Beyond the door, a lantern is not needed.

The glow is from the Pattern itself. When eyes adjust, they see it in the center of the room. It appears as a shining, shimmering mass of curved lines, inscribed into the stone floor, lines that fool the eye as it tries to trace them.

To an Amberian non-royal, the lines are almost blinding. To a non-royal not from Amber at all, they are hypnotic, as well. This room is not for casual visitors.

https://img00.deviantart.net/3...darkmane-d4yxb4l.jpg

https://vignette.wikia.nocooki...st?cb=20100806021454

https://img00.deviantart.net/3...r_by_crimsongear.png

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f9/7...-ambre-labyrinth.jpg

The Pattern begins in the far corner.

(Note: GM must regulate PCs walking the Pattern if they have never walked it before.)

Jade when she arrives at the pattern room had already taken off her heels as she is not used to walking so many stairs. For her it is a practice in reverse directions from Rebma's but soon she is at the door. A brief moment of excitement as she turned the key in the ancient lock to open the door. The sound of a click and the door opens to reveal the pattern.

Even though Jade had walked a Pattern before she stood in awe of seeing another one. This was the first time she was able to take in Amber's Pattern. She could feel it's power, it's stillness.

Looking to Jon, "I am so used to swimming down to Rebma's Pattern, I guess I wasn't thinking wearing these on all those stairs." She said while swinging the heels in her hand.

"Isn't it beautiful ? It is like the engineering sketch of the cosmos."

She then turned and looked from Jon with a brief smile over to the Pattern.
"Hello." She said to the Pattern.

She let her eyes look over it. She then took out the blank journal book to take notes and make sketches. Jade was very serious focused and her nerdy side was on display.

*Chuckles* "I don't know how you walk in them on a flat surface to be honest. Let alone stairs. But I agree a poor choice in footwear." he teases.

Jon then look, actually looks at the pattern and is mesmerized. He whispers "It is one of the most beautiful things I've seen." He moves closer to it, but never on it.  Jade's and Balllad's warnings have been taken to heart. "Even I can feel its power.  No wonder our elders are so feared." he says with a touch of aw.

He walks back over to Jade and takes her shoes off her so that she can better manage the notebook and writing utensils.

*smiles* "Nice to meet you." he says to the pattern, not wanting to upset it, and following Jade's lead.
He looks for a couple of chairs, seeing none, he will stand quietly near Jade.  Finding comfort being near her, especially given the power that he can feel coming from the pattern.

"Now don't touch it, even in jest. The pattern burns hotter then any fire, or lightning strike. In Rebma it is like lightning in the water itself. I can tell you a bit about the Pattern now that we are here to look at it."

She gestures out to it the place near the beginning, "That is the start of it were you would begin your walk. You will feel a connection to it which is hard to describe. Like a force pulling your feet down. One cannot swim a Pattern even in Rebma. There are three great tides, they probably go by a different name here but the tides will try to halt you, they will push back against you. One is physical, one is mental, and one spiritual. Once you get past a tide things will go easier for a short while. Do not get overconfident. Watch your feet when you walk and always keep them on the Pattern. Once you start do not stop, you will die if you do."

She walks about the pattern never touching it but motioning to Amber's Pattern's veils. What she refers to as great tides.

"The hardest tide is near the end, you can't really see the end from here. At the center you can ask it to take you anywhere. Trust me, you will be so exhausted from walking it that you won't want to ask it to send you anyplace but your nice comfy bed. This is personal, don't have it send you to the enemy or anything vague like that. If you go to say the commander of these Gray Men you will be too exhausted to fight effectively. Do yourself a favor and so the rest of us don't worry about you, have it send you to your bed where you can sleep off the Pattern walk. When you get to the end you will know the powers you have at your disposal. It will also slow your aging to a crawl."

After her speech she takes notes, draws sketches and otherwise studies the pattern in a pseudo scientific and mystical way. Seeming very intent on her studies of it.

*nods* "That makes sense.  A test of who you are." he takes a deep breath as if centering his mind. *grins* "But that is why I am happy to have you in my corner, along with Ari, Ballad and Lance." he adds. "So that I don't lose myself and have an anchor to return."

He stays near Jade, not do close to bump into her, but close enough should anything happen he can react.  He smiles fondly at her studying and notetaking.  He remains quiet so as to not interrupt he study, seemingly fine with a comfortable silence between them.  The studious mage and the watchful guardian.

Jade nods, "Exactly, it is a personal journey. No one can help you with it, but you know you will have my morale support along with the others. Even if you hear us clapping or cheering you on, don't look for us keep your attention on the Pattern walk. I wish you all didn't have to do it. That is how dangerous and serious I take matters involving that Pattern. Yet at full health and well fed, all I can say is try to prepare mentally and spiritually too. All my cousins are amazing ! I am sure you will succeed."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Mon 21 Dec 2020.

*nods* "With your advice and Ballad's, I am confident that I can make it." *smiles* "Besides, I have something worth coming back to, to fight for and protect.  Something more than just country and home." he looks away blushing slightly. Then clears his throat. "But don't worry, I appreciate the advice and take it very seriously."

Internally he sighs and thinks to himself "What is wrong with me."

Jade stops her studies for a moment fully turning to Jon. She smiles and rests her hands on his shoulders. "I have no doubt you and Ariadne will make it. I will be here when your done and as soon as you are awake and ready all of us can celebrate."

She looks down a moment, "The only one I really worry about is Lance. He needs his confidence back. I tried to help him, but I am not sure that I was able too fully. I told his mother that he needs his confidence back. Please don't say anything about that. Aunt Florimel is a proud woman and I don't want to make her feel bad in anyway, and I didn't want to embarrass Lance. I just wanted some help from her to boost his spirits. If you can in some way try and help. He might need it. As I said I can help as much as I can with advice and personal experience but the Pattern is a trial one makes alone."

Jade's eyes seem to capture the patterns light.

"I just hope even if Lance needs a year or two that he stands strong and proud at the center of the Pattern. I have no doubt he will, I just know he will need to believe in himself. If he could do it sooner all the better. The Gray Men are our generations enemy. They came after us and our elders are dealing with them. We should face them yet we need to do so united. Our tests and trials unlike on the Pattern, we can take together." She smiled.

Then she turned to re-engage with her studies. She wanted to get a familiarity with Amber's pattern as she had with Rebma's.

Ariadne walked into the room, slightly flushed and sweaty from "all those damned stairs!!!" and looked around, catching her breath.  She put her hand on her still healing stab wounds, cursing under her breath and wishing all flavors of death and pain on "those grey bastards".

Looking around the room, she blinked in surprise and gasped audibly.
"What....THIS is the Pattern?!?  I....this is....wow....."
She hadn't really known what she expected, but this was more massive and impressive than she every could have imagined.  It was pulsing with life and power in a way that she couldn't have conceived of, in her wildest dreams.

Jade smiled seeing Ariadne's impression at seeing the Pattern.
She made sure to include her in on the speech about the Pattern and how it works and it's dangers.

Smiles at Jade's comment. "I will and I know Ari will do our best to not let you, Ballad or Lance down."

He feels her pain as she talks about Lance. "Don't worry, I won't say anything.  I too look forward to him having his confidence back and successfully walking the pattern.  I am sorry that there isn't more I can do to help.  But based on what you said, I might make it worse."
He gives her a quick, but comforting hug.  But then is momentarily speechless as he meets her gaze as the light of pattern play over it.

*smiles* "I have faith in Lance, even he doesn't have it in himself at the moment.  And I know that we will come together and unite to face this menace. But, I am also looking forward to learning and exploring."

As she turns back to her work, he can't help but smile fondly. to himself he thinks "She is so kind and caring.  Worried about us.  She has a calming presence." Jon is slowly becoming more relaxed, he is still alert for danger, but he isn't as stiff as he has been.  Feeling safe and comfortable for the first time in days.

*smiles* "It is amazing isn't it?" he says to Ari.  "Are you OK?" there is a hint of concern.

Ariadne looked at Jon with a rueful smirk.
"There's nothing even remotely like this on Earth.  I mean, we have power sources, ones that can light up an entire city, but they're deadly to touch casually.  They're nothing we can literally tap into personally with out bodies, or whatever."

The talk of Lance gets her to sigh and shake her head.
"Part of me feels like as a fellow Earth 'refugee', I should be able to talk to him and relate to him more than anyone else.  On the other hand, just being from Earth can give someone a variety of anxieties that I can't even begin to understand.   Still, I'll try to intervene when I can.   He needs to know that I'm  sympathetic ear, if nothing else."

Jade nodded as Ariadne spoke.
"That is impressive Ariadne.  The Pattern itself generated the countless worlds between here and Chaos."

She lowered her head nodding.
"Thank you Ariadne, he could use a friend. You know about nuns and other things Lance spoke  of.  I am sure if all of us give him support he will find that even if he doesn't have confidence in himself, we do.  I do hope that turns  him around. "

Jade kept moving as she studied the Pattern.
She stopped and stood on the balls of her feet and got just a wee bit of a better look.
Notes were scribbled down with her focusing on the Pattern again.

