(Is... is this a thing people say? (Googles) I guess it's a military thing... or did spellcheck change something on you...?)




"Not a lot. I'm... trying to make more of an effort to get involved in the things I own on Earth. Companies, investments. Before now, I've mostly just let accountants I trust do whatever, as long as it makes me money. Lately, I've been making more of an effort to do, well, stockholder things. Turns out I had controlling interest in what turned out to be a sweatshop in Asia. My first impulse was to close the whole thing down, but then I thought 'well, then all those people would be unemployed.' So I'm working on turning it into something entirely different-- and paying the workers a living wage..." She seems a little embarrassed to talk about it.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Sat 22 July 2023.

  "That's really cool.  I like that you're changing lives for the better.  That's what we should be doing, right?  I mean, there's the group with the startup we just funded, so a similar vein.  Granted, it wasn't the most pre-planned thing, but it'll work out.  I'm proud of you, mom, using your influence to bring about positive change."

  They finish their meal together, and Lance hugs her and gives her a kiss on the cheek goodbye.

  "I'm going to go have a talk with Random about Merlin, then talk to Brennah, then armor up and get this expedition moving."

"Travel safely, Lance. Don't die, please. You have my card, right?"

  Lance nods.  “I have your card, and as far as I know you have the only card in existence of me.  Remember though, one of your cards is in the wind somewhere, so please keep your defenses up when answering.  I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.  Don’t worry about me, I’ll be alright.  Snazzy new Pattern and Unicorn blessed armor and sword, plucky attitude, and a plan.  I got this.” He says with a smile.

  And then he’s off to find Random.

Lance finds Random just finishing up eating breakfast in his quarters. "Yes, Lance...?"

  Lance enters, closes the door behind him.  “Good morning, uncle.  I’m hoping you have a few minutes to spare.  I need to talk to you about the whole grey man situation, cousin Merlin, and some things I saw while vist the Tir last night.  I’d say it falls under the blanket of national security.”

  If Random gives him leave to do so, Lance will describe in detail his experiences in the Ghost City, leaving nothing out.

  “…so that’s why I think that finding Merlin and rescuing him if need be is of paramount importance.   It seems like it’s all tied together somehow.   Dworkin’s deal, whatever that was, someone having taken over the Throne of Chaos, Gods going missing, the grey men attacks, whatever Shadow’s Edge is.  He said to start with the tree at Shadow’s Edge.  From reading Corwin’s memoirs it sound like that might be either Yggdrasil or the tree that he planted when he scribed a new Pattern.”

"My theory has long been that Merlin is in the Shadow created by his father's attempt to draw a new pattern. Further, I've theorized that time in that Shadow moves slowly compared to ours-- that when you're in it, a week there might mean a year here, or worse. But that's just a theory. Attempts to walk our Pattern and willing oneself to be sent to that Shadow have failed-- nothing happens when it's tried. But it sounds like... uh... Potential-Future Merlin... thinks that the first step is you going there. And he's right-- it's not terribly far from Shadows' Edge, the barrier that marks the division between the Shadows mostly making sense and getting seriously Chaotic and weird. So... yes. I agree you should go try it soon. Did you need something else from me, or did you just want my permission?"

  "Nothing else, really, I just wanted to get your input on it.  You knew Merlin probably better than most, what with you all being the kings that brokered the treaties and stuff after the war.  Oh, speaking of treaties, do you know anything about some kind of deal that Dworkin might have made regarding shadows?"  Lance asks.

  He listens to what Random has to say, before getting ready to go.  "Oh, and a favor, if you would?  My friend Brenna, I'm pretty sure she's going to stay in Amber as an immigrant.  Can you kind of look out for her, you know, make sure she gets a position she really likes, get's settled in comfortably?  It would mean a lot to me."

"What? No, where'd you hear that? A deal with whom?"



"This is someone who's currently a guest of the castle? ...Does she already have any special skills?"

  “She is a guest, and she’s kind of on her own.   She got stuck with me while I was basically in a bad Hellrun.  Her world was pretty much doomed.  She’s a medic, from a higher tech world.  When I saw her in the Tir she was working guard duty in the basement.  Whatever she does, I’m sure she’ll excel at it.  I just want her to be happy here.”

"Osric? Hell, that is different. Huh. Well, a hypothetical deal with... well, maybe that's something different about the reality you visited too... Still... That's all you heard about it?"



"Ooh, fancy medical skills, eh? Of course, if it was too high-tech, what she knows may or may not apply here, though... I'll talk to her later today..."

  Lance nods.  "That was it, and thanks for looking out for Brenna." 

