Joss, Roland and Siodmak in the Keep

[Wired*Nun]

[Continued from Down in the Cellar]

A distant bell sounds somewhere, and the Young Master exclaims, "Duty calls! Please wait here, gentlemen! I'll be back soon, in the meantime, make yourselves at home! It will all become clear soon. And DO try not to break anything or anyone else..." This thrown over his shoulder as he heads out one of the far doors on the right wall.



[This would be a good time for you three to acquaint yourselves. I'll be monitoring. - GM]

[Wolkhaffen]

Siodmak strides to the far end of the table and picks up one of the bottles of wine.

[Is there any food?] --Nope (GM)

Setting the bottle down after inspecting the label he’ll drop his satchel next to one of the chairs along the side of the table. Putting his weapon on the table’s surface in front of him in easy reach, the pale man pours himself a glass and sits down.

“Evidently,” he addresses his two companions, “someone who can’t do for themselves has summoned us to do for them.” Siodmak looks about the room. “I expect there are plenty of servants spying on us.” He sips at the wine. “I entered a swirling vortex of energy. How did you fellows come to be here?”

[Knarr]

" I entered a glowing doorway of sorts." Joss says.
"I'm a sailor by trade, but was taking some time off, when this happened."

[Wired*Nun]

[GM's aside - a note on style. Though some of you might be "men of few words," feel free to extrapolate, interpolate, even provide simple obvious responses for each other if it gives you an opportunity to continue in your character's own voice. Make free with the roleplay.]

[Shutter]

Before the Young Master makes it out of the room Roland bars his path.

"No. If you brought me here you owe me an explanation now...Did the portal show me whatever it needed to to get me here, or was there truth to the vision? Answer carefully and answer truthfully. I will not be brushed aside right now."

Roland's stance is solid but mobile. Should the youngster try to draw a weapon, he is ready.

(OOC: Sorry to back us all up like this...but it just had to happen.)

[Wired*Nun]

"Hullo, Dunstan's the name, and you must be Roland." Up close, Roland sees the fixed grin and too-bright eyes of a speed freak [think a young David Bowie, or Sting as Feyd Ruatha in Lynch's DUNE movie...or maybe Frank'n'furter...] as he holds out his hand, somewhat effeminately. As Roland hesitates to take it, he goes on, "Oh, that was just a dirty, dirty trick on my part. I wouldn't harm a hair of your widdow daddy's head. Unless I had to. I'm sure he's off doing...oh, whatever grumpy elder princes do in their off time." The hand is still proffered.

[Note: skin contact is not enough for psychic dominance in my interpretation, nor is mere eye contact. There must be some extraordinary conduit. - GM]

[Wolkhaffen]

"Very macho," Siodmak says to Joss of their most recent companion. "Very impertinent and rude."

To the newcomer: “Let the dandy be about his duties. Unless the sky is falling and you forgot to tell us.”

[Shutter]

Impressively annoying little fellow...

Roland takes the proffered hand, squeezing it firmly, but not hard enough to break anything. He looks Dunstan directly in the eyes.

"I understand that you likely did what you did out of some percieved neccesity. Please let me assure you that further manipulation along those lines will not be taken well. You may go now and attend to your business." Roland releases his hand and steps out of Dunstan's way.

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, capital, that is rich indeed." His grin widens but there seems something of a strain to it now. "I was really hoping to put off demonstrations, but we seem to need to establish the pecking order right away. I did fool you, but you entered my gate of your own free will, as did these other two. You are now my guest, and if I felt the need to do a bit of testing with that business in the courtyard, I might feel a bit sorry, but you are in MY HOUSE" at this his voice raises, somewhat hysterically, "and it's MY RULES, and you'd bloody well better NOT FORGET IT." This hissy fit ends in a somewhat disturbing fashion - a brief, innocuous gesture at the floor, and he takes a long step back, out of Roland's reach. "Now you can just stay there until you have learned your lesson, mister." He wheels and stomps off.

Interesting. Roland starts to take a turning step, and catches his balance. His boots seem to be glued to the floor. And, his feet to his boots. Nothing is visible at the moment.

