Ari nodded to Jon, her face crinkled in thought
"So...They attack in pairs?  Is that a organization thing, or...is that a pack mentality thing?"
It seemed weird to think about the grey jackasses as some kind of animal, but since they didn't seem to be, well, human, Ariadne supposed anything was possible.

Jade continues with her drink while listening to Ariadne's tale.

"I believe it is to allow them to have a chance against us. Also part of possibly their mentality as you suggested. They might not have mouths but they have eyes and can watch each others backs and draw our attention for the other to strike."

Jade finished up her drink and asked if Ballad might not refresh her glass.

If they’ve all found seats at the bar, Ballad stays behind it, ready to make second drinks if anybody wishes. The drink she concocted for herself (or asked Odile to make so she wouldn’t be left out) is purple and when Jade toasts family Ballad lifts her drinking horn in echo. A pact! “Family,"" she toasts. "And friendship, I hope,” she adds, or promises, with the flash of a grin. She is so obviously pleased when people like what she has poured them.

But then to more serious matters. She listens to Ariadne, Jon's police-like questions, Jade's response. Jade's request of a refreshed glass gets a brief, luminous smile, and of course a second drink. And then, Ballad's tale:

"I was as far from public as ever I get. Quite deep in Ahogadaluna's salt marsh. Ahogadaluna is a — um, hm. Lovely, a lot of fun, but the marsh is … A fraught place, and although there are pilgrimage routes cutting through it, they’re just not very popular any longer. There is an outpost where one can purchase illumination enough to make it safely to the shrine, but until you reach the shrine it’s very unlikely you’ll meet anyone. I was there on a whim. I'd heard about the shrine's... well, it's not important." Ballad flicks her gaze to Ariadne. "So nobody should have known where I was either."

She looks thoughtful for half-a-second, lashes drifting low to kiss her cheekbones. "So there I was in the gathering murk, utterly alone when..." She snags a Grayish Bottle which she has determined looks sort of sinister and she brandishes it aloft. "As if he fell out of the mist, a man all gray. He attacked immediately. I tried of course to talk him out of murder." She has the bottle menace her drinking horn before setting the game aside in favor of taking a sip of her drink.

"But he was not interested in negotiation, staying silent no matter what. It was soon apparent that he was no natural thing, and would not flee. He was also solitary." This is more directly aimed at Jon and Ariadne, as they both mentioned pairs. "No partner that I saw. He died. I meant to stun him only, so I could tie him up and figure out what next. When I examined the body, his skin felt normal, his hair was oily black, his eyes red." And now, addressed more to Jade, and is coupled with a quizzical - intent - expression. "He did have a mouth, a tongue like yours or mine. But his teeth were like a shark's, one row only. Oh, and of course on each hand was a talon, like that belonging to a great bird of prey and very sharp."

Jade seemed surprised by the last revelation.

"Only one, perhaps the other witnessed it's partners death and took to flight. Unless, you said you meant to stun it. I wonder if the partner can kill it's companion to keep from talking especially since that one did apparently have a tongue and mouth, and teeth."

Jade tilts her head, eyes seemingly distant. She then says, "Alright, my turn I guess. I was down in Amber city, I had just bought a lovely new dress and was feeling good about my purchases and vacation up from Rebma. I was not really dead set on going anywhere in particular. I was passing by an alley when I heard someone who sounded like they were in trouble. I went to go check and see if there was anything I could do. I was cautious as I was still alone and some parts of the city could be dangerous. That is where I came across the first of the pair they had a wide brimmed hat and a long coat. I was on higher alert, though the second one came up to block the alley. He was dressed the same as the first. Though this one had short blades, one in each hand. I fought the one that barred my way back to the main streets. The other rose while I battled the one behind me. I received my first wound then in my side. I did manage to produce a few blows with my parasol and with one of my heeled shoes I broke the things foot. That is the point at which I noticed no sound at all from it even though it's face and body showed extreme pain. With that I was free and made my way back to the street but not before taking a strike from behind in my back. My beautiful dress was ruined and I hadn't even gotten to wear it for a day."

