"Being insane isn't reason enough to kill (Nicholas)."

Wednesday, December 7, 4

Breakfast with the family. Amazingly, nothing unusual happens.

Ariana spars with Ishmael. After the lesson, she asks a favor of him. She's worried that Grayson isn't adjusting very well to Amber. Since Ishmael went through the same thing, maybe he could talk to Grayson about it? Ishmael doesn't think Grayson would talk to him, since they don't have much in common. He suggests marrying Grayson off. Ariana says she doesn't hate any woman that much. Then maybe she should have Vetch talk to him instead. The only way Grayson might change is if someone establishes himself as a paternal figure. Ariana doesn't think Lucien will go for this. Ishmael says he'll talk to Grayson if the opportunity arises, but if she's worried this much about it, that may be too long.

Ariana tells Lucien of Ishmael's suggestion. As she expected, Lucien doesn't think it's really a problem, and there are far more serious things to worry about. Like the vampires? Yes. Well, she can't do anything about that, either. She doesn't have a problem with Grayson sleeping around, but she's worried that he may hurt someone, by forcing himself on them, or having more children that he won't acknowledge. Lucien offers to keep an eye on Grayson if it makes her feel better. It would, yes.

Thursday, December 8, 4

Nicholas leaves for Chaos, leaving Random in charge in Amber. Lucien becomes noticeably distracted soon afterwards.

Friday, December 9, 4

Ariana checks on her ad on the Disc, but there hasn't been any response to it yet.

Saturday, December 10, 4

Ariana gathers the family for dinner and announces her pregnancy. Morgan says, "What, another one?" The rest of the reactions are more polite. Jalana, of course, thinks it's wonderful. The youngest kids don't quite understand what a baby is, of course, but don't seem troubled by the idea.

Sunday, December 11, 4

Ariana has lunch with Tamaryn and tells her about her pregnancy.

Lucien continues to be distracted. Ariana asks what's troubling him, but he claims it's nothing. She doesn't believe him. He admits that he's working on something, but won't tell her until it comes to fruition. He'd rather not tell anyone in case it fails.

Tuesday, December 13, 4

Ariana has lunch with L'Wren.

Thursday, December 15, 4

Nicholas returns, and appears to be back to normal. Caine has not been seen since the presentation of the faerie ambassadors. Ariana receives a note from Angelique saying she won't be able to make their lunch meeting this week.

Wednesday, December 21, 4

Still no response to the Disc ad. Ariana tells Lucien that she's going to go into Shadow to fix her sword instead. He tells her to be careful. Why? Because Shadow is more wild and dangerous now. Pattern and Logrus have less influence, and Faerie has more. Guess she'd better make sure she has her armor working, then. Yes. Does he have any other advice? Don't go. Can he think of another way to enchant her sword again? Benedict gets by without one, as does he. She doesn't want to risk her blade breaking at an inopportune time, though, the way it did before it was enchanted. And a regular blade proved ineffective against the demons that attacked her. He tells her to check in once a day, or he'll come find her, and then her quest will be over.

Wednesday, December 21 - Friday, December 23, 4

Ariana heads out into Shadow, aiming for a pool that she can use to enchant her sword. Shifting Shadow is harder than it used to be. Half a day in, it suddenly gets dark. The path gets narrower and the forest gets denser. Ariana readies her sword and a Trump of Amber. She makes another shift, and hears the baying of wolves. The horse likes this not at all. Ariana urges it on faster. She begins to feel like she's being followed. She shifts to bring back daylight, but when she does so she feels like she's off the path. She shifts for a wizard that can enchant her sword, instead, and finds herself in the dark again. She Trumps Lucien and explains what she's encountering. He told her it was wild out there. Does he have some time to join her? Not right now. Much as she hates to do it, she decides it would be wiser to postpone her trip until later and has him pull her through. He tells her that she's been gone for two days.

Friday, December 23, 4

Whimsy Trumps Ariana shortly after her return and asks to come through. Lucien makes to leave, but Whimsy asks him to stay, since this affects him too. She explains that Nicholas has declared that the use of faerie magic is illegal in Amber and its environs, punishable by imprisonment. Why? Nicholas has declared war on Finndo and killed Macavery Mor. And L'Wren? She's all right, she was given the body to take home. What does environs cover? All of Amber's Shadow. And Rebma? That's a separate matter. Whimsy says she'd hate to have to take Ariana to prison. Ariana wouldn't like that much either. Whimsy tells her to warn her children. Ariana asks her to be sure to notify Grayson. Whimsy leaves to do that.

