The Lorraine sails into the east, away from the archipelago that housed the pirate fleet, or at least the ships that were pursuing Bleys. Setting a course towards their base, if it was indeed their base, in Benedict's shadow of Avalon.
The seas are rough in between the two two shadows, at least at the start, and the route goes past what looks like a tropical coastline unlike anything that would logically be between those islands and Avalon. The water is shallow and an unnatural shade of red, as if there's been an algae bloom. The sky is cloudy and the air tastes dirty and mechanical. The buildings that Conner can see with Garlic's best spyglass are made of metal and glass, and the city looks somehow dispirited.
"I hate these places," says Garlic. "Probably have steamships or something vile like that."
His first mate, Topsail (with that name he had to go into the Navy), reports that they should sail past it in about an hour, unless the Admiral wished to change course.
"I mislike the place as well but as we can't be sure where our quarry is hiding, we must investigate a bit. Hold our present course," Conner instructs. Working his sorcery, he gives himself sight beyond sight and gives the city as through an inspection as he can in the time he has. Largely, he is looking for any sign of shadow path or external manipulation of the Shadow, but the general feel and number of their naval forces is also a priority.
Garlic nods and the course is held.
There's nothing shadow-path wise that isn't on the rutter, but the shadow has the feeling of a place that's been manipulated by pattern, perhaps roughly. If Conner had ever been in Vere's Isles of the Dannan, it feels like that. Especially the weather.
There aren't any ships or naval forces to speak of, but Conner does see a few airplanes go by, high overhead. It's probably more advanced than 'steam'.
Conner instructs the Lorraine to anchor out of sight of the city. Conner wants to investigate this place further and it will be easier to investigate on his own. Conner has them put him on shore and then walks towards the city a bit until he fortuitously has found clothes and a vehicle that would be common to this Shadow to drive into the city with.
The car Conner finds has vertical components to it, and the city, when he can see it under the grimy fog and near-constant drizzling rainfall, is tall and full of electric lights and advertisements.
It looks as if it's constantly under construction or repair. Cranes and scaffolding are attached to many, if not most of the buildings. The largest building is a large glass pyramid, atop some prior temple, perhaps. In the middle distance, refineries bleed off gasses in bright, quick blasts.
Traffic is lively and busy and damp city, and it smells of sullen-ness and rot, with an undertone of too many people and too much industrialization. Conner flies past a sign that, were he going the other direction, would have said "Now Leaving: Tyrell City".
Fortunately, he doesn't see it.
Conner looks at the large glass pyramid and wonders if the Eye in the Pyramid could really be that unsubtle. Conner finds a coffee shop, one of those places where parking yourself with a phone or laptop for hours is standard, grabs the hand-held computer he is sure is in the glove compartment, and heads inside. He grabs a coffee, grabs a table and surfs this world's web to see what is up with that glass pyramid.
The coffee is expensive, but not up to Edan's standards. Or anyone else who really comes from a coffee culture. Conner can pay for it by bringing the little tablet into proximity to a payment machine.
He settles in with the device and the mercenary parts of the shadow's web starts trying to sell him clothes, medicines, travel, insurance, and games about scantily clad women. Conner isn't sure why, but he sees a lot of giant flightless birds in the ads.
The news of the day is pedestrian: a religious group in a former colony is fomenting trouble, scientists warn of looming climate disaster, politicians are calling for action against something or other. A break-in at the hospital, that kind of thing.
The only thing that mentions religion, other than the colonial news, is that the hospital is run by a religious charity. They don't have an ad, but they'd also like to have a donation.
A religious group running a hospital sounds like the monks MO. Conner starts digging into the group online trying to find names or pictures of those that run it and more information on the break-in.
Conner finds information almost immediately. The hospital is expecting a visiting dignitary to commemorate some sort of anniversary. He's going to give a speech. His name is Eldon Rosen, and he's from the Priory of Evergreen, to the north of Tyrell.
He is wearing a business suit in the accompanying photo.
Conner puts that aside for the moment and shifts from looking on the web to looking at the web of energies in this shadow. He focuses on the Pattern within himself and looks more closely at this shadow to see if he can work what exactly was done to it.
Conner feels the shadow, and it feels somehow damaged. Someone with power did something very fast here, and didn't care what the consequences would be.
