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Post by Admin on Mar 19, 2021 4:10:46 GMT
[OOC: Fiona is the card expert. I know, I get them mixed up all the time too, have to double-check every time I go to use one of them.]
"All gone except for Princess Llewella who is spending about half her time in Amber and the other half under the sea.
"Prince Julian went off without a word except to tell his troops to maintain strict patrols of Arden. He's been gone many weeks now, just a day or so after the incident with the King and Queen."
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Post by Hammett on Mar 20, 2021 1:19:17 GMT
[OCC: Yes, it was Fiona, my mistake. Edited my last post.]]
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Post by Hammett on Mar 20, 2021 15:51:20 GMT
Hammett sighs his mind racing a mile a minute. Well maybe it was a good thing Benedict left? Maybe he finally took my warning seriously and was going to do something about Lady Vada and Kasaba? Maybe he was going to take care of everything? And maybe I was a Chinese jet pilot. So, no, not bloody likely.
"Right. Well thanks for the update, Dik. I'm sorry things are so hectic for you right now. If you ever need a night off, I've got Wormwood's open again. You now how to reach me, so just let me know and I'll bring you through for a few drinks and a bit of a break. Take care and stay safe and give my love to Dame Margot." With that he ends the trump call.
What now? He shuffled through his trumps looking for inspiration while the band and Sam retook the stage and began playing. He came across a few trumps that he hadn't used in a long time, he had held out contacting any of them because he wanted to learn all he could on his own first, but with things progressing so fast now, maybe it was time. If anyone he knew had the information he desired it would be them, as they did spend most of their time on the far side of infinity.
He settled on Xinith's card and drew it out and began focusing on it. Maybe the old demon could fill him in on what Lady Vada was up to, or at least what was going on in the courts these days...
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Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2021 4:49:47 GMT
When the connection is made with Xinith, there is nothing to be seen but a mauve haze. Wisps of gold and yellow vapours drift across the card's field, and a campfire cross with cinnamon odour fills the VIP area of Wormwood's. There are a shuffling sound and a whir of some device being started up. Slowly the haze dissipates, and Hammett can see the great demon holding an electric fan in his hand, clearing the air in the room.
The great demon lounges on a throne, his bulk spreading out over the armrests. All thirteen of his horns have been filed to sharp points, and silver-filled eldrich runes have been carved into the ivory. Adorning each horn is the remains of his greatest foes: bones and skulls on some, husks on another few, golden cages contain psychoplasmic remnants of others.
"Hammett, little lordling, it has been a long time since you last dared to contact me. How are things in your worlds?"
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Post by Hammett on Mar 22, 2021 5:12:47 GMT
Hammett nods his head as part of the his greeting and to show respect, "Xinith, it has been too long and for that I apologize. Things were... troubled for sometime there, but the wheel has started to once again turn in my favor, for now at least. Alas, the old Wormwood's is no more if you were planning on coming to visit, but I have rebuilt in a new location and don't worry, we will still serve the fermented Thask blood cider, you and the gang so enjoy. How are things on your end of infinity, old friend?"
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Post by Admin on Mar 22, 2021 5:26:28 GMT
"Ah, the Thask! Do you have any of the '22 vintage on hand? Troubles here have disrupted the replenishment of my stock.
"Troubles here, troubles there, troubles everywhere. Merlin is close, so close to the throne, yet others still must be dealt with before he can truly call himself king, and it's regular joes like me and my kin that suffer for it. Damnation, we had so hoped the war would have removed the great troublemakers from the endless worlds!"
He reaches out with one of his five arms to grab a cigar from an ashtray at another of his elbows. A word lights a flame at his fingertip, and he takes a few deep puffs.
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Post by Hammett on Mar 22, 2021 11:23:41 GMT
"You and me both. King Random died recently, so once again the drama of who will rule in Amber has swept over us all. But I am sorry things have not been easy for Merlin. It would be nice if events could be stable at at least one end of existence, if not both, for more then a few years at a time.
As for the '22, unfortunately I don't have that one hand right now. My remaining stock is still in the cellars of the old Wormwood's in Kasaba. Speaking of which, do you know of a Lady Vada? Apparently she is from your end of things? She is the one that claimed Kasaba as her own and drove me out of that shadow and forced me to set up here at my new location."
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Post by Admin on Mar 23, 2021 5:21:45 GMT
"Stability and quiet allow the worst of them to plot and birth broods of troublemakers.
"Lady Vada is not too well known to us demons. She's one of the usual lots. A minor player herein the Courts, but when allowed to play out in the worlds, she will stretch herself wide in asserting her dominance over what she fancies. Why Kasaba' is what you must ask yourself."