Jade pouted but then soldiered on in telling the tale, "I called for the town guard and some citizens thankfully saw the bloody shape I was in and joined in calling for the guard and helping me. By the time I was able to recheck the alley it was empty even the one with the broken foot was not there. It's ally I can only assume helped it get away. The Captain of the guard must have been informed of this possibility because he began to dance around things like, was I a member of the royal family, that I should report this to the King and since I had always wanted to see the castle I wasn't going to turn that down. Still one rude invitation, let's hope this is not some hazing to weed out the weak our family has performed. At any rate I did speak with the king, I was found to be royalty like you all and told the matter was being looked into."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:42, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

Ariadne nodded, eyes narrowed as she listened.
"My goons were silent as well.  I sprayed them with pepper spray and they were obviously affected, but even as they choked and wheezed they didn't make a sound.  It was seriously creepy."
She looked at Jade sharply, remembering something.
"You said that they 'had blades in their hands'?   Mine had blades, that actually came out from their hands, like some weird kind of claws.   I mean, it was dark, but still, it was unmistakable."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:56, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

"I wonder if they must have some other means of communication like Amber Sign Language, or perhaps by scent or some other means. Or hmmm."

"I hadn't thought of this till you mentioned shark like teeth, Ballad. Some creatures of the deep speak using ranged of sound we can't hear. We can feel it in the water in Rebma but we can't actually hear the sound they make. In fact when I sing I often try to mimic some of these creatures like whales and dolphins in my songs. I just sing at a range people can hear me."

"No mines actually had blades. I disarmed him of one, when I broke free with my heel. He struck with the other when I withdrew, I." She looked embarrassed, "I wasn't fast enough to block him on my retreat."

Ballad leans on her elbows, cupping her chin in her hand. When Jade muses about the partner’s capabilities, she says, “I think it more likely that - if there were meant to be a brace of them - the second gray man ran afoul of the marsh.”

Few would ever accuse Ballad of being a poor listener. She is so clearly engaged, her gaze troubled by the end of Jade's tale. She runs her thumb slowly across the lip of her drinking horn and looks into its mouth, perhaps to hide how troubled she is. They've made it into Amber City?

“So talons, claws, blades. No mouth, mouth — did yours have mouths, Ari? I wonder if they're born into these shapes they wear or if they're transformed by something outside themselves. That might account for the variations.”

In reply to Ballad (msg # 41):

Ari made a face as she tried to remember that horrible fight.
"They had mouths and everything else.  Just grey and silent.  Unfortunately, I don't know enough about these guys to know what to look for."

Jade nods, "Yes, that is where I was attacked, down in the city. I can only wonder how they get about shadow since at least three of the attacks occurred there."

Then Jade looked at the gentlemen, "Now, shall we hear tale of your exploits against the grey menace ?" She whispers something to Ballad.

 She smirks and hides it behind a drink from her glass.

"Oh, clothing you both didn't mention how they were dressed ?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:38, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

Nodding, Ari shrugged.
"Come to think of it, it was long grey cloaks and wide brimmed hats."

Ballad leans closer so Jade can better whisper. Then: oh, this laughing look, sidelong and gleaming, and an easy smile — it brings out her dimple again — which she drowns in another sip from her horn. Ballad makes herself another drink, although this one is significantly less alcoholic. The night won’t be over for a while yet.

"A wide-brimmed gray hat, rather floppy, and traveling clothes. All gray as stone. I meant to take the hat but the marsh got it."

  Lance, having taken a glass of mead, has been swirling it about, looking into it's amber color, listening to his cousins.  He has sipped at it slowly, despite it being the best he's ever had.

  "Mine was a lone attacker, unless Flora found the other one and dispatched it with her crossbow without mentioning it.  I'm not sure how either it or she found me.  I was at a campground sitting by my fire.  The creature was dressed in a grey trench coat and floppy grey hat, and it had sharp teeth and sharp hooked blades, like bone spurs on the backs of it's hands.  It's skin was kind of hard.  It never made any noise, no preliminaries, just walked up and attacked and fought to the death."

Jade nodded listening again noting the slight differences in the creatures.
"Perhaps they change or alter due to shadow travel ? I don't know as I have not done so myself. Ballad is our shadow expert it would seem." Jade looked to Ballad for a moment.

"Lance, you were with Princess Florimel at the time or did she arrive later ? It fought to the death that is interesting to me since the ones that attacked me showed an interest in self preservation when they ran. As well as Ariadne's attackers. Perhaps when they lose their partner their self preservation instincts vanish."

To Lance, "Mine didn't seem to have the armor like skin you describe, at least I didn't feel that while fighting."

Her eyes drifted to Jon, "Jon, could you enlighten us on your own attack experience ?"

Jade in thought was collating the information, trying to squeeze it for as much as she could get about these strange creatures.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Fri 20 Nov 2020.

