"What we anticipate seldom occurs; what we least expected generally happens."
 - Benjamin Disraeli
"It's useless to try to plan for the unexpected--by definition."
 - Anon
"I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."
 - Edward Everett Hale
Between the Pattern of Amber and the Logrus of Chaos are the lesser powers:
broken patterns, the ravelled logrii, representations, designs, and wells.
Realms of power. Shards.
Amber defeated Chaos in the Patternfall War, but the battle continues.
Now the Shards begin to fall. The realm of Begma is no more.
Slowly the eyes of the other Shards begin to open.
Chiare prepares for battle, but most remain blind to the danger.
In Thule Clieto is dead, the king mourns, and listens.
A small band has found wisdom at high price, now they journey to Kashfa in
order to guard the Shards.
They are unaware of what lies ahead...

Vance has packed, and is conversing with Ariadne quietly.

Krinac: "Your supplies have just arrived. You are ready to depart Thule.
You are in a large room multiple columns providing oportunities for the several
private convesations that went on since the last game. The King of Thule was
quite generous with supplies, you can have quite a bit if you want it.."

Vance to Krinac: 'I'm talking to her about how to invoke 'the Sight'.'.

Rex can be seen tying down the last straps on his pack horse, and checking his
mount.

Vance finishes his conversation, and looks over to Sean. "I think it's time to
test that Trump."

Krinac: "I've got multiple people asking what kind of supplies... He's a
rich king, what did you want?"

Sunfall carefully begins to load her pack.

Sean walks over to Vance. "I think I should be the one to call him, then. Or
possibly Reed."

Vance took enough supplies for a week-long trip, and had his horse brought along.

Vance gazes at Sean. "Why?"

Krinac: "Unless I hear anything special, I'll assume one-weeks supply of
food, weapons and armor if you want them, but not gold or jewels"

Krinac to Vance: It would be insulting to offer you money, but if Vance asked for
it he would probably give you some.

Vance to Krinac: Vance chuckles. "I still have the gem from Reed, and
if I really felt I needed it, I could tap my Thule estate for some funds."

Krinac: "Oh, yeah, and a horse for everyone, plus three pack horses...
anything else?"

Sean says "Do you think he'll want to talk to you?"

Vance shrugs. "I don't know. But I think he'll be interested enough to listen
for a minute or two."

Reed steps up to join the convesation, "I don't think he trusts you, but he
does seem to like to talk."

Vance to Krinac: 'And, though Vance wouldn't know ICly, I don't think you
can use Trump Caller ID on someone you don't have a Trump of.'.

Vance nods. "Indeed. And if I call him myself, it will definately make him
curious. I want that."

Allyna interrupts, "Is it wise for you to risk this? You open yourself to more
than talk when you invoke the image of a person."

Vance looks to Allyna. "I know. Watch my face. If you see anything wrong, cover
the card."

Sean glances at Allyna, then back to Reed. "He's expecting Reed or I to call
him. You may get him curious, but you'll get him wary, too."

Vance says, "He'll be wary when he learns that I know about you, anyway."

Sean looks annoyed. "You aren't listening. If I call him, he won't know until
we're all in Kashfa."

Allyna says, "That may not break the contact, but I will watch." She steps up
to Vance, but out of sight from the trump.

Vance hmms. "Can you say that for certain? Won't he know when he starts to
bring you across?"

Sean shrugs. "It'll be a little too late, then, won't it?"

Vance turns to Allyna. "You're our expert on such things. Will it be too late?"

Allyna says, "That depends on his skill, wits, and whether he is a true artist.
It is a gamble."

Vance pauses, then makes a decision. "No. I'm not trying to trick
Rinaldo...yet. If we come through uninvited, he'll assume it's an assault. I
would. I'll make the call."

Allyna says, "At any rate you can only move a caravan through an image one
piece at a time, so after Sean arrives, the rest of us would still be waiting."

Vance to Krinac: 'Do I currently have the card? I think he handed it to me
last session...'.

Sean frowns, and shakes his head. "Then I'll tell him. But I'm calling him. You
may be our leader by right of experience, Vance, but this trust--or betrayal--is
mine."

Krinac to Vance: You do have the trump.

Vance frowns. "Okay, Sean. But remove your weapon first. I trust you to an
extent, but I don't trust anyone completely. Sunfall, move next to him. If he
tries to Trump out without us..." Vance leaves the statement hanging in the air,
and pulls out the Trump.

Reed says, "Then he leaves me behind as surety for his actions."

Sean shakes his head. "You have to trust someone, Vance, or you die alone in
the end." He takes his sword off, and hands it to Reed, then holds out his hand
for the card.

Vance glances back to Reed. "I would sacrifice a piece to win the game, Reed.
Rinaldo would do the same."

Vance hands over the card. "Nothing personal, Sean. If the situation was
reversed, I would expect no less from you."

Krinac recaps the scene: "Sean is about to try to contact Rinaldo by way of his
trump. Vance and Allyna stand in front of him, outside of the image. Allyna is
monitoring, to interrupt if Rinaldo uses the Trump to attack."

Sean shrugs, relaxing a little. He doesn't answer Vance, but stares at the card
intently.

Shamus stands by his master's side.

Jeanette rejoins the group, her attention brought back to the present, and
watches.

Minutes pass as Sean stares at the card.

Sean frowns. "It's not working," he mutters.

Vance looks to Allyna. "Can you determine what's wrong?"

Allyna holds out her hand for the card. "I can try."

Sean gives the card to Allyna.

Allyna brings the card to her eyes, examining it with an intent look.

More minutes pass as Allyna stares at the card.

Rex watches.

Sunfall says "Well, isn't this fun."

Vance glances over to Sunfall. "If we have to go to Kashfa the long way, can
you lead us there?"

Sunfall says "I've never been to Kashfa, so no."

Allyna shakes her head. "I can't say what's wrong. But this path is presently
closed to us."

Vance frowns. "Damn, that's right. Okay, I may have you take us as far as
Chiare, depending on how close we can get with Allyna's Trump." He holds out a
hand to Allyna for the Trump of Rinaldo.

Sunfall says "Actually, I might be able if I had a REAL GOOD description of it,
but it might take quite a while and be somewhat frustrating."

Vance also says, distractedly, "Reed, you can give Sean his sword back, now."

Reed hands Sean his sword.

Sean snorts. "Figures, after all the arguing, that it wouldn't matter." He
seems almost amused. He holds out his other hand for the card.

Allyna hands Sean the trump.

Vance gives an even stare at Allyna, then drops his hand. "Get us out of Thule."

