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

Vance watches Rex head off. "Frantic cries for help. He is a very model of sanity, isn't he?"

Julin says, "Perhaps. Those who see what others cannot are often confused with those who see what is not there at all. I try not to pick between the two too hastily."

Vance chuckles. "Well, there is much that is unseen in Arcadia."

Julin nods. "I had suspected as much."

Vance takes a closer look at Julin. "Our introduction was rather brief. You are a friend of Rex?"

Julin says, "It seems I am early for the meeting? Shall we take the opportunity to get acquainted?"
Julin says, "I'd never met or heard of him before I felt his presence earlier this -- Evening, is it?"
Julin says, "I suspect that he somehow obtained my Image, directly or indirectly, from a traitor I seek."
Julin says, "He won't tell me where he got the Image from, and I must respect that, for the moment."

Vance raises an eyebrow. "Image. I suspect I know from who that was acquired."

Julin says, "Whom do you suspect?"

Vance gestures to a couch. "Take a seat, and we'll discuss the matter."

Julin takes a seat, folding his greatcoat beside him. "I appreciate your cooperation. I am sworn to pursue this traitor, and return her to Ebeer, dead, or alive for trial and execution."

Vance hmms. "Dead or alive. What great crime caused such a sentence to be pronounced?"

Julin says, "Treason, of course. Under the influence of a powerful man, she attempted to destroy the source of the Empire's ability to protect its people, and the world, from the Power."

Vance nods. "Did she betray the man you speak of, as well?"

Julin shakes his head. "I tracked him down, just moments after his proper superiors had extracted the truth from him. He is dead. At the time, we believed her dead or lost beyond chance of recovering."

Vance nods. "Well, that is interesting. I believe I know this person. Is her name Allyna?"

Julin nods. "Then you know where to find her?"

Vance says "Unfortunately, no. She did mention she was going to save the Spheres, with or without my help."

Julin doesn't look the slightest bit dissppointed by this news. Almost relieved. Nonetheless, he recites, "The protection of the Spheres is the business of the Order of the Sceptre, not of traitors."

Vance shrugs. "If she returns to the Spheres, it should make her much easier to capture, correct?"

Julin says, "We have a few Images of her, but her abilities as an Inscriber are somewhat impressive. She draws Images, like the one that brought me here, which can reach beyond the Spheres, into other worlds. It's not clear that we could capture her that way, but eventually, she would be tracked down."

Vance stands. "Well, should she return to us, I would be willing to assist in her capture."

Julin says, "I appreciate your cooperation."

Vance nods. "She is too dangerous to roam between the worlds. I don't think she has an understanding of her powers...and that's a combination that can spell disaster."

Julin says, "Her understanding of her powers is substantial. She seems to be the mistress of her art."
Julin adds, belatedly, "Don't underestimate the danger she poses."

Jeanette smiles, leaning against the doorway. "But her understanding of their implications is... quite limited."

Julin says, "She doesn't understand what there is beyond the Spheres. She has acted in ignorance... an ignorance that has been enforced on her, and all the people of the Spheres who do not have access to certain powers, as a necessary protection. In this case, perhaps this ignorance has created a greater threat."

Vance glances up, looking at Jeanette. "For now. But, I need to prepare for tomorrow. If you'll excuse me, I'll be heading to bed."

Jeanette nods.

Julin says, "The meeting? That's it?"

Vance says "I must be at my best when I next speak to Mordred. The fate of Arcadia depends on it."

Julin nods. "Where shall I sleep?"

Jeanette says "Tell me one thing, Vance... how well do you know this Lord Yama?"

Vance looks to Julin. "We should be able to garner an extra guest room for you. In fact, I suspect that has already been arranged."

Krinac says "GM oversight, a room has been provided for Julin already."

Vance then turns to Jeanette. "Personally...not at all. But I know of the reputation of a Lord of Chaos, and it nearly rivals that of a Prince of Amber."
Vance says "Regardless...I will find out more tomorrow."

Jeanette nods to Vance. "And can he be trusted at all?" she murmurs, almost to herself.

Julin stands, gathering his greatcoat over one arm.

Jeanette hmms to herself, and shrugs. "I wish you luck in finding her, Ser Julin..."

Vance politely escorts the others out. "Take anything Lord Yama says with a grain of salt. A very large grain..."

Julin nods.

Jeanette nods to Vance. "As I had thought."

Julin is led to his quarters.

Vance closes the door, and (presumably) goes to sleep.

Krinac wonders if everyone is waiting for me to say night passes. Hmm, just in case "Night passes."

