Ariana's log, Chapter 119

"That's the first thing I'm not going to do. Other things I'm not going to do will be following."

Thursday, August 24, 2994

Whimsy enters the infirmary and asks Ariana what's going on. Ariana takes her into the hall and explains about Foster and Laughter's condition, and Brand's escape. Whimsy tries to blame Brand for the situation. Ariana thinks it seems too obvious for him. Whimsy hears Ishmael's sword dragging on the floor as he approaches and drops out of sight before he rounds the corner. Ishmael sees Ariana's startled expression and asks if anything's wrong. Whimsy turns invisible, reappears behind Ariana, and whispers that Ishmael's kind of pissed at her. Ariana tells Ishmael that nothing's wrong, other than the situation in the infirmary. Ishmael decides to postpone their afternoon lesson, given what's happened. He'll keep the boys' art lesson, though. The morning lesson went quite well. Ishmael says he's looking for Whimsy. Ariana comments that she's somewhat elusive. He asks her to tell Whimsy that he's looking for her. Ariana comments that the way he's dragging his sword, she's sure Whimsy already knows. Ishmael figures out what's going on, says "Hi" to Whimsy, and walks off.

Whimsy reappears. Jack is discussed. Ariana tells Whimsy everything that Jack has done, including stealing her child. Whimsy thinks this sounds unlike Jack. Ariana points out that he is a faerie. He's still preventing her from getting her child from Chaos, but she may have other means. Whimsy wants to go with her, to retrieve her son's headstone. Ariana says she'll see if that can be arranged.

Ariana reenters the infirmary and sits by Tamaryn again. Ronan enters the infirmary. Felix goes over to him and tells him that Iseult ran off. He wants Ronan to look for her, because he's afraid she's doing something stupid. Ronan agrees to find her.

Felix has lunch brought up to the infirmary. An hour or so later, Foster and Laughter begin to wake up, and all but their parents and Driscoll are shooed out. Ariana asks Lucien to contact Florian, while she talks to Random. He leaves. Ariana finds Random hurrying down the hall, carrying a book. She asks if she's catching him at a bad time. Actually, he could use a break. She needs a favor. Oh? She needs a Trump, or just a sketch will do. All he has time for is a sketch. Who will it be of? Her son. He asks if it's Morgan, Shannon or Vincent. None of them. He looks confused. Ariana says it's a long story, and asks if he has time for it now. Well, why doesn't he get the story from her later? That's fine with her. He drops the book off in a room. Ariana can hear Nicholas and Eric arguing inside of it. Bill Roth's voice is heard, too. Ariana asks Random if they're arguing about Brand or Jack. Yes. She gives Random an image of Grayson and he sets to work. The sketch takes half an hour. Ariana thanks him and returns to her quarters.

Ariana gets a Trump call. She resists. It goes away. A short time later, a stronger call comes through, despite her best efforts to stop it. It's Random and Ishmael. Random suggests that she should take Ishmael with her to Chaos. He reveals that Ishmael has informed him where her son is. Nice going, by the way. He'll know better than to trust her next time. She looks hurt, and points out that she offered to tell him the whole story. He claims he was teasing her. She says she'll take Ishmael along if it will make Random feel better about helping her. Yes, it will. Plus, Ishmael really needs something to do. OK. Ariana pulls Ishmael through. Ishmael says he could have helped her with what she asked Random to do. Ariana tries to find Whimsy, but she's not in the castle. Ishmael doesn't offer any assistance in that regard.

Ariana arms herself and Trumps Lucien. He's in Rebma and pulls her and Ishmael through. Ishmael is startled, to say the least, and initially holds his breath. Florian is introduced and says he'll be changing them into Abyssal demons. This is news to Ariana. She is *very* tense about the idea, so it takes Florian a while to shift her. Ariana closes her eyes during the process. While her eyes are closed, Lucien turns around all of the mirrors so she can't see what she looks like. Ishmael is changed next, and then Florian shifts himself. Abyssal demons are very nasty looking. They also can't grasp anything, since they run on all fours. Ishmael grabs his sword in his mouth. Ariana does the same, also grabbing her armor/clothing. Lucien gets to hang onto Morglyph, since Abyssal demons can't touch Pattern swords. Lucky him. The demons depart, traveling in a manner similar to how faeries travel, except on a lower relative plane.

