Ruby and Emerald

Well Conner has few things he wants to do but at least some of them can be done in summary mode I think.

1) Trump Merlin and ask him for Jerod's spear back and assuming he can get it, a Trump call to Llewella to pass it through to her. No need to play that out unless anyone involved wants to.

2) Conner still wants to scry for Vialle using his mirror if he can get a few minutes alone in his tent before the army gets on the move.

3) Conner would like to talk to Khela about Triton sorcery so he knows what to expect from it on the battlefield.

So where would be best to pick up things for the Hivemind?

We'll take the scry first because it's easiest: Conner is unable to find Vialle. Either she no longer exists or she's somehow defended from scrying of the sort the mirror performs.

Conner is able to talk to Merlin and retrieve the spear and a sealed message for Jerod. He passes on the news that Moire and Rilsa are effectively in Celina's protective custody for now, and that he is also attempting to find out more information about the attacks on Solace, Lucas' wife, at Celina's suggestion. Lucas has been coopted to help keep Moire and Rilsa busy in exchange. Florimel also appears to have taken Celina's side in the family split, so until and unless Corwin returns, there will be no family allies for Moire.

Conner accepts the spear and puts the message away absolutely convinced that the water will not affect it. Conner then relays to Merlin that he was unable to locate Queen Vialle with the Eye. Conner has no more time to devote to the problem at present because of the upcoming battle but hopes to discuss this with Merlin further at a later time. Conner wishes Merlin luck and closes the contact. Then he trumps Llewella to pass along the spear and message to Jerod.

Llewella takes the spear and the message and wishes Conner good luck with his arm of the attack.

Having discharged all of his duties without, Conner turns to preparing things within. First he seeks out Khela to speak of Triton sorcery. Practically, he needs to know what he can expect on the battlefield but more generally his curiosity is piqued by any powers that work within the vicinity of a Pattern.

Khela discusses matters with Conner while their associated forces prepare for battle. She has assigned tritons to Connor, since he's worked with them in the past, and she has the soldiers and her bodyguards. The preparations are almost ready.

She tells Conner what she knows of Triton magics, which is that they are shadow-magic and, while powerful, no match for pattern or true sorcery. They are specific to the shadow and are effectively ritualistic invocations of the Mother-Dragon. To Tritons, active support of the Mother Dragon is crucial to victory in battle.

"You should look for those with the trident of Lyr in their facial tattoos. They will help lead the troops. They are the mage-priests. They all fight, of course."

"Is there any evidence that this Mother Dragon actually exists to grant them power?" Conner asks. "I had a Triton visit me earlier with what he claimed was a vision of the future sent by the Mother Dragon. I have been trying to divine if this was a direct message from a being or merely their way of explaining the power they wield."

Khela pauses. "I haven't seen any such, but the sword I bear was once a thing everyone knew of, and became over time a legend and then a myth. Something made the Tritons war on Rebma, and something made them stop. I've seen far distant shadows where the gods are real and ones no further than an eyelash away where they were concocted by priests to control people. I have not delved too deeply into Triton religion, because they currently support me and I do not wish to upset that balance."

She looks across the field where the armies are preparing. "If you pursue this further, I will be interested in what you find."

"I fully intend to." Conner agrees. "I can tell you that there is a Dragon in Arden. It stands to reason that there is one in Nedra, but reason is rarely the guiding principle of the cosmos however many mathematical formulas we derive to explain it." Conner smiles grimly. "I shall endeavor to keep them flattered by my respectful interest when the time comes. For now, I shall speak to them only of battle tactics. I have countermeasures to prepare." When given leave, Conner retires to see to them.

Khela nods. "We know so little of them, and we depend on them for our very safety. May you live to make the report and may I live to accept it. Lir be with you."

Conner knows that sorcery will be difficult this close to Rebma's pattern, but he hopes that with a little preparation, a few advantages might be conjured. Conner selects a dozen of the swiftest Tritons and assigns them to be a cross between a personal guard and messengers corps. To each of them he presents a token, a sped-up pocket watch on a chain. Huon's forces may have come to expect the speed of the Tritons but this swift strike force should be an unexpected edge.

It will not last more than a day, but a dozen tritons are so outfitted.

