Crown of Amber

First Stanza

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Episode 1

The Leaves Which Remain

Alas! it is not till time, with reckless hand, has torn out half the leaves from the Book of Human Life to light the fires of passion with from day to day, that man begins to see that the leaves which remain are few in number. Hyperion. Book iv. Chap. viii. Henry W. Longfellow. 1807-1882.

Baird encounters Faiella in his dream-in-Tir-na state; they converse, briefly, with Faiella referring to Baird as her son, and apologizing vaguely. As they converse, she ages -- eventually, as Baird attempts to stop her from leaving, Baird is thrown away with a flash, and looks back to see Faiella transform into the Unicorn. It trots off into the distance, dark, which gains a shape that envelops and snaps the Unicorn's neck. Baird screams, and wakes up.

Meanwhile Zeero and her cohorts have become lost in Arden while hiding away from a tenacious nobleman whose pockets ... almost got picked. After wandering around for the better part of a day, they set up camp in a clearing.

Out in Shadow, Tristan wakes to a Trump call from Corwin, who, among other things, informs Tristan that his period of exile is up and it's time to return to Amber. Tristan ends the call and starts walking. Shortly, he runs across an army, one which he can't manage to "walk around", implying that they have some semblance of reality. He tracks them for a while.

Oberon's hunt for the nobles commences back in Amber, meanwhile, with Baird and Carlotta coming along; Julian and Corwin are the only elders in attendance. As the hunt progresses, some small game is caught, but nothing of real note happens, until the Unicorn runs across the party's path.

Oberon takes the lead chasing the Unicorn, with Corwin and Julian -- in deep contention with one another -- close on his heels. The others have difficulty keeping up.

The Unicorn bursts into Zeero's clearing, waking her and startling her companions; they see cloaks, a few figures, the Unicorn rearing, a blue flash, and the Unicorn running off into the forest, an arrow sailing into its side, and pursued by Julian.

In Shadow, Tristan gets detected, and eventually brought before the commander of the army. The commander treats him with paranoia, eventually punching him solidly and putting him in chains.

When the group catches up, Oberon is lying on the ground, head crushed. Baird attends him as best as he can; Carlotta separates from the group and contacts Fiona. Julian returns, quarrels with Corwin, blaming him for Oberon's death (which is imminent), fights with Corwin, beating him well; his rangers ultimately restrain Corwin when Corwin attempts to draw on Julian.

Eric is brought in, who begins interviewing the witnesses; Fiona is lead back in by Carlotta, but does not remain long. The group returns to the lodge, while Baird rides with the body back toward the castle. Zeero and her men, too, are eventually lead back to the castle, under close watch.

Tristan is eventually lead away from the army by his captor, after his captor (who has been leading the army through Shadow) 'parks' his army some distance outside the Golden Kingdoms.

Tristan and his captor converse for a while, but eventually the man releases him. As they exchange names, Tristan calls himself Fenric, and the man calls himself Dalt.

They continue on, to be stopped eventually in Arden and then escorted the rest of the way to Amber.

At the lodge, Eric states he will take up the regency until Corwin's lack of involvement in the King's death can be proven, at which point Corwin will be crowned King. Corwin appears to want to protest this, but lets it pass.

A general return to the castle is made.

Some hours later, "Dalt" and Tristan reach the gates. The guards refuse to let them in, until "Dalt" steps forward, saying, "I am Finndo, son of Oberon, and you will let me in."

End first episode.

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Episode 2

One Vacant Chair

There is no flock, however watched and tended, But one dead lamb is there; There is no fireside, howsoe'er defended, But has one vacant chair. "Resignation", Henry W. Longfellow. 1807-1882.

A dark man visits Zeero in the barracks, and promises her sponsorship for her cooperation; he gives her a box, which contains a star emerald and a black ribbon, telling her to 'tie a ribbon around a star' if she needs to get his attention somewhere along the way.

Finndo continues to be insistent at the gates, with the guards resisting him. As he is about to draw steel, Tristan steps forward to attempt to keep the situation from getting violent, at which point Caine announces himself, from an elevated position, with a crossbow trained on Finndo.

"Either you are who you say," says Caine, "or you're not. Either way, it should be something for the Family to sort out, and either way, you may end up in the dungeon. But regardless, it will be far less bloody for these guards here, and far less fatal for you to comply with my wishes. There's a meeting underway now, at which you may as well present yourself; they can decide what to make of you then."

Finndo knows when he's beat, and indicates his cooperation. Caine greets Tristan by name, and instructs the guards to bring him into the castle but not to let him out of their sight.

Baird spends time by the crypt where Oberon has been placed; he enters into Tir, not aware he's fallen asleep. He seeks Oberon, making his way toward the castle; before the castle he sees two men. One draws a sword, very bright and real, and attacks the guards before the gates, dispatching one and wounding another before he is struck by something and falls. The scene fades.

Baird continues into the castle, heading toward the throne room. Eric walks up to him, asks for a moment of his time, and offers his hand. Baird takes Eric's hand, and finds himself being pulled through a Trump contact into a meeting room in the castle.

As Baird comes through, he sees Corwin draw his sword, get disarmed by Finndo after a little swordplay, and then punched out through the doors of the room, into the hallway, where Tristan has been deposited. Finndo stalks forward, smirk at Tristan, and closes the doors again.

Corwin gets up, asks Tristan to call him later, and leaves the castle.

Baird is entranced by Finndo's sword, which matches the one in his brief earlier vision in Tir-na: it is an artifact of moonlight, belonging to Tir. When it is unsheathed, Baird hears a faint song, the words unidentifiable, but unmistakably old.

Present in the room are Fiona, Eric, Finndo, Benedict, and Julian.

Eric comments, "Well, I suppose that concludes the meeting. I imagine we all still have things to discuss amongst ourselves, so do feel free. Baird, if you'll join me over here...?" They step into a smaller side-room.

Eric explains to Baird that Baird is the only man he can trust with the job he is about to give him -- a mission to recover the Crown of Amber. The reasons are many; the Unicorn, in taking it, may be asking the others to prove who is worthy to wear the Crown; it is an important symbol which will secure the position of those who hold it; and so on.

Eric has "put my foot in the door and asked for us to assemble a non-partisan group to recover the crown. For the time being, the others have agreed, but with agreements being what they are..."

He goes on to note that no one should move until after the small, family ceremony for Oberon, but that the race will be on from that point. The others are no doubt going to try to put their claws into things, or send out partisan groups of their own, or try to turn the group Eric is asking Baird to head into their own. The group has the following members.

• Baird is the Regent's candidate, and thus will be given nominal command of the group.
• Carlotta is Fiona's candidate, which Julian has lent some support to. Fiona has said Carlotta will be unavailable initially, but will be sent along to Baird once Fiona's ready for her to be.
• Tristan is Finndo's nomination, which Corwin objected to. Corwin's objections have been noted.
• An advisor has put forth that the dramatic troupe who witnessed the King's death would make for good travel companions, both as cover, and as human shielding should the situation get rough. Since we can't trust them to stay quiet about what they saw, the best option at this point is to take them away from Amber.

They break their meeting with Baird's agreement. Baird exits and speaks with Finndo, who is talking with Julian; questioned about his sword, Finndo is stand-offish at best, admitting only that he got his sword from "a friend." Finndo leaves, joining with Tristan; they head back toward their rooms.

Baird drops by Brand's rooms a time later, and they discuss the events so far. "I held Oberon as he died," says Baird. "I envy you for that," returns Brand. Baird retires, promising to share the work he's been doing on a song in tribute to Oberon, tomorrow, when Brand is awake.

Tristan sets up wards in his room and goes to sleep. In the middle of the night, his wards are triggered; he reaches for his stick, but it is not nearby. In his room are three female figures dressed in shadowy black. They explain to him that he has left many debts behind in Amber, and he must be about satisfying them.

"Lives", they say, "have been destroyed through your action or inaction. Fate indicates that you are the one to carry the responsibility. Because you have ended life, you must give life."

It becomes clear that they expect Tristan to lay with each of them, and in the future, until one of them becomes pregnant with his child, which will satisfy the debt. He complies, and later names one condition -- that he gets to name the child.

After the business is done, Tristan is hit with a sleep spell, and gets perhaps his first really restful night of sleep in many years.

Baird drifts in Tir, resting, but hearing the faint traces of Finndo's Sword's song at the edges of his perception.

Zeero's dreams are usual fare, though she occasionally gets the feeling that she is being watched, protectively, by someone that she does not see during the dreams.

Over the course of the next day, everyone gets food; Finndo and Tristan meet Zeero and the boys; Baird and Brand exchange artists' notes; Tristan seeks Brand, finds him, and exchanges tense words with him; Baird and Tristan discuss the mission ahead, and then visit Deirdre for a time; Eric and Baird set about planning an inventory for the trip; Tristan tries to contact Corwin, but Corwin seems to be blocking the call. In these events, we find that neither Brand nor Tristan believe they are related in a paternal sense.

Episode two ends, on the eve of Oberon's private funeral.

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Episode 3

A Shadow Just Behind Me

There's a shadow just behind me Shrouding every step I take... "Sober", Tool.

Back on the night of Oberon's death, Carlotta is summoned to Fiona's Tower. Fiona informs her she will be sent on an expedition, but has doubts that Carlotta will be ready. To test this, she puts Carlotta in a deadly situation: she has to face down the creations of a fire-mage in a small, locked room. Through adversity, Carlotta eventually manages to overcome the fire-creature the mage creates long enough to sketch out a Trump of her home in Amber, and use it; her hands are burned, her nightclothes ruined, but she survives... and somehow, a full day has passed in the interim.

On the eve of Oberon's funeral, after returning to the castle, Baird speaks with Eric and then heads out to the base of Tir-na to await the stairs.

Tristan acquires a sword and bow from the armory, then goes to visit Finndo. In their conversation, Tristan agrees he will represent Finndo, but will not act against Corwin, the Crown Prince. Finndo tells Tristan that he is planning on keeping his distance from Corwin, since if Corwin gets removed from consideration, he's the next best thing.

Soon after the conversation, Tristan Trumps Corwin, who inquires after what side Tristan will take in the things to come; it comes down to Tristan saying he'll be on the side of the law which, at this time, is Corwin.

Baird enters Tir-na to investigate the origin of Finndo's sword. After a time, he sees Finndo and Osric ascend the stairs of Tir-na; he follows them. They seem to go higher than one normally goes on the stairs, and meet a third, hooded man who carries the sword. He hands the sword to Osric, who turns and hands it to Finndo. Baird rushes forward, tries to touch the blade as well; Osric notices him, smiles -- almost fondly -- and the ground beneath Baird slopes downward, suddenly frictionless. Baird descends, and finds himself, at last, at the base of the stairs to Tir.

Zeero and her fellows, meanwhile, assemble a list of things to request to be supplied for their trip; at one point, Brand shows up, without naming himself, gives Zeero an invitation to Oberon's funeral, and departs.

Tristan leaves a ruby gold ring that Clarissa gave him once, for Brand, but does not interact with him again.

The night passes uneventfully for most. As he sleeps, Baird enters into the castle in Tir, and catches part of a possible conversation between Eric and Benedict. Benedict is angry, and refuses to protect Amber from her enemies within. He is a protector of Amber against the outside. This time especially, Amber has to fend for herself. Eric says he's sorry to hear that; Benedict leaves. The vision fades; Baird places a sword he's carrying in his "dream" on a chair in that room, and leaves as well -- and eventually, Baird rests.

In the morning, the preparations for the funeral commence. All Elders are in attendance, save for Caine, who shows up long enough to find Zeero's companion Patrick hiding behind a curtain in the chapel. He guides Patrick out.

Of note, Bleys encounters Tristan before the ceremony in a hallway, and punches him, which Tristan takes squarely, but without falling. Bleys moves on.

Eventually, the funeral is held. Notably absent is Corwin throughout. Eric speaks a few words, and then Baird plays his tribute to Oberon. The effect is achingly captivating, affecting a number of the normally unaffectable -- Brand sheds a single tear, Bleys loses his cockiness, and so on. Eric concludes the cermony with a formal invocation of the return of the body to the air, sea, and earth.

