"I don't need strategy! I have papier-mâché!"

Thursday, December 29, 4

After a few more days, the I.V. is removed and Ariana starts eating solid food. She's put on a high-protein diet, with as much food as she can keep down, to help fuel her shapeshifting. Millicent mentions that since this is working so well, Lord Vetch has sped up the area where she's staying. Which Ariana thinks is odd, since the speed of Shadow is controlled by Logrus, and Ariana knows Lucien isn't very good at it. She doesn't mention this to Millicent, of course. Sadly, the scrying pool Lucien set up for her can only show her still scenes because of the speed differential. Ariana checks on the baby daily, and is relieved to find that he seems to be developing normally.

Lucien stops by every other day, usually bringing sweets once she's able to eat solid food. During the first visit, he reveals that Gavin isn't really involved with Lasker. In fact, he appears to be a target. Lucien figures Felix must have misinterpreted Lasker's note. Why is Gavin a target? Because of the control he has in Amber city. Did Gavin seem confident that he could hold them off? No. Oh dear. While Gavin's psyche is probably high enough to resist them, he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Ariana giggles at that image, then points out that if Tamaryn has changed Gavin into a faerie, the vampires won't be able to find him. True. Ariana figures they must be finding the current situation very irritating. Who? Both sides. Does he know what the current situation is in Amber? No, he hasn't been keeping up with that end of things. He has a few more things to wrap up with the House, and then he's going to kill Lasker. Ariana looks relieved and asks him to let her know before he leaves to do that. All right. How is Vincent doing? He's still recovering at Jesbyways. Does he have any more ideas on where Sand might have gone? No. He suggests that maybe she's gone on to her final reward. Ariana doesn't believe this, but pretends to. Lucien tells her that Millicent will fetch her anything she might need.

Ariana requests drawing materials from Millicent and passes some of the time drawing pictures of her relatives in their faerie forms. She sees a few interesting scenes in her scrying pool, including faerie Ishmael and faerie Maddy having sex in the woods, faerie Felix throwing papier-mâché balls at Alexandra, and later Alexandra chasing faerie Ishmael and winding up unconscious and tied naked to some trees. Ishmael later frees her when he's human.

Ariana passes another week in this fashion, and begins feeling more like herself. The high-protein diet seems to be helping. A few days into the week, Ariana feels strong enough to try walking, with Millicent's help. She's a bit wobbly at first, but she works hard at improving. Once she gets the hang of that, Millicent brings her to a hot spring next door to exercise without putting too much strain on herself.

Lucien continues to visit every other day, and at the end of the week he spends a whole day with her. Ariana has him help her to the hot springs and then proceeds to seduce him. He's more than willing to cooperate. Later on, he tells her that he's been slowing down this part of the Ways gradually, to bring her back in sync with everyone else. She asks how he's able to do that. Oh he has his ways. No pun intended. Actually, he did. She splashes him. He tells her he's afraid the means would disturb her. How so? There's more to the Ways than she suspects. They're alive? Essentially. They are a giant blood creature. Ariana is concerned by this, since his father built part of his Ways. True, but he systematically destroyed all of those parts. Ah, in that case, she's OK with it. She asks why he thought it would disturb her. Well, he has trouble predicting what will bother her. She's bothered by things he wouldn't expect, and not bothered by things he would. Like how she's bothered by the fact that he could regrow his head if it was chopped off? Actually, she's not bothered, per se, she's actually happy that he can survive something like that, but she grew up expecting that losing one's head meant death, so there is a negative association with it. She has no preconception about Ways, really, so learning that it's sentient isn't that odd. He says that, in that case, if it does happen, he won't regrow his body from his head. Ariana admits that regrowing his head from his body would be less disturbing than the other way around. She figures it would be less taxing, too. Less mass to regenerate and all. Not really. Oh, right, he'll just take the mass from the ground. He nods. She thinks that would be a handy trick to learn, someday. He says he's not sure he'll live that long. Ariana splashes him, then dunks his head under water. He decides that while he's down there, he'll keep busy. Ariana has no objections.