Julin has no idea where to go in the morning, so he'll probably do his morning calisthenics.

Krinac says "It is morning, well as morning as it gets in the court of Night, at any rate people are up and moving again and you are brought breakfast food."

Rex assails his breakfast with gusto.

Julin eats a travel biscuit, instead of the food presented, with all due apologies and excuses.

Vance emerges from his quarters, but does not sit down for breakfast. "Good morning."

Rex smiles at Vance, "Good morning. Sleep well? My room was haunted."

Jeanette grins, "Haunted by what, Rex?"

Julin joins the group after calisthenics.

Rex grins. "It wasn't the succubus I had ordered, either. Wait till I get my hands on...whomever arranges such things."

Vance doesn't comment on Rex's overnight experiences, instead saying, "I may be here longer than I had originally planned. I have to stay until Mordred makes a final judgment."

Krinac dropped Mordred.

Mordred walks in, "It appears some of your followers have excused themselves from my company without my leave Vance. Is this any of your doing?"

Julin bows to Mordred formally, as the previous evening.

Rex rises. "Good Morning, Majesty."

Vance turns, and gives a respectful bow to Mordred as he enters. "No, it is not. Though I suspect which ones they may be. A few in my entourage are superstitious - an unfortunate result of their upbringing."

Rex chuckles. "Sheltered lives, I daresay, Majesty."

Jeanette inclines her head, smiling. "Or perhaps they simply sampled too much of your fine wine."

Mordred says, "I see, then you have no objection to mine dealing with them as I see fit?"

Vance hmms. "Well, I know that you prefer your pets undamaged. I have similar feelings about my entourage. May I send those here along with your patrol, to make sure they are recovered without violence?"

Rex raises his eyebrows.

Mordred says, "It has gone beyond that already. They have fled from my realm and met with a representative of the Court of Light. I do not deal lightly with traitors. If we are to attempt to bring back Dalt's spirit we had best start, and start now."

Vance's expression darkens. "Then we will start." He turns to the others. "I would ask that the rest of you respect the tradition of hospitality, and inform our hosts if you intend to leave."

Rex blinks. "What decent person would do otherwise?"

Mordred smiles, "I'll make it stronger than that. You have supped from my table, by the old laws none shall leave without my bidding."

Vance smiles, as well. "Actually, I have not. But I have no plans to leave. Let us continue our business."

Krinac all present feel a little chill of magic, whether his words have any power or not, you don't know, but perhaps Sean's superstition wasn't misplaced.

Rex shivers.
Rex nods. "As your dread Majesty commands."

Mordred has you conducted to a place of power. A twisted design similar to those you have seen in both Chiare and Thule. The flaw appears somewhat different.
Here there are blue lines of power, broken in some places by a glowing white, and in others by the dark of night. The three colors, electric blue, pitch black, and purest white, weave in and out among theselves never mingling and forming three different twisted paths to the center.

Julin peers in awe at the lines.

Vance steps to one side of the design, near where Dalt's body has been placed. "Shall we begin?"

Rex peers at the thing, with deep consideration.
Rex says "Let's. How can I help?"

Mordred comes forward, "Now is not the best of times, but this is the best place. Let us begin. I call upon the power of the grave which is mine to command. Dalt, son of Deela come forth. We call to you return to us."
Mordred's chant continues for some time as he calls for Dalt's spirit.

Vance gazes at the body of Dalt, and speaks, "Come forth, Dalt. You can still strike at your hated foe, one last time."
Vance glances over at Rex, and frowns.

Rex grimaces, but (apparently) not at Vance.

Mordred too turns to Rex, "Whatever it is you are doing, you will please stop it this is a difficult enough task."

Rex nods, and visibly relaxes.

Mordred continues, "I call forth the spirits of the Dead. Arise spirits of the deceased. A host awaits you. Dalt son of Deela called the Desacratix come forth."

Dalt's body seems to twitch.

Jeanette suddenly spins, as if looking for something, or someone, else, in the chamber...

Mordred begins to drift with sweat, and even those not sensitive to magic can feel the raw power present in the room.

Jeanette's eyes narrow as she turns back to the corpse...

Dalt begins to move, he sits up, his eyes eat the light with a darkness like that of the flaw in the broken pattern.

Rex stares wide-eyed.

Vance gazes at Dalt. "The Lion returns."

Coming from a different tunnel, the noise of approaching feet can be heard moving rapidly.

Sunfall holds her junaive in a white-knuckled grip.

Vance crosses his arms, keeping his eyes on Dalt.

