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Post by Brian on Sept 29, 2020 9:59:51 GMT
Brian laughs at that.He then offers her his arm.
"Where I am from originally it is often the way of things that men of power hide." He smirks a bit. " The King walking among his troops, The prince or princess as a commoner to play...." He smiles " I've also been under the Employ of Kings and Warlords. And my wife is a Queen in her own right. Kings and Warlords have far more in common with brawlers. And my wife's intent was I went to the Castle to handle business. Best I handle that before guiding you through a War Zone. And since I have my own business there.....I might as well ask questions for you."
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Post by Admin on Oct 3, 2020 5:38:45 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg She stares silently at him for a minute. "It seems that you are a man who doesn't listen to reason once his mind is made; I pity that wife you mentioned. We will go to the castle, but if the Antelope leaves without us, I will take the cost of passage on another ship out of your pay."She takes his arm and lets him lead her from the restaurant. |
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Post by Brian on Oct 3, 2020 9:39:14 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/6cQWm9m/Shelly~jpg She stares silently at him for a minute. "It seems that you are a man who doesn't listen to reason once his mind is made; I pity that wife you mentioned. We will go to the castle, but if the Antelope leaves without us, I will take the cost of passage on another ship out of your pay."She takes his arm and lets him lead her from the restaurant.
Brian looks at her curiously as he leads her from the Bar
"Oh, yes payment. How does that work? I probably should have asked you that earlier." He has a chuckle at that."As you said the ship leaves in the morning....I have no intention of making you late dear lady."
Brian walks with her from the restaurant. As they do he changes his attire. The armor transforms. It takes on the form of armor that seems more of a style comparable to that of the people and aesthetic of Amber. Its however strongly Gaelic in its influence. Prominent in the armor is the Triple Spiral pattern of the Morrigan. To any who would see the armor it would clearly be of a style and quality of a higher status person. But to those who have fought in wars or battles the most striking thing of it would be that it had a high quality for battle.
As they walk Brian tells her of Ayalos and its kingdoms and empires that are by law and tradition his subordinates. He also tells her about his wife 'Annie'. He doesn't tell her WHAT she is. But gives her a good enough sense of the type of woman she is and character. He also tells her about an Empress who he met in a bar by the name of Tion. She was not an Empress at the time but she later became one. And he speaks to Lady Shelly of how she came to him in a bad in a not dissimilar manner of distress to the one she came to him in.
His plan is simple enough. Talk to a guard and convince him to speak to the right sort of person in the Castle. Speak to them about Lady Shelly's issue as well as his own. Though they may be very different qualities of problems.
He approaches a guard and he speaks to him in a practiced Formality. Before Brian became a King by his own hand he did service for Kings and nobles and is practiced in certain levels of courtly decorum.
"Good day. I am Ard-Rí Brian de Ayalos agus a 4 ghealach. ((OOC: High King Brian of Ayalos and its 4 moons)). I have the pleasure of being escorted by and escorting Lady Shelly D'Avoine. I have business within the Palace. Unfortunately as I am doing a favor for Lady Shelly I am not able to more formally arrange a meeting and we are on something of a time crunch. I was wondering if we could speak with some one in a senior office in the Palace appropriate to our stations and our needs?"
He cracks his neck and shoulders and stands with a very strong and firm posture.
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Post by Admin on Oct 5, 2020 4:15:52 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/Vx4phpf/81836de7507b22b66bdb7cb68e9c9832-roger-zelazny-ambre~jpg "Sure, Mac, you're the king of Ayalos just dropping by for a visit and I'm Prince Benedict." one guard says. "Yeah, yeah," another says giggling, "Out on a stroll in Aloyscious and found yerself here and wanted a spot of tea with Princess Flora?"A third guard adds: "Ayalos is far away, friend, the king would have sent envoys and diplomats and servants to prepare for his arrival. Your pathetic attempt to fool us would have been better served had you had paid a poor sailor to come here first claiming to be your vizier."The guards are about to give Brian the bum's rush when a woman's voice piped up from behind them. "Shelly? Shelly d'Avoine, is that you!?"The guards stand back and at attention as a short red-haired woman approaches. "It must be! Dorian has told me so much about you that I recognized you immediately.