It's in the weather. It's coming from somewhere else. Like there is a shadow-path to someplace that makes volcanos or tropical cyclones.
Mother could fix it. Uncle Bleys could fix it. Conner isn't sure, but he might be able to. It would be a matter of closing off a shadow path.
Conner is more interested in getting a sense of where this shadow path is. He focuses on that source of outside heat and tries to determine if this is a path he could use to travel.
Conner finds it, it's nearby. There's a ring of mountains around the city, and Conner thinks the nexus of the paths seems to be there. He could probably be there in a borrowed car in an hour or two.
Whoever made it, they didn't really disguise it from other practitioners.
Conner sighs. So many things to follow up on and only one of him. Perhaps he can do something about that. He returns to his car, slides out the Trump Sketch of Brita and places it against his cell phone so a passerby will just see a person talking on his phone. He concentrates and reaches out to Brita.
Brita's card is just starting to resolve into motion when Conner hears her "Yes?" of greeting.
"Good day Sister." Conner smiles at her. She can see he is wearing a white shirt of modern style rather than his usual court dress. The logo of blue and green gives a splash of his colors. The background is a car's interior.
"As you can see I am far off my original course and intentions. The short version is that I have discovered a shadowpath in Paris that is connected to a series of paths used by the Monks. The shadow I am in seems to be a nexus of these paths. I think I need some help. Any chance I could convince you or any others to try out an urban jungle for a change?"
"Brother! Brita's smile is big although it dims a little as she glances at something in the room (which looks like her room in Xanadu). "Mother, Grandda? Would You Want to Greet My Brother Before you Go?"
Fiona takes Brita's hand and joins in the contact. While her physical wounds seemed minor, in the Trump it's clear that her presence is diminished. She's still enormously powerful, but where her presence is usually a deep well of power, Fiona now seems a bit thin.
Conner cannot suppress the flicker of worry that crosses his face when he sees her condition. "Hello, Mother. It is good to see you."
"Grandda sends His Greetings. He is Speaking with Cousin Robin and New Cousin Penthelisea Before he Takes Mother for A Rest. I Was Heading to Green Arden to Assist Cousin Robin. Is Your Need Urgent?" Brita seems torn with her duties to her cousin and her desire to assist her brother.
"Well that is just it, I am not certain." Conner replies. "Uncle Bleys has been tracking down this network of Shadowpaths the monks are using by sea. I encountered him in a Shadow called Tortuga and we each took one direction along the shadowpaths in hopes of catching some of their leaders. His path led towards Aunt Flora's shadow and I believe the facility we just liberated our new cousins from. My path leads towards Avalon but on the way I stumbled across this higher tech shadow that appears to have a nexus of shadowpaths on land as well. One of them appears to be channeling warm weather from somewhere else into this shadow. I don't like leaving escape paths for people when I am hunting them but there are too many to track down on my own. I could attempt to unmake the paths and isolate them but I've not tried such a thing before and I'm not sure that is the best course of action. In short, I have a bit of analysis paralysis and if you cannot come and help, I would love to hear your advice."
Fiona frowns. "Weather normally only travels reciprocally between shadows. Natural shadowpaths are usually close enough that rain in one results in rain in the adjacent one. Unidirectional weather effects are usually a conscious choice, or else a catastrophic side-effect. Vere's home, the drowning Isles, is a prime example of this."
"My guess is that either someone broke the shadow accidentally or is breaking it on purpose. And if it's a Klybesian base, then all the more reason to know what someone is up to."
She doesn't address the question of Brita joining her brother.
Brita shoots a grateful look to the side and says to Connor, "Could Cousin Jerod's Pull of the Winter Storm that I Heard He used to Destroy the Prison that Kept Our New Cousins have Affected That Higher Tech Shadow? Cousin Robin has Graciously Noted I Could Assist You if Needed."
Conner thinks for a moment. "I don't think so. The weather being funneled here is warm. It makes me wonder if it is part of the network that leads to the Land of Peace. I would be grateful if you would join me Sister. Storming a Klybesian base should not be done solo."
"I'm not going, Grandfather," Fiona says. "Conner and Brita can handle this on their own. Contact me if you need me, all right?"
"Of course, Mother. Thank you for your advice." Conner gives her a reassuring smile.