Queen of the Court of Light. She is radiant in her beauty, a woman in her prime, vibrant with youth, yet with the authority of years.

Mordred turns to the noise, "TITANIA you DARE enter this place while I work here. It is FORBIDDEN since the accord. You know that as well as I."

Jeanette eyes the lively corpse, frowning. "Something's not right..."

Dalt makes his way entirely to his feet. "VENGENANCE!"

Vance says, in a voice that pierces the silence immediately after Dalt's words. "Caine."

Jeanette's frown deepens, and she falls into a defensive stance...

Julin quickly unties the peacebinding on his weapon.

Sunfall peers at Dalt, as if looking at a rabid dog. She drops her stance to lower her center of gravity.

Titania says, "You dare to break the accord and accuse ME." Daylight suddenly shines in her hands and flashes towards Mordred.

Dalt looks around and he flinches away from Titania towards... Jeanette.

Rex steps back, baring and gritting his teeth.

Jeanette's gloved hand flickers quickly, and she spits a throat-twisting word.

Vance steps toward Dalt. "Dalt...Caine lives."

Dalt doesn't even notice Jeanette's attempt at a mystical utterance. He picks her up and tosses her like a rag doll. She goes sailing toward the broken pattern.

Krinac says "Combat has started. Actions anyone?"
Krinac says "Ok, a map would be good. The design is about the size of a ballroom or basketball court. Titania, Sean, Read, and Sunfall are at one end."

Rex's skin pales, and his eyes shine out of proportion with the lighting in the room.

Krinac says "Rex, Jeanette, Vance, Julin, Mordred, and Dalt are clustered at the other."

Sunfall starts rushing toward the broken pattern. It is not yet obvious what she intends.

Krinac says "There are also several undead guards with Mordred, but they aren't in play right now (can you say slow)"

Vance gestures toward Dalt, eyes hardening. "Halt, and regard me!"

Mordred responds to Titania's light by surrounding himself in a shroud of darkness.

Rex clenches both fists, and his face twists into a horrible grimace. His skin is unnaturally pale, now.

The darkness seems to eat the light, and a classic power bolt to power bolt from the comics starts to ensue.

Julin moves faster than anyone else can react and snatches Jeanette from the air, just before she learns what it feels like to enter a pattern the wrong way.
Julin sets Jeanette down, as quickly as he is safely able to.

Rex goes beyond pale, his skin and eyes completely silvery. He is surrounded by a bizzarre distorting effect, which makes it nearly impossible to distinguish any clearer details about him.

Jeanette, while she didn't touch the broken pattern, didn't exactly land lightly, and bounces a bit. Sunfall is able to assit all to their feet.

Dalt laughs at Vance, "Nice try sorceror, but you shouldn't try to compel Dalt."

Vance gazes evenly at Dalt. "Your fury is misdirected. Caine caused your demise, not Jeanette."

Jeanette eyes Julin for a moment, then shakes her head. "VANCE! IT'S NOT HIM!" That shouted, she begins casting a spell...

Reed doesn't appear to know what to do in the midst of all this conflict. Nayda at least clears the stairs and spreads out a bit.

Sean draws his sword, and begins stalking around the design towards the others. "Reed, take your measurements. We won't get another chance."

Julin draws his sword and starts to charge toward Dalt.

Rex seems to regain his self-posession...breathing hard, gleaming silvery, surrounded by distortion, he surveys the scene before him.

Dalt looks at Vance confusedly, "I don't know you, but you tried to control, and no one tries to control Delt." Dalt then growls in inarticulate rage, and looks a little silvery. He turns toward Rex and begins a charge of his own.

Rex jabs a fist toward Dalt, and the distortion effect extends to envelope him, as well.

Sunfall shouts "Don't spill any blood on the broken pattern!"

Mordred's zombie guards begin to advance on Titania, leaving you to deal with Dalt.
Except for Sean who faces a score of zombies.

Vance turns in disgust, facing the battle of Titania and Mordred. He sighs, and gestures toward the zombies. "Sean, you will not interfere. If the Lords of Light and Dark choose to fight, it is their battle alone."

Yama enters the Hall. "So you will not side with either Vance? Pity. Mordred, do you want my aid now? You know my price."

Vance turns, his concentration momentarily broken. "You side with Mordred, you break the covenant completely. And I will make sure you don't survive what follows."

Sunfall shouts "Deals with Lords of Chaos always cost far more than they claim!"