*nods* Jon continues to stay close to Jade, in case action is needed, but not close enough to crowd her or be in the way.

"Ari, you have a great grasp of the fundamentals.  I'll be honest, I was a bit worried when you said that most of your training was for stage fighting." *smiles* "I am glad, my concerns were unfounded." *chuckles* "With a little fine tuning and practice to build up stamina, you are going to be a terror on the battlefield.  Especially if you use that Axe of yours." *grins* "And with even more practice, I think you could become an excellent blade dancer." thinking he has given Ari a compliment.

Jade sighs a bit, "Wish I had brought a ladder."
Back on her tip toes studying further into the Pattern.

She looks at Jon and Ariadne but is too embarrassed to ask for a piggy back ride so she can see even better into the Pattern's interior. Her pale cheeks showed a blush.



OOC: Just a note to my fellow players. Jade is going to be in the Pattern room a while and I don't want you to get bored with her studying the lines.

Noticing how she is trying to hang over the pattern, he *chuckles* at her Ladder comment *smiles* "Jade, do you want to sit on my shoulder's to get a better view?" he looks over at Ari, "With your help to balance her, she should be able to get a good view. And lean pretty far over without risk of either of us falling."

Jade will move to the stairs and after walking up to a certain height she smiles nodding to herself. The better vantage really did help. Though in the future she might bring a ladder or even small stage put in for future studies.

Here she started to take more notes on what she was feeling as well as certain mystic qualities that she could. Her little journals pages were filling up.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

Ari was amused by Jade getting on Jon's shoulders, but helped them nonetheless

"Alright this is great for research. Wonderful."

Jade smiles brightly at her cousins, "So what do you think of the pattern Hmmm ?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:29, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

In reply to Jade (msg # 19):

Ari looked up with a confused expression
"The potion ?"

*Smiles* "So what are you researching, Jade"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:19, Wed 23 Dec 2020.

((I corrected it to Pattern))

Ariadne shook her head in almost dismayed wonder
"I can't help but feel a little weirded out, lo like this thing is watching me, and maybe even judging me."

"It does judge you, you will feel that when you walk it. That is why I really want Lance to have his self confidence. Though if your not worthy of the Pattern, that is not something you feel bad about because you won't be around."

Ariadne winced
'Wow....THAT'S  not creepy at all"

"Sorry, just want to be honest with you." Jade looked back at the Pattern.

"She didn't mean it."

Ariadne lokked at the Pattern, mildly alarmed
"Um....yeah, no offense intended, of course "

*smiles* "Now can anyone walk the pattern?  Or only Royalty?  That wasn't really clear to me." he asks.

"Only those of the royal blood of Oberon. If nonroyals try they perish. So no trying to get a servant to walk it, no matter how much you like them. It was somehow made just for our family to walk. Likewise if you find someone you love, and they are not of the royal blood don't try to walk them on it to extend their life. It would only result in heartache."

Ariadne nodded, still a bit mystified by the entire process.

*nod* "Good to know.  Thank you." his mood is subdued as he contemplates what he learned.

Jade smiled to her cousins,  "It's not as bad as it seems. It is just that the Pattern is something serious and as anything incredibly dangerous,  one should treat it with respect. "

Ariadne smirked and nodded
"Makes sense.  Everything else here is dangerous and serious, so why not the source of it all?"

"I want to thank you both for coming down here with me. I know you didn't have too and maybe it was a little boring. At least though, you saw the trial your going to face. So that is good." Jade smiled a bit.

"Let's go see if we can find our other cousins."

*nod* "Jade it is fine, it was interesting and in an odd way relaxing." *smiles* "Besides, I enjoy spending time with you.." *nods* to Ari "and Ari.  It helps get to know each other better.  So, for me at least, it was worth it."
Addressing Ari "Are you going to be OK to make the trek back up?" then looks over at Jade "And you? in your bare feet?"

-----
Updated
This message was last edited by the player at 13:22, Wed 23 Dec 2020.

Jade's smile brightens.

"I should be fine, if I walked the Pattern's mirror then walking up these stairs should be no problem."

Ariadne smirked
"I'm. not looking forward to all these stairs, but i should be okay to climb them.  Just don't expect me.to start dancing once we reach the top"

*smiles* and *nods* "Lead the way ladies."  Jon is still holding onto Jade's shoes.  He takes one last look around the room to make sure that nothing was left behind.  He eyes drawn to the pattern and he thinks at it. "Soon my friend, I hope to learn the secrets you hold for those of my lineage."

Jade looks to Jon, "Oh you don't need to carry those Jon. I can carry them."
She will then head up reclaiming the lantern and handing that to Jon.

"Alright, I know the way back up." She will lead the way back to the upper castle.


This message was last edited by the player at 14:25, Wed 23 Dec 2020.

*chuckles* "No problem." He takes the lantern and holds it high so that it illuminates the way best as possible with him being 3rd in line. (unless there is enough room for Jade and Ari to be on the same step at the same time.)

But hark! The dungeon guard has a note which he has from another (poor) servant who was sent down on a mission of many-staired delivery. The note is sealed with wax and a sprig of something herbaceous from the garden.

Unfold it and, written in Extremely Dashing Style:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
A note:

Hail, cousins!

I apologize sincerely for missing breakfast--what a crack in the heart to have missed you! And then I did not even find your first note until Aymer delivered the second! Down to the Pattern? I long to hear your impressions! And crave your company! I will be in the library until dinner; if not the library, I have taken a liking to (insert sitting room here). Say you'll fix my cracked heart--Drinks this evening? Perhaps in the gardens?

Yrs,
Ballad

---

"Ballad wishes to meet us in the Library !"

Jade hands the note to the others to read.

"I am going to meet with her, you both should too, she wants to know your impression of the Pattern. I can't blame her it is always nice to see people seeing the Pattern for the first time."

Jade will slip back on her shoes when arriving at Castle level and make her way to the library.

*nods* "Thanks.  I'll met you there, I am gonna change out of my armor."  he then heads off to his room.

Ari chuckled as she read it
"What an eccentric performance....."

((OOC runs around getting everything set up for Jon's Pattern Walk ))

Jade sets up banners for Jon and Ariadne. As well as some prewalk refreshments like Lemonade, cupcakes and other pastries. There are two regal shirts that proudly profess ~I walked the Pattern ! What did you do today ?~ One for Jon, one for Ariadne.

Very good boots with solid grip and good internal cushion in Jon and Ariadne's sizes were here for a good sturdy and sure footed walk. Gifts from Ballad and Jade.

Some flags for spectators to wave to cheer on the Walkers. In Jon and Ariadne's colors.

In reply to Jade (msg # 45):

  Lance wakes up early.  Unreasonably so, it seems.  Three in the morning is no time for anything truly good to be happening.  He washes up with a bucket of cold water, dresses, and belts on his weapons.  Taking a moment to scrawl a note to his mother in the event that things go badly he runs through his mental checklist.  Weapons, check.  Leather backpack, check.  Card, check.  Corkscrew, check.  A cushion to sit on while waiting, check.  Ray-ban sunglasses, check. Something to read, check.  Interestingly enough, the book he had selected from the library to bring with him was Corwin's account of the Black Road War.

  Mom,

  I'm heading down to the Pattern Room to see the others make their walk.  Jade and Ariadne had requested that I be there, and I gave my word.  I don't know where things will go from there, whether Jon will see fit to try to kill me for attending, but I think he'll find himself hard-pressed should he choose that path.  In any event, my plan is to attend the cousin's walk.  Should they get into trouble I'll go and try to help them as best I can.  Should all go well I will likely be heading out later in the day to assist Aunt Fiona with what she is about, as I promised her that I would.  If that is the case, I should like to see you before I leave.  Lunch perhaps?

  Should things not go well, know that I love you.  Although it has been a scant ten days since you found me, you have given me a home and a family, and most importantly we have been reunited.  I can never express how much that all means to me.  I know I have made some foolish mistakes, but should I survive this day I will strive to do better, that I might honor you and Amber.

  All my love,

  Lancelot

  Lance seals the letter, retrieves his key from it's hiding place, and pads softly down the halls.  He slips the letter under Flora's door, then continues downstairs.  On the way to the stairway down he stops and grabs a pair of napkins, a loaf of bread, a small wheel of mild cheese, a biltong bar, and a few apples from the kitchen.  From the sideboard in the great room he retrieves two bottles of mead, one for himself, one as a gift to the guard sitting the lonely post at the bottom of the stairs.  It all goes into the backpack.  At the top of the stairs he lights a lantern.
 Then it's down the long, long hypnotic stairway.

  At the bottom he drops off the bottle to the thankful guardsman and continues on until he finds the great doorway.  He unlocks the door and slips in.  He looks around, half expecting an ambush.  Seeing none, he slips inside, closes and locks the door once again and sis down to wait.  The place he chooses gives him a good view of the door with the wall at his back.

