or
Recorded for Posterity by Iain Walker.
We all stand by the steps on the top of Mount Kolvir in the middle of the mountaintop guard post as the sun rises out of the sea to the east.
"Votes for never going to Tir-Na Nog'th again?" asks Phoenix.
"It's OK, if you partake of it with several truckloads of salt," says Damien.
"We learned nothing to help Finndo," comments Tristan.
"What about the flowery Land of the Dead?" asks Phoenix.
"Interesting that we couldn't find Ossian," notes Tamarind.
"Perhaps the vision suggests the barriers between the Land of the Dead and the Land of the Living are breaking down?" suggests Phoenix.
We consider this, and wonder if the universe used to be like that, with souls being recycled rather than life-force alone.
"We could talk to Oberon about Ossian," Tamarind suggests.
"I don't trust Oberon's word," says Tristan.
"Sometimes people's lies are informative," chips in Phoenix.
"We should tackle it from the other end," suggests Damien. "See what Finndo was up to."
Phoenix is a little sceptical of this.
In general, everyone other than Damien considers the Land of the Dead angle to be the most important aspect of what we saw in Tir-Na Nog'th.
"Perhaps we could talk to Brand to see if his correspondents in the Land of the Dead have reported anything odd there," suggests Damien.
Corwin orders the guards here to bring us some coffee.
We discuss things further, and wonder whether it is just Finndo who was targeted as a personal attack, or whether it is the first step of a larger plan. We do not know.
Phoenix brings up the subject of the disappearances of the various officials from Castle Amber that have been going on for a good many years now. "If this problem is just a vendetta against Finndo, I'm more interested in resolving the disappearances instead," she says.
"If I can 'tag' them first, between my shapeshifting and Tamarind's Trump Power™ we might be able to track any future disappearances," she continues.
As this conversation is going on, Tamarind is performing a Trump reading to check on how Beltaine is. As the spread of Trumps takes shape, the cards indicate that she is safe, but concerned about something other than herself. And is busy...
Some of the guards return bearing coffee and other refreshments. We partake.
"Can you read the Trumps for Ossian?" Phoenix asks Tamarind.
He nods, and begins to lay out another Trump reading, using his Trump of the steps up to Tir-Na Nog'th to represent Ossian, hoping that this is close enough. The question he has to mind is a general one, to get an impression of what is going on, consisting of a reading of the past, present and future of Tir-Na Nog'th and Ossian.
While Tamarind does this, Tristan performs his own Trump reading. He is asking whether Finndo's imprisonment is the result of a personal vendetta.
Damien also does a Trump reading. Using the various numerological approaches to Tarot readings that he knows from shadow Medmenham to ask who is next after Finndo. If anyone.
Phoenix, Ibrahim and Corwin just drink coffee and observe.
With his Trump reading complete, Tamarind finds that the past of Tir-Na Nog'th and Ossian indicates sleep and dreaming. In the present, on the other hand, something is building up prior to taking place. In the future, that thing is happening. It seems to be close to what Finndo's reading foretold. There are a number of influences on this, including a desire for improvement, Brand, Chalice, and to a lesser extent Beltaine. Oberon also appears in opposition, as an 'anti-influence'.
Based on this, Tamarind quickly Trump scries Chalice and Brand. Both of them prove to be asleep in Brand's research shadow.
He relates this to the rest of us.
"I always said your daughter would go too far," Damien notes. "How long have they been asleep?" He then wonders.
Meanwhile, Tristan has also completed his Trump reading. It indicates that Finndo may have been targeting specifically, but also that that is not all there is to it.
Tamarind scribbles a pair of quick notes for Brand and Chalice respectively. They each say 'Contact me when you wake up'. Then he opens a link to Brand's research shadow and passes them through.
Shortly thereafter, Damien also finishes his horribly complex Trump reading. He finds that there seem to be two consistent main answers emerging from the different approaches and interpretations he has attempted. It could be that whatever is going on is stopping with Finndo, or it is affecting everyone, at the same time.
He also finds that it may be hinting that what has happened to Finndo specifically was peculiar to him, but that the overall influence is more universal.
Damien writes a quick note to Felicity, his spy-mistress, asking her to see what Finndo was interested in recently and using those of their agents who they think are also Finndo's. He asks a guard to take it to the Castle and have it delivered.