Ariana gets a Trump call from Bleys. He looks exceptionally startled when he sees her. She's informed that her presence is requested at dinner. They hit the chasm and the contact is broken before she can reply. The chasm is nasty and nightmarish. It feels like they are being pursued. They move quickly. They arrive on the other side safely, and Florian makes them human again. Ariana puts on her armor and Trumps Grayson, while Ishmael and Florian stand around naked. Florian admires Ishmael's form. Grayson resists the Trump call initially, but Ariana is stronger and pushes her way through. Grayson asks who she is. His mother. His mother is Eleanor. No, Eleanor is the woman who stole him from her. He looks confused. She asks if he wants to stay in Chaos. No. She holds out her hand and he comes through. Ariana explains that they will have to be changed into Abyssal demons in order to get across the chasm. Grayson reluctantly agrees. Florian shapeshifts everyone and they retreat across the chasm. Ishmael gets tagged by something en route. He runs faster. They manage to reach Rebma without further incident, and Florian changes everyone back. Ariana conjures clothes for Grayson, then heals Ishmael. The wound leaves a scar, which Ishmael seems pleased about. Ariana thanks Ishmael and Florian for helping her, and relays Bleys' dinner "request" to Ishmael. Ishmael Trumps back to Amber. Ariana asks Florian for a place where she can talk privately with Grayson. He invites them to use his parlor.

Grayson asks what Ariana wants from him. She wanted to get to know him, and to give him a chance to meet his family. That's it? Yes. Ariana explains to Grayson how he came to be in Chaos. He keeps asking who his father is. She eventually admits that his father was Brand. Oh, one of the good guys. Not exactly. Ariana tells him about his siblings. Is their father Brand? No, their father is her husband, Lucien Vetch. Grayson looks disturbed. Apparently, the stories about Vetch in Chaos kind of make him sound like the boogieman. Ariana assures Grayson that the stories are greatly exaggerated. She asks him if the Eiregs hurt him at all. Not really. They let him learn what he wanted to. They tried to get him into politics, but he wasn't very good at it. Ariana understands. He reveals that Jack was his teacher. Ariana tells him that Jack is the Avatar of Faerie. Grayson was unaware of this. Jack is the one who kept him from leaving the Shadow.

Ariana eventually convinces Grayson to come to the castle, and arranges quarters for him there. Grayson wants clothes that aren't conjured. It's too late to get any clothes in town, but he's about Random's size, so Ariana brings him to Random's quarters. Grayson is introduced to Random, Vialle and Vaughn. Random agrees to let Grayson borrow some clothes. Grayson picks out something subdued (or as subdued as Random gets). Ariana asks Random what happened at dinner. Nicholas updated everyone on Laughter, Foster and Brand. Grayson asks what Nicholas said about Brand. He's being hunted by Benedict, Fiona, Caine and Clarissa. Grayson mentions that Brand is his father. Random looks shocked, and pours himself a big glass of brandy. Ariana explains to Grayson some of the reasons why Brand is being hunted, although she doesn't mention the rape. Grayson looks upset. Random keeps drinking.

Ariana takes Grayson to his quarters. Grayson doesn't understand why Random reacted the way he did. After much hesitation, Ariana manages to admit that Brand raped her. She assures Grayson that this doesn't affect how she feels about him. Grayson asks to be alone. Ariana leaves, finds an empty room, and spends the night crying.

Friday, August 25, 2994

Jalana Trumps Ariana in the morning and wants to come through. She hugs Ariana once she does so and asks if she's upset. What makes her ask? Well, she didn't come home last night. Jalana's afraid that she and Lucien have been fighting again. Ariana assures her that's not the case. She reveals that Jalana has a brother, Grayson. Jalana doesn't understand how this can be. Ariana explains that he was stolen by Chaos. Jalana wants to meet him. Ariana says he told her he wanted to be left alone. The way Ariana always wants to be left alone? Yes. Then she shouldn't have left him alone. They go to Grayson's quarters and knock. Grayson opens the door a crack. Jalana says she's his sister. He opens the door invisibly. They come in. Jalana is introduced. She looks a lot like Grayson, so he asks if Brand is her father, too. Um, no, her father is Lucien Vetch. Grayson wants to know what his father looks like. Jalana takes him to the Hall of Portraits and points out all of his relatives. He lingers a bit over Brand's picture.

