Copyright ©1998 Jonathan Cardon
Amber DRPG is Copyright ©1991 Erick Wujcik

"The Ebb and Flow is supposedly named for the tides, but there is the hidden innuendo in its name. That echos the atmosophere of the establishment. The Ebb and Flow is part bar, part casino, part resteraunt, and part meat market. It is a gathering place of young Rebman nobles especially males who have not yet come into their inheritance and are expected to be a little wild. Here the nouveau-riche and wealthy merchants can rub shoulders with their betters, so long as they are free with thier money. There is a hefty fee in gold just to enter, and the prices are high, which is the way the patrons like it. Nobles eat, drink, and gamble. The game is usually threes, a glorified game of rock/paper/scissors played with tile plaques similar to oversized dominoes.

"The Ebb and Flow is also a place of hot political debates. Here the latest decision of Moire or Random is criticized. Treaties are discussed openly, and gossip flies. The Ebb and Flow could be a cesspit instead of a five star establishment and wealthy merchants would still visit it for this reason alone. Here comments are dropped in passing of the shifts in status of the powerful, and these shifts can make or break a merchants future. Hewn from natural coral which has been smoothed and polished to a smooth warm colorful glow, the Ebb and Flow is a place of relaxation or intrigue depending on your point of view.

"Tonight at the Ebb and Flow, the topic of conversation, is the Patternfall treaty, just as it has been for many nights past. *Please pose what both of you are up to. I'm running two other separate scenes. I do have some events that will take place on your scene... but go ahead and talk.

Jeanette sits at the bar, quietly listening, enjoying a cup of wine...

Vance talks to a pair of young nobles. One says, "I seek the hand of the Lady Igraine. I have coin, and influence, but my rival has offered a shell that is a perfect sphere, unflawed in any way. What do I have to compete with that?"

The other says, "This is why I have brought him to you, Vintir. You deal in things from faraway lands...things the other suitors do not have access to."

Vance smiles. "Indeed. I have something that will turn your love away from the others. But it is rare indeed...and all things have their price."

The first noble says, "Name your price. If it means my lady's hand in marriage, I will pay dearly." Vance simply traces his finger across the table. The noble watches, and then his eyes widen. "You seek to make me destitute!"

Vance turns over his other hand, so it is palm-up. Resting in its center is a blue diamond cut into the shape of a dolphin. Though few are in a position to see it, more than a few eyes are turned by the sight.

Vance says quietly, as the noble takes in a deep breath. "I name less than I could get from many others in this room. The only other thing I ask is your favor, and perhaps a seat at your wedding."

Jeanette glances along with the rest, but unlike theirs, her expression is unwelcome.

The second noble says through clenched teeth, "Take it, fool. Your mother's line will gain far more than this costs." The first noble says, "Not for title, but for love, will I take this." Vance just nods, and says, "Done. Better to be given as a token of love, than an object of greed. May you and your love be happy together, and I will raise the first glass at your wedding toast."

Jeanette speaks, clearly, a single word. "Fool."

Vance turns, and looks over to Jeanette. The first noble looks to Jeanette, and says, "Is love foolish, milady?"

Jeanette says "A single trinket, to buy her love?"

Jeanette says "No romance, no joy, no true choice for her..."

The noble says, "You misunderstand me, milady. Though the gift is for my love, its purpose is to win the approval of her mother. Without that, Igraine and I will never be allowed to marry, and she will have to choose another."

Jeanette nods... "If she truly loves you, the gods will provide a way. If she does not... no amount of baubles can win a worthy heart."

Vance interjects, "I have found that while the gods are helpful, they look more kindly on one who puts forth effort to ensure their own future. Perhaps they are why I am here...my friend only needs to take the opportunity fate has provided him."

Jeanette says "Then why charge so exorbitantly for it?"