The guard goes off.
With that done, we decide the time has come to go and see Brand.
Tamarind thus opens a Trump link to his bedroom.
Damien and Phoenix go through the link first, Phoenix bringing the pot of coffee with her. They can both immediately sense that powerful magics are focussed on them. But are currently holding back.
That being so, everyone else comes through too.
We poke Brand. But he does not wake up.
"Check your daughter," Damien tells Tamarind urgently.
He leaves to do so at speed, concentrating on the Trump impression he already has of her bedroom then vanishing in a purple Trump rainbow as soon as the link opens up.
The rest of us examine Brand more closely. From what we can see he seems to be dreaming, in a REM sleep state.
In his daughter's room, Tamarind steps out of the Trump link and immediately checks Chalice. Like Brand, she seems to be in a REM sleep state and not waking up.
Tristan radiates Pattern about himself, and over Brand. However, Brand does not become any more wake-up-able.
Ibrahim looks at Brand through his life-force lens. He sees that Brand's life-force seems to be recycling through his implant quite happily, so whatever the problem is, it is presumably not that...
Elsewhere, Tamarind is concentrating on Chalice's Trump, using his Trump Frame to augment the force of his call.
Slowly, and with a great deal of effort he, with difficulty, makes a contact.
Through the Trump link, Tamarind senses that Chalice is dreaming of being by the Primal Pattern, with Ossian, still twenty feet tall, but now seemingly awake and sitting up, plus Eleanor, Brand and Beltaine...
In the dream, Chalice and Brand are on opposite sides of the Pattern, setting up some strange devices of metal and crystal. Brand is setting one up by the start of the Pattern. Chalice's is on the far side from it.
Beltaine is close to Chalice. Both she and Ossian seem to be just watching.
There is an air of tension over the scene, as if what is happening is important, dangerous and/or risky.
Tamarind can sense that Ossian is looking at him through Chalice. He looks back at Ossian.
"Do we need to be concerned about this?" Tamarind asks him.
Ossian shakes his head.
"What's happened to Finndo?" he asks. "Will it happen to anyone else?"
Another shake of the head.
"What will happen to the others here?" Tamarind continues, indicating Brand, Chalice, Beltaine and Eleanor.
Ossian nods.
"Have they chosen this path freely?"
Ossian tilts his huge head from side to side in a 'maybe yes/maybe no' fashion.
"Will they be all right?"
Ossian nods.
Tamarind senses no malice from him. But then, this is a dream.
Now that he can 'see' her, Tamarind attempts to open a Trump link to Beltaine.
In Brand's bedroom, Phoenix is drinking the coffee she brought with her.
At the same time, she is synthesising a drug to put Brand further to sleep, so that although we cannot wake him, he is also not dreaming. When she has what she thinks is a sufficient dose, she injects it into Brand.
In Tamarind's Trump contact with the dreaming Chalice, Tamarind sees Brand slow down and stop, unmoving.
"The magic seems very concentrated here," notes Damien. "More so than in the rest of the citadel. But that could just be because it's his bedroom."
He and Ibrahim begin searching the room for any clues to what Brand was working on most recently. As they do so they quickly notice that the door is magically sealed.
There is a many-facetted crystal sphere on a stand to one side, which examination reveals to be a magical computer system.
Phoenix, as the most experiences of any of us in these matters, attempts to hack into it. After some time she manages to penetrate its passwords and other defences, partially by simply shapeshifting the hardware into a more compliant form. Once she has access to its memory, she downloads its contents into herself and begins to go through it.
While Phoenix does this, Ibrahim finds some notebooks on a desk to one side. They seem to be the last in a series.
Flicking through them, Ibrahim finds that his knowledge of Real Empowerment gives him some understanding of what is written there. However, much of it is still way over his head. What is clear is that Brand was working on something very complex, involving Pattern, the Land of the Dead, and the overall structure of the universe.
Tristan, who has just been watching everyone else up till now, tries simply talking to the building, which he senses is Empowered with sentience, and thus has life-force.
The building replies. It seems to recognise us.
"How long has Brand been asleep?" Tristan asks it.
"Three days," it replies. This corresponds to the day and a half in Amber since Finndo was trapped in the Tir-Na Nog'th bubble.