  With the eerie blue light from the Pattern he doesn't need the lantern to read, so he puts it out to not waste the oil.  He cuts a few slices of cheese, meat, and bread, opens his bottle of mead, and settles in to read and wait.

Ariadne got up early, painfully so in her opinion.  As she watched the sun rise, she smirked wryly and decided that sunrises were things best seen at the end of one's day of activities, not the at the beginning.  But here in Amber, where, with the exception of magic, the tech level was firmly in the dark ages, she had adapted to the "rise at sunrise and sleep after sunset" mindset of traditional medieval times, where any light sources were harder to some by than simply flicking a switch.

She dressed in her modified riding outfit, sturdy but feminine trousers, leather vest over a tunic, and a short cape, with sturdy but comfortable boots.  Her colors were mostly black, with splashes of purple here and there.   Her look was tough but feminine, which described her fairly well.  She had her custom made hand axes, suitable for throwing or hand combat, as well as a thin sword, a few daggers tucked here and there, and a leather pouch with her cell phone.   The battery was almost out of power after a week and a half here in Amber, despite it being off most of the time.   She'd invested the year before in a top of the line smart phone, and was glad of it now.

It was said that items carried during a Pattern Walk, especially items that were important to the person walking, might be influences or enhanced by the Pattern.  It was an intriguing idea, but not something she was going to rely on.  Frankly, if she could get through the day without spontaneously combusting, she'd be thrilled, thank you very much.

She headed out the door of her rooms, but stopped and hesitated.

Looking back, she stared at the wardrobe that contained her mother's fancy battle axe.  It was an incredibly beautiful and well balanced weapon, but the last time she'd taken it out, it had reacted to everyone, perhaps to other magics going on, and had caused all kinds of drama.  And more drama wasn't what she needed today.

With a little regret, but not enough to go back, she left the room and headed out towards the Pattern room.

Knocks at Ariadne's door with Jon. Hoping to catch her before she heads down to the Pattern room.

Ariadne frowned at the knock at the door,  wondering if some servant wanted something.
She opened the door,  and blinking in surprise when she saw Jade.
She smiled
"Good morning,  cousin.  How are you doing today?"

"Hello Ariadne ! Your looking lovely today. Were here to escort you to the Pattern Room, and I am here cheer you on. Even though we both know you can do it !"

Jade gives a beaming smile to her cousin.

Ari chuckled
"So it's a dangerous journey,  eh?  I appreciate having your protection,  Jade."
She grinned and winked playfully
"Okay, let's head out.  I've got my phone,  some of the hand axes I had made the other day, my fencing sword, and my daggers.  Anything else you think i need?"

"Hmmmm, how about your mom's Ax ?"

Ariadne paused and smiled wryly.
"Well, i was thinking about that.  After that weird reaction we had the last time we were all here, when all that magic went all wonky.   I still don't know much about magic.   Heck,  I'm still dealing with the idea that magic even exists,  so I'm not sure if we should risk it.  And I'm not sure if the axe already has magic. that might be affected by the Pattern."
It's obvious that Ariadne is, even now, still going back and forth about whether or not to bring her mother's axe with her.

"Trust me the Pattern has magic all it's own and besides I think it wants to bond with you. It was just an unusual one off situation."

Jade tilts her head, "It's up to you but it is a beautiful weapon and we kind of are at war."

Ariadne looked back at her wardrobe,  where the axe was hidden.
"So, you think i should carry it?"

Jade nods, "I think so yes."

Smiling, "It is up to you of course."

Ariadne seemed to ponder for a moment,  then walked to the wardrobe.  Opening the beautifully carved wooden doors,  she reached behind the clothes hung there.and took out the fancy bit sturdy looking battle axe hung there.  Backing up a bit, she hefted the weapon,  smiling at how it felt.

"Okay,  i guess I'm ready "

((I want to wait for Jon because he is with Jade and I am sure he would say something.))

OOC:  i was thinking that same thing.  :)

*chuckles* "Yes, it can be very dangerous between here and there." he gives her a quick once over. "Your outfit looks good, fits your personality well."

*nods* "I agree with Jade, you should take it with you."

As she is ready, "Today is a big day. I know you are are gonna be fine." *smiles* "Let us be on our way. The Warrior Princess, the Sea Princess and the Hawk."

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the very long stair, in the very deep dungeon, a young woman with hair glistering silver-gold in the gloom slings herself loungily against the wall opposite the guard. Although she’s underground, in the deepest and darkest part of Amber Castle, observe: Ballad looks as if she fell out of light; as if she coalesced from some fairy twilight, fresh from an adventure, in black and green and silver, romantic and dramatic, a thin circlet kissing her forehead, and dripping from one ear an earring which looks very much as if it was spun from some impossible star or taken from the part of Arden which covers the Moon. Maybe that's where she's been!

But at the moment of this meanwhile, mysterious as any movements before this might be, Ballad cheerfully says, "Hallo, Trent! The whole glittering, glory of my kin didn't troop by yet, did they? I have brought you something from the shadows. Any new developments in the training capacities of spiders, or your novel?"

Although if it is not Trent, after the question about her relations heading to the Pattern room, she'll ask something quite different!

OOC: There! Putting her in the non-interact zone between everybody to start. SORRY SORRY SORRY!

"Yes, actually. Well I mean not every single relative you've got... but one or two of the, er, new ones. Or more maybe..."



"Not exactly... Well, as far as the novel... I'm re-working the plot. It's starting to go in a more, um, exciting direction. The main characters seem to be sort of fed up with self-contemplation, and ready to take some risks and see what happens, so the old vague outline I had in my head isn't fitting anymore..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sun 07 Nov 2021.

Ariadne chuckled and smiled at her cousins

"Okay,  kids, let's get to it.  Before i overthink this and lose whatever nerve i have left.  To be honest,  I'm still trying to wrap my mind around what this actually means for me.  I'm still not sure I fully grasp it"
Closing her door,  she walked with the others towards the stairs

"It means endless possibilities. Though right now it means a chance to kick our enemies behinds !"

Jade Smiles then escorts Ariadne and Jon down to the Pattern room knowing the way. She takes the most expedient route not wasting time and wanting them to get to the pattern with as little fatigue as possible. She will gather lanterns for them but create a shimmery magic ball of light for herself.

Down, down down to the Pattern room where the light of the Pattern itself will take on the responsibility of providing all the light needed.

  The room is quiet as the group enters, quiet enough to hear the sound of a book being closed and put away into a backpack.  Off to the left side of the Pattern, a tall, blonde figure stands, takes out his sunglasses and puts them on.

  It is Lance, of course, having spent a few hours reading.

  "Morning.  I suppose it's about that time then, eh?"

  He is dressed in his knee-high boots, acid-washed jeans, and red and gold 49'ers tee-shirt...and of course his assorted weaponry in their appropriate sheathes and belts.

"Lance, wow your here already. You must have gotten up really early. I am glad you could be here." Jade gave a bright smile visible in the blue electric glow of the Pattern.

Ariadne grinned at Lance and chuckled wryly
"Decided to dress Old School, eh?  You make me feel like I've gone Native over here. 'MedievalBro is a good look for you,  i have to admit. "

  "Wouldn't have missed it for the world, so I came down around three A.M.  After all, I promised you both that I would be here and a promise is a promise."  Lance says. "I didn't want to wear the fancy stuff today, y'know, get it all sweaty from the walk back up...or whatever else I might wind up doing today."

Jon, leaves Ari and Jade at the head of the stairs. "I have a quick errand to run, then I'll meet you down there." as he turns to go, he rests his hand on Jade's shoulder and for a moment it looks like he wants to say something, but instead he heads off.

Jade looks a bit concerned when Jon heads off but merely bobs her head as he departs.

Meanwhile, with the guard:



Ballad casts a glance down the tunnels at this before, intent and quizzical, turning her very blue eyes back to Trent.

“But no uncles, no aunts? They were alone?”



"Ha! Let's hope that self-contemplation either leads to interesting conflict or, now they know themselves better, they're more capable of standing against--whatever it is they're going to stand against. Do you have an idea of an antagonist yet?"

"Uh, that's how I remember it... is that wrong? Was I not paying enough attention...?"



"Mm. I have some ideas... but they need to be more... solid..."

“I’d say ‘no’ to that second question only if, once I make it to the Pattern Room, I discover an entire party of gray, gloomy men inside. But I think you have trustworthy eyes,” says she, good-natured and—after a thoughtful beat—amused. She straightens from the tunnel wall, lofting the lantern she let idle by her feet.



"Perhaps you should try a perspective change, hop from your heroes to their foes, check in what gathering clouds, etcetera?" Ballad replies. "Get out of your main characters' heads, just like they're turning more to action. If nothing else, it will be good exercise." She pulls a small paper 'box,' somewhat crushed, silver and green and white stripes, out of her pocket and sets it down on Trent's stool or into Trent's hand. She said she had a thing for him from shadow. "Next time I visit you, read me a page with a villain. Even if they're still so utterly foggy you could breathe them in. Fare-you-well, Trent!"