Allyna frowns, and pulls a card from her pouch.

Sean pockets the card. "Ah... is this the place where people want to kill you?"
he asks Allyna.

Allyna frowns, and nods. "Yes. I haven't had a lot of opportunities to explore,
until now."

Jeanette says "If you care to take ship again, I believe I can get us back to
Kashfa."

Vance says, "We need to vanish without trace from Thule, so our departure is seen
as the work of Clieto."

Ariadne looks as if she had something to say, but she swallows it at Vance's
words.

Vance smiles. "Which, in a way, it is."

Sean nods, and chuckles wryly.. "Figures," he says to Allyna. "Well, we'll just
have to be careful."

Jeanette says "The bidding, at least, yes."

Allyna says, "Hopefully, this particular place will be safe."

Jeanette says "So long as it is out of here."

Vance says, "We won't be there long."

Allyna frowns.

Vance leans against a pillar, waiting.

Allyna shakes her head, and focuses on the trump again.
Allyna gives up, after a time, picking out another trump.

Vance says, "Is there a problem?"

Allyna nods, as she focuses on the second trump.

Allyna makes a noise of displeasure, and picks out a third trump.

Allyna's face begins to show strain. She sighs. "Something is very wrong."

Vance sighs. "Ariadne, we may need an alternative. If this fails, I'm going to
have you contact Andra, so we can get the High King to arrange for a ship."

Sean ruffles Shamus' fur. "Maybe the problem is here, not where we're going."

Ariadne nods, "I'm sure he can provide one on short notice."

Allyna says, "That is a distinct possibility, but I got at least one trump to
work."

Vance hmms. "Which Trumps do you have?"

Sunfall says "Can you sail the ship directly to Kashfa, or will we be retracing
our steps?"

Allyna says, "Several locations among the Spheres, and the Watery Flame. A few
I was hoping not to use, as well."

Ariadne says, "Kashfa is on the Golden Circle yes? We do trade with Rebma, we
can sail to there first, and from there it shouldn't be hard to reach Kashfa."

Allyna selects a fourth card, and focuses her attention on it.

Vance says, "Yes...but I need to sneak us out of this place without being seen.
And
prevent any rumors from getting back to the opposition forces here."

Vance looks to Allyna. "Do you have an 'Image' of yourself that works?"

Sunfall says "If it helps, I can reach Chiare without too much difficulty.
Tanists are required to memorize the runic signature for the citadel."

Allyna shakes her head. "No. I haven't had the time."

Allyna adds, "And... Ah... I never thought of it."

Vance lowers his head and holds the bridge of his nose, as if he had a
headache. "How long to make one? It doesn't have to be perfect...it just has to
last long enough to transport us to a ship."

Allyna says, "That ought to work. A couple of hours, at the most. Let me try
one more."

Allyna pulls one more card out, and focuses on it.

Allyna mutters. "Someone get me a mirror, in case."

Vance says, "Actually...make one of Ariadne. She'll be the one to sneak out and
get
the ship."

Engela speaks quietly to Rex.

Rex nods to Engela, and smiles, whispering back.

Allyna breathes deeply, as if she were growing tired from all these efforts,
however futile.

Engela smiles at Rex speaking softly.

Sean looks a little restless, and ruffles Shamus' fur.

Allyna tosses the card on the floor in frustration.

Rex clears his throat, "Excuse me. Engela tells me that she could cover us with
what she calls a 'glamour', disguising us for our departure. How does that
sound?"

Rex says "It would take a little while..."

Vance looks to Engela. "Can you weave a greater glamour? The royals of Thule
can sense normal magical workings...we will need something strong enough to
decieve even them."

Allyna says, "Why is it so important that we deceive them? Is your reputation
worth all this trouble, Vance?"

Engela says, "Yes I can weave the greater glamours, I intended to weave one
simple glamour to cover us all in an aura of misdirection, that would take but a
few hours, but it wouldn't stand up to close inspection. I would need to weave a
glamour for each of us if we would have to stand up to scrutiny. That would take
an hour or so for each of us."

Vance says to Allyna, "Not mine. The High King's. He has to remain in power for
Thule to survive. If there is even a suspicion that Clieto died from foul play,
or that we were not gifted with her blessing, the High King will suffer for it."

Krinac to Vance: A Glamour that covers all of you is pretty advanced...

Allyna nods. "I see."

Vance hmms. "Prepare your first Glamour. We can sneak Ariadne out first, to
give her time to send word about the ship."

Allyna picks up the card and returns it to its place. "I might as well start on
that Image."

Vance nods to Allyna. "Make it of Ariadne. We can use it to go directly to her,
when she's on the ship."

Allyna pulls her sketchpad from her satchel.

Engela says, "I would ask that all of you remain in this room, while I spin the
glamour, and please do not invoke any higher powers, either now or when we are
leaving that can unravel the weaving."

Sean says "Should we send someone with her?"

Ariadne approaches Allyna, "What do I have to do?"

Allyna says, "I need her to sit for the sketch first."

Vance looks to Allyna. "Can you prepare two, and release them together?"

Allyna says, "Just find a comfortable position that you can keep for a long
time."

Engela begins singing in a musical foreign tongue, she reaches out to where the
sun streams through the window, and it is as if she grabs the sunbeam and begins
spinning it around her fingers.

Krinac to Vance: Faerie tongue, and faerie magic. No doubt of it.

Rex blinks, and watches closely.

Vance to Krinac: 'Time passes? And, I'll explain to Ariadne before she
leaves that she is to contact Andra. We want a ship barely large enough for the
party and a few sailors. Two that are trained as both pilot and navigator, one
that can instruct us in how to handle the sails, and Andra to lead the ship back
when we've gotten to Kashfa. All should be able to keep their mouth shut.'.

Jeanette watches, too, paying the close attention of a student of the same art.

Sean raises an eyebrow, then smiles and sits down to wait, trying to get
vaguely comfortable.

Sunfall seems to be remembering something as she watches.

Vance glances at Engela as if he's watching something familiar to him. At one
point, he mutters something in a strange tongue.

Allyna pulls out her pencil, and begins to commit Ariadne's image to the paper.

Vance to Krinac: 'In the High Tongue... "Interesting technique."'.

Slowly Engela begins to dance, with grace and beauty, and apparently with
happiness, she spins the sun into streams of light and color that she then
throws and places about the room.

Time passes.

Krinac: "Allyna completes her sketch of Ariadne to her satisfaction."

Vance walks over and gives Ariadne a few quiet words of instruction.