The Ways are equalized two days later and Ariana rejoins her family. The children are all happy to see that she's feeling better. She's playing with the younger ones when she receives a Trump call from Whimsy, who wants to know if Ariana can come through to discuss something. Where is she? In Jesbyways. Ariana leaves the children with Anne and comes through. Whimsy explains that Claire wanted to test Whimsy to make sure that she was fertile before marrying her to Edwin. The tester found something unusual, as did Alexandra, but they don't know what it is. She's hoping Ariana will have better luck. Ariana lays a hand on Whimsy's exposed abdomen, and concentrates. What she finds is interesting. On the outside, Whimsy's an Amberite. On the inside, she's slowly becoming a faerie. Which means she'll be sporadically fertile, but she'll always have twins. Faerie twins. Ariana explains this to Whimsy, who isn't pleased. Ariana adds that she isn't fertile now, but the process should be completed within another month. Whimsy wants to walk the Pattern to make herself fertile. Ariana says there's no guarantee that will work, or that it won't make things worse. There's never been a case like this before, after all. Whimsy figures that if she does have faerie children, they won't be able to be near her. Ariana thinks her children will be immune to the Ward. She doesn't see how they could come to term, otherwise.

Whimsy asks Ariana to come with her to explain the situation to Claire, before Claire decides she's failed the test and does something drastic. Ariana decides to change her dress before meeting the Head of House Jesby. She returns to Vetchways, puts on more appropriate clothing, then Trumps Whimsy again and goes through. She asks how much Whimsy wants her to reveal. Just that she will be able to have children. They are shown in to Claire, who looks intrigued. Whimsy explains that she consulted Ariana after she was tested. Ariana explains that while Whimsy is not fertile now, she will be able to have children soon. Whimsy adds that they will likely be twins, and she may not be able to care for them. Claire says that's what governesses are for. Whimsy says that she was hoping to clear things up before Claire went and contacted House Vetch. Claire says the consequences of failing the test were never that severe. She just would have come up with another agreement.

Claire invites Ariana and Whimsy to stay for refreshments. Afterwards, Ariana asks to look in on her son, Vincent. Whimsy offers to show her to him. Whimsy knocks on the door, but there's no answer. She opens the door and they find Vincent sleeping. He's a bit feverish, but it mainly seems to be exhaustion. Whimsy thinks he overdid it while helping with the Amber situation. Ariana asks Whimsy to tell Vincent she stopped by, then kisses him on the forehead and leaves the room. She assumes Whimsy will be in touch? Oh, probably shortly before the wedding. When will that be? Florimel is arranging it to be in about three months.

Ariana returns to Vetchways and finds Lucien in his study. He raises an eyebrow at her dressy attire, but says nothing. Ariana says she has an idea, but she's not sure if it's a good one or not. The eyebrow lowers. She assures him that she hasn't done it yet. What is it? She was thinking of contacting Brand about the Sand problem. He doesn't see how that would hurt. Since it's late, Ariana decides to contact Brand tomorrow. Instead, she entices Lucien to leave the rest of his work for the morning. Given how nicely she's dressed, he doesn't take much convincing.

Friday, December 30, 4

Ariana receives a Trump call from Random in the morning. He smiles, hands her a note, and breaks the contact. Ariana opens the note, which reads, "Lasker has been dealt with." Ariana finds Lucien, hugs him, and comments that she thought he was going to tell her before he went after Lasker. He hasn't gone after him yet. Then it appears someone else did. She shows him the note. He looks surprised. She wonders who did it. He's not sure.

Ariana Trumps Tamaryn to find out how she's doing now that she's been returned to normal. Tamaryn suggests talking in person and comes through. How is she doing? OK. She's still dealing with the consequences of yesterday. Ah yes. Does she know that Lasker is dead? Yes, Felix killed him. Ariana is rather...surprised. She asks if Felix was a faerie when this happened? Yes. He brought Lasker to the 'Tween, Lasker hurt him, then Felix took him to a desert, where he burst into flames. Ariana says she'll have to thank Felix for that. Tamaryn says he could use that. Oh? She doesn't want to get into it. Ariana recalls the scenes she saw in the scrying pool of faerie Felix trashing Ishmael's house, making a mobile out of the servants, etc., and doesn't ask. She invites Tamaryn to visit if she ever feels the need to escape. She just did. Oh, who was she escaping from? Gérard. Ariana winces. She invites Tamaryn to stay for tea. Tamaryn takes her up on it long enough to settle her nerves a bit.