Normally, Ballad would linger and chat for a great deal longer, but there's a Walk or two to witness. Hopefully, not a death.

"Yeah, I'm very sure you should expect not to find that."



"Yeah... yeah... or maybe a supporting character... and then... wait, what if..." Annnd he's off in his own world again, thinking... (His eyes open, though-- I mean, he is still a guard...)

  Lance walks over to Ari gives her a hug and whispers, "You got this.  Just stay on the line, ignore the sparks, and keep moving.  There's three areas of resistance, each one tougher than the last.  Just bear down and push through them.  Stay focused and don't leave anything on the table out there.  It's tough, but you can do it.  If anything goes wrong though, I got your back.  I'll come to help if you get into trouble, but I know that won't be necessary."

  He gives her a last reassuring squeeze then steps back.

Ari hugged Lance back, a little embarrassed by how much sue actually needed to physical reassurance at the moment.
She chuckled wryly
"To be honest,  I'm not positive if that pep talk was helpful or more intimidating,  but i appreciate it "

  "You Boston chicks are tough.  No worries."  Lance smiled.  "Go Sox!"

Ariadne laughed, giving Lance a playful smack on the shoulder.
"I'll admit that I was never a big fan of sports, at least not the serious jock sports involving more beer than skill, but i appreciate the thought. "
She took a deep breath, perhaps to steady  her nerves.
"So, keep walking, no matter what, and don't stop.  Okay, any other advice?"

"Who is Sox ? Is that like a pet or something ?"

Ariadne gave a somewhat dainty snort of a laugh and grinned at Jade.
"Sort of.  A local sports team.  Earth people get WAY too excited watching other people play competitive games,  i think. But it's very popular."

She looked at the mesmerizing Pattern, and took another deep breath.
"Okay, i suppose i need to do this.  This thing isn't going to get any less intimidating if i stare at it longer.  Here goes nothing...."

Doubling checking her gear, Ariadne took a step forward,  beginning her walk.

Just as Ari begins her walk, Jon arrives and sees her take her first step.
Quiet as mouse, Jon moves up behind Jade.  He sees Lance and frowns, but does not say anything.

He sends his positive thoughts to Ari.

Jade raises one arm straight up, "You can do it Ariadne !"

She smiles to her cousin watching Ariadne taking her first step on the Pattern.

Jade looks to Jon, "I was worried you wouldn't make it, now if only Ballad and Janessa could be here."

Trent’s sure she shouldn’t expect to find gray men, huh? Ballad gives him a noncommittal we’ll see lift of her shoulders; she is teasing him, of course. And he’s off on his own world, and Ballad’s got worlds to see, so though she gives the guard a sluice-of-a-look, amused and pleased, she says no more; she’d already fare-welled him!

The trip down the rest of the dark, dark tunnels is a thoughtful one. Ballad, coming down here makes her consider her own (first) walk; how exhausted, how soul-weary, she was after the second; she almost calls her father to be here, because she thinks some representative of the old generation should be here and she feels rather solemn about rite of passage rituals.

But lo, before her reckless heart has decided her, there is the door and it is open and the light from the pattern casts (all manner of) shadows. Ballad isn't one of them: she's a bright maiden, see, practically seems to eat darkness like any star—but that’s her fairy blood, the moonlight burning there. Both metaphor, and not-metaphor.

As a shower of sparks begin to spray at Ariadne’s heel and the irrevocable pull of the Pattern takes hold, Ballad hails her other cousins, all two three: "If we aren't well-met by patternlight. Hallo! Did she hear good advice before she began?"

aka, you guys went over the deal, right? Ballad, she's not going to say anything that might distract Ariadne now! Or look away from her cousin's fair shape, cutting towards her birthright.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:46, Fri 12 Nov 2021.

Jade skips over and hugs Ballad, "You made it !" Ariadne just started and got the best advise I think she can get. Where have you been ? I thought you might have been kidnapped you have been absent so long."

  Lance stands, arms crossed and silent as Ariadne begins her walk.  He has a stoic look about him, his mouth neither smiling nor frowning, his eyes hidden by the sun glasses.

  He hears Ballad enter and greet everyone, spares a glance back and a nod at the question about whether Ari had been advised well.  He had given her the best advice he could.  Told her about the sparks, the veils, and about staying on the line, staying focused, and not stopping.

  In that glance he saw her, radiant as ever, and he felt a pang.  He knew that he would never be whole, but it was just something he would have to learn to live with.  In that same glance he saw Jon with his scowl.

  Lance swiveled his head back, nibbled at his lower lip as he watched Ari.  The Ray-bans worked pretty well at allowing him to see Ari more clearly as they muted the effect of the sparks.  They were there mainly to keep his eyes from being seen by the others though.

  He watched Ari with an intensity, his own muscles tense as he remembered how difficult her task at hand was.  He thought about how Corwin had described walking it in his own account, how he had described Dara's walk complete with shape-shifted forms.

  The big, blonde man also half expected to hear the soft note of a blade being drawn from a sheath behind him.  He hadn't forgotten about Jon, and the face he had been making had said enough.  Maybe he'd try something, maybe not.  Maybe he had convinced the others that cousin Lance was a cancer that needed to be cut out.  After all, they had spent most of their time together.  Maybe that was why they had been so insistent in him being here, away from guards, away from any quick escape...Lance pushed the thought away.  While his cousins hadn't seen Jon's outburst, they were stronger than to be so easily swayed and convinced by his greasy-slick car salesman veneer.  No, whatever was between himself and Jon was just that.  Jon might try to find a way or a reason to try to kill Lance, and he might have walked into a trap, but damnit, he had given his word to Ari and Jade, and he said what he said.

It's a bit colder, this close to the pattern... There was a sort of humid chill down here already, like perhaps 76 Fahrenheit, but right next to the Pattern it's more like 73...

Then Ariadne set her foot on the Pattern... Suddenly it felt like 68...

Her foot was outlined by small blue-white sparks.

She kept walking, slowly but steadily...

There was a crackle, and she felt her hair beginning to rise a bit... She took another
step, watching the line in front of and under her feet...

Then the thing began to curve, abruptly, back upon itself. She took ten more paces, and a certain resistance seemed to arise. It was as if a partly-opaque black barrier had grown up before her, of some substance which pushed back upon her with each effort that she made to pass forward.

"It's the First Veil," called someone. "Push past it and it'll get somewhat easier again...!"

Each raising and lowering of her feet suddenly required a terrible effort, and it felt as though sparks were shooting forth from her hair...

(Roll a STR check, please...)

As the green-haired princess pounces Ballad, Ballad offers Jade a lopsided smile, the suggestion of a dimple. Returns the hug, too, one-armed, and—tender—catches one of Jade’s green curls and flicks it away from Jade’s face.

“Come now,” she says, with an air of expansive grace. “If I were kidnapped, one of you fine fellows would've rescued me, no? But today isn't for my star; story hour, later, after all surprises are done. Is the party ready?” This last, low: just for Jade.

She'll hook her arm through Jade's and wander them closer to Jon and Lance (who, we presume, aren't standing easily next to one another), keeping her eyes on the figure walking the Pattern. She offers Jon a nod, an assessing look, to measure how he's feeling, you see, on the precipice of walking the thing. A nod for Lance, too, grave, and she wants to say something about a certain gift though that'll wait until after. Still, she glances his way and--

Waaaaait a second. Waitwaitwait. Wait. Stop. STOP. Nooooo, stop. Is Lance somehow, improbably, impossibly more soul-piercingly beautiful than he was the last time she saw him? When he, like Ariadne and Jade, was already beyond the most beautiful? No. Did she just forget how beautiful he was? Perhaps she forgot. Perhaps the power of his beauty somehow pushed to the side by other feelings. But: golden apples of the West, he's breathtaking. Ballad? Ballad's a sensualist. Aw, man. Ballad stares for a beat at the tense, Rayban-wearing blonde. Good lord. Credit where credit's due, she only stares for a beat, because Ariadne's walking.

Passing the first Veil now.

OOC: GM, if you want us to yell stuff, let us know in the OOC. :P I'm sure me, Lance, or Jade (the cousins who've walked the Pattern) would be happy to helpfully shout stuff out for your posts! Unless Ari's just hearing some auto-Pattern stuff.

Ariadne was, despite all the preparation and pep talks she'd had, feeling unprepared for the feel and look of the Pattern's magic exploding as she started her walking.  She almost stopped, as startled as she was.  But falling back on the lessons, she pushed forward.  Ariadne sort of heard some encouragement being shouted to her, but it was mostly a buzz in her head, which was having trouble concentrating.

But she pushed forward.

OOC:
19:08, Today: Ariadne rolled 7 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 4,2.  strength .

Yes. Yes he is.



No.



(OOC: Tempting, but I think it would just slow things down even further. The way I pulled it, any of you might have said it, so whatever.)



Ariadne concentrates on the glowing path... she walks it, breathing heavily...

