Wondering if Ariadne heard her she was going to ask again but then Jon begins and she was glad that he did as he was right about the three of them most likely insisting.

She too didn't know the language but thought this must be a song of the fae that Jon had spoken about in his home. She liked it as it had many of the same qualities of music like exist in Rebma. It made her wonder about his home and it's people.

She applauded when he was done, "That was wonderful, Jon. Was that the language of the Fae ?"

*nod* "Yes, it is elvish the primary language of the Fae. It was a lullaby that my nanny use to sing to Maya and I when we were young to help us fall a sleep." *smiles* "I heard it some much, that I think it is the only song that I know the words to." *blushes* "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Ariadne shook her head, still sorting through everything
"This might not be the best time, but could you guys all tell me a little bit about your homelands and how you grew up?  I'm still feeling like I'm behind the curve on knowing what is going on around here."

Ballad applauds Jon, too. "False modesty earlier, Jon-o; your voice is as lovely as a sea wave." She means in the city when he was saying he shouldn't sing because he wasn't as witty or as trained as, etc.

"'How you grew up'?" Ballad echoes Ariadne. "What do you mean exactly?"

Ariadne shrugged, smiling sheepishly
"I know it's a very vague and weird question.   I guess just tell me, if you don't mind, a little about your home and your upbringing."

"I think she want's to know about our upbringing ?" She looked to Ariadne for verification.

Ariadne nodded to Jade, acknowledging the oddness of the question
I know that there's no real context to this.  None of us can really compare our lives to something we don't know anything about.   But i guess i was feeling like everyone here had a better handle on magic and other strangeness than i do"

Jade says, "Oh, well I was raised in Rebma which is a lot like what you see around you but Amber and Rebma are mirrors that is why the names of both kingdoms are Palindromes of one another. They are not only mirrors in topography but in many ways. Here there is a king that rules, in Rebma there is a queen. Amber has a male feel to it, while in Rebma feminine principles are more in place. Here thick stone walls are what the castle is made of, there in Rebma sculpted crystal. Here combat is held in high regard, while in Rebma mercy and diplomacy are usually the methods. Rebma is a place of magic with flames that burn green under the waves and there even people from the surface can survive. I was born with the gift of magic, now I know my bloodline is responsible for that. I never knew my parents till yesterday, though I was raised a ward of the Queen. Queen Moire rules Rebma. I was happy enough till I was old enough to know I was orphaned or abandoned. I was quite upset for a while knowing many people around me had actual parents I always wondered why I was left on my own. I really don't want to get into my whole life but I have walked Faiella Bionen between Rebma and Amber several times and enjoy both realms quite a bit."

*smiles* "But at least now you have your mother and us in your life."  he looks to Ballad, "Ladies first? or would you prefer I go?"

“I grew up in a few places, Brecheliant, Arden, where ever Dad decided to put me. Brecheliant is where I was born; it’s a shadow of Arden — or a shadow Arden cuts across — or both. There is a great deal of sorcery about and enchantment but more industry than here in Amber. The Moon there is my grandmother; Dad met Mom while hunting there.” Ballad’s mouth curves. “As it’s been told to me, Mom was under a curse, Dad undid curse, one thing followed another, and so — ring the bells, make happy noise! — you all get to have me.”

Pause for applause. Ballad gestures to herself with a languid flourish, and there's deviltry in the spark-simmer of a smile.

“Dad was far away more often than not,” and the silvery blonde sounds wistful (in spite of herself). “The perils of having a great prince of an otherworld for a father! Alas! But he raised me, too. He taught me about Amber and our family, though I was under strict orders not to engage should I see any his brothers or sisters. Except for my uncle Caine." Ballad scootches up to sit on the top white step, resting her elbows (recklessly, recklessly) on one of moonlight instead and glances over at the castle.

"And were grateful !"

Jade applauds.

*nods* and *smiles* "A regular beam of moonshine in our lives and all the greater for it."

"So if you stay here the stairs will never fade, as daughter of the Moon."
Jade looks to Ballad wide eyed.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Wed 16 Dec 2020.

Ariadne chuckled.
"If only...."

Ballad gives Jade a laughing look when Jade does applaud. “Thank you for that. You may also applaud, Jon and Ariadne,” Ballad says, very devil may care and jaunty.

And then, "Granddaughter. If only my grandmama weren't a mere shadow of this moon." Her eyes are a-gleam. "This is where I came when I assayed the Pattern. These steps. I remember. But maybe I'll walk it again, hey? But down in the mountain, this time."

