Mike teleports into the room.

Mike has arrived.

The Tennessee Shad says, "Yippy skippy, the evil. Okay. When last we left
off, y'all were discussing strategy."

Juri says, "Okeydokey."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Yuppers.  Want the last lines?"

Juri says, "OOC:  I think the plan we'd come up with was something like
this... not sure how tactically viable it is.  Juri ought to know better
than I would.  :)"

Juri says, "a) Set-up phase, where we find a big lake of coffee, charge it
with Order, and come up with some way to move around in it and see through
it."

Juri says, "b) We go back to Avalon, snag Trucido and anyone else we can
grab for the assault force, then head out into Shadow in the direction of
the squid.  Along the way, we pick up some cannon fodder.  Maybe the
coffee-dwelling equivalent of Deep Ones."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Go on..."

Juri says, "c) We find the squid and Gideon stealthily observes it until
he figures out a way to reverse its Trump charge.  We use the energy from
that to Trump-gate the Order-charged coffee aboard the squid, hopefully
distracting the Finndos, possibly interfering with the squid's Logrus
abilities, and, most importantly, giving them a hell of a poetic justice
surprise."

Juri says, "d) The assault force Trumps aboard along with the cannon
fodder, wrecks hell on the Finndos, and hopefully, this time, seizes
control of the squid."

Juri says, "e) Finally, with the squid in our control, we try and figure
out a way to safely and permanently destroy it."

Juri says, "OOC:  Now, if there's anything that Alan, with his vastly
inferior military mind, isn't considering and ought to be told, Alan would
like to know that."

Chris teleports into the room.

Chris has arrived.

The Tennessee Shad says, "The military aspects of this sound fine to Juri.
The feasability of some of the power-orieted stuff is Greek to here."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And if there's any advice Corrine might be
able to give, given her limited knowledge and scope, what can she
mention?"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Hmm... repeat the "Plan" for Chris/Gideon?"

Juri says, "OOC:  Then she runs through the plan with Gideon and Corrine,
drawing on their greater experience of the powers to help guide her
thoughts."

Gideon points atta Mikaze. "I read it."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Oooooooooh.  Sneaky."

Gideon says, "Advisory on the draining/use of trump energy: After taking a
look at the thing, Gid would advise you to think of something else. No way
in heck."

Juri asks, "Okay, so is draining/blocking the squid's Trump abilities
impossible, or is just making use of the energy thereof?"

Corrine of Amber says, "gluk.  Would Normal Trump Gates work? (ie, not
Squid-Trump-Powered?)  Or is that out of the question, same risk of
brainfry?)"

Gideon says, "Can't say without a closer look. There is only so much you
can get from a trump scrying."

Corrine of Amber says, "Right."

Juri says, "Well, we could use Sorcery, instead.  Open gates to coffee
shadows, maintain 'em with pools of magical energy."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Save that who among us are Qualified
Sorcerors? *wry look*"

Juri says, "Gideon is.  Roderick is.  Horatio and Finn both are, if we can
manage to get in contact with them."

Corrine of Amber says, "Oooohhh."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Unfortunately, that you know of, none of them
are high enough initiates to do cross-shadow openings."

Juri says, "OOC:  Ahh, yes, under the new non-twink Sorcery rules.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Hrm.  Pity the rest of the Gumi aren't
around...  Though... Hmmmm....."

Juri says, "Trump gates it would seem to be, then... perhaps the best
thing to do would be to get all the preparations ready, then go scout out
the squid and get an idea of the feasibility."

Juri says, "The problem, of course, is scouting the squid without getting
spotted.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Permission to try Trump-Contacting Rose,
Rhianna, Ishmael, Katsura, (and Misaki?)  You know, just on the off-chance
that they managed to blunder their way here?"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Well, yes.  That's a minor little
complication...."

The Tennessee Shad says, "You can try if you like."

Juri says, "Go ahead, although I expect they would have contacted us by
now if they had."

The Tennessee Shad says, "As you expect, their trumps are unreachable."

Juri says, "OOC:  We could go ask the Chaosian ambassador if he knows
anything about Logrus squids.  ;)"

Juri says, "Or about the intimate workings of Logrus-based creatures, etc.
;)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Darn.  Ahwell.   Hadda check."

The Tennessee Shad asks, "Anyway. Next move?"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "There's still the possibility of Luring the
Squid and its crew to a Coffee Shadow which they can seal off... but
anyway."

Gideon says, "The big problem is, we're operating mostly blind here. We
have no real idea what the squid is and isn't capable of."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Plant Rumors of a Coffee Pattern!"

Juri says, "OOC:  I think we'd need more advanced Pattern abilities than
any of us have, except possibly Finn."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Phoooey."

Juri says, "This is true, since we still don't know who's really behind
the MacFinndos, etc.  What the Outsiders are, etc."

Juri says, "I would like to get Finn in on this, since he's got Mad Powerz
up the wazoo; hopefully, he'll have gotten the message by the time we get
back to Avalon.  As will Horatio, etc."

Juri says, "Luring the squid into a Shadow and trapping it there, where we
could then use Pattern to destroy it without fear of too much collateral
damage, might be best.  I'm just not sure of how we could manage it."

Corrine of Amber asks, "So, hm.  Find a Coffee Shadow for
charging/reference for later, and then back to Avalon?"

Juri nods.  "That would be best.  We can take the Juri-Car.  :)"

=================================================
=================================================

Gideon says, "You do that. I'll meet you in Avalon, then."

Juri nods, and stands up, looking decisive.  Then she pauses.  "Where's
the way out, Gideon?"

Corrine of Amber gets up as well, and smiles a bit.