Searching the contents of Brand's computer, Phoenix finds a swathe of simulations concerning taking the Amber universe, Girasol universe and the Land of the Dead and making them into a more integrated and unified whole. Another swathe of simulations concerns ways to strengthen the independence of the three realms (thus hinting that they are currently inter-dependant to some extent), producing a situation like the current status quo, only more so. That is, making the current set-up of the universe more stable.
She reports this to the rest of us, and Ibrahim notes that this seems to correspond to what he can see in Brand's notebooks, though Phoenix's data seems to go back further, and be more complete.
From the simulations and the notebooks taken together it seems that either option would lead to greater long-term stability for the universe, in that it would not be changeable if either alternative came to pass.
There are also ideas for making all sentient entities able to replenish their own life-force in the same way as the Unicorn, and also to allow them to manipulate their memories, given them the power to 'fold away' and hide memories, rather than enhance or truly erase them.
Given the way that Brand seems to have rated these various ideas in his notebooks, he appears to be most interested in undoing and changing the current set-up with the Land of the Dead. He clearly does not like it as he has stated to us and the universe at large in the past. Therefore, from his point of view, the way forward is to either eliminate death, or leave things as they are, and in either case make it harder for people to change afterwards.
From what the notebooks and simulations indicate, Brand also seems to have planned the changes either plan would require to minimise the casualties that would be involved.
It also seems that he was planning on talking to the rest of us before he did anything. Doh.
"Showing us where Brand was working, and generally being helpful, will best protect Brand and his research," Damien suggests to the building.
It does not seem to disagree with this idea. The building opens the door and guides Damien off to the relevant laboratory by way of a glowing green line floating in mid-air.
"Do the computer records mention Finndo?" Tristan asks Phoenix.
She checks. "No," she tells him.
"Perhaps we should re-do the Trump readings, now that Brand is no longer dreaming," she suggests.
As he heads for the laboratory, Damien attempts to Trump Tamarind, who we have not seen for a while.
Tamarind, meanwhile, is trying to contact Beltaine. However, he is not getting through.
Instead, he tries to build on the link to Chalice.
After some time of this, it seems that regardless of how hard he tries, this is as far as he can get into her dream.
In the dreamscape, she is moving around the Primal Pattern to where the now-frozen figure of Brand is standing.
At this point, Tamarind senses a Trump contact coming on, and identifies the caller as Damien. He accepts the call, but at the same time shields the other link to Chalice so that Damien cannot see it, and she cannot sense Damien.
With the link established, Tamarind tells Damien what he can see.
Damien, in return, tells Tamarind what the rest of us seem to have found out from Brand's notes and computer.
Through the link to Chalice, Tamarind sees that Beltaine seems more worried now that Brand is frozen or comatose than she was before.
He also thinks that it is possible to go through the link to where Chalice is, even if it is not the real Primal Pattern.
Back in Brand's bedroom, Tristan suggests to the building that its 'Oberon Turning Up' protocols be initiated.
"Very well. Servants are being sent to the front door with drinks and refreshments," it tells him. Oh.
He questions the building further and finds that it does have other protocols to deal with Amberites turning up. None of them involve really horrific moves. The worst of them involve destroying any army the invading Amberite might bring with them, but not the Amberite themselves.
Ibrahim heads off to check Chalice's laboratory, and any notebooks she might have. Again, the building lets him out and guides him there without incident.
He arrives in Chalice's room, where Tamarind is, of course, also present.
Tamarind tells him what is happening.
Over the Trump link to Damien, Tamarind tells him that he will try to go 'through' to Chalice if she seems to be in distress.
"I'll go through with you at five seconds notice," Damien tells him.
By now, Damien has found Brand's most recent laboratory. Inside, there are a number of people in stasis arrayed around the walls, various items of equipment resembling Fiona's soul-vivisecting devices, and various others that are less obvious in function. Through the life-force lens Damien can see that the people around the walls, although in stasis, are alive.
In Chalice's room, Ibrahim finds Chalice's notebooks.
From what is written in them, Chalice thinks that what they are doing is really important, and (like Brand) favours the reintegration of the universes, including the Land of the Dead. From what is written, her position seems to be that of an interested observer, rather than a participant.
