Corrine of Amber OOCly lags. Akemi has left. Akemi has arrived. Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "'lo, John..." Juri of Avalon exclaims, "Lolly la, off to the Cave of Worlds!" Corrine of Amber OOCly prepares for Trippy MumboJumbo! Juri of Avalon says, "OOC: Just remember, all those friends and family pleading for your help are false, except the ones that you find out later weren't." Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Yaaay. Well, Corrine would find it extremely odd if they all managed to GET into the Cave of Worlds, soo...." Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "But anyway. Let's do this thing." Mike teleports into the room. Mike has arrived. The Tennessee Shad says, "Right." ======================================== ======================================== Ishmael and Rose lead you off through the chaotic byways and turnings of chaos, along streets and balconies that would make MC Escher bogleg. After a time, you arrive in a graveyard, with thunder and lightning raging around it. There's a mansion on the hill. Psychedelic music fills the air. Corrine of Amber says, ".... Quaint." Ishmael says, "This is one of the most mysterious, dangerous, and evil places in Chaos." Ishmael says, "So we use it for parties a lot." Juri of Avalon asks, "The thrill of impending doom?" Ishmael says, "No, we just like the atmosphere, and it has a great wine cellar." Juri of Avalon says, "Is the secret entrance to the Cave of Worlds in the wine cellar? There are always secret entrances to things in wine cellars." Ishmael pulls a calendar from his pocket and studies it. "No, it's in the attic, actually... oh dear, this could be trouble." Corrine of Amber asks, "hm?" Ishmael says, "House Fomori is throwing this party." Corrine of Amber asks, "And they are?" Rose eeps. Rhianna eeps. Ishmael says, "Deformed freaks who want to kill Rose and dismember Rhianna." Rose says, "I wasn't poaching, honest..." Juri of Avalon shrugs. "Rose can disguise herself using shapechange, and I'm sure Rhianna has some spell to do something similar." Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "(oh, for compleness -- Our Group consists of Ish, Juri, Corrine, Roderick, Katsura, Rose, Rhianna, right?)" The Tennessee Shad says, "Ayup." Corrine of Amber asks, "Pretend to be a caterer?" Rose and Rhianna shapeshift into what look like horrible, ravening demonic monstrosities. Juri of Avalon says, "OOC: With tentacles? :)" Ishmael nods approvingly. "Ah, a maid disguise. Good thinking." Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "*singsong* o/~ You're ooobbbsesssinnnngg.... :)" Juri of Avalon shrugs. "As for the rest of us... do they want to dismember or kill you, Ishmael?" Juri of Avalon says, "BRB." Ishmael says, "No, they get on fine with me." Mange falls asleep. Mange wakes up. Corrine of Amber asks, "How should we try and explain Juri, Myself, Katsura, and Roderick?" Juri of Avalon says, "Back." Ishmael says, "Oh, that's no trouble. It's a big party, lots of guests." Corrine of Amber nods. "Just be nice an vague on where we're from?" Ishmael says, "Quite. Though really, Chaos and Amber get on quite well when there's not open war." Corrine of Amber says, "Since I doubt Amberites get invited regularly to these little shindigs." She grins a bit. Corrine of Amber ahs, and nods. "Sometimes even during," Juri murmurs, sighing a little. Corrine of Amber pats Juri on the shoulder. Ishmael leads you up to the front door of the house, where two large bouncers are standing watch. Corrine of Amber smiles at the bouncers. Ishmael fishes in his pocket and digs out an invitation. "The High Jurist of Hendrake and party." The bouncers examine the invite, shrug, and wave you through. Juri of Avalon walks in with the others. Inside, lots and lots of highly deformed and twisted ogres are partying like it's 1999. Corrine of Amber walks in with Juri and co, and puts on her best "I'm supposed to be here, everything's cool, it's another party, man", look. It's a well-practiced expression, refined via many years of attending Lava Circle functions. Rose whistles nervously. A massive, hideously deformed Fomori suddenly rushes Juri. "JUUUURI!" it bellows. Juri of Avalon calmly awaits the approach, preparing to dodge only if the intent is actually hostile. "Hello. Have we met?" Corrine of Amber blinks at this. She glances at Ishmael. "Anyone you know?" Ishmael asides, "Lord Gorp, I