A subdued reception occurs afterwards, with mild results. The redheads, then Benedict, leave early on; Carlotta learns of Finndo's return; Tristan speaks with Julian and Gerard; Zeero sees more royalty than she may ever again.

Preparation for travel ensues. Baird discovers Patrick hanging upside-down in a closet, and frees him. Carlotta chooses to bring Flora as her horse; Tristan's horse ends up being Merlin, a "jump-wary" gray horse. Baird brings his own horse, Twilight.

They set off to Arden.

After locating the clearing where the incident occurred, Baird and Carlotta head off tracking the Unicorn's path, while Tristan and Zeero remain behind. Tristan notices something amiss, and Zeero gets wary; Tristan's spell of clarity reveals eyes in the forest, not quite human, watching them. It's soon revealed that they are red cat-headed humanoids wielding swords; the creatures advance. Tristan manages to disarm the first of them with his staff but, soon, recognizing their combat capabilities, draws his sword, dismantling one. Zeero, nearly under the blade of another, is saved by a Tristan's sacrifice move, blocking the catman's sword at the last moment, but getting his back opened up by the claws of the disarmed one. Zeero runs back toward where the wagon was left.

Baird manages to use some of his special affinities to see the Unicorn's metaphysical trail, and notices it beginning to bifurcate after a while. Following it a ways, he finds his way into a darker, wetter shadow-Arden, marks the place in his mind and with Pattern, and then sets to walking back. Two cat-men stop Carlotta and Baird on their return. Though it is difficult, eventually the pair manage to successfully put down their assailants, though Baird gets well injured in the process.

Zeero finds herself trapped by three additional cat-men on her flight back; Tristan hears her scream and arrives in time to prevent one of them from attacking her. It throws itself upon his sword, taking the sword with it as it falls. Struggling, Tristan manages to hold off one of the others, though the third is about to strike him when a wolf leaps upon it and takes it down. His sword finally free, Tristan dispatches the remaining creature. He sends Zeero back on her way to the wagon, and turns back toward the clearing. Julian is there on horseback; he pulls Tristan on, and they ride off in search of Carlotta and Baird.

The pair are found, with Tristan exchanging places with Baird on the horse. The session closes with the four returning to the wagon, with Tristan dragging one of the cat-men corpses along.

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Episode 4

The Descent to Hades

"Anaxagoras said to a man who was grieving because he was dying in a foreign land, 'The descent to Hades is the same from every place.'" Diogenes Laertius. Circa 200 A. D. Anaxagoras. vi.

The group retreats to their wagon, where the Rangers attend to their wounded. It is revealed that the Rangers themselves ran into a few of the cat-men, and that the wolf that saved Tristan was not one of Julian's dogs. Julian hasn't seen the cat-things before.

Carlotta secretly Trumps Fiona and updates her on the occurrences of the prior session.

Baird, eventually, has to sleep from the anaesthetic effect of some of the herbs the Rangers apply to his wounds. While he sleeps, the group, with wagon, travels back to the place where Baird last left off, guided by Carlotta.

Baird awake again, he follows the trail he can detect. They pass through the swampy area, after a while, the terrain eventually drying up. Camp is made long enough to acquire food. Zeero and Tristan fish and hunt impressively, respectively.

And then the corruption of the land begins. Folding in around them, a blackening hits the land, turning it *back* into the swampy terrain. Baird asserts his reality upon the area around the wagon, fending off the creeping corruption.

Zombies start rising out of the land and surrounding the group. Soon the group is forced to engage -- everyone, including the dramatists, does his or her part, but the zombie numbers are growing. Baird manages to form a wedge and push forward; Tristan hears horses approaching and directs Baird to go toward the sound -- and experiences a lessened resistance to their movement for it.

They encounter four rotting horsemen and their leader, an apparent vampire lord named Saeren, who 'invited' the group back to his keep, deep in the swamp.

Saeren warned them that his guards are an exceptionally superstitious sort, being bogeymen themselves, and will tend to react badly to anyone playing with something that might be a weapon, an artifact of power, or making any gestures, statements, or other behavior which might be taken as a move to invoke power.

Under close watch, they were lead back to a Saeren's keep.

Saeren states his intention to learn from the group as much as he can of the arcane powers they possess, so as to better understand the powers which his Master has under his control. But first, folks are sent to their rooms.

Zeero (spoken for by the others), Tristan, Baird, and Carlotta are each lead off to separate rooms; Tristan and Baird notice that the rooms are set up to be watched. Each individual has their weaponry, and most of their trumps, removed from them.

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Episode 5

Disastrous Twilight

In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. Milton, Paradise Lost, Book i, Line 597.

Collin (a new character) is called to the office of the Captain of the Citadel, where he finds his father speaking with the Captain. The Captain, Azrazhard, has been asked by Bleys, and given permission, for Collin to go on leave for a time, in order to help his father with something. The details of why he's agreed are left obscure.

Left alone, Bleys updates Collin on the events going on back in Amber, tells him who he is to be joining, tells him not to trust Tristan, and so forth.

Then he pulls out a Trump; it's of a woman with beautiful golden hair and pale blue eyes (Carlotta). Bleys starts to focus.

Meanwhile, at Saeren's keep, Saeren visits Baird, Zeero, and Tristan in turn, asking them about their origins, their desires, and so forth. He learns little, save that immortality holds no actual interest for the group, and some oblique information about Amber. Tristan, at least, learns that Saeren has a Trump of Oberon.

Bleys makes contact with Carlotta, reaches for her quickly; he reaches, a beat later, to Collin, who enters the contact.

"Introductions later," says Bleys. "Take Collin's hand."

Carlotta does, and Bleys releases Collin, sending Collin through. As he comes through, he sees the door open, and Saeren step into the room. Saeren's face contorts; he rages, "I WARNED YOU!" and Collin is buffeted with a wave of force that he narrowly dodges -- getting clipped on the shoulder and knocked to the floor.

Then everyone else hears Saeren's voice rise to boom throughout the entire keep, "I WARNED ALL OF YOU!" There is a great white pain, followed by a great black nothing, for everyone.

In time the group wakes, finding themselves hanging upside-down and feeling ill. It becomes clear that Collin has joined them, and Carlotta has disappeared.

The party takes some time to appreciate their situation. Then one of Saeren's lieutenants enters the room. "Boss got called away to talk to th' Master," he says. "So I figure it's time you all escape."

He laughs. "Won't be my ass on the line," he adds. "Master'll blame Saeren, an' knowin the Master, I figure I'll be takin' up Saeren's job soon after."

He mentions before leaving that the party should find its belongings stored with the wagon in behind the large, locked double doors off the courtyard. "Can't make it easy for you to escape," he says, "so take it carefully. Or not. If you wind up dead, when you're reanimated, don't come moaning to me."

He also mentions that Carlotta's been "taken somewhere by Saeren". Questioned about the dramatists, he says, "Leave that ta me."

The lieutenant leaves, ordering some zombies to let the folks down. The zombies act stupidly, of course, and have swords, which Tristan and Collin, et al, relieve them of. They make short work of the zombies. They also have a moment to realize they've all been fed upon by Saeren.

Over the next half hour, the party makes its way through the castle, killing the few zombies that they encounter, and then reaching the courtyard: Tristan makes for the gate, to raise it when the time is right; Collin busies himself with the undead in the courtyard; Baird fouls the bowstrings of the skeletal archers, with the Pattern, and accompanies Zeero toward the double-doors. Zeero picks the lock, and she and Baird enter -- the dramatists, who were wheeling corpses into the courtyard shortly before they arrived piling into the wagon. Everyone's possessions save Carlotta's are recovered, and Zeero realizes that her gemstone-and-ribbon are gone.

The wagon is wheeled out into the courtyard; Jack takes the reins; Collin switches from sword to bow and arrow, and begins shooting at the wraiths which descend several times upon the wagon, raking Jack's arm. Collin manages to kill one of the wraiths. Tristan raises the gate, and Baird, in a stunning feat of Pattern mastery, hellrides right out the front gate.

Some while later, the zombies -- who somehow manage to persist through the hellride -- thin to a level of annoyance. The party is in a field of tall grasses -- they rid themselves of the zombies -- and ride toward a village they see in the distance. It is Easthaven, and they are in the shadow Deiga, a kingdom not too far outside the Golden Kingdoms and other realms with which Amber has diplomatic contact. Once in the village, ringed by a light complement of guardsmen, Jack collapses from his wound. Tristan uses firemagic to purify the corruption in the wound, breaking the unnatural infection.

They discover that the village has been recently besieged by the undead occupying the nearby wood, and is expecting reinforcements from the capitol within a week. The undead have been about for several months, but the attacks have only been recent.

Tristan sets about enchanting a torch to carry some of the purifying power he used upon Jack, as the others go to sleep, save Collin, who patrols the village for a while. Done, Tristan uses the torch upon the four (including himself) who have been vampire-bit, in order to ensure no complications arise from the wounds. He ends with Collin. They discuss matters, and Tristan makes a guess that Collin is Bleys' son; as a message for Collin to give to his father, Tristan punches Collin -- more effectively than he'd meant, as it knocks Collin flat out.

Collin eventually wakes about three hours later and has some tense further conversation with Tristan.

The next day passes without great event; as night falls, the village is set upon by perhaps three or four score skeletons (an improved strategy, since arrows have little effect upon skeletons). Baird shifts the shadow of them such that their bones are more brittle; Collin and Tristan make the main stand against them, and dispatch the bulk of them over the course of a few hours.

The next day, several trump conversations occur, and Zeero's dramatists put on a morale-boosting comedy for the village's guardsmen. The session closes as dusk approaches; the Trump calls are as follows:

Tristan calls Corwin
Tristan explains recent events to Corwin, and asks him to give assistance to the people of Deiga, which could win him some respect back home. Corwin agrees, and says he'll be there within two days.

Baird calls Eric
Baird updates Eric with the latest events; Eric explains he can't send any of Amber's troops to Deiga, out of concern of spreading Amber's forces too thin. Baird also asks Eric to tell Finndo of recent events, as a way of repaying Tristan for his recent service. Eric reluctantly agrees, but makes no guarantees as to expediency.

Tristan calls Deirdre
Tristan explains some of the recent events to Deirdre, and reassures Deirdre as to Baird's health and performance. He further asks Deirdre to inform Finndo, as he doesn't expect Eric to do so quite the way he'd like. Deirdre is hesitant, but says she will do so within the next day.

Collin calls Bleys
Collin converses with Bleys as to recent developments, including some brief conversation about Carlotta. The call is short.

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Episode 6

The Soul is Dead that Slumbers

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, "Life is but an empty dream!" For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. A Psalm of Life, Henry W. Longfellow.

Evening falls again, with no sign yet of Corwin. Not long after the sun disappears over the horizon, a pillar of red light stabs into the sky, like the upthrust blade of a giant dagger. A small amount of time passes, and the red construct starts raining fireballs down on the village.

Collin attempts to ascertain the nature of the magic, but does not manage; he starts rousing people, starting with Baird. Tristan spots the impending fire soon enough to get Baird out of the house he's in -- which is promptly hit by a fireball and bursts into flame.

The punishing rain of fire continues for about an hour; the guardsmen manage to get people out of their houses as capably as they might, cutting down on the loss of life -- but structurally, the village is devastated.

The group manages to assemble and decide that they must journey into the forest to put a stop to whatever is behind it all. They ride out, with Baird bringing dew to the field grasses and eventually rain in order to prevent the spread of the fire. In time, they reach the edge of the forest; it's unlikely that the wagon will be able to be brought in, and so it must stay behind. Zeero stays with the drama troupe.

Cut to what may be a few days ago.

The last Carlotta remembers is a brilliantly white-hot pain running up and down her spine, giving way to a cold black nothing, with Bleys' voice dying away in her mind, his fingers growing cold and insubstantial as she fades.

Carlotta is jostled rudely awake as she bounces, bound, nauseous, weak, and blindfolded upon the back of a horse. She begins to realize that it's not the ride that's awakened her -- it's a Trump contact tapping carefully at the back of her mind.

She reaches for the Trump, which turns out to be Bleys. Unable to reach her hands, he strains for a moment and then pushes to grab hold of Carlotta's nose and pull her uncomfortably through the contact; she hears a snarl from the horse's rider, and then she's tumbling across a tabletop and landing on a floor.

