"I think it would be beneficial for you to stick together, when you can. It seems clear you're learning from one another. Part of Shadow-walking is being able to imagine other perspectives, after all... Now then-- does anyone have any questions for me? You may return here, singly or as a group, at any time to train... I think we'd better stick to daytime training for now, though..."

"What would you suggest next uncle ? We want to learn from you." Jade says with honesty and enthusiasm.

"...Well, since you asked... I think you should practice Shadow-walking... but not going very far. Let's see... You don't need a ship to get to Tanus... and at the castle, there's a painting of the city... you could use that to get there... Tanus was never touched by the Black Road in the first place, so it seems a safer destination than some others... and... I think Princess Jade might need to ease into new Shadows before we just toss her into the Earth Shadow..."

"What do you say everyone, shall we go to the castle now and find that painting to Tanus ?" She smiled brightly.

"I know how to to shadow walk and Janessa is much better at it, we can get you both trained in moving about a bit." She looked to Jon and Ariadne.

*nods* "Thank you, Uncle.  I believe we will be taking you up on that offer often." He listens to Jade and Julian's discussion and thinks on it.
"I agree with Jade and Uncle Julian, I think it is a good idea.  Especially since I don't know anything specific about shadow-walking"

Ariadne smiled at her cousins, happy that they had good reason to stick together.
"I should have plenty of questions, since real combat, particularly lethal combat, is something I'm also fairly new at.   Though, granted, I suppose we can all just assume that most of us just need to learn a lot of pretty much everything at this point.  Especially when there are hordes of shadow monsters out there wanting to kill us."
She smirked as she spoke about monsters, but anyone who had spent significant time around her or was particularly perceptive might see that the concept of being hunted by "monsters from shadow" was fairly troubling to her.




As they walked, she piped in about Earth again, answering Jon's comment a bit more (though perhaps it was more to distract herself than to talk for the sake of talking).
"I suppose we shouldn't presume that Earth is better or more exciting than any other of a bazillion shadow worlds out there, but I'd attest that it's definitely a place of contradictions.  It varies wildly from crowded to spacious, frantically busy to so slow it feels almost stuck in time, and with dozens of cultures, all human, both clashing and seamlessly intermingling."

"So uncle where in the castle is this painting of Tanus ?"

"Mm? Oh, a hallway on the fourth floor, somewhere... Ask around and you'll find it... Or if that sounds like too many stairs, I'm sure the librarian could show you pictures of Tanus... it's very... picturesque..."

Jon chuckles "Too many stairs, that is funny. It would be good stamina training. Especially if we race up them."

Ariadne raised an eyebrow in wry amusement.  The term "picturesque" was an inside joke amongst many of her friends, referring to many of the Hollywood crowd's hometowns,
 meaning either "pretty and boring" or "looking pristine but was creepy and weird under the surface".    Either way, it was not intended as a compliment.
Not knowing her oddly stoic uncle's meaning, however, she didn't say anything.

Jade looked to the others, "Want to go back now ?"

She started to take out her small card deck.

"I could contact his Majesty."

Janessa nods. “I’m good with going back.” she says with a smile. She stands next to Jade and looks at the cards as she shuffles through them. “Hey. Did you have a question for me or something? It looked like you wanted to say something to me when I was talking’ with Uncle Julian.” Janessa says softly.

"I just look forward to us using our mystic knowledge together. You seem to have more offensive magics something I am lacking."

She has cards for a tower (the Tower of Tirilane is she knows of it), One of herself, one of Odile her personal maid, one of Prince Julian and finally one of King Random which she focuses on.

Focusing on her card of King Random.



16:42, Today: Jade rolled 11 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 3,6.  Use of Cards.

Ariadne looked at her female cousins.
"This might be a dumb question, but how hard is that to learn?  Do you have to be born with it, or is it like other skills?"

“My dad taught me, but I seem to recall him saying something about it being a natural ability I was born with. I just needed to learn to tap into it.” Janessa shrugs. “In other words, I’m not sure. As far as I am aware none of any of my aunts and uncles display any magic abilities like ours.” She says, gesturing between herself and Jade. “With the exception of Dad’s full blooded siblings, so Aunt Fiona could possibly have some magic powers too.”

"Focusing on the card, but in Rebma all the Sirens and Sea Witches seem to be born with it. Mother, yes she is a sorceress."

"...Yes, Jade...?"

"Hello Uncle, Majesty Random !  Prince Julian suggested we return to the castle and take on a mission involving a portrait there. I was hoping you could bring us all through, we are all together."

"Yes, all right..."

(IF you are all ready, Random brings you to where he is-- which is just outside the castle's library. But are you all ready?)

"He is ready to bring us through, link hands with me, I will pass you through to his Majesty." Will pass who wishes it through then head through.

Still feeling like she shouldn't be able to trust those things, Ariadne held out her hand

Passes Ariadne to his Majesty.

“I need some of these.” Janessa says with a chuckle as she holds out her hand.

"I will make you some, it just takes me time. I haven't had much free time."
Jade helps send Janessa through to King Random.

Ariadne raised an amused eyebrow as the king took her hand, bringing her into the castle.   She wondered if an Earth king would do this if they could, or if they'd have a valet do it.  It was a weird and surreal thought.  The king at the literal center of the universe (or so they claim) is more hands on than the English royal family would be.
She nodded to Random, smiling to him
"Thank you, um, Uncle Random"
She hesitated, wondering what she should call him.  He seemed so casual about his name and title, but it felt so weird to do otherwise