Ariana asks Lucien what he thinks of moving to Rebma. He doesn't answer. He seems to be focused on something else. After about ten minutes, he focuses on her again and observes that Whimsy is gone. Yes. She hopes that he was talking to someone, because otherwise she's worried about him. No, he isn't going senile yet. She says she'd like to move to Rebma. He'd rather not. Does he have any other suggestions? Middlecourt, Chaos... She admits that she'd forgotten about their place in Middlecourt. Lucien says he isn't inclined to leave Amber just yet. He wants to wait around a few days and see what happens. She won't leave without him, but she doesn't like the idea of staying. She's afraid she'll slip up and use magic by mistake, since she's so used to it. Well, if she does, it won't be the first time that he's broken someone out of prison.

Ariana Trumps Jalana and gives her the news. Jalana is not any happier about the idea of war than Ariana is. Ariana Trumps Morgan next, then Shannon. Shannon's first inclination is to go into Shadow, or Faerie. Ariana cautions him against the former, since Shadow is quite wild right now, and the latter, since if Faerie closes its borders, he won't be able to leave. He agrees to wait and see what happens next. Vincent's Trump tingles when Ariana tries to reach him and she can't get through. When she examines her deck, she notices that Brand's Trump is doing the same.

Ariana asks what Lucien thinks the Seelie Court will do. Side with the Unseelie Court. That puts her in an awkward position. He knows. She tells him that she once told Nicholas that she could not fight against Auberon. That could be unfortunate. Yes, but they weren't at war with Faerie, at the time. He says he'd been hoping that Nicholas would snap out of it, but not in this manner. He seems to be channeling his father right now, unfortunately. He tells her to pack her necessities and be ready to go. She sets about doing so. Jalana helps get the children's things ready.

Lucien is gone all evening. Ariana tries to convince the Moms to come with her to wherever they wind up going, but they want to stay. They don't believe Nicholas would harm their sons in order to get to Ariana, and they don't want to leave all that they've ever known. Ariana leaves them enough money to support themselves for a while, and suggests that they might want to move elsewhere if things get bad.

Saturday, December 24, 4

Ariana is gently shaken awake at 4 a.m. Lucien tells her they're leaving now. She gathers up the kids and their belongings and Lucien passes them through a Trump to Vetchways. It's somewhat less gothic than the last time she was there, with some touches that remind her of Angelique. Ariana asks if this is the project he's been working on. Yes. He goes into his study. Ariana gets the children settled into their bedrooms, then peaks into the study. She catches Lucien in the end stages of merging with himself. The process appears to tire him considerably. He pours himself a drink and sits, a few ripples still going through him. Ariana asks how long he's been able to do that. He jumps and throws a dagger at her, which fortunately hits the door that she's behind. He says that given the stressful times they are in, he'd appreciate it if she didn't sneak up on him like that. She observes that she so rarely manages to sneak up on him, that she doesn't realize when she managed it. Has he been able to split himself for long? Yes. She notes that could be useful. He says maybe he'll teach her, when she's ready. So, she guesses that he's been both in Amber and Chaos, and that's what's been distracting him. Yes. He had some house cleaning to do. His daughters? Yes. So he knew the problem with Nicholas would happen? Yes. What happened this evening that made them have to leave? Nicholas tried to hire him to assassinate Finndo, and he refused. Ariana is surprised that Nicholas even approached him, knowing that Finndo is his nephew. Nicholas is insane. He has the worst qualities of his father. Hopefully, like Ahab, he should get himself killed sooner rather than later. So why did he want to stay in Amber when she wanted to leave? It's easier to keep an eye on things when you're on the scene. He's left a few things behind to keep himself informed. A few pieces of himself? Yes. She asks if they can keep an eye on her grandsons. Lucien rolls his eyes but agrees. She asks if this is where Angelique has been. Yes, there were the usual formalities of transferring the duties of Head of House. Who was running the house before he returned? Angelique. He thinks she was happy to slip the leash. And he wants to put the leash on? Given the circumstances, it was necessary. She doesn't like it, but she understands. She asks if he's coming to bed, or if he still has things to work on. No, he's rather tired, actually. They go to bed.