Teukros [OOC: are any of the tritons you chose named already? is Teukros one of them?] approaches. "General, the tritons are ready to be led to battle. The have been blessed by our priests and are prepared to break the army of the invader. Shall we move out?"

OOC: Yes, Teukros is among the dozen as is Halamedes. I don't think we named any other Tritons. Happy to do so if needed later.

Conner takes one last look over his map table. This will be the last moment that the battle will be predictable and he wants to savor it. Then he nods. "It is time Teukros. Sound the call to your people. Today the Sons of the Dragon shall bring honor to their own names and it will be glorious!" Conner takes his place among the swift. "Move out."

The army moves out on command, with the enhanced Tritons having to learn to go more slowly to avoid outstripping their fellows. Shortly, the army of Khela arrives at the designated point and begins to create lines. The ground slightly favors them, and the combination of support from Khela's magical archers on the heights and a sortie from Rebma make Huon's chances appear to be small.

[Anything to do before Huon's men come over the hill and form their own lines? The plan is to make them come to you, but that doesn't have to survive contact with the enemy...]

[Nope. Conner is content to wait for the enemy.]

The enemy appears on the crest of the hill, first a few scouts, followed by pickets. Conner's tritons who swim straight up report that the force is still spread out but is contracting into lines along the low hilltop they're occupying.

Having to fight a war is bad enough but having to wait to do so is intolerable. Conner sighs and looks out over his own troops and the few of Huon's forces than he can see. "Pieces on a game board, Conner. That is what they must be until the battle ends. Time enough to deal with their bodies and souls and families when the fighting is over." His uncle's advice had served him well on many an occasion but over time it wears thin. One of those game pieces is the son of a cousin after all. Nothing to be done about it of course. Even if he knew what Meg's son looked like, he could never be found in time to be spared. Even Brita couldn't sniff him out among all this. Hell, he might already be among the untrained dead that first met the Trtion's in battle.

Conner sighs once more. It is times like this that Conner wishes he had someone to pray to. An appeal to the laws of probability just does not have the same force. "Fight well, Meg's son, or flee at the first sight of the foe. Only by great skill or abject cowardice will you return to your mother." Conner returns his focus to the forming lines. Pieces on a game board. That is what they must be. For now.

The line is fully formed, when a murmur begins in his tritons. A horn sounds from the front of the enemy's lines. Two riders come out of the front of Huon's army, both atop sharks. They carry a white flag. One appears to be Huon.

"What is he up to?" Conner murmurs. "He had his chance to parley and turned it down. Teukros, gather the Swift and prepare for battle. If Huon does not honor the white flag, he will not escape to enjoy it." With his stylus already in hand, Conner collapses it as he removes the space between he and Khela for his words.

(Assuming that works) "Majesty, do you intend to honor this offer of parley? I do not trust it." He advises bluntly.

Llewella answers quickly. "Yes?"

Brennan doesn't try to hide his location, per se, but he's moved away from the mouth of the cave-- Trumps distract him and he doesn't want to be fixed on the ledge.

"Distant Aunt," he says formally. "I may have information you do not, and will find useful. But I can also see from my vantage that you are going to be very busy, very soon, so in the interest of brevity I will ask this directly: Have you or yours summoned anything from far afield to aid in your battle? Meaning, the hintershades near the Tree?"

"I have not. My daughter commands the other half of our forces and by the power of her pattern-sword, the Tritons of Rebma, who are a people descended from that place." She smiles and shakes her head. "It's so funny to me that none of us noticed anything unusual about it in all our centuries. Khela's Tritons could summon something, they are tied to their Mother, who is a creature of Chaos." She pauses.

"My sister could summon something, as well. It is a worrying thought. Would you be willing to come to me, or better still go to Khela and describe what doom you think is come upon us? She could use your blade against Huon, especially if there is chaos magic on the field."

"Your sister is my prime suspect," Brennan says, nodding, "Given her location in Paris and my location here on the Path. But I thought it better to ask before charging in. In very brief, what we're dealing with is an actual thing of Chaos. It has a very bad history with the Knights, and it's walked through two more mundane armies recently without a scratch.