Vance says "I charge its value, not its worth...the latter is much higher than the former. Should I start a bidding war here, I could double its value in a heartbeat. But, money is a means of survival, not something to be squeezed out of every rock. I gain enough to go out and purchase another object of similar value, while paying my expenses...which is enough for me."

Jeanette says "The value of love is beyond measure in coin, sirrah."

Vance says "Indeed. But spirituality and love must make minor allowances for reality, sad though that truth may be."

Jeanette says "And you claim to speak for reality?"

Vance says "I speak for no one but myself. I do look forward to a seat at the wedding, though."

Jeanette says "Then perhaps you will find one for me, as well. I would see the love this trinket is to buy."

Vance turns back to the noble, and hands over the dolphin. "Take it. We will speak again after the gift has been given." He then turns back to Jeanette. "I am sorry. The love must first be there. Trinkets such as this can only help overcome the pressures of reality."

Krinac pages to Jeanette and Vance: "Another woman walks up, she is dressed in leathers and wears bracers, she is sad of face with long dark hair and features that bear a trace of the orient, "Is this a private conversation? What I would like to know is can you get your hands on more trinkets like that one."

Jeanette looks up to the girl, and smiles, a little. "If trinkets are your desire. They seem to be this fellow's specialty."

Vance says "Speciality may be an overstatement. I have some gift at finding that which some value and others do not. The trick is to find the people who value such things."

Jeanette says "We have, it seems, one who values. But what is it she truly desires, hmm?"

Vance looks to the woman. "I do not know. But I am willing to help, if I am able."

Jeanette smiles, warmly. "Then be silent, and let her speak."

Vance doesn't reply, intent upon the woman.

"I like trinkets, and that was a pretty one. What is your source if I might ask?

Vance smiles. "There is no one source, unfortunately. For the dolphin, I acquired it from a jeweler who crafted it from a flawed diamond. The flaws were turned into a mouth, ripples on the fins, and so forth. He did so well that they look intentional, rather than something to diminish the value."

Raz (that's her name) frowns, "What a pity. I had hoped for a more...obtainable source."

Jeanette smiles. "All things can be obtained, if one knows where to look."

Vance says "Perhaps if you spoke of what you seek, milady, a way can be found."

"I have heard of something worth almost any price in this place", Raz's voice drops to a whisper, "Can you get me the powder of the rose?"

Vance says just as quietly, "I do not think I know of what you speak. But that has not stopped me in the past."

"There is a powder, a pinkish powder, by which it takes the name 'rose powder'. It works like gunpowder does in some shadows, but it works in Amber."

Jeanette says "Would that not be... a very great secret, to be bandied about in such a place?"

Vance raises an eyebrow, and speaks quietly, "I have heard the sounds of thunder borne of this powder. I assume it is not for a lover, except perhaps a lover of battle."

Raz shrugs, "It always helps to have a little something in case of emergencies. I could pay quite handsomely."

Jeanette says "And if Amber found you had it, you would pay even more."

Raz shrugs, "We all take risks don't we?"

Jeanette smiles... "May fortune favor you, then."

Vance says "I cannot help you. Such things leave a trail about them, and the fire that would travel back to me along such a trail would consume me."

Raz says, "Pity, if you should change your mind, I'll pay ten times it's weight in gold. Fortune favors the well-prepared. Good-day." (Raz leaves)

Vance watches Raz depart, then mutters, "Fool."

Jeanette shrugs... "She knows what she wants. More than some can say."

Vance says "She seeks death. The powder is a crude hammer, when she cannot even use effectively what force she does wield. And Amber's response would crush her."

Jeanette says "If she seeks so assiduously, death will find her, one way or the other. Or the arms of a Prince..."

Vance stands. "And, unlike the young lover, my help is not necessary to give her what she seeks." He looks to Jeanette. "My pardons, lady, but my work here is done. Should you find need of my skills, Vintir is at your service."

Jeanette nods, with a smile. "I will remember your name, sir."

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