“Boar’s dangerous game,” Ballad remarks. Then she laughs at herself: “I once got caught in a tree for hours when a big ‘un, a real King of the Autumn Wood, took my spear and cornered me there; his eyes were as red as Hell! Absolutely trashed my camp, too, got into my wine as spoils for his victory I suppose. As far as a hunt goes, I’ll never hunt a fox, a swan, or a firebird, at least not to kill. And I feel very enthusiastic about swimming! Say, there's a thought.”

She waits until Jade and Odile enter, bringing up the rear and closing the door.

"If it isn't my favourite dustrag darling of a librarian!" Ballad greets Laurence enthusiastically. "I echo my cousin here, and have also brought you a list of requests." She digs around in her bag, pulling a paper which she brandishes, also with dramatic flair. "I just want to make a quick note..." Ballad strides over to a table, pulling out her pen as well and bends over pen and paper to add a note or three. She looks quizzically at Jade. "Do we also want glasses...?"


OOC - yay XP. >.>

Question: does it look like this anything similar has happened before, pre-the whole Everybody vs. Clarissa's kids debacle?

 Ballad rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,1.  INT. Kinda buzzed research, ahoy! Daphne or Velma?

Jade finds some notes that Random made soon after he became king about the gray men.

Their skin is tough, as are the spurs that come out from their hands. The best thing to do in battle with them is to go for the head-- not even the neck, but the eyes and ears and head in general. Their skulls are extra-tough, like the rest of their bones, but the brains inside can be concussed, just like humans, if the attacker has royal-Amberite-level strength. Such a strategy is suggested as being much better than wasting time trying to break their bones nor making them bleed.


Ballad... gets a bit too ambitious, looking here, there, everywhere, always trying to speed-read and scan at least three different texts in the same minute. It's overwhelming.

She doesn't find any record of anything like the gray men before Random first encountered them, but for all she knows, that could be because she just happens not to find anything like that.

(1 new xp for Ballad...)

Laurence brings Ballad all the books she wants on various other things, but... it's quite a stack. This is going to take... longer than tonight...

Curls up on one of the couches falling asleep in the library.

Too Ambitious: A Young Amberite's Tale.

Ballad's energized (frenetic, really), disorganized research lends itself to the occasional break from reading (read: frustration) to wander around the library, poke at the drumset, return, open four books, make a note on one, flip through another, find a passage go wait what about this one and she grins at Laurence when he brings her The Stack, thanking him. "May I take some of these to my room, or can you show me where they're usually shelved, so I can swiftly find them again if you're not here?"

She wants, at least, to read Random's account as told to Corwin tonight. That the biggest part of her initial library quest. When she notices that Jade has fallen asleep (maybe around the time she's looking for another excuse to take a break, because even the Most Exuberant personalities start to get cranky as the night wears on), her lips quirk. "Odile, it looks as if Jade is ready for her pillow. If she won't wake easily, lead the way and I'll carry her to her room."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Tue 24 Nov 2020.

Startled by the waking, "Go for the eyes !" She fumbles out then realizes where she is and blushes.

"Oh Im sorry, I should get some sleep it seems."

Ballad laughs, surprised, delight, whoa there, not my eyes when Jade rouses as she does. "I hope you have sweet dreams, Jade."

And although she lingers a little longer, she does eventually wend away from the library, book stack under her arm (?).

Jade would come to meet Ballad after freshening up in her room.

A smile to Laurence the librarian and then her eyes sought out Ballad.

Where is Ballad? Here is Ballad. At the couch by the great marble fireplace. There she shines: quite as if a star’d fallen from the library's very high ceiling, to smoulder and glister on the couch in the form of a young woman.

She’s gowned today — observe the careless sweep of skirts, the graceful array of dramatic sleeves.  Wrapped around her wrist more ribbons: red, orange, brown; a tiny lock, knotted like a charm, and here’s where the key to the Pattern room has been knotted too if Random’s already been by. The usual fantastical complexity of braided tresses have a black ribbon worked through them, a stark contrast which dredges up more lustre, and a great big metal comb (new-purchased) which looks like the crescent moon jewelled in sea-green and shimmery black.

