answer your questions, before you leave, I have no idea why the Unicorn would send you to us. Maybe so you could learn some manners? As for what the ghost said to us before it disintegrated, you were standing right there. It said nothing after we arrived here. In fact its last words were to you. Telling you to get out of Tir. Which we did for you. Now you stand there, in his home, accusing us of deception and acting hostile?" She arches an eyebrow. "Next time I would recommend you pay attention to the things you are told and work on your manners for when you visit those not under your rule."
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2020 2:55:51 GMT
--- Guns drawn. Death threats. But an offer for shadow earth...
Calvera holds very still when the guns get drawn. But finishes pouring his bourbon.
Carefully he walks back to his chair and sits down. "Shadow earth will be fine. Thank you."
His body is still, a very alert stillness. His breathing slows and becomes deep and regular.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2020 10:05:56 GMT
A dozen large bipedal humanoids who look like human tiger hybrids file into the room. They appear to range from 7 to 8 feet tall and are probably three to four hundred pounds. It is a bit hard to get exacting sizes due to the bulky suits of powered armor each is wearing. They all carry very wicked looking blaster rifles in addition to heavy pistols at thier belts and what you might guess to be sets of spring blades on the forearms of thier armor. Their weapons are trained on both visitors until a subtle nod from Jax causes them to focus on Cal. The apparent leader approaces Jax once he sees his master motion to approach with his head.
"Calvera I have no clue why you choose to disdain the hospitality I offered here. I truly never harbored a shred of hostility towards you, having just met you and never hearing of you before. Perhaps someday we will know what we could have offered the other had things gone differently. Take the card, trump out, go and seek your fortunes elsewhere. I bid you to darken my door no more. If you are thinking of grabbing the captain, these soldiers are likely to suprise you in both thier strength and agility. Also the weapons are useless to you each weapon is DNA coded to only be usuable by the soldier holding it, so they would be only a club in your hands."
"Captain Sabadon take this card and give it to the gentleman seated there. Be extremely cautious he is dangerous in a way you haven't faced before. I would hate for the lady, myself, and the rest of this detachment have to shoot you to take him down because he overpowered you."
Jax hands the promised trump of Shadow Earth to the captain who takes it by a corner and then cautiously approaches Cal. Keeping at arms distance and out of the field of fire he offers the card to Calvera.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2020 12:57:57 GMT
Calvera looks at the card then at his drink which is still mostly full. His left hand is wrapped against his chest. He gives the fingers a tentive wiggle then reluctantantly sets the drink down on the arm of the chair.
He takes the card and trumps out with out a word or a glance.
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Post by Admin on May 6, 2020 7:37:51 GMT
Calvera vanishes with a stretching, crackling sound then Natalia and Jaxiam are left with the guards.
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