Gideon pauses. "... right. You need to walk."

Juri asks, "I'd assumed that was a given.  Where, exactly?"

Gideon asks, "Since you don't have a car, any place out would be okay for
you?"

"I have a car."  Juri indicates the Julian manifestation at her belt,
currently a crossbow.  "It runs more or less anywhere."

Gideon nods and walks over to one of the paintings, the one with the
scorched wasteland. "Go through this, then." He grins, "It'll take you to
the place where we met Gerard and Benedict, long ago."

Corrine of Amber whistles softly.

Juri chuckles.  "Quite a meeting, that."

You page, "I thought Corrine couldn't detect trump energy in the
paintings... or has Gideon moved beyond that? :)" to Mike.

Juri heads over to the painting with Corrine.

Gideon says, "Quite a memorable meeting. Hm ... that reminds me. Tomorrow
is Pie Day."

Mike pages, "They aren't trumps." to you.

Corrine of Amber looks curiously at Gideon.  "Pie day?"

You page, "Ahhh.  Magical stuff, then?" to Mike.

Gideon nods, grinning darkly. "Pie day."

Mike pages, "Possibly." to you.

Corrine of Amber ahs and nods, clearly not understanding.

Juri facepalms.  "Gideon, didn't anyone ever tell you not to annoy our
elder relatives from the other universe who are strong enough to use you
as a hackey-sack?"

You page, "Righto." to Mike.

Gideon asks, "How could sending them a pie be considered annoying?"

Juri just shakes her head.  "We'll see you in Avalon.  Try not to destroy
anything you shouldn't."

Gideon pats his satchel. "Don't worry. Anything that could cause
shadow-wide destruction is safely packed away."

Juri says, "My relief is vast."

Corrine of Amber chuckles softly.

Gideon says, "As is your capacity for sarcasm, dear sister."

Juri beckons Corrine over and stares at the wasteland painting.  "In
Avalon, brother dear."

Corrine of Amber gets over close to Juri, and takes her hand.

Corrine of Amber waves to Gideon, and smiles.

Gideon nods, "See you there. Look for my old tower."

Mike pages, "You now sense trump energy in the painting all of a sudden."
to you.

Corrine of Amber blinks at the painting.  "... -woah-...."

You find yourselves in a blasted desert, with a somewhat run-down tower in
the distance.

Juri blinks.  "That wasn't here before."

Corrine of Amber takes the heat with Aplomb, and whistles.  "That was
cool.... eh?"

Juri asks, "OOC:  Tower familiar in any way?"
Gideon . o O ( OOC: Nope. The last time you were there you were far away
from Gid's little lab there. )

Juri says, "Ahkay."

Juri gets out the car and gets behind the wheel.  "To the Shadow of Fine
Dark-Roast Coffee Lakes."

Corrine of Amber hops into the passenger seat.  "Onward."

Juri says, "OOC:  Vroom, vroom."

Your trip takes you through many strange sights. Finally you pull to a
halt on the lone penisula overlooking the Blue Mountain Sea.

Corrine of Amber whistles, low.

Juri inhales.  "Fragrant."

Corrine of Amber says, "Just the thing to sober up with."

Corrine of Amber pulls out her sketchbook, and makes several
trump-sketches of the location and the peninsula they're on, and the
fragrant waters.

Juri waits for the javaquatic soldiers who worship her as a goddess to
emerge and pledge themselves to her cause.

And so, indeed, they do.

"Great Juan! Great Juan!"

Juri showers blessings upon them, and tells them that they may be needed
soon, and to prepare for war.

Corrine of Amber . o O (We who are about to Invade A Squid salute you....)

They busily prepare to smite the Servants of Decaf.

Juri exclaims, "Comrades, I shall reward you with many shiny new burros
when we are victorious.  Viva la revolution!"

Corrine of Amber lets Juri do all the talking, she's just the
Aide-de-campe/Documentor of history here.  She does get some sketches made
of leaders of the Java-Soldiers, though.

Juri says, "OOC:  With our luck, these guys will probably end up with the
same fate as the anti-Venir army.  :)"
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "What happened there?"

The Tennessee Shad asks, "Next move?"

Juri says, "OOC:  I forgot about them after it turned out Venir had just
been really stupid, and not really a traitor, and therefore didn't deserve
death."
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Whups."

Juri asks, "Corrine, can you Trump us back to our room at the sub?"

Gideon . o O ( OOC: You killed him anyway. )
Juri says, "OOC:  Yes, but that was because I thought he was Akio.  :)"

You page, "With True Trump Memory, shouldn't be a problem, correct?" to
Mike.

Gideon . o O ( OOC: Kinslayer. :P )
Juri says, "OOC:  Shut up, Ravager Beast.  :)"

You page, "(to head back to ze sub's room.)" to Mike.

Gideon . o O ( *snicker* If anyone from Avalon/Now had seen the two
together ... the two great monsters of the past together. The apocalypse
is surely destined to happen soon. )

Mike pages, "Correct." to you.

Corrine of Amber grins, and hops out of the car.  "No problem.  Get that
car 'o yours back on your belt, and take my hand..."

Juri does so.

Corrine of Amber concentrates, and trumps them back to their room in the
Sub.  Noteably, without any trump card, but....

Juri says, "OOC:  Good timing, Merc's back on; we should check in with
Demetrius.  Or maybe not, since he's just hired scum.  :)"

Your room is about as you left it.

Corrine of Amber reflexively checks for any differences in the room, out
of habit, as she lets go of Juri's hand.