"Yes, I am willing to come through, although be advised I have a small crew-- my squire, four Shadow-dwellers-- to bring with."

Unless Llewella objects, Brennan hands them through starting with Dignity, then follows through himself. He'll be letting Dignity do some Aelf-sitting.

Llewella does not object and the group comes through to Llewella. The room is a small, windowless chamber, possibly in the castle. Jerod is here, speaking by trump to someone.

The room is very crowded.

Jerod finishes his conversation a moment or two later, fitting his cards back into his case before securing them to his belt and turning towards the new group of arrivals.

He wears the uniform of an officer of Rebma, the insignia of the Coldstream Guards if Brennan is conversant in the heraldry. He remains silent as the visitors sort themselves out.

Brennan comes through wearing what might be the least appropriate garb of anyone in Rebma in this moment: heavy armor, including a breast plate and other protective gear. He's also carrying a deadly-looking axe-hammer that might not be of human make in one hand, and has a shield with his device-- a lightning-struck tower, differenced for the Order of the Ruby-- on the other arm.

"Jerod," he says, then bows his head in silence for a moment. He obviously knows what's happened. There is obviously much to be said. He obviously doesn't want to say any of it here, so he directs the conversation elsewhere.

Jerod accepts the nod, still silent. His gaze has picked out elements from Brennan's attire that serve to let him know what he has been up to recently, and that he did not come to Rebma seeking battle here - the design of his weapons are sufficient to tell him that.

Since this is going to be a Family council, Brennan introduces Dignity-- whom Jerod almost certainly knows and whom Llewella might have met on the march back from Chaos-- but then sends him to lead the Aelfs off some polite distance and babysit them.

"Are we waiting for anyone else in this council? Conner? Khela? Or should I just say what I know?" Brennan asks.

"They are in the field, readying for Huon." Jerod says. "They can be reached as needed."

Llewella nods. "Brennan, your arrival is unexpected and unplanned for. We've had our council of war and are now working on implementing it. Your last-minute intelligence is valuable for us but moreso for Khela. It is she that bears Rebma's pattern sword, which is Huon's stated reason for attacking this city, and she will be the target of any hostile act by this creature."

She turns to Jerod. "Brennan came here tracking a being summoned from Chaos, which went straight to Huon's army. It is unclear who summoned it. It may be Huon's, which would give us some insight as to what his hole card is, or it may be meant to assassinate my daughter during the confusion of the battle."

Jerod makes note of the limited description, remembering the battle of Kolvir, the limiting effect that Pattern proximity may impose on the creature, dependant of course on its natural strength. He considers for a moment the thought that someone would want to assassinate Khela, but discards it. Moire would be the obvious summoner but obvious targets are sometimes too easy. Though the theory may be supported by information from Llewella's perspective, without offering said supporting evidence it remains only a speculative concept for the moment, to be pursued as needed should new information appear.

"We should each to our stations. I to the walls of Rebma, Jerod to the sallyport, and Brennan, we should send to Khela."

Jerod nods once silently and turns to depart (unless Llewella has a spear to hand to him).

[oops! yeah, she returns the ancestral toothpick...]

"Jerod, " she calls. "This is yours, " she says. She holds out a very familiar spear.

Jerod pauses long enough to acquire his weapon, nodding a thank you and proceeding out once more. There are things to be done.

"Some brief observations, in case they are necessary," Brennan says.

"First, when and where I last encountered it, it was perfectly capable of walking through armies unscathed and damaging them grievously. It's done so at least twice. Second, although its name changes every time I carve a piece off, one thing has remained constant: it has a voracious appetite. It has eaten, among other things, an entire burning lake. I would not allow it to eat a Triton. Third, do not underestimate it, even here," Brennan says.

Brennan does not comment on the logic of summoning a creature of Chaos to assassinate the holder of a Pattern blade. Possibly because he wants to meet the holder of the Pattern blade. Brennan gathers Dignity and the Aelfs back to him, and goes where he is bid.

Llewella pulls out a well-weathered and protected trump and quickly uses it to make contact with someone. Her hand is out to Brennan. "I have a cousin of yours who bears news, can you take him to you? It is Brennan, Brand's son, and his retainers.."

