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Nihilistic Mind

After a long night of foolish dreams of innocent deeds, Ian awakens abruptly. Quickly, he realizes that something is amiss in his well-organized quarters. There is a sealed letter on his bed next to him. It bears his name. The seal, a stylized F with floral design as a background.

[Assuming he opens it straight away.]

The pleasantly fragrant letter reads:

"Dear Ian,

I have left for Shadow to do the King's bidding, but I have great need of your blade and wits in this difficult hour. My son Daniel has informed me of something that I must investigate, in his home Shadow of Windborne. Alas, I do not presently have the time to look into these matters myself and would like to send you ahead so that you may contact me once you have arrived.

I do not know who else to turn to and I do not trust anyone else with this delicate matter. Daniel is leaving with the King's daughter for Greymoor and they will have surely left by the time you read this.

I have little to give you except this trump of yours truly, and the fact that Windborne borders Arden on the southeast, where the windy country begins, past the pale vale and a bright stream. There is a place near there called Goloah: a friendly village of childish proportions. Contact me when you arrive. You can accompany me the rest of the way.

Thank you kindly, Sir Ian.

I hope to see you very soon!

Yours truly,

Florimel."

Within the pages of the letter, Ian also finds a trump of the lovely lady.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

He sits in bed for at least four or five minutes, reading and re-reading the note and occasionally closing his eyes and inhaling the delicate scent on the letter. Ten minutes later finds him suitably attired, with riding gloves tucked in his black belt, and a slightly curved longsword at his side. A padded belt pouch contains an artifact from Shadow Earth, a spring-loaded coin holder, filled with non-descript gold, silver and copper coins. He opens a drawer, and from a hidden compartment takes out a silken, azure kerchief. He kisses it softly, then wraps the letter in it. The Trump goes in his pocket. He takes one last moment to ensure his room is spotless and his daggers all neatly tucked away and he heads out, locking the door behind him. He takes the servant's stairs to the kitchen, hoping to get a bag of provisions for his trip.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:

The castle staff is already working to assemble a feast. The activity seems much greater than usual despite Ian heard many of the regulars had left.

One of the cooks he's used to dealing with, Jay, approaches him and asks hurriedly, but in no way less friendly than his usual, "What can I get you today?"
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

"Just a quick sack of provisions for a two day ride or so. What's the feast for, did Eric learn how to ride a horse or something?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

Jay makes a low nervous laugh and says, "With all due respect, it seems that a Rebman diplomatic convoy will arrive in time for lunch." He begins packing lunch meats, cheese, jerky, fruits, bread and a small jar of marmelade. He even snoops in a bar of chocolate, gesturing to keep quiet about it.

"Where are you off to, Sir?" Jay asks as he pours wine in a skin, then water in a metallic canister.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

"Rebmans, eh? If you serve seafood, and I'm sure you will, make sure it isn't overdone. There is little despised more in Rebma than chewy calamari. I think that's an axiom, there." Looks at the bag. "Thanks Jay, you're alright." And with bag in hand and a friendly clap on Jay's shoulder, Ian heads for the stables.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

At the entrance to the royal stables, Ian sees the King's guard preparing a dozen horses. He is acknowledged as he walks past royal guard and mount to where his own horse is. The remaining horses within the stables are excited from all the commotion and even appear jealous of the ones who get to go out.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

Ian puts the saddle blanket and bags, then saddle on the horse, along with the bit and bridle. No great equestrian is he, but he can saddle his own horse. With all straps appropriately tight and saddle bags stuffed with hay and some sugar cubes for the horse, he leads the horse outside, in preparation for mounting up and riding off towards Arden. "Fare thee well, Amber. I'll see you as soon as I can." He feels a pang in his heart and a lump in his throat for April, who no doubt is somewhere far out in Shadow. "By the Unicorn, I miss her."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject:

Arson is happy and excited to be led out into the forest and seems in a good mood. As his name indicates, the reddish brown horse has a fiery temper and though he does not seem to know fear, he is moody at times and expresses it in various ways.