"I Have Completed the Travel Sketches," Brita says, apparently to the room at large. "I Must Purify the Grove Water that Cousins Robin and Penthelisea have Retrieved for Cousin Misao. Mother, can You Hold the Link with Conner for a Moment?" Assuming Fiona agrees, Brita moves to the jugs of water.
She opens them and gently lays the tip of a finger on the surface of the water. She bows her head and draws upon her heritage to sense any impurities in the water (although she is not expecting any from Grandmare's Grove). She whispers a soft blessing for purity and healing into the water for her new cousin before recapping the jugs. "Cousin Robin, Please see that a Page Delivers These to Our New Cousin Misao. Thank You for Your Understanding in Releasing me to My Brother." She points to the desk. "The Sketches for the Lucas Fountain and Fire Gate are There and Ready for Your Use." She turns her attention back to Conner and says, "Get Well, Mother. Contact Us if You have Need of Our Assistance." She reaches out to Conner.
"Goodbye, and good luck. I trust you to do well, but call me if you need me," Fiona says.
Conner reaches out to grasp Brita's hand and pulls her through to hopefully land neatly in the passenger seat of the car he is sitting in.
That shouldn't really work, but it does. Perhaps Fiona gave things a nudge.
The contact closes.
"Well." Brita seems a little nonplussed by the accommodations. "What is This Small Room?" she asks Conner.
"It is a vehicle, a car to be precise." Conner replies. "This is a shadow with higher technology and people use these to travel at high speeds instead of horses. I think it may even be able to hover or fly though I haven't tested that yet. Thank you for coming, Sister. I feel better with you to back me up on this."
Brita beams at Conner. "And I am Glad to Assist You, Brother. What have you Learned Here? What Can I Do?"
The car vibrates slightly, but is more gentle than most carts.
Occasionally, Conner has to pay attention to it, to keep it guided properly. Outside the glass box, it seems to be a grey winter's day, with tremendous winds and blowing rain. Brita has no idea why anyone would want to be here.
"This shadow is along a shadowpath used by the Klybesians and seems to have several shadowpaths on land and sea leading from it. That implies this is an important hub for their operations." Conner begins. "Looking around the computerized news of this world, I have discovered that there is a hospital here run by a religious order and the building is in the shape of a glass pyramid. They might as well have put their name on the side." Conner chuckles. "However, this is a shadow with higher technology with working firearms. That makes simply rushing in the front door with my sword drawn a losing proposition. So whether we go by stealth or a more sideways assault, having you to back me up is most welcome." Conner smiles. "Of course there are the shadowpaths themselves. Part of me wants to try and isolate this shadow so that the monks have nowhere to run to. Part of me wants to leave the paths intact so we find every hideyhole this group has even if it means some escape us here. What do you think?"
Brita thinks for a bit as she adjusts to the motion of the Car. "Perhaps We can Close Paths to Places You Already Know or Perhaps The Reverse - Limit their Routes to Places We Know. Then We Can go Exploring The Pyramid. I Am Curious if I Could Find Any of Our Blood There."
"It would not surprise me though I rather hope not." Conner nods. "If anyone can sniff out the truth about that, it is you." Conner smiles. "Let's find a place to hole up and I can show you what I have found in this shadow. I think the shadowpath to focus on is the one bringing in the weather. Either the weather itself is important to their plans or the path is so important that they were willing to damage this shadow to create it. I am curious where it leads but perhaps we can determine that by sorcery rather than driving to where the path lies." Conner takes them to the first motel he can find so he can get them a room.
The motel has seen better days, and the man at the counter is nervous and distracted. The room is cheap and the walls are thin, but it's dry and the air is cooler than harsh daytime of the parking area. Once Conner has his key, the man goes back to his paperwork. There's a "business office" at the front of the motel, if Conner wants to use a public terminal.
There are no computers in the room.
Conner takes the key and leads Brita to their room. "Well I've slept in worse places though it is just as well we won't be here long. I suspect we'll find the people before us left some clothes in our sizes when we check the drawers and closet." Conner smiles. "Do you have much experience with shadowpaths, Sister?" Conner asks.
