Where in the multiverse are our intrepid heroes?
-- Posthumous is in Amber
-- Irulan is in another continuum altogether, that of Zircon
-- Vaerrek is in London Below
-- Krista's location is SECRET
-- Brannon is in London Below
-- Azriel is rumored to be in Twilight HQ

Sejanus -- "How are the Very Special Forces doing?"

Posthumous -- "Very Specially, sir."

POSTHUMOUS
Corinthian's plans for assaulting the Chaosians occupying Catland looked
good to Posthumous. He wasn't too happy about going through the White Room.
Sejanus was sending other forces through the replacement for Castravalva and
then there was a commando group that was to use Vaerrek's route -- passing
through by pure probability manipulation. These last were the Very Special
Forces, tasked to make contact with the Catmen resistance and aid it,
provide distractions and generally soften up the Chaosites. Posthumous
elected to join the Very Special Forces. He took one Can of Whoop-Ass, his
usual defensive spells, his spikard pistol, 20 lbs. of catnip and assorted
cat toys.


VAERREK
Vaerrek snatched and sacrificed a local mugger rather than lose one of
Cyngra's guardsmen as the Marquis de Carabas seemed to expect. He was led
through darkness enlivened by the wailing of the damned, through a guard
post and to a very large room (to judge by the echoes) where he was the only
thing illuminated. A deep, male voice came from everywhere at once. "So,
Vaerrek of House Larkin." Vaerrek knew the Master of Twilight's information
had to be current, so why bring up the vanished House Larkin, especially
since Vaerrek was adopted into House Berumen? Rather than get into that,
Vaerrek presented the Queen of Chaos' desire to coexist peacefully with the
Twilighters. Even though the Twilighters had been killing off all the
Chaosian members of their brotherhood, the MoT asked? The Queen was willing
to treat that as an internal Twilighter affair. The MoT agreed that the
Queen was not a target. He did not agree to work with the Chaosians against
Beryl or Sejanus though. Then he asked Vaerrek if there was anything he
wanted from the Twilighters. Vaerrek couldn't resist. He asked what the MoT
wanted for Lord Droom's death, stipulating that he wouldn't betray the Queen
or House Berumen. The MoT said he'd have Droom killed in exchange for
Vaerrek's knowledge of the Neologrus and a favor to be named later. Vaerrek
agreed. The mind scan was quick and professional. Vaerrek asked to be given
the chance to make a counteroffer should someone target his mother or
grandmother for assassination.


KRISTA
Alia, Krista's daughter by Vaerrek, was now roughly five years old and
Krista was pregnant again. Beryl's minion Louisa had risen up suddenly to
become Beryl's number one subordinate. Nobody knew how. Louisa spent a lot
of time with Posthumous and considerable effort keeping Azriel from learning
too much. Alia became curious about her father and why he was such a prig.
Krista bad-mouthed Vaerrek a lot. Alia was also developing an interest in
religion; she said that Tiberius had been a false prophet of the Unicorn and
that someday she'd set things right. Beryl's instruments detected
irregularities in the realm of Order.
SECRET.
Krista couldn't find out who Posthumous' mother was; possibly a Velvet.
She sent a message to Vaerrek and shortly thereafter a Velvet accosted him
leaving Night's Bridge:
Please come to London Below. There is something of great importance
that concerns YOU!
--- Krista, her seal
Vaerrek, alarmed, told his Black Guard escorts, "Time to leave. Beryl knows
I'm here." They went to Catland as fast as they could.
When Krista was informed of this she told Alia, "See, he's WORTHLESS!" Alia
was upset.


POSTHUMOUS
Posthumous took some time before embarking with he Very Special Forces to
check in with the Knights Tibular. He bought the building containing the
Patternette from the church that owned it. He acquired a list of that
church's membership. The KTs were practicing combat and Patternette powers.
The Professor was trying to reflect the Patternette, without success. He was
able to channel it. It seemed to be impossible to create Primal Order from
the Patternette, though it might help strengthen PO already in existence.

Off to the VSF and Catland. Posthumous prepared his Gremlins of Death spell,
which took three days, and spread it via counterfeit messenger demons.
Kamron used info from Gordon and Onofre to infiltrate various Houses in
Catland.


VAERREK
Once home in Berumenways Vaerrek showed the note to Duchess Saleri and
arranged to send a reply via Livilla:
I'm curious. We can communicate by writing or find a neutral place
to meet
--- Vaerrek
Vaerrek Logrused off to the Abyss to experiment with imbuing Logrus Servants
with stabilized Primal Chaos. The results were not too encouraging. PC
L-servants developed Chaos Cancer fast. A minor demon afflicted with such a
servant instantly got Chaos Cancer but quickly showed signs of gaining
control of the Logrus Servant. Vaerrek killed the demon and banished the
servants. Vaerrek had learned in the course of experimenting that stabilized
areas of the Abyss were extremely attractive to the demons who lived there.
Vaerrek sent a tendril to snatch a 'renfield-demon' (named Heboca) such as
usually worked for major demons, explained that he wanted to negotiate with
its master ("You are my master now!") and stabilized an area to demonstrate
what he could offer. He left, sending the imp off to Lord Bygwl (~ buggool
or biggool).

Back at Berumenways where Saleri had Krista's reply:
It involves YOU. It is a DELICATE matter. It is NOT movable. You
must come here.
--- Krista
"Evidently the woman thinks I've gone insane." Vaerrek told Saleri. He asked
if Beryl's sworn word was trustworthy. No.


