Ensemble: Campfire Diplomacy

The cousins discuss their options

The evening after parting with Prince Julian, ForestArden

PCs	NPCs
LadyCorradina	LordDrake (as a PC)
LordDiomedes	LadyRosalind (as a PC)
LadyMiho
LordObi

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Once the fire's going and everyone has more or less settled in, Dina looks across the fire at Obi and smiles. "Obi, what's spunk?" she asks in a voice full of curiosity, that carries a little more than it necessarily has to.

Drake turns to Obi to see what he has to say.

Rosalind is the last to join the company at the fire. She always takes longer than anyone else in dealing with her horse. The uncharitable would say it's that she lacks experience in grooming tasks. The really uncharitable would say that she's slacking on camp chores, but probably not in her presence. "Do you really want Obi to answer that question in mixed company, Dina?" she calls across the camp to her oldest cousin. "You might make him blush."

Miho has cared for her horse, then worked to help set up the campsite. She glances up at Rosalind's words, looking from her, to Dina, then to Obi. Her expression is serious as she says, "I cannot imagine anything that might make Obi blush."

Obi smirks, glad that the evening's shadows and his own coloring saves him from making a liar out of his youngest cousin. "Spunk? I'd say from most stories that it's something you're normally full of."

"So why do you ask?" he wondered aloud, kicking off his red boots and stretching his feet out toward the fire.

"We were having a discussion of lexicography and Dina was surprised when I suggested the word didn't mean what she thought it meant, not to everyone. It devolved from there and you were consulted as an expert third party."

"That's a third definition!" Dina pouts. She shoots Drake an eyebrow, before turning back to the group at large. "It seems we're going to have to be careful with our semantics, because for each word we may each have a different definition. I think, now that we've gotten rid of the spies that aren't us, it's time for the group to decide what we're going to do, or not do, as the case may be."

"I'll start. I'm of two minds. Part of me wants to find Corwin. Part of me wants to find Benedict and ask what he knows about Corwin's disappearance. The timing of Benedict's leavetaking from Amber was always curious to me - I wouldn't be surprised if he knows something. The later could be dangerous, but so could the former. There are other options too - let's talk about them. I'd like to sleep with this settled." Dina smiles at all assembled, and then bites into an apple.

"Words have power, especially with the eldest of our family." Diomedes puts in. "And yet he has absented himself from Amber. Note that the Elders did not send us to bring Benedict back to Amber. Either they really don't want anyone back at all and just want us to use our time on trying to get Corwin, or they don't think Benedict is worth contacting."

"As for my opinion, I draw attention to the fact that not all of our Elders were at the meeting. The Strategos is first among these." Diomedes continues, looking around his cousins, speaking evenly. "I for one would like to speak to Benedict. Even if he were to refuse to aid us, he should be made aware of recent events."

Rosalind nods. "Also Drake's favorite friend," she nods at the aforementioned cousin, "and two, no, three of our aunts who were not present. Because, you know, they're not important or useful enough to be entrusted with meaningful tasks like running the kingdom or finding missing fathers or brothers." She catches Dina's eye and rolls her own. "I look forward to explaining to Aunt Fiona that Eric and Caine consider me more useful than they do her."

Small hairs blow loose from Rosalind's braid in the wind as she turns her attention back to Diomedes. "And your father, of course. Have you spoken with him since we were assigned this errand, Dio?"

Diomedes, who turns to listen to Rosalind's contribution, shakes his head as she poses him the question. His look is a little guarded as he speaks.

"No, I've spoken with Theia, but I haven't spoken with Father about what we are doing and what our Aunts and Uncles are up to, either. Yet." Diomedes adds the last word after a moment.

Rosalind nods, the answer seeming to march with her expectations

Miho speaks up from the sidelines. "I do not think it is that we have been set not to speak with Benedict," she says quietly. "But that my father believes we have a better chance of finding Corwin than of finding our Eldest uncle. Like calls to like in Shadow, blood calls to Blood. Dina carries the stamp of Corwin within her being, and by the virtue of not seeking him but letting us draw her to him, we may yet find him. We carry with us no similar link to Benedict. If he does not wish to be found, he may well hide better from us."