Krinac to Vance: Engela continues her weaving for some time, before she reaches a
place she can speak, "Thank you, Honored Dark Master." (Your title in the Seelie
court, Darkness being the flaw for light)

Ariadne and Vance speak for a bit, when Ariadne opens the door to depart, it is
almost as if she steps through a wall of water, her image is distored once she
passes through.

Vance to Krinac: Vance smiles, and gives a slight bow. (Actually, the
title would be Champions of the Light or Wielders of the Flame, according to the
writeup).

Krinac to Vance: Yes, but you are also the 'master of the flaw' so you are a
Champion of the Flame, but you are also honored for understanding the Dark side.

Vance to Krinac: Vance ahs. "Okay. Seems she knows my rep." :)

Vance to Krinac: 'If Sean wanted someone else to go with Ariadne, I take
that as him volunteering. :)'.

Krinac asks, "Was anyone going with Ariadne?"

Vance says, "You have four hours, daughter. We will contact you then. If there
are
any problems, we will slip out another via Engela's glamours. Engela, if you are
prepared to cloak another, do so for Sean. He can protect her in case a problem
arises."

Vance to Krinac: 'By choosing two NPC's, we can fast-forward again.'.

Rex nods. "That sounds like a good idea."

Engela looks vexed, and continues her dancing and singing for awhile... then
she nods, and says "In just a half hour more."

Engela resumes her weaving of the glamour.

Vance nods, and lets time pass.

Ariadne says, "Thank you for the concern for my well being, Sean."

Time passes.

Engela completes her weaving.

Rex moves close to Engela, and speaks softly to her.


Engela motions for Sean to go stand in the sunbeam she was using before.

Engela says, "Now I'll give you something a little more personal that will
cover you when you are away from here."

Sean smiles at Ariadne. "We're all in this together, after all." He moves to
stand in the sunbeam indicated. "Should Shamus sit with me?"

Vance hmms. "You may have to leave him behind for a time, Sean."

Engela says, "I cannot cover him as well." When Sean steps into the sunbeam,
Engela sings a few words, and it is as if the sunbeam sweeps over him and in his
place is an old crone in the dress of Thule. "I'm sorry I don't have a more
flattering disguise prepared, but that is the one I had at ready."

Sean laughs. "I'll live." He pats Shamus. "You'll have to stay here, boy."

Engela says, "Remember to walk slowly." She then goes to sit by Rex.

Vance watches Ariadne and Sean depart.

Krinac: "Now Sean and Ariadne depart. And the GM press the Fast Forward
button. You are now all on the boat, with no problems, and are leaving Thule."

Vance looks to Jeanette. "If you can get us to Kashfa, I will let you lead for
a time. Switch out with anyone that can take your place when you get tired.
Ariadne...come with me." He heads belowdecks.

Jeanette nods, and walks to the bow of the boat...

Allyna looks for a quiet private place to do whatever it is she does in private.

Vance to Krinac: 'Vance instructs Ariadne in how to use the Sight, and
will start work on casting spells after that.'.

Vance to Krinac: 'The interesting thing is that it's like teaching
calculus shortcuts to a algebra student. Vance doesn't have Magic
Intuition...but he does have a BP lens.'.

Vance to Krinac: 'In other news...yes, Kashfa is like the city in
'Aladdin', except that it has slowly been modified to medieval architechure over
several centuries. Some old buildings, including the Palace, are still
predominately in the Arabian style, though.'.

Krinac: "Time passes. A day goes by without event. You seem to be retracing
your path back to Chiare, but the winds are not as favorable. Jeanette guides
the ship most of the night."

Vance remains in seclusion with his daughter. Those that spy on him can tell
he's teaching magical theory and application of some sort.

Sean seems less than thrilled about being on another ship, but gets over it,
and tries to keep occupied, playing cards with anyone interested and talking to
Reed.

Rex keeps company with Engela, Aranor, and Middenriddle, all talking amongst
themselves.

Jeanette remains seated at the bow for long periods, silent and unmoving except
for occasional breaks to pace the deck.

Krinac to Vance: Ariadne's a quick student, and she knows much of the theory
already. Before the voyage is out she has had the lens up for glimpses, but is
still working to make it reliable and stable..

Allyna spends most of her time sketching people, or locked away, ostensibly
working on trumps.

After a few hours aboard ship, the weather seems to smile on you, and the winds
change to blow directly where you need to go.

Sunfall remains in her cabin most of the trip.

Krinac: "The second day finds you off the coast of Chiare."

Vance to Krinac: 'Okay, we'll focus on the Lens exclusively. It's the
basis of my magic, so it should be of hers. Heck, she may be better at it than I
am, eventually.'.

Krinac to Vance: OK, you just don't learn things like Power Lens overnight.
She'll be getting the hang of it when you reach Kashfa.

Vance head abovedeck briefly, and talks to the others. "Jeanette, can you take
us the rest of the way to Kashfa? Perhaps with Rex helping?"

Jeanette says "I will attempt it, at least. Though we did not come the entire
route by ship, so I cannot be certain of the path."

Vance nods, and says to the group in general, "If we reach a point where none
of you can take us further, I will bear the burden of transit the rest of the
way."

Jeanette nods. "There are several paths leading on from here. If you could
point out the one that we arrived by, I can get us as far as Eregnor.

Vance to Krinac: 'Can I tell?'.

Krinac to Vance: Frankly you usually don't pay attention to 'paths'. It's rather
like noticing train tracks when you fly a plane. You can go anywhere, why worry
about roads? As you concentrate on going to Kashfa though, watching through the
lens, you find yourself drawn toward one road... which must be the one.

Vance points in a particular direction. "There. Take the second, not the first."

Jeanette nods, "I have the path. Rest now."

Krinac: "Another day passes, and you approach Kashfa."

Vance to Krinac: 'Was Andra able to make it on the boat, to take it back
when we disembark?'.

Krinac to Vance: (OOC damn loose end) Andra was able to be aboard the ship.

Vance emerges from belowdecks as the ship approaches Kashfa. He walks over to
Jeanette and says, "You have proven to be of some use. Thank you."

Krinac: "A cry goes up, "Sail ho" Nothing unusual, it has happened several
times before."

Jeanette chuckles softly. "You've known I could do this since Chiare, Vance.
You had no need to be so... unpleasant."

Reed examines the ship with his binoculars.

Reed hands the binoculars to Sean.

Vance says, "A statement is one thing. Proof is another." He turns to Reed.
"What colors does it fly?"

Reed says loudly, "That's a three masted warship, and it's flying a unicorn
banner, making directly for us."