"I Have Travelled Them with Master Reid," Brita says as she pulls out a large shirt with a garish mishmash of leaves and small bug eyed dogs in fluffy red hats. She glances at the breadth of Conner's shoulders appraisingly. "I Have Walked Those in Forested Arden and Forested Broceliande with Uncle Julian's Rangers. I Do Not know if That is Much Experience though. What are you Thinking We Need to Do?"
"I want to close off the shadowpath that is bringing the warm weather to this place." Conner replies. "If this path is as important as I think it is, I hope it will summon their pathmaker to this place. That would be a real prize. The trick will be closing it down without further damaging the shadow." Conner holds out his hand. "Let's focus on the shadow together so you can see what I saw."
Brita takes Conner's hand as she settles cross legged on the bed. She closes her eyes and focuses on the flow of Order and Chaos around her.
Mother and Uncle Bleys would know more based on this impression, but Brita knows a thing or two. It's some sort of shadow sending, but there's some kind of loop based on a natural shadow path.
It's not clear how it's stable, or how long it will be so. It'll either close itself up naturally, or it will break apart with a lot of force. Hard to tell.
The overwhelming impression is that it's something someone did, not something that just happened.
"So what do you think?" Conner asks. "Do you think we can close it without mangling the shadow?"
"It is Tied to a Natural Path. We Could Break the Artificial Connection, but I am Not Sure what That would Do to the Natural Path." Brita thinks for a minute. "It Does seem that Something will Change Eventually and Perhaps Catastrophically. We Should Guide the Change to a Natural Closing. Natural Paths Do close On Their Own at times."
"I agree. I would rather not damage this shadow further if I can avoid it, but if the worst case scenario is destroying a base of our enemies then I am willing to make the attempt." Conner replies. "Since you seem to have a better feel for this, I will let you lead the attempt." Conner offers.
Brita seems startled by this, but nods after a second's hesitation. Her brow furrows in thought. "I Would Approach This as I Would a Poisoned Stream. Purge the Impurities from This Shadow -- That which is Not Natural. The Trick will be to Not Purge the Progress of the Natives." She pauses for a second and then continues, "It Would be like Encouraging a Wound to Close. Can You Feel the Natural Rhythm of This Shadow Versus The Other?"
"I think we can with some concentration." Conner murmurs. "Let's take some time to get a feel for this place before we try." Conner proposes they take a watch to truly analyze the shadow before they try to make any changes.
Brita agrees. She settles in to suss out the stresses she feels in the Shadow -- looking for where the alien influences are infecting the shadow.
Brita considers the shadow, and it's a tangle. It's hard to sort out the influences. It seems to be some sort of nexus, but it's like a canvas that's been painted and scraped so many times that the underlying fabric is wearing thin.
It's hard to attach concrete meaning to any of it, but there are multiple influences, no two with the same objectives, and at least some of which are still in the shadow.
Brita sighs. "Are you Sensing Anything Helpful? There Are Multiple Conflicting effects that I can Discern. Perhaps it Would Help to Request Another Opinion," she notes as she draws out her deck of cards and begins to shuffle them. "But What do we Ask of the Trumps? How Best to Shore Up or Whether to Tear Down?"
"Let's ask, 'What will happen if we close that shadowpath?'" Conner suggests.
Brita nods and repeats, "What Will happen if We close That Shadowpath?" Then she lays out the pyramid of cards.
Bottom row:
The King, reversed
Trickery
The Fool, reversed
Middle row
The Dragon
Overlooking the Diamond
Top row
Xanadu Road
Brita sighs, "The Dragon and Diamond - I have Seen Those Before." She glances ruefully at Conner. I am Often Missing Opportunities." She studies the cards again. A deep breath and she points at the central card on the bottom row as she begins with "Somehow, there is Deceit in our Present. Tyranny of Rule in the Past and Our Plan to Disconnect This Shadow in the Future. Are We Cunning as The Dragon?" she points to the middle left card and then on to the right "or Missing an Opportunity?" Finally she frowns at the unique final card. "Are We Opening a Path to Reality Xanadu If we Do This? Making This Shadow More Stable Like Xanadu?" She shakes her head and sits back, looking up at Conner. "Your Thoughts, Brother?"