Bleys helps her get free of some of her bonds, engages her in brief conversation, notes the bite marks upon her neck, gets her some soup, and leaves her to rest until morning; he's tried to get through to Collin, but with no luck.

Carlotta will be given time to explain herself. Bleys will explain that she owes him a debt for his saving her life, and for the risk Collin has been put in. Bleys does not have a Trump of Tristan: Carlotta must furnish it to him, and secretly.

Carlotta sleeps until the next morning; Bleys gets her some unfortunately colored clothing, some breakfast, and states to Carlotta that she owes him a debt, both for placing Collin into danger, and taking her out of it. Carlotta agrees; Bleys names his price -- a Trump of Tristan -- and gets Carlotta to give her word that she will deliver it.

After another round of failing to reach Collin -- Carlotta's efforts included -- leaves her for a few hours. Carlotta explores, noting a number of men dressed as Collin was dressed, and eventually reaching a courtyard, over which a tall spire with a white orb towers. Beyond the courtyard is open sky. Looking over the edge, Carlotta can see a city far below in the middle of a wide expansive desert.

Electing to return to her room, she first sees a horseman ride out, pluck a beam of light from the white orb, and ride that beam down through the sky.

Carlotta and Bleys meet a time later and in tandem begin to Trump Collin. In time, the beginnings of a contact take hold...

Back in the forest, Collin, Baird, and Tristan ride forth. They travel for a while, but don't encounter any undead. After a while, Collin, on intution, fakes his horse getting a stone caught in its shoe; he uses the ruse to communicate with the other two that he believes an ambush is coming up -- though he's not familiar with the terrain, so he's not certain about the particulars of it.

After a few moments of analysis, they decide that it's likely there are undead tracking them to either side, and if they make a sudden break left and then return parallel, they can bust one flank and outrun the other.

With Collin in the lead, the plan is put into motion. Collin and Tristan use their horses to run down the skeletons they encounter, then rush pell-mell deeper into the forest, toward the red light.

About half an hour later, they ride towards a great stone circle, the base of the red cone. They encounter assorted zombies and skeletons in their way; Collin takes one flank, Tristan the other: they make short work of them.

Going further, they pull into a thickness of trees in order to look upon the stone circle without being seen. At the middle of the stone circle is a great stone long "box", large enough to be the coffin of a giant; a "lich" stands near the box, wearing a fragment of the crown on his chest, hanging from a chain -- possibly the frontpiece of the crown. Saeren, looking uncomfortable, is standing a ways off, but still within the circle.

As the trio looks on, the lid of the coffin is shattered by a wave of the Lich's hand.

Back at the wagon, Zeero, having stood watch for an hour, becomes worried about the three in the forest, and considers going in after them -- until she notices the sound of approaching hoofbeats. Several minutes later it is revealed to be Corwin and a band of perhaps a dozen unkempt and grumbling but nonetheless dangerous-looking men.

Corwin inquires as to the whereabouts of the others, and curses at his being late. He curses more as he learns of what's happened to the village and, after a few cursing moments of indecision, sets off into the forest trailed by his grumbling companions.

Zeero decides enough waiting is enough waiting, and leaves with Dale upon a horse to follow Corwin into the forest several minutes later, leaving the troupe to keep watch on the wagon.

Back at the stone circle, Collin shoots an arrow at the lich, but it is deflected by an invisible barrier. Saeren notices this, and advances. Collin puts another arrow through the air and into Saeren's heart: Saeren is slowed considerably, almost paralyzed, and then takes a second arrow to the throat, and drops.

Baird attempts to work with the pattern to undo the lich, to grasp the crown-fragment, and so forth, but manages nothing.

Tristan notices that some of the monolith-stones making the circle are growing arms and legs from the earth; he engages the first of them, correctly determining their weakness in their earthen legs, and fells it. Two or three others set upon him, and the fight is on -- for Tristan alone, as Collin receives a Trump contact. It's Bleys and Carlotta.

Baird is suddenly caught up in a vision from the past, and begins walking around the stone circle, ignored by the monolithic creatures.

Collin pulls Bleys and Carlotta through, who turn in time to see Saeren rise again and send a wave of force a them. Bleys has already advanced with his sword and cannot be reached by Collin, who dives for cover; Carlotta, too, drops to the ground. Bleys draws a veil of fire before him and catches the force with fire, driven back -- drawing a ditch with his heels -- a good fifteen feet until he comes to brace his back upon a tree.

Collin picks himself up -- Carlotta does as well, tossing a stone at Saeren, but missing. Collin makes his way toward the lich, but must face one of the monolith creatures. Opting for neither bow nor sword, he uses a bit of magic to dismantle the creature, which begins to shake itself apart. Meanwhile, Tristan has felled at least another of the stone-beasts, and seriously injured a second.

Carlotta retreats to Trump Julian.

As the others press on, Baird's vision unfolds.

He is standing in the circle of stone. It is empty of all the undead, his companions, and so forth. A young Finndo stands at the center, the stone lid and walls not yet there -- only a slab of stone on the ground. A man lies upon the slab, his face turned away from Baird. Finndo hefts a great piece of stone up and jams it into the ground -- he's impressively strong -- forming one of the walls of the stone box.

Finndo does not respond to Baird, but as Baird watches or approaches, the man on the slab -- who has a great wound in his chest, probably from a sword -- looks at Baird as Baird circles around to view his face. Finndo does not react to this either.

"Hold, child of Faiella. I bind you," says Osric.

Baird finds himself stuck in place. Osric continues. "I bind you by debt of blood. Faiella has paid what she can of the debt -- I saw to that -- but the remainder of it is shouldered upon you, Baird. I bind you for the death of a Queen, my mother -- and Faiella's victim."

Baird calls out his renouncement of Osric's debt, and breaks the spell upon him with the force of his will made manifest through the Pattern. He advances into the circle, drawing a dagger with some effort. FInndo continues his work, and Osric's hold upon Baird regains itself. "I bind you," he repeats, "and it is a small debt I ask. You should not resist it." It's not said with the tone of a plea.

Osric says, finally, "I bind you to protect the man I send to you. I will not give you his name, for there is power in names; I grant you no advantage there. I am about to lose all that I am and was, that I might become something darker. The light of the moon is leaving me; the last of my blood is all I can spend. I spend it on you: protect him, son of Faiella!" And Baird -- as the present comes rushing back to him -- knows that something like a Blood Curse or Blood Blessing -- but neutral -- a kind of Blood Intention -- has been lain upon him.

Baird rushes toward the lich, as Collin works another spell to attack the lich's barrier. It does not circumvent it, but it does illumine it, enough for Baird to pull himself up short. He changes his course toward Saeren as Collin continues to pull at the barrier. Tristan finishes the last of the stone-things as Baird strikes at Saeren from behind -- but, mis-estimating the length of his arm, chops at Saeren with his wrist.

It is enough to distract Saeren, however, and Bleys' spell comes at him full-force -- Baird drops to avoid it, and Saeren is wrapped in spiralling flame, which then dissipates, leaving only Saeren's clothes behind. They fall; the lich's barrier persists. Bleys, winded, rests against the tree.

Baird, back to his feet quickly, calls out, "Osric must not rise!" Which halts Tristan with incredulity -- then dismay, as a young, healthy, and strong Osric rises from the coffin.

Carlotta pulls Julian through.

All eyes turn to watch as Osric rips the crown-piece from the Lich's chest, then touches the Lich with his other hand, causing the creature of death to explode into dust an nothingness. The barrier fades, and Collin drops his strivings against it.

Osric turns to face the others -- Tristan advances, and calls out, "Osric, hold!" Osric takes a few steps backwards -- spits, "Childkiller," at Tristan -- and with a fearsomely strong and swift invocation of the power of Tir-na (as Baird notes) -- recedes into Shadow, erasing his trail as he does so.

Corwin and his men arrive just in time to miss everything. Corwin begins to curse. Zeero and Dale ride up a few minutes later.

Bleys speaks briefly with Collin, then takes his leave, Trumping away. Tristan and Baird speak some of what Baird has seen -- Baird considers some of the events Finndo's fault, as he built the cairn, while Tristan counters that the building of a place does not fault one for what occurs in it.

Corwin and Tristan speak, with Corwin learning of Collin and the events that have taken place; after a time, he and his men ride for Easthaven, to help the villagers pick up what pieces they may.

Carlotta inspects Saeren's clothes, finding a green gem -- which Zeero later does not identify as hers, as it lacks a star in the center -- and her Trump of Oberon. She does not find the rest, however.

Julian and Tristan speak, with Tristan informing Julian of Collin's name, parentage, and skill. Julian thanks him.

Julian then talks with Carlotta, who admits that she has lost the Trump of Arden. Julian badly conceals his irritation, and leaves by way of Trump (either to Caine or to Eric).

The group heads back to the wagon, and they begin the ride back to Amber. During that time, several things occur:

Carlotta Purified
Carlotta learns of Tristan's purification ritual from Zeero, and Tristan works it upon her, in hopes of combatting the effects of the vampire bites she's endured.

Baird Trumps Eric
Baird Trumps Eric, reports the details of Collin's existence and the details of events which Julian may have left out, including Baird's vision and suspicions. Baird also discusses Faiella with Eric, learning that there was some suspicion, but no proof, that Faiella may have had a hand in Cymnea's death; however, the conclusive proof that did surface pointed all fingers at Nasriam, which paid the price in a bloody 6-year war that left the kingdom destroyed. Eric bids Baird well, then, and says he'll see him back in Amber.

Tristan Trumps Deirdre
Tristan Trumps Deirdre, gives her his version of events, explains why he believes Finndo is not at fault for Osric's return, and receives her invitation to see her when he is back in Amber.

Carlotta Trumps Fiona
Carlotta gives Fiona several details that Bleys may not have; assures Fiona of the Trumps she hasn't lost; and receives a warning from Fiona to be wary of the effects of the vampire bites. On this advice, Carlotta rides within the wagon on the way back to Amber, to avoid daylight.

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Second Stanza

Episode 7

As Our Sanity Walks Away

The coin flips again and again, and again, and again as our sanity walks away. White, Discussion, Live.

After several days of travel, the group arrives in Arden in Amber's morning. Julian rides up to them there, and asks that Tristan return to Arden in the evening, to which Tristan agrees. Meanwhile, Baird is Trumped by Eric, who asks that he bring Collin before him so that he might meet the latest addition to the crown's mission.

Guided by Rangers, they ride through Arden, and then on their own, through town and up Kolvir to the castle. Upon entry into the castle, Carlotta, who is within the wagon, is Trumped by Fiona, who immediately pulls her through.

Baird and Collin go clean up, and dress in more formal attire; Tristan notes that Carlotta has disappeared from the wagon, mentions this to Zeero. He then heads toward Finndo's quarters.

Zeero and her men spend some time joking about ways to keep Carlotta put next time she decides to disappear; Baird and Collin head to the Regent's office; and Tristan comes to Finndo's door, and knocks.

Fiona examines Carlotta for a few moments, and asks who cast the purification spell upon her. Carlotta names Tristan, and Fiona nods, saying that that explains the flavor of it. She also says that it wasn't enough, and that Carlotta should walk the Pattern as soon as she might; but first, to center herself, to rest, and to start satisfying her debt to Bleys.

Finndo opens the door to Tristan's knocking. Entering, Tristan sets about detailing the events of the last two weeks. He finishes, saying to Finndo that he has defended him, and does not wish to be a liar for it. Finndo, a dark mood about him, leaves the room, gesturing for Tristan to follow him.

They leave the castle -- seen by Zeero and her men -- and head out onto Kolvir's side. Finndo begins his tale.

Zeero is approached by Badger as the dramatists settle into the barracks; Badger's looking sheepish and, apart from the others, explains that he and three of the others don't want to go on the road the next time they head out -- Skimmer, Slip, and Nymble being the three (the ones who still want to adventure with Zeero are Patrick, Jack, Lytton, and Dale).

Zeero is understanding, but says firmly that this does not mean the group is breaking up. She'll do what she can to arrange for the others' stay while she's away.