IRULAN

This new place was seething with Pattern energy. Finnvarra, her host, seemed nice enough. Irulan asked him if she should shift to another form. Finnvarra became a green-furred catman, saying, "As you like." He introduced him to members of his family: Derek, very full of himself; Fiona, a short redhead who murmured, "Pity about your ring,"; Gerard, a huge, bearded man who claimed to be king; Arthur, bedraggled and muttering about unruly children, and his big, amazonish wife; Gideon, who was treated with contempt; Marroc of the Wonderful Belt... Irulan noticed a number of big rats around, carrying a Trump each. Ian, another relative showed up. Oversized anvils started raining from the sky. All the family evaded or blocked them one way or another -- mostly showy, high-powered ways, sometimes involving glowing stones (though none seemed to be the Key they were similar). Finnvarra started yelling at Ian. The power demonstrations grew increasingly wild as the family members one-upped each other. Ian disappeared. Irulan circulated, asking questions. Arthur hit on her. Fiona suggested she try the library in Castle Amber. Irulan agreed; Fiona snapped her fingers and they were in a primitive castle. Fiona led her down long spiral stairs that led deep underground to a passage to a door guarded by a dragon and into a Pattern chamber full of fairies. Fiona said they were _bloodsucking_ fairies. Irulan didn't like the sound of that. Fiona produced a Trump of herself out of the air, gave it to Irulan and walked the Pattern -- strolled, really -- and vanished. Fiona Trumped Irulan through to a vast, weird library -- Dworkin's library -- and showed her how to use it. Think of a book and it appeared. Irulan thought, "Sligspholl, Ulpau, Targo," and caught a book by one Oberon who met with three Chaosian messengers shortly after the birth of his son Benedict and the exile of his two eldest sons. They wished the Eye of the Serpent. Oberon told them that Dworkin had it; it hadn't interested him. Dworkin lent it to them. They brought it back. Irulan thought, "Eye of the Serpent," and caught another book. Dworkin may have used it to make some power sources. It was used in Zircon to create the Exemplar, the Paragon and the Grand Design. Fiona told her that the Paragon was Trump based and controlled by her brother Julian and Derek. The Exemplar was controlled by her brother Finndo; Ian had influence with him. The Grand Design was controlled by her brothers Corwin and Bleys. Corwin was Irulan's best target as he was a simpleminded fool who fell for every pretty face. By contrast, Bleys was mildly wise, Julian a power hungry control freak, Derek a useful tool, Finndo was trapped at his source, Ian a pain in the ass. Plus the Grand Design was made most recently and the Eye was most likely to still be there. Fiona gave Irulan tips on Corwin's preferences regarding women and advised her to not reveal her shapeshifting abilities. Corwin disliked shapeshifters. Fiona thought it would be easy to vamp him.

KRISTA

The notes continued to fly. Vaerrek suggested meeting at Berumenways under the auspices of Saleri, a Helgram like Krista. No. Krista asked what sort of assurances Vaerrek needed. Vaerrek replied that Beryl simply wasn't trustworthy, but Saleri was. Krista suggested Vaerrek bring Saleri; Beryl added that he could bring Feddrin too. Vaerrek replied that he wasn't insane enough to feed more people into the compulsion machine; it could wait until Krista could travel. Krista insisted it was essential. Vaerrek remained firm. Krista, interspersed with insults, suggested they meet at Night's Bridge, outside of Castravalva. Vaerrek accepted. He got to London Below as fast as he could, contacted a Velvet to tell Beryl he was there and flew to Night's Bridge hoping to get there first, and maybe warn the Master of Twilight. Beryl, Krista, Helena and a small child were there waiting for him. Vaerrek bowed deeply. Krista introduced the child: Alia, their daughter. Vaerrek showed draconic surprise. After a moment he came forward, shifting to humanform, and shook Alia's hand gravely. They inspected each other, locking eyes.

Alia glanced at the psyche-block ring, "Nice toy."

"Since the Sligspholl incident I dislike having other people in my head."

"Yes, Sligspholl. Why didn't you do more with your powers then?"

"I've often wished I could have done so. Unfortunately, Sliggy was controlling my words. I didn't want to give him much scope to control my actions as well."

"What about invading Oreenways?"

Vaerrek smirked, "By that time I was not completely sane myself. It was fun though."

Alia announced to him and to her female kin that she wanted to visit Chaos.

Vaerrek thought for just a second, "Sure. The horrible rain of vengeance should you be harmed should keep you safe."

Krista said, "No."

Vaerrek shrugged, "I'm hardly in a position to take you against their will. Perhaps later."

"OK," Alia conceded.

Vaerrek said his good-byes and, near as he could tell later, was allowed to leave unmolested.

POSTHUMOUS

The Very Special Force split up to shake things up along the London Below approach, to soften up the White Room approach and to raid the Hendrake, Helgram and Sawall camps. After initial operations, Posthumous and Balthazar located some of the free Cat resistance and were taken to Mr. Mephistopheles. Posthumous offered them Amber's help. Mr. M. agreed to send emissaries to Amber to meet the King. He told them of another concern: Miss Saucytail had got lost searching for the Key. The Key was an artifact of power used to change things, to re-write reality. The location was in London Below near where the Beast of London was slain. Posthumous offered to help, saying he'd been near that area recently. Balthazar stayed with the Cats while Posthumous took Rumpleteaser and Mungojerry (sister and brother) to Amber, blindfolded part of the way. The Cats found Amberside to be a blank and lonely place where only people and bits of things were visible or tangible. Posthumous told them their perceptions would adapt. Sejanus greeted the Cats graciously and promised aid. The two Cats were a gold mine of tactical information. Posthumous convinced Sejanus to supply the Cats with anti-shapeshifter poisons and Pattern-water weapons. Testing showed that P-water needed spikard device sheathing to work in Catland. Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser wandered off -- wished themselves wherever they wanted to be -- while preparations were being made. Ready, they returned and handed out the weapons to Mr. Mephistopheles' people. While raiding the Sawall camp Posthumous and Balthazar noticed Vaerrek flying far overhead. Surveying? He passed by.

H-hour. Gremlins of Death went on their rampage. Explosions all over the Chaosian camps. Vaerrek saw and flew higher, modified his eyes for telescopic vision.

Posthumous and Balthazar went to London Below to find the Key and use it to nail Beryl. They stopped at Earl's Court to pick up some supplies, some of which Posty tried to hide from Balthazar. They went to Angelsgate and found the place totally stripped. The Black Pool was still there. The slipped into it---- and out into a thousand foot tree with buildings on it.

A tall, green-haired, robed man radiating Pattern like a furnace appeared nearby. "More of you. I'm Finnvarra, this is my place."

