The memorable words below were uttered during the fall and rebuilding of Amber city in the pregaming part of House of Cards.
When Gerard is stuck under something
in the wine cellar, Lucas knows what is important:
"Oh, I hope it wasn't that cask of--" Lucas
names off a vintage wine popular in Amber. "I'll be sore
pressed for entertainment if it is."
Lucas probably hopes for more crises.
Jerod:
...there must be priority in life in all things...focus on
that which is immediately important...deal with the crisis...*then*
kill Lucas...
Venesch is not wounded? NPC to NPC
dialogue:
Venesch straightens "I will show you."
"Sir!" Barrell interrupts, "you're wounded!"
"No! I have a duty."
Sorry no glue, no holes, no drilling. GM
(Ginger):
The engineers, however, opine that glue, no matter how
good, won't hold handles to rock. They'd have to drill into the
rock to do that, and there's not enough time for that. [Don't
anyone waste time trying to conjure a Black and Decker cordless
rock drill either.]
Karen does indeed confuse her royal
Amberite career with another:
[Can't... resist... engineering... urges.... :) ]
Lucas sees Paige in the rain and the
reaction is the predicted one:
Lucas thought bubble: Hooray for thin white dresses.
What does Jerod really want? Jerod to
Solange:
Unless you've got another idea, I'm going to head off to
the city.
GM (Michael) reports:
Neither Lucas nor Random has been killed by players for
being a smartass
Beware the revenge of Folly:
So, yeah, you *could* kill him, but then Folly would bite your
kneecaps off.
On water scores:
Solange:OOC: I would think that any Water score greater
than "turnip"would suffice.
GM (Ginger) I believe the traditional Amberway term you are
looking for is "cactus".
Jeremy: Poor analogy. Some cacti have water inside them.
Jerod has a reputation. Olof:
[OOC:Is Jerod trying a joke here? I must have
misunderstood
something.]
So does Lucas. Jerod:
"The Princess Florimel is the proud progenitor of
Lucas." Jerod says with a grin. "Though I'm sure there
would be some doubts as to whether the word *proud* would be used
in that context."
Apparently Vere too, and it's got some
foundation:
Vere will be spending a lot of time in the Library in any
case, and studying legal books is his idea of relaxation from the
rigors of dealing with naval logistics.
Solange: My brother is so weird. His idea of relaxation is
studying legal books? whatever happened to margaritas?
Blake:No doubt due to a lack of "real" tequila in Amber...don't
see too many references to agave plantations...:)
Madeline: Hell, what do you think we created the Golden Circle
for? ;)
Vere again: "Actually, Sister, I have found an excellent
book in the Library on mixing a wide variety of drinks. I have
thought of trying to determine the underlying psychological
factors that go into the naming of such mixed drinks; they appear
varied and would no doubt be quite revelatory of human nature.
Unfortunately, other matters press, so I shall have to delay this
particular amusement until later."
The evil GMs has come up with a really
tough crisis:
The steward says "Um, I was meaning to talk to you
about that, my lady. There is an excellent local beverage made
from sun-dried fish-paste. We'll be offering it as a substitute
for coffee until the coffee runs completely out..."
Lucas mission is to spread civilisation:
Also, depending on what Folly's work load is like, he may
just abduct her on one of his trading routes and give her some
training in manners and fashion there. I have this lovely image
of Lucas training his entire crew on the task.
"Okay, men, in a royal banquet in Amber, which utensils will
you use in the first course?"
On ethics:
Ossian will answer Gerard's questions earnestly. [Remember
that Ossian has slightly twisted ethics]
Kris: Answering questions earnestly, that almost implies
honestly, and that's rather twisted ethics for Amber...
Vere has tried hard to get Gerard to
take more care about his health:
Blake: Why does this sound like Spock telling Kirk to go
take shore leave?...:)
Jerod does absolutely not want anyone to
make a portrait of him. Hence:
Later, Ossian presents Lucas with a painting, which
consist of one hue of grey paint over the whole canvas. Ossian
calls it "Jerod in fog."