"To family" Jon does join the toast, but then sits quietly and listens to everyone's tale.  As Ballad describes her encounter, his eyes narrow just a bit, something easily missed if you weren't looking at him. "There is more to her story...but I'm not sure it is relevant to the grey men.  Definitely shouldn't underestimate her." he thinks as she finishes.  He sips his drink as he listens to Jade's full story, he then noticeably frowns when he finds out just how much danger she was in, but he says nothing.  He just continues to listen and observe.  As Lance tells his story, Jon smiles at the matter of fact story.  He takes a deep breath and looks at each one, including Odile. *smiles* "Well funny enough, my encounter was much like Lance's.  As I said earlier, I was alone in the woods.  Specifically, I was at a private grove that, like Ballad, few should've been able to find.  They were not stealthy or particularly careful.  They came on with a quiet menace. Like everyone's encounter, they did not say anything, but they did grunt.  They were armed with long daggers, much like Jade's description.  Like Ballad's they did not want to negotiate, so a battle was the only alternative.  It was not a long battle, they didn't seem to be built for a fair fight.  Using my shield, I was able to fight them off.  I took a few light wounds, I finished one of them off and hurt the other one.  That is when Uncle Julian arrived and finished him off with a crossbow bolt.  I did not get long to examine them, as our Uncle was in a hurry" *similes* "But they were dressed in the same grey floppy hats, leather armor and long coats."  he pauses for a moment and let them think before he discusses his suspicions.

"I think if they really wanted us dead, there would have been easier ways, or just sent more of them.  It seems to me that these grey men were acting more like what they used hunting dogs for back on Earth, flushing out game.  I knew a guy that liked hunting, always tried to get me to go with him.  He talked about it a lot, but I didn't have any interest." Lance says.

  "But Jade, when I say the skin was hard, it wasn't hard like armor, just harder than people's skin, not quite soft...sort of like the skin on a cooked turkey.  Flora arrived shortly after I had killed the thing and was starting to freak out."

  Realizing he is late on the toast, Lance raises his own glass. "To family we never knew we had."  He sips. "Not to get us off course, but didn't someone ask how we're all related?  I can start.  My mother is Princess Florimel, my dad was from Earth  Just found all that out in the last day.  I had been hidden in an orphanage as a baby.  She had been worried that someone might try to harm me.  Guess she was right."

Jade nods, "Yes, Ballad asked that upon our initial meeting."
Jade hadn't missed the question but was worried how people might look at her as well as putting her mother in danger. The internal battle was apparent in her eyes.

"I thought you would all just assume, green hair and all." She plays with her hair a bit. A faint half smile on her face.

"My father was a noble merchant lord from Rebma. He died during the war with Chaos. I never got to know him, even that was kept from me. I have his hair, and my mother's eyes. My mother is Princess Fiona. I have only known her a short while, only about an hour and I want the chance to get to know her." Her eyes shimmered with a bit of fierceness.

"I am sorry for all who lost parents."

*nods* "Well, my father was King Eric.  My mother is from the House Hawk of the Amber Court." he looks around to see if there are any negative reactions.  He then continues. "It seems that, with the women at the least, their goal might have been capture.  Since they were trying ambush tactics.  With Lance and I, it still may have been capture but expected more of a fight." *sighs* "This would indicate that who ever is guiding them, potentially has an outdated view on women, to underestimate them." runs his hand through his hair. "They are also able to travel through the Shadows.  Uncle Julian stated as much.  So that makes them very dangerous." he looks to Lance and Ballad, "So all of the attacks occurred within the last day, correct?  Ballad, you weren't attack earlier correct?  And only you and Jade have walked the pattern so far, correct?"

Jade nodded slowly, "I have walked it's mirror in Rebma."

There was a look of concern she wanted some secrets but everything was being laid out by Jon then again it might have relevance.

"Yet Ballad was attacked by a single attacker, if our pattern has some kind of relevance." She looked inquisitively to Jon.

  "I don't know how the time thing works as we cross realities, but I've been here in Amber since this morning.  Going backwards from there we were at Flora's house on Earth for a few hours after driving through shadows for a few hours.  I had gotten patched up at a hospital in a shadow a few hours after the fight with the grey man and meeting Flora."

  Lance stifles a yawn, reminded how he hadn't really gotten a good night sleep in what, a few days?

  "Sorry.  It's all catching up to me a bit."

*nods* "I'm not sure either, but relative to Amber time, it seems everything happened in the last day."  *sigh* "That is extremely coordinated.  Especially since most of us didn't even know that we were of royal blood." takes a sip of his drink. "This means that there must be something that links us that someone has figured out how to track.  There must be some type of resonance that we as children of the Amber Royal line give off that someone has figured out how to identify it through the various shadows like a locator spell.  And it would have to be someone who understood the essences of our blood lines." he looks at Jade, seeing her still frowning as he was speaking earlier. "I apologize to everyone, if I spilled any secrets, it was not my intension."  even at this stage Jon is rather calm, despite the frustration and any faux pas.