Posthumous introduced himself and Balthazar. "Oh, you've met our friend."

"Miss Saucytail. She went visiting with my Aunt Fiona."

"Where would they be now?"

"Castle Amber, last I knew."

?? "Does this Fiona go by any other names?"

"Fiona."

"Do you have other relatives here?"

Finnvarra gave them a long list, including Dworkin.

Posthumous described Dworkin. Finnvarra said that was right. "We seem to be from a distant branch of the same family, from another Amber."

"My cousin Ian mentioned other Ambers. He claims he's been to two of them."

"We have the Unicorn and the Serpent."

"And the Spider, the Griffin and the Dolphin, here." Finnvarra ended up explaining what the Sources did and about the gems of power.

"Any idea how they were created in the first place?"

"Dworkin, Fiona or Corwin might tell you."

"We have a Jewel of Judgement stuck in the Pattern. Dworkin did it."

VAERREK

Vaerrek observed for a while. The Amberite stormtroops in their hamstercraft, P-water weapons, spikard cannon... yeesh. Droom's standard did not leave his tent. There seemed to be confusion there. Good. Vaerrek left for Chaos and the Royal Ways. He reported to the Queen and accompanied her and the royal army back into Catland. Chaos lost badly. Even a live Droom wouldn't have made much of a difference (Vaerrek told himself) against the Amberite weapons. The Amberites pushed them completely out of Catland. Two Amberite royals, Gordon and Onofre died in the battle against the Black Guard. Vaerrek cut open their heads and ate their brains, explaining to the Queen that Sejanus been reanimated, and it seemed to involve digging up the heads of dead Amberites. This was disturbing news to the Queen. Vaerrek was surprised she didn't know. Once again, he was impressed at Livilla's ability to stay on Chaos' good side while telling them so little. Droom's death was a minor mystery. Amberite commandos? Vaerrek suggested Piper. Or, did they really _know_ Valery was dead? The Queen and everyone else REALLY wanted some spikard cannon. Vaerrek suggested Livilla might be able to get some. Livilla, when she appeared, pinched Vaerrek's cheek, "So you're the one who doesn't trust me." Vaerrek shrugged, "Nothing personal. I don't trust _anybody_ who associates with Beryl." Livilla said the spikard cannon were well guarded. Vaerrek suggested she get one of the simple ones Beryl had draining power from the Wall; he'd destroyed one but there had to be thousands of them. It would lack the features of a real cannon but the base principles had to be the same. Livilla wasn't too happy with Vaerrek for coming up with a cheaper alternative but agreed it would be easier.

IRULAN

Back in the castle proper Fiona gave Irulan a deck of Trumps. The cards were strange, razor-thin and nearly indestructible. Gerard wandered by and assigned Irulan to clean the pantry every day. Fiona was amused. Irulan tarted herself up and was sent to the castle of the Grand Design. Workmen were repairing a large hole in the roof. She met Jurt, son of Corwin, a clumsy guy with an eye-patch and missing fingers. Corwin showed up and was immediately riveted by Irulan's appearance.

Fluttering eyelashes, heaving bosom, "So you're the ruler here?"

"Yes I am. In fact, here I'm nearly a God."

"Ooh."

Corwin whispered to Jurt, "You may have another brother soon."

Irulan pretended not to hear. She interspersed her 'seduction' with the subject of making the Grand Design. Days of sex went by. Corwin never got tired. Scratches healed in seconds. He had reflexes that made hers look like a five-year old's. Irulan mentioned she liked jewels. Especially catseyes. Corwin took her down to the Grand Design room. The Key was around the neck of a guardian beast chained there. Corwin said it was named 'Dara', nearly as strong as Gerard, nearly as fast as Corwin.

"If I had that, I could give myself to you _completely_." Yadda yadda yadda.

Corwin gave it to her. More sex.

KRISTA

Off to Amber with Alia. Mother Eilett declared the child to be an abomination and a heretic. She demanded that the other Amberite children be taken away from Beryl's influence. Catpeople had been seen in Amber, in audience with the king. The invasion had been a success but Posthumous and Balthazar were MIA while Gordon and Onofre were critically wounded and being treated by Brannon in Skye. Mother and daughter went to Catland via the White Room and a hampsterball provided by Titus. The Cats' city had been trashed. Kamron was in charge along with Mr. Mephistopheles for the Cats. Off to Chaos, where there was only the Abyss and a number of small stabilized areas. House Helgram hadn't been hurt to badly except for the loss of Droom. Poor Droom, Azriel had visited him just before the battle and reconciled with him. Thorathane, Feddrin and others came to her and asked if she could stabilize things like Vaerrek. Yes she could, and so could Alia. They did that thing for Helgramways. Krista sent a note to Vaerrek at Berumenways. He came to visit. The three went to visit Thelbane. Vaerrek made a formal request for an audience with the Queen to introduce Krista's (full titles & pedigree) and his daughter Alia to the throne. Queen Cyngra, who'd given Vaerrek permission to visit as he wished, took the hint and delayed a day to make inquiries.

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous and Balthazar trailed Miss Saucytail to the entrance to the Grand Realm. Suspicious guards disliked their lack of heraldic colors and designs. They came up with some and Posthumous conjured outfits. They gave their pedigree, mollifying the guards somewhat when they got to Dworkin, and stated the purpose of their visit as "offering their service to the great Corwin." That got them in. They had to wait quite a while as the King was closeted with his new lady-love. The major-domo asked them if, as Pattern initiates, they wished to become initiates of the One True Pattern. They temporized. Eventually they were ushered in to meet Corwin, an imposing dark-haired fellow who gave them a hearty welcome. Posthumous and Balthazar were distracted by a beautiful, buxom woman wearing a fist-sized catseye -- the key. They didn't recognize her.

IRULAN

What in hell were Posthumous and Balthazar doing here? After the Jewel by the way they were staring at it, or maybe at her boobs. Corwin welcomed them enthusiastically and offered to let them walk the One True Pattern -- no more blood curse problem! -- and serve him. They asked to read up on it. Corwin took them to a modest (pathetic, really) library. Irulan felt Posthumous experimenting with Twilight, as she had already, to find out if it worked here.