Grayson is hungry, so they go down to lunch. Nicholas is there, looking grim. Grayson looks overwhelmed. Ariana sees Foster, who says her name, then blushes. She comments that he appears to remember her. Foster explains that he remembers people, and his feelings for them, but not the actual events behind those feelings. The rest of lunch is uneventful. As Ariana and her family are leaving, Foster sees Lucien, blinks, and breaks a chair over his head. Then he blinks again and says he shouldn't have done that. Ariana's girls are aghast, while the boys are impressed. Grayson flees. Lucien gets the children out of there. Felix asks Ariana to explain things to Lucien. She will.

Ariana Trumps Grayson. He answers saying, "Stop it, stop it, stop it!" She asks to join him. He pulls her through to the gardens. She assures him that meals in Amber don't generally go this way. Grayson wants time to think about all of this. Ariana moves away from him, but keeps him within eyesight. He eventually tells her to stop following him. She says she's worried about him. He responds that he survived for 60 years in Chaos. She concedes his point, but explains that she's spent so much time trying to find him that she's afraid of losing him again. He just needs time to absorb everything he's learned. She's sorry it isn't turning out like he might have hoped. Actually, given that until the previous morning he thought his parents were the people who raised him, he had no expectations. Ariana says she has some idea how he feels, having been adopted herself. Grayson just wants to be alone for a while. Ariana gives him money so he can buy some clothes in town.

Ariana goes back to her quarters, looking glum. She asks Lucien how his head is. He doesn't want to talk about it. He asks how things are going with Grayson. She doesn't want to talk about it. Despite this, she eventually tells him about her conversations with Grayson. She's afraid that Grayson hates her. Lucien says to give it time. Ariana figures she should explain things to Random, at least, since he knows that Brand is Grayson's father, but not how it happened.

Ariana finds Random in the hall. He turns away when he sees her, looking uncomfortable. She asks him to wait. He asks her to at least tell him that it wasn't an affair full of love. No, it wasn't. Brand raped her. Random looks chagrined, and says he's sorry. Ariana says that now he knows why she tried to kill Brand. Random assures her that Brand won't be coming back vertically. Ariana is concerned that Brand may not be the one responsible for what happened to Foster and Laughter. Random assures her that Brand will be questioned before he is killed. She is reassured by this. Random says he has to prepare for the ball, unless she'd like to help? He's sure Flora could find something for her to do. Um, no, she doesn't want to speak with Flora. It would be uncomfortable. Random doesn't press the matter.

Dinner is uneventful. Grayson isn't there. The courtiers have been given a holiday until the ball, so only family and servants are in the castle. After dinner, Ariana goes over the summer house plans with Lucien for a while. She notices that Jalana is still upset about what she learned from Grayson, so Ariana takes her aside and tries to talk to her about it. Jalana can't understand why Ariana told them to stay away from Brand, then had a baby with him. Jalana asks if Father was upset with her about it. No, because he understands that she had no choice. Jalana looks horrified, and asks if Brand didn't stop when she said no. Ariana explains that Brand forced her psychically. Jalana is horribly distressed by this. Ariana does her best to reassure her.

Ariana puts the kids to bed, then goes down to the practice room. She finds Whimsy and Ishmael down there, discussing the fact that Whimsy managed to rescind her invitation to Jack. Then Whimsy realizes that Ariana is there. Ooops. Whimsy explains that she didn't know Jack was an Avatar when she invited him to Amber. She also mentions that she wants to ask Nicholas to make her the next ambassador to Faerie. Ariana thinks Nicholas may think Whimsy has too many ties to Faerie, given her friendship with Jack.