believe." Corrine of Amber ahs, and nods. Gorp scoops Juri up on a twohanded hug and whirls her around. "Juri, dear! It's been ages? Where have you been? We had such a nice night, and then you just vanished!" Juri of Avalon smiles as she's swung around. "I... think you may have me confused with someone else." Corrine of Amber coughs a bit. She's not laughing. Really. That's just her hand over her mouth. "Oh?" He blinks. "You're Juri of Hourse Diadren, yes?" Juri of Avalon says, "No. Juri of Avalon. Sorry. I assure you, I could never forget a fellow such as you, were I the Juri in question." He looks disappointed and sets Juri down. "Oh. Probably a Shadow or some such. A pity... I'd hoped to rekindle a great passion." He wanders off, looking nostalgic. Juri of Avalon dusts herself off and looks at everyone else as though daring them to find this at all amusing. Rose consults her Sawall's Peerage. "Golly. There is a Juri of House Diadren." Corrine of Amber hrms, and distracts herself. "Is there a Corrine in there, somewhere?" Juri of Avalon asks, "Look, can we just go to the attic before someone else mistakes me for an old lover?" Rose shuffles through pages. "Nope, not in here." Corrine of Amber relaxes a bit, and nods to Juri. "Right." Ishmael says, "Or before someone sees through any disguises, right. This way..." Ishmael leads you through a series or halls and stairs, and finally into a broad attic. A broken dormer window stands at one end. Rose says, "That's it." Corrine of Amber takes a deep breath, centering herself. "Stay together, folks." Ishmael asks, "Right. Now we just have to shapeshift into bats and fly through. Everyone ready?" Corrine of Amber says, "......" Juri of Avalon sighs. Juri of Avalon says, "Ishmael, neither Corrine nor I are possessed of such abilities." Ishmael says, "Oh, that's right, some of you can't shapeshift." Corrine of Amber asks, "Could those that can shapeshift turn into BIG bats and carry us?" Ishmael frowns. "This may be problematic. Let us study the situation. Rose, Rhianna?" Corrine of Amber asks, "Or other suitable creatures?" The three of the huddle around the dormer window and start discussing it. Corrine of Amber hrms, and looks around the attic from where she's standing. It looks like a big, dark, empty attic. Corrine of Amber ahwells, and patiently waits. Rose straightens. "Okay! We have a solution!" Corrine of Amber asks, "Yes?" Rhianna says, "You just have to throw yourself through the window. Flight is not actually necessary." Ishmael says, "It should be quite safe. We think." Roderick says, "you THINK?" Juri of Avalon asks, "Well, just to test, why don't you throw yourself through first?" Juri of Avalon asks, "Being a shapeshifter, you should be able to save yourself if it turns out _not_ to be safe?" Corrine of Amber asks, "And then come back and report?" Ishmael blinks. "All right, that sounds reasonable." Ishmael says, "Although I doubt coming back will be quite that simple." Corrine of Amber asks, "One-way juncture?" Ishmael waves, bows, and then gives through the window in a flurry of broken glass, Rose peers after him. "Yup, don't see him. It's safe." Rose, Rhianna, and Katsura turn into bats and fly through. Corrine of Amber looks at Juri and Roderick. "... Right. Well, guess it's our turn..." Juri of Avalon sighs. "Excelsior." She jumps through the window. Corrine of Amber says, "Kowabunga." She jumps through as well. "Once more into the breach," Roderick mumbles, and dives. Everyone lands in a dark, dimply lit cave. You can see it winding down into darkness, with side tunnels branching off in all directions. Corrine of Amber mmms, and looks for Rose with the Palantir, while keeping an eye for Juri. Juri of Avalon asks, "Which way?" Rose takes out the Palantir, and places a hand on it. It glows faintly. Rose says, "I can sense them down a ways. Follow me." You follow Rose down the winding cave, past dark side tunnels that sometimes have odd sounds coming from them. The cave winds down, down... Juri of Avalon follows Rose, getting out her crossbow and loosening her sword for a quick draw if necessary. Mike pages, "You see a figure approaching up ahead." to you. Corrine of Amber ignores the odd sounds as best she can, keeping Rose at the forefront of her vision... she blinks a bit as she sees a figure approach.... Mike pages, "It's Shizumaru, drawing closer. He looks tired and frustrated." to you. You page, "What does the figure look