Sean takes the binoculars and studies the ship.

Sunfall comes abovedecks to watch landfall, just in time to hear Reed's shout.

Vance frowns. "Continue as if we hadn't noticed it. Anyone who has a spell
useful to the situation, be prepared to use it. Hopefully they will choose to
hail us."

Vance adds, "I do not want to have to use the Dark Well in the very harbor of
Kashfa."

Jeanette nods, and pulls her jacket close about her.

Sean frowns. "They don't look friendly. Vance, is the banner who I think it is?"

Vance says, "Amber, Sean. But not all in Amber have the same agenda. Keep
watch...if you see them preparing weapons, let me know."

Vance to Krinac: 'We're headed for the docks.'.

Sean says "Aye. Vance, they aren't alone."

Vance says, "Hmm? Who's with them?"

A second ship is now visible accompanying the first ship, they are clearly on
an intercept course.

Vance to Krinac: 'Will we make it to the docks, at our present speed?'.

Krinac: "The two ships are travelling together, and are moving to intercept
your ship."

Krinac to Vance: No they are approaching FROM the docks.

Vance to Krinac: Vance ahs. "Wonderful."

Vance takes stock of the situation. "Secure the sails. We're going to use the
wind to cut right between them."

Sean frowns. "They mean to take us. They're readying ballistae, but no cannons.
Can we outrun them?"

a slight hum, then a crackling noise is heard. Those who look see the figure of
Sunfall, bathed in a gradually brightening nimbus of light as she begins to
trace a circle of runes.

Vance smiles. "For a short time, I believe so. The wind change is going to
catch them offguard." He gazes around the deck. "Brace yourselves. The wind is
going to hit as soon as we reach ballista range...hopefully we'll throw off
their aim with the change in speed." Vance adds, quietly, "Assuming the sails
don't rip."

Vance to Krinac: Vance thinks you can guess what he's going to do.
"Wind Blast racked and ready."

Jeanette nods, and slips her gloves on. "Right."

Vance moves to the rear of the boat, facing the sails.

The pilot asks, "Sir, what are you going to do? I need to know."

Vance says to the pilot, "A sudden gust of wind will hit the sails. I can't say
exactly how strong it'll be, but it should be less than hurricane force."

As Sunfall's junaive traces the runes on the floorboards of the deck, strands
of light leak from them in streamers that flash across the deck, masts, sails,
and sides of the ship.

Allyna heads to the deck, although she doesn't seem to have any idea what to do.

Krinac: "The wind is already in your direction and has been for most of the
journey, so the other ships are tacking to reach you anyway."

Sean glances up at the sails, then hands the binoculars to Reed. "Let me know
when they get ready to fire." He draws his sword.

The pilot says, "Aye sir." He then barks out, "All hands, sequre the riggin'

Vance says, "Tack to turn us directly at them, pilot, and slow us down a bit.
I'll
signal just before I start...you'll have maybe 15 seconds to bring the full
sails up."

Krinac: "With agonizing slowness you approach. Although your plan is worked
out, it will be another ten minutes before you are in range to see if it works."

Vance to Krinac: Vance is going to time this so the wind occurs just
before the ships fire. "We're going to cut right between them, using our small
size to our advantage. They won't be able to turn around till we're well past
them...if this works. Hopefully Andra chose a skilled pilot."

Sunfall leans heavily on the junaive as she traces, as if to carve the runes
deeply into the deck. Drops of the ever brightening light seem to drip from her
hands and pool on the wooden surface.

Krinac to Vance: You know, Kashfa is a busy port... it is kind of odd that you
are the only ships on the water.

Vance waits. At one point he says, "Are they preparing boarders?"

Rex seems to concentrate.

Vance to Krinac: 'Yes, it is. We may have a fight on our hands at the
docks...but better there than on the open sea. I can't outrun two three-masted
ships, and if an Amberite's on them, even Shadow wouldn't be a refuge.'.

Reed says, "They have archers on the second story deck, and grappling lines,
and a great deal of men milling about. Someone is waving a flag at us... it
isn't morse, who knows the local code?"

Rex shakes his head.

Vance says, "I've spent little time on ships, Reed. Maybe the pilot would know."
The port of Kashfa slowly begins to come into view as you approach closer and
closer.

The sailor looks at the waving flags, "Bloody predictable. Heave to and be
boarded, or else."

Vance watches the two ships with an intent gaze. "Not yet..."

Sunfall appears to be tracing the final rune, a large one in the center of the
circle. The rune somehow looks somewhat familiar. It appears to be the most
difficult one of all, and the tracing goes slowly.

Vance to Krinac: 'The great thing is, I may even steal their wind
temporarily, as we pass them. Wind Blast redirects atmospheric gasses, instead
of creating them.'.

Sean looks at Rinaldo's trump for a minute, then curses and puts it away.
the streamers of light limning the ship start to accelerate.

Krinac: "You are quickly approaching ballistae range, other ships can now
be seen in the harbor."

Reed continues to look through his binoculars, "Vance! There are two more of
those big mother ships at anchor in the harbor, and several smaller ones. And I
think you should take a look at this."

Vance to Krinac: 'I cast just when we hit ballista range, by my estimate.
Let me know when to pose.'.

Krinac to Vance: Not yet... soon.

Vance says, "No time, Reed. We're committed. Best we can do is move to one side
of
the docks and escape into the city before they can mobilize."

Jeanette joins Reed. "What's to see?"

Sean curses again. "What? Have they taken the city?"

One of the ships fires a 'warning shot' across your bow. Proving you are
obviously in their range.

Sunfall completes her spell.

Vance has started incanting. Some may notice that a spare rope has been wrapped
around his waist to tie him to the back of the ship.

Reed says, "They aren't flying Kashfa's banner. They are flying the unicorn
over the castle."

Vance says the lynchpins, and points directly between the two Amber ships.

Suddenly, as the Rune of Structure is completed, the nimbus of light
surrounding Sunfall spreads to cover the ship momentarily, and when it passes
you recall the feeling of permanence that surrounded the gates to the Sorceror's
Citadel. An echo of it is here, now.

Almost at once the wind builds to near hurricane strength. The mast and sails
creak alarmingly and your little vessel surges forward.

Sunfall slumps a little in exhaustion.

Jeanette is caught by the blast of wind and is now hanging half way over the
side.

Jeanette grabs hold of the rail, catching a ratline in one hand...

Vance hangs on to the ropes securing him, and yells, "Aim us to the left of the
docks...ram the shore if you have to."

Rex rushes to grab Jeanette.