Dina scrunches up her face at this talk of 'drawing out' Corwin with her blood. But then she shakes her head at the Miho's point. "I'm not sure Benedict is hiding at all," Dina says. "Have any of 'the highnesses' admitted to looking for him? They only go looking for people they think they have a use for - or which proposed search they can use for their political motives. And what's the detriment, even if it's hard or impossible to find Benedict, of putting off looking for Corwin? He's already been gone a hundred years."

"But two of the people I trust most in our family, suggest that he's alive," Obi observes. "I'm not going to argue for them, but if they think this is the priority, then I don't plan on disappointing them."

"Perhaps there's no need to search for Benedict. He removed himself from our company. Perhaps he's in hiding, perhaps he's in touch with family and they've already ruled him out, or perhaps we're all just jumping without thinking."

"I'll continue to look for Corwin, something that I fear will be a bit more difficult without you, but you never planned to complete this trip anyway, did you?"

"Oh, fuck you," Dina says, obviously annoyed. "I said I'd do it. I'll do it. I'm not sure if Corwin's out there, Benedict doesn't know where he's at, or something more about it - that's what I'm saying. Why do you think Benedict left, Obi?"

"So he didn't have to listen to you two and your lovers' quarrels," Rosalind opines to Drake, her nearest neighbor.

"I'm still trying to recall when Benedict left Obi. I didn't know he was with Obi."

Dina sticks out her tongue at the both of them, and tries not to crack a smile.

"That's a story better left for after the O's go to sleep isn't it?" Obi chuckles with a nod toward his younger cousins, Dio and Miho.

Diomedes does not blush, but he quirks up an eyebrow and gives a amused look to Obi.

Miho sits, quietly eating whatever is dinner this night, and does not appear to have heard.

"I'm not arguing that Benedict's not a good place to be looking if we need help, but for a moment, think about what we've discussed on how to find Corwin. If he's truly hiding, we probably won't." Obi rummaged in his pack while he was talking, not looking at Dina. "Benedict isn't considered dead, so someone must be pretty well convinced that he's still alive. If you want to see if he's interested, Trump him. If he doesn't answer, he doesn't want to. We don't have those same assurances from Corwin, so we do it the hard way."

"If we do trump him, then." Diomedes puts in. "Then we need to decide who will make the contact. If we get through, the choice of our diplomat to speak to him could be important in keeping him on the line, so to speak."


"What advantages have we all, then, in speaking with him?" Miho asks. "It is my father who conceived this mission that we find ourselves on, so there is that. It is Dina's sire we seek, and her desire to contact Benedict, so there is that as well." She glances at the others for their input.

"I think Obi should trump him," Dina opines. "He is probably the best acquainted with Benedict of all of us. And I think Obi should try to invite us to visit Benedict, now. As in, via the trump, all of us and our horses. It can't be all that much harder to search from wherever Benedict is than it is to start from here."

"Also, I think Benedict probably understands that Obi means well. He may actually talk to him a little, even if we can't get him to host us and open himself up for questions," Dina adds.

"Benedict seems more useful for the nominal purpose for which we were asked to seek Corwin, which was to strengthen the realm. He may also have something to say about the attempt to find our grandfather. He has the right to know these things, and if he'll speak with us, we should tell him about them," Rosalind opines.

"The right place to search for Corwin probably starts on a ship," Drake adds. "We are, after all, looking for whatever happened to a trans-oceanic resource-based empire involved in a proxy war in the colonies. We can find a ship to go there from just about anywhere."

"Perhaps some of us should go shipbound, and seek Corwin, while the others speak to Benedict? Then we can continue forward motion through shadow, even while looking at other options," Miho suggests.

"I don't think we need to split. Trumping Benedict was my idea, I'll gladly attempt it. Even this evening if we can agree on what to say, should he receive us," Obi answers.

"And if the dossier suggests seafaring kingdoms, then by all means a boat would suit. We've enough hands that a small vessel could be handled easily enough."

"Or enough hands to hire a big one," Dina says, just a little skittish of the idea of having to do actual deckwork. "I'd rather we stick together too, frankly. Not every moment of every day, but for travel. I'd like you to ask him what he knows about Corwin's disappearance. Why he left when he left? Why hasn't he come back, like everyone else does? And we should tell him what's going on, I agree. He could end the whole arguement in a second flat, if he chose to."

Rosalind presses her lips together at Dina's last comment.

Miho looks to Obi. "Then let us begin with the Trump. I am alright with Obi being the one to do so."