[If Brennan is in the conversation...]

[He is.]

The woman is striking, her skin a deep green where Llewella's is pale. She seems more dressed for athletic activity than attired for war, and at her hip is a thin, delicate blade, suited for point-work. It is in a holder, but not scabbarded. Even through the contact, it is clear to Brennan that this green blade is of a type with Werewindle and Greyswandir.

"Well met, Brennan Brandsson! Come to me if you will." She holds out her hand.

"As you wish," he says.

He hands Dignity through, then the Aelfs, then follows himself. "I'm Brennan Brandsson," he says, before releasing her hand after he comes through, "Knight Commander of the Order of the Ruby. I greet you on behalf of the Order."

Khela nods and releases his hand. "Random's knights from the war. I've been considering starting an Order like that, assuming I'm alive and able to do so after we fight here." She smiles. "My claim to the Queen's-right isn't meaningful unless I make it stick right now."

"Choose them well," Brennan says, seriously but not unfriendly. "If they are kin, they will be around for quite some time."

He then looks around and takes in his surroundings.

Brennan is on the extreme edge of a small cliff or steep hillside. To his right and left are lines of troops, a mixture of humans, partly-human snake-like things that look like 30 feet of muscle in a 20 foot bag. Some of the troops are armed with melee weapons and some have spears, while a significant minority appear to be spellcasters.

The left flank is anchored by mountainous terrain. The right flank and the front are open to the hills being climbed. On the plains below are two armies. One is composed mostly of the snake-things and seems to be defending the high ground that Brennan and Khela occupy. They have the hilltop group screened from attack. That's good, because this would be a hard position to retreat from.

The other army is approaching from outside of Rebma, and seems to be the same one Brennan saw departing from there when he was on the other side of the city.

Brennan's snap judgement is that the army besieging the city is attempting to drive-off the army coming to relieve the siege. It would be an interesting if not overly complex tactical problem if it were not for the involvement of Llewella, Huon, Khela, Connor, and Jerod, as well as whatever force or interest brought the Eater and Brennan to the scrum.

"Impressive," Brennan says of the Tritons, and looks with a professional eye to identify banners on the fields, and with the banners, the locations of the principal players on the field. He's not here for tactical commentary-- at least not yet-- so he doesn't offer any.

Brennan notes that this side has many in the two armies, with more on the distant walls of Rebma. Huon's arriving army has several as well, but they are more like the insignia of non-noble armies: great numbers in the same style on banners. Huon's forces seem to have a higher ratio of mages to soldiers than Khela's.

Khela follows Brennan's glance over the battlefield. "We have a few minutes before Huon attacks. Mother was quite brief. What news do you bring?"

"Troubling news," he says, "but with it, the opportunity to strengthen ties between Rebma and Xanadu, and at the same time bury any lingering sentiments of political unpleasantness between green hair and red. But with time pressing, I'll be as brief as possible.

"I am here following a fugitive, which has committed crimes against my retainers," he gestures to indicate the Aelfs clustered around Dignity some respectful distance away, "against our cousins, against myself, against the Order of the Ruby, and by extension against Xanadu. I've pursued it some considerable distance across Shadow to here, and I do not believe it had the means to come here without assistance. I'm choosing my words with care, here; I say 'it' because it is neither male, nor female, nor even remotely human, but a thing of Chaos.

"I believe strongly it was summoned here quite recently. If I were to conjecture, I would conjecture in the direction of Moire, which is an unpleasant thought for all concerned."

Khela bites her lip and nods. She turns to an aide. "Bring Loreena to me," she says. The man leaves. She looks at Brennan. "We shall see if it is hers, or if it might be. Such a creature is still under the Black Tide Edicts and may be hunted by all, even on the battlefield. I am personally well-suited to defend against it, and would see it bleed flames were it to attack, but it could do much damage were it to approach."

"I believe, Cousin, that the traditional phrase of our Elders in a situation such as this is, 'It is mine to kill,' inasmuch as I am the only Knight Commander present. And since it tried to consume me less than a day ago by my reckoning," Brennan says. But the tone is conversational, not accompanied by the terrible coldness of a true Amberite proclamation. He smiles blandly.