(Ariadne takes 1 damage... It's not like normal damage... more like emotional/stamina damage, special for this situation. The next time you use the REST move, you'll get back double the health. You don't want to make your HP drop to zero, though...)


Suddenly the pressure eases. The Veil had parted before her, as abruptly as it had occurred. She had passed through the First Veil, but it cost her a little...

She is well into the Pattern now, and the sparks flash continually about her feet, reaching to the height of her knees. She no longer knows which direction she faces, nor precisely where her cousins stand. The currents sweep through her, and it seems her eyeballs are shaking in their sockets... Then comes a pins-and-needles feeling in her cheeks and a coldness on the back of her neck-- she clenches her teeth to keep them from chattering.


She takes six more rapid steps, reaching the end of an arc and coming to the start of a straight line...

She sets her foot upon it, and with each step that she takes, another barrier begins to rise against her...

"It's the Second Veil..." calls a cousin from somewhere...

Oh for pity's sake, so that was why they called it the First Veil, was there was another one...

(Roll a Con check, please...)

Ariadne felt more tired and stressed than she'd felt in any time in her life.  Was this normal?  Was this the way it was supposed to be?  Or was something terribly wrong?
She tried to remember all the advice she'd gotten from her relatives, even her father,  though his advice,  though carefully researched,  was more second hand than anything.
But it was hard to concentrate.   All she could do was push on.  Push on....

OOC:  18:45, Today: Ariadne rolled 4 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,3.  Con save


*sighs*  ive almostnever had luck with the 2d6 format, and i suppose I shouldn't be surprised now

(09:49, Today: The GM rolled 6 using 2d3 with rolls of 3,3.  Ow.

Ariadne takes 6 new special damage.)

Ariadne is already getting worn out... but she's got to keep going...

(Try Con again...)

Ariadne winced in pain, almost stumbling.   The pain was immense, worse than anything she'd ever experienced.   Nothing from any of her movie stunts, her most rigorous workouts, and even the few bar fights she'd been in,  compared to the pain ripping through her body.

She had to finish.  Her family was counting on her.

OOC:  17:29, Today: Ariadne rolled 8 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,5.  Constitution

Jade glanced to Lance and Ballad as the others who has also walked the Pattern before.
Her eyes then went back to Ariadne as she gripped her parasol so tight her already pale knuckles went ivory.

"YOU CAN DO IT, JUST KEEP MOVING !"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:38, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

  Lance didn't say anything.  Distractions could be fatal, and he knew how difficult it was to get through the barriers.  He did, however, move closer to the starting point just in case Ari faltered or got stuck.  Knowing that he had completed it once before while still wounded and in an emotionally wrecked state gave him the confidence that he could walk it again.  He didn't want to walk it again, but if Ariadne needed his help he'd be there for her and do it.  He had made that promise.

  He watched.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:47, Mon 15 Nov 2021.

Jon tenses, but says nothing. He puts a hand on Jade's shoulder and gives her a reassuring squeeze as she calls out.
"She'll make it. I have no doubt." he whispers to Jade.  His voice low and confident.

Jade is tense as if she is prepared to sprint out to help her cousin. Jon can feel that in her shoulder but she nods very slightly seeing Lance move closer to the Patterns beginning.

She had to have faith in her cousin after all she had succeeded and Ariadne was undeniably physically her superior.

Ballad is curious rather than tense; bright-eyed, intrigued. Until there’s a flinch in all of her cousins, as if they’d all fling themselves on the burning lines after: Then Ballad wonders whether she’ll need to somehow keep them all from piling on, each caught by the pattern’s test, none able to push faster or quicker than any other one. Though her hand doesn’t twitch, she is conscious of her hunting-slash-drinking horn; she is conscious, too, of her self-assurance.

Ballad cups her hands around her mouth and, encouragingly, calls: "Not far now, Ariadne! The whole wide wonder of everything awaits!"

There. She'd done it. Enough to keep moving forward, anyway.

(Ariadne takes one more point of special tiredness damage.)

There was a right-angle turn, then another, then another.

Ariadne, princess of Amber, she thought to herself.

Another curve began, and it is as though Ariadne were walking in glue as she moved slowly along it.

One more step, two, three, four... she raised her electric footwear, over and over, and sets each down again...

Her head throbs and her heart feels as though it were fibrillating to pieces.

Amber!

The name of the land, and the city, and the castle, from whence the royal family rules over possibly-infinite Shadows, because they're just shadows of Amber...

Amber, which spoke to something deep inside her soul... and she hadn't even seen any of the other worlds it ruled yet, as such, hadn't seen any of the other apparently-infinite Shadows yet, but she could feel it all calling to her... She could barely remember what the castle looked like from the outside... What the city looked like, the land... She wished, now, that she had had even more time to come to understand Amber before walking this shimmering electric-blue yellow-brick-road...

Ten more paces, then a swirling filigree of shadowy fire confronts her... she essays it, her sweat chilling her as it springs from every pore...

It's tricky, so devilish tricky, and it seems that the air of the room suddenly moves in great currents which threaten to sweep her from the path of the Pattern. She struggles on, resisting them...

She dares not raise her eyes from the places of light that lie immediately before her, to see how far she has come, how far she has yet to go...

The breezes subside... She tries to focus on anything, her whole life, which seemed, Hollywood and all, so empty and meaningless compared what she was doing now, and especially compared to everything she could do if she could just finish this...

Her mother had made it through the Pattern. Ballad and Lance had done it. Therefore, surely, she, Ariadne, could manage it, no matter what the resistance...

She emerges from the filigree and marches along a long, grand curve, feeling the forces that shape the universe fall upon her and beat her into their image...

Unnatural fears rise like black clouds, and then vanish, gone again, burned away by the Pattern-- only to return, moments later, their strength redoubled.

She walks the Pattern, and she remembers all, all her days upon the Shadow Earth, all her dreams, all the places of that Shadow, so few of them special and dear to her, it now feels...

She walks three more curves, a straight line, and a series of sharp arcs, and she shouted inside her own head.

Ariadne. Ariadne, daughter of Deirdre. Ariadne, princess of Amber. Ariadne, princess of Shadows.

Ten tight arcs which left her dizzy, then another short arc, a straight line, and...

Oh.

A Final Veil.

Is that Ballad shouting "Not far now...!" ...or is it just inside her own head?

It is agony to move. Everything tries to beat her aside. The air is cold, then it feels boiling. It seems that it constantly pushes against her. She struggles, putting one foot before the other. The sparks reach as high as her waist, then her elbows, then her shoulders. They are into her eyes...

They are all about her. She can just barely see the Pattern itself.

(Willpower check, please...)

Ariadne wanted to be done with this.   She'd had fantasies,  when she'd first considered walking the Pattern,  of enjoying the walk, studying the experience, so she could mentor others in this walk, the way others had helped her.
But now, she just wanted to finish, and forget it ever happened

OOC: 17:44, Today: Ariadne rolled 4 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 2,3.  Will save

Glancing to Lance and Ballad Jade moves ever bit as close as Lance did to the Patterns start working out in her head if she could make it to Ariadne seeing her cousin having such great difficulty.

Jon moves up with Jade and then places a hand on her shoulder.  He leans in and whispers "There is no way for any of us to get to her in time. She will do this, but she will have to do it on her own. I have faith in Ari." he gives her a reassuring squeeze.

  Lance watched, tense as a coiled spring through his polarized glasses.  Ariadne had made it through the first two veils, but not easily.  Now she was struggling with the third, and he knew what a bitch that could be.  He had made it through, just barely.  Ari could do it too, but she didn't have the same safety net that he had had.  When Lance had walked it, he at least had the safety net of his mother, ready to pull him off it if need be.  Ari had only her cousins, all less experienced with the thing.

  As long as Ari kept her feet she was still in the game.  If she fell though and seemed unable to get back up, he would move to help her.  He knew that there was a matter of pride involved in walking the Pattern, and he didn't want to interfere unless his cousin really, truly needed it.

  Outwardly, the only signs of what was going through his head was the clenching of his jaw and the clenching of his fists.

  Push Ari, push!!  Don't let it stop you!!  You got this!! he thought, as though he could lend her aid by a mere act of will.

(10:49, Today: The GM rolled 2 using 1d3 ((2)).

Ariadne loses 2 more special tiredness damage...

Try Willpower a second time, please...)

Ari pushed on,  feeling like something is breaking inside her

OOC: 18:02, Today: Ariadne rolled 1 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 1,1.  Will save


   Wow....the 2d6 format Really doesn't like me.
I feel like i couldn't fail this badly if i had did a swan dive onto the Pattern

  "Shit!"  snarls Lance.  Ari wasn't looking well out there.  Worse than  not well, actually.  While the last thing he wanted to do in this world was setting foot on that fiery blue line ever again, Ariadne seemed like she was struggling, and it seemed to be going rapidly downhill.

