Characters in Attendance:
Lord Aaron [Andy]
Dalen [Kath]
Ambassador Lentaro [Jeremy Z.]
Maladin [Jeremy F.]
Rhyss [Joanna]

When last we saw our intrepid adventurers ...

It is the eve before the war. Lord Aaron is finishing his "repairs" of New York. Maladin is in Helmwind preparing for the rigors of the coming day. Rhyss, Lentaro and Dalen are in the salle in the White Rose, with Teran, the Oleai "guinea pig".

Benedict sends for Maladin to review "The Plan" (i.e. the mutagen retro-virus), asking for predictions of successful. Maladin gives it a 50/50 chance. Benedict is not terribly sanguine about the outcome of the war, and would like to see the plan work, if at all possible. There are 300,000 - 400,000 Moonrider troops in and around the Helmwind capital, and 400,000 Amber troops. Even odds suck. Benedict decides to lay siege to the Moonriders instead of a direct assault -- it will keep them in one place while buying the group time to complete the plan. He asks Maladin to give him regular updates.

Lentaro, Rhyss, Dalen and Teran move to a private room downstairs in the Rose, so Len can Trump Alan Smithy in Telluria. Without going into too many details, Len assures the rest of the group that Alan is their man. Alan is contacted, and comes through. Between bouts of examining specimens of primitive technology, Alan is apprised of the situation regarding the Oleai and told of the benefits to Telluria if they assist Amber in the manufacture of the retro-virus. Alan refers Lentaro to Kataein Matunda -- the Regional Governor for Telluria. They both return to Telluria to get the paperwork in motion.

Lord Aaron has returned to Amber, and is promptly Trumped by the Lady Klissera. She has been terribly concerned about his health and welfare, and asks him ever so nicely if he wishes to have dinner that evening. After reviewing her visible assets, Aaron decides that dinner might not be such a bad idea.

Maladin Trumps Aaron, and Aaron heads over to Helmwind where the gentlemen start hatching plans. (Be afraid. Be very afraid.)

Lentaro Trumps Dalen for a lift back to Amber. They all have breakfast, and he asks Rhyss to create a Trump for Alan, "just to play with". Rhyss and Dalen look dubious at that prospect.

Teran is given a room at the Rose, where he's quite happy to hide out. Rhyss and Dalen contact Raphaella, and pay her a visit. Florimel is outside her manor, unloading crates from several large trucks (literally lifting huge crates, and moving them off the vehicles). When asked, Flora tells them that the contents are just some early holiday gifts to send back to Amber -- she'd been shopping! She waves cheerfully and they all exchange well wishes and go back to their tasks. Raphaella is quite happy to show off her newest sculpture (the one which leads to the "dead place" instead of the usual Hell). The women make sure the gate is has an return mechanism, then go through. They see a city in the distance, and the local terrain is red, hilly and not terribly alive. They decide to check out the city before going back, and so head off over the hills.

Meanwhile, Maladin and Aaron, sill in Helmwind, start testing out their ideas. Maladin starts looking for waves, and they hop the next one going out. They're looking for "inhabited" waves, since the bulk of the Moonrider army is not encamped in Helmwind. Aaron wants to learn how to feel the waves, and after several failed attempts to do so, he pushes a psychic link on Maladin -- so as to sense what he's feeling as the waves go by. Maladin accepts it for a while, but when Aaron starts poking around questions of Maladin's parentage (to better understand his sensitivity to the waves), Maladin slams up his defenses and comes close to burying his dagger in Aaron's throat. With an exasperatedly petulant sigh, Aaron releases him and they resume looking for the Moonrider army. Then the Prince has an idea. A awful idea. The Prince has a wonderfully awful idea ... He'll raise a Pattern lens and try to scan each wave as it goes by! What this does is release a huge blast of raw, pure Vitae -- the stuff of which dreams (and reality as we know it) are made. As the Vitae blasts around and through them, they feel themselves torn apart and recombined. When they shake off the numbness, they realize they are furrier than they used to be -- in fact, they have long ears, sharp pointy teethy, and little fluffy tails. Our gallant gentlemen have been restructured into 3 foot-high, sentient bunnies. They have no clothing, no personal items, no magical artifacts ... nothing but themselves and their new fur coats.

Aaron takes the time to restructure himself back into a human form, but without a template for Maladin, he's stuck as is. They decide to hop a wave back towards Amber, and see if they can get Maladin's Trump from someone. Once there, Maladin hides in the garden (making quick work of Corwin's roses), while Aaron finds some clothes, and tries to "borrow" the Trump from Random. The King is willing to give Maladin's Trump to Aaron for a space ... but he also thinks it's time to have "a conversation". He informs Aaron that he'll be in the salle later ... and that the Duke should join him. Aaron agrees to the meeting (gulp!), takes the Trump and runs. Back in a wave, Maladin creates a bubble of Vitae around Aaron's Pattern lens, and Aaron is able to remold him back to his original form. Needless to say, Maladin wasn't very happy about this particular episode.