VAERREK

Vaerrek and Alia returned to Helgramways. Alia flew a ways herself, then rode on her father. She was obviously annoyed with any sign of weakness or immaturity. He introduced her to Thira and Thjarand, her grandmother and great-grandmother. Both were bugged by Alia and couldn't help show it. He urged them privately to overcome it. Exposure to a proper family might help her and Alia could be very useful.

IRULAN

Posthumous and Balthazar lied their heads off. Corwin got that gleam in his eye again and took Irulan off to shag in the garden. Irulan was finally exhausted, despite the energizing effects of this continuum. Corwin went off to "Mess with Bleys' head," and Irulan dragged herself up. Fiona was too interested in the gem. Irulan Trumped Finnvarra; he pulled her through. Unfortunately, the point she'd entered at turned out to be one-way. Finnvarra was booby-trapping the place too. He told her that Ian had been exploring something he called the Reverse Pattern. "But Ian's a git!" That got a big smile from Finnvarra. "He's Dworkin's personal git." Irulan asked about visiting again and what shape to take. Finnvarra said he'd make his traps selective. He directed Irulan to a possible exit, the tear in the universe near Ygg and Derekland. The tear was partially patched by a gargantuan Trump that measured hundreds of miles on a side. Little balls of light were visible around the edges.

KRISTA

Krista, Alia, Vaerrek, Feddrin, Thira and Thjarand attended Queen. Alia's protocol and ritual were perfect. She managed to make even Vaerrek a little uncomfortable. The Queen asked if Krista and Alia would be around long. Krista said they'd be in and out. It went off fairly well. Afterward, Alia said she wanted to get to know Vaerrek better, to see what he was like. The rumors seemed to be wrong. Vaerrek took her to workshops in Helgramways and demonstrated his old hobby, glassblowing.

Where in the Multiverses are Our Heroes?

-- Krista and Vaerrek are in Helgramways

-- Irulan and Posthumous are in the Zircon continuum, Irulan near Ygg and Posthumous at the Grand Design

Where in the Multiverses are Our Heroes?
-- Krista and Vaerrek are in Helgramways
-- Irulan and Posthumous are in the Zircon continuum, Irulan near Ygg and Posthumous at the Grand Design
-- Azriel was last seen in Catland and Night's Bridge

"We've Been Tibulated."

VAERREK

Vaerrek's daughter Alia was not much interested in glassblowing. He suspected she was interested in the things her mother and grandmother were and little else. What else could you expect from someone raised in that particular snakepit? While Alia investigated the Helgram library's science collection, Vaerrek sent tendrils off looking for an anticonjuration zone in Chaos; he'd probably need one soon. No luck. He Trumped Saleri and was told that Livilla had returned with a spikard device. Livilla said that the Wall and border with Chaos was shrinking towards the Cube.

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous learned from some of Corwin's guards that the only other recent visitor was Bergitte, the buxom lass Corwin had been occupied with. Balthazar was very interested in the Grand Design. Posty went for a walk and Sought out Bergitte. He followed her to Finnvarra's world. Finnvarra denied seeing her recently; he'd also booby-trapped the entry portal from Posthumous' continuum. Posthumous picked up '"Bergitte's" trail and ended up in a shadow where someone had carved all the mountains with Derek's face. Much more interesting was the incredibly huge-- hundreds of miles across -- Trump patching a hole in the world. Bergitte had gone through a opening along one edge of the Megamaxitrump. Posthumous hit the Megamaxitrump with his spikard pistol set on 'suck Trump'. No change after five minutes despite the mass quantities of power drained off ... somewhere. Posty stopped that and wrote a note to Little Miss Saucytail/Bergitte: "I'm here to help. Why are you running?" -- P. He wandered off towards this 'Ygg' boundary tree he'd heard some talk of. He found a forest of sapient, telepathic trees who wanted him to take his ring off. He declined.

KRISTA

Once Vaerrek left Alia started her real research: cloning, body-switching... Alia told Krista about V's conversation with Saleri. Mother & Daughter went to Catland. Krista confused the Cats -- Pattern AND Logrus -- and Alia disturbed them. They asked after Little Miss Saucytail and received evasive answers. K & A gathered that she was missing. They passed through to reenter their hampsterball and go to Amber.

Amber was enjoying a massive celebration of victory over Chaos and the liberation of Catland. They heard that Gordon and Onofre were gravely wounded and in Skye for treatment. Most people seemed to think that even death wasn't permanent anyway. Alia disturbed everyone and enjoyed it. Krista arranged an audience with Sejanus to present her daughter. The King asked some questions about her: when was she born, who was the father? The answers made him go pale, though he didn't buy Krista's contention that the Logrus was Alia's father. Alia told Sejanus it was Vaerrek. That bothered Sejanus even more and he dismissed them. They wandered about schmoozing and observing. The Castle seemed more real but different. The Toro clan was back, rumors of their grisly deaths having been true but Brannon having been a busy man. They were all big House York supporters now. Krista got permission to walk the Pattern for herself and for Alia from the King since Brannon was occupied in Skye. Titus accompanied them down to the Pattern room. Krista felt that the Pattern was more intense. Titus couldn't feel a difference, so K chalked it up to her new & improved Logrus powers. Alia did not walk it, despite Titus' arguments that she should.

VAERREK

Vaerrek made a foray into Catland, testing the Amberite patrols. He got away cleanly, near as he could tell. Next he checked out the Cube. New Logrus servants could go in but never returned. No explosions.

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous agreed to take a big bag of acorns with him to plant out in Shadow. Happy trees. He planted a line straight to the borders of Finnvarra's shadow and had a few left when LMSaucytail showed up. She said she had accomplished her mission. Posthumous told her he had a secret way back to the Real World but she'd have to wear a blindfold. She agreed, excellent shapeshifter that she was. The SECRET exit worked. LMS was stunned and amazed. Posty credited godhood and the holiness of the great Unicorn.