Sometime over the next hour, a servant approaches Zeero, and gives her a message, green wax, black ribbon. "Meet me in the garden this evening, to discuss the jewel. A servant will guide you there," it says. Zeero suppresses her panic.

Back in the castle, Collin and Baird are admitted. After a few questions to Baird, Eric turns to Collin, gestures to a seat. He asks Collin what his understanding is of the mission, and questions the manner in which Collin plans to play his father's hand in things. Collin's answers are to the point, but ultimately not terribly informational (which seems to trouble Eric not at all). He then asks Collin if he intends to walk the Pattern any time soon; Eric could, in fact, allow him to do so now. Collin's response begins with, "I don't--" at which point Bleys pounds on the door, is admitted by Baird -- whom he pushes aside -- and strides to Eric, saying, "Keep your claws off my son."

A few tense words are exchanged, and Bleys takes Collin out of the room. Baird remains to discuss a few things with Eric, and then leaves as well.

Bleys takes Collin down a few hallways, to the base of a tower attached to the castle. He traces a fiery design upon the door, and then opens it, stepping in.

Fiona comes in, looks upon Carlotta's progress, puts it aside -- back into the replacement art kit she's provided Carlotta, noting that she'll have it delivered to Carlotta when things are done -- and leads Carlotta out the door -- into the circular room where Collin and Bleys are standing.

From a third door, Brand enters the room. Brand asks Fiona, "Is it prepared?" To which Fiona crosses to the fourth door in the room, and opens it -- revealing the chamber of the Pattern beyond. The three redheads pass through, followed by Carlotta, who beckons Collin to follow.

On the mountainside, Finndo says, "I may well be a dead man, for Osric's return." As he speaks, some of the gruffness of the field leaves his voice; it turns younger by degrees, and calls back some of the refinement he must have had as a young prince.

"You know the tale of my choice to join Osric, when he was effectively banished. We made what we could of the mission Father assigned us -- a mission that made sense in the politics of the time, but which would mean little to you today."

"It was a fairly hopeless mission, and one that Osric -- correctly, I think -- recognized, in time, as intentionally fruitless, and which he could not honorably return from until it bore fruit.

"Osric had a temper, and as time wore on, the temper became... unchecked. Then uncheckable. He began to talk of returning to Amber with an army, crushing Oberon and taking the crown for his own. I tried to correct his course, but you can more easily change the tide than change Osric's mind.

"He began to put his plan into motion, and as my objections continued, he saw me as less and less the brother who had come with him into effective exile, and more as a threat, mild at first, then intolerable. When the forces he gathered were too strong for me use words alone against him, I demanded he stop, or I would stop him. He struck at me, and were it not for Grayswandir -- the sword he gave me -- his spell would have stopped my heart.

"I responded in kind, and killed him where he stood. I picked up his body, and walked for as long as I could bear to, through Shadow, until I found the cairn where you saw him rise, and buried him there. Then, effecting a ruse to fake my death, I hid away in shadow for as many years as I have.

"Father," he finishes, "whatever the reasons, was never fond of the concept of fratricide."

At which point Benedict stands from behind a rock.

Eight-hundred years ago, Osric and his son Jaeger walk along Amber's beach. He asks Jaeger about his hopes for the future, which Jaeger discusses briefly; he'd like, eventually, to stop running errands for his father, but for the time being, it suits him fine. Osric nods, and says, "I have an important mission for you, and when it's done, I expect you'll be able to take a vacation." At which point Jaeger realizes they're getting close to the stairs to Rebma (a name Osric has given the reflection of Amber under the sea). "You cannot get there by shadow, easily, and so it is time for a second walk." Jaeger is apprehensive, but descends, with his father, into the water.

The uncomfortable sensation of water filling his lungs comes upon Jaeger as he descends the roughly formed stairs of coral toward Rebma. It is close to evening above water, and the light is dim at best below.

It is as Jaeger remembers from his one visit to Rebma before: Murky depths; a dark sense of structures around him, then an entrance into a building that looks like a castle against the dark blue light from above. Dark-skinned faces peering out from the shadows, watching him, then darting away. Osric leading before him with a small greenish globe of light hovering in front of him. Innumerable turns and twists, and then the door. The door opening, and a darkly glowing Pattern beyond, the deep blue of deep sea.

"We both must journey," says Osric, "and so, I will walk first. Your mind is young, and may not bear the wait if I were to traverse second." Jaeger asks after the dangers ahead; Osric says there is a two-part journey before him; the first part shouldn't hold danger, while the second most certainly will. Jaeger nods, saying, "Dad, I just want to say -- it's all been worth it." Osric says nothing, then steps onto the Pattern and, over the course of the next several minutes, traverses it, and makes it look easy.

Jaeger then walks the Pattern himself, feeling himself slide into the form of a wolf as he does so.

In the present day, the three redheads move a ways around the pattern, and then with Fiona between her brothers, link hands with fire rather than flesh. They all three look to Carlotta. Carlotta steps to the beginning of the Pattern, and asks what the prize is for the walking; Fiona says, "An explanation." At which Carlotta sets foot upon the design.

Jaeger's memories at the first veil are of his first hunt with his mother, the wildness of the hunt, and the taste of fresh blood in his mouth. He emerges from the first veil hungry and determined.

Carlotta, stumbling at first, makes it to the first veil and remembers her eighteenth birthday, when Caine unfolded a horrible truth to her, and left with a smirk on his face. She emerges with her rage upon her.

Halfway along, feeling as though she's sweating blood, Carlotta realizes suddenly that she is sweating blood, but strives on.

At the second veil, Jaeger is awash in recollections of the schooling upon schooling he received from his father, honing him into a herald and a messenger. He also recalls his first true delvings into what his power afforded him. Words and books rain before him, but they all seem to spell, "Try harder." And he pushes through, toward the Grand Curve.

Carlotta struggles through the second veil, remembering the dangers, failures, aches, and bruises of her first foray into thievery. She emerges toward the Grand Curve with the aches and pains of a novice, and with the blood stinging into her eyes, nearly blinding her. By will and memory she rounds the Grand Curve, and into the Final Veil. She is ripped down to her core, leaving only a seething spike of anger and hatred for Caine. It is all she is for a timeless time, and then she is through, and in the center.

Jaeger hits the Final veil and revolves through his dual natures, man and beast, for a small eternity. There is a moment of nothing, and then he steps toward his father, as a man again. Osric hands him his satchel, saying, "You may wish to get dressed." Jaeger starts doing so, and as he does, Osric lays his hand upon Jaeger's shoulder -- and with a twisting sensation, Rebma falls away from them, and they are some several thousand feet in the empty air above Kolvir on a moonless night. Jaeger screams.

Fiona and Carlotta speak briefly, it becoming apparent that Carlotta is free to go where she wishes. Carlotta chooses her room at her family's house in the city, and finds herself tumbling bloodily onto her bed.

After cleaning herself however well she may, she calls a servant to her to draw her a bath. The servant is taken aback at the blood, but asks no questions. Carlotta sets about bathing.

In the Pattern chamber, Bleys crosses to his son, saying, "I think we'll save your walk for another time." Collin, having seen Carlotta bleed as she walks, is wordlessly grateful. The other two redheads Trump out individually; Bleys, explaining that the guards on the other side of the door would react badly to them stepping out, draws a Trump of his own, and with Collin, Trumps to his room. Bleys gives Collin a brief explanation of how to get around the castle (ask the servants for help), and leaves him to do his own thing.

On the side of Kolvir, Benedict stares at Finndo for a time, and Finndo stares back. Tristan watches them both. Then, with some obscure motion in the air, Benedict turns, and hikes off into the mountains.

"That was a bit earlier than I had planned to tell him," admits Finndo after a time. "What do you think he'll do?" asks Tristan. "Nothing," says Finndo, explaining, "Benedict enjoys a certain paralysis where Osric and I are concerned." "That's a pity," returns Tristan.

The pair heads back toward the castle. There, Tristan has a brief conversation with Baird, then breaks off to head into the city to find a well-recommended tailor.

Collin refreshes some of his personal supplies, and then gets directed to the castle library, where he sets about devouring the bookshelf full of military theory and so forth.

Baird seeks Brand, first at Brand's room, then by Trumping him from a small side-room in the castle. Brand responds, and nearly immediately reaches forward to be brought through. Baird and Brand discuss some of the elements of the binding Osric has lain upon Baird; Brand divulges what little he's learned of Osric's nature. The conversation ends with Baird giving Brand some of his musical notes that he's made during the travels.

In Jaeger's time, Osric spreads his hands before him and his son, and the "ground" immediately around them becomes solid enough to prevent a fall. "I'm afraid I've lied to you, Jaeger. This next mission will be the last I ask of you. A hard and long task is before you; a road lies ahead, one which may cross against my own. Do not worry about that. You will know some who you'll see once you reach the end of this road, my son, but most will be strange to you."

"Tell no one your name," he admonishes. "The package you must deliver is of vital importance. By the time you reach your destination, Amber will be in great danger, and you may even be seen as a part of it. Do what you can to allay their fears. Give aid to the cause of Amber, where you may."

He gestures, and an image of Baird appears. "This one is Baird, a son of Faiella's line. Cymnea was found poisoned this evening." He looks back to Baird's image. "I intend to bind this one while you are on your travels, to protect you. Still, beware of him, and any of Faiella's line. I do not trust her for the ice in her veins."

A gesture, and Baird's image recedes to the horizon from them, along a growing apparent path of moonlight and nothingness. "There is the road," says Osric.

"What's the package," asks Jaeger. "You already carry it," says Osric, "and will know its nature when you must." The conversation ends with a short embrace, and then Jaeger sets upon the path his father has created for him.

A few steps into it, and Osric has disappeared from behind him. Continuing, Jaeger notices that the castle has suddenly grown a new tower.

Carlotta finishes bathing and enters back into her room, finding a note addressed to Alexander (the name of a male alter-ego persona she assumes at times). The note reads, "Caine's strings are around you. Mind the one whose name is nothing."

Carlotta dresses. As she does so, she notices in a mirror that her canines have become more pronouncd -- not quite fangs, but a noticeable change at the least. She Trumps Fiona, who comments that the fangs seem to suit her, and that they're probably the only lasting effect of what was done to her. The blood that she expelled while walking the Pattern was Saeren's; he'd been trying to turn her into a vampire. They have a conversation about filing teeth, then Carlotta asks what hand Caine might have in the expedition of which she's a part; Fiona says she imagines he's watching everyone in it. Shown the note, she doesn't recognize the handwriting.

Carlotta then spends a few hours with her uncle and mother. At some point, she asks after Father, pointedly, to which her mother distantly responds, "I suppose he's doing well."

Before heading back to the castle, Carlotta Trumps Julian, to apologize for losing the Trump of Arden. Julian says "I'll get over it." He clearly hasn't yet. Given the circumstances, Carlotta asks Julian to tell Caine (though it pains her to ask it) that she's lost a Trump of the docks of Amber as well; Julian agrees to do so, then cuts the call short, though not too rudely.

Baird, meanwhile, goes to his mother's house, bringing her a pheasant. They exchange smalltalk for an hour or so, before he suddenly turns the conversation to more direct topics, asking after his birth (Deirdre confesses for the first time that she doesn't remember the birth), asking about what she knows about Osric, about the debt of blood, about Tir-na Nog'th, about Faiella. Deirdre gives him what answers she can, mostly pointing to a fear of the breadth of Osric's powers within and without Tir. Conversation resumes a more pleasant and diverting train thereafter.

Zeero spends some time in town, buying trinkets, before returning to the castle around dusk. Tristan, having placed an order for a number of garments with the tailor in town, rides to Arden.

As Zeero re-enters the castle, she is seen entering by Carlotta. Zeero changes clothes and waits for the servant to come for her. Carlotta sends a servant of her own to find Collin, so she might speak with him, but is distracted as she sees another servant enter the barracks, and lead Zeero out and into the main hall. Carlotta hides herself, then follows them into the gardens. After adjusting to the stealth needs of a more natural terrain, she approaches the spot where Zeero has been left, and watches, undetected.

A dark man, the same as before, walks up to Zeero, asks that she sit. He tells her that he's aware that the jewel is missing, and that there is no shame in that. It's understood the circumstances were outside of her control; nevertheless, the price of the jewel must be recompensed.