like?" to Mike. Corrine of Amber blinks, murmuring... "Shizumaru?" Mike pages, "He ignores you, and seems to walk past." to you. "No one is there, Corrine," Juri says softly. "Be wary, and remember what Suhuy said. Corrine of Amber blinks, and takes a deep breath. "... right... right... dammit, like Tir'na-Nog, in some ways." Corrine of Amber lets whatever she sees walk past. After a time, Rose stops before a side passage. "This is it." Corrine of Amber nods to Rose. Juri of Avalon asks, "Are the MacFinndos close, or is this simply the way through which they passed?" Rose says, "Neither. This leads into the universe they're currently in." Juri of Avalon says, "Ah so." Rose says, "Here we go, then..." She walks into the passage. The others follow. Corrine of Amber follows the bouncing Palantir Rose. The Tennessee Shad says, "Alan, will need you to exit the game room for a bit." Juri of Avalon says, "Right-o." Mange has left. Your vision blurs. Corrine of Amber blinks, and tries to clear her eyesight. Corrine of Amber also tries to see if there's anybody else in her group that's visible... You're in a garden filled with Roses. Roses everwhere, and a path through them leading out between high hedges. None of the others are in sight, but in the distance you can hear the clangor of swords. Er, plant roses, not Rose the person. Corrine of Amber -blinks-. And given the lack of a guide (such as Rose), and the existance of a path, she starts moving along it, since it's very doubtful she wants to bull her way through rose bushes right at the moment. She also studies the colors of the roses, and the sky, and the locale, trying to place the location. The sky is a swirling maelstrom of black and red. The roses are black and silver. Corrine of Amber blinks at the sky, and bites her lip. She hurries her pace a bit. You emerge from between the hedgerows. You see an almost exact duplicate of the dueling arena from back home up ahead, hanging out over a huge black void. On the stairs, two figures are fighting. Corrine of Amber *BLINKS*, and studies the two figures from a distance, since getting involved in a duel would not allow her to, you know, live or leave. She glances back and forth, to see if there's any routes for her to depart save by the stairs to the duelling arena over the void..... None. Also, the two don't actually seem to be in the arena, just on the stairs leading up. Corrine of Amber takes a deep breath, and starts walking in the direction towards the stairs, as she's got really no other option, trying her best to be Not Noticed. As you get closer, you realize with a shock that the people fighting are Juri and someone who looks almost exactly like you. They're going at it hammer and tongs with swords, showing a fairly impressive amount of skill, and even more vicious fury... Corrine of Amber *STARES*, her jaw hanging open. She whispers. ".....Juri?..." She takes in the other figure, trying to note differences to herself, her mind whirling but already coming to a conclusion, knowing her own skill with the sword is nowhere near Juri's level... "..... -darako-???" Corrine of Amber tries to figure out the safest way past the visions of Juri and Darako without being noticed or skewered. Your double fits the description Juri's given you; she's clad in black and silver, with the emblem of a brown rose on her top. He's using a sword glowing with a dark radiance, while Juri is using a patternblade. The only way to go seems to be the dueling arena, and getting past them without being noticed would be very, very hard. You page, "I take it no hints from the GM on what to do in this one, save Run Like A Mofo? *fwl*" to Akemi. You page, "I take it no hints from the GM on what to do in this one, save Run Like A Mofo? *fwl*" to Mike. Mike pages, "No hints, nope. :)" to you. You page, "Thaaaanks. *wry look*" to Mike. Akemi pages, "No hints, I'm afraid You're facing two people WAY out of your league. It might be best to just wait for one of them to win, given you're fairly sure you'd be screwed trying to fight either of them." to you. The Tennessee Shad says, "Simply staring at the walls will likely not help, though." Corrine of Amber takes a deep breath. Murmurs a prayer to the Unicorn and Pyricorn. Mumbles something about the spirit of her mother, and Juri, and Harold being with her. And then... decides to keep inching forward, trying to stay out of sight. She -knows- she can't take out either