"Then all of us will end up walking each of the patterns. That is wonderful. We could compare notes."

*smiles* "Well, I guess it is my turn." he gazes up at Tir-Na-Nog "I don't know much about how my Parents met, but My birth farther was King Eric. He met my mother, Myrna of House Hawk of Amber, and according to Rian, they were wed.  So technically, she was Queen of Amber, though I don't believe she ever actually served. Eric moved my mother and her guardian Sean to the Faewylds to keep her safe while she was pregnant.  I was born in the Faewylds.  The Faewylds is a place full of magic and monsters, dungeons and dragons, Pathfinders and Arch Fae.  Eric made a deal with the Severed Fae Court, which is where I was raised.  My mother married my fathe...step-father when I was bout 4.  She trained me in the ways of court and he trained me in the ways of combat.  My mother told me stories of Amber and my father, but...but I didn't believe her until a few days ago." gives a weak smile "So, while it appears we are better "adjusted" it is really on to some of the concepts of things.  I still don't understand the Pattern or Shadows.  So you are not alone."

Ariadne smirked, though in a friendly way, and nodded.
"All this pattern stuff is relatively new to most of us, but  I was right that me and Lance are the only ones coming into Amber with no knowledge of the place.  But I'll try to catch up."

Jade then says, That is alright you could take us to earth and teach us to ride motorcycles." Jade is proud of saying the word as Ariadne says it.

"We can help you both out here."

*smiles* "You both will be fine.  Give it some time.  You re doing better already."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Wed 16 Dec 2020.

Ariadne nodded, shrugging with a smile
"I suppose my own upbringing is a bit weird to you guys, even if I take it for granted and ordinary.
I thought I was raised by a smart but rather stodgy scholar and historian named Alvin Arrington, after my mother had died when I was a baby.
Earth is a very advanced world, as far as technology.  We have no magic, or monsters, at least that we know about.  There are plenty of stories of mysterious creatures and magical people, but those are just dismissed as myth and tall tales.
My father was always busy with his books and artifacts of Earth's history, so I was sent to school at a private academy run by Catholic nuns...basically one of Earth's major religions, one that I was taught as true, but have since dismissed as more myth and nonsense.
I spent a lot of time with friends and a few bad influences, and my father was surprisingly tolerant of how many times I was almost kicked out of school for misbehaving.  But I suppose that wild childhood and rebelling against authority helped me become the person I am, pursuing the study of acting and theatre, especially action movies...well, plays, I suppose, though ironically I was always drawn to ones with fantasy and other things that weren't real."
She smirked a bit at the karma involved in that.
"I spent some time acting as various characters, but I was mostly involved in the staged combat and, for lack of a better word, pretend fights in combat scenes in the stories we told.  I wasn't world famous, but I was respected in our community."

She looked off at Tir, deep in thought.
"Earth was advanced in technology, with vehicles like stage coaches that move on their own with the touch of a button and a pedal.  Guns that can kill a man from hundreds of paces away.  And devices that could communicate with people all over the world.  A bit like these cards you guys have, but nearly everyone has them.  They can contact other people who have similar devices, and they can also access most of the knowledge that we've accumulated over the millennia.  Technological wonders, to be honest, though most of us definitely take all this for granted, I have to admit.
And we were convinced that we had no neighboring worlds.  It was just us, but there were billions of people on Earth, so that was plenty for us.  And it made us a bit arrogant, I have to say.  I suppose that's why I'm having a bit of trouble with all of this."
Then she shrugged.
"Then I was coming home for a surprise visit, and found two grey men trying to break in.  Then is was one Incredible Revelation after another, finding out that my father was really Lord Alva, a minor noble here, and my mother was Princess Diedre, an Amber princess killed in a war that still has ripples around here.   I've been playing catch up ever since."

*smiles* "That doesn't sound that different from any of ours.  Sure the details are, but the core of it is the same.  So don't worry about "Getting All of This" Amber stuff. That will come in time." he moves up and puts a hand on her should "I think Jade and Ballad would agree, the important thing is that you are alive and well and you have all of us to lean on.  As long as we have each other, we will never be alone and we can find a solution to any problem."

Jade jumps, "Well said Jon ! The family together faced and defeated the forces of the Hells !" She wore a serious look for a moment.

Ariadne smiled and nodded.
"I'm glad we found each other."

"Everyone has cards on your world and can access all your knowledge. Your world sounds very powerful Ariadne." Looks a bit concerned.