Roland, Raevyn, Katarzyna, Arrotel Keep Battle

[LynMars]

"Rinaldo, now...if whatever he did to mother signals him that we're messing around, we may get a visit from him...or something. I normally don't worry too much but I just don't know what might happen."

"So when do you want to start on this...experiment?"Rae frowns and picks at her meal, debating. "He should soon be in Amber; I think Random wanted to ensure that diplomatic meeting went on as planned, so they could guage him there." 'Was that really him on the balcony with us? Josh didn't see him, he says--I know he was busy, but...Was he just there to watch the ceremony, or did he really have something to do with it?'

"As for starting on this project..." She glances at Joshua. "I think we should rest for the evening, at least, and start on it in earnest tomorrow morning, after having time to prepare and consider how to go about it." She looks to Roland. "You should also perhaps speak to the Captain, and let her know we'll be staying a little longer than planned, and that her services may be needed, if Dunstan feels we may need addition loyal protection while we try this." 'I wonder how much longer she and Roland intend to maintain that charade? It may not be necessary after this...'

[Shutter]

Roland thinks for a moment, eyes wandering off. And how long before someone notices that the Fount has been messed with? That was a pretty stupid thing I did today wasn't it?... "They're adaptable. I don't think that will be a problem. How many guards we have will be a matter of space, and percieved need...Details that we can work out in the morning."

[Wired*Nun]

"Great," says Dunstan. More courses are brought out, a delicate souffle, vegetable quiche, crepes, duck in orange sauce. "I'll get everything ready that I can. Do you know the day that Rinaldo will be arriving in Amber? If we can time any major attempts at...at...whatever we do, to coincide with a time when he is occupied, it will provide us some safety margin, I think. I hope. At the very least it will be interesting to see whether he notices, and can or will intervene."

"As for starting on this project..." She glances at Joshua. "I think we should rest for the evening, at least, and start on it in earnest tomorrow morning, after having time to prepare and consider how to go about it."
Josh responds, "I think we should all go up, umm, after dinner and take a look. I'd like to at least get a passive view of what she looks like. Raevyn, you can get a psychic impression for possibly making a Trump...and we can see what we see. Then, think and sleep on it and, perhaps, actually try something tomorrow. I mean, if that sounds all right with everyone else..." he trails off.

Dunstan nods in agreement, working his way through his food, which he suddenly seems quite intent on. He also seems more tired this evening, and is drinking more wine than one would expect.

[Shutter]

Good, the wizards all seem to be in agreement...Dunstan though....how old is he?...Quite a thirst he has. Roland eats food and drinks wine, heartily of the former, sparingly of the later. Moods can change...Not a good place to be drunk.

[Wired*Nun]

Dinner passes in deep thought, it seems. Soon after, Dunstan looks up with an air of completion, and stands. "Let's get this thing started, shall we?"

He leads out the back door, into an ancillary hallway, then up some stairs past pairs of guards, Lion and garrison. Another hallway with many doors, to the third one down walks Dunstan. A key on a chain 'round his neck opens the door, and he leads the way inside.

The room is an ordinary one, apparently a guest room which has been converted for use as a hospital. Shelves of sheets, towels, basins and other medical gear stand against one wall. A glass cabinet of drugs, IV bags, and other such gear stands against another. Two nurses stand quickly when they see the Young Master enter, and the older of the two says, "There has been no change, Your Grace."

"Thank you, Anyah, Giral. Please excuse us." The two look curiously at the entourage as they leave the room.

On the bed, lying half-propped upward, they can see Jasra. A severe-looking woman in normal life, she looks chiseled, almost skeletal, in this state. Her red hair is held under a net, and without makeup, she seems old and tired, but at rest. An IV bag above her head drips glucose into her veins.

Glancing at the others, Josh quickly turns to the patient, staring intently at her, then walking to the left and right of her bed, as if to view her from all angles. He reaches over to gently pull the bed away from the wall, and walks around her head as well. He even crouches down to look under the bed, or perhaps, look through the bed underneath her body.

"Is this where she fell into her coma?" he asks.

"No, she was in her own room, part of a large suite of course, in another part of the Keep. I felt it was better to move her here - more defensible, easier to ward, and not as obvious in case someone else came looking for her."

"So how did this start, again?" asks Josh.

Dunstan replies, "Rinaldo had come to visit her, as he did from time to time. I saw him at dinner, then they went off to conspire about their next ploy - or so I thought. About nine, I felt a mystical event of some kind take place in her room, and when I went to check on it, Rinaldo was gone, her doors were locked from the inside, and she was in this state. There was also a letter from Rinaldo, which unfortunately I destroyed when I was...upset. In it he wrote that he was going to take Amber down a peg or two, that mother had refused to help him and said she would oppose him, and that therefore she would stay in this state until it was all over."

"Several times in the last two years, Rinaldo has tried to come back here and get to her, and I have tried to capture him, but only succeeded in driving him away. He refuses all communication with me."

[LynMars]

Raevyn follows quietly, studying the route. When they get to the room and see Jasra, she can't help but feel sorry for the now-frail-looking woman lying in the bed, and Dunstan for having to see his mother like this. 'I wish my Mother were here; she'd have an idea of what to do...'

Raevyn moves forward to the edge of the bed, if Dunstan allows, and just barely touches the back of Jasra's hand. "I think I can do it, though I've never tried to make a Trump of a comatose person--one I've not previously met, especially."

[Wired*Nun]

"You can do it here, if it helps to have the subject in front of you...but tomorrow. I'm getting tired..." Dunstan does indeed look tired, much more so than one would expect after an easy day and a full meal.

[LynMars]

Raevyn glances at Dunstan, then back at Roland and Josh. "Of course, Dunstan; we've had a rather long day ourselves. It will be easier to paint here, studying her, and I'll let you know what paints will be best...We can continue in the morning, now that we have an idea of what we may be dealing with."

[Wired*Nun]

"All right...I'll call you in the morning." He turns and holds the door for the Amberites. It seems as if he may be remaining in the room with his mother after they leave.

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles pleasantly. "Thank you. See you in the morning, then." As they return to the suite for the evening.

'He seems different, somehow, than the last time...Maybe because he doesn't have to prove something to the likes of Siodmak, or strongarm us; I think we've proven that to be unnecessary. Now he just seems to be...more like a worried young man, needing help, and friends.'

[Pygysys]

Piet grins at her speculations. "Actually the tales were of trolls, powerful creatures that lived in the ground and ate unwary children. They were immensely strong, and ugly. I don't think I'm that ugly, actually. In any case...I think that all advantages are local. There's always someone around who is better than you, somewhere."

He chews some more, speculatively, at the question about Dalt. "He's a hard man to understand. Distant. We all respect him, but he's not...loved, like some might be. The dragenflegger were an unusual thing, I think. We had already tried several other tactics, that was just one of many. Actually, though I have trained on them, only Seph was actually in on the assault here, that I know of. Maybe one or two other fellows, I'm not sure." He stuffs a last mouthful in, and sits back with a sigh. "If you're from a culture that values belching, I can order some fermented mare's milk and demonstrate my technique..."
"I don't think it's necessary to be loved and respected to be a good leader, there's a difference to be had on what your men will do I suspect. It all depends on what it is you want them to do and the lengths they will go to." Kat smiles, "Right now, you've no need to demonstrate your belching technique unless it is something you want to do. I've grown up around men, so it won't impress or offend me either way."

She sets aside her final dish and leans back, comfortable for the moment. "I have no taste for fermented milk, so if there's fresh cool water to be had, I'll take that. Is Seph in charge of your unit? It seemed that way from the way the others deferred to him. I bet he has some interesting tales of his own to tell."

[Wired*Nun]

"Seph is the Kumpanie Spees, first-sergeant I suppose you would say. In this unit, that means he is the meanest son of a bitch around, and probably the cleverest. He may not be the best fighter any more, but if you cross him, you might as well resolve to kill him or run far away. I'm sure you know the type. In another place they called them 'centurions.' Every army has them somehow. They are what keep all the screw-ups in line, the lazy ones moving, the cowards afraid of them more then the enemy, and the brave men from charging off without discipline."

I've grown up around men, so it won't impress or offend me either way."'Twas a joke, Katarzyna. Are you always so serious? You know, we have a platoon of T'swa in the Lions. Small, black men, who never stop smiling. They regard war as the highest form of play, if you define play as something you enjoy, and are not required to do. Because of that, they believe they make the best warriors. Of course, they also believe in reincarnation. I guess it's easier to die if you think you'll come back even better." He signals for the boy to come, and orders water. At least, that's what she assumes, since water is what comes, cool water in a tinned copper jug, poured into wooden cups.

The sun is going down now, over the ocean. A ball of molten gold, it is just touching the horizon as they finish the meal off with small, sweet pastries filled with nuts and honey. "I would like to travel with these people, sometime, these baidoheen. I think they have much to teach the world, about living simply. All they have is with them, that their camels and horses carry."