Paige to Ossian on trumps. Subject line:
Paige & Ossian in the Library (with the Candlestick)
"I can show you mine later, if you like. They're in
my chambers." She opens the door to the library...
Olof:> >[OOC: Is that a pickup line?]
GM (Ginger): This is Paige we're talking about. Do you really
have to ask?
Karen: ...and we can see from the subject line that Ossian's
already got his candlestick involved....
I think Cambina is creepy:
Liam comes back far too quickly to have actually reached
the kitchens. Cambina is behind him, carrying a tray with a
carafe of water, a pot of coffee, a loaf of french bread, and a
big bottle of aspirin.
The GM:s are *not* telling the Element
scores (Ginger)
Gerard is not very good at discussing theory. He is not
the most verbal guy Jerod has ever met. Jerod could probably
learn how to do it by apprenticeship in a snap, but this lecture/practical
split is pretty tough
Sometime Ossian's toungue slips
"Is that Folly's ship coming in?" he asks,
pointing at the approaching vessel(s?).
Vere raises an eyebrow slightly. "Martin and Folly's
expedition, yes" he says. "Shall we see what we shall
see?"
Isn't Paige supposed to be beautiful?
Jeremy:
[Why does this make me think of a horse with Princess Leia
style hair?]
Do you want to check the Pattern?
"I don't know what will be gained by all of us
venturing down there. I for one intend to walk it again, and if
my brethren here feel similarly, then we'll be queued up for
hours." [Reid imagines a sign stating "You must be THIS
tall to walk the Pattern]
Jerod, upon examining the split pattern:
"mmm...crap..."
Folly just *loves* smelly animals:
"Oh, and if the sheep don't work out, maybe next we
should try llamas." [In part, of course, because the player
just *loves* the idea of a castle-by-the-sea surrounded by llamas.]
The ladies seem to have problems with
proper clothing (Preparations for Lucas' wedding:
Brita looks horrified at the thought of a butt-bow.
"Can I maybe wear a Ranger uniform?" she pleads, her
eyes still huge like a deer surprised in the forest.
Everyone give a gift to the bride!
Paige offers a gift of simple smooth polished horn (think
ivory) which she had fashioned in Heerat, but has never removed
from it's case. "For those long voyages, I fear we'll all
have to keep making, this should take our cousin's place rather
handily."
Paige is *so* excited about Solace's
baby:
"I wonder how long it's been since there was a baby in the
castle. Some of the senior staff may have been maids when Mirelle
was born. I don't think the library has a copy of
_The_Care_and_Mollycoddling_of_infant_Powers_, but we can look.
Or we can make it up as we go along and pretend we know what
we're doing."
"If there is a copy I'm sure Vere can find it, of course I
think it would be much more fun to just leave the child with Vere
for an afternoon and spy on him." Paige laughs, "I want
to see your brother changing a diaper with one hand holding the
mid-wifery book open!"
On the shifting of shadows.?
GM (Ginger): Folly is unable to pick out the spud-like strains in
Ossian's shifting.
Paige makes rhymes for Hope
_The Race Down the Stairs to Rebma_
One prince, two prince,
Lost prince, screwed prince...
[OK, that's just in the adult version...]
Karen continues:...or would it be
Red prince, black prince,
Dead prince, slack prince...?
Gerrard addresses the horrors of the
players
"I don't know that Dworkin taught them about broken
patterns either."
Different policies
Folly: "I think one of my cousins may know Sir Archer
-- maybe I'll ask her to remind him that harassing the innocent
is not part of his job description."
GM: OOC:"It bloody well is! It's part of keepin' 'em
innocent!"
Cambina is a bit irritated:
"That's right, let's ask Cambina, our government's
Minister for Supernatural Affairs. I have no idea what it means.
