amberconarizona.theiforum.com

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

"Aw, hell," she complains softly. "Holy Lady? I don't even know what that means."

She rubs her right temple, adjusts her hat and looks over at Wyatt. "Damned if I know," she snorts. "Are ya tha Holy Consort?" Rebecca chuckles and it is with amusement that she continues. "Actually, I reckon you're at least Wyatt, Lord Morgan of Cimarron; Consort to Her Royal Highness Rebecca of Amber. At least 'til Dad has a chance to addin' something' to it"

Rebecca turns her attention back to the commotion. "Oh. Best save the cigars; they're likely a limited resource at tha moment."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:01 am Post subject:

"You're prolly right... They might even be civiliz'd 'nuff for tobacco an' such," he says.

...

A man in red and gold appears at the top of the parapet, his clothes rich enough to be noticed among the plain armor of the soldiers. He yells back, "THE LORD OF HELT WILL RECEIVE HER GRACE REBECCA OF AMBER! YOUR SOLDIERS ARE WELCOME TO WAIT WITHIN THE COURTYARD!"

Wyatt looks at Rebecca, somewhat surprised. Perhaps he expected the people here to be as welcoming as the weather had been.

...

The gates creak loudly as they are open wide enough for one horse to enter at a time, and without hesitation, Ganelon heads inside, sharing the trust the Lord of Helt has offered. Soon enough, they have found themselves in a muddy courtyard near the keep from within the walled settlement. Peasants, merchants and other members of society stepped aside as four men escorted the lot of them uphill.

Rebecca sees that these people may once have had a rich culture but perhaps it has been declining, as suggested by the aging complex architecture versus the more utilitarian style foundations that appear more recent. It is possible this settlement has been taken over somewhat recently, perhaps a generation or two. Further study might suggest more. What is the most clear to Rebecca is this. This place is very defensible, alas the resources in its environs are much too scarce to support any long-standing siege. Additionally, it is quite obvious the people here are not used to such parade of visitors and seem very suspicious of Ganelon's force in their midst. After all, they have probably been at war with the warriors of the Black Road for quite some time.
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

While she doesn't exactly ignore them, Rebecca's not about to let hostile stares bother her. She does her best to appear nonthreatening however. No point in stirring them up. She gives Wyatt an encouraging smile, but most of her attention is on the defenses of the place and the people.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:22 pm Post subject:

Rebecca sees many things she could do with the proper motivation of the local force. Improvements that in just a few weeks might give this fortified settlement enough to withstand a long siege with repeated assaults. It is clear that Finn never made it here, or the small city would have been in better shape or been his.

That's not to say that the defenses are poorly organized, on the contrary, and the attention of the soldiers is certainly not lax, but the leaders must not have the military mind that Rebecca has had a chance to develop by listening to her Father and Finn on the subject.

Ganelon and two of his men dismount as servants of the keep take the reins of their horses. Sergent Ormes and the royal guard dismount as well. The servants bring a fancy step-ladder for her to descend from Demon and bow very lowly, looking at the ground.
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Her lips thin as she observes this. Not even the servants in Amber were this way. What sort of Crown had they lived under?

She dismounts and watches them as she says "Thank you" and "Please rise". It makes her uncomfortable.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:35 am Post subject:

The servants rise slowly, keeping their head down. She realizes then that everyone around only appears to be looking at her because they look around her rather than directly.

The man in red and gold bows before her and says, "Your Holiness! I will lead you to Prince Marcus of Helt, the Younger."
He then turns swiftly, his cape catching a low, cold wind and leads her, Wyatt, the Royal Guard and Ganelon and two of his men inside.

Demon stays behind reluctantly, cared for by servants sporting the colors of their Lord.

...

Inside, it appears that this keep was once a glorious hall and center of culture, but walls where tapestries must have been hung are now bare. Furniture is cast aside, collecting dust to make more room for people to move through. There is also some ancient fire damage here and there.

...

A bit further down, a great room where the ancient tapestries have been collected and hung. This was once a throne room, but the throne itself is no longer the centerpiece. Instead, there is a well-crafted table, massive and carved from a single tree, however unlikely one is to find such trees in this region of Greymoor, considering the parts of this Shadow Rebecca has seen so far. One the table, maps and maps and maps of the nearby regions, grey sand used to represent the Black Road, it appears.

Seventeen men, wearing swords and noble clothing with various colors and heraldry turn around all at once, quieting down immediately, as if interrupted. The man who lead them here walks to a young lad of sixteen or so. The young man wears blue and green clothes, simpler than she might have expected considering his high station. He looks robust but shorter than Rebecca by a couple of inches.

The man in red and gold bows to his lord and whispers to him. The Prince nods at his Advisor and faces Rebecca, Wyatt and the rest of the Amberites. The advisor bows lowly and faces away from both parties at either ends of the room.

"Our Holy Lady Rebecca of Kolvir, please meet High Prince Marcus Helt the fourth!" he yells.

