RoadsideAttractionReduxRoadside Attraction ReduxAs Brandeigh watches James and the Pattern, Percy booms out his voice as he and Dagny arrive in the center of the maze. "We're here, cariad!" he says. "The Manor, though is..." And then he stares at the state of the Pattern. His jaw almost visually drops and a look of stricken shock comes across his face. Dagny is currently carrying--and standing beneath---a huge purple golf umbrella, but her sword is still slung over her back. "Huh," she muses. "It's not supposed to look like that, I take it. That may explain a few things. Any idea what caused it?" Brandeigh is still watching James as he makes a circuit around the perimeter of the Pattern. How is James doing? James is still plugging along. The rain has just about relented now thanks to, presumably, James' efforts. He is too intent on his walk to pay attention to the arrival of Dagny and Percy even as he slowly nears the two of them and Brandeigh. Not looking away from James, she responds to Percy and Dagny. "Run down, worn out, old?" she asks of Percy. "It would make sense." "It would. The how is what I want to know. What ages a world and its Pattern?" To Dagny; "Never having seen this one before now, I'd still say it should not look like this. Especially as it's the younger one. The Shockwave caused this, when it overran this realm. I would advise against walking it, if that is your intention. You may not like the effect you get from doing so." To Percy again; "Close your mouth dear. "What Shockwave?" Dagny inquires. "And thank you, no, walking one of those things once is enough, I have no desire for another go-around." "Big storm;" Brandeigh replies. "Caused when the Ways of the Logrus were separated from the rest of the Courts of Chaos." She chuckles ruefully; "Trust me when I say you'll know it when you encounter it." She glances over at Dagny; "Which one have you walked, may I ask?" Dagny looks briefly thoughtful. "I'm guessing that the separation wasn't a natural occurrence. Who decided that it was necessary? Is that what brought you here?" "Unforseen side effect;" Brandeigh replies. "Atleast that's what Merlin and Suhuy said afterwards. And no, Percy and I were just planning on passing through after dropping James off." In response to Brandeigh's inquiry she says, "It wasn't this one, or any of its descendants, or one of those dinky ones out in Shadow. I walked the one in Tir. And you?" "Amber's, the one under the castle. Though I've walked Tir's and Rebma's if it matters. Haven't had the need to walk the original primal though I've been there;" Brandeigh says. Percy shoots a look toward Brandeigh as James approaches. "Well that makes sense, that she walked that Pattern." he says. Brandeigh nods at this. James looks up as he approaches the group. Wariness crosses his face as he regards Dagny, but he comes to a stop some distance away. "At least the weather is improved." James says. "Yes it has;" Brandeigh says to James; "Thank you for that. But don't tax yourself anymore than you have to." Brandeigh focuses her attention on the Pattern for a few more moments, analyzing it, then turns to Percy and Dagny. "Proper introductions are in order;" she says to Dagny. "I am Brandeigh, daughter of Princess Fiona, he's Percival, son of Princess Deirdre, and he's James, a Pattern ghost of Jayson. Percy bows. James gives a nod. "Yes, Percy mentioned you and he are related. I'm Dagny Thorsonne, and I'm a rebel without a country. If it matters, I'm also apparently one of Luke's spawn." She shrugs. James shoots a slight look of surprise at this. Brandeigh nods her head again. "Should have known;" she says simply. "Your father and I are full cousins. I take it that you have not officially visited Amber, then?" "If you are asking if I arrived in Amber with a twenty-person entourage mincing around me and a parade through the streets, so I could kiss the King's feet as he sat in state, no, I didn't do that. But they are aware of my existence there. No idea why you were left out of the loop." Brandeigh laughs at this. "While such an arrival might be entertaining to watch, I seriously doubt Random expects anyone to kiss his feet. And he hates all that pomp and circumstance stuff anyway." Half of Dagny's mouth twists into a smile at Brandeigh's response. "Intensely" Percy agrees. Brandeigh glances over at Dagny and then shrugs her shoulders; "My sources of information are not infallible, and mother doesn't always tell me everything either. Neither does my brother, Lorius, for that matter. Have you met either of them?" Dagny's color rises. "Yes, I've met Lorius. He's...got an interesting sense of style, to say the least." "Well, that makes sense." Percy puts in. "If anyone in the family would know you are kicking around, it would be either Brandeigh, or her brother." Brandeigh can't help but laugh deeply at this. " 'Sense of style' about him; I think that is the kindest way anyone has described my brother. Ever." She takes a moment to regain control of herself. "Please forgive me, I'm not laughing you; rather I'm laughing about Lorius. How did your encounter with him go? If I know my brother, it got off to a rocky start." "Let's just say he's the reason I had to figure out that you can Shadowshift by walking in a circle in a bathroom," Dagny replies. "Quite frankly, he was acting like an asshole, and I just couldn't deal with it anymore. And he needs to get over the fact that not everybody is six feet tall--or five foot three for that matter--stop hovering, and learn how to accept himself the way he is." She says this last in a breathy, hippie-type voice, tilts her head, and clasps her hands in front of her chest in a very "I'm-okay-you're-okay" sort of way. She is quite obviously being sarcastic. Brandeigh chuckles. "That's my brother all right." "You mentioned