She looks at his Aelfs. "Are they capable of fighting it? Do you need additional aid?"

Brennan shakes his head. "It walked through one of their armies. I was in the process of killing it when it came here."

At that moment a horn sounds on the field below. Two riders come out of the front of Huon's army, both atop sharks. They carry a white flag. One appears to be Huon. Khela laughs. "Would you join me, Sir Brennan? Our adversary wishes to parley."

Brennan scowls deeply, and starts to say something, when Conner's voice comes out of thin water:

"Majesty, do you intend to honor this offer of parley? I do not trust it." Conner advises bluntly.

"I don't like this at all. We may still be on his script; if not, he'd just fight it out as Plan B, and come back in a few months," Brennan says. "Make sure he doesn't make a grab for the blade, which is what he really wants."

"Brennan? What in blazes are you doing here?" The water demands with Conner's voice.

"Let us meet with him, and see. If he so violates his flag of truce, you can kill him on the spot. General Conner, please meet us at the front of your lines."

"Acknowledged, Majesty." Conner lets his sorcery drop.

Brennan will accompany her, but first he will commandeer a trident and net, or a spear, or some other suitable weapon system for the environment. He is mindful that Rebma is a three dimensional environment, and that Eaters may come from below.

Spears are common and available and Brennan is provided with one. Khela simply leaps off the side of her mountain and swims downwards towards Conner, not looking behind her to see if Brennan is following.

Brennan takes the spear and shakes his head, muttering to himself with his inside voice that he's having a hard time figuring out who exactly is the mark in this game... which leads him to suspect it might be him. Brennan does indeed follow. He takes an instant to look about with an Astrally extended third eye, because that's the best way he's figured out so far to detect a hidden Eater. He's careful not to blind himself on Khela's blade.

This close to Rebma, it's hard to use his gifts at all. If the Eater is nearby, he's concealed. The tritons are clearly creatures with a certain hint of Chaos. They must be quite powerful when not near Rebma.

Then he takes the plunge following Khela, counting on strength and armor to have him catch up, and if possible just overtake her.

Khela turns and smiles as Brennan catches up, then puts on a burst of speed. She cannot pull away from him, but he cannot pull away from her. Just before they reach Conner, she stops and floats down gracefully.

"Well raced, cousin," she says.

"Oh, were we racing?" Brennan asks, innocently.

Khela grins and reaches over and punches him in the arm. It's a friendly punch (one assumes), but it's clear she's no slouch in the punching department.

"The queen has decided to meet Huon for parley." Conner announces to the Swift. "Teukros and Halamedes, you're with me. You shall be the Queen's honor guard for this parley. Teukros, at the first sign of treachery, you are to bear the Queen to safety no matter how she protests. You are her shield. Halamedes, you are her spear. Death to all that would defy an honorable flag of truce."

Conner then turns to another of the Swift. "Podarces, watch the parley closely. If there is obvious fighting or if I jab my spear in the air three times, bring the rest of the Swift to our aid." Conner grits his teeth. These contingencies hardly seem adequate but there is little more he can do. Motioning to Teukros and Halamedes to follow, Conner swims off to meet with Khela and Brennan.

Khela arrives at roughly the moment Conner does. "Excellent. One per shark. We swim with them, rather than riding. Let no one think we are not all people here."

She turns to Brennan. "General Conner is leading my forces. He is my right hand man. General, your cousin came here on the trail of a chaos beast, which he has tracked to Huon's forces. I have given him leave to hunt it on the battlefield, since it seems to be allied with our opponents.

Conner's smile becomes grim. "Good hunting, Brennan. If we all survive, I do hope we'll find a moment to catch each other up. Give a call if you need aid."

"It's personal, between this thing and the Knights," Brennan says. "And between this thing and me. It was rude." Then, shifting gears, "Your mother sends her love."

"We have a moment. Any last-minute advice, other than 'don't talk to him'?"

"I've no objection to talking to him, Majesty. I just wish you would do it through sorcerous channels or surrounded by a phalanx of Tritons." Conner sighs. "My advice is to know exactly what you want from this meeting. Anything less than his surrender is a waste of our time. Force him to quick statement and resolution should this be a delaying tactic. Lastly, stay a tail's length behind your honor guard. If it is done right, you will even seem to be before them until intervention is needed."