[Wired*Nun]

On the way back to the rooms, Josh says, "She's not there. I mean, her body is there, but what makes her - her - isn't. No damage that I could see, but no mind or anima , no spirit, either. That would take sorcery or Power, quite a lot of it. It's damned hard to force one's anima out of the body, when this is not a natural process. So from my point of view, I don't know what I could do. She's gone. Maybe you can find her with Trump. We can, I mean. But you draw it. I think...I think I can't now, since I saw her empty like that. Maybe you can."

[Shutter]

If Josh can't draw the Trump, why would he think Raevyn can? And Dunstan, I wonder what he was up to that sapped him so... Following a pace or two behind Raevyn and Josh, Roland clears his throat and speaks up. "If you're both going to retire for now I think will go and try to get a bit of a workout in. I'll see you both in the morning." After anything else that needs to be said Roland makes his way to the practice yard where he tries to find a quiet corner out of the way to practice, running through kata after kata until he feels reasonably tired. I wonder where the archery range is here?...

[LynMars]

Raevyn crosses her arms, more in a hugging herself gesture than anything. "I can at least try to do something," she says, looking up at Josh. "It may not work, not the way it's supposed to, but we said we'd make the attempt to help, right?"

When Roland talks about going to practice, Raevyn thinks about finding Kat to get some practicing in herself...but she recalls Kat is staying with the soldiers, and she's not exactly sure where. So she just nods to Roland with a smile, and sits in a chair near the balcony, to read more of the book before turning in for the night.

[Shutter]

"So...Would an older Trump of Jasra work? I was assuming that a new one would be needed, to reflect her altered state." He opens one of the cases on his belt, the decorative one, and shuffles out a Trump of Jasra. One can see the trace of an embaraced grimace, as he holds it up to Raevyn and Josh. "You're the experts though, better that I don't assume."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks at it. "It may help...Maybe. May I?" She asks, hesitantly holding her hand out for the Trump.

[Shutter]

"Of course, " he says, handing her the Trump.

[LynMars]

Raevyn smiles as she takes the Trump from Roland. "Thank you."

She'll study the Trump, not enough to gain contact, though. If she can find where in the book it discusses Jasra specifically, she'll read those, as well; someone else's impressions, filtered through a novel, but still some kind of impression.

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks at the Trump, snorts. "Rinaldo's, looks like to me. Not as bad as Dad's but...he always was a better talker than painter. You can do better, Rae. And, as Roland said, it may help to do another. I don't know, though. Maybe tomorrow, I can do something. After you do the Trump, and we try that, I will maybe try some more...risky, esoteric techniques. I wonder...maybe we need a necromancer. Hard to find a Real one outside of the Courts, maybe we should see about taking her to a high-sorcery shadow I know of, where they can contact the dead, see what they can do." He looks pensive, and sits back in his chair, staring past Raevyn's shoulder, chewing on his little finger's nail.

"I dunno," he says after a time. Sighing, he gets up, and begins to build a fire in the fire place. He lights it with a mumbled cantrip, and opens the door to the balcony. The seabreeze quickly cools the room, and Josh pulls Raevyn's chair, Rae and all, a little ways toward the fire, and slides a hssock under her feet with a shy smile. Pulling a book off the shelf, he sits down to read across from her, and so continue into the evening.

[Wired*Nun]

Roland's practice is relatively undisturbed, being after dark. Though there are sufficient glowglobes for light, most people still don't go in for weapons practice after dinner it seems. He would have the archery range all to himself, as well, except there are no bows or arrows to be seen. Must have put them all away at the end of the work day.

[Shutter]

After a slightly dissatisfying workout (with Jasra's Trump back in its case) Roland heads back to the quarters where he showers and cleans up some. After some meditation alone in his room he allows himself to drift off to sleep.

[LynMars]

Rae just nods at Josh's assesment of Rinaldo's skill, but she doesn't really say anything about it. She does shiver a bit at the mention of Necromancy; in the stories and legends of her mother's people, Necromancers were often the villians. They weren't real in that Shadow, and a part of her knew that perhaps elsewhere they wouldn't all be evil, and likely had necessary societal functions, but still...

Rae's a little startled when Josh slides her chair over, but just smiles back and returns to her reading, hiding her slight blush behind her hair and the book. She'll read until she finishes (however likely that is) or until she falls asleep, after the long day they've had.

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn wakes up slightly, to the sensation of being carried. It smells like Josh, it feels like Josh...she finds herself set gently onto her bed, and her shoes removed, a blanket drawn over her, the press of lips on her forehead. She hears the window opened slightly, just enough to get the sea breeze, and she sinks back into contented slumber.

The morning dawns fair, red skies at morning warning of a storm later on. The wind howls and moans, and it isn't long before the light fades, to be replaced by overcast. The wave-crests break on the seawall below the balcony, crashing, crashing. Raevyn is glad of the glowing coals, glad of the pot of almost-hot tea on the table in front of Josh, him sleeping in the chair, still, a leather-bound book half-opened on his lap. The language is unknown to her. She hears the sound of Roland stirring in his room.

[LynMars]

That evening:
'Hrm? What? Oh...Fell asleep, I guess...Back to sleep...' Not really coherent thought, but that mostly-asleep, parlty-awake state rarely lends itself to such. No complaints here, though, as she drifts back to dreamland.

Morning:
Rae blinks awake, registering that she's in her own bed, still dressed in her dinner clothes, and only half-sure how she got there. 'Joshua...I think...Yes, seems right....' After a few moments of lazyness enjoying the warmth under the covers, she gets up and changes into 'work clothes' for the day's planned activities after morning rituals, pulling her hair up into a braid to keep it out of the way. She can hear Roland rummaging around in his room, but the sight of Josh sleeping in the chair makes her smile a little. 'Forgot to get himself to bed....' The foreboding morning sky makes her pause a moment or two, chewing on her lower lip as she ponders.

She'll see about getting the tea reheated, or a whole new pot even, as she very carefully takes the book. She'll ask a servant if they're expected to take breakfast with Dunstan, then, in normal conversational tone at first. "Josh? Wake up, it's morning..."

I wonder how Kat and her men fare?

[Wired*Nun]

"Ahhh...oohhh. God I hate waking up. I hate morning." Josh looks at Raevyn blearily, eyes red as an addict's. "Oh, man. Did..." He looks around, as if searching for something wrong, and sinks back in relief. "Pour me a cup?"

Picking up the tea, he stands, walks out to the balcony, letting the cold air in. He drinks the liquid down, then comes back in and closes the door. "I'll be better after a shower." He smiles wanly and goes into his room.

Staring across his chair at the fire, Raevyn realizes there are deep, fresh gouges in the leather of the arms of the seat, near the ends.

A half hour later, Josh comes back out, Lester on his shoulder, looking infinitely better. "Let's see if we can find some breakfast. Roland!"

[Shutter]

As if in answer Roland finaly emerges from his room, closing the door behind him. He smiles a greeting to Josh and Raevyn while he takes in the room, inhaling deeply the smells of the sea in the morning, and fresh breweed tea. Something catches his eye. "The hell happened to the chair?...Lester didn't do that did he?"

Roland is fully armed and geared for battle. A fine chainmail clinks faintly underneath his shirt. Stout metal guards his forearms as well. He shrugs his shoulders a few times, making sure that everything has settled properly in to place.

[LynMars]

Raevyn just nods with a light smile, knowing what kind of response saying "good morning" has gotten from him in the past. "Thanks for...um...well, I hadn't meant to fall asleep in the chair, so..." She shrugs, unsure how to phrase it. "Go get cleaned up; I think Roland's taking his time this morning, too."

Staring across his chair at the fire, Raevyn realizes there are deep, fresh gouges in the leather of the arms of the seat, near the ends.
Raevyn pretends she doesn't see the marks in the chair until after Josh has left the room, then, on an odd thought, look a little more closely at the marks themselves before either man returns. 'I'll ask him later; keep meaning to, but it never seems a good time. Seems like he suffers from some pretty severe nightmares, that would be my first guess.'

When Roland appears, she smiles a good morning to him, wishing she'd taken a moment to cover the marks, but as he doesn't seem to want to press the issue much, it should be okay. "Perhaps we should find Aaron, and see if breakfast is informal and private, or if we're to eat with Dunstan again?"

[Wired*Nun]

Josh looks at the chair and pales. "Ummm...maybe..." He throws a blanket across the chair, and goes on, "I'll fix it later. Let's go find something to eat." He opens the door, and, seeing no one, marches down the hall ahead of the other two, back toward the dining room. Lester looks back at them from Josh's shoulder and makes a lip-locking gesture and wags his finger at Roland.

Places are set out in the dining room, and bread, jam, cheese, cold cuts. "Eggs, or anything else, lady and gentlemen?" inquires a steward waiting there.

[Shutter]

"Yeah, sure thing Josh." Roland falls in behind Josh and Lester on their way to breakfast. He raises an eyebrow at Lester's motion but nods assent. Very interesting...very strange. I wonder if he really is under his own control? Or perhaps he just has bad nightmares? He grimaces. Ugg, does that even qualify as a pun? Shit...perhaps there's something to it?

[LynMars]

Raevyn quietly follows behind, glancing between them every now and again.