She has a smear of ink on one cheekbone. A messy stack of books leans beside her on the couch, half-fallen against her hip — as if the books were a very loyal hound giving Ballad the puppy eyes because it wanted to go for a walk c’mon is it walk time yet. But it is not. Those books must wait. There is already one book open on her lap, and a pen held poised in her hand. There is also a carafe of something, probably at least a little alcoholic, nearby. Enjoy the pretty picture she makes in the second before she realizes somebody else has come into the library, because the poised stillness gives way to MOVEMENT.

Ballad looks up from her book. Sees Jade! She flashes a welcoming dimple and calls, all exuberance, "Jade! Why, please tell me you're here to repair my poor heart! But even if you aren't, I feel the crack mending: Has anyone ever told you you're far better than a lost-at-sea-sailor's hope of saltless water? If they did, I will duel them for stealing the thought from my mind."

As she's saying this, Ballad sits up and the poor loyal hound stack of books immediately tries to collapse over her seat and there are papers that get rumpled and Ballad has a moment or two where she has to put her messy workplace in order again, although she does that with a laughing air.

Jade flashed a smile, "I am, who could not given the note we received. I think the others shall be along shortly. Thank you for the compliment."

Jade swept over and gave Ballad a hug.

"You look serious, so like a precious child with all those books about and..."
Jade saw the ink and tried to wipe it away, "Some of your ink was getting away."

She whispered,  She teased and her eyes betrayed her interest as she looked at the book titles her cousin had been reading.

Ballad laughs. “But you are the compliment embodied, darling! A very true thing! How can you thank me for yourself?” Ee! A hug! Ballad is — almost — always ready for physical affection and she abandons her attempt to get her books and papers back in order in favor of returning the hug, very burrowily. Ow! Corner of book in the spine! Corner of book in the spine!! Help, help! She pulls that book out and gives it a be good or I shan’t read you look.

Oh oh. Jade wants to wipe away the ink? Behold: Ballad stays very still, head canted just so, invitingly, although she smirks. The ink is mostly dry at this point in time, but some smears, and Ballad’s expressive eyes are lively and amused and very, very blue. “Ink does like to run, doesn’t it? Isn't it good we like to chase it? But I’m not dismayed: I’ll just make it the fashion — or be an iconoclast. You know.”

Then somewhere there’s a quote about never getting involved in a land war in Asia and the lesser known rule never going against a Sicilian when death is on the line but look, the even lesser known rule is, never go against a Ballad verch Julian in a game of teasing! or something.

Perforce: she must attempt to very gallantly capture Jade’s hand, and kiss her cousin’s wrist, and lean forward to say,  The books see their opening. Ballad says, "Books, come now!" and she says, "Jade, won't you take a seat while I order these eager word-repositories? Have a drink!"

And the books are put in order, darn it. They are all on the subject of:

Jade indeed sat there on the couch and helped with the books. She then took a drink of the offered beverage. Handing the bottle back she noted the tiredness in Ballad's eyes.

"Have you been here all night ? We must both look something, you with all these books and me with all those stairs. I might need to drown the lower levels so I could swim more easily to the Pattern. Which by the way is as awe inspiring as it's sister in Rebma. I wish you could have seen our cousins faces. I loved seeing their wonder."

"Mmmm go iconoclast, if you start a new fashion, everyone will be copying you and you will need to do something new only to have the little school of fish leaping to look like you all over again."

The remark about the leaping fish and go iconoclast gets another laughing look: Ballad, she's all bon vivance and she likes to laugh. She likes other people to laugh, too, so there's always a note of invitation in it: won'tcha join me?

Earnestly: “I do, too! Wish, that is. Not to belabor the point—but I will say aloud how sorry I am to have missed you all morning. I'm so very looking forward to meeting Rebma's echo of the Pattern, too, and I think striving across it, because why not? The thing wants to be walked, doesn't it? Was anybody very tempted to assay it immediately, or were they all properly wary? And how did training go? Many mighty whacks?”

“Not all night.” There's a touch of rue. Ballad hesitates; her gaze wanders to the door. Where are Jon and Ariadne? “The thing of it is, Jade, there’s actually something I was hoping — you know, I live for hope — you’d be able to help me with. It’s got to do with enchantment.”