In Brand's laboratory, Damien examines the people in stasis more closely. He quickly concludes that they seem to be very average shadow dwellers. Brand appears to have been testing them to see if they would be safe if his proposed changes (of both kinds) went through.
The notes suggest that he wanted to see if people can:
From Brand's bedroom, Phoenix Trumps Random.
Before long, he answers the call, and Phoenix tells him what we have found out so far.
Random considers this. "I want you to talk to the unconscious people," he tells her. "Find out what they're up to."
Phoenix accepts these orders, and the Trump link goes down.
She then Trumps Delaney and, when he takes the call, tells him what is going on too.
"Nothing has changed here, if anything is going on," he tells her.
Phoenix downloads her recent discoveries into his brain for him to examine.
"I'll check in with Random," he tells her.
She nods and drops the link.
Tamarind is concentrating on Chalice and Beltaine.
Damien passes on everything he is finding out to Tamarind.
"I think we should talk to Oberon," Phoenix tells Tristan.
"I think he'll kill everyone involved," Tristan speculates.
Ibrahim, meanwhile, has found notes suggesting that there might be opponents to Brand's proposed changes, but also that Brand wants consensus on them...
Damien heads back to Brand's bedroom, talking to Tamarind via the Trump en route.
"I think I can go to Chalice, and takes others through too, in a psychic fashion," he tells Damien.
Upon arriving back at Brand's bedroom, Damien tells the others what he and Tamarind have discovered.
Based on that, we instruct the citadel to look after Brand, and then all go through the Trump link to Chalice's room.
Once there, we discuss things a little more, than eventually decide that we will all psychically go through the link to where Chalice is.
And so Tamarind psychically projects us all through the link...
There is a strange sense of dislocation, and we are all at the Primal Pattern, or at least a facsimile of it. It matches what Tamarind has described of the situation there, with a frozen Brand, Ossian, Chalice, Beltaine, the devices and so on.
Ossian is now sitting on the ground. We greet him. He nods.
"Are things changing from your point of view?" Phoenix asks him.
"Not at present," he replies in a slow, deep voice.
Tamarind moves over to Beltaine and touches her. She seems to be there, not just an image of her. He attempts to sense whether she is all right, psychically speaking.
"What is your aim?" Tamarind asks Ossian while he does this.
"Improvement," he intones.
"From whose point of view?" Damien enquires.
"Everyones..." replies Ossian. "This is a test of it..."
"Finndo's personal state ... not to do with this?" Tristan asks.
Ossian nods.
"Your brother might oppose this?" Tristan asks.
"He might," nods Ossian again. "This is a worry to me."
"I am intending to replace the Primal Pattern with a Spiral Design that will allow anyone to attune to it, or to its reflections throughout shadow," he continues. "I - we - would need to Jewel of Judgement for this, but was planning to ask for it. At first."
"Why is this New Order beneficial?" Damien asks Ossian in a challenging tone.
Ossian does not reply directly, but instead tell us his story.
He was apparently born one of the quadruplets born to Dworkin and the Unicorn, along with Oberon, Moins and Morgana. He always dreamt and saw things beyond that which the other three did. As time went by, he spent more and more time in Tir-Na Nog'th, until he was drawn up 'here' to sleep.
By now, Tamarind has made psychic contact with Beltaine. From what she tells him she is here willingly, and thinks the plan is a good idea. However, she does think it needs to be done properly.
"So no actions of Oberon coerced you up here?" Tamarind asks Ossian.
Ossian seems fairly sure that this is the case.
"Do you remember me?" Tamarind enquires to Ossian.
"I do," nods Ossian. "I recall yourself, Beltaine, Brand and Persephone."
"And this is a virtual test?" he asks.
Ossian nods. "The devices will destroy and rewrite the Pattern. But with assistance, in Reality. It needs skill." He indicates Brand. "Not blood."
From what has been said, the general plan appears to be to rewrite everyone and everything to give everyone a greater chance of happiness.
But it also becomes clear that the idea originated with Brand and Chalice, which we are dubious about. But at least the execution of the Plan using the Jewel of Judgement seems to require more than one person to be involved, so no one individual should be able to hijack it.
"What about Finndo?" asks Phoenix.
"I would prefer not to wipe him out," says Ossian. "I would rather preserve all of the Family."