Arson rides a bit faster than Ian requires him to. They follow a seemingly forgotten path towards Shadow. After a few hours into Arden and through various Arden ranger checkpoints, Ian notices that Shadow feels a bit 'tighter' than usual. It is as if the path he is following to the southeast is closed or simply no longer existent. He will need to shift Shadow rather than follow a known and established path...
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

Damn the luck, Ian thought to himself. He had discovered that Corwin was indeed alive, and was being held incommunicado in a dungeon in Amber. He had just discovered which general area of the dungeon, too, and was going to use the Rebman delegations party, which should have degenerated into a mass drink-fest, to make his attempt at Corwin. The plastic ties were in his saddle bags now, inside his small bag with the lockpicks. No sense leaving anything incriminating in Amber. That bastard Eric could be searching his rooms even as Ian rode through Arden.
Hours had passed while Ian reviewed his plan for freeing Corwin. He felt bad leaving him behind but at least he would be safe in Amber. Florimel needed his help, and that took precedence. He didn't feel bad about the guard he slugged when he overheard a comment about "that dumb puppet Flora". The guard was lucky to be alive. Speaking of alive.
Ian returned his attention to his surroundings and stopped, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Despite his anger and disappointment, he had to smile, and was soon laughing aloud. "Ah, Arden, greatest forest of whom all other forests are mere disappointing stands of trees, you never fail to fill me with happiness, with hope, with..." Something wasn't quite right. The Shadows were...wrong. After sensing that the Shadow path was closed he urges Arson on, and begins composing his thoughts...leaves, less whole, slightly eaten by bugs, a tree with a large limb next to the road, a squirrel regards me quizzically, a slight breeze from the north, less mold spots on the older trees...and he relinquishes Arden as he moves into Shadow.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject:

The changes occur reluctantly at first, then lend themselves to his power over Shadow.

Soon enough, some changes begin to occur naturally and he knows he has created the right path towards Goloah, and eventually Windborne. The trees begin to grow smaller and more sparse and eventually a valley of whitish tall grass, swaying from winds traveling qickly at ground level.

The blight of this countryside landscape is a dark path that follows a bright blue stream.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

"Weird place for pavement." Ian mutters, and then, with the excitement of a boy racing home from school, he races towards the Black Path, intending to use it as a road until he reaches Goloah.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:41 am Post subject:

The path has the texture and look of wet charcoal. It crunches under the hooves of Arson. It is no wider than two feet.

As Ian continues his Shadow walk, the road persists and at times appears to be the linking border of Shadows that are significantly different on either side. On his right, the blue stream continues, bordered by small copses of trees and high red grass. On the left side of the path, there is a flat desert with arid plants that grow taller than most canyons from which they sprout.

The changes that he creates seem to occur on the right side of the crunchy path, while the left side is erratic and growing in strange and bleak landscapes. A few miles ahead, the black path Ian follows is widening to a hundred feet and seems to split into a Y.
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Ian · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 385 Location: South Carolina

"What the hell is this?" A look of pure puzzlement, coupled with the wonder of a young man, cross his face. He moves to the right, off the path and stops. Tying the horse to the nearest tree or bush, he walks to the road and stands on it. "Didn't somebody in Amber mention something about a black road. Surely this can't be it." He kicks at the road and then tries to pick up some of the charcoal-like substance, to examine it. Amazed as he is, he does manage to keep his guard up and his wits about him. After examining the substance, he remounts and rides down to where the road forks.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

This stuff shimmers like charcoal and from up-close, Ian realizes that those small bits of stuff are small-legged and wriggling. Beneath the surface of those strange and slow moving bugs, the dirt is black and sometimes grey.

...

At the fork, the Black Road continues and transitions into other surfaces than the crunchy crawlers. Ian can see ash gray high grasses sprouting out of the ground near to the road's edges to the right path as it sprawls alongside the very blue stream. To the left the arid desert continues and the path seems to go down into one of the canyons. The land between the forks of the road looks like another locale altogether. In the distance he can see misty swamps and from this direction he can hear a great humming sound.
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