that you were one of Luke's children." Percy says. "Are there others?" Brandeigh perks up an eyebrow at this. Dagny's lips press together tightly. "Considering that my existence was somewhat of a surprise, for all I know I have untold legions of siblings running around Shadow wondering why they're so strong." She shifts the weight of her sword on her shoulder. "And what about you three? Do you have other siblings? Do I have any other cousins I should know about?" Brandeigh groans at this. "How much time do you have?" she asks rhetorically. "Besides Lorius, I have a sister named Shannon." She reaches into one of her pouches and pulls out a deck of cards. "This is going to take some time, if you want the basic Amber primer and family tree, that is?" She looks at Dagny for confirmation. "I have centuries, apparently, so why the heck not? But maybe we could use a table or something, to spread the Trumps out. And I'm personally still interested in snackage." "Snackage?" James enquires with furrowed eyebrows. Brandeigh nods her head. "Good, he's told you about Trumps at least. So much easier when I don't have to explain them." "I have a set, but I don't know who most of the people are supposed to be. I wasn't about to go around cold-calling anybody. And, yes," she says, turning to James, "snackage. You know, food. Drinks. Snacks." It takes longer than she suspects, certainly longer than anything she has ever made before. And yet Dagny feels progress enough to continue the process. Two minutes of solid concentration allow Dagny to conjure up a picnic table and benches, a pitcher of iced tea and glasses. "Better take a drink, first." Percy says mildly. "That looked like an enormous effort. He looks at Brandeigh and James. "The Pattern here, do you think?" "Good idea," Dagny says as she reaches over to pour. "Anybody else?" "Yes, I will begin showing our cousin the family tree;" Brandeigh says. "Well as much of it as I know of anyroad. While you two are welcome to chime in anytime you wish and particularly when I come to your branch of the tree, I have something else in mind for you two." She looks at them both and then over at the Pattern. "James, when you cleared up the weather here, you drew upon your imprint of this Pattern to do so. It strengthened this Pattern, what you did. Not much, but I could detect the change. That tells me there have been no initiates of this Pattern here for quite some time locally. I'd like you two to walk about around here and use your imprints of this Pattern to make any number of small changes, whatever you like. Just use your Pattern." Percy gives a nod. "Certainly, cariad. I can do that. I'll have a glass of tea later." James, after a moment's hesitation, gives a nod of acquiescence as well. Dagny settles herself down on the bench and waits expectantly. "More tea and 'snacks' for the two of you." James says, in a tone that is mostly good humored. Mostly. "Come, Percy." he gestures toward Percy. The latter gives a nod and the two of them draw off slightly from Brandeigh and Dagny. James returns to walking around the Pattern. Percy walks around in an ambling, spiral path, somewhat closer to the picnic table where Brandeigh's lesson is to begin. Brandeigh picks up a glass and takes a sip of the tea, nods appreciatively at it, and then sets it down on the table. She then starts laying out cards. "This one is of Oberon...." Dagny regards the cards for a long time, listening to Brandeigh's stories. Brandeigh has a lot of cards and stories to tell. In the time it takes Brandeigh to go through the entire list, the sun has moved in the sky, James has practically worn a path around the Pattern, and Percy has come by a few times for drinks of a glass of tea. Some of the people Dagny has met, however, are not represented in the spread of cards. While Brandeigh has a trump of Brieanne, there are no trumps of Astin, or Hadrian, or Bhangbadea. Malachi is not represented, either. "So that one is Brand, my grandfather," she says, lightly touching the edge of the Trump, careful not to activate it. "The crazy one who tried to take over the universe." Brandeigh looks at Dagny for a moment or two before replying. "Yes, that's him. He was my mother's brother." She reaches out and conjures up a plate of sandwiches and napkins, offers it to Brandeigh, chooses one herself and takes a bite. At this point, the Pattern is now noticeably brighter. Correspondingly, the effort for Dagny to conjure the sandwiches is slightly harder to do than her previous success. Brandeigh can see beads of sweat on Dagny's forehead to make the effort. Just how much have James' & Percy's efforts boosted this Pattern? Can Brandeigh guestimate how long James will have to be at similar efforts to restore this Pattern? Can James walk it now without danger of being reabsorbed? The Pattern, to Brandeigh, and Dagny's vision, too, is noticeably improved. That improvement seems to have levelled off and the returns are diminishing. It no longer looks so hungry that the Pattern would devour James in a Patternwalk. Its likely safe for anyone else who could and dared to walk it. "That almost wasn't worth the effort," Dagny remarks, dabbing at her forehead with a napkin. She turns back to the cards. A certain blond-haired dreamwalker is absent, as is the red-haired witch with tons of attitude. And looking at Leigh's Trump is unsettlingly like looking in a mirror with built-in Photoshop brushstroke filters. "These Trumps look different from mine," Dagny says, pulling out her deck and comparing the styles. "Did you draw these? They're very good." Brandeigh quickly scans through Dagny's deck. Dagny's deck is smaller than a standard deck. There are a number of faces here Brandeigh recognizes by sight but are less common. Merlin. Luke himself of course. A place trump that,judging