Brennan nods in strong agreement with what Conner says. He doesn't exactly nominate himself for the forward, screening position, but by his posture he expects it will be delegated to him anyway.

"Three more things," Brennan says. "First, given that this may break down into a fight, either through Huon's treachery or the Eater's appearance, decide right now if our response is to be Pattern-based or Sorcery-based. The last thing we need is me putting up a Pattern-defense against the Eater while Conner goes after Huon with Sorcery. Given our location, I expect Pattern is the right answer."

[Khela]
"You are correct. While Real Sorcery may be a weakness of Huon's, it's a strength of your target."

Conner nods in agreement.

Brennan doesn't appear to care one way or the other, as long as it is decided-- which it is.

"Second," Brennan nods off into the middle distance, "We have a friendly Prince of Amber parked on the hostile one's flank. Negotiate from strength. If you can't negotiate a surrender, figure out what it will take to drive him from the field and keep him driven off instead of coming back again and again.

[Khela]
"He is badly outnumbered. If you were that badly outnumbered, what would you be doing?"

"Luring the Paxblade out from behind its protectors for a last ditch snatch, grab and run action." Conner replies. "This is why I counseled against this meeting." Conner waves away that already lost argument. "It is possible Huon thinks he has something that would induce you to agree to joining forces. I can't imagine what that would be though."

Brennan points a thumb in Conner's direction, to indicate that Khela should be listening to him. Also: "Don't confuse what you see with what you know. You won't know he's outnumbered until you drive him off the field."

"Third," Brennan finishes, with a Bleysing smirk, "I've been told I look more like my uncle than my father, and Huon probably has no idea who I am. Use it."

She smiles. "You redheads are clever. It must be the surface-equivalent of having green skin."

Conner smirks at that.

"If that were the case, you'd be listening to us about the vices of a face to face meeting with Huon," Brennan says with perhaps more of an astringent tone than is strictly proper when addressing royalty.

"That's the problem with honor and obligation." Conner smiles thinly. "They are frequently at odds with what is prudent or wise."

She swims up again. Thank you all, gentles. Men and tritons, let us go to meet the foe."

Gripping his spear tightly, Conner takes his place beside his Queen.

"Let's do this," Brennan says.

"In carrying out the task assigned...you will be governed by the principle of calculated risk, which you will interpret to mean the avoidance of exposure of your force to attack by superior enemy forces without good prospect of inflicting, as a result of such exposure, greater damage on the enemy."

The words filter through Jerod's consciousness as he heads through the palace, remembered reading the words on the faded yellowing pages that his father had handed him one day. It had just been another day, another lesson to be stored away for the future. He wondered now whether his father might have foreseen this day to come, when his son would stake the lives of so many on a gamble, just as the man who had written that narrative must have done.

This close to Rebma's Pattern, there would be no manipulation of reality to aid him. It literally was a calculated risk, and Jerod knew he would take it.

Though with precautions, as always. So during his walk, he quickly collects two messengers and sends them running forth. The first to Drusus, to prepare the men for immediate battle departure and to prepare a set of messengers if needed. Drusus was to have the captains ready to receive orders while on the march, with the battle plan being provided accordingly. And he is silently grateful that he had the Guard for as long as he did, and had trained them for possible battles with Tritons, for combat against such markedly superior opponents. It would give his men the edge against Huon and this Eater that they might not otherwise have had.

The second messenger is sent to find Lamell and to have him report immediately to the sally port with his report. The bark in Jerod's voice leaves no doubt as to the speed with which they should carry out their duties in finding their quarries, and bodes ill should they not take full appreciation of the urgency of their tasks.

His pace does not slacken as he considers for a moment to look for Carina, to see if she still resides in the city or departed with the Queen. He does not deviate from his course however. If she is gone, then she is already safe. If she still remains, diverting to see her will solve nothing and only delay the battle a very short while. No, he will finish it first, then move on to other matters.

So his mind remains focussed as he moves out to the sallyport, to acquire his men and ready them for the battle to come.

Drusus and Lamell meet him at the gate; both messengers are with them, as is Lamell's cousin, Gorgias.