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Post by Hammett on Mar 24, 2021 5:43:50 GMT
"Heck, I don't know. I picked it because of the location, close to the Golden Circle, but not part of it, and its society, pre-computers so less invasive technology and law enforcement, but efficient bureaucracy and transportation for taking care of business."
He takes a sips of his drink, "Unless there is some secret to the place, it's has to be the location, right? From what little you know of her, do you think she would attempt to march on Amber? That is the only reason I can think of. You've been there a lot of times. Did anything special standout about it for you?"
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Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2021 6:01:22 GMT
The demon grunts, and foul yellow gases escape his nostrils.
"The treaties are very clear on the issue of invading the other pole of existence. If she were to use the place to stage an invasion of Amber, she would have Benedict opposing her on one side and a good dozen Houses of the Courts against the other side. I doubt her ambitions are that moth-brained. Better to assume that somewhere or something else is her ultimate target."
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Post by Hammett on Mar 24, 2021 6:19:25 GMT
"Interesting. Whatever her true goal is, it must be extremely valuable, and worth risking her own life for. Her troops killed Prince Gerard of Amber when she took the shadow. The court of Amber has been too busy dealing with the death of the king to focus on her for the moment, but when things settle down I am sure vengeance will be on many of my family's mind. Prince Gerard was well liked. I would not like to be in Lady Vada's shoes when Prince Benedict and the others turn their attention to her, and anyone else who many be helping her cause.
Thank you for talking through these events with me. It has helped immensely to focus my thoughts. If there is ever anything I can do for you, just let me know. Give my regards to the others, and please feel free to stop by the new Wormwood's at anytime. I would love to hear your thoguhts, even if I don't have the Thrask '22, just yet."
Hammett will wait for any parting words from the old Demon, before closing the contact and heading back to his rooms to get some rest, as it was almost closing time for the club, and tomorrow now looked like it was going to be a busy day.
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Post by Admin on Mar 24, 2021 6:36:55 GMT
"Good hunting. I'll get the word out that you are searching for the '22"
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Post by Hammett on Mar 25, 2021 12:15:31 GMT
Hammett goes to his rooms and realizes that Renault is still asleep in his bed, with a sigh, he returns to Wormwood's and helps manage things until the club closes for the night. He then has a drink with the staff, and thanks them for the job well done. Once they all begin to disappear to their lairs (most of them don't really "sleep", just haunt certain locations in Carcosa), except for those on security for the night, he take Pinky aside and tells her to that she might be coming with him tomorrow on some travels, and to get ready for that.
He will then go back to quarters and grab some sleep on the, thankfully, large and comfy couch in his living room.
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Post by Admin on Mar 26, 2021 2:13:12 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/SXpkXBr/Pinky~jpg "Sure 'ting, boss; I'll go catch forty winks. Will we be gone long? I'd hate to deprive your customers of my songs."
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Post by Hammett on Mar 26, 2021 4:27:26 GMT
To Pinky: "It might be a while, but your absence will make their hearts grow fonder, I am sure."
After he wakes up:
Hammett calls down for brunch to be brought up, then readies himself for the trip, fresh clothes, a shave, etc... a little bit before breakfast arrives he wakes Renault and also has him get ready. When he is done, they sit and eat and Hammett fills him in on what has been going on with Yvonne, Ugarte, and the others getting ready to return to Kasaba and lead a resistance movement. If Renault seems agreeable to the effort, Hammett will bring him through to Ceridin when he and Pinky trump there in a little while, if not he offers to let Renault stay here at Wormwood's, but reminds him that he won't be able to leave the building as outside would be too dangerous for him to survive in this part of the world.
After brunch is done, he leave Renault to finish getting ready, and goes down and give instructions to the staff and mentions he might be away for a few days, but most of them are old pro's from the original Wormwood's and can easily handle things on their own, but they can reach him anytime they need if something comes up that they can't manage.
Then when Pinky arrives, late as expected, and packing too much as was also expected, he takes her up to his rooms, and if Renault is also going, he will trump them all to his Ceridin offices.
Once there he gets everyone on the same page with the local staff and the resistance crew, and tells them to keep planning, ordering supplies, weapons, etc... and bringing them all here to Ceridin to store in one of Hammett's warehouses down at the docks. He tells them that he is going away for maybe a couple of days, but if something goes wrong he might be away a bit longer and to keep going on with the plans as best they can. Conrad can manage things with Pinky's "help".
Once all that is set he returns to his office, takes a stiff drink, and then trumps to his room in Castle Amber. Time to give his regards to the new, soon-to-be, queen.
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