Dalen and Rhyss make it to the city in the land of the dead. Dalen pulls up a Pattern lens and looks at the creatures walking around. They all have the feel of the unlamented Fumaris -- all walking vampires. On a rise, near the center of the city, is a castle. They decide to return to the gate before they manage to draw attention to themselves. Once back, Dalen asks Raphaella to hold the sculpture/gate for her, because she thinks she'd like to have it purchased. Raphaella agrees. Lentaro Trumps Rhyss and comes through to Fiona's Manor. The women tell him what they've found, and he fills them in on what he knows regarding the dead place -- i.e. Osric's people, the Bright Pattern, etc. The three of them return to Amber where they find the Steward and make appointments to see Random for later that evening.

Lentaro has returned to Telluria to keep his appointment with Regional Governor Kataein Matunda. The Governor hears "The Plan" and agrees to it, with the proviso that all the trade agreements are in place before Telluria begins the process.

Maladin and Aaron return to Helmwind to look for Fiona. Unfortunately she has no spare spell racks to give to Maladin. They discuss the possibility of creating "Oleai-specific" filters to be established around Amber.

Later that evening, in the salle during Random's weapon's practice, the King "discusses" with Aaron the situation with Neechen Cho, the Pattern "studies" the Duke has been involved with, and the wise use of power by those who have it. Random draws a parallel to Brand, and the havoc his misuse of power caused -- and the loss of two of his siblings because of it (Aaron tunes out, "Oh, it's the 'Brand' talk" he thinks to himself). Random continues on with however insignificant shadow dwellers may be to Amberites, they are still significant to themselves. Random closes the discussion with an injunction that Aaron informs the Family of intentions BEFORE he acts on them. Aaron promises to do so.

When Random finishes with Aaron, he and Maladin talk. Aaron realizes he's missing his dinner with Klissera and hurries to make that appointment.

A very little later, Rhyss and Dalen have their appointment with Random. They inform him about the Bright Pattern, Osric's involvement, the possible/probable connection between Osric's minions and a faction of the Moonriders, and the existence of the gate. He authorizes the purchase of the Gate from Raphaella, and tells them to get the money from the night Steward. Florimel can send it along at the same time she transports some other things she's shipping in.

Lentaro has his meeting with Random, and they discuss the Tellurian trade requirements. Random signs off on it, and tells Lentaro bluntly not to screw this up. Lentaro very solemnly assures Random that he'll do his utmost to make sure everyone is satisfied with the situation. Len returns to Telluria with the paperwork and gives the signed agreements to the Regional Governor. Matunda signs off on his part of the deal, and Lentaro takes the authorization to the laboratory/research institute which will be doing the work. The Plan can now get underway!

Rhyss and Dalen have meanwhile secured the money from the night Steward, and have contacted Raphaella about the sale and shipment of the piece. Maladin meets up with them, as does Lentaro, and the all head down to the Rose for a very stiff drink. Lentaro asks Rhyss to work on some Trumps for him, and she also agrees to replace Maladin's Trumps.

Aaron leaves Klissera, and heads to his room to start plotting the schematics for the "filter". He doesn't get very far before he realizes that he's one tired bunny.

Everyone sleeps, and it's the NEXT DAY!

Teran and Dalen go to Telluria with Lentaro to begin the process of being guinea pig, ultimate donor, and research facilitator. Rhyss beings working on the requested Trumps. Maladin spends time remaking his magic rack. Aaron researches the filter idea.

FIVE DAYS PASS!!

Flora's Christmas presents to the "Family" ended up being a very large shipment of guns! The perfect gift for the King who has it all!

A problem has been discovered with the retro-virus mutagen. It works, or appears to work (Teran isn't showing any signs of becoming shadow-sick or taking ill affect from the virus), but currently it's Shadow "specific". It will only remain active in Telluria. Alan suggests imbuing it with Pattern to make it transmittable in other locales.

An odd bit of news from Amber .... the Day Steward has disappeared. No signs of foul play. He just seems to be gone.

Bleys Trumps Maladin -- bad, weak connection with no sound, just a picture of Bleys looking like he's in the middle of a hurricane before it fizzles out. Maladin jumps a wave to where Bleys was -- it's in the middle of a shadowstorm. There is no contact with Bleys via Trump. Maladin contacts Aaron and asks, "Is this YOUR work?!?!?" Aaron says, "I don't *think* so." Maladin tells him that Bleys is in the area, but that he can't reach him now. Aaron considers this, and closes the contact without another word. Maladin considers his options -- and finds a place to shelter from the worst of the storm. Aaron walks the Pattern of the Mind to where Maladin was. The storm abates after several hours, and the two of them finally meet up. Bleys can't be reached by Trump, and they can't find him by other means. They find the remains of his army, and Caine comes out to help put the troops in order and take them on to Amber. The consensus is that this shadowstorm was somehow caused by the Moonriders, and they have taken Bleys.

Rhyss Trumps Lentaro, delivers his new cards and comes to Telluria. Maladin is Trumped and both he and Aaron also come to Telluria. The group has a pow-wow regarding the status of the retro-virus. Aaron and Maladin think imbuing it with Pattern is a bad idea. Dalen thinks it's necessary.