Krinac says "Dalt charges Rex, but is met by Julin instead. Dalt has no blade, which costs him dearly, namely a lost hand to Julin's blade, but he doesn't bleed or slow when he punches Julin back."

Sunfall swings the junaive like a staff, trying to knock Dalt unconscious.

Julin falls back, off balance and suprised at the actions of the reanimated Dalt. He moves into a more defensive stance.

Krinac says "Hmm, oops Sunfall's on the other side with Sean, but I posed Sean was by himself... hmm, my mistake umm, Sunfall raced around the other way around the pattern and I now arriving by Dalt?"

Rex continues to wield his weird distortion effect upon Dalt. Through the haze, he can be seen to wear the strain on his face.

Sean steps between the undead warriors and Titania. "I won't interefere with the rulers, but neither will these."

Vance doesn't take his eyes off Yama. "Fair enough, Sean."

Mordred says, "Done, Yama, the deal is made."

Sean moves forward, sword swinging at the first one's neck.

Yama speaks lynchpins.

Some of the zombies close to Sean just fall over, others are hacked to bits. Outcome is not in doubt.

Vance reaches under his cloak, pulling out something and pointing it at Yama.

Sunfall and Julin intersect at Dalt, Jeanette keeps speaking lynchpins.

Julin shouts, "Stay back until I need help." Roughly in Sunfall's direction.

Sunfall shrugs, then gets a look on her face as she turns to face Yama.

Jeanette continues chanting lynchpins, the name 'Dalt' figuring prominently in one...

Dalt gets hacked by the combination of Julin and Sunfall. Rex's whatever may have contributed somehow.

Sunfall cries a high pitched Chiaran war cry: "Baigu nandayo!" as she sprints toward Yama, junaive at the ready.

Whatever Vance was trying to do, doesn't happen. His gun just clicks.
Vance mutters, "Damn," as he tries to jump out of the way of whatever Yama is doing.

Just to make sure Dalt doesn't rise again, Jeanette incinerates the corpse.

Rex slumps, and the distortion goes away. He remains silvery, though.

Yama finishes his lynchpins, and out from his arms sweep globes of darkness that spiral in towards Titania...evidentaly they cause her great distress, for she fends off a few, before her light suddenly sputters and she is enveloped in the darkness emanating from Mordred.

Julin sees that his foe is down, and moves straight for Yama.

Yama hurriedly begins to backpedal as Sunfall and Julin charge him.

Rex curses.

Vance turns toward Mordred. "You've broken the covenant, Mordred." He then speaks a few quick lynchpins.
Vance raises his left hand over his head, and light gathers around it. His right hand keeps pointing straight towards Mordred. Then, suddenly, the light in his left hand flies at Mordred like a shot from a flare gun.

Jeanette turns, quickly, launching herself at Titania and the pool of blackness surrounding her...

The zombies are mostly chopped to bits by now.

When Mordred is hit by Vance's light, he drops as if poleaxed. The darkness fades from the room, and from around Titania.

Sean moves quickly around the broken pattern.

Yama, looking at the turn of the battle bows, and the shimmering sign of the Logrus appears before him blocking off both Sunfall and Julin as they approach. Behind his shield Yama utters lynchpins.

Vance smiles grimly as Mordred falls, then glances around to assess the situation.

Ok to close the scene, Sean singlehandedly dismantles 20 zombies.
Sunfall attempts to stab at Yama through the sign.
Yama, finishes his lynchpins and vanishes in an implosion of flame.
Krinac says "And you are left with two batter, bruised, but living monarchs... What do you intend to do with them?"

Vance walks over to the fallen rulers. "Both have broken the covenant against battling in this place. Titania, for initiating the conflict, and Mordred, for involving an outsider in their duel. They must be judged."

Jeanette helps Titania up, if she'll allow it. "Apologies, Majesty..."

Sean says "Titania believed Mordred was about to destroy the Tapestry."

Krinac says "Neither of them seems to be in much state to do anything right now."

Vance says "Perhaps he was...but I wouldn't have allowed it. Hold them both. We must summon the Lords of Light and Darkness to judge them...together. As one suffers, so must the other."

Julin is examining the 'Tapestry'.

Krinac says "As is Reed, whose only contribution to the battle was to point a funny looking object at the fight."

Sunfall looks at Sean for a moment, then walks over to him.

Nayda seems a little perplexed as to why Jeanette would try to help a person still unconscious to their feet. Nayda merely rearranged Titania to rest more comfortably.

Sunfall mutters to Sean, "... meditate... Did... hesitate... know,... I am... that I... losing touch with my instincts.... like... talk... later, but in..."