Juri says, "OOC:  Find Roderick and tell him where we were, explain the
new situation, apologize for not telling him where we were going, but it
was kind of abrupt.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And oh, wasn't Juri supposed to get that
thing from Demetrius signed?"

Juri says, "OOC:  Assume she did that."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Okidoke.  Corrine read through the thing and
signed as well with her real name, etc. (hey, he -wanted- their real names
on it...)"

Gideon . o O ( OOC: What is her real name? :) )

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "By now, something akin to "Corrine the
First, Queen of Ember, Princess of Amber, Warden of Arden", and a few
other things tacked onto the bottom.  Well, if one wants to get Legally
Pendantic about it."

Roderick calms down once he finds that you weren't kidnapped or anything.

Juri says, "I apologize, dear; we had to depart rather abruptly."

Juri checks in with Julian to see if Horatio has gotten her message yet.

"I'm sorry, the contruct you are dialing is not in service..."

Juri curses.

Corrine of Amber sighs. "Playing hard to get, apparently?"

Juri says, "OOC:  Try and Trump Finn, perfectly aware I probably won't get
him."

The Tennessee Shad says, "Bing, and you don't. Busy signal."

Juri says, "Big surprise.  Oh well.  Ask Roderick if he can Conjure a
messenger to get a message to Trucido (the fisherman from the docks)
telling him to meet us at Gideon's old tower."

The Tennessee Shad says, "He can, and does."

Juri says, "Thank him, then head for Gideon's tower.  Oh, and, to be
charitable, we're going to go and inform Demetrius of what we're getting
up to."

Corrine of Amber OOCly hehs.

Michelle has arrived.

Juri says, "OOC:  That was the signal for you to get Merc to come on so we
could interacted with Demetrius, BTW.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "'lo, John..."

The Tennessee Shad says, "You shoulda said..."

You page, "Working on Saionji, now...." to Akemi.

Mercutio teleports into the room.
Mercutio has arrived.

Demetrius says, "OOC: Geez, big group."

Juri says, "OOC:  We go find Demetrius."

Corrine of Amber follows after Juri, and mentions that we should probably
try the funky rings Gideon supplied to see if they work before they go out
wandering again.

The Tennessee Shad says, "You find him. Go for it."

Juri shrugs, and does so.

Corrine of Amber tries her own ring, trying for the physical aspect of the
illusion she's currently wearing.

Juri says, "Mr. Demetrius.  We will be heading out into Shadow in order to
do reconaissance and hopefully determine the status of the Logrus Squid."

Juri hands him the contract with the signatures.  "I have had my
companions complete this as you requested.  If we have need of you, we
will contact you."

Demetrius nods. "Do you require transportation? The ship is powered down
for repairs, but I could let you have a sloop...."

Juri says, "We have transportation.  But thank you."

Demetrius nods. "It's all part of the service, m'lady."

Corrine of Amber hms.  "Could I have a business card?  Just as a
souveneir?" She smiles, which doesn't go well with the Thin Pyrate Queen
Image, but hey.

Demetrius says, "Please bear in mind that if you expect me to fight that
thing again, though, we will have to negotiate a seperate contract." He
turns to corrine. "But of course." He produces one for her.

Juri says, "If all goes as hoped, you will not have to."

Corrine of Amber smiles, accepts the card, and pockets it.  "Hopefully, it
will not come to that."

Demetrius says, "Well, you know where to find me. I'll be here in port for
the next two weeks. Longer, if I can't find a cargo run."

Juri nods.  "Take care, Mr. Demetrius.  Many things appear to be happening
at once."

Demetrius bows formally to Juri. "Arent they always, m'lady?"

Juri says, "Not on this scale."  She nods her head at Demetrius, then
leaves.  "Fare well."

Corrine of Amber says, "And safe voyages, Demetrius."  She waves, and
follows after Juri.

Demetrius watches them go, then turns back to his ledgers.


Demetrius asks, "OOC: Should I go?"
Juri says, "OOC:  I assume so, since we're leaving your office.  :)"
The Tennessee Shad says, "Yup."
Mercutio has left.

Juri says, "Right, off to Gideon's tower, lolly la."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "and where be Gideon's Tower?"

Juri says, "OOC:  Next to the giant pink-and-gold train in the Citadel,
IIRC.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Right.  Corrine -can't- but help and stare a
bit at that, even -with- her disguise(s)."

The Tennessee Shad asks, "You mean the one that got utterly destroyed in
the next-to-closing episodes?"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "The rest of the citadel, Corrine's going
'Wow, who designed -this-?  And what drugs was he on?' Well, at least
mentally."

The Tennessee Shad asks, "And which no longer exists?"

Juri asks, "Well, he _said_ to meet him at his old tower, didn't he?"

Juri says, "I assume he meant the site of it."

The Tennessee Shad says, "You suspect that possibly he was referring to
the old tower in the Shadow he sent you to."

Juri facepalms.

Juri says, "Well, we told Trucido to meet us there, so we'll go pick him
up and then head there."

The Tennessee Shad says, "You collect a Trucido."

Juri says, "Gotta catch 'em all."

He is fairly sober and quiet, but seems alert.

"What news?" Juri asks.  "Have there been any developments in the
assassination case?"

Trucido cocks his head. "None that I'm aware of. Finn and Horatio are
investigating it."

Juri nods.   "That explains much."  She then gives Trucido the outline of
the plan as they head (presumbably through Corrine's True Trump Memory) to
Gideon's wasteland tower.

Corrine of Amber nods to Trucido by way of welcome, and then looks to
Juri.  "Well, that explains why they haven't been taking calls..."

Michelle says, "OOC So what is the Plan? :)"

Juri says, "OOC:  Well, we need to go and do reconnaisance on the squid,
first."