[Shutter]

Roland smiles calmly at Dunstan throughout the little tirade. When he walks off Roland begins to turn, and notices that he is rooted to the floor. He straightens and faces Joss and Siodmak as best he can.

"Magicians." He mutters. I don't think I like him.

"Siodmak, Joss, you'll have to excuse me for not walking over to shake hands, I seem to be temporarily imobile. I'm Roland, as you likely heard....Yes, that display was on the rude side for a guest. But, before we discuss manners too thoroughly, perhaps you should ponder how you would react if you were treated to a vision of your father, or any arbitrary loved one, being tortured, a very convincing vision at that. But, yes, in answer to your other question, I arrived through a glowing vortex that was shaping up as a doorway, apparently much the same as you both." Roland stops speaking for a moment and takes in his surroundings while listening to anything the others might have to say back to him.

[Wired*Nun]

There are Trump emanations attached to a tapestry about twenty feet away, on the wall Roland is facing if he straightens out. A quick stare at the tapestry, a pastoral hunting scene, reveals no indication that it would activate. Perhaps he is too far away, or perhaps it is locked somehow.

A moment later and the butler enters from the big double doors, and two waiters roll in a cart of cold appetizers - seafood, cheese, bread. It smells good. There is also water, beer, and tea. "Will there be anything else, gentlemen?" The butler inquires.

[Shutter]

Roland tests one of his feet to see if it will lift yet. If not;

"Yes, I'd like a glass of wine please. I would get it myself, but, that just isn't to be right now."

Interesting tapestry, I'll need to take a look at that later.

[Wired*Nun]

The butler looks at Roland a moment, but complies with his request. "Try this white, sir. I'm told it's quite good." He pauses. "Would you...like a chair, sir?" Without waiting for an answer he fetches one and slides it up behind. "Don't take it to personally, sir, he's done it to almost everyone at one time or another." He looks a bit pained. "He's really not so bad, normally, but with his mother being ill, and all...well..." He recomposes himself and comes to attention, puts on a smile and folds his hands, waiting expectantly for any instructions.

[Wolkhaffen]

“Your father was being tortured, you say? How distressing." Siodmak sympathizes. “Who is your father? Do you suppose the dandy really has him?” The pale man isn’t looking at Roland as he addresses him, but is busy piling food on a plate. “If I had been tricked in such a fashion I might have been tempted to shoot the little snit.”

[Shutter]

Roland accepts the wine and chair with a nod. He gives the wine a swirl and a sniff before taking a drink, hopefully it's good.

"I don't know...I don't think he really has him. I mean to find out soon, but for the time being I'm cut off from contact. What about you both? Did you need enticing to enter the gateways or was curiosity enough? For that matter, when you arrived, did you look like yourselves? The men in the courtyard were convinced I was a drunkard companion of theirs. An odd effect. I don't suppose either of you have a mirror do you?"

Roland pulls a leaf wrapped wafer out of his cloak pocket and unwraps it, taking a few bites before putting it away.

[Wired*Nun]

There are mirrors spaced about in different places. Everyone seems to look like themselves.

[Shutter]

Roland half sighs half grunts when he notices a mirror nearby. Ok, clears that up. Why the hell did they think I was some drunk named Histon then? Ah, right, magic...I hate magicians.

[Wolkhaffen]

"Mirror?" Siodmak notes with his mouth full of food, "No, I'm not that pretty."

"If you don't want to talk about family; where are you from? What's it like?"

[Wired*Nun]

[Keeps hoping the fellows will engage in some more Amber-like banter...]

[Shutter]

"I'm from a place called Regan originaly, pretty far from here. Small community of artisans for the most part. I belonged to a sort of monestic order there, we kept the land safe from the wars that cropped up nearby more often than we would have liked." He trails off for a moment, sipping his wine and thinking of home. "I haven't been home in a few years though. I have been travelling some, seeing the world so to speak. And yourselves, where do you hail from? Would you mind tossing me one of those little pastries, lembas just isn't all that filling?"