  He suddenly knew what it was like.  When he was nine the orphanage had taken a field trip to Jones Beach.  Most of the kids weren't swimmers, nor were the nuns and everyone had been told to not go out further into the surf than the top of their bathing suit bottoms.  The surf had picked up a bit though, and while trying to retrieve a frisbee, Lance had inadvertently gotten out above his belly button.  A wave had knocked him off his feet, and the outrushing water swept him seaward.  In an instant he was under the waves.  Fortunately, one of the lifeguards had been paying close attention to the group and she had dove in and rescued him.

  Now he suddenly knew what that must have felt like for her.  Watching, hoping for the best, yet knowing that tragedy could come in the blink of an eye.  Today, Lance was here in exactly that role...lifeguard...and he was watching his cousin getting pulled under into the deep water.

  He would need time to reach her, and he dared not wait until he saw flames because by then it might be too late.  Whether she pulled herself out of this or not, Lance needed to get there to be able to help her if she did wind up needing it.  She might get mad at him for not waiting longer, but if she wound up needing help at least she'd still be alive to be mad.

  Lance squared his shoulders and stepped onto the line.

  I said what I said....I'm here for you, cousin.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:47, Sun 21 Nov 2021.

Then Lance set his foot on the Pattern. Suddenly it felt like 68. He was reminded of how his mother's card had felt cool in his hand... this felt similar, but way more... intense.

His foot was outlined by blue-white sparks.

He kept walking, slowly but steadily...

There was a crackle, and he felt his hair beginning to rise a bit... He took another
step, watching the line in front of and under his feet...

Then the thing began to curve, abruptly, back upon itself. He took ten more paces, and a certain resistance seemed to arise. It was as if a black barrier had grown up before him, of some substance which pushed back upon him with each effort that he made to pass forward.

Each raising and lowering of his feet suddenly required a terrible effort, and it felt as though sparks were shooting forth from his hair...

  It was the first veil, and it was where his mom had yelled encouragement to him his last time through.  He heard her words echoing in his memory as he pushed against it.

01:23, Today: Lance rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,5.  Str roll for first veil (include stat bonus plus said what I said).
This message was last edited by the player at 06:27, Sun 21 Nov 2021.

(Ariadne takes 2 more special Tiredness damage.

If you try to go forward, switch to a Str roll.

If you decide to wait for Lance, then just wait right there.)

Lance moves through the First Veil like it's nothing.

...Okay, definitely not like it's nothing, but like he does this every week. (Which, lately, isn't incredibly inaccurate.)

(CON for your second roll, Lance...)

The first veil parted before him and he was through.  He needed to reach Ari, to be there to help if needed.  He redoubled his efforts.  This time he wasn’t focused on his own inner demons, instead he was resolute in his single purpose….helping Ariadne.

15:42, Today: Lance rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Con roll.

Out of the corner of her eyes,  Ari saw Lance,  at least she thought it was Lance, enter the Pattern.  She was angry and grateful,  both touched that he was apparently coming to help her, but furious at herself for needing help with this, her greatest task.

She reached back, into the very essence of her personality,  of her life.   All of her anger and resentment at everyone who'd tried to change her,  everyone who'd looked down on her for who or what she was.
She forced herself to continue.

OOC:  16:58, Today: Ariadne rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,2.  Strength

Ari stops thinking about what she's doing (as much as possible), stops feeling the weariness, and just treats the Final Veil like it's simply a test of strength... and she manages to push through it.

(Ariadne takes 1 more special Tiredness damage.)

All that's left is a short arc, ending in blackness. Three steps...

One, two...

And to take the last step is like trying to push through a concrete waIl...

But she does it.

She turns slowly and looks back over the course she's come. She would not permit herself the luxury of sagging to her knees. She was a princess of Amber, and by heaven, she hadn't walked all that way to allow anything to humble her further (not with family watching, anyway)...

Not even the Pattern!

She did it without anyone else's help! Unless of course you count family members cheering, and proving that they're willing to undergo the same trials to help her if she had needed it...!

Now she gets to go anywhere she wants... Anywhere in all the worlds that reality might possibly shape itself (or be shaped?) into...

Or will she just pop over there to her cousins?

Or will she just pop to a nice soft bed, and flop into it?

Or will she just wait for Lance? She sure hopes he doesn't have trouble of his own with the Final Veil, that's for sure...! She's pretty worn out...!

Jon gives Jade a hug from behind. "See, we just had to have faith in her.  I knew she would do it. I never doubted it." he says softly to her, but she can hear how happy and excited he is for Ari.

Breaking the hug he steps back, so as not to yell in Jade's ear. "Congratulations Ari!!  Knew you could do it!!!" he shouts excitedly.

Jade smiles happily, "She did ! YOU DID IT !"

Jade opened her parasol and waved it, "Congratulations Ari ! WOOOOO !"


"Come on Lance, you can do it !"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

  Lance hears a yell and spares a glance.  Through the sprays of sparks and the polarized glasses he sees what he thinks is Ariadne pushing her way through her final obstacle ahead.

  Thank God, she made it!!

  The relief hit him in a rush, as it did, his mission lost it's urgency.  Complacency, however, had no place here, and when he hit the third veil was quickly reminded of that very thing.


15:23, Today: Lance rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  Lance, Willpower check for the 3rd veil.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

(16:19, Today: The GM rolled 6 using 2d3 ((3,3)).

Ow. Lance takes 6 special Tiredness damage. He'll get back double the usual amount the next time he uses the Rest move. (Unless he gets takes any other type of damage on top of it, in which case he won't.))

Ow. The Pattern is not something where it gets easier every time you do it.

But, still, he did it-- Lance reaches the center. Again!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:22, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

Ariadne had never been particularly ashamed to show emotions, though she never liked to be thought of as particularly girlishly emotional.  Still, tears of relief and pride streamed down her face as she stumbled into the center of the Pattern.  The urge to collapse in a heap there on the cool, invitingly cool, stone floor was overwhelming, but she resisted.  She remembered the couple of times she'd done the Boston Marathon.  Her first time, in fact, she'd pushed herself hard and, despite joining on a last minute whim and with hardly any preparation or training, had finished in the top ten.  Then she'd made the mistake of laying down on the sidewalk to rest.  Within minutes, it felt like her entire body had turned to stone, and getting back to her feet was agony, as muscles locked up.
So, she stayed standing, planning to stay that way until after a hot bath or something.

Then she remember Lance.
Turning quickly (as quickly as she could), she saw him making his way towards her.  Guilt washed over her, and she hoped fervently that he made it as well.  If the unthinkable happened and Lance stumbled and perished on this, an unnecessary trip on the Pattern, she'd never forgive herself.  She was already angry at herself for being so close to failure that her cousin felt she needed to be rescued.
In that regard, she already considered herself a failure.

But, since it was her first time doing this thing, perhaps she could forgive herself (though, she couldn't possibly imagine wanting to do this hellish experience a second time)

They'd said that she could use this powerful magic to send herself anywhere in the universe she wanted.  That seemed too bizarre and overwhelming a concept to take seriously, especially as tired as she felt.  But, for now, she'd wait for Lance.  It felt wrong to "magic" away while he was still walking.

When the big blond man made it to where she was (seemingly more quickly and smoothly than she did, she felt), she was there to grab him in a bear hug.  Ariadne started laughing with joy, tears still streaming unabated down her cheeks.
"Welcome to the coolest hangout spot in town, Cousin."

  The Pattern gives Lance a final reminder as to his own insignificance and relative mortality, despite his early successes. Lance gets through the third veil and passes the final three steps into the center of the Pattern where Ariadne stands waiting in triumph.  She hugs him, and he returns the hug fiercely.  As he does, he lets out a sigh and visibly relaxes, and whispers to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:48, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

Ariadne nodded to her cousin, laughing wryly as she whispered back
"I can definitely tell you're a Renn Faire kid.  You have the lingo down pat.  And don't worry,  Lance,  I'm annoyed with myself for doing this so badly,  and even giving the appearance of needing help, but I'm mad at me, not you.  And, if we're being honest,  I know that I'm more mad about this than I should be , because,  on Earth, I've never really had to try this hard for anything.   I mean,  i hadn't lived a pampered life or anything,  but i got a little spoiled competing with Earth people,  and am a little soft for Amber challenges "

She turned and waved to her other cousins, the ones who supported her and cheered her on.
Her family.   She was feeling so close to them all.
Though that might just be exhaustion and delirium talking

Jade waved her parasol like crazy coming close to bopping her other cousins and waving with her other hand at Ariadne and Lance.

Ari smiled wearily
"If anyone else was going to try, I'll wait for you here, if you'd like"

Jade closes her parasol and looks to Jon.

"You will do well, and if you have troubles do you wish me to come out there, I will. It is as you saw an incredible test and quite possibly a lethal one."

Jon waves to Ari with a big smile beaming with pride at his Cousins' accomplishment.

He turns to Jade. "You gave me luck this morning, remember." he blushes slightly "Thank you, but no.  Do not risk yourself if I falter. I need to know that you will be safe, here.  I know it will be hard.  Just as it was for Lance to watch Ari. But have faith."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, he holds it a minute and lets it out slowly.  Opening his eyes, he smiles at Jade, resolved mixed with a hint of happiness.  Holding out his hand for her Parasol. "My Sea Princess, may I have the honor of carrying your parasol as I make my way to the center?" he says formally with a partial bow.