"When we go to Rebma I shall show it to those who wish, do you suppose Ballad there is some secret or mystery that might be unlocked at walking the three ?"

She tilted her head, "I made sure they were wary, and I would be surprised if they didn't feel the call to walk it. The thing does breed temptation and curiosity. In truth I think they wish us all to be there to witness their accomplishment, and why not ! The Pattern is a test like no other. I have already promised to bare witness to their walks. Oh I was going to ask you are your tides called something different ? The three barriers you push through as you walk the one here ?"

She then looked up, "Enchantment ? What would you like to discuss on that." There was certainly a sparkle of interest as her cousin broached that subject.

“I don’t know. But I wonder if walking a second time will give added insight,” Ballad replies, pensive. She touches the edge of her eyebrow thoughtfully, and her thumb leaves another (very faint) trace of ink on her cheekbone. Ballad is quite unconscious of it, though she sets her pen down atop her notes, trading it for a small glass of the liquor in the carafe — let’s call it something invigorating.

She gives Jade an approving little nod when the green-haired young woman says she made certain the cousins were wary, and is intent (fully present in this particular moment and conversation) as Jade asks about the tides. “Ah. Dad named them the Veils. Like a Veil you part as you go further into Mystery. Is it common knowledge in Rebma, well, among the very noble, what it's like to walk the Pattern, or did Aunt Llewella call them tides?” she asks the latter quite curiously.

"As for enchantment," Ballad takes a sip of the liquor as she gathers her thoughts on the matter, trying to set them into an order. "Let's see, I think I have three... no, four? Three? Three specific scenarios." Here is the pause as Ballad tries to find the exact right words. She is impulsive, yes, but she doesn't speak carelessly.

Jade bobbed her head, "I am curious about the Pattern and Patterns and their implication. I am tempted to walk Amber's after our cousins do."

She sighs, "Very tempted, though perhaps I should be wary my own advice on such things." Then with a nod, "Veils, that makes sense. Oh and no, the Queen and an inner circle most likely know and Llewella certainly but I called them tides since they push against one but can be passed through and it feels like a tide. While I have spoken with Princess Llewella and we got along we never really discussed things like the Pattern, as my status was much different from her own." A moment pause, "At least then it was." Jade smiles at the thought now.

She looks more serious as Ballad brings things back to enchantment especially when she added scenarios to the statement.

"Scenarios ?"

"Me too." Fervent, re: Very tempted. Ballad is nothing of not passionate, although she quirks an eyebrow at Jade, a dare and a suggestion for later. Let us go then, you and I. She listens attentively as Jade explains why she calls the Veils the tides and, when Jade pauses and says, At least then it was, Ballad smiles back - a luminous reflection, her dimple sharp.

Brief, though. They're discussing enchantment.

“Scenarios. Three. Here's the first. Let’s say you are about to surprise a sorcerer who may be, in their surprise, quick to respond to an unexpected and uninvited visitor with some spell-slinging. You don’t want to undo his or her cantrips, per se, but you do want a moment to speak your very diplomatic piece. Can you think of any simple way to disrupt, at least briefly, any malicious magical response to your presence?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Thu 24 Dec 2020.

Jade's eyebrows rise two hills of green.
"Oh, now that is certainly a question and not one easily answered. Most witches and sorcerers are not the release a spell before parlay types. Yet people are themselves before a stereotype. Also you come asking something which may open up a vulnerability."

Jade regards Ballad for a count of five or so.

"Magic wielders come in many practices, though I love to sing I was but a mere acolyte Siren. In Rebma sound is a big component yet some have learned other methods and ways to weave wonders. I myself have learned ways beyond singing, I just prefer singing it feels most natural. Without knowing their method of casting I can only make a general reply to your query. If they are just starting out, an apprentice or someone just released from such apprenticeship, ruining their concentration is a common thing that may be exploited. Though a well trained sorceress may indeed release magics, as a well skilled warrior might perform some maneuver. If you want to actually have a diplomatic discussion, you would need to avoid harming or humiliating them. So tossed items, especially things that stain is out. You might try holding something that the wizard or wonder worker values, as they are not want to destroy that which they hold dear."