When they reach the dining room, Raevyn is pleasant and trying to remain upbeat, despite the grim weather and tense moods. She asks for pancakes and coffee if they have any, and sits quietly, nibbling at her food while she thinks.

[Shutter]

If Roland's worried he's doing a good job of hiding it. After his offers to help in the kitchen are rebuked he sets to a pile of meat and fruit, washing it all down with coffee and juice. Between mouthfuls he asks, "Were we going to get started after breakfest then?"

[LynMars]

Raevyn will nod as she peels an orange-like fruit. "I think so. I guess Dunstan takes breakfast alone; I suppose we shall be summoned, or he'll come find us."

[Pygysys]

Kat half-smiles and shrugs her shoulders, "I suppose I am more serious than not, I can't afford to be otherwise. I don't think so, at least not for the moment. Most certainly not when I'm still on assignment." Not when I still have so much to learn and a family like mine.

She chooses to finish the last of the meal in silence, watching the sun set and thinking of her companions, wondering what they're up to and how they fare with Dunstan.

"I think I need a walk after all that food we've eaten." Kat sets down her cup and rises slowly to her feet, "I swear I've eaten more in this one sitting than in the past two days. Care to show me the sights of this place or can I see everything of wonder simply by walking around the outside of the walls?"

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn will nod as she peels an orange-like fruit. "I think so. I guess Dunstan takes breakfast alone; I suppose we shall be summoned, or he'll come find us."
"Maybe he breakfasts in the Fount," he jokes. "Kind of like the biggest cup of java you can imagine." He looks more serious, then. "That may not be really a joke. I got the impression he was running on empty last night. I wonder what that does to you. It has to burn you up, and burn you out. I can't imagine..." He gets that off-into-the-distance look again, shakes his head.

[Shutter]

"You can see it in his eyes when he gets strained and worn down. Edgier, more manic by far...He seems to be able to wander off and cool down. I was wondering if maybe a dip in the fountain was just the thing. The man can do impressive things." Compliment him, just in case he's listening, really more a boy though.. "But I don't envy being tied to this place, and having such a target on my head."

[Wired*Nun]

"I think I need a walk after all that food we've eaten." Kat sets down her cup and rises slowly to her feet, "I swear I've eaten more in this one sitting than in the past two days. Care to show me the sights of this place or can I see everything of wonder simply by walking around the outside of the walls?""The outside is good, most people stay inside. Kind of a world unto itself. Kind of wierd, actually." He rises to his feet, sets down a couple of coins on the table.

"There is a path on the outside, inside the markers and the Djinni. That's what the baidoheen call the tornados. This is a place of great magic for them. I guess it is, in reality, but I try to stay out of warlock's business."

They begin walking north, along the wall, and meet the place where the desert meets the sea. It's a peculiar effect, as close to the wall there is a smooth blending from sandy desert to dressed stone to wharf, but beyond the marker, more like a blur that marks where a beach seemingly should be.

Walking along the seawall is pleasant, but chill. Above them, Kat can see balconies and lighted windows. Perhaps the others are up there somewhere...

Piet stops about halfway, above the pounding surf, in the brisk and chill wind, and turns to Kat. "I like you, Katarzyna." He holds up a calloused hand to cup her jaw, running fingers through her hair as he draws it away. "Would you share a soldier's bed this eve?" This forward question seems somehow natural coming from this guileless stranger, as unnatural as it would have been Back Home.

[Wired*Nun]

"But I don't envy being tied to this place, and having such a target on my head."
"No, I don't envy him at all. Power is seductive, and addictive. It becomes its own reason, beyond all reason. It draws you in..." That look again. "And changes you. No, I don't want to be him. I'm not sure he wants to be himself."

[LynMars]

Raevyn doesn't have much to add to the guys' conversation at this point, just nods in agreement as she finishes her meal; she'd noticed the same things about Dunstan, and by this point, can't help but feel a little sorry for him, since it seems like he's only doing what he can, in whatever way he can. He needed help, and support, and friendship, but that seemed to be in short supply around the Keep.

Raevyn looks out a window, thinking about the Trump she's going to have to attempt, trying not to tangent off toward all the other speculations and bits of knowledge; time to dwell on those later.

[Wired*Nun]

The door opens as they finish up, revealing Dunstan, looking fresh, energetic, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "All right, people, up and at them!" he says in his best parade-sergeant voice.

He walks in and pours himself a glass of juice, drains it and pours another. "I'm going to take you three up there to Mother, then I have a little project to complete. I will leave a line open to where you are, in case you need me. Just call and I will come running. Any progress, any change, I want to know about it."

[Shutter]

Roland looks up and nods to Dunstan as he enters. "You mean just shout, vocaly right? No need for a Trump?" Better to sound like a fool than to misunderstand something important. Never hurts to help people underestimate you either. He sips his coffee while Dunstan offers. Well, except insofar as it pisses me off...

[LynMars]

Raevyn just nods, smiling a little in greeting, trying not to let her stomach twist too much. 'What if Josh is right? If she's not there, how can I do it? Stop it; said I'd help, I'm going to. We need Dunstan's cooperation...And he needs us...'

[Wired*Nun]

Leading them back up his mother's room, Dunstan says, "Yes, Roland, just speak, I will hear it. If I don't come right away, yell, I might be concentrating on something else. It's just a simple audiovisual link from me to that room. If for some reason you all leave the room, let me know that too please."

Upon arrival in the room, they see painting materials set up, and canvases and cardstock of various sorts. Several glow-globes of varying intensities and shades rest upon stands.

"Why don't you start on the Trump process, Rae, and I'll see...what I can do." Josh looks a bit guilty at this, perhaps embarrassed in advance, anticipating failure."

[Shutter]

"Will do." Roland nods assent and finishes off his meal, standgin up and following Josh and Raevyn whenever they are ready.

[LynMars]

Raevyn nods, looking around the room. She sees if she can't arrange the glow-globes for the best possible lighting, then goes over the painting supplies. When everything seems in order, she takes a breath, and begins concentrating, thinking on everything she's ever hear or read about Jasra, the few impressions she has of the woman. She watches Jasra lay in the bed for a time, then carefully begins to put brush to canvas, focusing.

[Wired*Nun]

As the Trump begins to take shape, Joshua takes a chair, turns it around and props his head on the back, his hands forming a cushion for his chin. He seems to relax and enter a kind of light trance state, watching Jasra, Raevyn, or both.

After about an hour, Josh shakes his head, and gets up. Walking over to roland, he whispers, "I can't find her. There's a tiny thread that I think connects her spirit to her body, but it goes so far, I can't follow it, and it's like spiderweb...so fragile, I don't want to break it, or we may lose her forever."

As he is finishing this statement, a bell begins ringing somewhere in the Keep, taken up by others almost immediately. The guards outside the door open it from the outside and look in, and one says, "Lords and Lady, that's the general alarm, please lock this door until we find out what's going on." Josh hastens to comply, glancing around the room as he does so. He then steps into the corner behind the door, reaching into his boots and drawing out two daggers with a hiss of metal on metal. He holds these blades down, his index fingers and thumbs free of the hilts, in an odd position for fighting.

"Roland, I'd suggest you get ready, it may be nothing, but best to be prepared."

[Shutter]

Roland immediately moves to a position within arm's reach of Raevyn, trying to manage to keep her, Jasra, and the door all within his field of view. He draws Smoke smoothly and relaxes into a guarded pose. "Dunstan, I assume you here the alarms too. So far nothing to report from us."

Oh hell...

"Raevyn, keep on working for now, if we need you it'll be abundantly obvious."

[LynMars]

Raevyn doesn't notice the distant bell, really; she's too intent on the task at hand. She only pays half-attention to Roland's words; just really hears the "keep on working" part. She gives a kind of nod and keeps at it, concentrating fully, as finicky as always about tiny details and the quality of her work.

[Wired*Nun]

A string of colorful cursing manifests itself out of the air, ending with the declaration, "We're under attack - some kind of flying things, and the Lions - " at this point the voice cuts off with a loud screech. Sure wish this room had a window.

Josh says some strange words, and moves his hands and arms in odd ways. Some kind of sorcerer stuff... A moment later, Josh seems to be looking at the air in front of him, and says, "I now have a roving eye, which can pass through walls. I'm going to try to see what's happening."

Shrtly, Josh starts a quiet, running report. "The people have mostly taken cover. There are some kind of wyverns or dragons bringing in Chaos troops over the walls, probably twenty or more have made it inside with several fighters each. They seem to be concentrating on the bastions. The northwest one has been taken."

"I'm also seeing - the Lions and the garrison troops are fighting! They are trying to get the gate open. It looks to me like Dalt is leading a knot of them in the main courtyard, but they are being heavily harassed by archers on the walls."

"There are also about several hundred troops on the mountainside, and more being Trumped in, but they are not attacking right now. Probably waiting to get the gate open. "

"A huge flame just wiped out the attackers in the northwest bastion, along with a couple of the wyverns. That was probably Dunstan's doing. We need to decide what we are going to do here, Roland, I could go and help defend the place. Dunstan's gotta have his hands full with whatever sorcerous support the attackers have. We're lucky we don't have people trumping right in. On the other hand, maybe they are trying to get Jasra, or stop us from waking her up. Do you want to call for some help?"