"And this must be King Brian of Ayalos. I'm sure the guards told him about the proper protocol for when a king visits another realm."She takes Shelly by the arm and leads her into the castle. Over her shoulder, she says: "Don't just stand there, Brian. You are Lady d'Avoine's guarding, so follow along and let's have no shirking of your duties."She laughs at her joke and continues down the hall in an animated discussion with Shelly. |
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Post by Brian on Oct 5, 2020 11:13:28 GMT
Brian smirked at the guards and gave them a proper nod and salute before he joined Shelly and the red haired woman.
At an appropriate pause in the conversation between the two women he whispered to Shelly " And what happens here in the castle is how you pay me back for joining your adventure."
He seems to study the woman in red intently between checking out the security of the castle while they walk. Thoughtfully he also pays attention to any art objects on the wall showcasing the family in Amber.
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Post by Admin on Oct 7, 2020 4:11:56 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/sbWWQDT/Fiona~jpg He quickly learns that the redhead in Princess Fiona. She seems genuinely happy to have Shelly in the castle and talks to her like an old friend. He finds the castle to be well guarded. Every tactical location that Brian can see has many soldiers present. All are armoured and well equipped with weapons. The walls are covered in trophies from past wars; gifts from visiting dignitaries are also displayed on shelves or in display cases. Many portraits are of the royal family; most of the people depicted Brian knows of but a few others are unknown. "Oh, and how do you think I am to do that?" Shelly replies. "Do you suppose I have some magical pull among these princes and princesses? I'm a mere provincial aristocrat not known to any of them. What fortune we had in Dorian's telling his aunt his big secret and having her near the door to greet us!""You have been fortunate," Fiona agrees, " to have dragged Brian away from his wasted life in the low parts of the city and get him a job as a lady's attendant. You'd be surprised how often a foreign royal comes into the city then gets sucked into a life of crime among the lower orders of the citizenry."Then to Brian: "You are now a respected member of society and fit to be housed in the servants' quarters. Sadly you won't have time to see your new digs as first you'll need a long wash, then fitting for proper livery, then both of you will need to get down to the docks before your ship sails." |
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Post by Brian on Oct 7, 2020 10:45:43 GMT
Brian smiles a bit at Shelly but says nothing to her. He gives her a look signifying he would explain more to her later.
"I know we have a quick clock to run on." He smiles to Fiona. "But there are two matters that need to be attended to." As Brian says that his armor returns to a more typical form for him.
"Lady Shelly advised me Lord Dorian was last seen in the Castle in the aftermath of the events following the unfortunate tragedy with King Random. She is of a mind he went to the site of her to be Father in law's death. This castle is large and by reputation contains many mysteries. I would like to avail myself of proper intelligence on what happened before he left. Were there any within the walls of the castle who would wish to do him ill...." He looks Fiona in the eyes firmly but just slightly off center. "Standard matters of that nature. If I am to aid her and help her find her husband I need as much information as I can be provided and quickly. Part of me would like to leave Lady Shelly in your care here so I can work unconcerned for her safety." He has a smirk on his face "But I doubt she is the type of woman who would listen to such sense."
His tone changes as he speaks to Fiona. This tone is not affable and warm, this tone is firm and a little bit cold.
"And if you think or believe I was down there falling into a life of crime I am supremely disappointed in you and in the lot of you." He says to Fiona. "I could get into discussions of the things you can learn by being in a persons Kingdom Incognito but again I am not sure I believe you were foolish to honestly believe the words you just spoke. " He cracks his joints a bit. "To be frank. My blood goes back to this Castle. This is a matter that is known to me. Both through experiential knowledge and through council of some one who expanded upon that knowledge.How my blood came from this castle is not known to me. What I know of this family comes to me second and third hand and in hushed whispers. My lady wife advised me I needed to seek my family out." As he says the word Family it almost comes out frigid from his lips. "I have never been one to ignore the wise counsel of my lady wife. So I took a long jaunt to get here. I might have words for my lady wife with her sending me here and a King being dead, a Prince being dead, another prince lost seeking to avail himself in vengance in the warzone where his father was lost." He turned back to Shelly and in a adequate half remembered sam Spade Humphrey Bogart Expression. His tone changes again "And a dame walks into the bar where I am all full of courage." He turns his attention back to Fiona "My dear Annie sending me here in times such as these may be her way. But she once told me one of the secrets of Immortality is to claim credit for serendipitous events. And me being lead back here in times such as this is also the way of this family....our family....So I have been told. SO even if she did not send me here on purpose she would likely claim so as it would please her. "
The coldness leaves him now and he addresses Fiona more in his normal tone albeit a bit more firm and formal. "So. I came here to find out how the series of events that robbed me of my old life came to be from this place and this household. Given I am taking Shelly into a warzone to find her husband and our kinsman I can be as liberal in my seeking him out as my mind suggests. And that liberality could see to it that I assist you with your war. In exchange for being that Liberally minded I would like you to assist me in finding out how my story came from this castle. So at a minimum I can return home to my Lady wife with that open sore in myself no longer being a mystery to me."