from the architecture, is of Kashfa. A few faces that Brandeigh does not recognize at all,and a couple of strange locations as well. Brandeigh smiles at Dagny; "I'm glad to have been able to help you." Brandeigh pulls out a pair of cards from the bottom of her deck and hands them to Dagny. They are of herself and Percy. "Feel free to call us for any reason." She glances up at Percy, as if for confirmation. Percy smiles and nods in agreement. "Thanks." Dagny accepts the cards and nods at Percy. Brandeigh returns the trumps to Dagny. "Please don't rush off on our account;" she says. "Our mothers already know we're involved, most of the family already knows, or at least strongly suspects it, so its not a secret or anything." A faint look of "ick" decorates Dagny's countenence, although the blush is fading. She says lamely, "But...you're cousins. Your moms are really okay with this?" "Cousins, yes;" Brandeigh replies; "though 'half-cousins' is more accurate perhaps. Our parents are half-siblings, same father, your great-grandfather, with different mothers. With us, there is enough genetic variation. If I were descended from Corwin or Eric;" she shrugs her shoulders; "that would be a little too close for comfort." Brandeigh's expression grows serious. "You mentioned Doors. Have you encountered just the one then? How long ago was this? They've been a problem in Amber as well. Percy, I and a few others have been to the realm of their origination and thought we had dealt them a severe setback. But perhaps not." Dagny looks relieved to switch topics. "Just the one. I came straight here from there, so it's hard to tell how long ago it was. Day or two, maybe?" (OOC: A bit hard for Dagny to tell since she did shift shadow a lot. Two days sounds reasonable as a ballpark figure) "They didn't seem too set back, quite honestly, the way they were armed, and the boss lady somehow knew that magic-users were in the vicinity. She threatened them, and then called for this giant thing called a Talos." "Talos?" Brandeigh ponders. "Never heard of it before." She continues thinking for a moment or two. "Amber should be told about this;" she says aloud. Then she looks sharply at Dagny; "You said you've walked a broken version of this Pattern? You should be able to safely walk this one now if you wish. You too, James; you and Percy have done about as much for it as you can." James stops walking. "At least something worked. I'll walk it when you all leave, if you don't mind." "Didn't say I walked it. I found one," Dagny emphasizes. "It was actually really cute, the little Shadow-dwellers had cordoned it off and dubbed it 'The Perilous Garden.' They think its properties come from radiation." She looks thoughtful. "I don't think that I could walk this Pattern, even if I wanted to, not being descended from Corwin and all.""Corwin's Pattern is different." Percy says. "I didn't think there were any broken ones, either. I am not Corwin's son, although I was able to walk his Pattern. This one. In its better days." "And so did Jayson." Percy gestures to James. "which made James, a Pattern Ghost of Jayson, possible." "I'm guessing that that Shockwave thing had something to do with the broken Pattern. Or Patterns, if there are more out there. Apparently to the locals, their Perilous Garden has been around for a few hundred years. With the time differential of Shadows, I guess that's possible. As for walking it..." Dagny shakes her head. "No dice. The first go-around was enough of a head trip. And yeah, I wanted to ask--what is a Pattern Ghost?" Brandeigh shrugs; "They're existence, or the possibility thereof, is still new to me. James is the only one I've met. Basically, when you walk the Pattern and take its imprint, it records you as well. It, they, apparently, can bring those recordings to back into existence as they need or want to." She looks over at James;" Anything else?" "That sums it up well." James says. "I've the impression that there a number of Ghosts out there, but they keep their existence and nature quiet. Dagny looks startled at this, but says nothing. "They'll be coming here soon then;" Brandeigh murmurs more to herself than anyone else as she considers what Dagny's just told them. She looks up at Percy, then James. "Either of you know where Corwin is? He's going to need to defend his Pattern, or someone to do it for him. It won't take the Omphalos long to find it, they may be deliberately targeting the broken versions first for all we know." James and Percy both shake their heads. "I can call Mom or the King, try and get some help out here;" she ventures. James looks at Brandeigh. "I suspect that Corwin wanted to stay away from his Pattern thanks to the problem with Apollo." he says. "He must be somewhere in Shadow. We should try to call *him* first." "I'm guessing the Omphalos are the Door people," Dagny interjects. "What exactly is their problem? What are they trying to accomplish by taking over Shadows? And how would they know this place is here to come to?" Brandeigh nods her head. "Yes, that is their name. They are... existence hungry. They are not just taking over Shadows, they are in the process of taking over entire universes. There was another universe, much like Amber, created by Oberon's sister. The Omphalos have all but destroyed that universe." Brandeigh looks up at Dagny; "They can detect power signatures somehow, one of their machines is my guess." "They certainly detected something again. Maybe they had more machines than the one we wrecked, or they got it back online, or reattuned it something." Percy says. He turns to Dagny. "They are universe-killers, Dagny, intent on destroying universes and subjugating and enslaving the survivors. That blond haired dreamwalker you mentioned came from that universe created by Oberon's sister, one of only