The price is a simple request: Zeero must mention her mother's name in the company of as many Princes as she can manage, while she remains in Amber for this time. Oblique references to her having a daughter should be included, but don't have to point at Zeero directly.

An insufficient effort will be regarded as a lack of commitment to the offer of sponsorship that is on the table; sufficient effort will result in a reasonable sum of gold being given to her and her men as a first gesture of that sponsorship.

Carlotta overhears it all. Zeero agrees to the terms, and with that, the dark-hued man bids her good night. Zeero remains sitting and thinking for a time; Carlotta, however, follows the dark man and watches as he opens a secret passage into the wall of the garden, and disappears inside.

A while later, she tries the same passage, enters, makes it around one corner in the dark, to a wall. She triggers perhaps the wrong mechanism, and finds herself dumped down a slide or two that seem to be laundry chutes -- and lands upon a pile of dirty linens. Undaunted, she returns to the garden to try and find a more graceful exit from the hidden passage.

Zeero returns to the barracks and changes clothes again, into a more "appealing" outfit. She goes to the kitchen -- it seemed a decent enough place to meet people last time -- and there finds Gerard. She makes a few mentions about Lord Belhune's daughter, Marga; Gerard recognizes the name with a smile, and says he hasn't seen her in years. Zeero also mentions that Marga had a daughter about nineteen years back, but it doesn't seem to register all that heavily with Gerard. The rest of the conversation revolves around food, for which Gerard seems to have quite a passion.

As a half-moon rises over Amber, Baird hears Tir-na calling to him, and is hit with a sense of dread at the rising of the moon for the first time in his life.

In the castle, Collin, too, hears the moon speaking Baird's name, and sets about exiting the castle to investigate it.

Baird bids his mother good-night, and rides up towards the base of the stairs of Tir-na. He finds Benedict there. Benedict implies that he's been watching the stairs every night since news of Osric came back.

Over Benedict's shoulder, Baird sees a ray of moonlight become brighter and more substantial, and a figure glide up along that ray toward Tir-na. It is Collin, who, once he's in Tir, walks over to the top of the stairs, which choose that moment to manifest, unfurling from the sky-city to the base.

Baird, then Benedict, ascend, to find Collin at the top. Baird questions Collin about his means of arrival, Collin responds; feeling the pull of his binding upon him, Baird abandons the questioning after a short time, and follows it, across a misty plain until he reaches a lake.

Walking across the lake towards them is Jaeger. Once close enough, Jaeger announces himself as Osric's Herald. Benedict draws his sword and advances; Collin casts a spell to thicken the water, slowing Benedict a bit; Jaeger retreats as best as he can, beginning to sink into the water; and Baird, unable to stop Benedict with words, draws from some power within him and causes the lake to freeze, trapping Benedict in place. Benedict's sword bites the ice in front of Jaeger.

Tense conversation follows, and it's revealed to Jaeger that he has walked for 800 years. It's concluded, eventually, that Benedict shouldn't kill him, and that instead he should be conveyed to the Regent. Benedict grudgingly agrees, after which Baird frees him from the ice. Benedict stalks off and down from Tir-na, then away -- not toward the castle.

The remaining three -- having liberated Jaeger's Trumps and weapons from him -- head to the castle. During this time, Jaeger is informed, at least, that Osric has returned from the dead. He finds it rather hard to swallow.

Baird briefly explains Jaeger's presence as best as he can, and then Jaeger is brought before Eric. The end result of the conversation is that Eric thinks it would be hasty to have Jaeger killed, so he'll settle for imprisonment for the evening as he decides what to do with him. Jaeger finds this eminently reasonable, and is lead by Baird to some guarded quarters in the castle.

Met at the edge of Arden by Julian some few hours earlier, Tristan rides silently with him into a deep part of it, along paths only Julian and the Rangers might be able to follow. Coming to a stop, Julian asks Tristan to stand watch over Rilga for the night, further out in Arden. Julian can't do it himself, as he suspects he might end up leading any ill-doers to Rilga; he'll have enough Rangers around that if it turns out that Tristan is one of those ill-doers, Tristan will be dead. The only ones visible will be the two other Rangers assigned to stand with Tristan, at the shack where Rilga is being hidden for the evening.

Tristan rides on, finding the house, and the two Rangers. He has a brief conversation in low lighting with Rilga, simply stating his presence. She nods, saying little.

A few hours into guarding of Rilga, Corwin shows up on horseback, alone. He says that he's come back from Deiga, having done what he can, and just happened to end up in this part of Arden after taking a short-cut. Tristan lets it stand for the time being, but doesn't believe it.

A few moments later, there are the sounds of many arrows flying through the air in the forest, and some dull thuds. Two arrows come out and pierce the necks of both the visible rangers. As Corwin turns, a second pair will strike him, the second failing to kill him thanks to Tristan driving him to the ground and covering him. Corwin's in a bad way, and looks set to pass out. A few more arrows rain overhead, but none strike Tristan. Tristan tries to Trump Deirdre, but doesn't manage to get through in the first few moments of effort.

Then Martin emerges from the forest, a man Tristan last saw trying to kill his father, Marcus, in the shadow Tristan lived in during his exile. Tristan stands, drawing his sword; Martin already has his out. They circle for a time, neither advancing, Tristan keeping his back to the door.

Tense seconds pass; then, with a smirk, Martin admonishes, "God save the Queen." A scream comes from the cabin; Tristan gives up on facing Martin, and rushes in.

He sees her being dragged into the wall by a swirling mass of black tentacles. Given no good option, he jumps in after her, intent on holding onto her. They are both swallowed up. Tristan faces a drowning blackness, and a growing numbness. He tries to keep his grip, invoking a word of power to keep him warm and ward off the numbness; a word of light does nothing to illuminate the surroundings. Then, summoning all his will to him, he brings the Pattern to mind. The blackness convulses and starts to expel him -- ripping his grip off of Rilga. By the mind-light of the Pattern, however, he seems the dark, shadowy-black woman behind the tentacles, and recognizes her from Marcus' description as Martin's mother.

There is a tumbling, a thud upon something hard, and darkness. Time passes.

As Tristan comes to, he sees in the doorway a dirty, naked man crouching and looking at him. As soon as Tristan starts to move the man backs off, unthreatening, past Corwin. The naked man speaks in single words, as though language were awkward to him; says that Corwin is alive; that he's just looking around; that looking around is his job, given to him by a man; that the attack was done by the red cat men. He asks if Tristan is okay. He then turns to go ("I have to go. Job."), and as he runs toward the forest, turns into a wolf -- a wolf Tristan recognizes as the one that saved him from the cat-men.

Tristan Trumps Deirdre, and who brings him and Corwin through. Tristan says he needs a Trump of Julian; Deirdre goes off to get them, and returns with an envelope and a trump of her own. She gives the envelope to Tristan, and then Trumps out somewhere with Corwin.

In the envelope is a note reading, "Don't tell." The envelope also contains a Trump of Finndo, and a Trump of Julian.

Tristan Trumps Julian, who pulls him through. Tristan hands Julian his sword, saying he's failed. Julian demands details, and Tristan furnishes them as best as he can manage. Full of guilt, Tristan begins to apologize, but Julian cuts him short with a motion, and leaves him alone for half an hour. Returning, Julian says that he has confirmed what he can of Tristan's story with his men. He gets what details he can about Martin, and then tells Tristan that Tristan has not, in fact, failed.

"It was not Rilga that you lost," he says; then, meaning it, "I'm sorry I had to put you through that test, but it was necessary. I suspected something like this might happen; either you would be the cause of it, would kill the cause of it, or would survive the cause of it to tell me of its nature."

"You have done so."

"When you next leave Amber, I ask that you help Gerard get Rilga away from this place. A ranger will get you back to the city."

With a final look of thanks, Julian leaves Tristan to be taken back to the castle.

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Episode 8

Frozen by Distance

Yon foaming flood seems motionless as ice; Its dizzy turbulence eludes the eye, Frozen by distance. Address to Kilchurn Castle, William Wordsworth.

Carlotta retrieves a lantern and investigates the hidden passage again. Finding the correct lever, she finds the passageway opening behind a tapestry. Emerging from the tapestry, she finds Dolph, the dark-hued man who's been talking to Zeero. He's waiting for her with a crossbow. "Took you long enough," he'll say. "The Admiral said you were good."

"So, I imagine you have questions. I'll be comfortable with you asking so long as you're on the receiving end of this," he says, gesturing with his crossbow. "So, ask. I'll say what I can."

Carlotta asks his name, and discovers from him that it's thought that Zeero may be of the blood, given her mother's free nature with the Princes of Amber. Carlotta, done with her questions, then gets clubbed over the head.

Baird visits Brand, who appears to be working on a number of drawings, possibly Trumps. Baird puts Jaeger's Trump of Osric down. Brand drops everything and starts working on copying it. Baird plays an instrumental while Brand works. Brand keeps the sketch so he might make two, directing Baird to return a night later to retrieve his own Trump of Osric.

Zeero goes to sleep after her night in the kitchen, having spoken with Gerard.

During the night, Collin leaves the castle with his father, Bleys, heading into the city. Tristan arrives a few hours later, hears of Collin leaving the castle, shrugs, and sleeps.

Jaeger, sleeping for a few hours, wakes in the early to a knock on his guest room/cell's door. Enter Finndo and Eric. Eric notes that Finndo has elected to speak for Jaeger, giving Jaeger freedom to travel about the castle, at least. Finndo comments, "I remember Jaeger as a faithful man to what Osric was, not what he's become. Put to Amber's purposes, he'll serve her well."

After this, Jaeger sleeps a few more hours, as well as spending time catching up on the "timeline events" of the past 800 years.

Carlotta wakes badly, in the room where she was bludgeoned. She Trumps first to her room in the city; then, after sketching a Trump of her place in Vania, leaves for there. She also informs Fiona via Trump about the possibilities and interest surrounding Zeero.

Carlotta spends the next few days fencing her jewel, and making a permanent Trump of Tristan for Bleys, per her agreement.

Tristan contacts Finndo, in the castle, and learns of Jaeger's existence. Tristan lets Finndo know he intends to start his own knighthood, and asks Finndo to carry on his work if he falls.

Tristan spends some time talking with Jaeger, including the details of Fenric's demise. This appears to shake Jaeger more than would a simple herald of Osric, which Tristan notes quietly.

Tristan also speaks with Gerard, the plan being not to include Baird in the concealment of Rilga (though Tristan requests it), instead that Gerard and Rilga will meet with the group in Arden as they're leaving, and ride with them for a bit before splitting off into shadow.

Tristan then journeys into the city to the estate of House Kapel, where he converses with Janos, the very elderly Lord. Stating his intent to set aside any claim he might have to Kapel, Tristan encounters resistance from Janos, who appears to believe his son Roman is not fit for heading Kapel. It's clear that Janos believes a Royal at the helm of the house would give it strength that his own line can't lend to it. Regardless, Janos grants Tristan's request for some land -- the Garnath estate of Kapel.

Tristan spends the day at the house, meeting Roman at one point and noting his extraordinary dullness. He then journeys to the Garnath estate and spends some time there, eventually returning on the third day to the castle, informing Finndo both of his new land and of Jaeger's unusual reaction. Finndo is unable to comment whether or not Jaeger is Family. Finndo also asks Tristan to act as Jaeger's custodian; he believes Jaeger will be helpful "on the road". Tristan agrees to the responsibility.

Earlier, Collin, in the city at some apartments owned by Bleys, spends some time wading in the nearby ocean, visiting a few of his father's favorite restaurants, and so on. Bleys parts with him on the evening of his first full day in the city; Collin, hearing a call from the moon late at night, rides a moonbeam deep into the Kolvir mountain range. There he meets two other moonriders, who lead him a few layers into shadow, to explain that this shadow they are now in is the first target in Ghenesh's newly formed expansionist aims. Collin is to help them scout the area, then return to Amber, where he can report whether or not Amber is noticing Ghenesh's expansion; Ghenesh -- or at least the Moonriders organization -- is unwilling to step on Amber's toes.

Baird, getting his Trump of Osric, and obliquely suggesting the need for a Trump of Finndo, from Brand, spends the rest of his time resting, healing, and contemplating.