He turns his attention back to Shelly "You were an incredibly Serendipitous bit of luck for me. I am very grateful you walked into the bar I had proceeded to ruin through my desire to work out anger and hostility I had about how this place had lead to my life being what it is. You cannot imagine the Catharsis you get from breaking the bones of people who deserve it."
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2020 3:04:09 GMT
Fiona smiles and rolls her eyes.
"Oh, please," she says. "You were making an ass of yourself in that Bloody place just begging for one of us to come down and meet you. When we didn't take the bait you latched on to Shelly and dragged her up to the castle as an excuse to get past the gate."
"And I hired you as my bodyguard, not private investigator, so you can quit with the Jake Gittes act," Shelly adds.
"COnmen come to us all the time claiming to be lost cousins and asking for titles and cash. You have Ayalos, so what more could you possibly ask for?" Fiona says while continuing to walk through the castle.
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Post by Brian on Oct 8, 2020 3:35:24 GMT
Fiona smiles and rolls her eyes. "Oh, please," she says. "You were making an ass of yourself in that Bloody place just begging for one of us to come down and meet you. When we didn't take the bait you latched on to Shelly and dragged her up to the castle as an excuse to get past the gate.""And I hired you as my bodyguard, not private investigator, so you can quit with the Jake Gittes act," Shelly adds. "COnmen come to us all the time claiming to be lost cousins and asking for titles and cash. You have Ayalos, so what more could you possibly ask for?" Fiona says while continuing to walk through the castle. He snorted at Fiona "Fair." he seemed to relax a bit at that. "I prefer coming to Castle's on my own terms. I prefer playing games under my own rules. Shelly presented me with an opportunity to find a middle path."
He turned to Shelly "My dear if you want me to protect you, the easiest way would be for me to assist you in investigating matters with or for you."
He turns to Fiona and stand firmly. "And thats why I didn't come formally. As this was a personal matter. If I pursued this as a formal matter of my office then by implication it would mean things that would create the wrong impression. Thats why I only took the favor of this meeting from Shelly to provide her with service." He relaxes again. "I came to you plainly and I spoke my intention. I didn't plan to come here till after matters were settled in the palace because I didn't want to create the wrong impression. But.....if I go off and help Shelly now I know I can just walk away and go home. My lady wife might even let me get away with that. But I shouldn't. I need to seek the answers I came here to seek."
He sighs a bit "I have wallowed in my pride. And that lead to me approaching you the wrong way Lady Fiona. But I mean every word I said. There is one thing everyone in the family has had to do in common. I would be glad to do it for you a second time. But I do need to attend to Shelly's missing Fiancee." He turns to Fiona "And I would be willing to provide some fair assistance to you in this conflict where Dorian went missing. If he went there as Shelly thinks."
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Post by Admin on Oct 10, 2020 3:23:04 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/sbWWQDT/Fiona~jpg "A second time? Explain." Fiona asks. |
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Post by Brian on Oct 10, 2020 9:24:43 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/sbWWQDT/Fiona~jpg "A second time? Explain." Fiona asks. He smirks to Fiona " I was wanting to state my Bonafides. Its what I meant when I said I know my blood comes from here by knowledge of experience. Just I wasn't lead to the chamber by some one else. Events brought me there."
He says softly. "We had an artifact on Ayalos. It sought to be repaired. It felt my being so initiated would have enabled me to repair it. The initiation was connected to its maker and its maker's blood. It felt I might be capable after that. I had a different idea once it was done. I want to find out though where I come from in all of this."
He turns to Shelly with a serious look of consideration before saying the next part. "Other matters beyond that point the arrow to the fact my story starts here in secret. Why my lady wife wished me to come avail myself of this castle for those answers has many reasons. The most important one is this: I begun my life on Ayalos forced into Slavery and by wits and talent rose up. Events forced me to become the High King of Ayalos. That sort of life creates a sense of pride and accomplishment. But what if you know there is a secret? What if you know there is some answer that says it wasn't your talent that lead to you becoming such? That idea becomes an irritant. Like a pebble in your boot that is stuck in such a way that it doesn't fall out. I imagine to by her nature things may have become dull for her. Ayalos has become settled. I imagine she sent me out so she doesn't tire of me. " He laughs "Or maybe she wants me to sort this out before we have Children. Having Children has never worked out well for her in the past."