Saturday, August 26, 2994

The trio is still talking at midnight when the entire family is summoned to the Great Hall. Ariana stops by her quarters to tell Lucien what's going on. The family gathers and finds Nicholas sitting on the throne, looking terrible in his anger. Nicholas takes a Trump call and says, "Yes." Benedict, Fiona, Caine and Clarissa appear in a Trump shimmer at the far end of the hall with Brand, who is tied and gagged on a pallet. He's unconscious and has obviously been bleeding from the nose and mouth. Caine and Benedict bear the pallet the length of the hall towards the throne. Fiona and Clarissa walk behind them. Clarissa's face is an expressionless mask. When the procession stops in front of Nicholas, Gérard steps forward, wearing gloves and a hood to protect his face and neck. The pallet is set down, and Gérard lays hands on Brand while Benedict and Caine free him. Brand seems to be coming around. Gérard stands Brand on his feet, and Brand regains full consciousness. There is a trapped look in his eyes. Nicholas announces that before him stands one of the greatest traitors to Amber, and the only one still alive. Amber can no longer afford to suffer the lives of traitors. Clarissa hangs her head. Suddenly, a shimmering figure appears next to Nicholas. She is nearly transparent, gowned in white and wearing a large sword hanging at her side. Her hair is long, salt and pepper black. She says, "Nor can Amber afford to kill her sons and daughters." Nicholas turns on the arrival with rage, then softens when he recognizes her. Nimue continues, saying that Amber can't afford to let traitors go unpunished, either. Brand squirms fruitlessly. Nimue holds her hand out to Nicholas and they talk psychically. Then Nicholas tells Brand that he has a night of punishments ahead of him. While he will not be killed, he shall be made an example of, and shall wish his own death many times over before the sun rises. First, he will face all of those that he's hurt in his illustrious career. Nicholas gestures, and Gérard turns Brand around to face the family. Nicholas says that all those who wish should feel free to address Brand when he calls their name. But remember, leave him conscious, or they'll spoil the fun of others. He begins calling the names of Brand's victims.

Ariana is called first. She steps forward and castrates Brand, using a Takaran blade. Next is Fiona, who walks slowly forward. Brand's eyes widen in horror as she places her hands on his face, closes her eyes, and concentrates. Brand begins to scream in an inhuman way. Fiona tortures him like this for a full five minutes. When she finishes, Brand sags, conscious but bleeding out of his nose, ears and eyes. Laughter approaches with Sequence drawn. Benedict moves to intervene. Laughter gives her word of honor that she won't kill him, she just wants to mark him. Benedict lets her proceed. Laughter draws Sequence across both of Brand's cheeks. Brand stands for it, but trembles. Foster declines when his name is called. Driscoll does the same. Felix says there are few words to describe what he'd like to do to Brand. He then shatters a table with his fist and says that should be Brand. Caine pats Brand with a gloved hand, and whispers something in Brand's ear that makes him squirm. Ishmael declines any vengeance. Whimsy steps forward and tells Brand that he let her be born to a hundred years of torment. Thank you, Uncle Brand. She conjures a long needle and puts it through his right eye, being careful not to go deep enough to hit his brain. Mirelle approaches Brand and gives Ariana a disappointed look for spoiling her original plan. Then she rams her knee into Brand's groin, causing him to scream again. Laughter's children all decline to do anything to Brand, although Iseult is trembling.

After everyone has been called, Nimue approaches and says, "And now for my punishment, murderer." She begins to glow with Pattern energy as she states, "The Pattern, from this point on, denies you, Brand, son of Oberon. You shall abuse it no more." Brand screams as his own body begins to glow with Pattern energy. A replica of the Pattern appears in both Nimue and Brand. Nimue's Pattern then systematically erases Brand's. He screams throughout the process, which takes an hour. When she is finished, Nimue says, "So is the Unicorn's judgment," and then fades from view.

Nicholas has Clarissa and Fiona erase Brand's mind. They do so, restarting Brand's nosebleed in the process. Nicholas charges Clarissa, who brought Brand into the world, with Brand's care and feeding from now on. She is ordered to remove him from Amber's sight, to take him to Avalon and keep him there. Clarissa curtsies tearfully, collects the unconscious Brand, and Trumps out with him. Nicholas faces the family and says, "Think of this day, all who would turn traitor against Amber." Then he stands wearily and walks out of the room.

Ariana makes sure that Mirelle is OK, since she seems have a somewhat crazy light in her eyes again. Whimsy zaps Brand's severed parts with lightning, obliterating them. Then she and Ishmael invite Ariana to go drinking with them. Ariana invites Mirelle along as well. Whimsy is a giggly drunk and confesses various bad things she's done, including what she did to Edwin. She also admits that he was her husband, then says she doesn't want them to tell anyone. Mirelle tells how she blew her husband's head off with a shotgun. Ariana relates how she ran her husband through. Ishmael begins to feel distinctly nervous. Mirelle keeps resting her hand on his thigh. Ishmael takes off soon afterwards. Whimsy suggests ways in which Jack could be imprisoned, by using cold iron shackles with spikes. Birth names are discussed. Mirelle wants Ariana to use hers. Sure, as soon as Grayson and Whimsy start using theirs. Mirelle brings up how people keep trying to make her sane. Ariana argues that she needs to be, for Devlin's sake. Mirelle figures Ariana can always take care of him. Ariana thinks he'll still be hurt by it. Whimsy asks them not to tell Fiona what she told them, since Fiona doesn't know yet. Mirelle is delighted that she knows a secret Fiona doesn't. Mirelle leaves to go trolling for sailors. Whimsy and Ariana head home.