Zeero manages to encounter Eric and Bleys in the kitchen, speaking with them about her mother and, indirectly, herself. She also arranges to bring Brand food at one point, and drops what she can about Marga and Chelsea.

On the second day, Fiona invites Zeero to dinner. Attending, Zeero cuts her lip on a wine glass. "Why, that's razor sharp!" comments Fiona. "I'm going to have someone flogged for that." Fiona manages to secret the glass away, and continutes smalltalk.

After a pause, Fiona says, directly, "Have you had any contact with that little minx of a mother of yours since you ran away, Chelsea?" That barrier crossed, they converse a time about tense things. At one point Fiona asks Zeero if she wishes to learn something real, the implication being spellcraft or some other thing; Zeero says she'd of course be interested, but whether or not she'd pursue it would have to depend on the price. Fiona seems to think some kind of price can be arranged, and asks Zeero to visit when she's next in town.

Once Carlotta completes her Trump and returns to Amber, she leaves the Trump with Fiona. It is around noon on the third day that all the group -- plus Jaeger, minus Collin -- assembles in the courtyard. Eric explains that Jaeger is in Tristan's custody and directs Baird to return his Trumps to him. Eric also explains that Collin is currently unavailable and will "catch up with the others" when he's available again.

The group rides. In Arden, the encounter Gerard and "Rick", a moustached and slight military man; they ask if they can tag along for a while before running off a different direction in shadow. Baird expresses some confusion, but agrees to it.

The group rides for several days into progressively colder climes. The second or third time they pitch camp, Gerard, Rick, and Tristan ride off as Gerard wishes to "look into something". Jaeger, who is scouting the area around the campsite, and has shapeshifted into wolf form, follows them, difficultly but secretly, as Gerard hellrides them to a forest village in a more temperate shadow. Tristan and Gerard speak briefly; then Tristan heads back, not hellriding. Jaeger outruns him, hellrunning, himself, then hunting rabbits back in the camp's shadow. Tristan is the first to return to the campground, where the evening has lacked incident so far. Jaeger returns a bit later, bearing rabbits, which are cooked.

The group rides on for a few more days, the snow becoming more and more present until it is at a constant fall. Baird understands them to be in the destination shadow of the piece he is tracking; it appears to be out across a great frozen plain.

Tristan cooks up an "eternal flame" campfire still inside the woods, to keep the wagon warm, which they will leave behind to spare it and the horses hardship. Zeero and her crew stay with the wagon. Carlotta receives a Trump call -- it's Bleys, who passes through Collin.

Jaeger meanwhile scouts the area, "going native" after a while. He encounters another wolf, with his foot caught in a trap. He changes into (naked) human form, and frees it. The wolf, speaking in a way Jaeger can understand, says, "I am the Prince of the Land, and you will have need of the favor I owe you. Keep watch for my brothers." Jaeger learns of the existence of a sorceress, and that the Unicorn has in all likelihood taken a crown-piece to her.

Travelling more, Jaeger encounters a raven with an arrow through its wing. Again human, he removes the arrow, which appears to heal the raven. "I am the Prince of the Air, and you will have need of the favor I owe you. Keep watch for my brother, the Prince of the Sea, who lies beneath the ground."

Back at camp, the campfire has melted some of the snow around it, revealing a frozen puddle with a snake trapped in it. Tristan notes this; Jaeger returns a while later, and speaks of what he's encountered in the forest. They thaw out the water-snake, who speaks -- only such that Jaeger can understand -- saying, "I am the Prince of the Sea, and you will have need of the favor I owe you." It then slithers away in the snow.

The party discusses the shape of things; Baird and Tristan note the difficulty of contacting one another, at which point Carlotta reveals that she can draw Trump. She offers to draw the two of them, which is accepted.

The next day the party -- less the wagon-bound members, that being Baird, Tristan, Carlotta, Collin, and Jaeger -- journeys, snow-shoed, across the frozen plain. They walk for perhaps half a day, planting poles with colored fabric on them as they go. As the storm picks up, they notice, to the left, a light approaching them. They change course to meet it.

The light is a lantern born by a kind-looking, short, stocky man named Yosef, who says, "The tales are true," he says, "and you are here. Come, and I will shelter you."

Yosef leads the group to a estate, a walled manor with plenty of fireplaces, the first two floors buried in snow. He gives the group furs, and brings them a hearty, stuff-of-the-earth kind of meal; some kind of meat, possibly venison, a stew, and so on.

Yosef permits the group to ask questions, deferring any about his master until all the other questions are asked. The group learns that the winter has lasted longer than Yosef has been alive, among other things.

"Hospitality is important in my land," Yosef says, finally. "And you have been fine guests. Will you return my hospitality with a favor done, travelers?"

Yosef explains that the evil sorceress Bashta has imprisoned his master, Kyril, beneath the mansion, with her powers, which have recently become stronger than before -- otherwise his master would be able to break the bonds himself. Yosef explains that there are tales of visitors from "other worlds" who have the power to break Bashta's power when she is at her strongest, and that he believes the group to be those people. If they can free his master, he will tell them how to find Bashta, and the "piece of gold" which she has used to imprison Yosef's master.

The group descends to the cellar, where they find Kyril bound to the floor by roots. The roots can't be tugged out, but Baird uses Pattern to weaken the sources of their strength, damaging them enough that Tristan, Collin, and Jaeger can uproot them.

Once Kyril is freed, Yosef helps his master to his room, and then returns, stating his gratitude and again noting the group may stay the night if they so wish.

The next day Kyril is still too weak to meet with the group; Yosef sees that they are fed, but notes that they cannot stay past noon. It's said that Bashta can speak with the Lyshain, the spirits of hospitality of the Winterlands, and if the group stays much longer, she may learn of them and their intent.

The party, by this point, has learned that Kyril was once a leader of men; that many left when he was imprisoned; that Bashta travels around in a giant frog; and that the way to find Bashta's frog is to stand facing four directions at a crossroads.

Leaving, once outside the house, Kyril opens the top floor window and speaks down to the party. "Do not return. I am Kyril, the Undying, and I taught the Winterlands how to be cold. I have given you hospitality as dictated by the Lyshain. I will not do so again."

The party is unimpressed, being relatively immortal themselves. They travel on to a crossroads (which they learned of from Yosef), face four directions, and see a giant, house-sized frog with a door in its throat hop up.

Knocking, they are admitted, into a room larger than the frog; Bashta is mucking about behind great huge piles of things. She is a crone, phenomenally old, and has jagged icicles for teeth. Carlotta starts poking through the piles, which end up poking back; Collin casts a spell to search for the Crown-piece, but can't find it in the frog; Baird spends some time toying with Pattern, but finds most of Bashta's things too real to manipulate, confirming that she has some kind of Crown bit available to her.

Tristan speaks with her a time; she threatens to eat his teeth; she learns that they have freed Kyril; she tells that she can't bind Kyril again, as you can't cast the same spell twice in the Winterlands. Collin, hearing this, decides not to cast a second Crown-scrying spell.

Tristan eventually learns that she will give them the piece of gold they seek if they kill Kyril the Undying; the piece, she says, is hidden under Kyril's gravestone. Since Kyril isn't dead, it's safe until she no longer needs it.

She says she has only one thing needed to kill Kyril, and there are three. Kyril's heart is at the top of the tallest, glass mountain in the shadow. To get there you'll need the feather of the Firebird; they'll need one of Bashta's horses, the only ones fast enough to outrun Kyril's; and they'll need to negotiate the Ice Spirit at the top of the mountain.

Bored with the group, she sends them out of her frog, which hops off.

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Episode 9

Cold Obstruction

Ay, but to die, and go we know not where; To lie in cold obstruction and to rot; This sensible warm motion to become A kneaded clod; and the delighted spirit To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling region of thick-ribbed ice; To be imprison'd in the viewless winds, And blown with restless violence round about The pendent world. Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare.

Back at the campsite, Zeero remains with her troupe by the group, so she can watch the wagon and stay out of trouble. Problem is, this is the Winterlands, where trouble comes to find you.

Zeero wakes from dreams of being watched and peeks outside the wagon. The sound of the surrounding storm is distant to silent. At the border of the circle provided by the perpetual flame of Tristan, ring of mushrooms, encircling the encampment, has formed.

Emerging from the wagon, Zeero notices an elderly man and a younger, wide man on horses, outside the circle. The younger man speaks, saying that he is Yosef, and this is is master Kyril, and that she is in danger. The Lyshain of the forest have trapped her, and they can not get to her to help her. The circle can only be broken from within.

Zeero doesn't buy it; why, if she's trapped, can she break the circle from inside? Before Yosef can respond, Lusha (LOO-sha) will appears, a being of wind, light, ice, and leaves, but also a young, attractive man.

"This is Kyril, the Undying," Lusha says. "He wishes to capture you so he might hold you against your companions, should they seek his heart, which would kill him. I can keep him from you, if you agree to lay with me, today, by the fire, until nightfall."

Zeero faces her choice, and, reluctant about both options, she nevertheless chooses Lusha over Kyril. She asks Lusha to ensure there is privacy, which he does, after telling Kyril that he'll have to seek other means of stopping the others. Kyril and Yosef ride off, and Zeero and Lusha -- with time appearing to stop outside the circle -- consummate the deal that has been made.

In time, Zeero sleeps.

The party, elsewhere, Bashta's frog vanished, faces its quest. The first item is to find the Firebird and get a feather from it; Jaeger calls to the Prince of the Air, and the raven arrives. It leads them back to the forest, telling Jaeger (and the others, once translated) that the grove lies some fifteen minutes further into the forest; and that "no man may enter the grove and see the Firebird". Given this information, Jaeger suggests Carlotta as the best emissary to the Firebird.

After Baird gets a "fix" on the direction of the campsite, the group rides into the forest, toward the grove. Once outside it, Collin and Baird remain, while Carlotta, Jaeger, and Tristan enter the grove.

What passes for night comes. A paralysis overcomes Tristan, who musters his will to stay aware, if immobile, leaning upon his spear. Jaeger feels his human mind slide away from him and begins to pace around the clearing, growling, a man in form only, a wolf in the mind. Carlotta is unaffected.

A light in the sky appears, and descends; Tristan sees the light but not the source. Only Carlotta and Jaeger are able to perceive the creature: it is easiest to say it appears as a phoenix, and leave it at that.

The Raven speaks to the Firebird, entreating it to speak with Carlotta. The Firebird is resistant; says it does not wish to speak with the children of its brother; but as the Raven has a favor to repay, the Firebird will accept three requests made of it.

Carlotta first asks for a feather; it is granted.

Carlotta second asks who the Firebird's brother is; it names the Unicorn.

Carlotta, prompted by a nearly incoherent Jaeger (who is only able to utter the word 'Osric', accompanied by some yelps and growls), asks "Has Osric been here?" The Firebird responds, "You will not see him for quite some time."

Its obligation satisfied, the Firebird leaves -- the Raven Prince following after it. Motion returns to Tristan by degrees, as does intellect to Jaeger. Exiting the grove, the party is informed about what was said, by Carlotta and (to an extent) Jaeger.

Baird uses Pattern to get the party short-cutted through to the campsite in a matter of minutes; there they find Zeero and the others asleep in the wagon. Watch is set up, with Collin and Tristan taking watches. Near the end of the watch, Tristan notices some movement underneath the snow, outside the circle of the fire, but nothing reveals itself. He mentions this to Collin as he wakes the others, but Collin doesn't see any additional movement.

Leaving the actors behind, Zeero, Carlotta, Jaeger, Tristan, Collin, and Baird get ready to head out. Tristan and Jaeger are the first to step outside the circle; at that point, the creatures of ice and frost emerge from the snow to attack them.

The battle is short, but difficult due to the creatures' structure. Baird crushes one with a Pattern-felled tree; Tristan fractures another, then loses his spear against the second, but has little trouble from it, thanks to Carlotta vaporizing one with the Firebird's feather. Zeero takes cover, getting a torch. Collin tangles with one as Baird distracts another with a stage-hook. Jaeger dances with one of his own, and eventually trips it into the circle, killing it, thanks to a well-timed tossing of the torch by Zeero. In the end, they are all turned to steam, in pieces or in whole, by Tristan's campfire.