a couple of survivors. They want to do to our universe what they did to his." He smacks a fist against his palm. Dagny looks Percy over sharply. "I didn't say anything about him aloud, but I did notice his absence from Brandeigh's deck. I met him in a dream once. Glad to know he's not one of the ones out to destroy the universe." Percy bites his lip and gives a nod. Brandeigh quickly goes through her deck and pulls out Corwin's Trump... She holds the card out for everyone to see/touch. "Join me if you would;" she says. Brandeigh begins concentrating on the call. Dagny shrugs, reaches out, and touches the Trump, bending her concentration to the contact... "Yes." Percy says and places a hand on Brandeigh's shoulder. James by this point has walked over and puts his hand on Percy's shoulder in turn. And so the group are tied into the trump contact attempt. Its a bit different for Dagny, having several minds burgeoning and seeking to make the contact happen. It takes a long minute of effort, and then the contact comes through. The dark haired man on the card comes to life. Still dressed in black and silver, just like the trump. Behind him is a sky merging from pink to blue, in a landscape of red. To Dagny, perhaps, it looks an awful like Mars. "Yes?" Corwin says, and blinks his eyes as he regards those contacting him. "Brandeigh. Percy. Jayson" he says in turn. He looks at Dagny and just gives a nod, and then continues. "What news?" "Good, you're alive;" Brandeigh says. "And it's James, not Jayson. He's ghost of Jayson courtesy of your Pattern. She's Dagny, a relative." At this, Dagny returns Corwin's nod, but says nothing. Corwin's expression goes to a briefly shocked expression at Brandeigh's opening words and then closes his mouth, tight lipped for a moment. "Things are that bad, then, that you are asking over my health?" he says. He looks from Brandeigh, to Percy, to Dagny and James. Brandeigh nods. "If you aren't Jayson." he says to James. "Have you heard from him and his party? They went into Paris, to face Apollo. I withdrew, to avoid his influence." James looks at Brandeigh, Percy and Dagny questioningly. "I haven't, Sire. I don't know about the others." Dagny shrugs. "I met nobody of consequence in Paris, or Versailles. The Omphalos made mention of 'enemy spellcasters' when they invaded, and threatened them. That could have been your Jayson and company." "You've been to *my* Paris?" Corwin responds to Dagny. Corwin furrows his eyebrows. A swirl of wind blows some red dust behind him. Briefly, the suspended dust holds a spiral shape, like a Pattern. "No." he says. "You were in a different one, Dagny. A Shadow." "If you didn't call me for that..." Corwin continues. "Why did you call me?" "While I do not know the exact sequence of events;" Brandeigh says to Corwin. "I do know Jayson and his party felt it was necessary for him to attempt the Logrus in order to rid himself of Apollo. Merlin and Suhuy gave him permission to try." She pauses, then; "The attempt resulted in the sundering of Suhuy's Ways and most likely, the Logrus as well from the rest of the Courts. It also generated a large Shadow storm, most people have taken to calling it the Shockwave. It has weakened your Pattern, uncle." Corwin shows a brief look of alarm, anger and constertation. "Have you heard of the Door people, the Omphalos?" Brandeigh asks Corwin. "It seems they've found one of the broken versions of your Pattern very recently. It is my fear they will be coming here, soon. It's time for you to come back, uncle." "I've heard of the Omphalos, from a couple of sources, including the horse's mouth." Corwin says. "Met the lad in a dream, gave him instructions to give my daughter a sword. Didn't know, though, they were on the warpath again." Brandeigh grins and briefly chuckles. "Valerian does get around." She sighs then and shakes her head. "Those of us who had traveled to their universe had hoped we had dealt them a severe setback in their invasion plans. It may be they've had sufficient time to recover and rebuild their machines." "How far apart from Amber time is their Shadow?" Dagny inquires. "If they're particularly fast-running, it's no wonder." "A difficult question to answer, Dagny." Percy replies, giving a nod to Brandeigh. "We were not merely in a different Shadow, we were in a different *universe*. There must be some linear relationship, but what that might be could be anything." Corwin scratches his chin. "As far as this Shockwave, I did have a Shadowstorm blow through here. The Emperor and the Genomic Prince here didn't like how it ran riot. They thought it just an exceptionally bad dust storm. If it has weakened my Pattern here, then I have work to do, no matter the risk." "Bring me through." Brandeigh extends her hand to Corwin. Corwin accepts Brandeigh's hand and steps across to where Brandeigh, Dagny, and Percy sit, and James stands. "If I may suggest something Uncle;" Brandeigh ventures; "you could use a few mage cadres as well an army with the highest tech equipment that will work here." She pauses as her expression grows thoughtful. "And some Trump artists. Really good and powerful ones. When we were in their universe, we saw little to suggest they were aware of its existence." "Aside from the trump artists, it almost sounds like you have done this sort of thing before." Corwin observes. He then walks over to the faded, but still stronger than previously witnessed Pattern and kneels near its entrance. Brandeigh smiles sweetly at her uncle. "Only a time or two before." "I see what you mean by weakened it. This whole shadow shows the effects. I have my work cut out for me. This...will be messy. And likely dangerous to anyone else in the vicinity." He looks up at Brandeigh, Percy, Dagny and James. "What are your plans, now?" James looks at Corwin. "My