Corrine of Amber trumps Our Heroes to the spot where she and Juri ended up
in the desert the first time, letting Juri handle the Plan Desciption.

Trucido seems to approve of the plan, which probably means its a good one.
"Have you alerted potential targets of the danger?"

Juri says, "Gideon was alerted, but, now that I think about it, it might
be a good idea to get a message to Meredith and have him alert Queen Nimue
of the possibility the squid will attack her Pattern."

Juri pulls Angus's Trump.

Corrine of Amber idly waits for Juri to do the thing of TrumpCalling,
doing a sketch (not a TrumpSketch) of Trucido while she waits.

Juri finishes her Trump conversation.  "Nimue and Random have both been
warned."

Corrine of Amber asks, "Cool.  Onward to the tower in the distance?"

Juri says, "Childe Juri to the dark tower came."

You ride to the tower, where Gideon waits.

Roderick laughs faintly.

Corrine of Amber chuckles a bit, and waves to Gideon with a smile.

Juri nods to Gideon.  "We have a suitable shadow full of coffee and
javaquatic soldiers.  Corrine has sketches."

Corrine of Amber nods.

Juri says, "OOC:  Somebody poke Brem awake.  :)"

Corrine of Amber says, "We also don't have Finn and Horatio... they're
apparently investigating the Assassination, hence their absence.  -But-,
we do have a Roderick and a Trucido. And ourselves.  And crossbows.  And
rings.  And a spoon."

Roderick says, "Never forget the spoon."

Corrine of Amber says, "Of course not.  'course, the best I could probably
do with it would be to poke somebody's eye out, but hey, who knows?  It
could come in handy...."

Juri pauses.

Juri says, "Corrine, let me see that spoon."

Corrine of Amber says, "Hm?  Sure...."

Corrine of Amber fishes in her Trump-case pouch, and pulls out Dworkin's
wooden spoon.

Corrine of Amber hands it to Juri, while keeping an eye on it.

Juri looks at the carvings on it.  Are they, as I suspect, the same
symbols that I saw in Anno's book?  The ones that I couldn't remember
where I'd seen them?

Yes, they are.

Juri boggles.  "What the hell kind of spoon is this?"

Juri says, "It's got that same weird script that Anno's books were written
in all over it."

Roderick says, "I don't know, but Dworkin uses it to beat the cooks when
he doesn't like the food."

Corrine of Amber blinks.  "Eh?"

Juri shows it to Gideon.  "Brother, have you any idea what these symbols
are?"

Corrine of Amber Peeerrrs at the spoon, now that her attention's been
drawn to it.

Roderick says, "And Dworkin sometimes leaves notes lying around written in
that script.  Often important things, but then no one can read it."

You page, "Aaaand do those scribbles look like the "Runes of the Sidar"
that are in the room with the Gate of Revolution?" to Akemi.
Akemi pages, "Why yes, they do." to you.

Juri frowns.  "No one can read it all?  What sort of language is it?"

Corrine of Amber sucks in a quick, quiet breath.

Corrine of Amber says, ".... holy shit."

Juri glances at Corrine.  "Corrine?"

Corrine of Amber says, "those are the same runes as those in the room with
the Gate of Revolution.  The Runes of the Sidar."

Roderick asks, "What's a Sidar?"

Corrine of Amber says, "We've -NEVER- gotten grandfather to explain or
-translate- them, but... "

Juri says, "Gate of Revolution?  You've mentioned that, but never really
explained it..."

Corrine of Amber shrugs.  "Grandfather, Fuyutsuki, never gives the same
answer twice..." She then looks at Juri.  "The Gate of Revolution lies
hidden beneath a trapdoor in the center of the Pattern of Tir'na-Nog back
home.  You have to walk the pattern to get to it, and then go down inside
the door down a ladder.   Once you're down there, the way out vanishes,
and you can only get out via trump or letting the City in the Sky fade
away.  The room has 13 sides, and in the floor is a sealed door with 4
large 'Keyholes', though bedamned if I know what the keys -are-...  And on
it is an inscription... the first line in Thari, the rest in the Runes."

Corrine of Amber says, "'Beyond this Gate lies power unimaginable, waiting
for whosoever finds the keys to unlock it.'"

Corrine of Amber says, "... the rest of the inscription, -nobody- has been
able to translate it."

Corrine of Amber asks, "... and you were saying Anno's books -had- that
writing, Juri?"

Juri frowns.  "The Gate of Revolution... another coherency?"

Gideon OOC returns. Sorry. n.n;

Corrine of Amber says, "All I know for certain is that Annadil... Akio...
WHATEVER his true name is, is dead-set on opening it...."

Juri says, "Brand... the duels that were done to free Brand were supposed
to 'bring Revolution to the World'."

Roderick says, "My universe has no such thing that I know of, although I
have heard Fiona talking once when drunk about some sort of door she
couldn't open."

Corrine of Amber frowns.  "And I'm getting a sinking suspicion that even
-he- might not know fully what's behind that door, anymore.   Given what
we heard and saw while in the Cave of Worlds, and from talking to
Dworkin."

Juri paces.  "In my experience, promises of 'great power if you shall only
unseal this way' let out incredibly nasty things."  She glances up.  "Like
the Outsiders, perhaps?"

Juri looks at the spoon, studying it.  "These runes, then... they must be
impossibly ancient.  Predating Thari.  The entymology is like no other
script I know of."

Juri says, "OOC:  Or, so I assume."

Roderick asks, "I have heard Father speak of the Pre-Logrus civilization,
which made the Spikards of our world.  Perhaps this comes from something
similar?"