[Wired*Nun]

[Posted for Pygysis]

"And I like you ... " Kat doesn't shy away from Piet's touch, finding herself attracted to this man she hardly knows. "I just don't think it would be right, not here and now. I still consider myself on duty and whilst dining with you is not compromising, sharing your bed would be." Her hand reaches up to touch his, grasping it before he might pull it away if he feels rejected. "If I was to seek you out after this assignment of mine has ended, would you welcome me?" Would I really share his bed another time? As a princess I wouldn't but I'm a soldier now without restriction. My mother and uncle want me to learn Amber's game but I also need and want to learn something of life.

[Shutter]

Ok...I can secure this room if need be...But the rest of it?

"Lester, keep an eye down that hallway please? Let me know if anyone is coming. Josh, if you can help to keep the gate from being breeched, do so. I can hold this room against anything physical..." Dalt?...

With his left hand Roland reaches for his Trump cases, pulling out his personal deck and rifling out Katarzyna's Trump.

"Josh, how're the odds looking out there?" He begins to focus on Kat's Trump...

[LynMars]

Since Roland told her to keep painting, that's what Raevyn does, concentration soley on Jasra and the canvas...

[Wired*Nun]

"Looks like the Lions are getting the upper hand. I can see Dunstan on the bastion, pretty much keeping that by himself. He's knocking down the wyverns as they come, now, but these garrison troops just can't stand against the mercs. Right. Keep my trump handy, call me if you need to."

Josh glances at Raevyn, back to Roland, and opens his mouth. A moment, and he closes it again, apparently at a loss for words. Tearing his eyes away, he opens the door, and Lester scampers out beneath his feet. As he leaves, Roland can hear his voice saying, "Let the rat in and out, you two, he's my familiar, and I'm a wizard, and toads are my speciality." Daggers at the ready, Josh disappears down the corridor.

Raevyn feels the forces resolve as she draws the Trump, and her concentration fades with the ending of the process. It is done, if not dry. She can feel its coldness, and its efficacy, calling to her. I can reach her, I think...

A shriek from off down the corridor, and a sound like a cat being skinned, a pounding on the door. "Abominations! Stand fast, lad, don't run!" Roland hears from the other side of the door, and the clash of swords.

[Wired*Nun]

"And I like you ... " Kat doesn't shy away from Piet's touch, finding herself attracted to this man she hardly knows. "I just don't think it would be right, not here and now. I still consider myself on duty and whilst dining with you is not compromising, sharing your bed would be." Her hand reaches up to touch his, grasping it before he might pull it away if he feels rejected. "If I was to seek you out after this assignment of mine has ended, would you welcome me?"
"Good things come to those who wait. I will wait, for a time." Turning his hand over, he takes hers in his and they continue their walk, hand in hand, along the seawall and around the Keep. He points out stars and constellations in each shadow, and makes smalltalk until it is time to part. "Thank you for this evening, Kat. See you in the morning." He turns to go down the corridor, to his bunk, then stops, turns, and looks at her again. He smiles and shakes his head as if bemused, and continues on.

[LynMars]

Raevyn feels the forces resolve as she draws the Trump, and her concentration fades with the ending of the process. It is done, if not dry. She can feel its coldness, and its efficacy, calling to her. I can reach her, I think...

'It's not completely ready, but...' Raevyn stares at the Trump, brush dangling loosely in her hand, trying to gain any indication it may have worked...'Your son needs you...' comes involuntarily to mind as she searches for any indication that Jasra can be reached through the new Trump...

[Pygysys]

"Good things come to those who wait. I will wait, for a time." Turning his hand over, he takes hers in his and they continue their walk, hand in hand, along the seawall and around the Keep. He points out stars and constellations in each shadow, and makes smalltalk until it is time to part. "Thank you for this evening, Kat. See you in the morning." He turns to go down the corridor, to his bunk, then stops, turns, and looks at her again. He smiles and shakes his head as if bemused, and continues on.
"Thank you, Piet, I've had a wonderful evening. Goodnight." Kat smiles at him and then gives him a curious look when he stops and smiles before leaving. I wonder what he was thinking. Perhaps I'll have the chance to ask him that in the future. With him gone, she begins to make her way to the quarters that were assigned to her and the Orphans. I wonder how long he's prepared to wait... not that I would make anyone wait for ... well however long. First though we have to find out what's going on and why. Once that's seen to, then I'll visit. Yes, I'll seek him out then.

Her decision made, she smiles to herself like a giddy schoolgirl but is quick to wipe the smile from her face when she enters her quarters. She avoids any questions from the Orphans who are awake and gets some sleep. Rising as early as she can the next morning, she rallies the Orphans for some weapons practise to fill in time as she waits to hear from the others, trusting that their dealings with Dunstan are going well. Hopefully.

[Wired*Nun]

Weapons practice with the Orphans goes as usual - another crisp, cold morning at the Keep, clear this time, a good day to be sweating in armor. They intermingle with the Lions and the garrison troops, with no tension nor hint of what is to come later. They must not have known about the attack in advance...

The first hint of trouble comes when one of the lookouts on the bastions calls out an alarm, and the bells start ringing soon after. Everyone bolts for their live steel, and battle stations. The Orphans quickly form up around Kat, looking around for a place to be. They crouch instinctively as the first of the wyverns comes over the walls, depositing large, armed and armored lizard-like creatures within the keep, upon the bastions, and on the walls.

A shimmer from across the yard, and a big man in the colors of the Lions trumps in. Dunstan must not be paying attention...or this guy has permission...Dalt? Immediately, he rallies the Lions to himself, and marches on the gate.

The garrison doesn't react immediately, so long have they coexisted with the mercenaries. Several of the garrison's troops go down undr Dalt's blade with stunned looks on thier faces. The Lions with him seem hesitant at first, but soon, with set jaws, they begin hacking their former comrades down in an effort to seize the gate from behind. Only the increasing fire of arrows from the walls prevents them from doing it immediately.

What side are we on in this? What the hell is really going on?

[Pygysys]

When the attack begins, Kat sets herself to join with the garrison and Lions against the reptillian creatures. Dalt's arrival and rallying of the Lions puts a big dent in those plans. Shite! What the hell is going on? One thing is for certain, she has no idea! The command is quick: "Withdraw! We're taking no side in this! We're to find Lord Roland and his comrades. Now move!"

She looks for a way into the Keep when she feels the hint of a Trump contact. Damn! I really hope this is Raevyn or Josh. Knowing there's only one way to find out who's calling, Kat allows the contact to open even as she takes cover. "Yes?"

[Shutter]

"Kat! The Keep is under attack. Dalt is here, trying to take the gates. Dunstan and Josh are trying to stop him, I'm covering Raevyn who's working on Jasra. Can you help hold the gate?"

A shriek from off down the corridor, and a sound like a cat being skinned,
"Shit, they're coming. Hold the gate if you can. Do not get killed. Be smart." Roland covers the card before she can respond, severing the connection. Damn, maybe she should pretend to go over to Dalt?...no time... a pounding on the door. So much for Lester giving warning before they get close. He steps toward the door and flings it open, dropping into a guarded stance as soon as it's in motion.

[Pygysys]

"Kat! The Keep is under attack. Dalt is here, trying to take the gates. Dunstan and Josh are trying to stop him, I'm covering Raevyn who's working on Jasra. Can you help hold the gate?"
"I know! We're down here! Dalt and the Lions are too much for the garrison forces. I don't know if we can hold it." So much for being a neutral observer.

"Shit, they're coming. Hold the gate if you can. Do not get killed. Be smart." Roland covers the card before she can respond, severing the connection.
"Rol... " Cruzzak!

Kat takes a peek from where she is to see whether or not she and the Orphans can help hold the gate. Don't get killed he says, has he seen Dalt swing that blade? Cruzzak! Think Kat, think. If we attack the Lions from behind, we're severely outnumbered but we'll have the assistance of the archers from above, if they don't cut us down by mistake in the confusion. Those that are still on the ground need help otherwise they're going to be slaughtered and maybe we can help rally them.

Kat turns to the Orphans and signals to the closest flank of the Lions. "Change of plans, we're trying to hold the gate if possible. Ethan you're best with the bow, try and take out their better fighters or at least make their lives a bit more miserable for us. Darius, Marc and Zane you're with me." Another signal and cover is left behind as they enter the fray, Kat's grip tightening on both shield and sword.

[Wired*Nun]

Ethan grabs a bow off the racks and some practice arrows. "Not the most effective heads, but borrowers can't be whiners, as they say in some language where that rhymes." He begins methodically firing into the knot of Lions, aiming low for their less-armored legs.

Analysing the situation as best she can, Kat sees that an oblique approach along the wall will simultaneously avoid stray arrows, and allow them to join up with garrison troops to confront Dalt and the Lions. Alternately, she and the orphans could try to take the Lions in the rear, avoiding an immediatel battle with Dalt, and relieving pressure on the garrison troops, but risking more arrow fire and confusion.