"My Prince," says Drusus, "I understand that you are taking command of the forces and we are to sally against the enemy. They are moving, but we can make a parallel movement through the fringe of the southern Sargasso and hit them from the flank after they pass the Janiculum."

Lamell bows, hands in front of him. "I can give you the information you requested, now or as we travel."

"As we travel." Jerod says, focussing on the necessity of orders first. "You and your cousin will attend the briefing with the officers and prepare what you think would be appropriate sorceries as appropriate for the upcoming battle." before turning to Drusus.

"Get the men moving. Officers are to attend for a route march briefing with assignments provided then. Units will be apportioned to positions during the march prior to our attack on the enemy."

The order is the expected order and the men move quickly and in an orderly fashion through the sallyport. Drusus' father-in-law is left to man the gates with the last defense force. He's capable of it, at least.

Lamell reports to Jerod. "The takeover is effectively done, my Prince. Your Aunt has it well-organized. While it is unclear why she does not take the throne herself, most are willing to accept her daughter as a compromise candidate who will bring unity. Most powerful families have at least some younger sons with her. It was initially to hedge their interests in case she won and became part of the story of 'inevitability'.

"I find it hard to believe someone who was so badly damaged as Khela was by the Libertist Affair managed to plan something this elaborate."

"As you said, my aunt has it well organized." Jerod replies. "I knew that Llewella was involved, it was just a matter of whether she was supporting her daughter, or pushing her. As for why she does not take the throne herself, I have a book for you to read if you have not already done so. There are benefits to having others as the target.

"The question now is what other forces are involved. Llewella would not have undertaken this alone. And my gut tells me Khela has external connections though who or what they are is not certain."

"You can tell me your opinion of Khela's damage from the Affair at your convenience."

"Nope. I was young and stupid and didn't even realize she was of the family. My opinion is that I need five hours and 2 bottles of scotch to form an opinion worth telling."

The men march to the east, parallel to Huon's forces, at times gaining a bit, at time losing ground due to the terrain. Just before they would be exposed themselves, the force angles north and comes along a side ridge to a position that will either sweep up Huon's flank or his rear if he turns to take the forces holding the high-grounds. There is some risk to Jerod's forces if they turn, because of the distance involved, but they are in position to be effective.

The officers are briefed in detail concerning both Huon's forces and Khela's plus the general plan of attack that was discussed. Once that is done, Jerod puts out his battle plan to the officers should it become necessary, a strike through Huon's lines with the Guard, using the tactics that Jerod had trained them in to deal with a possible Triton attack - an attack from all sides that requires the Guard to maintain fighting cohesion while on the move and to respond to possible breaches while on the move.

He also advises them concerning the arrival of a creature of Chaos, a beast from the time of the Black Tides and not to be underestimated. Should such a creature appear, the Guard is not to deliberately engage it - they are not likely to do more than get killed. If it breaches the Guard's defenses, they are to leave it to Jerod.

Lamell casts a spell on the side of a large fish as it swims, both freezing it and using its white belly-flesh as a projective target. "That's what's ahead, Prince Jerod."

The armies are facing off against each other. Huon and another man are at the fore of his forces. Jerod sees him mount a large shark and lift a white flag. He personally rides out to the center of the field.

Jerod mislikes this. It might be as it appears, though it is more likely an initial attempt at negotiations, an option to buy time for another plan.

Regardless, he uses this lull in the movement of Huon's forces to get his own troops into position. If it truly is negotiation for better terms, the terms will go in Rebma's favor if Huon's flank is in danger.

"Show me the other man." Jerod says, intent on the image, his dislike of the situation increasing. "If Khela accepts a parley offer, this would be a very bad time for our Black Tide associate to show up and launch an attack. Each side would perceive it as treachery by the other and a general melee would ensue."

The other man is a surfacedweller. He has on robes that are not suited operating in Rebma. He seems like he may be a sorcerer.

Khela and Brennan dive off the heights and head to the front lines of the army. It looks like she's going to talk to him.

OOC: How far is the Guard from the parley point? Can the Guard intervene between the two armies? (and yes, Jerod knows they are both much bigger than the Guard - he would not be looking to stop them, he'd be looking to make them pause).