Off to Catland. LMS blindfolded him to take him to Super Secret Top Cat Headquarters. Mr. Mephistopheles, John, Jean and Angus, the Cats present were immediately fixated on the Key, concentrating. Posthumous and LMS watched. The Key glowed. The world took on a jerky, stop-motion aspect. Catland assumed full solidity and visibility to Posthumous' senses. LMS became Irulan.

In Chaos, Vaerrek lost all memory of Catland, London Below, Portia, Door, etc. Beryl he remembered only as the queen at Castle Blenheim. He remembered Sligspholl and his first death but had holes in his memory there too. He was very, very confused, having lost his motivations for three-quarters of his actions over the last few months. He knew he'd introduced Alia to Queen Cyngra as his daughter but couldn't remember what his basis for doing so was.

In Amber, Krista lost all Catland and London Below related memory. She no longer knew who her mother was. She couldn't remember why she thought Alia was Vaerrek's daughter, or where Alia had been born. The celebration in the city around her faltered and only picked up slowly to half its former frenzy as everyone forgot where and how they had triumphed over Chaos. Sejanus was heard bellowing in the throne room. Alia appeared at her mother's side, a smug look on her face. Krista tried to Trump Vaerrek. She wanted to get to Chaos but didn't remember how. She and Alia retraced the route Borel and Beryl used to invade and ran into an ancient stone wall. Alia led them to a hampsterball and through the White Room, then down a maze of extremely long hallways to a door that exited into the Black Zone of Chaos near Thelbane. Krista took them to Berumenways and they found Vaerrek there working in a spikard lab. Neither he nor anyone else had evaded the memory loss and nobody could account for it. He asked them about improving the devices. Alia suggested "grandmother" could. K & V both said, "Who?" Alia drew up some plans which let the spikard devices drain New Logrus. Vaerrek ate them, saying that devices to drain his, her mother's and her own power were not quite what he was interested in. Alia, in a snit, made up plans for a Classic Logrus drainer. The researchers fell on them with great enthusiasm.

AZRIEL

Ving let Azriel live despite her having, he felt, been a tease earlier. He even offered Twilight attunement but she declined. Azriel hung around as Ving had all the Chaosian Twilighters killed, and as Tiberius and Irulan were initiated into Twilight. Ving was a horrendously powerful and accomplished Conjuror. Later, Vaerrek showed up and cut a deal to have Lord Droom, Azriel's annoying husband, killed. Yes! When the Amberite invasion of Catland started,Ving assigned Azriel two excellent Twilight assassins to help her set up Droom for elimination. That went to plan.

The Universe shuddered. Quick arcane investigation showed that London Below and Catland had merged, become Very Real, and been cut off from Amber and Chaos. Everybody's memories were intact. Ving said that the technique used to keep him compelled all those years was a secret. Ving felt that Azriel owed him one. Say, information on Beryl's and Krista's doings, spikard cannon specs, info on the Master Spikard. Azriel said she wanted Bengt and Chander trained by the Twilighters. Deal. Azriel went off and got her boys in a London Below that was an order of magnitude sleazier than it had been. Bengt and Chander had been training and studying (history, social graces, magic, spikards, intel feeds about Faux Bengt & Chander in Amber...) as well as whoring and hellraising. Azriel grabbed a skank at an ultrasleazy strip bar and sacrificed her to Night's Bridge to get them across. Gascard took the boys in hand. Azriel held back some Master Spikard info from Ving, or at least thought she did. Ving had more information on the cosmographic changes. He'd retrieved some of his agents from Amber and Chaos; they'd all lost all memory of London Below or Catland.

VAERREK

Alia took off and opened a door into now-infinite Castle Amber. Vaerrek and Krista followed and found they could do the trick too. Alia led them to a strongly NeoLogrus room/shadow. She told them that the Key had erased them, something the Cats ("Cats?" -- in stereo from V & K.) had done while trying to do something more drastic. Alia gave Krista most of her memories back and quite thoroughly, having read them all while in the womb. Vaerrek got a rough idea of his activities, Catland, London Below, etc. from Krista's point of view --- with huge, gaping holes where everything concerning Beryl should be. Alia somehow knew what the Cats had been up to with the Key. They hadn't got it right. Vaerrek, beginning to suspect Alia was the NeoLogrus Icon or something much worse, asked her what her demonform was. It was a formless shoggoth.

POSTHUMOUS

The Cats said that things had improved but that something was still wrong, something was blocking the full reset. It had mostly sped up processes that had already been going on. What they'd intended was for Amber, Pattern, Logrus and Chaos to all disappear. Posthumous offered that the Jewel of Judgement's present position inside the Primal Pattern might be the impediment. Nobody knew how to get it out. The Cats would hide the Key. Posty planted an acorn.

Posthumous took off to London Below, now positioned to take the cosmic refuse of Catland, and went to Castravalva. LB was far scummier than it had been before the Reset. Louisa told Posthumous that Beryl was busy, indicating Azriel's inhibiting presence nearby. Chander and Bengt were gone. Louisa was extremely pleased with the Cats' plan and said Beryl would surely start looking into removing the roadblocks. Posty said the Cats lacked the imagination to remove them themselves. There had been no influx of a new power. Posthumous figured that someone in the Other Continuum must have a spikard. Louisa said that some of Beryl's agents were keeping an eye on the Cats.

KRISTA

Krista led the group off to visit her Mom. Vaerrek had no reason to not tag along and pick up information. Beryl, Louisa, Posthumous, Irulan, Azriel and others were there. Vaerrek listened to what was told to Krista about what had happened while eyeing the Master Spikard in the middle of the great hall and the spikard cannon under construction. Irulan was peeved with Vaerrek (over the invasion of Catland) and he couldn't figure out why. Azriel thanked him archly (thinking of Droom), confusing him further. Posthumous introduced himself. Azriel told Beryl about her deal with Ving; Vaerrek caught a bit of that through long, pointable draconic ears. Vaerrek studied the cannon through Logrus sight. Krista came up and objected. Vaerrek eyed her speculatively, "Helgram would be interested in this." "No, they aren't ready," Krista replied. Louisa and Alia came in and said they needed to brainstorm ideas for sorting out the Reset. Alia left. Vaerrek followed her and Krista followed him.