[Wired*Nun]

The butler obligingly picks up a dish of pastries and brings it over to Roland.

[Wolkhaffen]

"Flagstaff, New Arizona, United Republics of Texas,” Siodmak says after a pause wondering if Joss was ever to speak. “After the Eco-disaster, that is. Place is a frozen wasteland. When I saw the little whirligig I figured it can’t be worse than this, grabbed a few things, and threw the dice, as is were.”

The pale man keeps eating.

“I found myself in a cell and had just been informed it was temporary when Joss dropped in.” Siodmak points at Joss with his fork. “There wasn’t enough room for myself, Joss and his luggage so he ventilated our accommodations.” Comes a brief chuckle. “We had a volunteer to guide us and arrived here moments before you.”

Siodmak holds up a small lidded jar with a tiny spoon in it. “This is good mustard. Never did go in for that sweet stuff, “ he says indicating Roland’s choice.

“Are we going to be provided women?” the stringy-haired man asks the butler.

[Knarr]

Joss chokes a little, as Siodmak makes the suggestion of women, then laughs.
“I’m beginning to like how you think.” Joss says, pausing he eating. Putting down the shrimp sandwich he had made, Joss grabs the pitcher of beer and downs half of it, not bothering with a glass.
“I came through the doorway because I was bored where I was. As I said, I’m a sailor by trade, but times have progressed to the point most things are powered nowadays. Sailing seams to have passed its time. I was sitting in my house in Louisiana when the doorway appeared in my living room. I grabbed my sea chest, jumped through, and ended up in a cell with this fellow.” Joss motions towards Siodmak.
“We left a few moments later. I have sailed in all the waters of the world and seen many things, some good, some bad. Never saw a place like this before. That dandy that just left cast a spell on you? That’s the first magic I have seen that worked like that. Fast.” Joss pauses to drain the pitcher.
“ I wonder if he can do that if he can’t talk?” Joss asks as he puts down the empty pitcher and cracks his knuckles.

[Wired*Nun]

"Well, sir," the Butler replies to Siodmak, "you'll have to ask the Young Master about that."

Looking at Joss, "Well, he did this to me without a word," Roland says. "You'd probably need to knock him out to stop him again."

The butler speaks up then. "If you are going to speak ill of the Young Master, I shall just have to bid you good day, gentlemen." Was that a twitch of his eye as he spoke? He leaves the way he came in, shutting the double doors.

A short time later, Dunstan reenters the room from the door that he left it, looking a bit more troubled, and a bit less manic. "Come, gentlemen, let us retire to a more comfortable setting." He opens the door opposite the ones the other three came through, and beckons. "Please."

Roland finds his feet no longer immobilized.

Assuming the three come along, the foursome find themselves in a comfortable denlike room - leather armchairs and a sofa, a fire burning in a fireplace, what looks to be a Siberian tigerskin with head attached on the floor. Out the window can be seen a flat winter wasteland.

Dunstan flops down in an armchair, gesturing for the rest to do so. He has taken out a coin or medallion of some sort and is flipping it across his knuckles, one-handed, perhaps a nervous habit.

"It took me some time and effort to locate you gentlemen. It thought you might be the type to enjoy some adventure. You, Roland, in that boring little shadow, playing 'hide the grail' with the maidservants. And you, Joss, finding shadow wealth unsatisfying, when civilization has obsoleted everything you love. And you, brother Siodmak, ruling over that squalid little collection of misfits and thugs. And your shadow has the greatest potential of all, containing as it does a piece of power itself, and you with a piece of it, as it were." He pauses. "You, Roland, I had to entice with that image of your father. I suppose I should feel some remorse for that little manipulation. Here, let me assure you of his continuing good health."