"Well the bottom row is self evident. The Monks no doubt rule here by force, they hide their true intentions always and closing the shadowpath is by definition a lack of connection." Conner moves his hand to the Xanadu Road card. "This shadow lies along a natural shadowpath with Avalon in one direction, Shadow Earth in the other and a spur line to Paris that Bleys posits was an accident rather than a planned thing. This place doesn't fit. Going from Earth to Avalon you would expect less tech, not more. I think this Shadow should not be on this path nor on many of the others that link here. Perhaps without interference, it would bend towards Xanadu."
Conner moves to the center two. "With the two of us on the job, cunning is again obvious." Conner smiles then taps Overlooking the Diamond. "This is the card that arrests me. If closing this shadowpath means that we are missing opportunities, I mislike that. Though in truth it is only confirmation of the concerns I already had. Perhaps it would be better to see what we can learn from the monks' stronghold before we start tinkering with the fabric of the place."
Brita nods firmly in agreement. "We May be Able to determine If the monks are The Source of the Shadow Path Confusion. How Should We Approach? They Seem to have Ways of Determining those of Our Blood. A Disguise may Not Be Enough. Stealth or Other Subterfuge might be Best."
"I agree. Let's see if we can get the lay of the land and figure out our best approach for a break-in." Conner nods.
Brita begins questioning Conner about the 'lay of the land'. They find a means of tapping into the worldnet and examine recent and upcoming events. Are there any festivals upcoming? Gatherings of the monks? Something with many people would enable them to blend in. Brita also searches out more appropriate dress than her long, fur trimmed coat. Are there tourists in this Shadow? If there are, she'll go for a garish tourist look; if not, she will work to blend in to the shadows. In either case, she will dye her hair to tone down her red and distinctive blond streak to a more neutral brown.
Conner admits to not knowing much about the shadow either and pulls out his phone so they can research. Conner mentions that the monks seem to be expecting a VIP guest and are having some kind of event around it but it does not seem open to the public. The worldnet does keep asking for donations though. Perhaps that is a way in if the shadows would lie for their bank accounts.
"Go as Big Donors? Or Perhaps Medium Range?" Brita is rethinking outfits at this point. Another option would be catering crew or repair crew if something went wrong in their facility prior to the event.
"Let's try the big donors route." Conner suggests. Conner experiments to see if the virtual version of an empty saddlebag works here. He sets up an account with a local bank and then passes it to Brita to check his balance with a certainty that there will be a large amount in there.
(Technically, that won't work, because you have to make a physical thing appear. Practically, it's easier to manipulate probability and suddenly Conner was won a lot of money in an on-line back-alley illicit Animal Crossing tournament. Or something.)
Before she checks the balance, sure that Conner has managed to acquire sufficient funds to impress, Brita asks, "What is our Association? The Association for the Welfare of Everyone?" She is sure that would suck in a lot of contributions...
Brita snorts, "I do Not Know what the Panda Bowl Is, but it Appears You Won the Grand Prize! Now How do we make Our Donation?"
Conner takes a look through social media to see what middle class people looking to be rich dress like, opens a drawer that coincidentally holds multiple sets of clothes in male and female options, and with Brita's help uses his phone to make this world's version of a Tik-Tok video where he gushes excitedly amount his winnings, endearingly pledges to give back to the community and puts out a plea for the Brothers to reach out to him so he arrange to show up at the hospital with a big novelty check!
When they are done setting all of that up and enough of an online presence to back up the claims in their story, Conner nods in satisfaction. "So, this will either get us an invitation through the front door or they will recognize us and set up some sort of trap. Either should get us what we need to start investigating."
Conner's fake persona [OOC: do you have a fake middle class name that will ensure you're recognizable to Tyrell's equivalent of Piers Morgan?]. is contacted by many Panda Bowl and Money Enthusiasts, a number of whom offer to introduce him to the church officials, or help him find good causes to spend his winnings on, or just to provide him with a good time in exchange for cash.
The church doesn't respond on social media, but there are both local branches and the front door of the arcology where Conner and Brita might present this scheme to a person and get passed up the hierarchy.
"It would seem we must make ourselves more attractive bait, Sister." Conner shrugs. "Shall we brave the front door?"
Brita's grin is big and bright, not quite a mirror of Conner's best. "Certainly, Brother! I Want to get Dressed Up and Go to a Fancy Ball with Our New Wealth! I will Let You be the Voice and I'll just be an Eye Treat? That is the Proper Term, Correct?"