Obi smiles and nods, "Alright, I'll make the attempt." He looks at the fire and then back at Miho and the others. "Can we do it after dinner? I'm famished."

"I concur with Obi." Diomedes says. "We want our best face forward when talking to the Strategos. And." he turns to Obi and smiles. "Stomach growls make a bad impression upon Uncle Benedict

Miho nods her agreement.

"Well, and Drake, are you gonna call your Punk buddy? He can come camp with us if he brings quality stuff," Dina offers graciously.

"Yes. I value his opinion. Also, there may be people who know more about how Patterns work than Random, but I'm not sure I've seen anyone who uses it as much in just day-to-day life than he does. He may have good advice on how to find a missing uncle."

"And I've never known him not to bring quality stuff." Drake says the last with a straight face.

Miho settles herself sitting cross-legged nearby, silently listening to Obi's side of the conversation but not interrupting.

Dina starts pacing back and forth in front of Obi, but far enough out not to interrupt his call - although he'd certainly have to lower his tone to say something she wouldn't hear.

Diomedes finds something nearby to Miho and Obi to lean against, his eyes watching and listening intently to the latter.

"For me as well, Uncle," Obi answers with a small bow of the head.

"It's been an unexpected couple of days," he begins with a wry smile. "I hope my interruption hasn't cost you the hunt."


Rosalind is a modest distance away.

"Can I assume that you've been in touch with Amber recently and are aware of the concern over the King's whereabouts?" Obi asks, wanting to keep to the important points and not interested in recounting information that his uncle may have already covered.

The impatient Dina, or Miho and Diomedes will certainly note the pause, based upon how long it will be before Obi has something to reply to.

Diomedes watches Obi's trump call carefully, but with a quiet intensity to his eyes, which blink rarely as he watches.

Dina, during this silence, will stop pacing a turn to face Obi, watching his face. You don't even need warfare to tell she's ready to grab for Obi if she thinks anything is going wrong.

Miho continues to sit as quietly as before, hands resting lightly atop her knees, legs crossed.


At the same time, those not involved in their own trump call can hear: "Yeah!, You busy?" Drake can be heard to say to someone across a trump. Then only a short moment later he reaches out his hand. "I'll call you all later," he says to everyone else.

"Be safe, cousin" Diomedes looks over and gives Drake a nod.

And on the heels of Diomedes' farewell, Drake vanishes leaving only a rainbow colored after image.

"Those of your brothers that have been tap-dancing with the Court have decided to mount a concerted search for Grandfather. Prince Eric, my mother, Uncle Bleys and Julian were to be leaving Amber in search for him," Obi explains.

"Under the ruse of needing as many Princes as possible to deal with the issues, we of the younger generation have been set upon Corwin's trail by Gerard and Caine," he continues. "We were interested in a palaver if you might have anything that could help the quest."

Obi listens attentively for a short span before answering again.

"The geas may not be as much a ruse as many feel," Obi begins. "Gerard and Caine sprung this upon Eric, Bleys, Julian, and my mother at a family meeting that was arguably to tell us that they were going to make a concerted look for the King. Gerard had created a dossier on his last search where he fely he had come very close to finding Corwin or a Shadow, which implied a proximity."

"There is some argument for the validity of his belief. Several of us have our own opinions on why our uncles would like us out of the way during this time. I can't speak to any reasons other than my own, but we all have agreed to leave on this quest, at least this first day. We also were in concensus that an uncle, one that's known to be alive," he nods his head toward Benedict, "Contacting him does nothing but either support Amber or impede whatever plots they may be hatching."

He seems like he wants to continue, but waits for his uncle's comment. Those around him can see that his knee has started bouncing and Dina's sure that if he hadn't sat down, he'd be pacing and inducing fits of vertigo for his trump partner.

From the gloom away from the campfire, Rosalind calls, "Dina, I'm going

for a while. I'll call you when I'm ready to come back." Then there's a rainbow flare and she, like Drake, is gone.

"Okay Sweetie," Dina calls back.

Diomedes turns at the sound of Rosalind's voice. He then turns quietly to Miho and speaks clear, but in a low voice so as not to disturb her intent upon Obi's side of his conversation.

"At this rate, our Fellowship will soon be completely washed away."

Miho glances at Dio, then her gaze returns to Obi, although her quiet speech is for Diomedes. "If all else choose to follow other paths, I will still follow the currents my father set me upon and seek Corwin," she murmurs. "I gave my word. But everyone has their own view on the value of this voyage."