If you'd been to Tir-na Nog'th, I'd be able to make some guesses,
but we don't even have a stairway to that place.
There is a surprise!
Blake: (Jerod thought bubble) (what? - Jerod thinks?
Impossible!!..:)
After a long monologue on marriage
GM: It's the smartest -- and longest -- comment of
substance any of you can recall ever hearing Solace make.
Solange is not surprised. After all, the focus of all Solace's
education through her girlhood was in Marrying Well.
Gerard is a calm, and subtle man
"To the depths with 'responding'! The Council can
save itself some nattering. I'm going to have the watch suppress
that damned broadsheet and bring in that bastard Drudge! And if I
find out who this 'Alleycat' is, I'll break every finger on his
drawing hand, and then some!" Gerard is less loud, but no
less vehement.
Jeremy: Well... as long as we're not overreacting.
Respect your elders
Folly to Gerard: "But if I can't play for you,"
she says when she looks up again, "then how am I supposed to
cheer you up? I'd let you smash my mandolin, only it's my
favorite one. Or perhaps you'd prefer me to let you continue your
tantrum in peace? I believe you were up to 'puke-faced son of a
pustulant whore' when I walked in...."
Just when we were sure that Vere was the
nice guy
Vere and his companions walk down into the city, directly
to Drudge's printshop. They enter the establishment and Vere
gestures to the guards to wait by the door. He glances casually
over the people in the front office, places a copy of the
offending broadsheet on a tabletop, and says to the room at
large, "I wish to speak with Drudge. Now."
Paige sees the possibilities of the up-coming
masquerade
"Is there a problem Vialle? I think it could be enjoyable.
And there's a deniability angle if I do anything too dreadful."
Paige smirks, but is really listening for Vialle's answers,
spoken and not.
No comment.
Lucas: "I see no reasons to oppose it your Gerardness."
This is good poetry?
"Or combine the two and start writing erotic poetry,"
grins Folly. "'My lover's ivory thighs/Blush like a spring
sunrise;/The shadow of her breast/Doth quake at my behest.'"
Her grin gets wider as she pauses to reflect on her composition.
"Hey, that kinda' doesn't suck. Can I borrow a pen?"
Vere does not surprise Blake, and the GM
knows why
Vere lifts an eyebrow but remains silent.....
Blake:When *doesn't* Vere lift an eyebrow and remain silent?...:)
Michael: You'd think he was secretly Julian's son. Oh, wait. I
didn't suggest that. Nevermind. These aren't the plot-threads
you're looking for. Move along.
When already to many royals were lost,
three more decided to go "investigating". I don't think
the farewell letter looked like this, however. GM (Michael):
Dearest Unka Gerry,
Tired of ruling Amber for you. Running away, joining circus (like
I wanted
to when I was a kid). Taking Paige, taking Reid. Don't worry, L
& O will
run things while we're gone.
Love,
Cambina.
PS: Tell Jerod not to open my diary while I'm gone, because I'll
*know*
And Paige obviously hadn't realised all
consequences?
Paige looks at Cambina considering it thoughtfully, before
answering, "I don't know if the Council could bear losing
another three of us. It leaves Folly, Lucas and Ossian to man the
battlements then... But, yeah, I'm game."
Karen: You *really* want to leave those three running the place?
"We have decided that the new guiding principles of Amber
shall be Beauty, Truth, Freedom, and Screwing Like Crazed Weasels."
Folly clearly believes in reincarnation
Folly, to Paige: Please promise you'll be careful, though, OK?
'Cos if you die, I'll kill you."
There are different ways of finding your
way
GM (Michael): After some hours of wandering and what lower
waters would call 'being lost' and Cambina calls 'allowing the
place to find us', you arrive at a clearing in the woods.
There is only one hoof print in the mud.
Strange horse?