Vance to Krinac: Vance chuckles. "I warned them about the wind..."

Jeanette was standing by Reed, and he manages to grab the other end of her
rope, but he needed Rex's help to pull her back on deck.

Jeanette clambers back over the railing and mutters. "I'm fine, dammit!"

Reed says, "We've got you."

Jeanette mutters, "...can swim just /fine/, thanks... I'm okay..." as she
settles onto the deck again.

Several bolts fly out from the two ships, and the wind appears to be throwing
off their aim. It appears as if the plan is working, when a ballastae bolt
smashes into the deck, making it clear you aren't through the gauntlet yet.

Allyna falls to the deck and rolls several feet, looking more comical than
painful, although her cool, such as it is, is quite lost.

Vance unsecures himself, and moves to the front of the ship along the railing,
going hand over hand to always maintain a grip. "Andra! Looks like you're coming
with us."

Rex, Midden, and Aranor all get that silvery sheen to their skin and eyes.
Engela simply vanishes.

Vance to Krinac: 'The worst is probably over, though. Ballistas aren't
that quick to load...or turn, for that matter.'.

A swarms of arrows fall upon you like bees. As you pass between the vessels at
your closest point, close enough to read their names, Crown of the Seas and
Eric. Several of the arrows fall upon the ship, some of them are burning.

Vance calls out, "Bring up a water barrel!"

An arrow bounces off of Rex doing no apparent harm, Sunfall watches the swarm
approach with a careful eye stepping between them. Jeanette continues her chain
of bad luck with the distinction of being the only person on board actually hit
by an arrow.

Jeanette finds this highly unpleasant, and tumbles down below the railing,
making a smaller target.

Vance to Krinac: 'Okay, maybe I was wrong. I didn't think they'd hit in
this wind.'.

Krinac to Vance: Both boats were carrying a full complement of marines, some of
them highly skilled, but in any rate large numbers, and a some of them got lucky.

Sunfall shouts to Vance, "If we get split up, where in Kashfa should I look to
meet with you!"

Vance waits until they're past the two ships, before calling back, "There's a
clothier on Crow Street. Go there, and say that you want a double-breasted suit."

Grappling lines sail out, but they fall short.

Sean staggers away from the rail, obviously no sailor, but tries to help douse
the flames as best he can.

As you pass between the vessels you notice that the wind begins to die out.

Vance says, "Sean, use the water barrels...we won't be taking them with us.
Take an
axe to them if need be."

Reed hands the binoculars to Jeanette, "That arrow in your arm looks painful,
but not serious, I'm going to help with the fire, keep watch."

Reed rushes to help with the fire.

Jeanette takes them with her unwoundewd hand, and nods...

Sunfall helps haul buckets, keeping watch for grapnels.

Allyna tries to get herself upright and help with the fire.

Sean uses his heavy sword to stave in the barrels.

Most of the people rush to put out the fires, which were not in much danger of
spreading.

Jeanette calls out, "More ships coming!"

Sean swears again. "Which direction?"

Jeanette says "We'll beat most of them, but that close one's a ramship!"

Vance moves to face the new threat, and yells, "It'll never reach us. Just keep
the ship straight!" He graps the railing tightly with one hand, and begins to
incant with the other.

Allyna makes for the railing.

Vance to Krinac: 'Hellfire spell. I'm going to put a nice big hole in that
ship right at the waterline (or the mast, if that would be better). Might even
catch fire...will be taking on water. This is the two pose spell, BTW.'.

Reed returns, "Jeanette, we may have to swim or run soon, now isn't the best
time, but I'd better cut that arrow out."

Bells are rining in the harbor.

Jeanette grits her teeth. "Get at it. And someone watch that ship."

Rex says "I'll watch the ramship."

Vance makes some arcane motions, and a fist-sized globe of blackness appears in
his palm. He continues to hold it as he keeps incanting...valuable seconds pass
by as he does this.

Jeanette gestures with the binoculars, "No, that one!"

Rex says "May I use that device of seeing?"

Reed takes out a knife, hands the sheath to Jeanette. "Bite this."

Rex nods. "Right, that one. Sorry."

Sunfall crouches behind the gunwale.

Jeanette says "Watch 'em both!"

Jeanette passes over the binoculars, and takes Reed's sheath.


Allyna turns, noticing that Jeanette is injured, and moves toward her.

Ariadne and Andra are belowdecks, securing those possessions that will be taken
off the ship.

The darkness between Vance's hands grows. Just as it begins to crack, Vance
points his palm at the ship, and a white-hot blast of energy shoots forth.
The blast races out toward the approaching vessel where it strikes the
vessel. Its single mast snaps, falling into the sea, removing the threat.

Sean says "Everyone group up, twos or threes, in case we get seperated. If you
don't think you can find the shop, stick with me, Vance or--anyone else know
where it is?"

Allyna shouts, "I have a way to find the shop!"

Vance says, "Jeanette's been there."

Rex motions his friends to stay close.

You are now almost to shore. Andra and Ariadne return from belowdecks. One of
the other ships at anchor opens fire as you approach. It is the other ship of
the line, and it lets go with several ballistae bolts. Three of them hit. Your
pilot is dead, and your vessel begins to lose control. Andra is injured.
The vessel slowly begins to tack as the pilot slumps to the deck.

Vance yells for the navigator, also a competent pilot, to take control.

Allyna says, "Jeanette, can you swim to the shore?"

Vance says, "I'm out of tricks, unless I want to destroy Kashfa."

The navigator rushes to the helm...

Ahead at least a dozen troops wait to greet you when you reach shore.

Sean growls. "Small groups, stick together!" He runs to the bow of the ship,
whistling for Shamus as he goes.

Krinac responds to a page publically, "You will ram the shore"

Vance rushes to the front of the ship, drawing his scimitar. "Ariadne, carry
Andra! Sailors, grab the supplies and get off the ship as soon we hit."

Jeanette nods, "I'll be okay!" She looks around at her companions, and grabs
her bag with her good hand, to sling over her shoulder.

Sunfall motions to Jeanette and prepares to leap into the water, grabbing her
bag where she left it while crouching earlier.

Allyna grabs Jeanette's arm, and leaps into the water, trying to disappear
under a pier if possible.

Vance to Krinac: Vance is jumping off the ship, rolling, and trying to
take out a guard on the end quickly.

Sunfall leaps into the water. Only her pack and her junaive disturb the water
as she dives in.

Reed, Jeanette, Allyna, and Sunfall dive into the water just before impact.
Vance, Sean, Shamus, Ariadne(helping Andra) are all at the front.