While Dina glances at the two youngsters before turning back to pace the other way, it's clear she's not happy, but she seems more surprised that they seem at all surprised.

Obi's eyebrow raises, at something Ben replied, but he doesn't interrupt. After another moment's pause he nods.

"As I am, Uncle. As I am. But, in a family of rugged individuals, we all have our own opinions on how to accomplish it." His smile isn't as sincere as offered.

"Then, unfortunately you can't offer any specific direction on this at the moment?" he asks rhetorically with a shrug. "I apologize for interrupting your hunt, and wish you luck in rejoining the chase."

Dina shoots a scowl at Obi, as if he's done something that displeases her.

"If you are interested, I will keep you apprised of our findings," he adds.

Diomedes smiles as he hears Obi's half of the conversation. "Hermes will remain, it seems." Diomedes comments to Miho. "And you are right. No matter how probable it is we can find Corwin, we did agree to make the effort. Those currents propel my ship through the waters of the future, too." he says.

Miho nods. "It is better that there be more of us." She looks over to where Dina paces. "Will you continue with us?" she asks, voice quiet. "I know this upsets you, and I am sorry for that." She pushes herself to her feet and walks over to Dina, concern in her eyes for her elder cousin. "But I do think you are our best hope in finding Corwin, and you are something that my father did not have when he sought him out."

Dina stops and the storm blows up in her eyes. Indignant anger defines the lines of her face and frustration makes her fists clench. She takes a deep breath, and those eyes close. She turns her head away from Miho, away from Diomedes, to open her eyes again on the spot Drake left from. She stares there a moment, as if she longs to escape. The way her hands open and her fingers come to her temples is as simple a movement as it would be for her to turn, walk away and start shifting. [assuming we're far enough out to shift shadow.] The pads of her fingers press lightly against her temples just a moment, before she starts taking off her hat, pulling out the pins.

She tosses them aside, letting her hair fall down, and looks back at Miho. When she speaks, she is far too calm - the emotion simply isn't there. "I have said I will go, and I will go. I did not say what order I would do things in. A path that doesn't lead through a previous failure would be nice, but seems to be too much to ask. As it stands, I am handling all this with as much grace as I can. I hope, Miho, when they decide to use you, and everyone decides to play along, you don't follow my example. Excuse me." And with that, Dina turns to go off toward the horses.

"I am sorry," Miho murmurs, standing quite still where she is. She turns in place to look where Obi sits, and with a motion of her shoulder, her hand, a flick of the eyes and a nod, tries to say silently that she feels guilt for hurting Dina, and to suggest that he go after her when he is done, for perhaps she needs the brother of her heart.

"My youth and callowness serve me ill here." Diomedes murmurs, mainly to himself, but loud enough for Miho to overhear. And then he looks between Obi and the departing Dina.

After a pause, Obi nods at his unseen uncle.

Another pause and he replies, "Nor was I unhappy that you answered." His smile looks genuine. "I will definitely come."

"Until we meet at a crossroads," he offers in parting.

Obi waits again for the sparest moment and passes his hand over Benedict's Trump. Replacing it in his deck case and that in his satchel, he notices the O's remain. "Make one little Trump call and everyione disappears," he chuckles.

"I thought I heard Rosalind say her farewells. Did Drake leave as well?" he asks his younger cousins. He's obviously scanning the dark for Dina's form as well.


Diomedes turns from the departure of Dina, and turns and nods to Obi.

"Drake went through to wherever Uncle Random is." Diomedes confirms, with a clear glum note in his voice. Like Miho did herself before, Dio's head motions Obi in the direction of the departure of the beautiful, but tempestuous Corradina.

"We can always Trump him if we need him before he contacts Dina or myself," Obi says.

"I angered her," Miho says, bowing her head for a moment for apology. "I think it would best if you spoke with her."

"You didn't anger her, Little Wave," Obi assures her. "Dina's upset about all of this and you just happened to be here."

He doesn't seem inclined to chase her in the dark, but his voice is clear enough that she should be able to hear him in the quiet evening. "Uncle Benedict seemed to believe that it likely was a ruse, but saw merit in continuing the chase."

"He had no suggestions as to where to begin, and while Dina might've had a point on the timing of his own absence, well..." he spreads his large arms expansively. "He wasn't truly in the mood to freely share his reasons, and I didn't have the leverage to ask."