Juri says, "OOC:  Etymology, even.  I think.  Word-thingies."

Corrine of Amber says, "The Outsiders, in search of their 'lawnmower',
offering 'power tools' to those who might aid them in trying to do that, I
think."

Juri waves the spoon vaguely.  "So, maybe this spoon is some kind of...
Spoon of Power?"

Roderick asks, "May I take a look at it?"

Juri hands it to Roderick.

Corrine of Amber says, "... Pre-Pattern... Pre-*Logrus*?..." She then taps
her fingers.  "Though... Rose WAS mentioning their Phoenix was still
searching for a 'theme' of some sort... if the Unicorn and Serpent....
Pattern and Logrus... had to do the same thing, choosing Order and
Chaos...." She shakes her head, and looks at Roderick as he studies the
Spoon.

Roderick conjures a pad of paper and jots down all the runes from the
spoon, then hands it back to Juri.  "Dworkin once claimed he popped out
the Serpent's eye with a spoon.  Although he was drunk at the time.  Then
again, he's also claimed the Serpent shot his own eye out with a Red Ryder
BB gun, so..."

Corrine of Amber blinks.  "Why would he want to pull out the Eye from the
Serpent?"

Roderick says, "Because the Jewel of Judgement used to be one of the
Serpent's eyes, or so some people claim."

Corrine of Amber blinks.  And blinks again.  "-Oh-."

Gideon hms. "Can I have that spoon again?"

Corrine of Amber keeps watching over the Spoon, darnit.

Corrine of Amber says, "... this is clearly something I didn't learn in
-my- history classes.. but then again, how would I have known to ask?"
She looks ruefully wry.

"Perhaps we should simply ask the Spoon to smite the squid for us," Juri
says drolly.

Roderick laughs.  "Perhaps we should pluck out one of its eyes?"

Corrine of Amber hands the Spoon over to Gideon to study, if Juri already
hasn't.

Gideon takes the spoon and looks it over again, hmming to himself. "Yes
... "

Juri considers.

Juri says, "Well... if this device was somehow connected to the removal of
the Serpent's eye..."

Juri says, "It would have to be incredibly potent against Chaos
creatures."

Roderick says, "Exactly."

Corrine of Amber asks, "... It could perhaps have power over those powered
by Chaos or Logrus?"

Gideon murmurs, "It's a spoon of power ... ancient power. Or more
accurately, Power."

Corrine of Amber asks, "I heard the capital 'P' there, Gideon... care to
explain?"

Corrine of Amber smiles slightly.

Juri blinks.  "Suhuy said the squid could be destroyed using the Jewel of
Judgement, possibly... or some equivalent power."

Gideon shrugs, "These runes are known to me. I haven't found a way to read
them yet, though."

Juri asks, "And wouldn't an equivalent power be the one that removed the
Jewel from the Serpent in the first place?"

Roderick nods.

Corrine of Amber whistles.  "Anno presumably could read that book of
his...."

Juri says, "OOC:  Or... someone said something like that.  I can't
remember who.  ^^;;"

Juri curses.  "Damn it, I knew I'd seen those runes before... if only I'd
clued in then."

Corrine of Amber says, "I suppose when I get home, I should take a copy of
that inscription down to Chaos and get a translation, since we can't get
one out of Grandfather."

Corrine of Amber hehs a bit.  "I don't know if anybody back home knew of
what they meant either, Juri.  Save maybe Derith, but he's more pattern,
and I don't know if his studies included things like this."

Juri asks, "Perhaps we should try and test it out somehow?  Gideon, you
have lab in that tower, yes?  Have you something, anything,
Chaos-related?"

Gideon shakes his head, looking as if distracted by something. "Later."

Juri asks, "Later as in 'give me a moment' or later as in 'after squid
reconnaisance'?"

Gideon hrms. "As in 'give me a moment'. No, I don't have anything in here.
I only use this place to test potentially destructive stuff, I don't work
in here."

Corrine of Amber nods.

Juri exclaims, "OOC:  Spoon of Omens, give me sight beyond sight!"
Roderick exclaims, "OOC AMBER CATS, HO!!!!"
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "..... must.... not.... draw.... 5-team....
pic....."
Gideon OOCly whispers, "Give in ... resistance is futile ... you know you
want to draw it."

Gideon hands the spoon back to Corrine. "As for your question, those runes
are similar in nature to what is known as Words of Power. Possibly their
written form."

Juri hrms.  "I have some experience of those.  Could it be that this spoon
contains such words, and they could be utilized if we could only find out
what the right words are?"

Corrine of Amber accepts the spoon, and replaces it in her Trump-Case
pouch. She nods.  "Woah.  Cool."

Corrine of Amber OOCly would right now, save that he isn't -that- good
with Action poses.  And he's got a big queue.  But, we'll see!

Roderick looks thoughtful.

Gideon says, "Those runes contain Power in themselves, Juri. I don't know
what would happen if you spoke the coresponding words. You'd have to ask
an expert on that topic ... I'm merely a dabbler in that area."

Roderick says, "Perhaps it is some sort of enhanced form of the 'Chaos
Negation' power word."

Roderick says, "Since it was used to poke out the Serpent's eye..."

Gideon looks at Roderick. "Interesting theory ... boosted power words?"

Juri hrms.  "Could the fact that the words are carved rather than spoken
mean that they don't need to be spoken?  That some other means of
activation is necessary?"

Corrine of Amber hehs a bit.  "I know I'm not... never really got into
Sorcery or even Power Words, though Juri back home knew... though hm....
Mom was a sorceress as well as a warrior, and Juri appears to have
learned...." She looks rueful.