After Tamaryn leaves, Ariana tells Lucien that Felix is the one who killed Lasker. Lucien asks how. Ariana explains. Lucien says that explains it. Felix just got lucky. Well, it was quick thinking to leave the 'Tween for a place filled with sunshine. Lucien comments that it's amazing how pain can clear the mind.

Ariana Trumps Brand and asks if she can talk to him. Of course. Does he want her to come to him? No, he thinks he'd better join her. He's someplace bright. He comes through and says that she's looking better. She replies that it's amazing what a few weeks of healing will do. She asks if he knows what happened in Vincent's head after he left. He knows that she was injured, and that Sand is no longer in Vincent's mind. He would detect her if she was. Ariana looks relieved. She asks if he could detect Sand in other people's minds. If it was similar to how she possessed Vincent, then yes. She explains that she and Sand passed through the Fount at the same time. Ah, and she's wondering if Sand might be in her mind? Yes, or in the mind of her unborn child. Brand looks surprised at that news. He tells her that in order to check, he'll need to touch her. She knows. He holds out his hand. She steels herself and takes it. She can feel him brushing the surface of her mind, then go deeper. It feels like he's running a sieve through her mind, going deep but only looking for one specific thing. He eventually tells her that he found no sign of Sand in her mind. And the baby? How far along is she? 57 days. He advises waiting until the baby is six months along before checking him. Could Sand have gone anywhere else? She could have been destroyed in the Fount, which is doubtful given her level of Trump. Wasn't the Fount in Vincent's head? It was, but she stepped into the real one also. Ariana looks worried, since that means she did as well. Didn't he say that going into the Fount would drive non-Avatar's insane? That's bathing in it. Ariana only stepped into it, and he and Vincent pulled her out pretty quickly. What other possibilities are there? Sand's spirit could still be lurking without a body. If that's true, then maybe someone from the Disc can contact her. Amberites' ghosts tend to be tied to the Pattern. If she is a ghost, and is out and about, she could probably be summoned in Amber. Who could manage that? Anyone who's highly perceptive of the metaphysical world could help. Fiona, Gavin, Meander... Ariana likes that last one. Can Brand tell if Sand's in the Fount? Yes, he'll do that for her. She thanks him again and invites him to stay for tea, but he declines, knowing she's still a bit uncomfortable around him.

Ariana Trumps Meander and explains the situation. He thinks he can help, if the spell works in Amber the way it works on the Disc, but he's in the middle of a project he promised for Ishmael. Ariana says she can wait. When would he like her to contact him again? In two weeks or so.

Ariana returns to Vetchways and seeks out Lucien again. She tells him the results of her meetings with Brand and Meander and asks him to hold her for a bit, since she's still a bit tense from talking to Brand. He's happy to oblige. She's still worried about the possibility that Sand is in the baby. Lucien admits that it might be a possibility, but he advises a wait and see policy.

Later that afternoon, Ariana goes to Amber in search of Felix. She finds him at his workshop in the city, working on a banister. She thanks him for killing Lasker. He says he was lucky. She heartily agrees. He admits he was originally planning on leaving Lasker in the 'Tween to starve to death. Ariana sees how that would appeal to a faerie. Did he manage to kill any of the others? No, he started with Lasker, and then he got hurt, so he decided to call it a day. It's being worked on, though. Ariana figures the rest should be somewhat confused right now, so they'll be more vulnerable. She thanks Felix again and heads back to Chaos.

Saturday, December 31, 4 - Thursday, January 12, 4

Two weeks pass. Jalana, Morgan and Shannon move back to Amber and resume their classes at the University, although they do visit occasionally. Ariana decides not to teach any classes for the winter semester, since her pregnancy will limit her effectiveness in the martial classes later on, and she wants to spend more time with her family. She does continue to supervise the hospital, with Florian handling the day-to-day tasks, and keeps up her sparring sessions with Ishmael.