goal was to come here, Sire. I'm at your disposal." Corwin nods and looks again at Brandeigh, Percy, and Dagny for their response. Brandeigh looks over to Percy, weighing her uncle's and this Pattern realm's needs against her own. She then slowly nods her head at Percy and sighs once. "Percy and I have plans;" she says. "Plans that can and will have to wait if you need us here. How dangerous is your... fix likely to get?" "Large scale changes here are not going to be safe for anyone save the Pattern's master. And perhaps a ghost." Corwin says. "Blood and Lightning are indiscriminate tools. I am sure." Corwin smiles to Brandeigh. "that your mother would agree that large scale Workings can have unpleasant side effects to witnesses." Brandeigh slowly nods at this. "Do you require a certain item, the last I knew to be in Random's possession, to effect this repair work?" A pause then, "Will you need us once the repair has been done?" "I may speak with my brother about that." Corwin says. "As for the latter...not immediately. However, down the road, I may call on both of you." Corwin says." Dagny looks thoughtful. "I initially thought I'd go looking for more Doors, but now that I know the story that isn't necessary. I might head back to Shadow Versailles and see if anything has happened to the Broken Pattern there, then drive to Paris and see what the Omphalos are up to. Given the opportunity I might try for an assassination of their leader. "Oh! I wasn't able to figure this out myself, but one of you might. I originally started out in an Amber-based Shadow, and rambled around for quite a while in absolute terms. Through my wanderings, in which I did nothing particularly special, I eventually ended up in your Shadow Paris." She nods at Corwin. "It would seem to me, as I understand it, if your Universe is totally separate from Amber, I should not have been able to cross over as I did. Could there be some sort of rift, or some other phenomena? And actually, if the Omphalos have a Universe of their own on similar principles, could this phenomena be duplicated to travel there?" Corwin furrows his eyebrows, once Dagny's story and question are complete. "It seems very unusual that you managed to visit my Paris. There is a connection between my universe and Amber's. That connection." He waves a hand. "is here. This is the bottleneck between the shadows of my universe and the shadows of Amber. I don't know of any other connections. However, if you have found a rift, that is something of interest. A backdoor into my universe, or as you say, other universes, is something worth investigating, Dagny. Especially if you found it completely by accident." "Were there signs of Apollo there?" he asks her. "Or word of my two Regents?" He pauses. "Or my daughter?" "Like I said, I didn't meet anybody of consequence, or if I did, they didn't introduce themselves. So unless your kid is a tour guide at Versailles, or your regents are working as waiters in Paris, I probably didn't run across them. I was just enjoying myself in the city when the explosion happened, I went to investigate, and found the Door with the army spilling out." "Well, there is a difference between meeting someone, and finding evidence of them." Corwin replies. "I was hoping to hear of some reflection of their efforts in the Shadow Paris you found." he says to Dagny. Dagny looks at Corwin levelly. "How would I recognize such a thing?" "Have you never encountered reflections of family members?" Corwin asks Dagny. "Intentionally or otherwise? I should think if its a strong enough reflection, you will have a feeling. No matter." he waves a hand and grins at Dagny. "In any event, now..." he looks at Brandeigh. "If you can spare me a trump of you, I'll give you and Percy a call when things are settled enough that I can use your help effectively." "And how about you?" Corwin turns to regard Dagny. Dagny chuckles. "Huh. I don't have a Trump of me to spare, and I won't offend your artistic sensibilities by trying to produce one. To my knowledge there's only one in existence, actually. I do, however, have yours, and I can call to check in, if you think it would help." "Yes." Corwin says. To Corwin, she says; "Your call will be one of a few we will expect to receive while we're away." Brandeigh reaches a hand into her pouch, removes her deck and pulls out a pair of cards from the bottom of the deck. Returning the deck to her pouch, she extends a card to Corwin and James. "One for each of you;" she says. She gazes at the brooch she made for James, adding; "Though you may not need it James, given what I've already done for you." To Corwin, she says; "Your call will be one of a few we will expect to receive while we're away." Dagny pulls a face and looks rather uncomfortable, but does not comment at this. Corwin gives a nod and pockets the trump. James stares at his for a long moment, long enough for Brandeigh to start to feel a twinge of a contact before he looks away. "Its still useful to have." James says to Brandeigh. Brandeigh nods her head. After a pause, Dagny says, "Ah. Well. In any event, if there's nothing more to do here, I have a long trip back to Shadow Versailles. Wish I could take the car through a Trump sketch, you know?" She smiles. "Though thinking about it, I don't know how the /louez-des-flics/ at the Broken Pattern garden would take me plowing through it with a motor vehicle." "What you are looking for is a Gate." Corwin says. "I understand only really accomplished artists can make a Trump Gate...and even then, they generally don't try doing it with something like a sketch." He looks at Brandeigh "Don't they?" "You are correct;" Brandeigh says; "And no, it's rarely done with just a sketch. It can be done, its just more taxing." She pauses then. "That answers that then," Dagny replies, somewhat