AZRIEL

Azriel played with the Master Spikard. Beryl came over and told her that Sejanus, in some bizarre mental lapse, had appointed her Mistress of Rituals. Azriel offered Posthumous the job of Assistant. Posthumous suggested they clone Azriel and send the copy. Azriel asked him questions about clones and their limits. Posthumous feigned ignorance and tried to point her at Beryl. Azriel thought Sejanus would notice. Posthumous said Sejanus hadn't noticed Faux Chander or F Bengt -- and the king was himself a clone. Azriel hadn't known that Sejanus had been upgraded from a Franken-king. She asked about FC and FB. Posty said that Brannon had programmed them to be perfect gentlemen. Posthumous convinced her to not kill them, yet. They were so well-positioned in Amber and Skye and all. Beryl, scoffing at Skye's defenses and owner, said that Krista had impersonated Amethyst in order to seduce Brannon and get a child. Twice. Azriel went off and contacted Prue via spikard to tell her that her son was being trained in Night's Bridge. Prue had no idea what that was. Azriel 'fixed' Prue's memory -- supplied info on London Below, Catland, etc. Then she did the same for Verity, picking up some of Sejanus' plans for the universe in the process. Beryl and Louisa had to help with Verity. They learned of Verity's work with Piper and Brannon, that V & B had devised Amber's spikard hampsterballs, that Tiberius had brought the first one there for Sejanus, that Vaerrek and Krista had, indeed, been mad when they got together, about Pattern Water. Beryl left some history out of Verity's memory fix. Azriel discovered that she was nearly as strong psychically as Verity but well below Beryl's level. She learned that Beryl didn't know why Ving had stayed mindblasted all those years. Beryl had compelled Verity to avoid walking the Pattern -- she'd think she was too strong to need to. Azriel suggested Beryl ally with Ving.

VAERREK

Vaerrek almost caught up to Alia by flying through the subway. She vanished into a door in the air. He couldn't find the doorway -- no NeoLogrus here -- until he took his ring off and probed psychically. Krista came in on his heels. He flew through the halls to the door into Chaos, then to the Royal palace. He loaded all his information into a psychestone -- except for the Amber hallway shortcuts -- and gave it to Cyngra.

[Or so he thought. Beryl had compelled him, naturally, and his spikard info was tainted, designed to cause bad accidents, and he told nothing of the Cats or the Key.]

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous visited Tiberius and filled him in, partially. He learned that the Marquis de Carabas was at truce with Master of Twilight Gascard and possibly trying for an alliance. An Amberite, Vaerrek, had been involved. Posty went quietly to Amber and couldn't find Lurk. It had moved. In the castle there was a confused celebration still winding down. Posty beat himself up and trashed his clothes to make a dramatic entrance. Happy and surprised people greeted him. He claimed to have been stuck behind enemy lines and separated from Balthazar. He told them that the Chaosians had got plans for spikard cannon. He figured out the memory damage and understood now why Verity had got the treatment from the Big Brains. Sejanus was not present. Posthumous schmoozed with Titus, offering alliance as his 'father' had. He told him about Krista's breeding program and listed the kids. Titus wanted Corinthian dead. Posthumous said that Brannon would just bring him back. Titus said he could lean on Brannon. Posthumous told Titus that the Unicorn was compelled by Beryl. Titus immediately wanted to do it too. They discussed the NeoLogrus. Did it have an Icon? Posthumous had an idea about that.

KRISTA

SECRET STUFF

AZRIEL

Azriel contacted Cyngra. The Queen of Chaos was still friendly. Vaerrek had given her some information lost in the recent cosmic burp; Azriel offered to give her more. Vaerrek apparently hadn't told Cyngra about the Cats or the Key. Compelled? Azriel returned to London Below and Night's Bridge. She told Ving she wanted a closer relationship. She gave up all her new info.

VAERREK

Vaerrek explored some of the possibilities of the Infinite Hallways. Hoping for a better anticonjuration place, he found a room/shadow for that and knew he had been compelled. So much for the little bitch of a daughter. With any luck she wasn't really his at all. Various attempts to get around it failed. Every time he went out the door he just knew something was Very Wrong and suspected compelling. Confused Vaerrek NeoLogrus servants circled around Saleri, having forgot why they were there.

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous checked out the Castle in Amber. The Owl Tower was now complete. The Castle itself was now huge, perhaps infinite, extending out into shadow from the basement. Piper and Verity were in control of most things down there. He found Lurk by seeking it in the Underpalace. The Knights Tibular were fine and had accomplished all their assigned tasks. He told them it was time for a higher initiation into the Inner Mysteries. This involved a lot of drinking and spanking. He took them into the castle and got them livery , then took them to the Other Continuum and Corwin's realm. He conned Corwin's guards into training the KTs. Balthazar had walked the Grand Design and now had tremendous defensive abilities (with an eye to taking out Beryl) and horrendous bad luck. Posthumous told him he had a secret way back. He then conned one of Corwin's elite Grand Design initiate guardsmen into walking the GD while carrying a spikard -- the one Posthumous got out of his disassembled spikard pistol. It worked. Back in the Real World, it still worked. Posthumous returned to Castravalva and investigated. The ty'iga in the Master Spikard had, indeed, processed the new power but it was keeping it to itself, to use against Beryl in a bid for freedom.

Where are our Merry Crew?

-- Vaerrek is in the Infinite Hallways of Amber

-- Posthumous is in Castravalva

-- Azriel is in Night's Bridge

-- Krista is somewhere Secret

-- Irulan was last seen in Castravalva


POSTHUMOUS
Played with Beast of London DNA. (Be afraid.) He mixed some with his own, so
now he has.... children. (Be really afraid.) Traded for a Chaosite prisoner with the Cats.
Despite Lord Keir's insults, Posty sent him free as a 'good will gesture'---
in a newly cloned body, compelled to the gills. Posthumous developed a
spikard-draining spikard, installed it in a Catgirl-like construct and sent
it to Mr. Mephistopheles, who'd wanted a defense vs. spikards. More toadying
to Mr. M.