Lucien continues instructing Ariana in shapeshifting when he has time, although his busy schedule and Ariana's pregnancy limit her progress somewhat. She tells him that if he's too busy to teach her himself, she's willing to learn from someone else, but he says it has to be him. Is that a safety precaution, or because there aren't that many advanced shapeshifters? Yes. Ariana admits she's more comfortable learning from him, anyway.

Brand Trumps Ariana a note saying that Sand's not in the Fount.

Vincent visits Ariana on his way home to Amber. He's happy to see that she's all right, but really doesn't know how she wound up in his head, or why Sand was able to injure her. He doesn't seem all that different now that he's finally free of Sand. Ariana says she's sorry she didn't figure out a way to get rid of Sand sooner. Vincent says she did her best, and doesn't seem to be upset about it.

Ariana pays a brief visit to the Disc to see if she's gotten any responses to her ad there, but no luck so far. Enchantment doesn't appear to be something they really do all that often. Given the difficulties she ran into when she tried to find a place to enchant her sword in Shadow, she decides to table the project until after the baby is born and safely weaned.

Lucien tells Ariana that he'd rather she remained in the House when in Chaos, and assigns her a bodyguard. Ariana asks why she needs one. He claims it's not so much a bodyguard as a personal assistant, someone who's familiar with the Courts who can help her out if she needs it. Is her unfamiliarity with the Courts why he'd prefer her to stick to the House? Yes. She asks if this assistant is also the instructor he was going to find to teach her the current customs in Chaos. He says he can wrap both into one, if she likes. This is fine with her. He assigns a young woman named Charlotte to the job. Charlotte is about Ariana's height, with short, mousy brown hair, gray eyes and a soft voice.

Cymnea remains in the Ways, having renounced her Amber titles and returned to the House. She's seems sane and no longer bent on destruction, so whatever Heather did to her seems to have worked. She and Angelique even invite Ariana to tea once a week and both are very friendly.

Ariana spends some time learning what the duties of the Lady of the House are. Essentially, the Lady is responsible for running household affairs. Angelique offers to show her what to do, or continue running them as she has been doing. Ariana opts for the former.

Friday, January 13, 4

Ariana Trumps Meander and asks if he's free now. He is, so they go to Amber. Ariana asks what she can do to help. He says she can sit in the circle with him. He has her draw some of the symbols on the floor with chalk while he begins the incantation. He uses a type of binding spell to call forth just the spirit they're looking for. The spell finishes, there's a pregnant pause, and nothing happens. Meander is sure that Sand isn't there. Ariana says that leaves the possibility of her being in someone else. Oh? Ariana explains her concern. Meander says that if they can find something of Sand's, he can make a charm of it. Ariana says she'll see what she can find.

Ariana returns to Vetchways and tells Lucien that Meander found no trace of Sand's ghost in Amber. He doesn't react much to the news. She asks if he has anything of Sand's. No. Why? She explains that Meander can make a charm with it. She decides to check with Random next and makes an appointment.

Random is able to see Ariana that day, but he doesn't have anything of Sand's. The pocket Shadow where he kept her was destroyed. What about her own Shadow? Corilaine? He thinks it's still there. She'll try there, then. Random tells her to be careful. Ariana says she wasn't going to go alone. Good.

Ariana returns to Vetchways and tells Lucien what she learned from Random. She asks if he can spare anyone to go with her to Corilaine. He offers to go with her himself. She's happy to take him up on that. She says there's no rush, but he knows it's important to her, so he's willing to go right away. Unsurprisingly, he knows the way to the Shadow. As a matter of fact, he knows exactly where the castle is. It's very run down. Lucien flies Ariana up to the turret and keeps her close by as he leads her to Sand's bedroom. Ariana pulls some hair out of a hairbrush, starting when a crow caws at that moment. Then she Trumps them both back to Vetchways.

Ariana Trumps Meander and gives him the hair. Meander says that he'll have to wait for a full moon, which is in a week. Ariana arranges to Trump him after that. She updates Lucien, seeming somewhat less stressed than she was before, since at least she's doing something. Then she thanks him properly for all of his help.