Juri in a sword battle, and Darako clearly would have the upper hand on herself. But what to do, what to do? She bites her lip, since to distract either would lead to the other wiinning... perhaps if both continue up the stairway, she can follow.... Actually, they're both heading downward. Corrine of Amber . o O (Oh Poop.) Corrine of Amber quickly judges the possiblity of jumping -over- the twosome, or climbing the detailing on the center column of the stairs, if they exist. Hey, faint hope, and she has to keep moving forward.... You might be able to vault over them. Corrine of Amber closes her eyes, opens them again, and when the two duellists at the right distance, she sprints, using her strength and skill with her body to try and clear them and their really nasty swords to land on the other side. Of the stairs, further up, that is. You run towards them, up the steps. Both of them seem to instantly sense you. Juri's eyes widen, and she starts to turn... and then Darako, capitalizing on the situation, runs her through the upper center of the body. Your double twists the sword and grabs Juri by the neck with her other hand. There's a turn, a snap, and then she hurls the body off the sword, to bounce down the steps towards you. Corrine of Amber stares, screetching to a halt, locked with indecision. "NOOOO!!!" Even as her mind reminds her that this is likely just illusion and she should still be in the Cave of Worlds... she moves to catch Juri, anyway... "Darako, WHY?!" You page, "Question. Would there have been any way through this WITHOUT somebody getting spacked? ^_-;" to Akemi. Akemi pages, "Not an easy thing :)" to you. You page, "Okay, I don't feel so bad then. *wl*" to Akemi. Your double shrugs slightly. "She was going to free Brand. She was working for the enemy." You see your own face smile viciously. "She was born." Juri's body, obviously dead, tumbles into your waiting grasp. Corrine of Amber shudders at that look, revulsed at the thought of it on her own. She catches Juri, and lays it down near the center of the column, face up. She closes juri's eyes, and keeps her own tears from forming. She stands up, and looks Darako in the face, starting to take steps forward. "And that is sufficent justification? If you knew she was under the control of Brand, why not work to free her from his grip? If she was working for the enemy, why not maneuver things so that she was thwarted without death? And what excuse.... what is your explination, for your hatred for her, just for coming to existance?" Your double sheaths her sword. "She didn't want to be freed. Didn't trust me, which I can understand, and didn't trust Tess, which I can't. I gave the bitch every opportunity to come back to the fold, and she chose this instead." She glances into the Abyss. "As for why I hated her, that's a fucking long story, and a boring one. Let's just say there were many reasons, but the strongest involved Mother." Corrine of Amber purses her lips, still walking upwards. If Darako follows or not, that's -her- choice. "You never know until you try to break through, Darako. If I used that excuse for everything, then I doubt my family would exist today, nor would I, and the rest of my world would be the pawns of a madman." She sighs, and closes her eyes, opening them. "Perhaps you're stronger than me for Doing What Needs To Be Done, but I don't know. I just beleive one can save the world without sacrificing your family to do it, no matter HOW you feel about them." Corrine of Amber OOCly warns, experiencing wonky connectivity pfun. Darako matches your step. "Don't get all moralistic on me, you. I ain't taking that crap from myself." Corrine of Amber shrugs in a remarkably Dararkoish/Juri-ish fasion, still waking upwards. "Suit yourself, Darako. She misses you, though. Even after your death in Reality. I can tell, even though she avoids the subject about you whenever I bring it up, that it tears at her. And I'd -like- to feel that you'd feel the same way, after time has passed, if this had tryly come to pass. But, perhaps your own heart has hardened too much from the ordeal. And if so, I would mourn for you. But that's what I believe." Corrine of Amber says, "If both of you had lived and resolved this someway that didn't involve freeing Brand, etectera, perhaps you would have made peace. Perhaps not. I cannot say, and to try and predict the future is futile. But I can -hope-, and dammit I WILL keep holding