AZRIEL
Ving 'fixed' the Boys. Azriel asked for a device to keep a bubble of
Reset-memory wipe-resistant London Below environment around her when she was
in Amber or Chaos. They discussed the possibilities of her new, unconfirmed
office of Master of Rituals. She wanted to study the Book of Rituals. It
might be in Skye, which was extremely well defended; nothing worked there
but Pattern and it just got worse from there. Still, Ving had a link to it and they went looking for it.

The link led them to the Palace of Amber. Servants directed them (Ving disguised) to Brannon in the Pattern room. Az just wanted the Book. Brannon insisted they see Sejanus, who would be angry at being avoided. Ving peeled off to wait for Az by the Cube. The ceremony went fine. Azriel gave a nice speech, full of virtue and putting things to rights, Order, Respect and Tradition. Brannon handed over the Book of Rituals. Azriel read for a while, then reluctantly completed the induction by going to the Owl Tower and feeding them bits of her living flesh. She staggered back and kissed Sejanus' ring -- which was full of Sligspholl. Not Good.

Azriel took possession of her MoR offices, did a sorcerous clean-up, read the notes (lots of info on what happened when the Rituals were done backwards), mindraped the staff. None had been compelled or let in on anything Tiberius had done so Az let them re-interview for their jobs. Appearance was suddenly much more important in the MoR's office. She looked up info on young Owls, thinking of getting one for herself. They were rare and guarded vigilantly by the whole tribe.

Azriel took the Book with her to the Cube. She and Ving returned to Twilight and studied the Book. The first half concerned the standard year of rituals. The second concerned special events -- funerals, births, exilings, etc. The Rituals purged Chaos and strengthened Order. The Book was written as if New Logrus had always existed. Ving thought that it reflected whatever was current in Amber.

MARCUS

Marcus, henchman of Livilla, scoured London Below for some sort of amusement. He talked to a Velvet and learned that her group was looking for a missing member. She agreed to provide information on Beryl's activities should he turn her up. A locator spell and the Velvet's mental impression of the missing Margot led Marcus to Castravalva. Maybe Beryl was backstabbing the Velvets? Possibly useful.

Marcus went off to find Livilla. Trump warm. Off to Catland, then slowly through the border with Chaos and slow, sorcerous shadow-hopping until the Trump went cool. Livilla pulled him through to House Berumen's ways. Livilla introduced him as her son. Livilla, several Berumens and several Helgrams were carefully going through Vaerrek Berumen's memories. VB was dragonformed, strapped to an elaborate chair, drooling. He'd been compelled in Castravalva, led there by his daughter the Abomination. Abomination? Alia was the Icon of the New Logrus. The first Icon to have been a person, more or less. The others had been sought out and bound. Worse, Alia was linked to more than one Source, something like a living Spikard. Vaerrek had figured out he was compelled and managed to convey that to his relatives. They were fixing him and had discovered all kinds of fascinating things about Sligspholl, that person's multiple deaths, Vaerrek's time when One With the Logrus, weird tunnels to Amber, the New Logrus experience, the Cube, Beryl & Co. talking about the Key the Cats had used to alter the universe, etc. Marcus paid close attention. After, Marcus and half a dozen others checked this Pattern tunnel point. Nothing there. Marcus asked for a tour of Chaos. Dagras showed him around, shapeshifted. Marcus got fixes on a variety of useful places.

KRISTA

SECRET.

Krista left Amber via Hamsterball to Catland. Catland was now fully visible, the architecture tending towards Oxford and Gaudi. Cats were waiting for her, cats who all cast what looked like one-second temporal echoes, both past and future. They hadn't seen Alia and were happy about it. They did agree to keep an eye out for her. Krista touched bases in Castravalva then returned to Amber.

Krista looked for Lurk, and was led down into the Undercastle. Seeking it led down corridors to a particular door, and there it was. Alia wasn't there. Back up topside. Guards told her Alia was last seen talking to the King. Krista caught the end of Azriel's induction ceremony and was handed a 3-D map of the Palace and Undercastle. She was to follow the Map, her Ritual for the day. But Alia was talking to Sejanus. She was told to do it Now. She did. By the time Krista got back to the King, Alia was gone, off to the New Logrus, he said. She followed. The Hamsterball guards said Alia had walked right into the White Room, sans Hamsterball. Krista boarded a Hamsterball and went in. She tried to talk to the WR, thinking that Alia was one with it.

POSTHUMOUS

Something with SECRET specimens. He turned something loose in East London Below, told to breed like mad, have a good time and seize territory. Posty-swine? He had them send token tribute to the King of LB, claiming to be loyal subjects. It seemed to work.

Posty started twelve mini-Beasts growing for the Knights Tibular. Mounts.

Posthumous went to the Other Universe and checked on the KTs. They were learning fast. Balthazar was in awe of Corwin. Corwin told him about the Gems of Power. Each enclosed a sort of proto-Amberite. Demons wouldn't serve to power gems, the didn't generate enough power. Spikards? Corwin suggested Mandor Sawall in Chaos, now that the Bitch Dara was dead.

Posthumous went to Other Amber and raided crypts for heads. King Gerard snatched him to attend a state dinner. This led to lots of sucking up and Posty convincing Gerard to give him tissue samples for a cloned guard of Gerard-mighty buttkickers. Six of them. (And one for Posthumous.) His Gerardoids were a success.

AZRIEL

Azriel redecorated the Palace as much as she could get away with. She touched bases with Ving and Castravalva, learning there of the elusive Alia. Beryl assumed the girl was trying to prevent the Reset from working all the way. Several of Beryl's agents were missing. She went back to Ving where he noted the stench of something SECRET about her. They got rid of it. She told him about Sliggy-in-the-Ring. He thought something went horribly wrong with Tiberius' necrocephalotron when Sligspholl's head was in it. Az consulted Beryl: should they trap Sligspholl in the Master Spikard. Hell No! Kill him. Maybe trap him in a harmless bauble.