Dunstan seems to look within himself for a moment, then stands and makes a framelike gesture with his hands. A glowing rectangle appears in the air, and soon a picture forms - Roland's father, it seems. A slim man with an angular face and Spanish-trimmed beard is talking with several men in green forester's outfits, somewhat medieval in style. The man himself is wearing a an outfit of grey, which Roland recognizes as made of a special material obtainable in the last shadow he was exploring. Dunstan makes some adjusting motions and sound comes through. "-a patrol down past Brookhollow, a truffleman reported signs of a sloppy campfire there. Maybe poachers." The man looks around at the circle of foresters. "Any questions?" He dismisses them. The picture fades with another gesture from Dunstan.


"Satisfied?"

[Shutter]

As Roland enters the room he continues making mental notes of this place, should he ever have need of a highly accurate description. He hangs his grey traveller's cloak (a match to the one everyone just saw Julian wearing) on the back of an armchair, removes his sword and scabbard, and settles himself in the chair. He remains silent during Dunstan's display. Quite a few tricks this one has. And quite a desire to show them off.

"Very well. I am as satisfied as I'm going to be until I speak with my father directly. Which is satisfied enough for the time being." He says once the show is complete. He then turns to Siodmak and Joss.

"Hello cousins. Roland, son of Julian. My father has kept my existense quiet for a while now, to keep me out of the family game. So much for that I suppose." Joss there has got to be Gerard's son...As for the pale one...I have no idea. Gods, I need to learn more about this family if I'm going to survive in it.

"Well Dunstan, one more question before you get to your sales pitch. Why don't my trumps work here?"

[Wolkhaffen]

“My home has the greatest power? Hey, you want to live on frozen food be my guest,” Siodmak eases into a chair. “Got any Cubans?” he asks looking for a telltale box.

“So Roland is a wenching knight.” The ugly man holds up a finger. “Joss a skilled sailor.” A second finger. “And I’m a thug ruling a dung heap.” Final finger. “It will be interesting to hear what you’ve brought us together for.” He observes dropping his hand.

After Rolands question:

“I have a few questions of my own: Who’s Julian? What’s Trump? And why did you single me out by calling me ‘brother’? I’m no priest.” Siodmak queries.

[Knarr]

Joss looks a bit confused for a second, then mutters,
“Cousins?”
In a stronger voice,
“Hold on. You mean we are all related? By who? And how?” Joss asks.
“ What the hell are Trumps?”

Joss seems at a loss at the moment while he figures out his sudden shift in his place in the universe.

[OOC- To GM,
If you wish to explain the Amber universe to Joss in a quick “Dustan explains things to Joss” I’m good with that. You might mention who Joss’s father is.
No need to waste other peoples time.]

[Shutter]

Perhaps not?

"Perhaps I was premature in assuming we are all related. Joss you remind me of an uncle of mine is all. Siodmak, Julian is the man you just saw in the image Dunstan showed us. He's my father...As for the rest, you'll have to look to Dunstan for answer I think."

[Wolkhaffen]

All of Siodmak's eyes (seen and unseen) turn towards the snotty little twit.

"Yea," adds the deathly pale man, "I missed that 'cousin' bit."

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan gives a shrug, saying, "Roland called you cousins, not I. And I am certainly no cousin of anyone's here. In fact, that has bearing on why I brought you here, but I'll get to that later." Dunstan makes a reaching gesture and three books float off the shelf, and one each levitates into each of the three's hands. They are leatherbound, but the pages are typeset in modern print. They were published by "AVON BOOKS, INC., 1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York, 10019. The title is The Great Book of Amber."

"I think this will be amusing for each of you. Roland probably knows the most about his origins, but even he will find some insight there. I assure you, I have studied it...most closely. It seems the authors had some small affection for that shadow, and for some reason favored a somewhat obscure, but talented writer, with their stories. I am sure he cleaned up their prose quite a bit. You really need to read these, as they will explain some things much faster than I can, and from the point of view of someone in your own baliwick."

"Trumps are blocked because I wish it so. In fact, everything here happens because I wish it so."