Ariana Trumps Ishmael in the morning and tells him that she won't be making their sparring lessons in the foreseeable future, nor teaching her classes at the academy. Ishmael looks tired and is somewhat snide. Ariana Trumps Florian next, to put him in charge of the hospital and handling her classes at the medical school until she returns. Then she Trumps Tamaryn and lets her know that she's moved. Tamaryn had a feeling that would happen. Ariana says she's welcome to visit, if she needs to. Tamaryn says they're OK for now. She appears to be on a ship. Finally, Ariana Trumps Grayson and informs him of her move.

Ariana spends the day getting the children settled in, reacquainting herself with the Ways, and checking on the condition of her gardens. Angelique appears to have kept them in good shape, and has even added some things that Ariana can't recognize. She's also kept up the herb garden and appears to have been fond of berries.

Angelique visits Ariana, who thanks her for maintaining the gardens. Angelique takes Ariana on a tour of Vetchways, showing her what's changed, and introduces her to the two of Lucien's daughters that remain. They both appear to have had the fear of Vetch put into them. Ariana doesn't ask what happened to the other five.

Chaos is a very different place from what Ariana remembers. There are half elves and half demons roaming about now. Things are much more open, and there's an almost clan-like affiliation regarding the houses, most of which are genetically diverse enough not to have to intermarry with one another anymore.

Monday, December 26, 4

Faerie and Rebma close their borders. Nicholas exiles everyone of faerie blood from Amber. Random, Vialle and Vaughn return to Rebma.

Fiona and Suhuy pay a social call on Lord and Lady Vetch, since they're living in Chaos again. Middlecourt has been disbanded, due to the problems in Shadow. Ariana asks Fiona if Vincent will eventually recover. Yes. She's no longer part of the Triumvirate then? No. Does she know how long it will take Vincent to recover? She isn't sure, but he's safe where he is. Amazingly, Ariana actually manages to have a polite conversation with Fiona.

Tuesday, December 27, 4

Ariana comes down to tea, to find Lucien talking to Cymnea, AKA Rygat. Ariana fights her initial reaction to reach for her sword and smiles. Cymnea says hello. Ariana comments that she doesn't believe they were ever formally introduced. That's taken care of, and then Cymnea offers to pour her some tea. Ariana accepts. Cymnea and Angelique are both masters of polite behavior, making Ariana feel small. On the other hand, this tea thing is new to Lucien too, so she has some company. After Cymnea leaves, Ariana asks Lucien how long she's been back. A few days, according to her. He warns Ariana to brace herself, since Finndo will be coming to tea tomorrow. She thanks him for the warning, but admits that she doesn't harbor any hard feelings against Finndo. It was nothing personal. Lucien looks pleased that she understands.

Quotables:

"Florimel is like Felix. She never misses a meal." -- GM to the group

"The war council goes late into the night." -- GM
"Well, we can't go home now, so we may as well keep going." -- Ishmael
"The war council is scared to go outside because of the vampires." -- Matt S.

"We could always make Amber a democracy." -- Ishmael
"You'd have to kill all of your uncles." -- Fiona

"I want (Whimsy) to be known as the honorable one." -- Matthew R.
<Everyone gives Matthew incredulous looks>
"Wait, she's never been the nice one, but she's always been the honorable one." -- Matthew R.

"I need an aspirin." -- Random
"Oh, go lick a willow tree." -- Ishmael

"(Ariana) can have a threesome with (her) husband." -- Lisamarie to the group, after learning that Lucien can duplicate himself

"Don't be angry, I filed for divorce." -- Alexandra to Jack

"Surprise! You've just been named the official heir." -- Ishmael
"God damn it!" -- Random

"Being insane isn't reason enough to kill (Nicholas)." -- Ishmael to the group

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

All text on this page is © 1999 by Kris Fazzari, with the exception of the attributed quotes.

Last modified on September 24, 1999 by Kris Fazzari.