[Wired*Nun]

So much for Lester giving warning before they get close. He steps toward the door and flings it open, dropping into a guarded stance as soon as it's in motion.Roland opens the door in time to see an enormous lizardlike form slam into the two garrison guards, knocking them off their feet like children. The opening is too good to pass up, and with a deep lunge through the doorway, Roland extends his blade parrallel to the ground, in his right hand, and the point punches through the neck of the creature from its side. Smoke's razor-sharp edge glides through arteries and trachea, and the thing turns, takes a stumbling, gasping step, and falls to the corridor floor, hands clutching at the impossible wound.

The catfight sound comes closer, and, pivoting to his right into the corridor, Roland sees Lester flying through the air like a flung ball, towards him and heading over his left shoulder, clutching some bloody piece of lizard anatomy. Behind Lester, another of the things is advancing with a hissing, mist-ridden black cutlass in its huge paw. If it were human, Roland would guess it was missing an ear. Two more of the things are right behind it.

[Wired*Nun]

'It's not completely ready, but...' Raevyn stares at the Trump, brush dangling loosely in her hand, trying to gain any indication it may have worked...'Your son needs you...' comes involuntarily to mind as she searches for any indication that Jasra can be reached through the new Trump...
The Trump grows solid, real, but unchanged, with a sense of openness, an echo in her mind, a feeling like being blind in an enormous hard-walled room, sounds bouncing off the walls. The hint of a contact, the feeling of a mind in confusion, some kind of dream..."My son..."

Raevyn is not sure she even heard those words, but somehow, she thinks she did. Gritting her teeth, Raevyn pushes at the contact, pouring her will into it, the sounds of violence outside the room only fuelling her desperation. This might be the only chance...

Finally, she sees in her mind's eye the shape of the woman on the bed, ghostlike, floating in nothingness, wrapped in filmy garments or cloths, legs drawn up into a fetal position, hands over her ears and arms shielding her face. "Nooooooooo."

[LynMars]

Raevyn focuses, concentrating on that ghostly form floating in the nothingness. She's never experienced such an odd Trump contact before, and isn't quite sure how she's going to proceed, but can't turn back now, either.

"Jasra?" Raevyn reaches out to her, physically and mentally. "It's all right, I just want to help...Why are you here?"

[Shutter]

Too focused for surprise Roland reaches up with his left hand to catch Lester as gently as possible. In the few seconds he has before the next lizardman is upon him Roland glances at the guards on the ground.

"Fall back if you can." Calmly, gently.

He sets Lester on the ground behind him. "Good work Lester, catch your breath if you can."

Gripping smoke again in both hands he offers a slight salute to the lizardman when it is still decently far away. Rather than yell and disturb Raevyn he simply shakes his head at it. "May your death be quick." He whispers before launching his attack.

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn focuses, concentrating on that ghostly form floating in the nothingness. She's never experienced such an odd Trump contact before, and isn't quite sure how she's going to proceed, but can't turn back now, either.

"Jasra?" Raevyn reaches out to her, physically and mentally. "It's all right, I just want to help...Why are you here?""Go away...I won't tell you...begone!" she shrieks from between her elbows. "I will not be coerced! Bring your pain, I will not yield" Her eyes are screwed tightly shut, and her face, what can be seen of it, is drawn up in a snarl. "I care not what form you take, I am beyond your reach!"

Suddenly, a form interposes itself between Raevyn's viewpoint and Jasra's image. A head, limbs, wings like a dragonfly's, are all the impression she has before it flies at her and sends a wave of hatred burning into her mind. "Get out! You are not allowed! Get out!" The words are etherial, but clear, and Raevyn feels the thing scratching at the doors of her mind, scrabbling for purchase, clawing for a foothold. Remembering the disciplines Gerard taught her, she balks the thing's emotional assault with only a little difficulty, but realizes that she can't easily get past it to interact with Jasra as long as it continues to attack.

[LynMars]

Raevyn steels her mind against the attack, trying to recall Caine's teachings... "Why don't you go away!" She yells in the mindscape--maybe out loud, as well, but she's not really paying attention there--and assaults the flitting form as best she can, throwing psychic punches at the thing. "If you're the one who's been keeping her here, your job is done!"

[Wired*Nun]

"Fall back if you can." Calmly, gently. .
"To hell with that, sir," says the elder of the two guards, picking up the younger one to set him on his feet. We'll watch your back." His booted foot steps on the dying one's snout and he hacks through the armored neck with a couple of solid strokes.

He sets Lester on the ground behind him. "Good work Lester, catch your breath if you can."
Lester flings the bloody appendage behind him and emits what Roland presumes to be rodent cursing, spitting and hissing. With a leap, Lester gains a perch on the sconce above Roland's head and continues to blister their enemies with invective. His claws are out and before he turns away Roland is sure he sees Lester giving them the finger.


Gripping smoke again in both hands he offers a slight salute to the lizardman when it is still decently far away. Rather than yell and disturb Raevyn he simply shakes his head at it. "May your death be quick." He whispers before launching his attack.

The thing in front of him takes a tremendous overhand swing at Roland - it's much faster than it looks - and he beats the blade aside and steps out of the way. Good thing I didn't block, that thing has two hundred pounds on me. As the blades slide across one another, its sword gives a mournful howl and Roland feels a chill transmitted through Smoke to his hands. Some kind of enchantment, I can't trade blows with him or that effect might impair me.

Cross-stepping to his left, Roland aligns his wrists, bringing Smoke's guard up to eye level before snapping it down in a blinding arc that bisects the thing's right shoulder. Armor parts with a screech and snap, and Roland parries the thing's weak return thrust out of pure habit. Damn, that cold again, stop it! Its right arm hanging useless, the thing prepares to defend itself and buy time for its fellows to come, a matter of mere seconds. Focused on Roland, it never sees as the veteran guard's blade hammers its left shoulder guard, driving its blade off-line and giving Roland the opening he needs to step forward and thrust Smoke's tip through the creature's left eye.

Pivoting back to his right, Roland supports the thing impaled on his blade with main strength, long enough to fling the body into the path of the other two. Its sword skitters to the ground along with it, and the next one scoops it up, and steps forward deliberately, baring its teeth. Damn, that blade again, is all he can think before a bolt of crackling light from above slams into the lizard with the sword, engulfing both in fire and smoke. Its limbs burst into flame and it falls to the ground. Where the hell did that come from? Glancing in the direction of the origin of the bolt of lightning, Roland can see nothing but two astonished guards staring at Lester, who has his front paws raised and fists clenched as if in victory. No time to sort that out now...

The one behind it, undeterred, picks up its fallen comrade's sword and steps over the corpse.

[Shutter]

GM:"To hell with that, sir," says the elder of the two guards, picking up the younger one to set him on his feet. We'll watch your back."
"Thanks."

Tough rat...now, that blade needs to be on the ground.... Roland steps forward again, throwing a feint before his main attack at the lizardman's hands. He's trying for a disarm, literaly if need be.

[Pygysys]

Ethan grabs a bow off the racks and some practice arrows. "Not the most effective heads, but borrowers can't be whiners, as they say in some language where that rhymes." He begins methodically firing into the knot of Lions, aiming low for their less-armored legs.

Analysing the situation as best she can, Kat sees that an oblique approach along the wall will simultaneously avoid stray arrows, and allow them to join up with garrison troops to confront Dalt and the Lions. Alternately, she and the orphans could try to take the Lions in the rear, avoiding an immediatel battle with Dalt, and relieving pressure on the garrison troops, but risking more arrow fire and confusion.
Try not to get killed, that's what Roland had said. Kat probably should have paid more attention to that request and if she had, she would have lead the Orphans towards joining up with the garrison troops taking the oblique approach. However, Kat and the Orphans attack the Lions from the rear doing their best to take advantage of the few moments of surprise such an attack might afford them. It should also allow her to avoid Dalt for a little bit longer, but she also hopes that Piet, if he's here and fighting, is up the front near his Commander and not at the rear.

Any Lion taking a hit from one of Ethan's arrows becomes a prime target if within reach, as Kat and Co. try to use the distraction against the wounded Lions. There's no finesse being employed at this time, the emphasis being on cutting down as many as quickly as possible.

[Wired*Nun]

Kat and her three swordsmen stride into the fray, surprising the Lions nearest them. Several are dispatched quickly, but they soon turn to hold their flank. Kat finds herself chopping down men by main strength and speed, as finesse becomes less important in the press of the melee.

Though Kat cannot see what happens, she and the other orphans feel the shockwave as a roar of sound and a burst of flame hits the gate from the inside. It seems to come from up near Dalt, and sweeps aside the defenders at the inside of the gate. It hardly scratches the gate itself, however. In fact, the wood of the gate is not even scorched, though there are fires burning in a half-dozen places nearby - straw, crates, horse-hitches.

The way now clear, the Lions move their formation up to the gate even while fending off attackers from the sides and rear. Good, disciplined soldiers...a shame to have to do this... They form a ring around Dalt, near the gate. Their defense stiffens as the overhanging wall hinders the troops on the wall's ability to shoot them with arrows and darts.