Krinac: "Rex, Aranor, and Middenriddle are on the other side of the boat."

Krinac: "Engela just plan vanished from view at the first sign of danger."

Sean gets ready to jump. "I'll take the left, you take the right?" he asks
Vance quickly.

Vance nods to Sean, and then...

Jeanette swims along, 'helped' by Allyna, despite assurances that she's fine.
With a sickening learch the boat rams the shore and comes aground 20 feet from
the beach. Sean, Vance, and Ariadne use their momentum to propel themselves to
shore.

Several soldiers immediately charge.

Vance rolls so he'll be positioned near the rightmost soldier, and comes up
swinging. A flick of his wrist drops a throwing dagger into his free hand.

The boat is no longer seaworthy, and several of the sailors who were still
aboard (including the horses below) are now injured or dead.

Rex was not seen to jump ship before the wreck, nor his companions.

Sean charges as well, yelling like a maniac, Shamus at his side.

Vance cuts at the first soldier, throwing his dagger at the second one just as
he finishes.

The soldiers are disciplined, meeting the attacks in pairs, this doesn't keep
one of them from falling from a thrown blade from Vance, or another from getting
his throat torn out by Sean's blade. Ariadne helping Andra is forced to advance
slowly.

Krinac to Vance: the first soldier backed up, waiting to surround you, your
thrown dagger caught the other unprepared.

Vance and Sean by virtue of moving quickly each face one opponent. Ariadne is
quickly going to be cornered by three. Sunfall has made it to shore.

Vance to Krinac: Vance nods. "I'm moving in along the right, forcing
them to turn their back to either me or Sean. I'm also trying to look like death
incarnate, so their attention is diverted from Ariadne and Andra...even if that
gives me more foes to fight.

Shamus dives into the frey, and surprisingly takes one by the throat, but
another soldier stabs Shamus, with a wound that will almost certainly be lethal.
There are still more guards around, and more on the way.

Vance to Krinac: 'And, I'll be using my gloves to stop the momentum of
blades, killing them in their moment of surprise and immobility.'.

In the water, Allyna, Jeanette, and Reed are for the moment unnoticed.

Sean lunges at the man who stabbed Shamus, yelling incoherently.

Andra draws a blade, "Drop me Ariadne."

Krinac to Vance: I've got it."

Ariadne drops Andra, and moves toward one of her attackers, spinning her spear
like a staff, and catching him in the knee.

Sunfall drops her bag and rushes to join the others, flanking the soldiers on
the right, junaive swinging.

The soldiers now begin to give ground, refusing to stand and meet the wild
charge, instead the fight defensively trying to give their comrades time to
surround you.

Vance to Krinac: Vance cuts down his opponent, and moves back to Andra
and Ariadne.

The one who stabbed Shamus goes down quickly under Sean's wild charge, and the
others back away quickly. Sean seems enraged on the edge of going beserk, and he
whirls unpredictable first to one flank then to the other.

Sean never stops moving, often feinting with his blade to try to kick or punch
at an attacker, and moving away from the others, screaming at the top of his
lungs. "Briarwood! Silvanus! Artio! Shamus!"

Krinac to Vance: to your practiced eye, he isn't as random as it seems, it is
actually doing quite well.

Vance to Krinac: Vance will reach down to grab his throwing dagger from
the throat of the downed man as he does so, BTW.

Vance to Krinac: Vance nods. "Shamus is a goner, I take it?"

Sunfall emerges from the beach and takes an opponent, her Junaive first
breaking his weapon, then cleaving his armor while he still gapes.

Krinac to Vance: One dead doggie.

Sunfall fights soldiers along Sean's path, trying to minimize the number of
attackers at his back.

Vance grabs his throwing dagger from a fallen soldier's throat, as he runs back
to Andra and Ariadne. "Get to the buildings! We'll cover you."

Vance to Krinac: 'It's easy to evade people in Kashfa. Look at how Aladdin
ditches the guards, for a comparison.'.

Ariadne engages her opponent, and quickly has him on the ropes, but Andra is
beset by an opponent of her own, she exchanges a few blows, and then has her
weapon knocked from her grasp, she is then skewered through the shoulder. Two
soldiers rush to her postion and begin to pull her back out of the fray.

Krinac to Vance: You can break an opening through, but you need to go now,
reinforcements are on the way. If you wait in your WARFARE judgement you'll be
captured.

Krinac to Vance: Ariadne can break free, but going back to get Andra, is a VERY
risky proposition.

Vance makes an opening for Ariadne to run through, throwing a dagger at one
soldier while cutting at another with his scimitar.

Vance to Krinac: 'I'm going for the quick disable, not a kill.'.

Sean changes direction, driving toward a guard farther from his fellows than
the others, trying to make a hole in their line. "RUN!"

Krinac: "Um, what are the people in the water doing? Waiting for the
archers to arrive?"

Jeanette: "Getting the hell out of here, if there are archers on the way."

Jeanette turns to Allyna. "You said you had a way to get us there? Go!"

Allyna says, "Won't work, now. Later."

Jeanette says "Not much time."

Vance's thrown blade does minimal damage, but it distracts the one on Ariadne,
and she wounds her opponent enough to break for the opening and run.

Vance continues fighting just long enough to let those who have a chance to get
away run through the opening he's made in the enemy lines, and then goes after
Ariadne.

Sean has created an opening through which Vance, Ariadne, Sean, and Sunfall can
leave. Andra is captured. The people in the water can't reach it in time.

Vance to Krinac: 'Will Sean be able to escape? (OOCly, I recall that his
Warfare is rather good, so he has the choice).'.

Reed says, "Perhaps now would be a good time to get behind the boat away from
shore then."

Krinac to Vance: Sean's in the best shape of all of you. He made the hole, the
rest of you are taking advantage of it.

Krinac: "Andra is captured. Allyna, Jeanette, and Reed are swimming.
(did someone say ducks in a barrel?)

Vance to Krinac: 'Okay, well, I'm going to take the lead as soon as
possible, and lead them through the back alleys of Kashfa till I can find a spot
to hide out (Guild safehouse?).'.

Sean continues to hold the soldiers back as long as he can, attacking one and
then another unpredictably.

Allyna is going to follow Reed's lead unless Jeanette has a better suggestion.

Vance sprints toward the city. "Sean, come on!"

Jeanette nods... "For now."

Ok, Sunfall dives into water. Reed, Jeanette, and Allyna are hiding at the back
of the boat, which is safe now, but won't last but a few minutes. Sean, Vance,
and Ariadne are sprinting through the streets of Kashfa.