Sunday, January 22, 4

Ariana contacts Meander the day after the full moon. He hands her the charm, which is a moonstone on a string. Ariana asks how it works. The stone will glow if Sand comes near it. Ariana decides to wear it at all times.

Monday, January 23, 4 - Monday, February 13, 5

Ariana invites Mirelle, Grayson, and the mothers of Grayson's children to visit her in Chaos, but as she expected, they'd rather not. Instead, Ariana visits them in Amber frequently, bringing Ana, Briana and Bryan along to play with Devlin and Grayson's kids. She also keeps in touch with Tamaryn, Maddy and Kira. Grayson continues to be a mostly absent father as far as his kids are concerned. Ariana decides to give up on getting him more involved, figuring that he wouldn't be much of a father figure anyway, given that he's still partying pretty heavily. She lets him know that she's there if he ever wants advice, and then pretty much leaves him alone to make his own mistakes.

Tuesday, February 14, 5

Whimsy Trumps Ariana and asks her to check and see if the changes are finished. Ariana comes through and does so. Everything seems to have settled into place. Ariana arranges to spark the ovulation the appropriate number of days before the wedding, then check on Whimsy the day before the wedding. Whimsy asks Ariana to be one of her bridesmaids. Ariana is happy to accept.

Ariana asks Charlotte what Angelique's official status is, and learns she's still considered Lucien's wife in Chaos, since he hasn't divorced her. So what is Ariana considered? The second wife, or the mistress, depending on who you ask. Ariana finds this unacceptable, and confronts Lucien about it that evening in his study. He admits that Angelique wasn't very interested in divorcing him, so he didn't push the matter, lest she lash out at Ariana and the children. Didn't Angelique give her word that she wouldn't harm them? She did, but he hasn't known her in centuries and he tried to have her killed, so he believes her, and he doesn't. He asks what she would have him do. She isn't sure. She doesn't want to endanger the children, but she's not sure that she can live in Chaos if everyone thinks she's just his mistress. Besides which, she's not convinced that there's much safety provided by his remaining married to Angelique, since all Angelique has to do is arrange an accident for Ariana and she has what she wants. At least if he divorces her, she'd still have to convince him to marry her again. He says he'll have the paperwork drawn up, then. That improves Ariana's mood immensely, although she wishes there was something that could be offered to Angelique as compensation. Lucien says that the only position she wants is filled. Does he honestly think she might go after the children? He thinks the fact that she has a child of her own will inhibit her.

Quotables:

"I'll stop them if I have to fuck everyone!" -- Alexandra to the group

"Next time you tie me up, ask first." -- Alexandra to Ishmael

"She cast a fireball at me. She's definitely getting a spanking." -- Matthew R. to the group, speaking for the servants dealing with the faerie children.

"I don't need strategy! I have papier-mâché!" -- Felix to GM

"It is customary in our house for new brides to be tested." -- Claire
"In what way?" -- Whimsy
"Scantron." -- Liam

"Have you ever done this before?" -- GM
"Well...I've...um..." -- Alexandra
"No." -- Kris

"(Ishmael) has 29 points of good stuff." -- Lisamarie
"No wonder (he) kicked the snot out of (Alexandra). That, and having superior stats." -- Sean

"We put (the smokers) in the fireplace and open up the flue." -- Ishmael
"Going to put out the fire first? It is December." -- GM

"At least I didn't tie up some lady in the forest." -- Liam
"That was no lady, that was Alexandra." -- Lisamarie

"Flora seems very good at guessing at your personal style." -- GM to Whimsy
"If I didn't want a man to ever touch me, how would I dress?" -- Lisamarie

"Only Whimsy would have to gain weight to become a faerie." -- Sean to the group

"(The vampires) did not corner me. I went into their trap knowing they were coming. The fact that my trap didn't work..." -- Gavin to the group

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

All text on this page is © 2000 by Kris Fazzari, with the exception of the attributed quotes.

Last modified on March 20, 2000 by Kris Fazzari.