Corrine of Amber looks between the group, thoughtful. 

Roderick asks, "Perhaps you strike the target?"

Roderick says, "It is fairly large as spoons go."

Juri hrms.  "But, without knowing the effects, I'm hesitant to strike the
squid with it."

Roderick says, "We need to find some minor Chaosian and try whacking him
with it."

Juri hrms.

Gideon says, "Probably a good idea." He shakes his head. "This thing is
strange to me ... I don't like that."

Juri says, "Well... there is a new ambassador from the Courts."

Corrine of Amber hehs.  "Pity we aren't home... we could go to Cafam's and
buy a six-pack of minor chaosians and then poke 'em around."

Juri says, "Kozuen's son, I understand.  Damask of Hendrake."

Gideon nods. "However, I'd advise against whacking him."

Juri says, "However, whacking the Chaosian ambassador with a spoon to see
if it has any effect on him would probably be a good way to start a major
diplomatic incident."

Corrine of Amber raises her eyebrows.  "Kozuen, analouge to my Kozue, I
assume?"

Roderick asks, "You can go down to a store and buy Chaosians???"

Corrine of Amber says, "If this Damask looks -anything- like Nagisa, I'm
going to hit my forehead against a wall."

Corrine of Amber says, "Well, it's a big store, Roderick.  REALLY big.
And admittedly, I've never TRIED looking around in there... it's
Shadow-sized."

Juri considers.  "Well, he's the first minor Chaosian to come to mind."

Corrine of Amber says, "Or at least on the inside." She shrugs.

Juri says, "OOC:  C'mon!  I want to go find my RATGOH character and hit
him with a spoon.  :)"
Gideon . o O ( OOC: You hit Damask with the spoon. Make a new character,
Alan. )
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "D'oh!"

Juri tries to think.  "Anyone know any minor Chaosians nearby?"

Gideon suddenly goes very, very quiet. "Wait ... you said Damask is now
the ambassador to Avalon?"

Juri nods.  "According to Mr. Demetrius's genealogy books, yes."

Gideon says, "Merciful Serpent."

Roderick asks, "What's wrong?  Is he some sort of noted Chaos madman?"

Juri frowns.  "Well, he _is_ Kozuen's son..."

Corrine of Amber looks between the three, and then glances over at at
Trucido, shrugging.

Roderick asks, "Is that a yes?"

Juri says, "Gideon, you obviously know of the name, and the man being the
ambassador to Avalon disturbs you.  Do share."

Gideon says, "He's not a madman, despite being Ko's son. Juri, I sent Dara
to Avalon."

Juri cocks her head to one side.  "And this has bearing because...?"

Tylor passes the other bag to Miki.  "Miki, this is my ship-in-a-bottle.
You might need it."
Roderick says, "OOC DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
Roderick says, "OOC Sorry about that."

Corrine of Amber OOCly hums "Time In A Bottle."

Gideon sighs. "Unless he has changed since the last time Kozuen and I
talked, he will have about the same effect on my daughter that a
catnip-covered ball has on a cat."

Corrine of Amber asks, "Oh.... Dear?"

Juri says, "Err... she'll want to gnaw on him and then take a nap?  I'm
not following you."

Gideon says, "More like play with him."

Corrine of Amber says, "Oh boy."

"Oh," Juri says slowly.  "And... what is it about him that will make her
do that?"

Gideon says, "I have heard he is somewhat ... formal."

Juri laughs.  "I'll believe it when I see it; he is Kozuen's son, after
all."

Gideon shakes his head. "Ah well. I'll tell Meri to keep an eye on her,
and hope for the best."

Juri sobers.  "Amusing as this may be, of course, it has little bearing to
the situation at hand.  I would like some idea if the spoon is an
effective weapon before we go to reconaissance."

Corrine of Amber nods.

Gideon says, "Go to Chaos. Find some poor sod in the Great Waste and put
him out of his misery. He's doomed anyway."

Juri frowns.  "That's somewhat out of the way.  I wonder if he could get
his cooperation somehow in testing the spoon.  Have you met him, Gideon?"

Gideon shakes his head. "Nope. I tried to stay low when I went there."

Juri frowns more.  "Well, perhaps we'll just have to wing it.  We had a
plan before we had any idea what this... spoon might be capable of."

Gideon says, "There is too much planning for something we have no real
idea of."

Corrine of Amber says, "Still use it as the primary, though?  Since we'll
still need distractions and such to get close..."  She then mms, and nods
at Gideon.

Juri says, "So, barring any easy and fast means of confirming our thoughts
about the spoon's power, we should simply proceed with that plan, and,
when it begins to go not as planned--as every plan inevitably will, to
some degree--perhaps we can try the spoon then."

Roderick nods.

Juri says, "But I suspect that Dworkin might have known exactly what he
was doing by giving this to us, even if he didn't... know it himself.  If
that makes sense.  This may be the means to defeat the squid."

Corrine of Amber says, "Which means now we try and recon the squid without
gettign found out in the process." She then hehs, and nods.  "The Unicorn
moves in Mysterious Ways... I knew he reminded me of Grandfather."

Gideon says, "We'll see."

Juri asks, "Shall we take the car?"

Juri says, "That will get us heading towards it quickly, and, when we get
closer, we can go by foot for maximum stealth."

Corrine of Amber nods.  "Other than trumping it, which feels foolhardy to
the extreme to me... yeah."

Juri gets the car out and gets behind the wheel.  "Travel with me, then,
to the squid that you desire."

Roderick laughs.

Corrine of Amber raises her eyebrows at that, and hops in.