Jade nods and passes over her parasol to Jon.

"Yes, I remember. You can do this just like Ariadne and Lance did."
She gives him a hug.

Ari clapped her hands, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't at a baseball game.
"You got this, Jon!!!  We believe in you!!"
She stopped and put her hands on her hips, lea ing forward a little, realizing that she was out of breath, just after yelling encouragement
"Oh, fer crying out loud....maybe we let him do this in silence for a bit...."
she took some deep breaths

Jon takes the Parasol and Hugs Jade back, he holds her tightly. "For you, I will always return." he whispers, it is a mixture of emotions, but holds the power of a promise.

Breaking the hug, Jon turns and quickly steps on to the Pattern...

  Lance leans over and whispers to Ariadne, "Well, I've seen you through as I promised, so my work here is done.  Jon made his preference for my absence clear enough so no need for me to stay for his walk.  Once again, congratulations.  I'm heading upstairs to take a nap and try to get rid of this headache.  Probably having dinner with my mom tonight, then heading out on my mission in the morning.  Not sure when we'll see each other next, with all the universe at our beck and call, but do take care of yourself and if you ever need to reach me please don't hesitate."

Immediately, sparks rose about his foot. He took another step. More sparks. A tiny crackling noise. Another step. A bit of resistance as he moved again. . . .

The chill was surprising, the small shocks less so. He felt as if there was already a map of the Pattern somewhere inside him, and it was almost as if he read from it as he moved along that first curve, resistance rising, sparks flying, his hair stirring, the crackling, a kind of humming...

He reached the First Veil, and it was like walking in a wind tunnel. Every movement involved heavy effort. If he just kept pushing he would advance, albeit slowly... The trick, clearly, was not to stop. Starting again would be horrible, maybe impossible. Steady  pressure  was what was required just now...

(STR check, please...)

12:52, Today: Jon rolled 9 using 2d6+2 ((6,1)).

Jon listened to his instincts, following the pattern in his mind more than looking at the ground. His jaw set with determination and perhaps even a bit of defiance. His pace is steady.

Under his breath he talks to the pattern as he walks it "Jade believes you are sentient, I don't know if you are or not.  But I am Jonathan Bishop Hawk, Ranger of the Faewylds, Son of Eric and Prince of Amber.  I will not falter, I will do this and claim the power of my birthright." As he tries to push through the veil.

(11:34, Today: The GM rolled 1 using 1d4 ((1)).

Jon takes 1 special Tiredness damage.)

A few moments more and he would be through. The going would be easier.

Turn, turn...

He was through. He knew, from watching the others, the way would be easy now for a time. He began to stride with a bit of confidence. He negotiated a long curve, then a sharp switchback. The sparks reached up to his boottops now. His mind was flooded with memories of springtime in the FeyWylds, with politics in the Courts, where people dueled and died over whim and caprice... No more. Push it all away. It didn't matter now. Nothing mattered but the present moment.

He gritted his teeth. It was hard to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. Part of the effect of the Pattern...

Another step... Tingling sensations all the way up his legs... The crackling sounds as loud as a storm to him... One foot in front of the other... Pick them up, put them down... Hair standing on end now... Turn...  Push... An autumn rainstorm, wind at his back... No, blowing in his face, chilling him...

Three more steps and resistance rises once more...

He is upon the Second Veil, and it is suddenly as if he is trying to push a carriage out of a muddy ditch... All his strength goes forward, and the return on it is infinitesimal. He moves with glacial slowness, and the sparks are about his waist... He feels that he is blue flame...

(CON check, please...)

Jade was jumping up and down, "Way to go ! You can do it, just keep going." She had a wide smile. She glanced over to Ballad briefly before returning her attention back to Jon on the Pattern.

15:22, Today: Jon rolled 9 using 2d6 ((5,4)).
Special Damage: +1 from the 1st veil
Total Damage: +1

As he pushes against the memories and the veil, he takes a deep breath centering breath.  He focuses his mind on his training, the practice.  The will to push through his limits to get better to reach the next level.

A light chuckles "Jade may be right about you.  But I am going to claim my birthright, not for me but to protect them those who are special to me.  I will not let you win, I will protect Jade, Mom, Ballad, Ari, Janessa and even Lance!" he says to the pattern and he pushes against the second veil.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 28 Mar 2022.

(14:52, Today: The GM rolled 4 using 1d4 ((4)).

Jon takes 4 new special Tiredness damage (but he succeeds in passing the Second Veil.))

Jon's mind is abruptly stripped of distraction. Even Time goes away and leaves him alone. There is only this pastless, nameless thing he is become, striving with its entire being against the inertia of all its days-- an equation so finely balanced that Jon should be frozen here in mid-stride forever, save that this cancellation of masses and forces leaves the will unimpaired, purifies it in a way, so that the process of progress seems to transcend the physical striving...

Another step, and another, and he is through, feeling ages older but moving again... he knows that he is approaching that Grand Curve... It feels very different from magical spells and rituals back at home...

The universe seems to wheel about him. Each step here makes him feel as if he is fading and then coming back into focus, being broken down and reassembled, scattered and gathered, dying and reviving...

Outward. Onward.

Three more curves then, followed by a straight line. He pushes ahead. Dizzy, almost nauseated. Soaking wet. A series of arcs. Turn. Turn. Turn again...

He knew that he was coming up to the Final Veil when the sparks rose to become a cage of lightnings and his feet began to drag again.  The stillness and the terrible pushing...

(Willpower check, please...)
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 21:12, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

Jade bounced on her heels watching pensively.

"Just one more veil." She didn't try to distract him since he was doing well.

17:03, Today: Jon rolled 7 using 2d6 ((5,2)).
Special Damage: +4 from the second veil.
Total Damage: +5

Jon's pace slows, becoming nearly imperceptible as his mind, body and soul and repeatedly torn apart and put back together.  Jon starts to get lost in the nothingness and being part of everything.  The insignificance of the self of even being.  Tempted to to surrender and become nothing.  But then a memory, a new one, the Memory of Jade in the Garden, her beauty, my joy....Jon lets loose a primary scream "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" and at the last moment, he collects his will and focuses his mind, his desire HIS promise.  Another memory, again recent of the promise to...to...and it starts to fade again, he starts to fade.  Jon yells "JADE!!" That was the key, his word, his bond to the Sea Princess.  And with that piece, the rest floods back.  The last 10 days, the connections, the joys and disappointments.  Followed by his past in the Faewyld.  Jon piece by piece, he re-forges himself.

He grips the parasol tighter, his knuckles white, "Jade is right, you are alive, sentient, but your mind is beyond our comprehension almost maddening so.  But you will not break me!  You will not make be break my word nor forget those I care about!  Jade, Mom, Dad, Ballad, Ari, Janessa, Lance, Queen Vialle.  I will not fail them, not now and not ever!  I am Jonathan Bishop Hawk, Ranger of the Faewyld, Son of Eric, Prince of Amber.  And you will not shape me, you will be shaped!" and with everything he has Jon focuses his will upon the pattern.

  Lance focuses his thoughts, envisions where he wants to go.  He had seen Ari through as promised, been there for her walk.  He had fulfilled what he had promised to do, and there was no point in hanging around to watch Jon finish.

"Please, transport me to my room." he asked the Pattern.  True, he could have made his life easier and had it take him directly to Fiona in the desert, but then Flora would worry if he didn't touch base with her first.  He still needed to pack a few things, and who knows, he might even have a conversation or two before departing.  Right now though, he wanted to rest, not be the fifth wheel on the cart again, nor go celebrating anything, nor have another argument with Jon.  He already had a blazing headache from that damned third veil.

Ariadne looked at Lance with mild surprise.  She knew that he and Jon weren't exactly chummy at the moment,  for whatever testosterone poisoned reasons made sense to them at the time,  but she'd been hoping he'd stick around a bit longer.
Still, if she was feeling like death warmed over after her highly anticipated,  meticulously prepared for walk on the Pattern,  she could only imagine how worn out he was from his impromptu leap of faith.

Before Lance left, Ari spoke to him.
"Thank you again,  my friend.   I'll see you soon "

There's a prismatic shimmer, and Lance is back in his own room in the castle.

---

(18:04, Today: The GM rolled 2 using 2d3 ((1,1)).

Jon takes 2 more special Tiredness damage... but he makes it through the Final Veil.)

He made it, shaking, and only a single short arc remained. Those final three steps were, though, from a certain point of view, at least, the worst. It was as if, having gotten to know him this well, the Pattern was reluctant to release him. Jon fought it, his ankles as sore as at any race's end. Two steps... Three...

Done. Standing still, next to Ariadne. Panting and shuddering. But...

Peace. Gone the static. Gone the sparks.

This certainly proved, in perhaps the only way that really mattered, that he was his father's son...

Jade was blushing in the blue glow of the Pattern.