ruefully. And then he looks at Dagny. "And operating a motor vehicle near a Broken Pattern sounds like a risky and dangerous idea." He grins. "Are you Random's daughter by any chance?" "Random by chance...cute," Dagny smiles. "Nah. I'm one of Luke's. Though personally, I don't see the resemblance." "Luke. Huh." Corwin says. "A decent kid. Pal of my son, last I heard." Corwin says. "And I'd have not picked you out as his daughter, no." Corwin admits. "We'll talk more when you call me back." he promises. "No prob." Dagny nods. "Brandeigh." Percy says dryly, with a smile. "Uncle Corwin never fights nice or fair, when he's trying to win." Corwin grins. "He's got you there, Brandeigh. As far as using Trump Gates near Doors, I think I'd leave that to *your* branch of the family to experiment with to see how it would work. But its an idea I can put into your Mother's ear, or you can, if you speak with her first." "It's an idea, definitely." Brandeigh offers a quick, nasty grin. "I guess it all depends on your definition of 'nice' now wouldn't it?" To Corwin she says; "I will mention it to her whenever I talk to her next. Though when that will be, I'm not sure." "Fair enough. There is always my brother, too." Corwin adds thoughtfully. "Although half the time with him you can't tell what is panache and what is actual skill." "Right." He gives a nod to Dagny. "Good journey, Dagny." He gives Percy a handshake and a clap on the shoulder, and offers Brandeigh a hug in turn. Brandeigh accepts gracefully and gives Corwin a quick peck on one cheek. "Take care of yourselves. Oh, and thanks for bringing back the Ghost." Corwin gives a head nod in James' direction, who gives a bow, in the direction of Brandeigh and Percy. "You're very welcome;" Brandeigh replies. She nods at James before continuing on with; "Just don't let him eat your Trumps." She grins at James. James blinks in surprise, and then grins. "I think I won't have to worry about that anymore." "Talk to the both of you soon." Corwin promises. Brandeigh nods her head and watches as Dagny prepares to depart. Once all the farewells are said, Dagny will head out to her car, start up, turn on the radio to something palatable, and start the long trip back... Dagny's car takes a couple of tries to turn over, enough that it starts to become worrisome. However, it finally does start, and Dagny is able to turn around and head down the road and, soon, out of sight... Once Dagny's left, Brandeigh turns to Percy. "We ready to go as well, cariad?" Reaching into her pouch, she pulls out a trump card, the one leading to her realm. "At long last." Percy agrees, and takes Brandeigh's hand. The trump contact comes without too much difficulty, and its a matter of stepping through that Brandeigh, with Percy, step from Corwin's Pattern to the ring of Caer Na Gael. Once again, its evening, with the stars out in all their glory. Home. Her first few moments back in her homeland are spent simply deeply breathing in the air and relishing the feel of the place once again. Then standing very still, she centers herself and casts her senses out across the fabric of her shadow seeking to learn the current state of affairs. As compared to the last times Brandeigh was in Keltia, her home is in far better shape. There are no signs of rents or other signs that Sterling has tried to return his attentions. With Marguessan dealt with, the etheric, ambient and esoteric threads of the universe currently are at peace. "I am home;" she says simply to the air, wondering if one of the Sidhe will come to greet her. Nothing happens for a good minute. "Is everyone off somewhere else...?" Percy ventures aloud. "Nothing is wrong is it?" "Hardly, beloved of the Mistress of Scots." comes a voice from behind them. Upon turning, Brandeigh recognizes the Sidhe as Sorcha, one of the three that greeted her on a previous arrival in the Circle. "Well met, Brandeigh Douglas!" she says with a smile. Brandeigh grins at Sorcha. "Well met indeed Sorcha!" She turns to Percy; "Things seem to be a peace here, cariad." She turns back to Sorcha; "How fares Keltia? How is my father?" "Keltia is far more at peace and serenity than the last time you stepped through the circle, Brandeigh Ni Kerrigan." Sorcha says, after a waist-level bow. "Oh, there are intimations on the far borders that the Coranians are stirring, it must be said. However, the worlds of Keltia are still safe and secure." Brandeigh returns the bow with one of her own. When Sorcha mentions the Coranians, Brandeigh's gaze swings skyward unerringly looking in the direction of the Corianian's homeworld. "As for your father, he is well and on Scota, of course." Sorcha says with a tone of amusement. Brandeigh lowers her gaze and refocuses on Sorcha. "Good;" she says with a warm smile. "All else can wait a while. Percy has something he'd like to ask of my father." She gazes over at Percy; "Don't you, cariad?" Percy hesitates only a moment before giving a smile and a definitive nod in Sorcha's direction, and then a warmer smile for Brandeigh. "As a matter of fact, yes I do." "Your father could never refuse you, Ni Kerrigan or so the stories say." Sorcha says with a smile. "I doubt that even if the strapping Percy here has the accent of a Sassenach, that your father will not refuse him your hand." "However, now that I know it is you and that all is well, lest you have more questions, I will be about my business." Sorcha adds. "Sassenach?" Percy mouths at Brandeigh. " 'Tis a Keltic thing Percy;" Brandeigh replies with a grin leaving the rest of the comment for later. Turning back to Sorcha, she says; "There are a couple of things you should know and that you may pass on to the others. My mother may be coming here to see my father. It is not a definite thing, but she expressed an interest the last time we