"Let me give pass you a few bits of vital information. First, Joss, I believe you are a lost son of a man named Gerard. I'm not certain, but all the signs are there. You have become a hard and callous man, with few friends and few real attachments. You have lived too long, and life is too easy for you. I have provided you a way of escape. I will provide you with more, if my desires be met. Eventually you will become accomplished enough that you need not fear me. That is the carrot. I can also send you back there, and leave you to rot...or even kill you, but I doubt that threat will impress you. You have no defenses against my powers yet. You will have to grind your teeth for a while and put up with me. What's a few months compared to the centuries you have waited?"

"Second, Siodmak. Similarly, I offer you knowledge, and power. You have received an initiation already; there are higher ones available. You already know there are at least two shadows; I offer you more. I can also tell you where you really came from. And, similarly, I could banish you back to Flagstaff. It behooves a survivor such as yourself to help me get what I want, until you don't need me any more."

"Thirdly, Roland. I'm not sure what I can offer you yet. I believe in carrots and sticks, so we need to locate some carrots for you. As for sticks, I'm sure all those peaceful people back in Regan would not welcome a visit from a few incendiary devices, so I suggest you play along for a bit."

"So tell you what, I'll let you get to work on those tomes. Just remember that, like all holy books, these have an agenda and a viewpoint that isn't always objective. Servants will show you to your quarters. You have the run of the place, except for the keep in the center, and the top floor of the fortress. And don't try to leave. You won't be able to."

"The staff here is very efficient, and I expect you will pump them for as much information as you can. Feel free. But your number-one job is to do your lessons. There will be a 50-question multiple choice test at the end....just kidding."

At this he stands up. "Any last, burning questions before we meet again?"

[Wolkhaffen]

Siodmak laughs at the foolish man. He gasps for breath then laughs and laughs again, his amusment ringing from the rafters.

[Shutter]

Roland's calm acceptance of the speech and the book doesn't betray his simmering anger at this little man and his games. Being aware that he is in the company of at least one, more likely two sorcerers he keeps away any active thoughts of vengeance for now.

Outwardly he accepts the book, turning it over in his hands before opening it. If there are no further questions he will nod briefly at Dunstan and then begin to read. If anyone else has further questions he will listen, and perhaps chime in; but he has no questions of his own...not any that would be likely to receive answers at any rate.

[Wolkhaffen]

Wiping a tear from his eye, "Wait, yes, a woman," Siodmak says. "I would like some 'company' while I read."

[Wired*Nun]

[If Joss has anything else, we can back up for answers...otherwise, moving on...]

At Siodmak's laughter, Dunstan looks nonplussed, then a bit irritated.

"I'll arrange for your woman, Siodmak. Perhaps I'll pick someone that needs punishing."

[Shutter]

"I'll arrange for your woman, Siodmak. Perhaps I'll pick someone that needs punishing."

Roland's voice immediately rings out.

"No. If Siodmak here needs a woman find him one who is genuinely willing, or let me go into shadow and find one, or let him do without. You said yourself that you have no carrot for me. Well, try this, treat people with decency, that means no raping damnit! And then you will have my cooperation."

[Wired*Nun]

Dunstan gives Roland an amused look, and replies, "You can't rape the willing. All of the courtesans are professionals, and well paid." [Fade...]

[Shutter]

"Good. That will be fine then." Little braggart....he is either scared of me, or he needs me. Either way is fine for now but I'll need to sort that out sooner than later.

[Wired*Nun]

[Did a little rearranging]

He crosses his arms over his chest, lowers his head, and fades out in a rainbow.

After a few moments, servants come to show the three to quarters. They walk down a long inner hallway overlooking the courtyard, counterclockwise, and around the corner. It seems this hallway, parallelled by the inner balcony, runs the whole of the fortress round. A right turn takes them through a crossing hallway, and out to the outside of the fortress. The servants present a suite with four bedrooms, grouped around a common room with comfortable furnishings, books, a fireplace. Each bedroom has modern plumbing, and the rooms seem to have working lights with switches, though there are no plugs of any sort to be seen.

The windows and balcony overlook a sea, wind-swept and tossed, with about fifty yards of land and a seawall. Off to the left, what appears to be a whirlwind or tornado is moving slowly away around the keep. From the ground, it looks as if it makes a circuit at regular intervals.