Gideon remarks dryly, "Sorry, I'm not into tentacles."

Gideon sits in the back.

Juri says, "OOC:  I just realized I never once had Juri flip over the
hood.  :)"
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, ".... She'd have her shirt open if she did,
Juri."
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "But really, would this be a BAD thing?"
Juri asks, "OOC:  So?"
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Exactly."
Juri says, "*vroom, vroom*"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And how folks holding out, etc?"
Roderick says, "Me fine."
Juri says, "I'm good for a few more hours."
Gideon is slowly getting that sleepy feeling.
Corrine of Amber OOCly is good for about another hour or so, but should
prolly thud at 2 EST at the latest, since he intends to run around a bit
tomorrow.
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Tomorrow evening I'll be good, though, as I
was this night and the last."

Juri frowns.  "I'm having trouble locking onto it..."

Gideon says, "Probably because it's moving. And considering the speed with
which it moves ..."

Corrine of Amber looks at Juri.  "Moving around too fast?  Or blocking
approaches through Shadow somehow?"

Corrine of Amber ahs, and nods at Gideon.

Juri frowns.  "It's somewhere in this universe, I can feel that much...
but it's as though the Pattern can't reach it, or has no power over it."

Corrine of Amber hrms.  "Perhaps search in Shadow for where their eventual
'next destination' will be, and wait for it to come to us?  Admittedly,
that's way conceptual, but..."

Roderick says, "An interesting idea."

Juri nods.  "That's a very good idea, Corrine."  Her frown deepens, and
she concentrates some more, narrowing her eyes.  "But if they intend to
stay in this location where the Pattern can't reach..."

Juri says, "They could be in a Shadow cast by Amber, perhaps.  Or at the
Keep of Air and Darkness."

Roderick says, "OOC I'll BRB"

Juri says, "I suppose I could head for something or someone that can lead
us to the squid..."

Juri asks, "Or, as Corrine suggests, the next location we can get to where
it will appear.  Though that might be a long time from now, and who knows
the kind of damage it might do in Amber, for example, if that's where it
is?"

Corrine of Amber nods.  "That's perhaps a better suggestion, which would
allow us to follow... some sort of cross-shadow Logrus Squid sensor."

Juri rubs her temples.  "Horatio must know how to move between Avalon and
Amber with relative ease, but I can't reach him.  Then again, no guarantee
that's where it is."

You page, "How do those sound for those ideas, as far as Corrine's
knowledge of Shadow/Pattern goes? (ie, the find an item to find the squid,
or try to drive to the location where it'll go next, and wait.)" to Akemi
and Mike.

Gideon hms, "Corrine, hand me those squid sketches again, please?"

Corrine of Amber hrms, and nods, handing the sketches back to Gideon, over
the seat.

Mike pages, "The first may or may not work, the second will probably work,
but only if the squid actually returns to this part of the universe, and
who knows when that'll be?" to you and Akemi.

You page, "Blech. *nod* Gotcha." to Akemi and Mike.

Juri idly turns on the radio.  "o/~ Your servant here, he has been told /
To say it clear, to say it cold: / It's over, it ain't going any further /
And now the wheels of heaven stop / You feel the devil's riding crop / Get
ready--"

Juri says, "Booooooring."

Juri changes the channel.  "o/~ Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows /
Everything that's wonderful is how I feel when / We're together..."

Juri hums along and keeps time by drumming on the steering wheel.

Roderick blinks.

Corrine of Amber quirks an eyebrow, and just listens, while Gideon does
what it is he's doing.

Gideon sorts through the sketches again and concentrates.

"It's a nice song," Juri says, somewhat defensively.

Gideon hms, "It's far ... very far. I can barely reach it ... but it still
seems to be in water."

Corrine of Amber asks, "This car of yours have a boat form, Juri?"

Juri blinks.  "Rebma, perhaps?"

Juri says, "Unfortunately not.  We could travel to an appropriate vessel
quite quickly, though"

Corrine of Amber says, "True."

Juri asks, "Gideon, do you know how to get there?"

Gideon hms. "Rebma would be a distinct possibility  ... "

Juri says, "And do you know how we could get there?  Preferably as quickly
as possible."

Juri asks, "Mr. Demetrius has said he makes stops in Amber.  He probably
knows a way.  If that is where there are--is it?"

Juri looks questioningly at Gideon.

Corrine of Amber ahs, and nods.  "Yeah, that's a good point..."

Corrine of Amber says, "Though he's still laid up for two weeks... but he
-did- say he had a sloop we could borrow...  And if it can move around
like his sub..." 

Juri nods and sighs.  "Back to the sub, then.  Corrine, if you would...?"

Corrine of Amber nods.  "Stop the car, shrink it, and I'll pull us all
through."

Juri does so.

Corrine of Amber pulls our Happy Squid Investigation Crew back into hers
and Juri's cabin.
Gideon . o O ( OOC: Wait a sec, please? )
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Oops, right.  Retcon the past few lines,

then?"

Gideon murmurs, "Fiona's offering to get us to the other side, at least.
Out of the car, and hold hands, people."

Corrine of Amber says, ".... ohhhh."

Juri blinks and does as Gideon says.

Corrine of Amber does as the nice Gideon says.

Gideon carefully steps out of the car, concentrating on the connection,
and holds out a hand.

Corrine of Amber makes sure everybody's holding hands, and that Juri's car
is now nice and portable.

Fiona pulls you through, and you appear somewhere in Shadow, with a tree
in the distance.

Corrine of Amber blinks, and looks around, and glances at the tree.

Fiona says, "Hello again. So, what's the emergency?"