"Eye candy, and that will be quite a sight." Conner chuckles. "Then let's put our plan in motion." Conner arranges for them to obtain clothing, via Pattern or money, to dress to impress and then hires a fancy car to take them to the arcology entrance.
Life in Tyrell is a lot more pleasant for rich people, is what Brita and Conner discover. Fronting as uber-wealthy, with all the appropriate signals, means upgrading their residence, their clothing--initially by having the Shadow lie for them--their food, their everything. Everyone is anxious to help and serve Conner and Brita and get their hands on some of that sweet, sweet credit.
Wealth means moving skyward, with actual sunlight, above the clouds of smog. It means access to goods that aren't recycled, made of pleather, or otherwise unnatural. It means clothes made of wool, cotton, and other natural fibers, tailored by artisans; shoes personally fitted made of actual leather; a fur coat for Brita. It means natural jewels, sometimes with flaws to show their natural origin, in soft heavy gold draped around Brita's neck when the couturier and stylist help her dress for the event.
It means food that's recognizably food to Conner and Brita, not shaped nuggets of protein in bland sauce with cubes and rectangles of shaped vegetable matter, or some kind of fast food constructed of the same materials. Food with spices, even if it's not the ones they grew up with.
The best cars, of course, fly. Brita and Conner are bundled into a limousine and arrive at the arcology in style. The sun is setting over the city of Tyrell. Above the clouds, the realms of the wealthy peek through, glass and metal reflecting the pink and orange sky. It would be gorgeous if you didn't know what lay underneath those clouds.
Barbara Ann, aka Brita, is dressed in liquid emerald. From sharp shoulders, the shiny silk flows down long sleeves to cinched wrists draped in sparking, rough cut emerald bands. A high, ruched collar gathers the silky folds that stream down to a corresponding wide, ruched belt. The barest hint of skin plays peek-a-boo through the center of the folds as Barbara Ann gestures widely at the passing sights or waves enthusiastically at random strangers. The green silk flows down from the belt to pool at her feet when she is not in motion.
Her hair is sleek up the back and pulled towards the front in an odd wavy bun over her right brow, almost like a bright red flower. (Her one blond tress has been carefully dyed to match the rest.) Short stalks dotted with yellow diamonds spray out from the center of the floral bun.
She keeps referring to Conner as her ‘Panda boo’ with a giggle and a wink at any listening.
Conner has taken the simple option afforded to men of wearing a well-fitting tux. Cufflinks and buttons are rubies cunningly fitted on LED lights so that they sparkle perfectly regardless of ambient light levels. A red pocket square and black bow tie complete the ensemble. Halosydne is hidden away in a sheath sewn into his long tailcoat. He has taken the name Chase for the event.
"Good evening, Sir, Madam," the designated greeter tells Conner and Brita as the latter is helped out of the car. "We're so delighted to see you tonight. Do come in. Before we show you your table, the Brothers hoped they'd get a chance to thank you personally for your contributions to our work."
"Excellent!" Chase drawls. "I'd like nothing better than to meet the people that built this marvelous place. What did they have in mind?"
"If you'll come with me, sir and madam, we can arrange it right now. The Master of the Order is visiting and he's in one of the upstairs lounges."
Nobody seems to have noticed the fact that Conner is toting a large sword in his tux or that anything is not as it ought to be. That includes what is clearly, to Conner, a small platoon of security types, complete with sunglasses and black suits and the sorts of bulges that indicate projectile weapons of some sort or another. If they caught wind of the blade, things could get very sticky. But they're not.
The greeter gestures to Barbara and Chase to follow him off to one side of the entryway, presumably a back route to one of the upstairs lounges.
Barbara _Ann_ (and she will emphasize this with "no 'e'" if anyone announces her as just plain Barbara) follows along, gawking at all the finery.
"Well that sounds grand. Lead on." Chase agrees. Conner makes careful note of the route they take and how much security is between them and the outside should the need for a fast exit arise.
The side exit leads to a battery of elevators protected by key cards, which the greeter uses to get them into one of them. The elevator itself is reasonably large for a people mover: not so big that Conner and Brita think it's a freight elevator, but, for instance, there's no concern about Barbara Ann's dress and wouldn't be if she had a small train, even with two men in the elevator with her.