After the rest leave, one boy of about ten remains, in a somewhat cliche'd page outfit. "Gentlemen, I am to remain here at your service. If you wish, I will wait in the hall outside. Just ring this bell cord, and I shall come promptly." He stands there at attention...except for the fidgeting of his fingers, which he does not seem to realize he is doing.

[Knarr]

Joss said nothing as he accepted the book and followed the people to the rooms. Once there, he nodded at the page and grabbed a chair, moving it over to the windows in the common room to overlook the sea. Setting his sea chest beside the chair, Joss takes out a bottle of rum, a pipe and tobacco. Lighting up the pipe, Joss begins to read the book, taking swigs of the rum every so often.

[Wolkhaffen]

"Got a cigar in there?" Siodmak asks the well-luggaged sailor. "I didn't think to bring any."

Turning, “You there, boy. Cognac, cigars and; where’s my woman?”

[Knarr]

Joss looks up from his book and says,
"No I don't. I have a pipe you could use if you wish."

[Wolkhaffen]

"No thanks. I'll wait for the page to return." Siodmak plops down in a chair and opens his copy of the book.

[Wired*Nun]

The page, who's name is Aaron, opens up a piece of furniture with a drop-down shelf, revealing a dry bar, fully stocked. "I don't know anything about drinks, sir. Is cognac a mixed thing, or one of these bottles?" When pointed out, he brings over a bottle and a glass. Siodmak doesn't recognize the brand name, and it's spelled "Coniac," the rest of the script being Greek to him. Smells right, though. "I'll run and get the cigars." He bolts off.

As he's leaving, he passes three women, who walk into the room and look around. "Is this the party?" The redhead says. She walks over to the bar, gets a glass, and pours herself a shot from Siodmak's bottle. Looking down at him, she says archly, "What is your pleasure, milord?"

The blonde is already sitting on the arm of Joss's chair, and the brunette approaches Roland with a smile.

[Knarr]

Joss (who was deeply ingrossed in the book) looks up briefly, checks out the blonde, and says,
" Nothing personal, Honey, but why don't you go and join one of your friends? I'm a bit busy at the moment."
Joss takes a drink of his rum and goes back to reading.

[Wired*Nun]

"Okay, big boy, just let me know." With a flounce,the blonde sashays over to where Roland and the brunette are getting acquainted. It all seems rather...contrived, but they are pros, after all.

[Shutter]

Roland has poured himself a glass of red wine and found it good enough that he brought it and the bottle into his room to settle down and read.

"Knock before you come back in Aaron!" He calls out after the young boy as he heads off on the quest for a cigar. Then Roland spies the brunette.

Songs have been written about blondes, and urban legend favors the fiery redhead. Roland however, has always had a weakness for brunettes, well, not so much a weakness perhaps as a strong liking. Particularly beautiful brunettes.

Roland smiles as she enters.

[Wired*Nun]

The brunette shuts the door firmly in the blonde's face, and locks the door. "Good afternoon. I'm Saloelle." ...etc.

[Hey, if you want more go to adultroleplaying.com]

The blonde then goes over and joins the redhead with Siodmak. "I'm Renae," says the redhead. "I'm Taffy," says the blonde.

[Knarr]

Joos finishes the book in a couple of hours and downs the rest of th rum in the bottle.
Standing up he goes to the windows and looks out as he thinks about what he has just learned.
Sighing, Joss goes over to the bar and refills his bottle before putting it back in the sea chest. After putting the book in there also, Joss goes to the bathroom, Washes up and leaves, grabbing his chest on the way.
Joss is heading for Dustan, asking directions as he goes.

[Wired*Nun]

["Joos" couldn't finish the book in a couple of hours, sorry. 1258 pages. Figure a couple of days. Let the story flow until then, or go before you finish the book. See below...hooray for Endurance.]

[Knarr]

Joss continues to read 24 hours a day, sending for food and drink as the need hits him and taking breaks to look at the ocean to think about what he has read.

[Wired*Nun]

Cigars, food and drink are delivered as anyone wishes. After all, Dunstan did say they had the run of the place.