They're in a position where they could do that, but they'd probably expose themselves to Huon's forces if they did. The current place is well-suited to hitting them from the flank. It would require crossing in front of them to move between the two forces.

The exposure of his forces is to be expected so Jerod is not going to be surprised at that. The time factor for intervention is his main concern right now, if this turns out that is required.

He thinks he can do it, if they start charging at each other. Better if one starts before the other (more time), but he could put his men in there if needed. The risk, as Jerod knows, is that they don't stop...

His troops will remain in position for the moment, though orders will go out to prepare for a possible intervention if required. His officers would have seen what he has seen anyone not smart enough to figure out that a parley has significant risks would have been eliminated from his command a week after he took charge. Jerod verifies that the orders in place as well.

Once done, he takes a quick moment during the time that Huon and the others approach their meeting spot to read over Merlin's letter.

The letter is brief and to the point. Merlin has performed certain investigative sorceries on the spear and learned the following facts: - The spear was made from the bones of something of dragon-equivalent power, specifically a creature of some sort of Chaotic ancestry.
- The fusing of the bone and coral required some level of sorcerous talent.
- The spear is usable as a sorcerer's staff--a function of the material of which it was made.

For technical clarification, as a sorcerer's staff it would serve as a conduit for the channeling of sorcerous energy?

Can such a device serve to channel other energy?

Lamell would tell you that it might. [OOC, it would depend on if it were real or shadow energy. If real, it would depend on if it were an order-derived magic or a chaos-derived magic]

- While it is not on the power level of Grayswandir, and would, in fact, be easier to use for Merlin, the spear is a great weapon in its own right.

Jerod can tell the note is from Merlin because there's not a single contraction in it.

Jerod notes the points, fitting them into the oral history that he is aware of concerning his grandfather, fitting into Moire's history as well, and studying how the pieces fit together. He smiles slightly. Family are indeed magnets.

He studies it for a moment, thinking of the Chancellor's interest. He wonders how much of a temptation it might have been for her, whether she would have sought to take it from him had he been anyone else. An interesting line of speculation that leads to another.

The recent proliferation of artifacts had not gone unnoticed to him and now another surfaces. As with all things either of Family or of Power, Jerod does not believe in coincidences. All things happen for a reason, though rarely is it clear to the one on the receiving end. There is a temptation in this artifact he recognizes, to follow a different path than had originally been conceived. Certainly it would be a difficult one for his own Pattern use was not inconsiderable. Few amongst his cousins were his equal, and perhaps even some of the elders were within his grasp. The study of sorcery would be much more difficult for one so grounded in the art of denial of randomness, the refusal to accept outside rules of behaviour. There was an inherent benefit in such a stance, for refusing to accept the essential rules of sorcery was a defense against it. Even the best sorcery is no match for Pattern.

Yet the flexibility of sorcery had a definite appeal, even if it opened up weaknesses. There was also the issue of instruction, for no typical shadow mage would be a suitable mentor. No doubt there were a few in Gateway who might serve adequately, but he had little desire to go there. That left Rebman sorcerers, and the redheads. Each venue is certain to have its own set of problems.

He hefts the spear, closing his fist around it, feeling the bone and coral under his hand, and he smiles again, putting these thoughts to one side, into its own special box for future consideration. The present requires his attention for now.

"Lamell, keep the senses open. This thing of Chaos is like the beasts from the Black Tides. It may have an odor that is detectable".

'Drusus. The banner of the Guard, make sure it is visible to those at the point of parley." Jerod says, then calculates a moment before adding. "Make sure my banner is visible as well."

Khela will see the banner, as will Conner and Brennan if they are with her. So will Huon if he's smart enough to recognize the standards involved. Having a Prince of Amber on your enemy's flank during parley can sometimes be an advantage. Depending on the one negotiating of course.

Jerod then keeps watch, waiting for signs of change in either force, the surrounding territory or the point of parley.

Men go out to make the statement and show of force. The guard is tense and ready to move. The recent training is such that if Jerod orders them to stand between two larger sorcerous armies, Jerod thinks they'll do it.

Then at this point, there's nothing to do but wait...