Jade did look like the conversation was a bit uncomfortable but continued.
"I would say your best way may be distraction. A handful of sand or shaved metal like iron tossed not at the wizard but up in the air to fall between you would distract and in some cases even deflect a directed spell. It also has the added benefit of making the wonder worker not angry at you and thus open the way to diplomacy. In your case Ballad I could see you throwing flower petals up in the air between you and this proffered antagonist."

She then nodded primly, "So disrupting of concentration, distraction, having a hostage either person or property they hold dear. Also creating some type of barrier between you and them. It doesn't have to be a shield or similar. If you knew their method of casting you could use that knowledge. Do you know how they work their magic or is your question more general ?"

Ballad’s whole attention is Jade’s, solemn but unwavering(ly hopeful) before any long regard.

“My question is more general, alas; and I suppose I’m familiar enough with the theory of less magical forms of persuasion. Thank you for answering it.” Ballad’s dimple briefly makes a reappearance although the smile’s more just a suggestion. “But it does rather please me that you imagine me tossing flower petals in the air; back in Brecheliant the nine flowers blooming wild are a potent charm.”

Ballad pours herself more to drink. Jade, too. She glances up at the ceiling, studious, or perhaps she's just studying the second floor, to see whether anybody else is around. She doesn't seem nervous, just alert.

“Second scenario. Let us say you know somebody will be enchanted to, hmm, well—into a sort of madness. They won’t be in control of their own mind, they'll be pushed into a happy, dangerous frenzy — right? You don’t know exactly when, but you know this is going to happen. You don’t know how exactly, either. You just know it will be unnatural, due to some sort of outside influence. Jade. What d’you think—I mean, might there be a way to craft a counter-enchantment? Something that might be carried by or hidden on this somebody, maybe even attached to something you know this somebody will have on them during this incident, so when the madness happens you — or anybody else — could speak a word? Activate the counter-enchantment and give this somebody more of a chance at reclaiming their own self?”
This message was last edited by the player at 02:58, Thu 24 Dec 2020.

Jade smiles, "Yes now that is more defined. With our families penchant for traveling shadow one could seek out an item of the sort. Also there are some herbs which can help ward off mental effects. These won't give a word command but are more of a lasting protection or resistance. If I worked at a new spell, I am sure I can have something for it. Especially since it falls into a specialty area. Perhaps a potion could be worked up to provide a more lasting answer. Is this an actual non hypothetical question ?  Is someone you know so afflicted ? As for word commands hypnotism with say a trigger might also be a non magical way to help out."

Jade waited for more so that she might provide more light on such things.

"Will be so-afflicted." Ballad's eyebrows quiver between expressions, but she is quite definite about the tense: it is future tense, this hypothetical danger. She doesn't seem to think much of anything that is a warding off of in this particular hypothetical instance. She wants a breaking of something that's happened. "When exactly, is a mystery."

"As long as it isn't a curse like the weir or some other curse and it is truly enchantment, I could see about working up some talisman. You want it to look like a normal item, as opposed to something obviously magical ?"

"Truly? You are a wonder." All ardent, Ballad. She rests her hand over her chest, fingers curled slightly at the collar; her lashes sweep down, and she inhales. The curve of her mouth is gone soft: a pleased little luminous hook. It's as if Jade lit a candle; she's just the lamp that reflects it. When she opens her eyes again, she's smiling, an invitational smile. Ballad always wants people to join her. "I think it would be best if..." She frowns, brow furrowed in contemplation. "Well, if it could be something we all wanted to carry, something that wouldn't be too too obvious. I guess we'd all want to carry something to help us free our minds, in the unfortunate event that, wouldn't we?"

Jade nods, "Ballad, does this have anything to do with the Gray men ? Is there something you know, or is this an unrelated threat ?  I will work on something more like a charm that can be place on a necklace or bracelet. I may need to go back to Rebma, unless I can find a surface variety herb. You might be able to help with that if we need to go into Arden."

Does this have anything to do with the gray men? Ballad nods; it’s a little nod. Then she holds out her hand, palm up; an offering.

"Shall I tell you a secret? A small one. Nonetheless, I am very protective of it."

Jade nods, "Yes, it may help allay my own fears." Jade will move closer for the secret.