Prince Marcus has an easy smile and as he approaches Rebecca, he bows lowly, only a few feet away from her and Wyatt. "Thank you for blessing us with your Presence, Your Holiness! My Seneschal suggests the King of Amber wishes to extend his benevolent hand to the Land of Helt... Please come sit, if you wish! We can introduce ourselves more easily then, if you'll allow it." He bows his head again, awaiting her response.
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca notes everything around her but merely shares a look with Wyatt before her introduction.

She smiles at the boy. "We thank you for your hospitality, Your Highness," she says with only a slight drawl of her native accent. "I confess it will be nice ot sit on something that isn't moving after our journey. But first, allow me to present my husband; Wyatt, Lord Morgan of Cimarron."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:06 am Post subject:

The Prince smiles at Wyatt and bows his head lowly, "Pleased to make your acquaintance as well, Lord Morgan."

Wyatt bows his head, doing his best not to seem awkward or too casual and says, "Likewise."

There is the beginning of an awkward silence which Prince Marcus quickly breaks by inviting them further into the room where the servants have arranged enough chairs for everyone important, which turns out to be about half a dozen people.

Three chairs facing three other, only six feet apart, on one side, Prince Marcus and his two advisors, Lord Alcestus and Lord Uoht the Elder. On the other side, Rebecca, Wyatt and Ganelon.
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca stands patiently behind the middle chair until Wyatt moves to pull it out for her. She remains standing until everyone is in their places beside their chairs. Only then does she sit. Rebecca introduces Ganleon as he takes his own seat to her left.

Mimicking her father's regal yet relaxed posture, she looks at the men across the table, assessing them each in turn as she waits for introductions.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 4:34 am Post subject:

Prince Marcus introduces the two men once everyone is seated. They are all served red wine and finger food that seems to be mostly bits of pork in pastry dough.

The time it takes to serve all six of them allows for Rebecca to observe the advisors a bit more.

Lord Alcestus looks in shape, greying beard and hair but still very lively. He is looking rather stern and stoic, trying to assess all of three foreigners himself. He gives Rebecca the impression that he is a true leader, like her father. His right hand is scarred; burn marks it seems.

Lord Uoht the Elder has black hair and a curly beard. He looks very strong as well, but his stern look comes more naturally, it seems, and he eyes Wyatt and Ganelon more than he does Rebecca herself. That is when Rebecca is reminded that none of them have looked directly into her eyes except for Prince Marcus himself. Perhaps it is strange protocol that she was not aware of.

"Could we begin this conversation with a tale of your travels? What have you seen and heard outside of here?" Prince Marcus asks, looking at Rebecca.

The distance between the two set of chairs is enough to allow whispered words to be shared within each group without becoming audible to the other group.
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca, on noticing the men's aversion to direct eye contact, had leaned over to whisper to both the men with her. "Keep an eye on those two. I don't trust a man who won't look me in the eye. It was creepy enough the folks outside won't do it."

She sits forward, crossing her arms to rest on the table as she regards the young Prince. "The Black Road is everywhere. It destroys or warps everything along its path. We had to cross it to leave Amber. Good men and horses were lost in a cursed mists where we were attacked by things that read our fears and presented them as real. Fortunately, I was able to take down the one controlling them."

"Has my advanced party arrived?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:39 am Post subject:

Prince Marcus listens to Rebecca's quick explanation of her travels.

"Advanced party? Do you mean a Herald?" the Prince asks, a bit confused, looking side to side at his advisors. "I'm afraid you're the first we've heard of Amber in several generations, your Holiness."
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca frowns. "Possibly one of the parties is in the wrong place. Where resides the King of Graymoor?"

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:37 pm Post subject:

"Greymoor is more than a simple Kingdom, your Holiness..." Prince Marcus says bowing his head. "There are two Kings, one Republic and many Princedoms throughout. This is the Principality of Helt," he adds.

There is an uncomfortable silence on their side, then the young Prince says, "Let me make things as clear as possible, since it seems you are misinformed about the situation here. We are at war with 'the dark things from the road' and our resources are as thin as ever... We have little to spare to support another war near to Amber. If that is not what you are here to request, perhaps there are commonalities in our goals. I would rather you associate with me than other Princes and rulers of Greymoor so I am willing to work something out, but as it stands we can offer little to Amber."
_________________
AmberCon Arizona Webpage
FabienBadilla.com
Desert Sky Design

Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebecca waves a hand negligently and shakes her head. "Amber is not looking for support. On the contrary, we are here to assist you in your fight against the dark things from the road. Forgive me for pointing it out, but your city defenses could use significant work. We would be wanting to start working on that if it suits Your Highness."

"However, I do need to find where my cousins have landed, and our usual form of communications do not seem to work in Greymoor. I do not know if that is normal for here, or if it is an effect of the Black Road. It may be that I can send a messenger to the domains of the Kings. But it may be that I will have to go myself."