Ariana goes to see Grayson after breakfast. He's reluctant to admit her, but eventually does so. Ariana notices many wads of paper on the floor, and asks if she can help. He looks uncertain and says he doesn't know. Ariana says that she wants to help him, and that if he's unhappy in Amber, she'll find a way to get him back to Chaos. There is a flash of panic in his eyes, and he assures her that's not necessary. He's just upset about the fact that he left without letting Eleanor know what had happened to him. He's hurt the only one who ever loved him. He's trying to write a note to her, but he doesn't know what to say. Eleanor loved him despite knowing him, even though Hector was always disappointed and angry with him. Hector was Eleanor's husband. Grayson suspects that Hector is the one who bought him. Ariana tries to reassure him that he's not a disappointment, despite what Hector thought. Hector isn't his father, after all. No, Brand is. He asks if that was Brand screaming last night. Ariana admits that it was, and explains that Brand was brought back to Amber and punished for treason and murder by having his mind erased and his Pattern permanently removed. Grayson asks to be alone for a while. Before Ariana goes, she warns him about Jack and tells him not to invite Jack to Amber, as that will give him power there.

Ariana asks Lucien if there's a way to get a message to Chaos. Specifically, to Eleanor Eireg. Given that Eireg is not an Amber-friendly house, Lucien doesn't know of a safe way, other than via the chasm or Faerie. Ariana is worried that Grayson might ask Jack for help. Lucien admits that Jack could do it. Has she warned Grayson about Jack? Yes, but he doesn't trust her, a fact that obviously upsets her. Lucien tells her that these things take time. She'll just have to have patience and trust in her ability to win Grayson over. Ariana isn't sure that will ever happen. Part of her thinks she should leave him alone for a while, but then she's afraid he'll think she's ignoring him. Lucien comforts her. Ariana asks if he knows anything about Hector, but he doesn't. She explains who he is. Lucien points out that Nicholas is still working on mending the chasm, so she'll be able to get to Hector eventually. Ariana says she's tempted to offer her assistance on the Ygg project. Lucien thinks this would be good for her, actually. Ariana is surprised that the idea doesn't bother him. Lucien admits that he'll miss her, and be worried about her safety, but if she needs to do this, he won't object. Ariana decides to go talk to whoever is in charge of the Ygg project. She asks Lucien to talk to Jalana while she's gone. She's afraid that Jalana is still upset about the circumstances surrounding Grayson's conception. Lucien says he'll take care of it.

Ariana finds Random and asks if he knows who's in charge of the Ygg project. He's involved in it. Benedict will be going along and dealing with security, but they haven't picked the scientific team yet. Felix's name has been mentioned. Ariana asks how long the project is expected to take. 3-5 years, although only a few days will pass in Amber. Ariana offers her assistance, since she has some knowledge of botany. Random says he'll pass her name on and give her an answer within 24 hours.

Quotables:

"That's the first thing I'm not going to do. Other things I'm not going to do will be following." -- Ronan to GM

"(Driscoll's) my cousin. Not that that matters." -- Ariana to the group at large, referring to sleeping with Driscoll
"This is Amber, after all." -- Ronan

"I know (Iseult) is doing something stupid. She's my granddaughter." -- Felix to Ronan

"Now you're all doing something stupid." -- Felix
"No, it's only stupid if we find Brand." -- Ronan

"Perhaps someone should walk (the Pattern) in front of Foster. He had a terrible time the first time." -- Felix to Bleys
"Please don't tell me you said that right in front of Foster." -- Kris
"Oops, I guess I did." -- Liam

"Felix, this is Ronan." -- Ronan, as the Trump contact opens
"I see that." -- Felix

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

Last modified on January 8, 1998 by Kris Fazzari.