  With a shrug, Lance says, "Well, I gotta get this show rolling, get armored up and head out.  I'll start with trying to find this Shadow's Edge, where Corwin planted his tree and go from there.  Once we see to it that Merlin is okay, or rescue him should he need it we'll find Sarah's missing gods, find whoever is in charge of the Grey Men and deal with that mess, then find this shadow that I supposedly rule over and hang out in.  Maybe even in that Order.  If you need to get in touch with me for anything, my mom has my card and I have hers.  Well, wish me luck."

  Unless Random has anything to add, Lance departs to have his promised conversation with Brenna before collecting Sarah.

"All I can say is if you're heading toward the edge of the Chaos-y Shadows, you might check in with Fiona on your way. When's the last you've spoken with her?"

  “Of course, I was planning on that along the way.  In fact, trying to reach her was what got me into my hellrun.  I think it was about two weeks ago Amber time, but I may be off due to shadow time variances.  Anything you need me to convey to her?” Lance asks as he mentally retraces his attempted shifts to reach Fiona, trying to pick where he went wrong.

"Ahhhh... yes, actually. It's not the most urgent thing ever, but you might tell her that 'that stuff from Tyale works, so we could really use more of it.' She'll know what that means."

  Lance nods. “Will do.  Thanks, uncle Random.”

  With that, Lance takes his leave of the King.  He had one more conversation to have before he would be ready to armor up and head out with Sarah on the quests.

  He finds the room that Brenna had been assigned to and knocks.  After a night of wrestling with it, Lance still wasn’t sure where they stood, whether or not Brenna was planning on accompanying them on the quests, or whether or not she wanted to explore the possibility of them dating.  Tir Na Nogth wasn’t a decisively accurate source of information, but there were generally at least some prophetic qualities of the place.

Brenna opens the door. Ah, Lance. Time for this talk, her face says.

  “Umm, hi.” He begins in that endearing, awkward, Lance type of way.  “We said that we’d talk in the morning and, we’ll, it’s morning.  Did you sleep well?”

Brenna sighs. "...I bet you've seen the gardens in the back of the castle. They're really pretty, right? Wanna go for a little walk?"

She pauses. "...With me, I mean."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:02, Mon 07 Aug 2023.

  Lance nods, offers his hand, unsure if Brenna would take it or not.  They walk together, Lance’s head slightly bowed.  He suspected that the backdrop of the beautiful garden might be Brenna’s way of softening the blow of rejection.  He had rather come to expect such outcomes.  Brenna’s sigh had been telling.

  Together they walk in silence until they come to the garden, it’s flowers bright and fragrant.  Locating a nice marble bench, Lance gestures for them to sit.  He crooks one knee up , tucking his ankle under his other leg when he sits so he can turn to face Brenna, then waits.

She doesn't take his hand at first, then she does.



"I... have... a lot of feelings. I think... I shouldn't make decisions based on those feelings. I mean... I just found out the whole universe is actually just pages in a fairy-tale story, kinda. Like... a lot kinda. Like a... very strange holovid franchise. You're not going to die of old age any time soon... so... maybe... you should... just... go do what you need to do for right now... and give me some time to adjust... and think. About my feelings. And stuff."

  "Time does not have a great hold on my family, that is true.  I've been told that those who dwell in Amber also enjoy some enhanced longevity as well, so you too will have more years if you make Amber your home.  That, of course, is your choice.  It's a nice place, and both my mother and my uncle, King Random, will help see to it that you are given good opportunities to have whatever kind of life you wish, and should you decide that Amber is not to your liking either they or I can help you to relocate."

  His eyes hold a bit of sadness in them as he speaks.

  "I know it's all a lot to take in, all of it, and I'm sure last night didn't help, and for that I'm sorry.  I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a way to save your world, but things were coming apart pretty quickly.  I'm not sorry that I saved you though, whatever may or may not come to pass between us.  You're right though, I must do the right thing and give you time to figure out your feelings, and all that, and for that you'll need some space.  I've got these quests that require my attention, so I'll head out on those, maybe figure out my own stuff a bit more while I'm at it.  Unicorn knows I'm a hot mess underneath it all.  But this will be good...for both of us, I hope, and we can revisit things when I get back, right?  See where we're each at?"

  It was all the angst of a breakup without the joy of the relationship that preceded it.

"Yes. I don't expect that I'll go anywhere... Like, I mean, I don't expect to leave this dimension..."

  “Fair enough.  I’m not sure when I’ll get back, but we’ll catch up then.  Hopefully everything works out for the best.  I guess I gotta get ready and get going.  I’ll see you, Brenna.”

Lance stands, and with a last wistful smile he turns and goes.  He heads for his room, armors up, straps on his sword and other weapons and goes to find Sarah.

He finds Sarah in the library, reading a book about Amber's history... Laurence, the librarian, is bringing a couple of other books over to her...
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:04, Mon 14 Aug 2023.