Titania's guards arrive.

Sean walks back over to Jeanette and Titania. "I'm sure she'll find that reassuring, Vance."

Sean nods. He mutters to Sunfall, "... talk... later, when... a chance."

Julin turns to Vance. "This must be ten times as potent as our Chasm. What is required to assay it?"

Jeanette must not've noticed. Probably a little dazed from the fight, or something.

Vance glances around the room, apparently distracted for the moment.

Krinac clarifies, "Yes the monarchs are still out cold."
Krinac says "They are not however, dead."

Sunfall looks musingly at the spot where Yama disappeared, chewing her lip. She then turns to leave the room.

Sean motions to Titania's guards. "As far as I'm concerned, Titania acted in self-defense."

Rex says "Who are the Lords of Light and Darkness?"

Vance speaks, though he still seems distracted, "Sean, the Broken Pattern judged otherwise. Titania would not have fallen so easily otherwise. Oathbreakers are judged harshly here."

Sean says "Oh, yes, I'm sure Yama had nothing to do with that."

Vance says "Just as I had nothing to do with Mordred's fall? I assure you, they are not so easily beaten..."

Titania's general approaches, "It appears that the gease itself has extracted the price against both their majesties. Wouldn't it be best if we took her majesty and withdrew, and you took his majesty and withdrew before more conflict is engenedered in this place?"

Sean says "If it values its existence, it won't punish them too harshly. They stand between it and destruction."
Sean looks at the officer and nods.

Vance turns to the general. "Your word, sir, that Titania will be judged by her Court."

The officer looks disturbed, "Judge Titania?? Who would be fit to judge her actions, she is the queen after all. You are of both courts, if you would lay an extra gease on them, you might do so, but I would not presume to judge her."

Vance hmms. "I have a better idea...but she will have to stay here a bit longer. I will have them bound by their own words."

The general says, "I suggest you hurry then. For I will not desert my queen, and surely more of Mordred's guards will arrive shortly."

Sean grumbles. "Why don't you just stay here and rule both lands yourself, Vance?" He walks over to Reed.

Vance says "Stay on that side, general. I will make certain that Mordred's forces stay on theirs."

Rex looks troubled. "I mislike this notion of judging any monarch within their own place. I have seen the Power you wield, Vance, but whence comes your authority in the affairs of two such as these?"

Vance then glances over to Sean. "I don't have the time or inclination. As soon as I have the pair geased to act in the best interest of the land and the Broken Pattern here, like they should have been doing all along, we will be leaving."

Sean doesn't respond to Vance, and motions to Nayda.

Vance turns to Rex. "I am an initiate of both parts of this design, Rex. I offered to have them judged by their peers, but the Courts are ill-equipped for such an action. I am the closest to a neutral party, here."

Nayda approaches Sean.

Prince Hemlock arrives with guards, both fey and zombie.

Sean says "I'm leaving now."

Jeanette says "Don't be silly, Sean."

Rex shakes his head. "If they have peers, they are not monarchs. If they are monarchs, then you are not their peer, Vance."

Vance says "You have never been bound here, Sean. But you did violate Mordred's hospitality, which provoked this conflict in the first place. Remember that."

Hemlock cries, "Out swords!"

Julin places himself between Hemlock and the Pattern, drawing his sword once again.

Jeanette frowns deeply, and sets her hands as if prepared with a spell...

Hemlock's men and zombies draw their blades. Hemlock demands, "Step away from Mordred now!"

Vance stands next to the fallen leaders. "They were struck down for committing violence in this place. Will you compound their error?"

Julin says, "This is a place of peace. Those who enter with violent intent will be removed or destroyed."

Sean says "I don't think I am, Jeanette."

Hemlock hesitates. "Back away let me approach King Mordred."

Vance thinks for a moment. "You (pointing to Hemlock) and you (pointing to the general of the Light forces) may approach. Alone."
Vance adds, "I would have the rulers geased by each other's words to fufill the pledge they should have been committed to all along...defending the land and this place of power from harm."

Sean nods to Nayda and Reed, then looks at the others for a moment, and turns away. He walks away, in the direction Sunfall left in.

Jeanette shrugs, and remains where she is.

Rex with a sigh, Rex drops his defenses, and returns to a more normal appearance.

Krinac says "Ok, the GM is tired, it's been a long day, I should probably roleplay through the end of this, but I'm not going to. Titania and Mordred take a long time waking up. When they do they don't like Vance's judgement, but in the end they both swear to do no violence to the other and to protect the broken pattern."

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