Juri says, "A giant logrus squid may be about to attack Rebma."

Mike pages, "Resembles Yig, from your universe." to you.

Gideon barely spares a glance for the surroundings, nodding to Fi as he
once again consults the squidgram.

Fiona ...s.

Roderick says, "But we're going to stop it."

Corrine of Amber nods.  "We're not making this up, either.  It's big, it's
bad, it's hosed my own Kingdom once, and it's in the hands of madmen."

Juri nods to Roderick, then to Fiona.  "With Dworkin's Spoon of Power, we
hope."

Corrine of Amber raises an eyebrow at the tree in the distance, noting its
resemblance to Yig.

Gideon winces. "Ow. Better get moving, people ... squiddo is having
dinner."

Fiona says, "Have you been drinking, Juri?"

Roderick says, "No, she hasn't."

Corrine of Amber asks, "No, she hasn't... oh hell, where and how, Gideon?"

Roderick says, "I wish this was all a big practical joke of Otho's, but I
rather doubt it."

Fiona blinks. "You're not Horatio..."

Roderick says, "I'm better."

Roderick toothglints.

Corrine of Amber says, "No, he's not.  And I'm not Darako." She quirks a
wry, rueful smile.  "Corrine of Amber, just not yours."

Gideon would facepalm if he weren't busy.

Fiona says, "Modest, too..."

Juri smiles at Fiona.  "If that's an invitation, Fiona, it will have to
wait till later.  Let's go deal with the squid.  Gid, can we still
Trump-gate the Order-charged dark roast and the javaquatic warriors on
this side of things?"

Roderick says, "Roderick of Amber, son of Bleys of another universe's
Amber."

Corrine of Amber says, "Oh, and daughter of Haruka and King Gendo, both
now deceased.  Such is life."

Fiona digs out a trump deck. "Well, I have a trump of the stair down to
Rebma, if that will help."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And now, WRS-Fiona becomes convinced that
our merry band of travellers are Complete and Utter Loons."

She snaps her fingers. "And I have one of my sister Llewella, who dwells
in Rebma."

Gideon . o O ( Once again ...  one moment? )
Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "Ack. *nod*"

Gideon gives a quick description of the city being squided. "Sound like
Rebma, Fiona?"

She frowns. That does sound like Rebma, yes."

Gideon says, "Then I would suggest not to disctract your sister with a
trump call."

Gideon says, "The stairs it is, then."

Corrine of Amber nods.

Gideon looks at the others. "You don't happen to be able to breathe in
water?"

Juri says, "Not a skill I've developed yet."

Fiona hands you a trump. "I'd better inform our good King Random of what's
going on."

Corrine of Amber erms, and shakes her head.  "Not unless we enter by the
steps, and even then I wouldn't push it."

Fiona says, "As long as you stay on the steps, the water is breathable."

Gideon says, "You do that ... " He hrms. "You better learn fast, then.
Limited area to move in makes you wonderful targets."

Fiona takes out a trump and starts concentrating.

Juri hrms.  "Gideon, what amount of shapeshifting do these rings you gave
us impart?  Could we use them to breath underwater by growing gills, for
example?"

Corrine of Amber accepts the trump of the steps of Rebma, and keeps a hold
of it for the nonce.

Fiona trumps out.

Gideon asks, "How did you think I followed you for the fire eye?"

Roderick turns greenish and now looks fairly Rebman.

Juri shrugs.  "I assumed that you had the ability naturally."

Corrine of Amber raises her eyebrows.  "What about Roderick and Trucido...
ah..."

Corrine of Amber OOCly can feel himself starting to fade, but thinks we
can get to Rebma and a Forkpoint there....

Trucido says, "I can grow gills as well, if needed."

Gideon shifts into a silvery-skinned humanoid and shrugs. "Not that
natural ... at least back then."

Juri says, "Let's go, then.  If the Trump gates work, then they work...
otherwise, I suppose it may all come down to the Spoon."

Gideon nods.

Corrine of Amber nods.  "Take hands, and we'll head there."  She holds up
the trump of the stairs to Rebma.

Gideon takes the nearest offered hand.

Juri takes Corrine's hand and Roderick's hand.

Roderick smiles.  Toothglint.

Corrine of Amber makes sure everybody's holding on, concentrates, and
trumps 'em all to the base of the stairs of Rebma, Faellia-Bionin (or
whatever it's called here), in Juri's Amber.

You appear at the stairs.

Corrine of Amber lets go of everybody's hands, and pockets the trump.

Gideon looks around. "I'd suggest the water breathers take the quick way
down and scout."

Roderick draws his sword.

Roderick nods and dives off the stairs, swimming down.

Gideon dives into the water, and engages turbo.

Juri draws her sword and crossbow, and heads for the stairs.

Corrine of Amber draws her own sword and Crossbow, and follows.

=================================================
=================================================

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And pause here?  or not? Would like to be
fresh when we finally investigate/assault the Squid (AGAIN...) *wry look*"

The Tennessee Shad says, "Right ho, good spot to pause."

Juri nods.  "Now, I just hope I get a chance to use my loyal javanauts.
:)"

Roderick says, "OOC Heh."

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "And again, I should be good tomorrow at the
usual times. :)"

Roderick says, "OOC I can blind the MacFinndos with my Toothglints :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "(ie, after 7 EST.  And by then, I should
hopefully have the Saionji trump done...)"

Juri says, "OOC:  Make sure to save Juri's life so she'll feel obligated
to sleep with you.  :)"

Corrine of Amber OOCly says, "so anyway, night!"

Juri says, "Night, Phil."

Corrine of Amber waves and thuds.