Jeanette murmurs, "Allright, Allyna, if you can get us there..."

Allyna treads water and pulls her trump case out of the water. "Hold this,
Jeanette."

Jeanette takes the case, nodding.

Allyna opens the case, using one hand to stay afloat, and picks out a card.

Krinac to Vance: Destination??

Allyna takes the card in her teeth, delicately, and closes the case, returning
it to her belt.

Vance to Krinac: 'Nearest Guild safehouse. Even if Amber took over the
whole city, they're not going to be able to root out the Guild. They learned
from the Purge.'.

Krinac to Vance: You are near Kaisarah's tailor shop.

Vance to Krinac: Vance goes there...through the back entrance.

Krinac to Vance: OOC: good stuff

Vance to Krinac: Vance smiles. "Thanks."

Sean ducks his head as he runs, barely looking where he's going except to
follow the others.

Allyna examines the card.

Vance to Krinac: 'Oh, I make sure we're not seen entering the place. We'll
take a slight detour if necessary, grab clothing from clotheslines...whatever it
takes.'.

Vance to Krinac: 'You know what else is Good Stuff? Having Sean with
me...the man is one hell of a warrior.'.

Krinac to Vance: Would you pose your journey to Kaisarah's shop for the log? the
party will rejoin shortly.

Sunfall dives deep under water, and doesn't appear to come up again.

Vance takes Ariadne and Sean through the streets of Kashfa. They cut through
alleys, steal clothes from clotheslines, jump from rooftop to rooftop, and
manage to reach their destination on Crow Street unnoticed, going in through the
back entrance.

Vance to Krinac: 'Not that he'll show up anytime soon, but Madrak knows
where this place is...'.

Krinac to Vance: you have a sudden strange sensation, as if someone was calling
your name...and it is getting stronger.

Vance to Krinac: 'I don't suppose I've ever taken a Trump Call, have I?
Though I've been in one with Flora...'.

Krinac to Vance: You weren't part of the contact.

Vance to Krinac: 'Oh, okay. Well, I don't know what this is, so my first
instinct is to try and block it out, unless I recognize the voice.'.

Sean stops short, looking around the shop and back out the door. "What?" he
whispers, very softly.

Vance says to Sean, "You hear it, too?"

Jeanette waits with Allyna and Reed.

Vance to Krinac: 'Are we inside the shop? And is anyone here?'.

Allyna treads water. "Vance, you have to answer. They'll find us soon."

Krinac to Vance: You are inside the shop (lucky you)... and now you can here
more... the voice appears to be Allyna's And she is calling your name.

Vance to Krinac: Vance will answer, if he can.

Krinac pages to Allyna and Vance: TRUMP CONTACT. Since NPCs and some PCs are
listening at either end, would you pose not page your conversation.

Vance stares into space. "Allyna. We are in a safe location. Can you use this
for transport?"

Allyna is treading water with one hand, holding the trump in the other. "Yes.
Thank you for answering. Give me your hand and I'll send Reed and Jeanette to
you."

Vance holds out his hand, and helps ferry the trio through.

Allyna kicks with all her strength to free up her second hand to pull Reed's
hand into contact with Vance's.

Sean sighs. "I thought you were under attack." He makes sure the door is shut
tight behind him.

Vance mutters, "For a moment, so did I."

Krinac: "It takes some trouble... but you get Jeanette, then Reed, and
finally Allyna through."

Jeanette smiles to Vance. "Well done. Though I must admit a double-breasted
suit would be ... an inadequate replacement for this."

Allyna says, "Is there some place I can dry out my things, Vance?"

Vance says, "Wait here," as soon as the trio are through, and heads upstairs.

Allyna says, "Some of my sketches are probably ruined. Maybe some of the proper
trumps, too."

Vance to Krinac: Vance looks for Kaisarah. Failing that, a bit of
Kashfan currency and some throwing daggers.

Ariadne appears to lean a bit on Sean for support as people start appearing
from midair.

Jeanette waits until Allyna comes through, then looks around. "Are we all here?"

Sean whispers, "No. I haven't seen Sunfall or Rex and his friends, and Andra
was captured."

Kaisarah strides into the room, pushing aside the curtain. "Vance, why are you
here?"

There is a little anguish in Kaisarah's voice.

Jeanette nods, frowning unpleasantly. "Where were they - " she breaks off as
Kaisarah enters.

Vance says, "Disguises, a place to hide, and information. We all arrived
unseen...if we can leave unseen, this place will remain safe."

Vance's tone seems to have the undercurrent of 'don't fuck with me'...
Vance and Sean are both covered with the blood of others.

Allyna takes a more conciliatory tone. "What's happenned here? Has Kashfa been
invaded?"

Kaisarah says to Vance, "I can do these things, but they will not be easy. I
was not ready to move yet. I will have but one chance. You have forced my hand
too soon." To Allyna, "Yes, it appears that Rinaldo's aim was not true. Two days
ago Caine of Amber killed him and took the city. Caine controls the city of
Kashfa, if not yet the empire."

Sean exhales heavily. "What about Coral?"

Allyna files this information away and decides to figure out the context later.

Vance hmms. "It appears the rumors of Caine's death were exaggerated."

Krinac to Vance: Kaisarah adds in the sign language. Caine controls the Guild as
well. He has become the Heart of Death.

Jeanette asks, perhaps hopefully, "Then Deirdre's may be, as well?"

Vance suddenly pauses, as if in shock at some piece of Kaisarah's statement
that the others missed.

Allyna says, "Shall I attempt to contact our missing comrades?"

Krinac to Vance: Kaisarah adds, "It was Caine who was the bidder for you before.
He has been working here, unseen for weeks. His coup was thourough, swift, and
sure. Even I don't know who I can trust anymore."

Vance glances back, recovering from his shock. "Not Andra. If the Amberites
have her, they may detect the contact."

Allyna says, "There is quite an up side to this."

Vance to Krinac: Vance returns in the sign language, "I may have to
destroy Kashfa to save it. Can we get the ones whose loyalty remains certain out
of the city?"

Kaisarah says, "Queen Coral disappeared a few weeks ago. I heard rumors she was
kidnapped. Rinaldo returned without her. No one knows where she is. They say she
went home to Begma, and no one else can reach Begma."

Vance looks back to Kaisarah, ignoring Allyna. "We're in serious trouble. I
have to reach Coral, somehow."

Sean glances at Vance. "We're going to have to try to save Andra soon." He rubs
the scars on his chest, noticing the blood and grimacing.