onto that hope, for all our realities." Darako chuckles. "I suppose I miss her already, in my own fashion. Or I would. And perhaps there would have been peace. But that's neither here nor there. What are you here for?" Corrine of Amber quirks a slight smile. "Well, that will have to do then." She looks upwards. "In the abstract, I am here to stop the dreams of madmen trying to revolutionize the universe. To destroy them utterly, and bring peace and security to my home. Brand, Annadil, the MacFinndos.... it makes no difference to me. In the specific, to exit the Cave of Worlds via the route Rose Floradottir indicated for us, that would lead to the Universe the MacFinndos escaped to with their Squid." She pauses, looking back the way they have come, and upwards. "As the view changed, and the route became this, this is the path that I have taken." Corrine of Amber keeps walking upwards, upwards, upwards.... Your double smirks. "You see? You're not so different from me after all." Corrine of Amber quirks an eyebrow, glancing at Darako. "Perhaps not, then. Save in the methodology we use to acheive our goals. But then again, my life has been different from yours. As no doubt your Juri's has been from mine, and your universe from my own. Differences and similarities, down the line. Tell me, do you draw?" Darako says, "Yeah. Mostly abstracts and cycling scenes. I'm a better musician than an artist. As for our methologies, didn't you just say you were willing to destroy?" Corrine of Amber huhs, looking thoughful. "Heh. I'm more into protraiture and landscapes, and had my own art school. I'm fair with music, but don't ask me to be a Court Bard. And willing to do so, -within reason-, Darako. There comes a point in one's life when one looks at one's hands, covered in blood, and not but help but think there's a better way... a desire to bring creation to the world, not destruction. I reached that point after the second Alan war..." She looks up at the duel arena in the distance, trying to judge if it's gotten closer. "But there's also the cycle of life to consider." She sighs. "I'll admit I've never been much the philosopher, and very well, I can rationalize with the best of them." Darako chuckles lowly. "Never hated, then? I mean a real burning, acid hate?" Darako oocly plays cards while she waits for a responce. Corrine of Amber quietly murmurs. *q* "I hated the Alans, Darako. I hated them so fucking much for what their leader did to Juri, so much that I worked fervently to wipe the remainder out as best I could, Darako, even though a good number did not know what their leader had done, a generation prior. I hated the Cimbri, for the death of Eowyn, and the rape of Catherine, the murder of Haruka Minor and Harold, that I fought to help wipe them out in the Battle of the Plains of Harad. And I hate Annadil even more for stealing Juri's daughter from her and erasing both their minds so that she didn't even KNOW of Hiko's existance, and for tampering with my family, and threatening my kingdom and daughter. So perhaps, in the final analysis, when all civility is stripped away, Darako, I -am- no better than you. Very well, I admit that." She looks at Darako again. "But Juri is reunited with Hiko. I -have- a daughter and lover. My kingdom thrives, my family grows. I have taught, I have raised children, I have painted, I have e" The Tennessee Shad says, "..." Corrine of Amber says, "I have explored, I have -created- a world with my own thoughts and hands, and in the end, those are what I value. And I will fight all the stronger to defend them as I see fit to the best of my ability." Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Corrine, when she feels like it, can be as long winded as Corwin. :)" Darako nods in satisfaction. "I can say all of the same... well, except for the world-creating part." Darako says, "And ya know, that's why I let myself do it... kill Juri, that is. Because she would have destroyed it all. The hate was just extra motivation." Corrine of Amber quirks an eyebrow at that. "Oh? I'll have to ask Juri about that then, if she knew... and you had a daughter?" She shakes her head. "There is that. The question of 'how far to go' is always in the back of my mind, Darako. Perhaps I put too much faith in my siblings, despite the intrigues. I don't know." She shrugs again. "Touga once appeared to have betrayed Amber. I almost strangled him, and threw him off the Parapet of Castle