Dalen Trumps Galen to tell him the status of the retro-virus. Lentaro and Maladin want to make sure of what exactly the Oleai will be giving in return for the virus. The answer is that they will cease fighting Amber, and rebuild their lives. He's told that they will contact him when the preparation are complete ... in about another week. Galen looks as if he is going to say something, then decides against it and closes the connection.

Aaron is staying on in Telluria to do "research" and to work on his filter. Alan is delighted to have him, as Aaron's Pattern is so much more clear and precise than the one they're used to working with. Aaron comes to the quick conclusion that Telluria has a Broken Pattern in their metaphorical basement. He and Maladin work on their project while the rest of the group assist the retro-virus scientists and/or rest.

Lentaro contacts Fiona regarding the Trump of Neechen Cho he had asked her to look at -- she says that the cover up of the true subject was quite good, and that the real person behind the card is, surprisingly, Lord Rhein of Gideon.

Dalen is Trumped by an "unknown person". "AAAARRRROOOONNNNN!!", she yells, as these calls have meant trouble in the past -- and usually her puny psyche can't block them indefinitely. Aaron comes over and lends his power, and they take the call. It is Niro, the man Dalen saw from a previous conversation with Lentaro. Niro shows her two figures, beaten and chained to the wall behind him -- her foster parents, Merik and Desra. He simply says, "Come now, or they'll die." Aaron's presence is noted, and the command is changed to "alone". Dalen drops Aaron's connection and goes through.

There are twelve guards surrounding Dalen, and the Bright Pattern to the back of her. Niro stands before her, telling her that if she cooperates, no harm will come to her family. Looking at their already beaten bodies, a berserker rage fills her and she concludes that his promises are meaningless. Revenge will be had. Out comes her sword, and she strikes at Niro for all she's worth. He is driven back and the order is given to his guards to attack.

Aaron yells for everyone, and Lentaro sounds the alarm in the lab. They try to figure out how to get to the place Aaron saw, and realize that creating a Trump would take too much time. A technician, who had been watching (and scanning with his devices) the whole time says, "Oh, you want to go where she went? Hold on a sec ..." He flips a few switches, turns a few knobs and an arch appears -- and there is the room, with Niro preparing a spell and Dalen in the middle of a fight with (now) ten other people.

Niro sees the gate appear and throws lightening bolts through the opening. Aaron tries to block their passage with a Pattern lens, and while it keeps the rest of the lab from being totally fried (with a few exceptions, such as the technician who had been working the console which controlled the gate), he takes the brunt of the energy and collapses back stunned. Lentaro has called the guards and has positioned them just inside the gate. Niro throws a web spell across the gate, but the sticky mass is cut sharply against the outlines of the portal. The remainder entangles a couple of the guards beyond. Rhyss stabilizes the gate which had been fluctuating badly. Len's guards start firing, taking out a couple more of the Bright Pattern goons. Niro summons undead werewolves who are sent through the gate -- they go for the guards, and for Rhyss.

Aaron shakes off his daze and racks his brain for something to do.

Lentaro tries to figure out how to work the control panels for the system running the gate.

Rhyss creates phantom images of technicians looking panicked and helpless as a diversion for the werewolves. It works.

Dalen is down to four attackers (thanks to the guards behind the gate as well as her own skills), and grabs another goon and throws him behind her on the Pattern. He collapses. Niro casts another spell. Two shadow wraiths appear and are sent towards Dalen. One encounters a Bright Pattern goons first and sucks the life out of him as if he were an orange. The two remaining goons decide it's time to cut their losses and they run out the door and down the stairs. Dalen manages to slice one of the wraiths, doing some damage before they can get to her, so the creatures decide they're not willing to be hurt to feed. They go for potentially easier targets on the other side of the gate.

With her way clear, Dalen makes a rush for Niro and slices off his forearm just as he releases another spell at her. She begins moving incredibly slowly, as if in a zombie state. Niro begins preparing yet another spell. Lentaro peeks through the gate in time to see this, and he throws a bolt of raw energy at Niro, breaking the man's concentration and ruining his spell.

Niro moves behind Dalen and puts the dagger to her throat. He demands the gate be closed or she dies. He nicks her cheek to show his clear intentions. Lentaro figures out how, and they close the gate.

Maladin shows up in the lab, and starts shooting the shadow wraiths with raw Vitae, killing them. The guards start mopping up the werewolves. Aaron, Rhyss, Lentaro and Maladin make Trump contact with Dalen, but her thoughts are moving like molasses in January. The group pushes the contact, and it shatters the Zombie spell. Niro feels it go, and slashes the side of Dalen's throat ... while she retaliates with a deep wound to his chest. Niro, who by now is bleeding himself into unconsciousness, decides it's time to cut his loses. He drags himself into the center of the Bright Pattern.

Dalen pulls her friends through, then concentrates on shapeshifting to repair the large gash in her neck before she also bleeds to death. Aaron uses her sword to break the chains from Merik and Desra. Hearing a sizable amount of guards coming up the stairs, they decide that discretion is the better part of valor and leave Niro where he is. The group returns to the lab in Telluria.

To be continued December 19th, at 2:00 PM ...