A curse from Darius causes her head to swing left for a moment, in time to see Marc, on her shield-side, slide backward, clutching his belly. Darius chops the head from the spear that did it and steps over him, into his place. Ethan runs up behind to drag Marc back out of the fray. "Getting a bit sticky now, ma'am," Darius yells as he swings his sword again.

Over the press of the melee, Kat can see the tall figure of Dalt stand up and a moment later, then Trump out with a sparkle. The next thing Kat knows, she is staring up at the sun overhead, midway to midday on the eastern side. Ethan's sweaty face looms over her, shouting. It looks like, "Are you all right?" but it sounds like it is coming from a deep well. Rolling over, her vision tunnels, and she avoids retching by main will. On her knees now, she looks around, the world wobbling in her vision.

A scene of carnage greets her. The gate is off its hinges, a hole blown in its lower middle. Bodies and parts of the same lie everywhere, some moving, most not. Darius' unmoving face stares at her from arms length away. He was between me and the gate... Looking around, she starts to try to inventory her loss. Quinn is not here, Darius dead...Ethan is all right, Marc is lying on the ground, hands over his belly, but still breathing...and Zane? She can't see him anywhere.

Still in the grip of surreality, she rises, more properly staggers, to her feet. A few Lions get up as well, and look out the shattered gate, raising their shields against stray arrows. Still deaf, she cannot hear what they are saying, but they are pointing outside, with what looks like excitement. One of them rallies his walking wounded around him, and he turns to look in her direction.

Piet.

He stares at her in shock, then limps toward her. An arrow comes over her right shoulder - Ethan? and Piet contemptuously brushes it aside with his shield, a look of irritation on his face. Closer now, she can see his armor peppered with shrapnel and gore. His words fall on her deaf ears, his face full of concern.

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn steels her mind against the attack, trying to recall Caine's teachings... "Why don't you go away!" She yells in the mindscape--maybe out loud, as well, but she's not really paying attention there--and assaults the flitting form as best she can, throwing psychic punches at the thing. "If you're the one who's been keeping her here, your job is done!"
"Not allowed! Not allowed! Keep out! Trespassers will be violated!" The shriek of the thing rims her eyes with pain, as it dodges and weaves. It is too fast for her to hit, but she is too strong for it to harm. A kind of timeless impasse develops, until Raevyn realizes that, if the thing cannot harm her, she can essentially suffer it and do what she needs to do, as long as she keeps her defenses up.

Pushing forward, the form of Jasra floats in front of her, physical-seeming, as the fly-thing continues to shriek and harasses her from above, below, and behind. Raevyn could reach out and touch her, if she wanted to.

[Wired*Nun]

"Thanks."

Tough rat...now, that blade needs to be on the ground.... Roland steps forward again, throwing a feint before his main attack at the lizardman's hands. He's trying for a disarm, literaly if need be.Roland's strike at the thing's hands cleaves bone and tendon, and the lizard-thing drops the chill blade with a snarl. However, it is already leaping on him, arms in front of it, mouth open to bite. Lifting Smoke's point, he lets the thing's rush drive the blade into its mouth and out the back, and he tries to turn the momentum into a backwards roll. Partially successful, the leathery creature's death throes include driving one ridged knee into Roland's gut, thankfully absorbed by the mail and pad he is wearing.

Shoving the twitching body off of himself, Roland stands and surveys the carnage. The younger guard is still standing, sword raised, in shock. The elder gives a salute, then lowers his blade. "Well done, sir, I thank you." Looking inside, he says, "The lady may need your help." He picks up a hand towel and begins to wipe down his blade, keeping an eye on the corridor.

Raevyn is sitting upright in her chair, eyes open, staring at nothing. Her body is shivering and sweating, and her mouth is set in a grim line, brows furrowed.

A tremor runs through the building, and the sound of an explosion, rattling the structure and knocking pictures from the walls.

[Shutter]

Roland grunts with the impact, exhaling to take a bit of the pressure off his vitals. Big sonofabitch.

GM:"Well done, sir, I thank you."
Roland flicks the blood from his blade and returns the salute. "Thanks to you as well. Could you pile the bodies into a barricade while I see to her? If more of them come I would like some warning." Roland looks around for the blade that caused so much trouble. Where is that foul thing? Ah...don't really want to touch it right now... With luck it will still be gripped in the lizardman's severed hand, if so Roland will simply pick up the limb and carry it with the sword into the room where Raevyn and Jasra are locked in turmoil. If that doesn't work well he'll nudge it along the floor and back into a "safe" corner, somewhere hard for the enemy to get to, and where he can retrieve it later. "Lester, thanks for the help, could you keep an eye on that damned thing?" Then he goes to check on Raevyn.

Damnation....what is she up to in there? I shouldn't have let Josh go so readily. He opens his mouth to speak, but thinks better of it and stays quiet. Better not to distract her.

GM:A tremor runs through the building, and the sound of an explosion, rattling the structure and knocking pictures from the walls.
"The hell?" A mutter of amazement creeps into the silence after the blast. Taking a few steps away from Raevyn (assuming she didn't fall over or anything of that sort) Roland shuffles out Josh's Trump and focuses to make contact.

[LynMars]

Pushing forward, the form of Jasra floats in front of her, physical-seeming, as the fly-thing continues to shriek and harasses her from above, below, and behind. Raevyn could reach out and touch her, if she wanted to.
'Think about this one, Rae...Not that you have any clue about a situation like this...' She keeps her defenses up, watching the fly-thing out of the corner of her eye, occasionally lashing at it when she thinks she has an opportunity to harm it.

"Jasra?" She calls again, gently, reaching for the huddled form. "It's all right, I can help you, protect you from this apparition..."

Very carefully, she tries to actually touch Jasra's psychic form, if the other woman will let her, while maintaining defenses, trying to broaden them to include Jasra as Raevyn draws her closer, trying to keep them both safe from the fly-thing.

There is a small twinge of doubt, somewhere way down deep in the back of Rae's mind. 'What if it's not tormenting her, but trying to protect me from whatever she's become? Not telling until then, though...Have to take the chance now, I don't think I'll get another one...'

[Wired*Nun]

Roland flicks the blood from his blade and returns the salute. "Thanks to you as well. Could you pile the bodies into a barricade while I see to her? If more of them come I would like some warning."
He looks doubtfully at the bodies, and says, "Even between us, I don't think we can do much but drag these fellows, they must weigh thirty stone each. Come on lad, let's do what we can."

Roland kicks the fallen blade into the room, his foot going cold at its touch. That thing transmits through armor, leather, even a sword blade...

"Lester, thanks for the help, could you keep an eye on that damned thing?" Then he goes to check on Raevyn.

Lester nods, and walks over to the blade and sits down next to it, looking rather tired. He begins grooming himself, catlike.


"The hell?" A mutter of amazement creeps into the silence after the blast. Taking a few steps away from Raevyn (assuming she didn't fall over or anything of that sort) Roland shuffles out Josh's Trump and focuses to make contact.

As the contact resolves, it looks as if Josh is on the battlements, arms raised, daggers in hands. "Wait," he says, and he brings his arms together, uttering a string of words. A wash of red light from his hands, and a curse. "Dammit, she was ready. Roland, be quick, I have a Chaos Lord to deal with, and Dunstan is nowhere to be found."

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn's hands close on Jasra's arms, and she feels as solid as can be. The fly-thing beats around them both, scratching and clawing, transmitting dull pain and indignation. Abruptly, as if it gave up, it disappears. Jasra appears not to notice, maintaining her defensive posture, a high keening noise leaking out from under her arms.

[LynMars]

"Please, listen to me, it's all right! It's gone! We can get out of here, but you have to help, too. How can I get you out of here, back to the Keep, and Dunstan? The Keep is under attack, he can't hold it alone, not from Dalt and his men. Jasra, please..." Raevyn keeps her voice soothing, rubbing the icy arms, drawing the form closer.

'Broken from imprisonment and torture? Or the Fount? Or maybe the Maze's creation did something to her...' A tiny little part of her brain whispers it may all be an act, that Jasra is using her, waiting, but Raevyn ignores that. All she really sees right now is someone who needs her help.

Problem is, now, how to go about this the rest of the way? She didn't really think this through, and has no idea how to bring Jasra back, if she can. She ponders on ideas as she tries to calm the wailing woman, wondering briefly how the others were fairing since she hasn't exactly been able to pay attention, here in the dark.

[Shutter]

As the contact resolves, it looks as if Josh is on the battlements, arms raised, daggers in hands. "Wait," he says, and he brings his arms together, uttering a string of words. A wash of red light from his hands, and a curse. "Dammit, she was ready. Roland, be quick, I have a Chaos Lord to deal with, and Dunstan is nowhere to be found."
Roland turns so that Josh can get a good look at Raevyn behind him. "She's in contact. Nothing else yet. What was that blast?" It looks like he has to almost physicaly bite his tongue to keep from asking if Josh needs help. Calm boy, Raevyn needs your protection, Josh will be alright.