Miho waits quietly, and when Dina does not answer she says, "It seems our elders play several different games. I choose to continue on with our quest. If Dina wishes not to, I would understand. This cannot be easy for her."

Diomedes turns toward Miho and nods.

"Indeed, our elders are playing at several games at once. There are games clearly designed unaware of the others. It makes me wonder if we weren't meant to fail in this fashion. The Eldest has stalked off, Drake and Rosalind have gone off through Trumps. It will take effort to form us back together."

He looks at Obi next. "Effort and time, Obi, but what in the meantime? Is this a game within the game of having us seek out Corwin? My father would see through this." Diomedes says.

"But sometimes." he lowers his voice a little, as if in confession, alternating his gaze between his two cousins. "Dad thinks on levels too abstract to really understand, the fire of his inspiration and creativity difficult to even see, much less follow."

"Until then, we continue as we would," Obi answers simply. "We cannot do elsewise."

"So instead, we'll follow the guttering candle of my inspiration," he decides. "I'm inspired to get some sleep and set out fresh in the morning. What say you?"

"I have to do a little spell work ere I visit the realm of Morpheus." Diomedes says. "But let not my staying awake deter either of you from it. Watching me maintain my sorceries is as dull as dishwater." Diomedes smiles to Miho and Obi.

Miho casts one more look where Dina went, then nods. "Sleep is best, to look at the task with fresh eyes in the morning." She moves to take her things and lay out a bed for herself, on the far side of the fire from Dio so that his work will not disturb her sleep.

Dina walks back into camp with a bag in one hand, flask in another, and a nearly extinct cigarette being held delicately by her very perfect teeth. A travel blanket is drapped over her shoulders like a cape. She makes a face at everyone that could be a smile, and walks over to Diomedes.

She holds out the flask to him.

Diomedes is sitting cross legged, near the fire. Although he does not seem to notice Dina as she approaches, he holds up a single finger in waiting as she holds out the flask. Ten seconds later, the same finger joins its four kin, and grasp the offered flask. Diomedes takes a long sip from the flask, turns, smiles and offers it back.

Dina takes her drink back and finishes off the rest.

"Thank you." Diomedes gives a respectful nod of the head to Dina. "Spellcraft is thirst-making work. I just needed to tie off the end of a spell right then. It would reflect poorly on me to have it accidentally discharge prematurely."

"Welcome back, Elder Cousin." Diomedes finishes, with a smile.

Obi watches Dina, his eyes questioning if he need explain anything, convinced that she's going to make her own assumptions anyway, but willing to try to keep Dina from deciding that she needs a little Amber-Asian sparring partner any time soon.

Dina doesn't look at Obi. She keeps her attention on Diomedes. "Thanks. So what are you, uh, setting up?" She motions with her hands at him in general.

"Oh." Diomedes is slightly taken aback by finding a curious audience and waits a moment before gathering his thoughts into spoken form.

"The last particular spell I call ATasteofLethe." Diomedes explains. "It causes the subject or subjects to fail to recollect short term memories of the last hour or so they experience, and for another hour afterwards."

"I figure it will be useful if we need to get into a place and want the guardians at the threshold not to remember our passage." Diomedes says. He then smiles. "Without resorting to violence in order to do so."


Dina purses her lips.

Obi seems amused by Dina's avoidance and intrigued by Dio's foresight. "No violence? Between us both, we're going to spoil all of Dina's fun."

"I'll leave you to your preparations, cousin," he says with a nod.

He gets to his feet and kisses Corradina on the cheek. "Sleep well, heart-sister. Tomorrow we'll find an inn at the end of the day, yes?" he whispers before finding his own bedroll and propping his head on his satchel.

"I thought we were going on a ship?" she whispers back, obviously dissatisfied about a hundred different ways.

Obi shrugs. "A ship that will eventually lead us back to land, which we're already on. All paths and all that."

Dina leaves Diomedes to his spells and Obi to his sleep and heads back to the horses. There she unhooks her sword and settles down for the night with her back against a tree, her sword across her legs, and her second flask to keep her company.

Diomedes probably takes another half hour or so to do his necessary spell work. If he can notice Dina still awake, he will walk over and offer her a bow of parting, before heading over to where Obi and Miho are, and heading to sleep himself.

By then, Obi's sleep is punctuated by the gentle rumble of his snoring.

---

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