Vance to Krinac: Vance realizes something OOCly, and laughs. "There's
still one Rinaldo left..."

Krinac to Vance: Kaisarah signs, "I can yes, but I am in contact with Dalt. He
has an army and is willing to fight, I was to contact him when I could pin down
Caine's whereabouts. We wanted to kill Caine, but with the Guild against us
there are eyes everywhere. We will only have one chance.

Vance sighs, but doesn't turn to face Sean as he replies. "No. I can't afford
to waste the time. Andra doesn't know the whole story, and she can only expose
Thule's weaknesses. She's also strong-willed, and will take time to break under
torture. If it comes to her or the Broken Patterns...she'll have to fend for
herself."

Jeanette says "If she can expose Thule's weakness, then can we afford to let
them have that information?"

Kaisarah says, "Her will may not matter. Caine is a persistent questioner, as
he has already proven to several who doubted."

Vance to Krinac: Vance signs back, "Perhaps my group can provide a
distraction. If they hunt us, it may draw Caine out of hiding. We can leave your
protection, and force them to choose which of us to root out."

Vance says, "Thule has been warned, and a spy could uncover most of what Andra
knows. They may already have all of that information."

Jeanette says "And they may not."

Sean frowns. "She'll die if we don't rescue her."

Allyna says, "How do you propose to save her?"

Vance does turn back to Sean, this time. "I know, Sean. She was a former lover
of mine, and is a good person. But I have to decide whether a person is worth a
world. I think you know what my answer is to that."

Krinac to Vance: Kaisarah signs, "What does she know of you Vance. Caine has
ordered the guild to take you alive. He promised full amnesty and a title to
anyone who brought you in."

Sean looks directly at Vance. "You don't know that they'll destroy Kashfa if we
don't pursue Coral immediately."

Vance to Krinac: Vance sighs, "Not enough. She knows I can destroy a
city. She knows the facade I have in Thule. But I can't be blackmailed by any of
that, and they know I'm powerful.

Allyna says, "It may not be as simple as that, Vance. She knows a great deal
about us. Possibly enough to draw images from, after being with us for the past
few days. And it's not clear that we or our mission are known to our enemies,
yet. If we have that advantage, we must preserve it."

Vance says, "I don't know, either way. But they'll expect a rescue attempt, if
they believe she has information of value. It may even cause her death sooner,
if we try to save her."

Vance hmms. "That is true, Allyna. I may have to kill her."

Kaisarah says, "As far as I know, Caine believes you operate alone. However if
you seek information on Coral, you may also seek to free a prisioner. Coral's
sister Nayda is a prisioner in the castle. She may be the only one who knows
where Coral has gone."

Allyna says, "Vance, can you break out of a jail cell fast enough to make a
proper jailbreak?"

Vance looks back to Kaisarah. "I need a crossbow - one suitable for a job. It's
what they'll expect, but I can only hope they'll underestimate me. I know the
palace inside and out, including the secret ways. Even one I never shared with
the Guild. They just took control, and won't know it like I do."

Sean looks at Kaisarah. "Sir, is it likely that Nayda and Andra would be
confined near one another?"

Allyna says, "I'll need dry paper and some charcoal."

Kaisarah says, "I'm told that Nayda is one of Caine's 'special prisioners'.
Given that Andra arrived with Vance, it's likely that she will be treated the
same."

Vance takes Kaisarah aside. He says to the others. "We're going to get you
appropriate Kashfan clothing. I'll choose which of you get to join me when I
return."

Sean frowns. "Perhaps we shouldn't split up more than we have to, though."

Allyna says, "I'll be useless in a jailbreak. I'll get you in, and if all goes
well, I'll get you out. No sense me coming along."

Vance doesn't comment, as he walks off with Kaisarah.

Krinac to Vance: What do you want from Kaisarah.

Vance to Krinac: Vance is going to talk to Kaisarah in detail about the
situation, tell him that Sunfall may be alive and heading for this place, and
see about getting a few extra troops for this suicide run (if you've ever seen
'Big Trouble in Little China', you'll get the idea).

Krinac to Vance: Ok... but you have troops, Sean at least is better than any
Kaisarah will probably dig up, Sunfall as well if you can find her....

Allyna pages to Jeanette, Krinac, Rex, Sunfall, and Vance: Allyna's plan is
simple: She draws a sketch of Andra, sends you all through to Andra as quickly
as possible, brings Andra back across, and then trumps Vance to remain in
contact, keep a ready escape route available, and, if all goes well, to bring
everyone out. Allyna's assumption is that whoever goes has to be able to act,
and thinks chances are best if we are in and out inside of 10 minutes, and
prepared to leave Kashfa immediately upon completion, if not start the mission
from elsewhere. Consider this a starting point for email.

You paged Allyna, Jeanette, Krinac, and Sunfall with 'Problem. Vance can't do
what he needs to do and maintain a Trump contact. And there are considerations
that Allyna doesn't know about, but Vance does.'.

Allyna pages to Jeanette, Krinac, Sunfall, and Vance: Erm... It's not entirely
clear to me, but I think that if Allyna is maintaining the connection
completely, Vance is laregly free to do his thing. But if that's not so, a
designated escape route can be sketched.

You paged Allyna, Jeanette, Krinac, and Sunfall with 'It's a distraction, and
I'm not Benedict.'.

Allyna pages to Jeanette, Krinac, Sunfall, and Vance: When Eric trumps Corwin,
Corwin clearly has to choose between accepting the trump, and being unable to
fight at his full, and letting it through and risking combat. Corwin doesn't
seem at all worried that he might be distracted by a FRIENDLY trump call.

You paged Allyna, Jeanette, Krinac, and Sunfall with 'Even Benedict asks for
Corwin to be quiet so he can finish off some opponents without a distraction.
And I'm not Benedict, as I said. It would be better to keep in contact with
someone not in the middle of the fighting.'.

Krinac: "Random was. Random was riding a rock and needed to concentrate. He
shouts go away instead of taking a call."

Allyna pages to Jeanette, Krinac, Sunfall, and Vance: I think it's the
equivalent of having someone be very close to your ear. If they are quiet,
they'll only be a distraction when your mind is clear enough to be thinking
about them, but if they talk, it's very distracting. But I'd have to ask Krinac
for a ruling on that aspect of the plan.

Krinac: "Ok about keeping casual contact through trump... yes that is
possible if the person is willing to tolerate the link, and it isn't too
distracting. You can also wait until the person is distracted and the mind-rape
them, and even if you have a lower psyche you could easily win. It's kinda like
giving someone else root password access to your brain."