The doors slide apart several floors up into an open area, this one constructed of expensive materials but a bit more clinical and operations-oriented instead of luxury guest oriented like the entryway to the party. Still, there are comfortable-looking chairs and sofas and a wet bar off to one side. The lounge's window overlooks the entryway where guests are still arriving.
There's a door at the rear and the greeter knocks on it, saying "Sir, your guests have arrived." There's a sort of talk noise from inside and the greeter says to Chase and Barbara Ann, "He'll be with you in a few moments. Can I get you anything to drink?"
[The greeter will get Conner and Brita anything they like to drink and they can see it being prepared, so.]
Once the drinks are in hands, the greeter withdraws, and soon enough the door opens. The brother is slightly above average height, with dark hair that required quite a bit of pomade to tame it into shape and a well-tanned complexion that suggests his shadow of origin is coastal (think Mediterranean). He has a rather prominent nose. He is dressed in a handsome tuxedo of his own. He smiles at Chase and Barbara Ann. Conner does not think he missed Halosdyne in his once-over of the pair, but he doesn't seem concerned.
"I am," he says, "Brother Able. Welcome to Tyrell. What brings you here?" Brother Able doesn't seem to think it's the party.
Barbara Ann takes a big breath and her smile parts slightly as if she is going to launch into a speech, but then she glances hesitantly at Chase and her mouth closes as she waits for him to speak. She turns back to the monk with her grin still in place and gives him a wink. Did Brita's inhale scent any thing untoward?
Brita inhales a heaping helping of the scent of 'cousin' from Brother Able.
"You do, of course." For a brief moment the mask of Chase slips and Conner gives Brother Able the smile that a cat shows a wounded bird. Mask back in place, Chase continues. "I find the work that your organization does fascinating and I just had to learn more."
"Which part?" Able returns the sally. "Our public works, or is there something else you're interested in learning about?"
"Your public works are as the term implies already public." Chase replies. "I am far more interested in how your presence has changed Tyrell. I am sure you'll agree that the fabric of this place has really evolved under your guidance."
Barbara Ann smiles at Brother Able and echoes, "Public works are sooo public."
Able smiles coldly at Conner. "We guide places that need our help. We don't abandon them and we don't blow them up because they get in our way. We take care of those you disdain while you selfishly hoard power. Telling you details would only help you in your quest to put out the lamps of knowledge."
"Take Care?" Brita asks in a cold voice as her hand tightens on Conner's arm. "Take Care? Imprisoning Innocents is Care? Ki.." her lids close tight over blazing green eyes as a single tear tracks down her cheek. She takes another deep breath. "Brothers Should Not Harm their Brethren," she states firmly. "That Path Leads to Chaos Triumphant."
Conner just manages not to grimace as Brita clamps down on his arm. Conner smiles thinly. "I've seen Tyrell's undercity. You are also selective about who you care for and who you disdain." Conner observes. "Now that last statement was pure claptrap from your standard list of platitudes but that first part sounded personal. Were you once abandoned or harmed?"
Ignoring Conner's question, Able focuses in on Brita. His voice softens. "We gather knowledge. We're not interested in hurting people. And in truth, we're not the ones who dealt with Chaos, at least not directly. It's possible that a Chaosian could have traded knowledge with us, but we didn't play the war games that nearly unmade the universe and lost us all access to thousands and thousands of Shadows."
"What is Lost Can Be Found," Brita notes. "Why not go Find Them, instead of Wreaking Havok in them." She waves to the air around her.
"That's one of the many things we are doing," Able says. He looks like he might be about to add something else, then glances at Conner and clearly decides against. Instead he completes his line of thinking: "Just not the only one."
"As entertaining as having you deflect my questions is," Conner remarks. "I think I'll ask yours back at you. For what reason did you bring us here? Surely you hoped for something from this meeting."
"To warn you that if you attack our facilities again, never mind the hundreds of people you killed and injured last time, we will have a significant problem, one that will resolve with your injury or death. I prefer to avoid that problem. Perhaps you should go home. Or if you want something, we can trade directly, without further violence against the innocent." Conner and Brita both intuit that he doesn't expect the latter but he's willing to allow that he might be wrong.