[Pygysys]

Still in the grip of surreality, she rises, more properly staggers, to her feet. A few Lions get up as well, and look out the shattered gate, raising their shields against stray arrows. Still deaf, she cannot hear what they are saying, but they are pointing outside, with what looks like excitement. One of them rallies his walking wounded around him, and he turns to look in her direction.

Piet.

He stares at her in shock, then limps toward her. An arrow comes over her right shoulder - Ethan? and Piet contemptuously brushes it aside with his shield, a look of irritation on his face. Closer now, she can see his armor peppered with shrapnel and gore. His words fall on her deaf ears, his face full of concern.
Kat shakes her head, trying to clear her ears and knowing it won't do a thing. She holds up a hand towards Piet, trying to indicate that he should stop where he is and not come closer. She emphasises the gesture with the point of her sword, keeping it held straight towards him. "Ethan, hold." Don't throw up Kat, keep it together and find out what Piet plans to do.

She hopes that came out okay, not sure whether she spoke loudly enough or too loudly as she can't really hear her own words. "I'm deaf, Piet ... the explosion." Kat isn't sure whether this battle is at an end or not but she's not willing to take chances, "Dalt did this. If you and the Lions plan to continue this battle, then salute me and let's finish it. If you plan to surrender then drop your weapons now." Good call, give the poor man an ultimatum like you have enough balance to take on an ant let alone him.

Somebody call me a medic and tell me what the hell happened and what's going on? Kat tries to smile at Piet but this isn't a picnic and trying to focus, she concentrates on him and her sword, prepared to fight again if she has to.

[Wired*Nun]

Looking as bad as Kat feels, Piet lowers his weapons and says something again. Can't really make it out -

Realizing the dilemma, Piet does a hasty clean of his sword and slams it into his sheath. Hands empty, he again advances to meet Kat and yells in her face.

"It wasn't Dalt! It wasn't him! We're fooled, if not betrayed! Shoyssa!"

Heaping catastrophe upon injury, a new sun blazes for an instant outside the gate. The shock follows immediately, a wave front of debris that blows through the opening, knocking those few on their feet to the ground again. Airborne dust and detritus obscure everything for minutes, this time. Deaf and nearly blind, Kat almost takes off Ethan's hand as it grasps her shoulder. Kneeling, face to face, he says, "Milady! We need to get indoors before one of these blasts kills us!"

Even as he speaks, a brisk wind picks up, blowing the smog from the sea back toward the mountainside. In seconds, the field is clear again, and Kat can see Ethan at her side, Marc bleeding upon the ground, and Piet on his knees, closing the eyes of a fallen comrade. His own eyes look up to meet Kat's, and he shakes his head, as if in disbelief.

[Wired*Nun]

"Please, listen to me, it's all right! It's gone! We can get out of here, but you have to help, too. How can I get you out of here, back to the Keep, and Dunstan? The Keep is under attack, he can't hold it alone, not from Dalt and his men. Jasra, please..." Raevyn keeps her voice soothing, rubbing the icy arms, drawing the form closer.
Nothing Raevyn does seems to do any good. Jasra's eyes are staring, glassy, catatonic. If this were an ordinary Trump contact, the logical thing would be to simply pull Jasra through to her, back to the Keep.

[Wired*Nun]

Roland turns so that Josh can get a good look at Raevyn behind him. "She's in contact. Nothing else yet. What was that blast?" It looks like he has to almost physicaly bite his tongue to keep from asking if Josh needs help. Calm boy, Raevyn needs your protection, Josh will be all right.
"Some kind of explosion near the gate, from the inside! I don't see Dalt any more, but the gate is off its hinges and there's a battalion of Lions that just Trumped in headed for the gate from the outside. Some kind of rockslide closed their gate, maybe Dunstan did that. They - " A blinding light washes over Josh, and the contact is broken. Roland feels the shock of the second explosion. Someone bring artillery? I didn't think gunpowder would work here, dammit.

A shriek from Lester, and he scampers out of the room at amazing speed. The Chaos blade lies there, smoking, and grunts and groans from outside inform Roland that the two guards are piling the bodies as best they can.

[LynMars]

'I don't know how this will work...If it will work...I wish I could get the others' help, but...It's the only thing I know how to do...What if she ends up a spectre of some sort? What if she comes back in me? What if...Drat, I can't think of things that may go wrong, I may just have to try it...'

"Jasra, I'm going to try to bring you back with me...You have to try and help me, please?" Raevyn sighs, not expecting much response. "We'll see what happens, I guess. Don't know how this will work..." She tries to pull Jasra back, thinking of the body laying on the bed, in the room she's in now herself. 'Hope this works...'

[Wired*Nun]

Raevyn opens her eyes to see herself grasping the atrophied forearms of Jasra's bedridden body. For the first time in almost two years, her fingers flutter, and her eyelids as well, then close again. A rasp, a croak from Jasra's throat, and Raevyn opens her hands to reveal the bruises she made on the fragile skin.

Vibrations tremble through the structure of the Keep, subtle poundings and breakings, far away but heavy, as of the hammers on the anvils of the gods. What could that be?

[Shutter]

They - " A blinding light washes over Josh, and the contact is broken."Josh!...Shit...Lester...Ah...shit..."

Raevyn opens her eyes to see herself grasping the atrophied forearms of Jasra's bedridden body. For the first time in almost two years, her fingers flutter, and her eyelids as well, then close again. A rasp, a croak from Jasra's throat, and Raevyn opens her hands to reveal the bruises she made on the fragile skin. "Dunstan!" Roland says loudly into thin air, hoping for a response. "We have her, what the hell is going on?" A few steps bring him to Raevyn, Smoke lowered and inconspicuous.

"Raevyn, are you all right? Lady Jasra?" He asks quietly, in between explosions. Always the least informed...

[Pygysys]

Heaping catastrophe upon injury, a new sun blazes for an instant outside the gate. The shock follows immediately, a wave front of debris that blows through the opening, knocking those few on their feet to the ground again. Airborne dust and detritus obscure everything for minutes, this time. Deaf and nearly blind, Kat almost takes off Ethan's hand as it grasps her shoulder. Kneeling, face to face, he says, "Milady! We need to get indoors before one of these blasts kills us!"

Even as he speaks, a brisk wind picks up, blowing the smog from the sea back toward the mountainside. In seconds, the field is clear again, and Kat can see Ethan at her side, Marc bleeding upon the ground, and Piet on his knees, closing the eyes of a fallen comrade. His own eyes look up to meet Kat's, and he shakes his head, as if in disbelief.Kat nods to Ethan, he's right, they need to withdraw and get out of the way of the blasts. She looks to Piet, "We have to get inside. Order your men to withdraw. We can all regroup on the inside and tackle whatever comes next together... " With Ethan's help, she regains her feet and starts yelling to any soldiers who are still alive to retreat. She also directs Ethan to help Marc if he's still alive, he might be dying if not already dead, but he can do so indoors and not under the feet of the approaching enemy.

She doesn't bother yelling twice, anyone foolish enough to stick around outside can wear the cost on their own skin. Kat stumble runs as best she can, waiting for her hearing and balance to both return and knowing, well silently praying that they do sooner rather than later. Next time Roland says hold the gate, I'm going to open it instead! We'd just better be able to get inside and out of the way of those blasts.

[Wired*Nun]

"Josh!...Shit...Lester...Ah...shit..."

"Dunstan!" Roland says loudly into thin air, hoping for a response. "We have her, what the hell is going on?" A few steps bring him to Raevyn, Smoke lowered and inconspicuous.

"Raevyn, are you all right? Lady Jasra?" He asks quietly, in between explosions. Always the least informed...
Jasra continues to struggle feebly, as one might expect of someone two years in a coma. "Water," she whispers.

No more explosions come, but faint shocks still reverberate through the structure of the Keep.

[Shutter]

Roland looks around for water, hopefully there's a pitcher or something nearby. If possible he'll bring Jasra some water. If not possible he'll curse himself for leaving his canteen somewhere off in shadow.

[LynMars]

Raevyn sighs with relief, shoulders drooping as all the tension is finally let go. "I-I think I'm okay..." As Jasra croaks for water, Raevyn turns, looking to Roland as she glances around for water as well. "What's going on?" She asks Roland, carefully helping Jasra sit up, and, if a drink is to be had, will help her sip it.

[Wired*Nun]

She also directs Ethan to help Marc if he's still alive, he might be dying if not already dead, but he can do so indoors and not under the feet of the approaching enemy.

.
A scattering of punch-drunk troops makes its way to the nearest way in to the structure of the Keep, the access corridor for this wing of the building. Inside, noncombatants peer out of doorways, checking on the commotion.

The world seems to have stabilized, and Kat's hearing has started to return, but she can still feel shocks running through the structure of the building, like the distant rumblings of some volcano.

Ethan is carrying Marc, who is semi-conscious at best. "Find a place to bandage him," he gasps. An older woman, grim and commanding, waves them into a doorway. "I'll work on him, I've dressed many wounds in my time," she says.