[Wired*Nun]

Please move on over the the new thread entitled, "Joss, Roland, and Siodmak in the Keep"

[Wired*Nun]

Cigars, food and drink are delivered as anyone wishes. After all, Dunstan did say they had the run of the place.

[Wired*Nun]

The day goes by like paper in the wind. Everything changed, then changed again.
It's hard to find a friend. [Thanks, Tom.]

The courtesans there to serve every whim, as well as servants, convince Siodmak that this is living the good life...except for the little creep running the place. The cigars aren't Cubans, but what is?

Eventually the three have finished with the books.

[OOC:Feel free to have some cawfee, tawk among yerselves, give some input. At the risk of shoving the players along (as opposed to the PCs), I suggest there are vital questions to answer; information to acquire; a keep to explore; things to find to perhaps gain some advantage in the situation. What would your characters do? Running to the "PC-pusher" for all the answers is just as bad as the GM clubbing you with him. I'm not criticising, I hope, just suggesting you explore more options than waiting on me to forward the action.]

[Wolkhaffen]

Assuming three finish at roughly the same time...

"Well guys, what do you think?" Siodmak asks Joss and Roland indicating the book they've been reading.

"If Durstan is anything like the characters in this thing, we're screwed," the pale man observes. “Before I talk to him again I want options. How about you?”

“Roland, the castle guard ‘knows’ you?” he asks. “How about you join up with them and find out what you can?”

“Joss, we have the run of the place … How are you at sizing up defenses and looking for weaknesses?” the warlord wonders. “I’m thinking than even if we take the proposed job, whatever it is, that we have an avenue of escape. Especially should we wish to decline.”

“I want to see if I can find the ‘sick’ mistress of the place. If my guess is correct she’s a prisoner of this fop who’s taken over,” Siodmak concludes.

“What say we meet back here in three hours?”

[Shutter]

Before Saloelle and Roland begin anything (or afterward if she is particularly aggressive) he peppers her with questions. How long has she been here? Where did she come from? How long has Jasra been sick? How long has Dunstan been here? What is Dunstan to Jasra? How does he treat people? Does Roland remind her of anyone she's seen around the keep? And so on and so forth...To help the questions and answers flowing smoothly Roland help Saloelle down a fair quantity of wine, not enough to affect him at all, but hopefully enough to loosen her tongue a bit.

(OOC:We'll get to the reply to Siodmak in a moment, no need to retcon it.)

[Knarr]

“ Sounds good to me, but I want to ask Roland some questions first.” Joss answers.
“Have you walked this pattern thing? Are the people in Amber friendly? Can you get me in to walk the pattern? With this trump thing can you take us there?” Joss fires off several questions.

[Wolkhaffen]

"Here," says Siodmak, passing out cards. "These won't work too many times but at least we can call each other for help while we are here."

Roland gets a Trump Sketch of both Joss and Siodmak.
Joss gets a Trump Sketch of both Roland and Siodmak.

"I made myself a couple as well," he holds up two cards.

[Shutter]

"Yes Joss, I have walked the pattern and yes, I can probably get you to it. I'll admit though that I'm young in the family. I would advise you to talk with Gerard first, he can give you advice on it. Like the book says, if you fail to walk the pattern, or if you're parentage is not what I think it is, you will die....I can get us to Amber once we get free of this place. Something has my trumps blocked here, Dunstan says that it's him, I'm inclined to believe him for now. My father told me about this place...has anyone told you yet that we're in the Keep of the Four Worlds? He made vague references to strong shadow magic, power that can rival an Amberite quite nicely."

"Saloelle tells me there have been sorcerers about not sure how many though, roughly a thousand soldiers are stationed here with more out in Shadow. I vote that we tread carefully."

Roland accepts the trump sketches from Siodmak, taking a moment to wonder how he learned to make such sketches. "Agreed, three hours."