Azriel returned to Amber and met with Brannon. He knew about Sligspholl. He hadn't known he was in the ring. He admitted to providing a new, cloned body, transferring them with a necrocephalotron. He suggested Az get naked & oiled and take it from Sejanus. Azriel and Brannon came up with Plan B: zap Sejanus with a spikard gun, have the Owls bite the ring off. Azriel contacted Ving to help out; he'd sent some Twilighters.

MARCUS

The Berumens and Helgrams worked on improved Spikard cannons. Livilla had the more sensible policy of avoiding the things completely, for herself and for all her people. Marcus Opened a door into Amber -- into Vaerrek's famous halls -- and checked them out. After he got the hang of using them he went to An Brionglodeach and tried to find the Velvet Margot. There was a scent of her, bodiless, in Castravalva. Odd. Marcus went back into the Halls and found a nice, fast place for a bit of R&R. After, he tried to get to the Abyss, to family Ways, to Thelbane via the Halls. No go. All such tries opened doors to the Cube.

KRISTA

Back to Amber. Azriel was putting in a spa. Gah.

Krista caught up to Alia, who did NOT want to go visit Grandma, in the Underdeeps. She was off to a lab and got busy doing esoteric things. Krista Trumped Beryl. Beryl wanted Krista to trick Alia into going to her. K said she'd tried. Beryl asked after Vaerrek. No idea. Krista looked around and Alia was gone, again.

POSTHUMOUS

Still in Other Amber, Posthumous made clones and learned about the family politics and personalities. Posthumous found out he was _popular_ --- young, malleable (they thought) and under-powered. Ian wanted the Pattern and Oberon destroyed. Derek and Finnvarra were both very interested in Posty's disappearing trick. P reluctantly explained about Twilight. Derek lost interest, saying his Paragon was superior. Finn, who knew this new power could cross universes, was more interested. Finn tried a mindrape. Posthumous threw him across the room with _Gerard's_ strength and boogied. He headed for the Real Universe.

Posty visited Lurk and found that the Patternette had grown. He made a spikard device to prevent Conjuration from being turned off around him. He started a new necrocephalotron. He learned that Beryl now had access to the Grand Design power.

Back to the Other Universe. He went to work for Derek, messing with Marroc and Finnvarra. He traded a spikard for loading another with Paragon.

AZRIEL

Owl Feeding Time. Azriel, protected with a spikard loaded with Grand Design, watched as an Owl bit off the correct finger and spat it out, and a spikard bolt from the shadows hit Sejanus. Sejanus collapsed. Azriel ran over and grabbed the ring, shields up. Azriel told the dazed and suspicious Sejanus that they'd been attacked. She called for guards, then checked the Book for post-assassination attempt rituals. She slipped the ring to Ving. The king seemed to be Sligspholl-free.

Azriel secretly dug up Tiberius and took the corpse to Brannon. It was a construct. Azriel reported Tiberius' survival to Sejanus. The construct came from Lurk. Brannon wouldn't go there, not with Tiberius alive.

In Twilight, Ving told her that the ring was empty. It had been made from Amberite parts. Az returned it to Sejanus, saying that the Owls had had it. Sejanus was happier.

Azriel visited Tiberius' warehouse in Lurk and was attacked by the Twilight Shoggoth. Grand Design shields held it off without problem. She managed to contact it psychically. Posthumous had told it Tiberius was dead. It was very happy to learn otherwise.

Off to Castravalva, but Az met Beryl, Helena, Louisa and others fleeing the place. The Master Spikard had attacked them. Sligspholl.

MARCUS

He returned to An Briongloideach to see what was up. He caught the flight of Beryl & Co., and Azriel offering fealty to Sligspholl-the-Master-Spikard. Oh shit. Marcus advised Portia and Vauxhall, the Livillites in charge, to shut down monitoring the second that there was any hint of Sligspholl turning his attention to Dreaming wavelengths. Portia was way ahead of him.

Marcus went to Livilla and reported the new and distressing events. He took her back to AB. Azriel was to be Sliggy's new top henchperson, like Croup and Vandemar. Livilla decided neutrality was the best course, natch. They'd watch Azriel to be in a position to help or hinder her. Tell the Chaosians? Yes. Marcus suggested they visit the Cats. It would be nice if _we_ had this Key. Hell Yes. Marcus, Livilla, Portia, Door and Vauxhall went to Catland.

KRISTA

Krista helped/competed with Azriel in caring for the King. Azriel told her her official version of the assassination attempt.

Alia was doing something in the Pattern room, Sejanus' idea, that was a State Secret. Krista Trumped Beryl and found out about the disaster. Everyone but Chander, Bengt and Caspar was with Beryl in Hyde Park, London Below. Sligspholl loose -- where were Corinthian and Vaerrek? Corinthian was in Amber, Vaerrek unknown. Krista collected her kids via Trump and returned to Amber. Corinthian was having seizures. The King was much improved. Krista told him about why Corinthian was having problems --- Sligspholl was free. Sejanus didn't know where Vaerrek was either. He ordered the Spikard devices disassembled.

Krista harangued her way into the Pattern room and Alia. Alia was mapping the Castle in 3-D. Krista explained about Sliggy. Alia finished her mapping and went to consult with Sejanus. She said that the only way to neutralize Sligspholl would be to siphon his power away. She had an idea.

Krista went to Lurk in search of necrocephalotron info and ran into the Shoggoth. She fled successfully. She returned, very cautiously, and found the Patternette and the Professor. She retreated outside, shifted to a human form and came back in, pretended to be fleeing a demon.

POSTHUMOUS

Posthumous checked up on his projects: fine.

In Castravalva, Azriel was toadying up to the Master Spikard. He checked on the Velvet tanks. He asked the MS what was happening. Sligspholl was the Master now. Azriel took fright and went defensive. Posty turned on the Spikard Sucker.

MARCUS

The Cat leaders, Mr. Mephistopheles and others, were reasonably friendly to Amberites. Marcus brought up Sligspholl. Yes, they did remember him as the legendary Devil who'd tried to enslave everyone. Marcus and Livilla explained about Sligspholl's reincarnation as the most powerful Source, right in the Cats' back yard. They freaked out. Marcus suggested the Key could help, and that if his associates could aid them in any way, they would.

KRISTA