Amber into Kolvir Pass... and I probably would have, if Juri's forces hadn'd appeared at the other end and crushed the Cimbri Touga had 'aided'. It was all a bluff. And I felt guilty and frustrated and confused a long time afterwards, taking it out on the Cimbri instead." Darako says, "Sucks to be Cimbri, then." Corrine of Amber keeps walking. Darn it, how long does she have to go until she reaches the top? Not much farther. Corrine of Amber quietly murmurs, "There -are- no Cimbri anymore, Darako. Nor Alans." Darako chuckles. "Exactly." Corrine of Amber glances over at Darako again, barks a short laugh, and looks wry, looking up at the sky and the duel arena. "I was born in war, grew up in war, lived in war, and for all I know I'll -die- in a war, Darako. And perhaps when I pass on, I'll be judged unworthy for all that I've done and participated in, for all the lives I've taken, and be tossed into the Pit with the rest of the damned. But I -like- to think that due to all it, that I value life all the more knowing that it can be lost, and work to do what I can to prevent it if possible, and to create more to fill the gaps." She quirks a slight smile. "After all, I nearly died after mother's assassination. Shadowwalking with a suicide streak, not a good idea. But you know what? Out of all my siblings, it was -Juri- who pulled me out of the Abyss... not the physical one, but the metaphysical Abyss of self-despair and survivor's guilt. And for that, I can never repay her. I love Juri... and she loves me, and that makes all the difference." Darako shakes her head. "I can't believe I'm this soppy and gushy, even in a warped alternate universe. No wonder you got on with Juri." She makes exaggerated gagging noises. Corrine of Amber laughs. "Different universes, Darako. Different universes, different circumstances. You have yours, and I have mine. I doubt you were Warden of Arden, either... I've been accused of being a treehugger and associating with fluffy bunnies too much, too." Corrine of Amber says, "After all, -I- am Corrine, Princess of Amber, Warden of Arden, Queen of Ember. You're Darako, Princess of Avalon. I don't usually put much stake in titles, but they do help for sorting." Corrine of Amber looks sheepish at Darako. "I have no idea what -other- duties you had, so I can't put 'em in." Drako says, "Nah. I was secretly the agent of the Crown. Kept tabs on things, eliminated problems." Corrine of Amber asks, "Ahh. Spymaster, in a sense? Deep cover?" Darako says, "Sorta. I got drunk and played a lot of music too." Corrine of Amber chuckles. "So I heard. You and my Court Bard would probably get along. Or throttle each other." Darako says, "I throttled a lot of people too, and your court bard's probably a wuss. Anyway..." You're almost to the top of the steps. "Got something for you, before you go on your way. Corrine of Amber glances at Darako, and nods as they start reaching the top of the steps. "Oh? What would that be?" Curious and on-guard at the same time.... She unbuckles her swordbelt and hands the sheathed blade to you. Corrine of Amber blinks at the blade, and takes in hand by the sheath. "What is it? Other than dark and glowing and likely as capable of hurting me as it is of your enemies..." Darako says, "It's called Hummingbird. It kills things real good." Corrine of Amber says, "Ahhhh." She nods. "Well, that'll be useful, though I'm not sure how I'll explain it to the others." She considers her own sword, shifts it to buckle form, and places it on her belt. She then secures Hummingbird's sheath onto her own swordbelt. "Thank you, Darako." She then hrms and considers. "I have little to offer you back, save for this: Juri misses you, and -did- love you, for what it's worth. She wishes it could have been different, even given both of you being at each other's throats. But then, that's a what-might-have-been." She shrugs, and sighs. Corrine of Amber says, "Or just my interpretation of things." She quirks a smile, and winks. "Sue me for being 'mushy'." Darako says, "Yeah. But my whole existance here is a might-have-been. Be seeing you." The world blurs. Corrine of Amber departs, a whispered "Goodbye, Darako of Avalon" on her lips as the world blurs.... ======================================= ======================================= The Tennessee Shad says, "And shoo, coz I get to run Juri now. ;)" Corrine of Amber OOCly righto. *wl* We'll just see how long THAT takes... *wg*