"I Want You to come Home," Brita says. "Stop Abducting the Young of Our Family and Imprisoning Them. When You are Not Dealing Fairly, you Cannot Expect to be Fairly Dealt with." Barbara Ann has disappeared. Brita cocks her head slightly to one side as she asks, "Who Abandoned You in Your Youth that you have Learned Such Ways?"
Conner is curious to see if Able will answer the question when Brita asks it so he remains mostly silent. He whistles a short burst of notes. To Able he wants it to seem like a nervous outburst. To Brita, it is Ranger sign for, "One of us?"
Brita pats Conner's arm as if comforting him in a pattern that beats out Family in cadence.
Conner doesn't feel that he's fooled Able with his whistling, although Brita's reply might have been subtle enough to escape Able's notice. "Home," he says to Brita, "to the extent it still exists, doesn't welcome me. I am under the King's exile, with the death penalty for violating the ban, in addition to whatever else the King does to punish my father for things I've done."
A light starts flashing on a pad lying on a table in the room. Able glances at it and says, "My attention is required elsewhere. As pleasant as it is to rehash family history with you, cousins, I must ask you to leave at this time. Don't interfere in our business here. Go home." And he adds to Brita, "You have some personal concern about something one of the brethren has done. If you wish me to address it at another time, you may contact me through this facility. Your alias here is known and recorded so you can leave me a message."
"The Capture of Our Uncle, The Imprisonment of and Experimentation On Our Young Cousins, and - Most Importantly - the Death of My Mentor Cousin," Brita lists. "Who is Your Father that We May Ensure He is Not Punished for Your Sins? Children should Not Be Punished for their Parents Sins, Nor Should it Be the Opposite. And Which King has such a Heavy Hand?"
Able is staring at Brita. "Dead? Kidnapped? Is this Chew's people? They're allowed to take samples, nothing more. I'll see to him." He does not sound pleased. "And to answer your question about the king: Grandfather. I'm not the first he exiled and I'm sure I wasn't the last. Take care, cousin, and if you take Chew's head for killing another of us, there will be no debt to settle."
Conner continues to let Brita take the lead. While waiting to see what he does, Conner opens his Third Eye and examines Able.
Able has some magic on him, something of Time or Space. Conner thinks it might be a protective item of some sort but the workings of it compromise what his Third Eye can see.
"Good to know." Conner replies. "So I'll trade you this bit of knowledge. Grandfather is dead and the current monarch has been reasonable to exiles wanting to return. Should that be of interest to you, I hope we'll speak again."
The news that Oberon is dead is not a surprise to Able, and he seems skeptical of the idea that he'd be welcomed by the new King, but doesn't write it off.
Brita nods in agreement and says, "I am Brita, Daughter of God Vidar of Shadow Asgard and Princess Fiona of Former Reality Amber, Goddess of Clear Waters, Ranger of Forest Broceliande, and Knight of Card. You May Use My Name for Safe Passage if you are Concerned When You Travel to Our Uncle's Reality Xanadu."
"Dame Brita," Able says, taking a moment to parse all that she's said and put it together with whatever he already knows about the state of Amber and other cities, "it has been a pleasure, if a brief one. Should you need to speak with me, ask for Brother Able, or by my title, the Turcopolier."
The outer door opens, back to the elevators. There are several guards waiting.
"I look forward to our next meeting."
Brita glances at Connor, but turns back to Able. "Cousin Able, Would You like Our Assistance? Many of Our Cousins are Roaming in Search of Justice against Those Who Have Killed and Imprisoned Our Kin. We could Help Smooth the First Contact."
Conner is already rising to leave when Brita speaks. "I doubt our brief meeting has raised us to that level of trust in his eyes," he replies. "Besides, he already knows how the Family reacts if one of us is harmed, imprisoned or killed by his brethren. I am sure he will treat any he finds with the same courtesy he showed us." Conner leaves the addendum 'if he knows what's good for him' unspoken.
Able ignores Conner's bad cop routine and focuses for the moment on good cop Brita. "I appreciate your offer, but no thank you. You may convey the news that Chew's protection has been revoked by the Order's military side, and I will be relaying the information about him to our superiors. Good evening, cousins."
Last modified: 16 July 2022