OOC: For those from earth and familiar with the MCU, he would give off a similar vibe to Chris Evans Steve Rogers / Captain America, that Charming calm and confident air.  For those from else where, it would be akin to a honest knight or trustworthy politician.

"Oh I just like having some secrets, it keeps me mysterious like aunt Llewella. The sea is supposed to have unknown depths, and I would hate to be shallow." She gave a teasing smile.

Tilting her head a bit, "I will agree, the amount of coordination is beyond my understanding. Especially since some shadows move at different time rates. For some of us who had no real idea where we were going, it seemed like these creatures had premonition more then a tracking ability. They set up some ambushes as you said. If I didn't know better especially with the look of concern my mother had, I really would thing this some kind of prove yourself crazy ritual of the family. Also the fact the creatures fled, and help was in some cases nearby would lead me to that conclusion. I know we were all genuinely hurt but we heal fast also. Tossing that idea aside though why target us ? Revenge ? Certainly enemies of our parents were made during the wars. The fact though is that no one in the family including the king spoke of these Grey men as a known enemy."

Taking a sip of her drink she then continued, "If it is a member of our family behind it why ? Are they sterile and jealous our parents had children ? Then again why then target Ariadne and Jon since both their parent's are already gone. The twisting of the screw isn't there if those parents won't be around to suffer grief. All of us together, I don't believe made the same enemy over the years. That leads me to think this an attempt to cut short the lineage of Amber and who would wish to do that ?"

Ballad is in good listener (fairy tale bartender) mode. The silvery blonde smiles rather ruefully when Jade echoes Lance about her being the shadow expert and says, “Perhaps relative to newcomers.”

When Jade marks interest in self preservation aloud that Ballad decides to take a sheet of paper out of her bag — when she ran into the cousins and they changed her course, coat and bag both were at ready for an errand — and scrawl a few notes. Devil’s in the details and this is a devil of a puzzle. There’s a whisper of a frown when Jon says Julian was in a hurry, but it doesn’t stay and the dimple appears again when Jade says, yes, Ballad asked that, for she hadn’t forgotten her question and meant to circle back to it eventually.

She brightens when Jade confirms she’s from Rebma and her mother is Princess Fiona. Earnest, hand to heart: “I’ve always wanted to meet my aunt Fiona. Well, Llewella too. Any aunt, really. And to visit Rebma!”

And then — is there a long, complicated Germerchten word for that feeling when you begin to realize you might be the only child in your family of your generation who may have had two parents equally involved in your life? She feels a sudden, surprising twist of deep affection for her Dad.

"I don't think ol' talonhands was trying to capture me, and neither do my internal organs," she offers Jon, placing a hand over her ribs to indicate she'd been wounded or almost wounded there. When he looks to see whether his father's name brings any negative associations, he finds none with the Very Charming cousin he is Very Determined not to underestimate. Maybe a splash of surprise, but that's all.

Lance's yawn gets a lopsided smile and maybe she slides him a glass of water instead of booze if there's water behind the bar.

"As for when I was attacked, I suppose it might count as 'today,' but it sounded to me," and here a quizzical glance, Lance-wards, as if for confirmation, "like Martin and Rinaldo were both attacked before today. Jon, Jade, Ari, does the commonality you mentioned noticing about your attacks still hold, now that we've all shared our experiences?"

She begins doodling as Jade speculates, little art nouveau stars and vines and nonsense lines, as if it helps her concentrate. "What did the king say about the grey men?" she asks with a slight frown. She scrawls something with a flourish on her piece of paper and turns it toward Jade, although she won't try to hide it from Ariadne, Jon, or Lance, if they make an effort to read it. 

"May I ask, that is," and Ballad straightens from her graceful slouch, the nonchalant listening attitude, in order to look a touch imploringly at each of her cousins. "Are we all on the same page about wanting to find out what's behind this grey menace ourselves, not just leave it to the aunts and uncles?" There's an air about this question: as if she maybe has another revelation to drop, should this be a gathering of Scooby Gang.

"I would love to take anyone who wishes to visit Rebma and show them around. I love the beauty of my home. Should I see my mother again, I will tell her your wish to meet with her."

She looked to Lance, "You just remember to heal up before your pattern walk you don't want those scars to be with you forever do you ?" her bright smile and teasing nature returned more.

Jade nods to Ballad's next statement, "Yes to a degree for at least three of us it seems they were waiting for us. Or seemed to at least be where we were going when we ourselves didn't know where we were going. I must admit I don't know when Rinaldo and Martin were attacked." Looking to Jon and Ariadne, "Two other cousins."

PM

Looking to the slip of paper Jade added to it.