He looks over Fiona seriously for a moment. "If you are willing to help me find my answers I can tell you the story in a more concrete way."
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Post by Admin on Oct 11, 2020 14:40:09 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/sbWWQDT/Fiona~jpg "Oh yes, let me learn of all your secrets! I will do my best to learn all about your past while you are off with Shelly! Thanks for the permission!"She stops her walk in front of heavy double doors. "Through there are the servants cleaning rooms; properly clean and groom yourself and then join us in the Huntsman's room.
"Oh, I suppose we could go to more dignified showers, but that would interfere with your disguise of common dockside thug."Shelly grabs his wrist. "I'll see you shortly, Brian. Best we put up with Fiona's 'jokes' for just as long as we need too then get down to our ship." |
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Post by Brian on Oct 11, 2020 16:09:09 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/sbWWQDT/Fiona~jpg "Oh yes, let me learn of all your secrets! I will do my best to learn all about your past while you are off with Shelly! Thanks for the permission!"She stops her walk in front of heavy double doors. "Through there are the servants cleaning rooms; properly clean and groom yourself and then join us in the Huntsman's room.
"Oh, I suppose we could go to more dignified showers, but that would interfere with your disguise of common dockside thug."Shelly grabs his wrist. "I'll see you shortly, Brian. Best we put up with Fiona's 'jokes' for just as long as we need too then get down to our ship."He rolls his eyes at Fiona.
He smiles at Shelly "Jokes yes. My wife jokes like this often." He says with the most dry delievery he can muster.
He whispers to Fiona before he goes to the shower. "My secrets start on a world you may not have heard of called Earth. Or maybe you have."
He goes to the showers and avails himself of a proper shower. The Bath Houses at the dock's were quite adequate for cleanliness. But this was proper and fully clean. He takes the opportunity to transform his armor to a suit of Finery. He laughs a little bit that the style of his world would be indistinguishable from that of a common ruffian here. Even the fancier style from Ayalos didn't raise eyebrows. "Imperial conceits." He muttered to himself.
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Post by Admin on Oct 13, 2020 7:14:17 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/DRmPnR2/benedict~jpg Castle servants direct Brian to the Huntsman's room. He finds it to be a room painted dark green with brown stained wood accents. Hunting weapons hang on the walls along with some mounted animal and monstrous heads. One is a giant human head with the plaque underneath reading "Manticore - Julian." Four deep padded chairs surround a small table. Fiona and Shelly are drinking tea and laughing at some joke as he enters. In another chair sits a man Brian recognizes by reputation and description: Benedict, Protector of Amber. The women stop their laughing when they hear the door open and look across the backs of the chairs at him. Benedict waves him over with his one good arm. "You claim to be a member of our family; I can see the resemblance in your face. Sit. Have some of the tea."He pours a cuppa for Brian. |
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Post by Brian on Oct 13, 2020 10:55:38 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/DRmPnR2/benedict~jpg Castle servants direct Brian to the Huntsman's room. He finds it to be a room painted dark green with brown stained wood accents. Hunting weapons hang on the walls along with some mounted animal and monstrous heads. One is a giant human head with the plaque underneath reading "Manticore - Julian." Four deep padded chairs surround a small table. Fiona and Shelly are drinking tea and laughing at some joke as he enters. In another chair sits a man Brian recognizes by reputation and description: Benedict, Protector of Amber. The women stop their laughing when they hear the door open and look across the backs of the chairs at him. Benedict waves him over with his one good arm. "You claim to be a member of our family; I can see the resemblance in your face. Sit. Have some of the tea."He pours a cuppa for Brian. He Clasps Arms with Benedict. "Thank you." He takes a seat and sip the tea slowly. " I imagine some one beating a path to your door and saying such isn't unheard of. " He glances back for a moment at Shelly and Fiona before proceeding. "I am also going to be helping Shelly find her lost Lord Dorian. I don't suppose you have details on his disappearance from the castle? Your Sister...." He lingers for a moment and nods to himself trying to place Fiona and Benedict's names in stories he's heard. "She was more interested in my tale then telling any information on his status." |
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