"Kat," says Piet. "I don't know what that was about, but it's not good. That fake Dalt didn't really fight like him, come to think of it, but I had no time to think. But then he planted that explosive and just left, left us to be killed. He would never do that. It was a trick of some kind, to open the gate. We still have to defend the Keep as best we can. I want to get up to our barracks, tell the rest what has happened, and see if Seph can get in touch with the Commander. You should go to your nobles, do what you can for them. All right?"

[Shutter]

Raevyn sighs with relief, shoulders drooping as all the tension is finally let go. "I-I think I'm okay..." As Jasra croaks for water, Raevyn turns, looking to Roland as she glances around for water as well. "What's going on?" She asks Roland, carefully helping Jasra sit up, and, if a drink is to be had, will help her sip it.
"I'm not sure. The Keep was attacked by Dalt along with at least one more chaos lord, and Chaos shock troops. Dunstan defended it well...As did Josh. Someone brought in explosives or artillery. They may have been coming to stop us, but maybe not. A few troops made it to the doorway here, but nothing serious...I sent Kat to hold the gate. That was before the explosions began, and I haven't heard from her since." Roland turns to face Jasra, whether she's looking at him or not he bows. "Welcome back Lady Jasra."

[LynMars]

Raevyn looks up at Roland, frowning a little. "Are Josh and Dunstan okay, or have you not heard from them yet, either?"

[Shutter]

Roland just shakes his head and shrugs, meeting Raevyn's worried look with his own.

[Wired*Nun]

"Thank you." Jasra brushes feebly at her hair and face, and says, "Help me sit up, please."

Upright in the bed now, she drinks more water and looks around, searching the faces of the two before her for any hint of what is going on. "Sounds as if we are in the midst of a crisis. Judging from the blood on your armor, you've defended me well. For that, I thank you. Now it sounds as if someone is mucking about in the Chamber of the Fount - why don't you go there and do what big strong men love to do, while the young lady and I catch up on what's been going on. And have some soup sent in, will you?" Her body frail, her mind teetering, her will still seems indomitable.

Dismissing Roland with her look, she turns to Raevyn. "Please, young lady, tell me what has happened since I was banished? And quickly, I feel we're still in some danger. And what's your name and lineage, anyway?" Her eyes burn brightly in that concentration-camp face.

[LynMars]

Raevyn glances at Roland quickly, just once, then turns her attention fully on Jasra. "I am Raevyn, daughter of Gerard of Amber. My cousin Roland," here she gestures to him, "and I were asked by Dunstan to try and bring you back. This after another incident where he brought us and some others here, to help deal with your other son, Rinaldo, who he claims put you in that state after going mad himself. We hadn't decided what to do about that yet, and only returned here after my brother was killed in Amber. We were hoping with you awake again, it would shed some light on the whole situation, as well as allowing you take back the Keep, as Dunstan's been worn thin by everything else."

Raevyn pauses, considering. "Also, your Maze seems to be asserting itself somehow, using Benedict's son Siodmak, and it and some kind of patron called Nightmare keep coming up in this mess. Now, it seems that Dalt has attacked the Keep in league with Chaos forces. Dunstan and Joshua, and our own guards, have been working to defend while I finished the Trump. There's more, of course, but I don't know how much is pertinent, especially if there's still danger. Is there somewhere safer I can take you?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Pleased to meet you. Now, I hate to admit it, but I am far too weak to do more than give advice. First, you can't let anyone get control of the Fount. That's the first prize here. Everything else is expendable. Second, if Dalt attacked the Keep, he either has been duped, controlled, or impersonated. I don't want him harmed, and I need to speak with him. Chaos forces are another matter. They have wanted this place for some time, and even if they didn't, Dara hates me enough to take it from me just for spite. I'll wager she's behind this whole thing, one way or another." This speech seems to exhaust her, and she leans her head back, closes her eyes, and says, "I really could use that soup..."

[Shutter]

She isn't doing well....damnit, I need three of me.

"Raevyn, get my Trump out, if anything comes down this corridor, contact me immediately and I'll pull you both through. Better make sure they're working right now too."

If the Trumps are indeed working.

"Ok, good. I'm going to the Fount, I'll call you and bring you both there. Soup will have to meet us there Jasra." Wonderful, she dismisses you as a thug and you just hop to it. Ah well, what option do I really have?

Before leaving Roland tries to find some way of bringing the chaos blade with him that doesn't involve suffering its effects too greatly. Hopefully something as simple as wrapping it in thick blankets and carrying the bundle will suffice. Not more than a minute will be devoted to this though.

[Wired*Nun]

There seems to be no way for Roland to handle the chaos blade without suffering its effects. In fact, even stepping near it seems to bring his foot within range of the transmission of the cold - through the floor presumably.

The Trumps seem to be working fine, as soon as anyone checks.

"I'm only moving from this bed if my life depends on it, nephew-in-law, I can barely lift a finger. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you I need food, right away...send someone for it, please!" This last is said in a cracked whisper.

[Shutter]

Sidestepping the chaos blade for now, Roland approaches the guards. "How quickly can you be back with soup and water?"

[Wired*Nun]

A look of some confusion, then the veteran says, "Quite quickly, I am sure. The kitchens are always cooking something. Jon, go run and tell one of the stewards to bring up soup and utensils - in fact, bring up a bunch of food, I'm starving too. And send up some more troops, in case more of those things come back." As Jon runs off, he looks at Roland with a weary smile. "Things usually run pretty smoothly around here...I wonder what all that banging is?"

[Shutter]

"Thank you!" Roland calls out when the younger guard takes off. And be careful man...Damn they're calm, how often does this place come under attack?

"I'm wondering the same damn thing. I'm going now to investigate. When the food arrives bring it in to them. Lady Jasra is weakened and hungry. Hold this door. If I can, someday I will find a way to repay you for helping me." Turning to face the room with Raevyn and Jasra he hollers, "I'm off. Be safe, call me at the first sign of trouble. Food is on the way."

"And keep an eye on that damned sword." He growls before sheathing Smoke and sprinting down the cooridor, making for the Fount as quickly as possible.

[LynMars]

Raevyn pulls out Roland's Trump and keep it in her lap, watching the surrounding conversations. When things have calmed again, she turns back to the other woman. "Anything else I can get for you, or that you need to know? Or something I should do, now? I'm no sorceress, nor a warrior, really." She glances once over to the sword left on the floor, frowning a little. She wonders idly about Dunstan, who didn't respond to Roland's call, and about Joshua, and Kat, wondering if they were all right...

[Wired*Nun]

"Yes, sir. I mean, ah,...the Mistress is awake?" He looks shocked. "That is very good news. But no repayment is necessary. I was just doing my duty." He looks quietly pleased at Roland's words nonetheless.

Extrapolating from what he has seen of the floor plan and symmetry, it doesn't take Roland long to find the covered walkway to the central keep. The arhythmic vibrations are getting stronger as he gets closer to the door.

When he arrives, the door is shut and locked.

[Wired*Nun]

Without opening her eyes, she says, "Young lady, you are quite competent enough to do what you did, and you have my thanks. I need rest and food, but I may not get either. We may not live to get either, if someone else gets control of the Fount. Is there anyone else you can call? Any friends, any favors you can call in, to make sure that doesn't happen?"

[Shutter]

Roland pulls out the key and tries to unlock and open the door.

[LynMars]

"Well, I could call back to Amber...Or the other cousins..." Raevyn chews her lip as she pulls out more Trumps, looking through them quickly. She pulls out two: Arrotel and Gerard. 'Don't want to rely on Dad, and they may not want to help Jasra anyway...But will Arrotel's group be enough?' She holds up Arrotel's Trump. "There are three other cousins that may come help if asked, if that would be preferable to having my elders arrive in your domain."

[Wired*Nun]

"I rely on your judgment, my dear. Elders would more likely triumph, but I don't know enough to say..." she seems to slip off into unconsciousness for a few moments.

[Pygysys]

Ethan is carrying Marc, who is semi-conscious at best. "Find a place to bandage him," he gasps. An older woman, grim and commanding, waves them into a doorway. "I'll work on him, I've dressed many wounds in my time," she says.

"Kat," says Piet. "I don't know what that was about, but it's not good. That fake Dalt didn't really fight like him, come to think of it, but I had no time to think. But then he planted that explosive and just left, left us to be killed. He would never do that. It was a trick of some kind, to open the gate. We still have to defend the Keep as best we can. I want to get up to our barracks, tell the rest what has happened, and see if Seph can get in touch with the Commander. You should go to your nobles, do what you can for them. All right?"Kat watches Ethan and Marc as the old woman tends to the wounded of the two, looking very concerned about the welfare of them both. Piet's words get her attention and she looks back to the large warrior. "Be careful Piet and good luck. I'll find Roland and inform them of the duplicity involved here." She smiles and reaches out to touch his arm before making her way to Ethan.

"I want you to stay here and do what you can, they need you here." She looks across at Marc as the old woman tends to him, "Watch over him if you can, I don't want to lose either of you. I have to find Roland and the others." Rather than search out the Keep, she finally takes advantage of the Trumps that were prepared by her cousins. Finding Roland's, she steps away into a corner for a little privacy and attempts to contact her Cousin, hoping she'll be able to get ahold of him.