"A single hoof print, hmmm. One wonders if it were a
horse, a goat, or perhaps the family patron," Paige muses as
they climb. "You ever hellride fast enough to step foot in a
different Shadow with each step, Reid?"
Sometimes the answers are just silliness.
And there is an anarcho-syndicalist hiding somewhere near.
Ossian looks up from his sketch-book:
"Hm, I sense an unfinished part of my education. Who are the
tritons?"
GM(Michael)>
RANDOM: How do you do, good lady. I am Random, King of the
Tritons.
Whose castle is that?
WOMAN: King of the who?
RANDOM: The Tritons.
WOMAN: Who are the Tritons?
RANDOM: Well, we all are. we're all Tritons and I am your king.
WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king.
Conner has spent 5 years in Rebma, and
already wants back?
I like a large fireplace." Conner replies with a
smile. "No other preferences."
"And here I was going to recommend a fish tank," Lucas
comments, the first he's said since Conner began his tale.
Everyone has an inner accountant
"How much do we know about the catch of fish
historically. Could this be within the natural variability?"
Ossian asks Vere.
A moment later he adds:
"Did I say that? *Natural variability?* " Ossian makes
an ugly face "All this bureaucracy is getting at me."
Brita is enthusiastic about brothers
"Greetings." Conner's green eyes twinkle as he
smiles back at her. "Sister." He adds with a satisfied
sound.
"Whoo-Hoo!" Brita launches herself (all 6'2") at
Conner. She wraps him in a big bear hug and practically lifts him
off the ground. Setting him down again, she starts chattering
"A brother!! I still can't believe it! This is so great! It
is wonderful to have family here.... I mean Reid is family and
all the cousins, but they aren't _Family_. This is so great! Have
you seen Mom, recently?" Brita turns slightly and notices
Needle off to the side."Needle! Come meet my _brother_
Conner!" Brita is being pretty animated and I'm sure Needle
is shocked at the change. Brita suddenly turns back to Conner
with her hands on her hips, "And just where have you been?
I've been here three full years and no one even mentioned you to
me!" Brita can't hold the stern expression for long. She
breaks into a grin and slaps Conner on the shoulder, "But
who cares? You are here now. Needle! See if you can scrounge up
some wine...and food for my brother. We need to celebrate!"
What we know. Does Conner have the same
uncanny abilities as Cambina?
"Then I must take it up with Benedict." Conner nods.
"Though I have few hopes he will prove to be talkative about
it." He smiles. "Now, do you know anything about the
Tritons or who might?"
Jeremy: [Especially since he's in the Courts of Chaos and hasn't
been heard from in years.]
Jerod on one of his most beloved uncles
Jerod grabs a drink and leans back in his chair while
awaiting the arrival of lunch. "Well, it's an interesting
shadow that he picked out. The trade magnates there are not the
nicest of people. Greedy, conniving, well-focussed on business.
Our contact Abban could be a thoroughly underhanded individual.
Makes Carver look like a gentleman. The fact that he killed our
crewman Chase to ensure his business contract went through, and
considered it a personal favor to me, says a lot." and Jerod
smiles thinly. "I suspect Uncle Bleys fit right in."
We know who is the "Water Guy"
Folly: "Hey, Jerod," she says quietly. "Got a
minute?"
She seems a little uncomfortable
Blake: Which means if Jerod's picking it up, she's probably in
agony...
Love is the right way! Folly to Jerod
"I just... I wanted to, uh...." Pause. But then she
looks up at Jerod, and something seems to click. "I don't
understand you. Why is it so important to you to believe that
everyone hates you?"
On pronounciation
GM (Ginger): I have been skimming the posts as you lads and
lasses have been pushing the story along without me. I know there
are a few things that the GM needs to handle, like, say,
following up on the interviews with Thalia and Hargarel (wherever
his darn apostrophe goes).
Michael: The apostrophe is only pronounced underwater.
This page was updated 27 apr 2002.