The Wolf Prince is called, who meets them battle. He leads them across the plain for several hours, to a crossroads. The group 'summons' Bashta's frog-house, and enters. She hops them over to her horses and tells them to get out. It is near a copse of trees.

Eventually there is a thundering of many hooves. A herd of horses, all grey in hide, with steel hooves, and dead-rat eyes, ride toward them, never sinking beneath the snow. Zeero begins running for the trees. The others get set to mount horses.

From another angle, the Wolf Prince and a number of wolves run up; they urge the horses which the party is not trying to ride away from them, losing a few of the wolves' number in the process.

Collin mounts his horse -- the largest of the lot -- like one for whom riding a horse is as simple as speech. He bests it within the first two hours of riding it in a show of skill that has never been seen before.

Tristan fails to mount his first target, and the second; he joins Zeero and waits.

Carlotta manages to get onto a horse, but after a few hours of struggle is thrown free in the wilderness, unsure of how to return.

Baird uses Pattern to change the horse into a horse of a different color -- warm tones, brass hooves, and a more managable temperament. He returns to the copse.

Jaeger spends his hours narrowly winning enough of his horse's respect to get its cooperation for a day at best.

Carlotta uses her draft Trump sketch of Baird to call him and get pulled back to the group.

The party having acquired three of Bashta's horses, the Wolf Prince leaves; Tristan summons the Prince of the Sea, which slides around his arm. The group must ride for the Glass Mountain, and quickly, for Kyril is coming for them.

The group pairs up with horses, two to a horse. Baird's, being tamed somewhat by his shadow-manipulations, proves slowest, so he sets the pace. After some time of riding, the storm takes a shape behind them, a driving wedge lead by Kyril, in mad pursuit. In a rare feat of finesse, Baird gathers the energies of the Pattern in the storm and forces the Lord of Winter from his horse. The party rides on.

In time they reach the Glass Mountain. Since the horses can't ascend it, Carlotta takes out the feather of the Firebird and holds it aloft -- granting some measure of flight to the horses. They glide up the mountain for some distance -- the mountain is large, in a way that suggests it may be a reflection of Kolvir in shadow.

Near the top, the storm grows thick. Reaching a plateau of a sort, the horses are able to stand upon the ground again. A great flapping sound is heard far off, approaching quickly; the Prince of the Sea uncoils and awaits its approach.

The party learns that they must seek the shack in the storm that houses Kyril's heart. Jaeger mentions that he has two secrets that he's been keeping; and "this is the first one." With that, he transforms into a wolf. The party manages to restrain its reactions.

Jaeger runs off into the storm as the Ice Spirit -- a great white dragon -- reveals itself. The Prince of the Sea hails the Spirit and leads it off in a chase through the storm (heralded by the occasional great booming noise from out in the whiteness).

Jaeger-wolf finds the shack, a windowless cottage, actually, with a single door. As he goes back to find the group, he realizes that his sense of the place of the shack leaves him the further away from it he is. Given this, he resorts to howling.

Following the sound of him, the group tracks down the location of the cottage. Jaeger's clothes are returned to him as he takes a human form again.

The group enters the cottage, where they find a large (nearly room-filling) eagle. It does not speak to them, but after some interaction they figure out that Kyril's heart is contained within it. With some reservation, Tristan cuts the bird open. Out pops a dog. This repeats through a fox, and a duck as well, until finally an egg is found.

By this time the booming sounds have grown closer; the roof flies off the cottage, with the Ice Spirit overhead. Tristan smashes the egg upon the floor, revealing the heart, which he destroys -- the spirit turns to snow, and dusts down upon the group.

Emerging, the group finds that the storm has died down to more natural levels, and that the mountain is no longer glass. They ride down it to the plains, and find Kyril's frozen corpse, staring at the sky. Then they travel to locate a crossroads, summoning Bashta. They enter the frog and talk with Bashta, exchanging Kyril's heart (which she eats) for his headstone.

Exiting the frog, they bury Kyril beneath his headstone, then remove it to find the piece of the Crown they've sought. It's a joining piece, so a minor one. Tristan picks it up; he and Baird get into a tense discussion about who should hold it (Baird believes he should), touching upon who Tristan does and doesn't trust. Eventually Baird says that if Eric tries to claim the crown against the law, he will himself work against Eric for the treachery. It is enough for Tristan to relinquish the piece to Baird.

As side-threads to the conversation, Jaeger tries at one point to strike a compromise by getting one of the stakeholders to hold the feather of the Firebird, while the other holds the Crown-piece. This fails, however, as Carlotta refuses to give up the feather.

Jaeger also notices that Collin is making a Trump call, clandestinely, while trying to appear to be attending to his horse. Collin is Trumping Bleys, whom he gives an update on the situation, but does not request his help or, really, offer much else; his hiding of the action, however, is not viewed well by the others.

With that, the group returns to the campsite, rests, and sets out on the journey back to Amber. As is usual, a vast number of Trump calls are made by Tristan, then Baird, during the course of the journey. The episode closes before the return; their Trump calls are summarized below.

Tristan's

Corwin
Tristan gets no response while trumping Corwin.

Deirdre
Tristan gives Deirdre a brief update, and confirms that Corwin was well, or at least alive and convalescing, the last time she saw him. He also entreats Deirdre to help soothe things between him and Baird, should she have opportunity. Also of note is Deirdre's apparent decision to stay apart from the current politics for as long as she can.

Finndo
Tristan updates Finndo on what has passed. Tristan learns that he's been gone for a while, and that there have been rumblings out in the Golden Kingdoms; military conflicts between kingdoms, but not with Amber, yet.

Julian
Tristan offers a brief update and the information about the horses they found in the Winterlands.

Baird's

Deirdre
Baird talks with Deirdre, confirms that she's talked with Tristan, of whom she speaks kindly.

Eric
Baird gives Eric a report and news that they are travelling back towards Amber. Comparing times, it is apparent that the group has been gone for nearly a month of Amber's time. Baird and Eric also discuss what will be done with the pieces of the Crown as they are gathered; Eric seems to be of a mind that the Crown pieces will be placed in a guarded room, but viewable by the family. Baird says little else upon that topic. Baird also learns of the trouble out in the Golden Kingdoms, and promises to steer clear.

Benedict
Baird calls Benedict, lets him know they have a piece of the Crown, and asks for an escort once he is closer to Amber. Benedict agrees.

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Episode 10

Regular Measures

This universe, which is the same for all, has not been made by any god or man, but it always has been, is, and will be an ever-living fire, kindling itself by regular measures and going out by regular measures. Fragment 28, Heraclitus of Ephesus.

With the party making an effort to carefully avoid the Golden Kingdoms on their travel in toward Amber, they travel several days away from the Winterlands. On the morning of the third day, Baird notices a shadow-trail, several days old, made by Pattern, but not by one he recognizes, seeming to imply it is of the Rebman type. He also doesn't recognize any elements that would identify the user to him.

After discussing the matter with Tristan, he asks Collin and the others to keep an eye on the caravan for about twenty minutes, and to ride on to Amber if he does not return within that scope of time. Then, taking Tristan with him, he follows that trail until Tristan can get a fix on it himself. The trail indicates the passage of some twenty to forty men lead by a Pattern master. Once Tristan is able to follow it, Baird turns around and joins back with the group, which continues on to Amber.

Following the trail for a few hours, Tristan ties up his horse and continues on foot. Eventually he almost stumbles into the camp of the men he is following, but takes cover before he's noticed. He watches them for a time, figuring that they are a "quick strike" mounted unit meant for hit-and-run operations; while their colors are not displayed, he notes from the cut of their uniforms that they are very likely men of Begman origin.

Then someone else enters the camp, apparently the commander; Tristan angles to get a better view of who it is, and when he does, he recognizes the man as Martin, his enemy. Torn, he watches for a while, but concludes that attacking would only allow Martin to get away, and know that he's been discovered. He reluctantly leaves, pausing some distance away to mark the area as a place he might return to.

The party meanwhile continues on, with Baird noting a few other, similar but older trails along the way. As they approach a more properly Arden part of the journey, he picks out a trail of a different stripe -- Benedict's, made wide and strong. Baird diverts, leading the group towards where Benedict is waiting for him with half a dozen mountaineers, who are all older men than the usual mix in the military.

Jaeger keeps his distance from Benedict as Benedict leads the group through Arden towards the base of Kolvir. At a point, there is the sound of a single horseman approaching; Benedict stops the group and, as Julian is seen at a distance, rides forward to meet with him. Tense words are exchanged on both sides, with Julian eventually deciding to ride off rather than try to talk with more pleasant members of the entourage.

Benedict leads the group up Kolvir and around the city, eventually arriving at the castle. His mean disperse into the mountainside, but -- of note -- Benedict makes a rare journey into the castle itself, leading them to one of the major halls. There they find Eric and Fiona descending a staircase, not quite together, with Eric in the fore.

Eric greets them, showing caution and deference to Benedict, and all present (the dramatists, save Zeero, staying behind in the courtyard) follow him down a stairwell into the depths of the castle, past two pair of guards and into a room which contains another six guards and a glass box in which to place the fragment. The fragment is put there; Eric indicates that its nature will be examined in the coming days, thanks everyone, and bids them to get some rest.

On his way out, Jaeger confirms a suspicion -- one of the guardsmen outside the room is a wolf-shifter like himself; the guardsman and Jaeger exchange knowing glances, but do not interact.

The group parts ways as night falls, heading bedwards to some extent. Jaeger Trumps Finndo and informs him of Tristan's status, and then opts to run around the courtyard while he waits for Tristan to return. Privately, Carlotta meets with Fiona and gives her the feather or the Firebird, which Fiona says explains why Carlotta had an aura of power around her when she appeared earlier; Carlotta then sleeps.

Tristan returns in the middle of the night, after stopping by Julian's encampment to tell him about Martin. Julian is resistant to ideas of actually triggering a fight with Martin, however, because of the apparent affiliation with Begma, and the politics that could end up surrounding such an endeavor. Eventually back at the castle, Tristan encounters Jaeger, who tells him that the Crownpiece has been put away safely, and that Baird wishes to see him. Answering the request, he journeys up to Baird's room.

In telling Baird of whom he saw, Tristan is forced to reveal that Martin made an attempt to kidnap Rilga. Baird is shocked. After discussion, Tristan offers to tell Eric about the events, but only in the morning. Tristan trumps Julian, requests permission to tell the story, and Julian gives it. Julian does say that for any details, Eric should be pointed at Julian.

Tristan then heads to Finndo's room, where he gives the same report. Finndo accepts the news but doesn't have anything to add to it.

Tristan attempts to go to bed. After approximately an hour and a half of sleep, his wards are triggered by the knocking of Jaeger. Jaeger wants to find out who posted the guards at the door of the room that holds the crown piece. Tristan clumps down to the room, asks the guards, is told it was Eric, nods to Jaeger, and heads back.

Sleep, however, is banished for Tristan, so he goes to the kitchen. He spends some time there, before heading up to get dressed, and meet with Jaeger and Baird. Tristan wears his finery, Jaeger is dressed up as a guard, more or less.

Tristan tells Eric about the raiding party, and about Martin. Again, he stresses that Martin is an evil man, and a powerful one. He reveals the kidnapping attempt against Rilga and says only that it failed. He describes the dark powers of the woman who might or might not be Martin's mother. Eric asks about details, Tristan tells him to ask Julian. Eric seems discomfitted by the news of Martin, but not by the request to talk to Julian.

More disturbing to Eric is Jaeger's revelation that he is able to turn into a wolf, and his questions about the guardsman. Eric does not appear willing to confront the guardsman openly, and instead opts to reassign the man and see what comes of it.

All of it seems to agitate Eric, however, and once he confirms that they have nothing more to speak to him about, bids them to leave him.

Tristan then, at Baird's request, attempts to sketch Martin. Waking Carlotta, he enlists her aid for technique, and the two of them work in the kitchen with Jaeger nearby. Carlotta says she will make copies of the sketch once it is complete. The sketch turns out adequately but it is not a photo-realistic representation of the man. The three of them talk for a while, touching briefly on Tristan's relationship with Clarissa, and with Jaeger pointing out which family members he's had yet to meet.