talked." Sorcha gives a grazing nod of the head. "The other item of note;" Brandeigh produces her deck of cards and shuffles out her godsdaughter's card. "This is Brieanne, my godsdaughter and our cousin from Amber;" Brandeigh indicates herself and Percy. "She also may be coming to visit. Although she will try to enter by any means but the one I've established." Brandeigh grins. "She's welcome to visit anytime, as long as she knocks at the front door to borrow a phrase from old Earth." Sorcha seems amused. "She sounds like a trickster. And if she is to try a method other than the approved...?" Sorcha asks. "How would you like her attempts handled?" Brandeigh laughs; "I believe trickster is a bit of an understatement." "Indeed." Percy agrees with a smile. "She is extremely perceptive and clever." Brandeigh's expressions grows more serious with a hint of mischief all her own. "Keep it nonviolent. Make her work for every step she takes and then bounce her out elsewhere when she blinks. If the situation grows too serious or dangerous, let me know. Otherwise, it should prove to be an excellent test of the defenses. If there's a loophole or a weakness in them, she will find it." "We shall do as you ask." Sorcha says as she leans over to study the card. Her eyes seem to absorb every nuance, every aspect of the image of Julian's daughter. Finally, she gives a nod. "Now I and mine are forewarned in the event of her visit." Sorcha says with a nod. "None else but your mother, and your godsdaughter are likely to seek the two of you while you are here?" she asks. Brandeigh glances over at Percy then shakes her head. "Those are the only two I expect;" she replies. "I thank you for coming to welcome us home and for the information, Sorcha." "Welcome home indeed." Sorcha replies with a smile. When she steps into the shadows, she softly and without fanfare disappears from view, and quickly, from their presence entirely. Once Sorcha departs, Brandeigh reaches out psychically and 'sets' the wards and defenses. Crossing into or out of Keltia except at the designated spots is right out, most powers should work normally within the realm though Trump calls into and out of the realm will take a great deal of effort. And then she speeds up the time flow rate here relative to Amber. ((Minor corrections to the above; by most powers, Brandeigh means Pattern, Trump, and Magic. Tempest is right out as is Logrus usually. She'll also set the wards to let her know if some unknown power is used against them.)) Percy spends his time with occasional glimpses in Brandeigh's direction, a few glimpses at the wheeling constellations, and everything else in his ken as Brandeigh works. Keltia's response to Brandeigh's manipulations paradoxically turns out to take as long, an hour, as it had previously. While Brandeigh's skills have certainly increased since she last tinkered with the nature of her shadow, the response to her tinkering seems sluggish and unresponsive. In the end, her superior skills make the sluggish responses take about the same time as previous workings. Does Brandeigh have any feeling or idea as to what is causing the sluggishness? Not really. Its nothing active that she works against. Its as if the clay of the shadow has been chilled and then removed from the active source of energy.. While nothing is affecting it actively now, the stuff of shadow seems to have been made less responsive from the experience. So it takes more work to get it respond as it should, even if nothing or no one is actively opposing her. So its more 'formed' ((or whatever the term is for a clay object that's been worked but not yet been to the kiln)) or solid (real) than before? If so, is this something Brandeigh would expect to happen to a Shadow where one of the Blood Royale resides for a time? The latter, and from what Mother has told her, it can happen. Real people make the world around them more real and less amenable to change. "It looks like you could use some rest, cariad." Percy observes once he senses that Brandeigh is done. "I'm glad." he grins. "we are in a place to do just that, now, at last." Brandeigh nods her head tiredly. "Aye that we are. Let's go home." She pulls out a trump to her quarters in the royal castle at Kinloch Arnoch on Caledon. "Home." Percy agrees. The Trump comes clear as day, and it is near twilight when Brandeigh and Percy step through the connection into the ancestral Castle. In Brandeigh's absence, the room has been kept up immaculately,as if it was meant for Brandeigh to step back in at any moment. Like now. "Let's bide on morning for facing your father." Percy suggests. "He'll undoubtedly know that you, we're here soon anyway, yes?" Brandeigh smiles tiredly and agrees. "Aye, once one of the servants discovers our return, the whole castle will know within minutes;" she says while walking over to her dressing table. She toes off her boots, while removing her belt, vest and assorted jewelry. Teyln transforms back to his harp form and is placed on a stand. She turns around to face Percy. "Are you hungry at all or shall we go straight to bed?" "Contrary to popular opinion, cariad." Percy says with a grin, stepping forward and putting his hands on her shoulders and giving a gentle squeeze. "I do not have a bottomless appetite. I leave that to Gerard and the Twins. What we snacked on at the Pattern will suffice until morning for me." "Or whatever time we wake up, anyway." He shakes his head. "Travel between different times of day is disconcerting to one's sleep cycle." Brandeigh nods and leans against Percy, wrapping her arms around him. "Well then I call dibs on the bathroom first and then we'll go to bed." She tilts her head back and grins up at him; "And if you have trouble going to sleep tonight, I can think of something that should help." Percy's eyes brighten