Ariana's log, Chapter 130

"Every time you go to Faerie, they want a child."

Monday, November 14, 4

Ishmael Trumps Ariana and asks to talk to her. She brings him through into a swarm of four-year-olds, namely Bryan and her grandsons. In a rather roundabout way, Ishmael explains that Maddy may have broken an agreement with a faerie called Caerdis, and asks for advice. Ariana tells him that it's hard to predict how Caerdis will respond. She could make a charm to protect Maddy from him, but in order to make it effective she'd need something of his, or at least to talk to someone who knows him well. Ishmael doesn't think Maddy will cooperate. He explains that Whimsy told him to paint his house in cold iron. Ariana points out that will only make Caerdis see it a challenge, possibly causing him to devote more attention to it than he would have otherwise. Plus, Maddy would never be able to leave the house. That could be arranged. Ariana asks what Caerdis asked for in return for his favor. Nothing. There must have been something. She had to promise not to tell what he did, but it wasn't her fault that she broke her promise. Ariana tells him that doesn't matter to a faerie. They can be very literal about such agreements. She offers to see if Lucien recognizes Caerdis, although she doesn't hold out much hope. Ishmael asks her to check anyway, and looks frustrated. Ariana says there's one other thing that might help, and tells him about the Faerie Wards. He asks who would know where they are. Well, Benedict had Vixen and Whimsy searching for them, so she'd suggest he ask either Benedict or Nicholas. Ishmael thanks her and leaves.

Ariana tells Lucien about Caerdis. As expected, Lucien doesn't recognize him, but agrees that Maddy is in trouble.

Ishmael Trumps Ariana a short while later and says that Maddy is gone. Ariana comes through to examine the house and detects traces of 'Tween travel. Ishmael Trumps Whimsy and explains the situation. Whimsy Trumps Alexandra, since she can travel through the 'Tween. Ariana returns home to get her armored clothing and some cold iron daggers. She tells Lucien where she's going and asks him to watch the kids. He tells her to be careful. She Trumps back to Ishmael's and hands him one of her daggers. Alexandra arrives with a picnic basket. Whimsy and Ishmael bicker briefly about whether she told Jack about Caerdis after Ishmael told her not to. Ariana tells Ishmael that he can pummel Whimsy later. Ishmael reluctantly subsides and Alexandra takes the group into the 'Tween.

After following Alexandra through the 'Tween for a while, the group appears in the middle of an open field. There is a castle on a mountain about an hour's ride away, if they had any horses to ride. Neither conjuration, Trump or Pattern work, much to Whimsy's dismay. Magic, on the other hand, is very strong. Alexandra's faeries all fly away upon their arrival. Ariana figures they're in the Unseelie Court. As the group begins moving towards the mountain, they are approached by riders on horseback, who Ariana recognizes as Unseelie nobles. They invite the group to follow them, and provide horses for everyone. As they ride towards the castle, Ariana warns Ishmael not to eat any of the food while they are in Faerie. Ishmael grouses that he should have eaten lunch. Alexandra smiles and holds up her picnic basket. The Unseelie nobles are amused.

The group eventually reaches the castle and are shown into the throne room. The Queen of the castle bids Ishmael welcome. Ariana thinks she looks familiar. The Queen tells Ishmael that Maddy is all right and unharmed, adding that they haven't allowed her to eat. She asks Ishmael to walk with her. Ishmael suggests the others feed Maddy and leaves with the Queen. Guards escort the others to Maddy, who's rather relieved to see them. She's rather worried about what price the faeries will ask of Ishmael to free her. Ariana says it's not her fault, and doesn't think they'll hurt Ishmael. While they are waiting, and Maddy is eating, Ariana goes through her Trumps trying to place why the Queen looks familiar. She concludes that the Queen bears a certain resemblance to Benedict. Ishmael returns when they're halfway through the picnic basket. Maddy asks if he's OK. Yep. He says that they can go now and he'll be along shortly. Maddy asks what he has to do. He can't say. Did they make him promise not to? Um, yeah. Ariana and Whimsy can tell that he's lying, but don't reveal this to Maddy. Alexandra takes them all back to Ishmael's manor. Ariana asks if Maddy wants any company, but she insists that she'll be fine.

Ariana goes to Nicholas' office in the castle and asks to speak to him. His guards look rather surprised, but let her pass. Nicholas is surprised as well, but invites her to sit. She explains that she realizes they've had their difficulties in the past, but she's hoping they can start over. He says that would make him happy. Ariana looks relieved. Does he have any objections to her asking Ishmael to make her sword Takaran? He says that such weapons are still illegal in Chaos, but there's no law against them in Amber. So it's fine with him, so long as Ishmael agrees. He warns that making Takaran blades is not an art, it's a religion. She's hoping that Ishmael won't have any objections, since she won't be asking him to show her how he does it. She thanks Nicholas for his time, bows, and leaves.

Ariana goes looking for Benedict next, and asks for a few minutes of his time. She explains about the faerie queen she met, and the resemblance the woman bore to him. Benedict says that he's spent no time of that sort in Faerie. Ariana suggests that the woman may be descended from someone close to him. Benedict points out that he did have two brothers. Ariana says she just thought he should know, in case the woman is related to him.

Ariana returns home and tells Lucien about the trip to Faerie. He doesn't recognize the faerie queen they encountered, but admits he hasn't really been maintaining his connection to Faerie of late.

Tuesday, November 15, 4

Ishmael misses his usual morning sparring session with Ariana. Ariana Trumps him late in the afternoon, and is relieved to note that he's back in Amber. She asks if they can talk, but he says he's busy and will call her back later.

Quotables:

"Bitch!" -- Ishmael to an off-screen Whimsy, just before Ariana pulls him through a Trump contact
"You must have been talking to Whimsy." -- Ariana

"Let's stick (a Faerie Ward) to Alexandra's back. She'll never find it there." -- Matthew R. to the group

"Have you researched the issue?" -- Nicholas to Ishmael
"You can say yes, you've talked to two people." -- Matthew R.

"It involves turning you into a faerie." -- Nicholas, explaining how one gets to Faerie
"Am I still going to like girls after this?" -- Ishmael

"You'd have to ask for it nicely, which Whimsy would never do." -- Matt S. to Matthew R.

"You could leave your kids with your mother." -- Ariana
"What mom? Oh yeah, I keep forgetting I have one." -- Ishmael

"(Whimsy) might be able to stop Ishmael from doing something stupid." -- Kris
"True, but why would (she) want too?" -- Matthew R.

"You can't afford to go crazy now. Save it for later." -- Whimsy
"When this is all over, I won't need to go crazy." -- Ishmael
"That depends on what (the faeries) ask for in exchange for Maddy." -- Ariana
"Shut up!" -- Ishmael

"I've got a picnic basket." -- Alexandra to GM, preparing to go to Faerie
<later on, in the Unseelie Court>
"The others probably know this, but don't eat any of the food here." -- Ariana
"I should have eaten lunch." -- Ishmael
<Alexandra holds up the picnic basket>

"Every time you go to Faerie, they want a child." -- Ariana to the group

"On the plus side, this will lower the intelligence of the Unseelie Court." -- Ishmael to the group, about being forced to father a faerie child

"You know, if you Trump the Avatar of Trump, and it doesn't work, she doesn't want to speak to you." -- Kris to Matthew R.

"We didn't know what the culture was like (in Chaos), we were too busy rolling over it and crushing it beneath our tanks." -- Ishmael to the group

"Outrageous Fortune"
Game Logs for Sessions 1-115 | Character Logs for Sessions 116+

Last modified on February 20, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.