Baird spends some times catching up at court, and learns that his half-sister Tara, eldest of his father's children, has given birth to a son called Rein. Baird sends a gift of a harp and a message to his sister, saying he will try to get out to the country and see them while he's back in Amber.

Carlotta heads home later in the day, to pay her dues. Her uncle all but ignores her, but subtly demands that she attend a ball a few nights hence at the Bayle estate. She also spends some time with her mother, trying to put her in good cheer and, as usual, failing.

Also later that day, Tristan and Jaeger ride out to the Kapel estates. Tristan takes a moment to attempt to trump Corwin. This time, he gets the distinct feeling that someone's home but not answering the door. He tries three times, each time more strongly, and is rebuffed every time. He gives up, at that point, and meets with Janos, the aging lord of Kapel.

Janos asks if Tristan has reconsidered his offer, Tristan says he is considering. They talk, for a while, and Tristan finally says that he will 'leave his options open'. He then asks about Banson, and is told that he is, in fact, in town. However, Janos asks if it would be all right if Banson were sent to Tristan in a day or two's time. Janos also mentions that Victor (who is in love with danger) might be a good man for this group. Tristan agrees to see him.

Tristan then asks Janos if there are Kapel traders in the Golden Kingdoms, specifically Begma. He asks that these people keep their eyes and ears open for signs of Martin, and rumours about the man and his unit.

Tristan and Jaeger repair to Deirdre's manor, where Tristan introduces Jaeger to the finer side of Amber. They have a pleasant dinner, where Deirdre confirms that she cannot reach Corwin either, for he is being stubborn. Tristan enlists a promise of the aid of Deirdre's interior decorators for his estate in Garnath. Jaeger largely remains silent throughout the dinner.

Collin contacts Bleys during the day and speaks to him about recent developments. He asks if Bleys knows of a man named Martin, finds that he doesn't; he also learns that Ghenesh has already successfully invaded a weak neighboring shadow and added it to the Gheneshi 'Empire', and that this is not the only activity happening out in the area of the Golden Kingdoms.

Late that night, appearing to go to bed, Carlotta slips out of the house as 'Alexander' and catches up on some street gossip. She asks some cronies to look into the man who she ran into that works for the Admiral. She also takes the evening to start a new effort to sketch the docks, to replace her lost Trump of the area. As dawn approaches, Carlotta returns to bed.

Tristan and Jaeger then head to his estate in Garnath, where they prepare to spend the night.

Collin leaves the castle and prepares to ride up to Tir on moonlight.

During all this, several things happen for Zeero. She catches up with her old friends and starts putting together a rehearsal and performance for a few days hence in the courtyard. Talking to some of the castle servantry, she manages to get a small exchange of messages between herself and her mother, but worded in such a way that her mother can easily suspect that the messages are from some male admirer in the castle. Zeero works with Patrick to put together a plan to get her mother backstage during the performance. Additionally, Zeero gets an invitation from Fiona to dinner again, with promises of less razored glassware.

Not long after nightfall, Baird returns from a day in the city, on horseback. Halfway to the castle, he receives a Trump call and, pulling rein, takes it. It is Brand, who first asks if Baird would be willing to give him a tour of Tir-na Nog'th. Baird agrees. Brand then implies apologies for delaying his second item: It appears the Trump of Finndo he was planning to give Baird may end up being of limited use -- an attempt has been made on Finndo's life this night.

There ends the episode.

First Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Second Season 12 13

Episode 11

The Majority of Men

The love of justice is simply, in the majority of men, the fear of suffering injustice. Maxim 78, Francis, Duc de La Rochefoucauld.

Carlotta is silent through all these events, attending to family obligation over the coming days.

Zeero finishes up her evening, but doesn't get a response from her mother during that time. While in the courtyard, rehearsing with her fellows, she notices a group of swarthy guardsmen emerging from the barracks and heading into the castle.

A few minutes later, a loud bell is rung rapidly, causing a number of the guardsmen at various points in the castle to start scurrying about, unless they're posted at particular places. Zeero gets Patrick to do a little recon, who comes back with the news that there's been an attempt on Finndo's life.

Mildly earlier, Collin, on the mountain somewhere, is getting ready to ascend to Tir-na Nog'th. It's relatively early nightfall, and there's not enough moonlight to make the stairs happen, but there is enough for him to pull a thread down from the moon and ride it up.

Once in Tir, he discovers it is sufficiently translucent and unstable that it is only light, no substance; he must concentrate continuously in order to keep himself aloft. He finds himself in front of the castle, which he enters. Seeking the Pattern, he fails to find it, with the geography of the castle occasionally twisting around him and putting him somewhere else within it.

At one point, he sees a very vivid image of Finndo walking past him in a hallway. He follows, watching the man round a corner. Opacity siezes the landscape a bit, and Collin must move around the corner to see beyond it. A set of four guardsmen approach Finndo, and appear to have a brief conversation. Then, drawing their swords, they rush him. Collin moves out of the way, to watch Finndo draw his blade -- a blade so stunningly real that it seems to be genuinely present in the Tir with him. As the blade comes free of the sheath, something dark seems to pass across the moon, and everything falls away... including Collin, who is briefly and suddenly cut off from his power.

Somewhere, Baird gets a Trump call from Brand, but is not seen during the night, at the castle, nor for several days hence.

Earlier that evening, Tristan and Jaeger settle in at Tristan's mildly dusty new digs. The manor is decently kept, but the gardens are just a mess. Arden is visible in the distance as tree-shaped shadows against the nighttime sky, along the farther ridge of the valley; the manor is about halfway up the near side of the valley (relative to the city and Kolvir). Jaeger runs off into the valley to hunt up some small game for dinner, "going native".

As night takes firm hold, a low howl can be heard somewhere in the valley. The sound is not too surprising, being close to Arden, but Jaeger will recognizes it as a weir call to a pack-moot. Jaeger, following custom, knows that he is obligated to attend. He journeys deeper into the forest, and finds the place where the pack-moot is being held. He notes the presence of the clan elders, but also notes the distinct lack of a leading Alpha Male, which is unusual.

The pack greets Jaeger as 'strange-smell', but recognize him as a brother Weir who is not-of-the-pack. A younger wolf, which Jaeger scents as the guardsman he recognized, steps forward and snarls a challenge; it is apparent that he has taken offense to Jaeger's presence in the castle, and to Jaeger's identification of him to others, and demands his right to establish dominance within the castle by trial of combat.

Though the 'language' of the challenge is odd, it does ring true to the forms of the old days at its core, and Jaeger accepts it, formally, though perhaps in archaic fashion. The fight goes poorly for him for some time, with the young wolf scoring a few early hits through agression, including costing Jaeger some portion of his ear and a number of bad nips and scratches. Jaeger plays up the hurt aspect to draw the wolf in, though, and pulls a sudden reversal on him as he lunges -- Jaeger manages to pin the wolf, using his jaws, by the throat, and forces acquiescence out of him. Shamed, the wolf leaves the circle.

Jaeger then faces the elders, answering a few questions about his origin vaguely, and hearing mention of 'The Man' in a way that signifies him as the missing Alpha. He receives permission to hunt in their section of the forest so long as he does not act against others of the pack without following the law of the pack-moot. Jaeger agrees to the terms, and heads back into Garnath.

Tristan, while alone, is visited by a single veiled woman, saying that she is to learn the name he wishes to give to his child. The child is not yet born, the gender unknown, for a name for each sex is desired. Tristan names 'Delwin' if male, 'Sandra' if female. Tristan also informs her that Osric is risen from the dead, which definitely produces a reaction, though the form of it can't be discerned.

Zeero sends Patrick out again to learn more about the assassination attempt. Apparently Finndo has survived it, though was badly cut, including one upon the face, and all four assassins are dead. Eric, for some reason, appears to be talking about Corwin's involvement with the attempt.

Jaeger returns to Tristan's manor and catches the scent of a woman, pregnant, who was recently there. Tristan tells Jaeger that it appears he is to be a father soon, and the two proceed to get thoroughly drunk. A secret is revealed.

Collin, tumbling from a great height, manages to get off a spell to de-hasten his descent, which works, though he still lands badly, garnering several scrapes and bruises. He starts walking to the castle rather than summoning more expedient means.

When he arrives, he learns of what details Zeero can offer, and does some investigation of his own, finding the location of the attempt, which appears to sync with his experiences in Tir, and talking with a guard there; he then attempts to see the regent, is rebuffed by a guardsman, but eventually admitted to see Caine and Fiona in the room with Eric. He relates his experiences, which Eric says teaches him nothing new about the assassination attempt, but implying that it tells him new things about Collin.

Collin is then shown out while Eric speaks with and informs the elders of the family. At a point, Collin does hear his father's voice from inside the Regent's room, when Fiona departs from it.

Meanwhile, Deirdre contacts Tristan and lets him know of the attempt. Tristan and Jaeger begin their ride out of Garnath, and in a few hours, arrive at the castle. They pick up Zeero on the way to the Regent's chambers, and encounter Collin outside the door; they are admitted, though Zeero stays outside.

The details of the attempt are explained:

• Finndo has been wounded in the attempt, with a few nasty cuts to his torso, limbs, and face, but was not brought down or mutilated in the process. He is recovering in the infirmary.

• The four who struck shouted "For the true King!" as they attacked, and were vicious enough that they had to be killed. While it seems unlikely that Corwin would hire assassins so stupid as to imply him when they attacked, it does suggest some degree of involvement with Corwin, in that it was an effort made to implicate him, and with him being completely unresponsive to the Trumps.

• The perpetrators are sailors, which is why Caine is involved. They've been identified as privates, and Caine is seeing to it that the naval offices conduct the investigation into their motives and backgrounds.

• The bodies are being kept in the laboratory.

The four check out the laboratory first, after speaking with Eric. Jaeger notices that a woman has been there recently, which the group generally concludes must have been Fiona. The men are wearing actual uniforms (revealed by an examination of the fabric work, by Zeero), but their boots are naval issue (so notes Tristan).

Collin performs a past-sight ritual on the clothing, and determines that the clothing was taken right out of storage in the barracks. He also attempts to look at the past of the men themselves, but comes up with a complete blank on all of them... highly unusual.

Tristan spends over ten minutes trying to get through to Corwin, and getting stubbornly refused -- which just triggers a hangover headache for him.

Then, journeying to the infirmary, the four check in on Finndo, learning that he, too, does not believe Corwin was behind the attempt. Jaeger and Tristan ask to speak to Finndo privately, then receiving his leave to visit him in the morning.

All go to sleep shortly thereafter.

In the morning, Jaeger and Tristan re-visit Finndo, and Jaeger reveals to Finndo that he is, in fact, Osric's son. The three agree to keep this information to themselves.

A number of events occur over the coming days, including an investigation by Jaeger that reveals that the wolf-guardsman has disappeared. They are detailed below. At their close, our second stanza, and first "season", comes to an end, with plenty of questions lingering.

Zeero and Fiona

Zeero attends the dinner she has been invited to, only to be reminded of Fiona's offer to teach her. Fiona adds that she has noted a great power within Zeero, but has not figured out what that power is; she is willing to teach Zeero simply for the privilege of learning what that power is. She also insists on calling Zeero, "Chelsea."

Fiona does not, however, allow a decision to be made just yet; she asks Zeero to visit again after the performance she's putting on is concluded, at which time she'll see if she can't convince Zeero she has something to offer her.

Zeero's Performance

The play commences in a few days, and is well-received. During it, Patrick manages to get Zeero's mother backstage long enough for Zeero to reveal herself to her mother as a daughter. Her mother is mostly speechless, but does respond when asked about who Zeero's father is, explaining that it was "a busy month" and that there were "so many candidates". She does mention that the father's definitely not Benedict, Eric, or Julian, though that does leave a variety of other possibilities. She doesn't seem to think it could be any of the princes, though, because "you don't get pregnant from a prince on accident".

Mom's a little flighty.

Tristan, Banson, and Victor

Tristan is met by Banson and Victor at his estate a few days down the line. Banson is a soft-spoken young man, but sharp-wittend and perceptive, a Kapel through and through. Victor, by contrast, is older, middle aged a