like twin orbs of electric energy. "I'm almost tempted to fake sleep trouble with an offer like *that*, cariad." "And who says *I* might not have trouble going to sleep tonight?" Brandeigh replies, still grinning. "But go, to the bathroom with you, first, Brandeigh and then I, and then both of us to bed." Percy releases her reluctantly and looks toward the entrance to the bathroom. "There's nothing funny like three seashells for ablutions, is there?" Brandeigh pauses in her walk towards the bathroom at Percy's question. "Three seashells? Just where have you been Percy?" She then bonks herself on the head. "Oh, I recall the movie now, from Shadow Earth, no?" Percy grins and nods. She shakes her head; "I think you'll find the things you need in the sizes, shapes, colors, etc. you would expect from Amber." "Good." the son of Deirdre says. Brandeigh enters the bathroom, closes the door behind her, and takes care of her needs. And conjurs up a toothbrush, razor, shaving cream, comb, etc. for Percy to discover. She quickly brushes out her hair and when finished exits. "Your turn;" she says moving towards the bed. Once Percy enters the bathroom, Brandeigh conjurs up a bathrobe for him to discover at the foot of the bed, near her own. She then slips out of her clothes and into bed to await Percy. Percy returns in due time, with the humid heat of the recently exited shower entering the bedroom ahead of him. Briefly, he is a silhouette against the light of the bathroom before the light is extinguished. "Now." he says. "I believe we were going to prophylatically avoid sleeping problems." he says with a smile, and, shorn of his towel, slips into bed next to her and kisses her fully on the lips. And proceeds with devotion, care and enthusiasm to make certain that neither Brandeigh nor he will have any difficulty in sleeping the rest of the night... Brandeigh responds with a will of her own to make sure neither of them will have trouble sleeping tonight. In the morning, she arises early, and quietly slips out of the bed and into the bathroom. A quick, hot shower followed by several minutes of attending to her appearance and hair, and then she exits the bathroom to get dressed in clean garments. Brandeigh has the early morning to herself. She can hear servants of her father in the distance in the Caer, but no one else seems to be stirring. When Percy awakes, Brandeigh smiles at him from her perch in the window seat where she'd been alternately watching him and the view outside. "Arise, my prince, and prepare thyself to meet my father." She grins suddenly; "And get something to eat. I'm starving." Percy bites his lip, slightly, and then smiles. "It's time to meet him truly at last. And begin other things." Breaking fast before meeting the Master of Scots is an excellent idea, and easily accomplished. The servants and staff of the Caer are not surprised at the appearance of Brandeigh, and only slightly less so that she is accompanied. After and with much trepidation, Brandeigh finally brings Percy to meet her father. The conversation moves from the public introduction, to a private conversation with three, and then Brandeigh is gently asked to leave the room so that Percy and her father might speak alone, seriously. An hour later after that meeting, Percy comes out, a little paler than even his bloodline, but smiling. A day later after that meeting, and the vacation can begin in earnest as Brandeigh has the opportunity to show him her world. A week later after that meeting, and Brandeigh has shown Percy how to get around her shadow well enough that he can make a trip to on his own. A month later after that meeting, Percy presents Brandeigh with an engagement ring that, judging from its craftsmanship and design, comes from Caerdroia on Tara. A season later after that meeting, long enough for the two of them after years of semi-courtship, a marriage attended by much of the nobility on several worlds occurs. There has been no sign of Brieanne, or Fiona, or anyone else. Not even a trump call. Six months later after that meeting, and the strangeness of the lack of communication leads to a discovery. Trumps for locations outside of the shadow seem not to work. Reports of interstellar storms, disruptions and other things suggest a wide shadowstorm sweeping over the region. A year later after that meeting, Brandeigh makes a different discovery, as the months and months of lovemaking from a lover, fiancee and then a husband have produced something more: a pregnancy. A year and nine months later after that meeting, a son is born to Brandeigh, and she names him Kieran. Or to be pedantic Kieran Elharn Kerrigan Percival Barimen Webster Douglas. A dozen years later after that meeting, Brandeigh and Percy discover that some travel to nearby regions of shadow with the Pattern is now more practical and possible. Trumps from outside the region still don't seem to work. The fact that time inside of their region has gone slowly reassures the pair somewhat. About thirty years later after that meeting, Kieran has grown to be an adult man, with training from his mother, his father, from Keltia, and from shadows in the region that they have been able to reach. And now his story can truly begin... --- With a longstanding agreement made with Keith, herein will now end the story of Brandeigh as a PC in Strange Bedfellows. He expressed interest and I have agreed to allow him to pick up with a son of Brandeigh and Percy, the aforementioned Kieran. I leave him to make any amendments and final words here and we will begin Kieran's story next round. (Keith might want to take the opportunity to tell us about him, too). And I want to thank Keith for nearly 11 years of the adventures of Brandeigh, daughter of Fiona and I look forward to continuing his place in SB with Kieran. Backlinks |
