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Post by Admin on May 23, 2021 22:59:08 GMT
The ship arrives in Jidrash Bay. A small launch rows Hammett to the city landing. The streets hum with the crowds working, playing or preying. In the distance the great Church of the Unicorn and castle sit on a rise.
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Post by Hammett on May 24, 2021 16:07:55 GMT
Hammett contemplates getting a carriage to take him straight to the castle, but decides against it. Best to get a feel for the city and its current social and political climate first.
So he slowly makes his way through town toward the castle. Checking out stores, grabbing a coffee (or the local equivalent) on a patio while reading the local newspaper, etc... during which time he keeps an ear out on conversations people are having around him. Unlike Begma, these people aren't overtly preparing for war and he wonders if they are just that cool, or if they just don't know of any possible threat.
Does he learn anything from what he over hears or from the newspaper? Specifically anything about Coral, Nayda, Luke/Rinaldo, Amber or anything else that might catch his interest.
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Post by Admin on May 25, 2021 1:56:33 GMT
Hammett does notice a large number of city guards on patrol. Something is up. The newspapers tell him nothing of importance other than announcing his escape from imprisonment in Castle Amber and the bounty on his head. A decent amount of gold crowns but still insultingly low a figure.
From eavesdropping, he learns that Coral is still not returned from wherever she went. Nothing of importance about Rinaldo or Nayda.
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Post by Hammett on May 25, 2021 19:01:23 GMT
And now there was a bounty on his head... wonderful.
At least from what he knew Rinaldo/Luke didn't have any love for Amber so he wasn't likely to turn him in when Hammett came to visit. Still this could make things more complicated in the future, so he knew he'd soon have to make the time to make some adjustments that he had already planned, but never gotten around to. He was briefly torn between heading off to do that right now, or waiting until after he finished his business here. Another cup of coffee and he decided to stay.
He paid for his drinks and set off up the hill towards the castle, arriving near the front gates not long after.
How is the castle here? Lots of people coming and going like in Castle Amber? Are the guards questioning people before they enter, or only once they go inside?
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Post by Admin on May 26, 2021 1:23:01 GMT
If it is any consolation, they want Hammett captured alive.
The castle gates are closed, and guards are positioned outside. They are not accepting casual visitors at this time.
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Post by Hammett on May 26, 2021 14:00:22 GMT
Hammett approaches whichever guard seems to be in command here, and if none do, then just the closest one.
"Greetings. I am a member of the royal court of Amber, here at the behest of Prime Minister Orkuz of Begma, on a diplomatic mission. I request entrance and a meeting with the XXXXXXXX*"
[[OCC: * I use whatever term they use here in the golden circle for the Steward/Sensechal/Hand of the King. ]]
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2021 2:14:00 GMT
"Which member of Amber's court would you be, Mac?" the guard asks, taking a tighter grip on his pike.
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Post by Hammett on May 27, 2021 5:29:38 GMT
"A minor one. Which is why I am assigned to minor diplomatic assignments, arrived here on foot, and without any fanfare. The matter is of a personal and sensitive nature to the Begma's Prime Minster."
Hammett is hoping his Good Stuff and maybe a little Psychic influence/good will will help get him in without much more questioning by this guard.
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2021 5:45:20 GMT
The guard dives Hammett a stare for about half a minute the knocks for the door to be opened.
Inside he is lead to a small meeting room and thuroughly searched by a pair of guards. His Trump deck and sword are confiscated.
From there is is lead to another fine room, better decorated and roomier than the last. His is told to sit and wait. Two guards stand attention behind him.
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Post by Hammett on May 27, 2021 14:03:50 GMT
He waits.
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Post by Admin on May 30, 2021 4:31:36 GMT
After a long wait Nayda strides into the room. Four other guards follow her and stand at attention behind her.
"Well? What is it you wish to say?" she asks.
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Post by Hammett on May 30, 2021 15:48:31 GMT
Hammett is surprised to see that Nayda is the one first coming to speak to him, "Lady Nayda." He stands and half bows to her, "Thank you for meeting with me. I come on behalf of your parents. They have been very worried about you and your sister. Apparently they have sent many messages, but haven't received any reply. They will be very glad to know you are well and not being held captive. Is your sister, Princess Coral, also well and unharmed?"
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Post by Admin on Jun 2, 2021 8:24:10 GMT
"You can sit back down, Hammett; you will no need for further courtesies.
"I was informed of your task by another messenger who arrived here a short while ago. It seems that you had taken your sweet time in coming here and lost the race. My parents regretted informing me that they had no idea you were an outlaw from Amber when speaking with you and are now quite embarrassed by the faux pas.
"Your arrival in Kashfa is very fortuitous. As you may know, Rinaldo has spent much time trying to convince Random and Flora for our land's inclusion into the Golden Circle agreement. Our having you imprisoned here will be quite the bargaining chip. I feel that I should thank you for giving yourself over to our care."
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Post by Hammett on Jun 2, 2021 15:34:28 GMT
Hammett sighs (apparently this sigh is becoming one of his trademarks when dealing with any and everyone), he is rather fed up by all this continued nonsense.
"I think you vastly overrate my importance to anyone in castle Amber. There is no love for me there, and more then a few would happily see me confined here indefinitely as it saves them from any potential political fallout or drama of them personally imprisoning me there. So in that regard you will be doing them a great favor, but one they would never admit to. So as a bargaining chip, I'm afraid I'll have the exact opposite effect of what you want.
You claim you want to hold me until you are made a part of the Golden Circle, but the rulers in Amber want me imprisoned indefinitely, so it would be in their interest to not admit you to the Golden Circle, and let you keep holding me prisoner, all while keeping their hands clean of the matter. Two or three birds with one stone for them in that situation, I'm afraid.
Plus, you could never be sure they wouldn't turn around and use my imprisonment here as an excuse to war, further tariffs and blockades, further assistance to the Begma military, and the like. And then what could you do? Kill me? Again, they wouldn't care, but it would be a rock-solid and very public reason for them, and the whole Golden Circle, to wage full out war against Kashfa with full public support.
So imprisoning me would not only be a dick move, but would actually be helping Amber and weakening King Rinaldo's goals and standing in the Circle."
Hammett hopes his logic is not lost on Nayda, and anyone else listening in on the conversation. It was all true, so he had that going for him. Rarely was any man so lucky as to be so unwanted, in so many places, as Hammett was at this time.
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Post by Admin on Jun 5, 2021 2:26:45 GMT
"I see that you are not only unwanted but also uninformed of the current situation. Luke is now in Amber in command of Flora's army in Arden. It seems the two of them have recently become acquainted* and have struck up an amiable -if unusual - working relationship. So you see, that with no one else available to command her forces, Flora needs Luke's assistance, and in return, he gets his agreement. Your coming here complicates the issue for if we were to let you go then this amiability would be lost. Nothing personal you understand; it is a shame that you decided to visit us at this time." Nayda replies placidly.
* See 'Coming to a Cord'
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