Ariadne wraps Jon in a fierce hug as he emerges into the center of the family..

Special Damage: +2 from the 3rd Veil.
Total Damage: +7 Damage


Jon returns to the hug "Congratulations Ari.  You did it.  I am proud of you."  he then frowns. "I see Lance still doesn't want to talk" *sigh* and shakes his head. "I will not let that ruin our accomplishment."

He smiles, rest his arms on Ari's shoulders, partly as congrats and partly for support. "So where do you want to go?"

Jade will wave at the two from the far edge of the pattern.

Ari chuckled wryly
"Lance risked life and limb to help me, so if he needs to have some alone time, i won't hold it against him.   In the meantime,  if we're the last ones needing to walk, let's celebrate!"

She looked over at her family on the other side of the Pattern.
"Hey, everyone!  I think we're gonna zap and magic our way upstairs, cause i need a bath!  But let's all meet in the main dining room!  Drinks are on me!!"

"Great idea, you shouldn't have to walk up all those stairs after that."

Looks to Ballad with a brilliant smile, "Let's get that party started."

Jade was brimming with energy her nervousness at her cousins walks now released.

Ariadne nodded to Jade and Ballad, then smiled at Jon again
"If there are no last minute requests,  cousin,  i think I'll use this Pattern magic everyone keeps talking about and 'whoosh' to my room.  I feel like I've just run a marathon while carrying a piano on my back. "

If Jon had nothing to add, Ariadne would picture her room, her mother's former room, right in the middle of the sumptuous bedroom.

*Nods* "Well, I will see you at the party later.  Again Congratulations! Ari."

In the end, this is highly entertaining! An event of true drama and revelations! Ballad is on the edge of her metaphorical seat for most of the walk. Her expressions reveal her thoughts, but she's not center stage, so we will suffice to say sometimes her eyes dance and sometimes they're sharp, always they're intent.

Ariadne at the center gets wild cheering, of a most poetical nature. Lance at the center gets courteous applause, her mouth somewhat ironic. Jon at the center gets applause, too, a couple of cheers. A wave before Ariadne disappears. For Jon: "We've a surprise for you, Jon-o! Don't break any hearts!"

And she turns to Jade, smoulder-flash of a smile, here's a luminous edge as she reflects Jade's happy smile. She winds her arm through Jade's, bumps her hip. "Yes, let's! I expected fewer surprises! The Pattern's such a soul-scour. Race up the stairs?"

"A race it is !" Jade smiled brightly and raced up the stairs silently cursing her choice of clothing.

She was happily competitive with Ballad.

The race is on! Ballad likes the game of it, too, up up up! Once it's obvious that Jade's skirt is giving her, Ballad, too much of an advantage, she'll obligingly hop on one foot instead holding the other and wink: "Now the most epic of all races." Naturally hopping up a million stairs is tiring, and Ballad, who isn't in peak shape at the moment, is breathing quite heavily by the end.

OOC: Whither now, people? Do we need a new location thread?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Tue 07 Dec 2021.

By the end of it Jade was laughing and quite relieved of all the stress of seeing her three cousins walk the Pattern. She hugged Ballad at the top of the stairs still laughing.

"Your so fun Ballad, I needed this." Jade was also breathing a bit hard while racing up the stairs was not as hard as walking the Pattern by any stretch it was still a feat while racing her energetic cousin.

Ballad accepts and returns the hug, but follows it by dramatically swooning against the floor and weakly holding up her hands. "You'll need to drag me to our next destination, I'm afraid, or else I'll sleep here for a spell. Such is the spoils of victory."

"I can't have you sleeping on the cavern floor. Come on let me carry you to your room." Jade helped Ballad up and to her room. Smiling the whole time.

"You will be awake before the other sleepy heads, I am sure."

Jon watches from the center of the pattern as the others leave in a race and smiles.  Torn between what he planned and what is now reality.  He ponders.  ~Do I go home as I planned or stay here?~ he closes his eyes in a semi-meditative state, banishing the weariness for now and thinks the problem through.  Griping the parasol, he comes to a decision.

Opening his eyes, he focus his thoughts and whispers take me to Jade.
In a flash he beside Jade and Ballad as they arrive at Ballad's room, the transport draining him of the small reserve he gained that he nearly collapses, but steadies himself with her parasol.

He gives Ballad a smile. "Thank you for being there.  It meant a lot to me." He turns to Jade and gives her a partial bow "My Lady, as promised, here is your Parasol fresh from the journey to the center.  I pray that it was imbued as you hoped." he stands up and offers the parasol with a big smile on his face, one that touches his eyes, even through his weariness.

Jade almost falls backwards when Jon appears. She accepts the Parasol with a smile.

"I didn't expect you to, wait you wanted to appear in Ballads room ?" Jade looked confused a moment.

Ballad does not stand up, dead weight Ballad, ridiculous Ballad, Ballad the jester, the mischief-maker, the clown: she lets Jade drag her, carry her, haul her, all the way to her room, occasionally casting her a lopsided smile, flash of dimple, etc.

When Jon appears, suddenly, and Jade puts to him what she puts to him, Ballad chuckles. It's a low sound, and throaty, all silver and smoke: "That wouldn't have been my guess, Princess o' the Sea. How are you, Jon-o? Solid?"

Ariadne had only known about the existence of "real magic" for about a week or so now.  But she was adapting, she thought, fairly quickly.  Admittedly, she hadn't actually seen a whole lot of it yet, she had to qualify.   There were a few "magically" lit torches here and there, and certainly stories everyone seemed to tell about "adventures in other worlds" and whatnot.
But, to be brutally honest, in many aspects, Amber felt more like a high end, very expensively done, Renn Faire, than a place of actual fundamental magic.
The Pattern, though, was something else entirely.   Still, of course, there felt like there was room for plausible deniability.   Sparks and little shocks went up her legs and seemingly into her soul when she walked it, and she felt like the very life essence was being leeched from her body with every step, but that could, conceivably, be from some kind of electrical field, carefully calibrated.  It was a bit of a stretch, as explanations went, but it still kind of fit the facts.
Reaching the center of the Pattern, Ariadne felt a sense of accomplishment that surpassed anything she'd ever done before in her life.  Sure, it felt more like she'd run a gauntlet of tazers and exposed wiring, rather than a Fundamental Power of the Universe, but it was still damned impressive.

But now...what to do?   She'd been told, by various people throughout the castle, that once One reached the Center of the Pattern, One go simply...wish...to go, well, anywhere.
Literally anywhere.
She could go to the Amber kitchens, or she could go back to Boston, to her father's house.  To her LA apartment.
To that cool hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Boston's Chinatown, Tung Chow's, where she'd had her first crush.  To her old classroom back in Catholic School, Sister Mary Of Constipation, as she and her friends had called it.  Wow, she was tempted by that, she had to admit.  To magically appear in front of a Catholic Catechism class, and watch nuns' heads explode.
And that was just the tip of the proverbial, magical iceberg.  She could also go to any world, any place she could picture, or even imagine.
She could go to a world of futuristic spaceships, or one where the Old Wild West was alive and well, or a world where donuts and bacon grew on trees.  Heck, she could go to that world where the Teletubbies lived.
It was a mind boggling idea.
And one that she hadn't really given a lot of thought to, because, frankly, she wasn't entirely positive she'd have survived the experience, especially since she knew so little about what to expect.

Now, though, she was in the center of the Pattern, and could go anywhere.

Honestly, she just wanted to go to her room, for a nap and a bath, and a change of clothes.
And not necessarily in that order.

She thought about her mother's room, where she was staying.  The large, luxurious bed, with ornate wardrobe with its secrets, the expensive and fancy drapes and bedspread.
And she thought about it, VERY hard.

It was like falling, in a way.  Like she was being pulled through reality, stepping through a doorway, all the while standing still.  Like that spot in front of her bed was being brought to her, rather than her being sent there.
It was a giddy feeling.  Empowering.  Intoxicating.  If she didn't think that the Pattern was such a death trap, she'd love to do that again sometime.

Then, she was there.  In her mother's room.  Ari blinked her eyes, looking around.
"Um...hello?"
She wasn't sure why she spoke out loud.  It was as if she wasn't entirely positive that what she was seeing in front of her eyes was actually real, and speaking would knock down the illusion, showing her cousins and the Pattern still there.
Reaching out, she felt the soft, thick bed spread, the one that kept her so warm in this drafty castle.  Ari squeezed it tight, gasping in relief, as if the blanket was some kind of lifeline that allowed her to know that what she'd just endured had really happened.

It had really happened.  She'd walked the Pattern.

Though, frankly, at the moment she felt like the Pattern had "walked her".   Chuckling to herself, she started stripping off her clothing and gear, getting ready to wash a marathon's worth of sweat from her body.
Ariadne paused, and, with a wry curiosity, pulled her cell phone out of her carrying case, and tried turning it on.   She wasn't really expecting anything from her phone, something that had been essentially a paper weight for the last few days, but she was curious.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Wed 08 Dec 2021.