This message was deleted by the player at 22:46, Tue 07 Feb 2023.

Ariadne smiled but reassured Jade
"This isn't a live contact.  It's a recording.   Essentially a copy of a lecture or performance. "

"A recording? Oh wait! Yes like an illusion left for someone to find they see what you want even without you being there. I think I know the concept." She nodded slowly.

"Your card has many such recordings?"

Ariadne nodded at Jade's understanding, then chuckled
"Well....it's not on my phone per se, but I'm connected to a source back on Earth, so i have access to....I dunno, millions of them, potentially"

Jade just stood there stunned mute.

Ariadne chuckled and hit some buttons
"Oh hey....if you think that stuff is good, then this will blow you're mind"
She showed Jade and the others her phone.
"Remember,  this is all pretend, like a Play or something here..."

The English title said "Boudicca Jones fight scenes, Fast Cars 8"
https://youtu.be/horDm3drat8

Eyes go wide, "That's YOU !"

"That's a play? It looks like you are fighting Prince Martin."

Jade continues to watch in amazement.

Jon moves over to stand next to Jade and watches with her.  He is left speechless by the amazing sight and sound.

Ariadne chuckled and smiled
"We had this AMAZING stunt coordinator named Roscoe who helped set everything up.  It looks seamless, right? "

Jade nods.

"I bet no one bothers you back on Earth."

Ari laughed
"Ironically, there are still plenty of people, especially men, who like to think they can fight me and win.  Like they think if they 'take me in a fair fight' that I'll fall in love with them or something.  It gets awkward at times."

"I could take you in a fair fight." Makes a Grrrrr sound.

Smiles.

Ariadne grinned and nodded
"After your performance today, I definitely wouldn't underestimate you."

She shrugged
"It's funny, actually, I trained in different fighting styles, but I'm so used to not wanting to actually hirt anyone that it was hard to try to go for serious kill shots today.

"I noticed that, I thought that may have been the problem. Here when someone comes at you with a blade, you usually have to make a conscious decision not to try and strike back with lethal force. I fought for my life with everything I got against the Graymen who ambushed me. It was a bit easier for me since I could stealth slide the paint on to the ranger Clyde."

"I still think you did really well, and you did last longer then me. Your very good at non magical stealth, infact all of you were."

Ariadne chuckled
"Well, i spent my childhood hiding from my father and other authority figures.   And, again, what i used to think was a very lax parenting style might have been preparing me for all of this."
She nodded to Jade.
"Yeah, when i fought those two grey jerks at my father's house, i didn't necessarily hold back, but I also didn't really go for a kill shot, either.  Killing isn't unknown on Earth, but it's a bit more serious on my part of the world,  I guess "

"They won't let you kill Gray invaders from other worlds who come to kill you on Earth?" Jade blinks.

Ariadne chuckled
"well, remember that Earth doesn't even know about invaders.  Or any Shadows. So we only deal with other people "

"Ah, that is right you explained that. I am so used to the ship trade here bringing all kinds of people in. Infact."

"If the Graymen didn't come in through Arden, and with how well the rangers are trained I doubt that they did then the ships are the natural other choice barring magic or the cards. Someone needs to start checking into the ships coming in, to see if any sailors might have seen strange men of that description onboard."

Ariadne nodded
"Good idea.   That's certainly how most smuggling in Earth happens, through the shipping lanes"

Jon listens to the conversation, but for the most part nothing to add.

"Hmm, good point about smuggling. But I know from Uncle Julian that the Greymen can "Travel Shadows", so they might be able to slip into Amber by other avenues as well." *sighs*  "I don't understand the "shadow walk" travel, so I can't even imagine how to patrol that."

He smiles at Ari "And don't worry, killing should never come easy. But we must be prepared to do it when necessary to protect ourselves, those we care about and when there is no other option.  Hesitation at the wrong time, can have devastating consequences. Given the situation, I think you did the right thing at the time."

"When Oberon repaired the primal Pattern, it wiped out the Black Road from Amber and Arden... and many other places. Just not all of them. But we don't truly understand how the Chaosites use the Black Road, so we stand guard anyway. And yes, incoming ships are carefully checked for Gray Men now... And yet, nothing's foolproof, or attacks like the one that happened to Jade wouldn't happen. If someone has a card for Amber that they use to drop Gray Men off when they want to... there's not much we can do about that. Not yet, anyway..."

Jade looks to her uncle, "I did some early tests with the cards and non royals seemed to lack the focus to make full use of the cards. Though if a card of a non royal is pushed one can find themself near that person. I could work on perhaps some way to sense card energy."

Jade looks deep in thought, "A royal or someone of power, though I think has to be the one to originate such card development. If cards are the way they are getting in."

"Well it's not about their ability to concentrate. Only those of the blood of Oberon can use the cards, for they require walking the Pattern first."



"Ah. Well. Yes. There are certain persons. Er... the main person I was thinking of is Dara, the Chaosite-- great grand-daughter of Benedict, mother of Merlin."

Ariadne frowned in concern
"So you're thinking that this Grey Man nonsense might be an 'inside job'?  I'm thinking that this isn't the first time someone has said that.  The Royal family, rumor has it, is pretty extensive, though i don't know more than a handful of you"

”I haven’t even met Dad’s full blooded siblings.” Janessa says, looking up from replacing the knife in her boot. She stands back up and pulls her hair out of its ponytail. ” I get the feelin that Dad would be thrilled if I didn’t know any of his siblings sometimes.” She rolls her eyes. “Something about not trusting some of ‘em as far as he could throw Gerard.” She glances at her uncle and gives a small smile. “No offense Uncle Julian. Personally I’ve liked every one I’ve met so far. Which isn’t that many either.” Janessa shakes out her long hair. ”The Grey Men are definitely a pickle.” She leans in and whispers to Julian.