From rhea@ikkoku.maison-otaku.net Wed Aug 30 23:12:34 2000 Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 20:58:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Rhea Seraph To: John Walter Anthony "Ranma" Biles Subject: [Amber/TAMD] Hiko, Corrine -- Trump Tricks (fwd) John Biles Emperor of all He Surveys http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html "I can't die now! I have to give my daughter a stuffed fish." --Shinesman Sepia, _Shinesman_ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 09:00:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Philip J. Moyer To: John Biles , Amy "General Chaos" Borden , Chris Angelini Subject: [Amber/TAMD] Hiko, Corrine -- Trump Tricks Corrine huggles Back! Hiko the Firechilde says, "John, care to give Phil the rundown?" Akemi says, "Corrine is having breakfast with Hiko." Hiko the Firechilde grins. "I have a trump of Annadil." Akemi says, "After a brief lecture on how to use trumps and trump defense, the conversation had turned to the bastard of the hour, Annadil." Hiko the Firechilde says, "I showed it to you, tried to get your opinion... but as John's not got your passion, the answers were rather bland. ^_^" Corrine OOCly poiks. "Oookay. I take it the last night was mostly everybody going thud after Fuyutsuki was checked okay?" Corrine OOCly still needs to return the trump of Shiz's mother to Shiz, btb. *wl* Hiko the Firechilde nods. Akemi says, "OOC Pretty much." Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine OOCly says, "So picking up at that point of being shown the trump, then?" Corrine OOCly says, "And where be they having breakfast?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "Well, we already did that, and because John wasn't you, he was a bit bland in his responses." Hiko the Firechilde says, "John, would it be alright if we replayed from where I show the trump and go from there?" Corrine OOCly ah, so ka. Akemi says, "OOC Sure." Hiko the Firechilde searches her files... % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Hiko the Firechilde says, "Okay... let me set up the scene. You've basically started telling me how they work and all... " Begin spam of log... Hiko the Firechilde takes a card from her pocket and passes it to Corrine. It is the one of Annadil. "Can you tell me anything about this card?" End spam, take it from there. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine draws in a breath as she takes the card from Hiko's hands. "... where did you get this from, Hiko?" She studies the trump and the energies that went into making it... Akemi pages, "It's a trump of Annadil. Fuyutsuki made it. That's basically all you know/can tell. It's not a trap or rigged." to you. Akemi pages, "You yourself have never seen Annadil before last night, or heard of him before the last few days." to you. You page, "firgured that, the only info from all this started with meeting Hiko at Juri's. *wl*" to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Fuyutsuki-san gave it to me." Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine relaxes a bit. "It's a trump of the man we faced last night... Annadil. But it was made by Fuyutsuki. As far as I can tell, it isn't rigged or a trap. I... wouldn't advise triggering it, unless there was a dire reason to, since it'd connect him directly with you." Hiko the Firechilde nods, then holds her hand out to get it back. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine hands it back, as if it was a live serpent, anyway. She studies the image of Annadil, as if to commit it to memory. Hiko the Firechilde puts it back in her pocket, then takes another small bite of fruit. (Oh, we're in Hiko's room, the drapes are closed, and she's not eating much.) You page, "Has Corrine taught Hiko about the fortunetelling aspects, or given her an "Abridged" Corrine-set of trums? (basically minus the super-specials and the Arden Network)." to Akemi. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Hiko the Firechilde says, "Can you tell something about a person based upon their trump?" Corrine mms quietly, eating more sedately than her wont as well. Corrine considers this. Akemi pages, "You haven't given her a trump deck yet, that I remember" to you. Akemi pages, "Or given the fortune telling lecture." to you. Akemi pages, "Basically, the answer is no, not really." to you. % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Akemi pages, "Although they can be used to spy on people or try to read their minds, but the trump itself tells you nothing." to you. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine says, "It's... possible. If things are hit just right, and you don't fully initiate contact, it's possible to monitor their surface thoughts, or spy on them. It's risky, and depends on the strength of the minds involved. The trump itself can tell you nothing. *she quirks her lips in what might be a smile* Admittedly, it can tell you how good a painter the artist was, but that's not much help for the person depicted." Hiko the Firechilde nods... there's so much about this new world that she needs to know. Hiko the Firechilde recalls how he used her like a puppet, and shrinks away from the idea of trying mental contact. Hiko the Firechilde takes out the card again, and taps it with her fingers. "What do you know about him?" Akemi pages, "Only what you saw at the fight on the duelling arena." to you. Corrine mmms again, and reaches her hand across for Hiko, if she wants to take it. She then considers. "Annadil? Or Fuyutsuki? The former I hardly know... just from what was discussed when I read that fortune for you, and what I saw up in the Rose Duel Arena." You page, "is it possible to connect "shapshifting" with "Chaos" at this point, or insufficient info? (since the False Touga had done so back during the Succession Crisis)." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde nods again, filing information away for later. She recalls Mikage as knowing him, and Lady Wakabe had a run-in with him as well. Hiko the Firechilde's hand moves imperceptibly, then takes Corrine's. "I'm scared." Corrine frowns. "He seems to have stuck his nose into too many people's businesses over too long a time. I don't like it." She looks up at the touch, and squeezes back. *q* "To be honest, Hiko? I am too. This is getting too far out of my fields, too fast. But somehow..." Akemi pages, "Since Fuyutsuki shapeshifted, there's no reason to think it necessarily means Chaos." to you. You page, "Gotcha." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Yes?" Corrine quietly says, "Somehow... somehow, we -will- get through this. Unicorn willing, we will. He -fled- last night when the tables were turned, Hiko. He's not all-powerful, no matter what he's got at his command right now. And we kept him from acheiving some of his goals, considering he was hot on Werewindle. And I haven't lived this long without having -some- faith in my family" She looks wry. "Some may wonder, but hey." Hiko the Firechilde looks down at the card, then puts it back for good. She takes a small bite to eat, then says, "I was reading up on the Cimbiri wars last night. There's something that troubles me." Corrine quirks an eyebrow at that, curious about the change of topic. "What is that?" Hiko the Firechilde says, "What was my father like before the wars?" You page, "That's a good question. I don't think Corrine had really even HEARD of Ludovicus before the Alan wars, and wasn't around for the wars propers.... sure, there were the Cimbri way before that, and the Alans moved in...." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "You know jack diddley squat about Ludovicus." to you. Akemi pages, "Except for a vague idea of what he looked like, and that he was a very successful war leader who was far more intelligent and cunning than the average barbarian leader." to you. Hiko the Firechilde says, "No." Mispage. Corrine blinks at this. She thinks it over, chewing on a piece of fruit. "I... to be honest, Hiko? I didn't know him at all. Vague reports and information on wht he looked like at the beginning of the first Alan war... that he was very successful as a war leader, who was more intelligent and cunning than the usual barbarian leaders we came up agains... but not more than that." She sighs. "I was shoved into Exile right at the beginning, and didn't even come -back- until near the end of the second, when Saionji was crushing them into rubble, and Juri had already escaped." Hiko the Firechilde says, "Who would I talk to about him... other than Juri-san?" Corrine thinks some more. "Drake perhaps; he was in command of the armies then... I'd heard Touga had left soon after I did in protest of my exile, which surprised me when I heard... but he's not around -anyway-, so he's no help." You page, "anybody else? I get the feeling Makoto and Nanami were too young at that point, and Tylor was doing his "Come Sail Away" schtick." to Akemi. You page, "Oh, and Saionji." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Drake fought him." to you. Akemi pages, "So he might know something." to you. Akemi pages, "Yeah, Makoto and Nanami were tiny." to you. Akemi pages, "Doh, you already mentioned Drake." to you. Corrine nods more firmly. "I think in finding out more about Ludovicus, Drake is your best bet." % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Hiko the Firechilde nods thoughtfully, a half-eaten piece of fruit in her lap. "What do you think of this whole situation?" (Oh, you're making me a trump deck, too) You page, "Don't worry, we'll get to that, and the Fortune-telling lesson. :)" to Foxtrot. Corrine washes down some of her breakfast with her juice. "With Annadil? That there's way too many threads and too many lives that he's meddled with for coincedence. Yours, Juri's, Wakaba's, Utena's, who know who else's... this must have taken him a LONG time to set up... but now that he's making his more overt moves, he's just as subject to outside forces as the rest of us. And we now -know- of him, which makes it somewhat easier to watch out for him." You page, "http://www.eyrie.org/~aerianne/dld/scans/shizumaru.jpg" to Akemi and Shizumaru. Hiko the Firechilde nods slowly. "I think I'd like to have another reading done, please." Hiko the Firechilde puts the card on the table. "Using this." Akemi pages, "Cool." to you. Shizumaru pages, "Cool. :) I look forward to seeing it colored an' stuff." to you and Akemi. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine nods. "Sounds sensible. Here, or in my rooms where I can give you your own Trump deck?" You page, "So do I!" to Shizumaru. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Where ever would be best, Aunt." You page, "okay for Corrine to lead 'em to her room?" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Ye." to you. Corrine says, "My rooms, then, I think." Hiko the Firechilde nods, gathering her sword and placing the whole apples in the pockets of her pants. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) NOTE TO SELF: CHANGE FROM SKIRT TO PANTS. Corrine takes care of the rest of her breakfast, making sure things are tidy. "And thank you for letting me have breakfast in your room, Hiko." She smiles slightly. Corrine is already wearing pants! THIS IS A NOTE FOR ME AND MY LOGS, SILLY PHIL. Hiko the Firechilde says, "You're welcome, Aunt." She leads the way to the doors. "Shall we?" Corrine nods and gets up. "Yes, let's." You page, "does Corrine's rooms have windows? And where do they face? (I have a pretty good idea on what her rooms are like, though I'm undecided on the small magical refrigerator (if she managed to trade trumps for one or two from Lina -- your call.) )" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "The Elders all have rooms in the wing which faces the Sea. You can have windows if you want them." to you. Akemi pages, "You can have a fridge if you like." to you. You page, "Oh, cool. Danke." to Akemi. Corrine lets Hiko get the doors, and then starts leading the way to her rooms in the wing of the castle that faces the sea. % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Corrine reaches there, and then gets the doors to her own suite, letting Hiko in. The windowshades are open, revealing a view of the sea from the side of Kolvir. Two easels with half-completed paintings are standing up in one corner of the room, paintings and photographs of various people hang on the walls around the central living space. At least one is a 1/4th photoreproduction of Juri in her Marshal of Amber regalea... it takes a moment to recognize it's actually a photo of a -painting- of Juri, not of Juri herself. Small momentoes and a few toys are on the shelves. Hiko the Firechilde looks around at the paintings, especially the half-finished ones. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) The paintings are some of the royal family... there's a painting of Haruka, moderate size, more a head shot than anything else. There's also landscapes, places, people of things elsewhere in shadow. The half-finished ones... one is of what appears to be Miki and Madoka out in courtyard gardens. The other is a work-in-progress of Vash. For some reason, he's being depicted eating a donut. Corrine moves over to her desk, which is set to watch the entrance to the room, and opens one of her drawers. She pulls it open halfway, and reaches inside, fiddling around with something on the upper surface of the drawer. "...know I've got a good one... ah, here." Corrine sits up straighter, holding a Trump Deck, slimmer than her usual set.... more akin to the Trump Decks other members of the family own. Foxtrot has connected. >> We have arrived, you may kiss my foot, now. Hiko the Firechilde goes about the room glomping everyone Hiko the Firechilde OOCly says, Dad got a phone call. Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Corrine OOCly acks. What did you last see? Hiko the Firechilde says, "I said that I'd looked at the half-finished paintings, no one replied." The paintings are some of the royal family... there's a painting of Haruka, moderate size, more a head shot than anything else. There's also landscapes, places, people of things elsewhere in shadow. The half-finished ones... one is of what appears to be Miki and Madoka out in courtyard gardens. The other is a work-in-progress of Vash. For some reason, he's being depicted eating a donut. Corrine moves over to her desk, which is set to watch the entrance to the room, and opens one of her drawers. She pulls it open halfway, and reaches inside, fiddling around with something on the upper surface of the drawer. "...know I've got a good one... ah, here." Corrine sits up straighter, holding a Trump Deck, slimmer than her usual set.... more akin to the Trump Decks other members of the family own. Hiko the Firechilde nods, sitting down at the desk, placing the Annadil trump on it. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine nods. "Right. This will be your Trump Deck, Hiko... I'll walk you through the steps of another reading, but I'll do it this time around, and with this deck. It doesn't have as many cards as mine, but it should hopefully serve." Hiko the Firechilde nods. Akemi pages, "So which cards are in this deck?" to you. It seems as if she's a bit impatient, but it doesn't show in her movements or her demeanor. You page, "Assume Standard Fuyutsuki, but some more people and places in shadow... not the Patten Chambers or secret allies. I don't think her deceased siblings or haruka are in there, either. No Arden Contact Network. And of course, now Annadil." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Examples of people or places in Shadow it has?" to you. Peorth falls asleep. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine quirks an eyebrow slightly, and then starts shuffling the cards. "The first step is shuffling the cards, of course, to randomize them... it also gets you more in touch with them as a group. Clear your mind of other distractions, save the question or person you wish to do a reading on. Once you're ready, square up the deck, and deal out the cards in order, one at a time. Each location represents a certain concept, the image on the card presents ideas for that concept, and the orientation determines the meaning of those ideas are normal or reversed for what they represent." Hiko the Firechilde nods and shuffles the cards. She's a bit wary of touching them, but does it anyway. You page, "Corrine's specific beach home. Paris on Shadow Earth. Chef Bork. Deedlit and Parn. A nice chinese place she knows. Things of that nature." to Akemi. Corrine says, "The layout for the cards go in an extended cross, with an extra vertical part on the right." She traces out the shape on the table: +| "I close my eyes, and then deal them, so as to keep the question I'm looking for uninterrupted in my mind. Only after I open my eyes do I interpret, and I do admit the readings are somewhat subjective, tied to what your own feelings are on the images of the cards." Hiko the Firechilde nods. "What order do they go in?" Corrine starts pointing the order and the positions for the cards, from left to right. "Like this -- the Distant Past, which represents origins for the current situation, related to events long ago. The Recent Past, which represents recent events and influences, in the past few years to days. Purpose, which represents the current task or situation that needs to be done. Inner Secrets, which represents things hidden from view from yourself or others. The Near Future, which stands for immediate things to come, either that you hope or fear. The Far Future, which represents long-term goals and fears and possiblities. The vertical line cards help refine this." Hiko the Firechilde sets them out in order, following Corrine's lead. Corrine points along the vertical line, from top to bottom. "The Destiny card -- representing an ultimate culmination for the question. Hopes and Fears, which reflects possibilites in the positive and negative aspects. Other's Views, which is other people's views of the problem. Self-Image, which is your own perception of it, of the situation and what it represents." % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Corrine says, "And then finally, in the center, is the Heart of the Matter -- the central card which represents the core of the issue you're evaluating. Atop it, crosswise is Present Conflics, which highlights who might be opposed to you, in a group or singly, or even a concept." Corrine says, "And that completes the fortune. Then you open your eyes, and try to figure out how they apply and what they mean." She smiles slightly. Hiko the Firechilde finishes dealing out the cards, and looks. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine looks as well, curious as to what Hiko's drawn. Distant Past: Juri. Recent Past: Fuyutsuki. Purpose: Royal Library. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine quirks an eyebrow at these... reading onward before declaring her evaluation. Hiko the Firechilde smile slightly when she sees the Library one. Inner Secrets: Gendo Reversed. Near Future: Wakaba Far Future: Lina. Akemi pages, "None of the dead people, right? (None of them in this deck?)" to you. You page, "Nope! I don't think Van either, or Gil-Galad, since they were berfore her time as a trump artist. If they're in there, they're Fuyutsuki trimps." to Akemi. Corrine quirks her other eyebrow now, more curious. Destiny: Base of the Steps of Rebma, Reversed Hopes and Fears: Annadil Other's Views: The Beach, Reversed. % You have new mail in /var/mail/pmoyer Corrine frowns slightly as both Rebma, Annadil, and The Beach appear in that section of the layout... especially with the first and last reversed. Self-Image: Makoto, Reversed Heart of the Matter: Yig Present Conflicts: Tylor, Reversed Hiko the Firechilde blanches when she sees the Annadil card. She thought it would play a role... fears she could understand, but Hopes? Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine's brow furrows more, looking at the last three. "Okay. Hrm." Hiko the Firechilde eyes the cards balefully. "This doesn't look good." Corrine says, "Okay, here's my interpretation, going from what I know of things." She hrms again. "Well, parts of it are." Corrine starts pointing at the cards. "Again, Distant Past. Juri, as your mother. Recent Past: Fuyutsuki, our sage and creator of things, and his actions. Purpose: The royal library... gaining knowledge, perhaps." Corrine frowns a bit. "Gendo, my father, your grandfather, reversed for Inner Secrets. Well, he always was pretty prolific, so it could represent his kids, or it could represent powers opposed to him." She then lightens. "Near Future: Wakaba, my younger sister, and a sorceress. Far Future: Lina, -another- of our known sorceresses, and pretty damn poweful. So trends appear to lead in a magical direction for you." Corrine says, "Destiny: ... Rebma, reversed. Mmm. That one I'm unsure of. These are the steps that lead down to Rebma, the city under the sea which is a reflection of our own, or vicea-versa, which could be why it's reversed. Dealing with reflections." Hiko the Firechilde smiles at the comments about the sorcery, looks puzzled as she wonders about the reflections issue. Corrine says, "Hopes and Fears: Annadil." She purses her lips. "Given your past dealings with him... I can definitely tell you fear him, and I think we all do in some way... but we also -hope- that we'll find him and make him pay for all he's done to the family. Believe me, if I could get within range without him frying my mind or body, I'd want to introduce him to my fists..." She shakes her head. "But anyway." Lt. Kuno falls asleep. Corrine says, "The Beach, reversed, for Other's Views. Hm. Well, this Beach where a lot of my generation has vacation places to get away from it all and relax, to escape stress. Reversed, however, probably means other folks intend to make your life difficult very soon." Hiko the Firechilde sighs... she should have known that there would be trouble. Corrine says, "Self-Image : my younger brother by Sakura, Makoto, but reversed. Well, Makoto's a pretty outgoing and personable guy, and has lots of duties.... reversed would mean being more hermit-like and not worrying about those social aspects. He also has a tendency to pull pranks," she rolls her eyes, "Which I don't think you do." Hiko the Firechilde blinks at the mention of Self-Image... Corrine says, "The Heart of the Matter : ... hm. That's Yig, the Worldtree, the Pillar of Heaven." You page, "Would Corrine know that it marks the boundary of Amber/Chaos?" to Akemi. You page, "(basically, the stuff mentioned on the page proper?)" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Yep. That's all public knowledge" to you. Hiko the Firechilde nods... Corrine taps her lips with her fingertips. "That's the boundary between Amber and Chaos... halfway between the two realms. Balancing both. There's supposedly a giant flying unicorn and a big serpent guarding it, and there's a giant man who hangs from the tree, and nobody knows exactly WHY he's there." (The answer my friend is swaying in teh wind... ^_^) Corrine says, "Knowledge, power, masochistic tendencies?" She shrugs. "Who knows. But it's roughly in the middle, so it's perhaps good for a metaphor for dealing with Balance, or preventing it from being upset." Corrine says, "And then finally... Present Conflicts. Our Good King Tylor, but reversed. WEll, if he's had any kids -I- haven't heard it yet. So that's not likely. Perhaps represeting his opposite number in the Courts of Chaos, but everything we know about -them- are rumor or hearsay." You page, "does Corrine know anybody who's tried riding that far to where the shadows start going wonky? She herself prolly not, but save for a little bit, but others of her siblings might." to Akemi. Akemi pages, "You know Drake, Makoto, Nanami, Wakaba, and Utena have ridden pretty deeply into Shadow." to you. You page-pose, "Aerianne nods. Corrine doesn't tend to go into the REALLY bizzarely wacky stuff, more just the moderates and milds. She might've passed by Yig once or twice. (imo). She's tried staying close to Amber tho, due to her Wardenship." to Akemi. Nan desu ka? (Type 'Help' for help) Corrine takes a deep breath. "And that's... pretty much it for that reading, I think. Unless you have any thoughts, Hiko." Hiko the Firechilde looks at the cards one more time, then shakes her head. "No... I don't have any more questions." She looks at the deck. "When will my deck be ready?" Corrine smiles. "Right now. This one is yours, Hiko." She considers. "I might even have a spare case in here..." Corrine starts checking drawers, rummaging a bit, shifting stuff within as she searches. Corrine shrugs. "We've got wood, and... wood. Both in stylished polished wood, with Unicorns on 'em. Take your pick." She sits up, and offers two empty cases, both velvet lined, suitable for a standard-sized Trump Deck. One's mahagony, the other walnut. They're both much smaller than Corrine's big trump case that she wears on her hip, even now. Players: Aerianne, Akemi Idler: Foxtrot[6m] Asleep: TimeRunner, Peorth, Shadra, Lt. Kuno, Tybalt You page, "I think we can prolly wrap this up soon, once Foxy deidles. *wg*" to Akemi. In a page-pose to you, Akemi nods Hiko the Firechilde takes the mahogany one, and as she does, the clock strikes. "OH... I've got to meet Travis in the Royal LIbrary..." She smiles. "There's that part of the scry at least." Corrine smiles. "Right. Well, good luck, Hiko. Scoop the cards up, and stick them in the case, and that'll do it. And if you get in a jam, don't hesitate to Trump me up if you feel the need, okay?" She gets up. "And take care?" Hiko the Firechilde gathers up teh cards and puts them in teh case. She executes an intricate sweeping bow. "Thank you, Aunt Corrine." Hiko then leaves for her next apptl AND STOP THERE... Hiko the Firechilde says, "Gonna go to bed now." Corrine OOCly dittos! And good scene! Was worth it. ^_^ Akemi says, "I hope you didn't need to be functional tomorrow, Phil." Corrine OOCly can managed. *wl* G'night! Hiko the Firechilde says, "Functional? I feh at functional." You page, "will fwd log copy to you and amy and frob tomorrow." to Akemi. Hiko the Firechilde says, "Goodnight, guys. Thanks." Corrine OOCly bows. "You're welcome." ^_^ Foxtrot has disconnected. >> Byeeee! It was really fun! Philip Moyer----------------Qapla'-------------pmoyer@jurai.net "To boldly go where no one has gone before!"-Capt. J. L. Picard "Roads? Where we're going we don't NEED roads!"-Dr. E. L. Brown "If it can be dreamed, It can be done."- ReRob Mandeville "Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection, The Lovers, ---------- The Dreamers, and Me."- Kermit The Frog ------------