"And Joss, I don't know if the Amberites are friendly or not...I suspect that they are friendly, but moreover,they're manipulative. My father only introduced me to his brother Caine. He told me to contact Gerard or King Random if I ever had some emergency that he or Caine couldn't help me with, but that's it. No one other than himself and Caine know I exist...These are his brothers and sisters and he doesn't trust them to even know of my existence....So,what am I saying? I'd be wary with them too I guess."

[Wired*Nun]

[OK, so which way would everyone like to head? Seperately, together? Let me know.]

[Wolkhaffen]

Three threads please. We'll share info when we get together. You'll have to tell us when our time is running out.

[Wired*Nun]

Three threads please. We'll share info when we get together. You'll have to tell us when our time is running out.
I'll Create one called Siodmak in the Keep. I'll wait for the others' reply, in case they end up going together.

[Wired*Nun]

[Your move]

[Shutter]

Once his conversation with Joss is settled Roland ducks back into his quarters to belt on his sword and scabbard as well as make sure that everything he needs is in his satchel. His first stop is backtracking. That tapestry he saw in the great hall requires more study.

[Roland's explorations can switch over to a new thread now, his conversation with Joss can be tied up here at a more liesurely pace.]

[Knarr]

Joss considers the conversation with Roland over, so he heads out to examine the keep (bringing his chest). Joss will wander around looking at the defenses and men, drawing a plan of the place in his head.

[Wolkhaffen]

Leaving his gear behind, Siodmak takes only the two cards of Joss and Roland before heading for high ground. If she's a prisoner she'll be in a tower. If she's important, the mistress of the keep will have a room with a view. His objective in mind the pale man begins skulking as only a seasoned Sneak can do.

[Wired*Nun]

The ground floor is mainly kitchens, bakeries, armories, barracks, servants quarters, stables, storerooms and "industrial" type stuff - workshops, shops - in fact, it's a small town in here, all in one enormous building. The outside dimensions approach 300 yards on a side; inside, about 200. That puts the outer Keep at about 50 yards thick, inner wall to outer wall. There are also basements, but most of the basement doors are locked, and look to be storerooms. One part is the wine cellar, which has guards. Many things, like the armories, are duplicated by four, one to each side.

There are four shadows, just like the book said; The ice seems to be north, the water east, the desert south, and the mountains, west.

The place looks to be competently run and well defended. A thousand men is not much to hold a place this size against a full seige, but it looks like there are at least another thousand able-bodied men among the non-soldiers. Siodmak imagines the magical defenses must compensate a lot for lack of numbers.

The second floor is the guest apartments, ballrooms, great halls offices of certain functionaries, a few strategically placed guardrooms and strongpoints, indoor fencing/athletic rooms, etc.

The third floor is accessable by one main grand staircase on each side, guarded and locked. Although there are many unlocked doors, there are many locked ones as well. Some of them Siodmak suspects lead to smaller staircases going up, as they correspond with similar ones leading down. The door to the walkway across to the inner keep is locked and guarded by four men each. The look to be a different cut from the rest of the guards; the army of the keep's colors seem to be silver/white/green/blue, while these men wear black and green. They also look more competent, alert and a professional.

There is a fourth floor only at the four corners, battlements to overlook the third storey. Seige engines can be seen on these bastions.

Siodmak suspects that the Mistress is being held somewhere upstairs on the Mountain side of the Keep. The guards on that grand staircase are double the others, with the addition of four of the green-and-black clad armsmen. Those have crossbows. The four other suspected staircase doors are locked tight; a few moments probing suggests that Siodmak could pick a lock, if he had some time.

[Wolkhaffen]

Having found what he is looking for Siodmak will return to the suite to await the return of his companions.

He'll be thinking on whether he thought to pack some lockpicks or not hoping he'll get 'lucky' and did so.

[Wired*Nun]

Funny, thinking about it, he thinks he remembers leaving some in his bag from the last little excursion he took in Flagstaff. They ought to be in there somewhere...aha!

Coming up with the lockpicks, he is considering heading back out when he hears Joss' voice from inside his room yell, “Who are you and what the hell was that?!” A feminine voice answers him at a much lower volume.

[Join them in "Joss in the Keep" if you go into his room.]