We ask Ossian about the Land of the Dead.
"I think it was crystallised from local Lands of the Dead when the Pattern was created," he tells us.
He also seems to trust the judgement of Brand and Chalice regarding how and whether the Plan will work.
Most of us are not unsympathetic to the overall Plan. Only Damien is a little more sceptical.
"Brand and Chalice had not sufficiently thought about Tir-Na Nog'th, the imagination, dreams and so on," says Ossian. "I am of the opinion that the New Order should also include an integrated realm of the imagination."
Tristan, Ibrahim and Damien worry that if there is essentially a Pattern in every shadow, cliques and warring factions will arise throughout the universe as a whole.
Damien is also worried that the alternative, that everyone has control over shadow from birth, would lead to all of shadow becoming boringly homogenous.
"What was the point of Tir-Na Nog'th?" Phoenix asks Ossian.
"It was a reflection of the Primal Pattern," he replies. "As I understand it, it has no real point, any more than Amber or Rebma. I was simply drawn to the place as my siblings were to each of the other Patterns."
"After due consideration," says Tristan. "I have no problems with improving the Land of the Dead, but I think that giving everyone power over shadow could have bad consequences. People could be fighting over reality in every shadow."
"Why do you all want things changed?" Phoenix asks Ossian and the others in general.
"I think Brand saw the Land of the Dead and what happens to people there, and did not like it," replies Ossian. "He wished to make things otherwise."
We discuss this with Ossian further. It seems that this is how it started, as a way to stop the Land of the Dead being so unpleasant, but that after that the potential for everyone to have power over Reality has been added on to it.
By this point our consensus is that improving the Land of the Dead is a good idea, but as to the rewriting of Reality so that everyone has power over shadow we remain unconvinced. Not entirely.
From what we have been told this current virtual test is apparently one of several. Not all of them were successful.
"Can I see the data from these tests?" Phoenix asks.
Ossian wordlessly hands her a glowing dream-crystal containing the desired information. She absorbs this.
Meanwhile, Tamarind has discretely asked Beltaine if she was responsible for Finndo's current predicament.
"Yes," she tells him.
Tamarind takes this on board, but does not intend to pass this on to the rest of us.
"Although the current experiment will take a few hours to complete, you have made several points that will need to be considered in the long term," Ossian tells us.
From what we have been told this experiment can be aborted. Certainly there appears to be no rush to complete this, other than the fact that Oberon seems to be opposed to it.
But why would he be, we wonder? We do not see why he should object to improving the Land of the Dead. On the other hand, we can certainly see that he might object to making all of shadow more egalitarian...
"I'm not convinced that shadow has the kind of infinite resources to allow people to live forever," Phoenix comments. "And for all the current inhabitants of the Land of the Dead to be resurrected."
"I think shadow could support them," says Tristan.
We are also concerned about the possible resurrection of the inhabitants of the Courts of Chaos. And their coming back with their 'Destroy Amber Or Die' attitude. We do not think that they would be useful people to have around, especially if everyone has equal power over shadow. Really not a pretty picture.
"I'm basically going to let Random decide," states Phoenix. "And I'm not sure he'll like the current plan."
Now that he is in contact with her, Tamarind can sense that Beltaine's body is in shadow Tenebrae, so he knows that she is physically safe, at least. Probably.
He then starts surreptitiously sketching Ossian (mentally, given that we are in a non-physical realm at present).
"Do you object to terminating the current experiment?" Damien asks Ossian.
"No," he says.
"Good," says Damien. "Because we'd like to talk to the other participants."
Phoenix is worried about integrating Tir-Na Nog'th - the world of dreams - with the rest of Reality. "People need a distance from their dreams," she reckons.
Tristan warns Ossian against Oberon. Perhaps unnecessarily, perhaps not.
"Is what's happened to Finndo going to last long?" Damien asks Ossian as we are about to leave. "And will it happen to anyone else?"
"That depends on Finndo, and you," says Ossian.
Having gained a vague agreement that the experiment will be abandoned and the other participants will wake up, we take our leave from Ossian and the dream experiment.
And Tamarind transports us back into our bodies in Chalice's bedroom.
From there we go to wake up Brand as well. Phoenix comes along, as she is needed to undo the drug she injected him with.
Slowly, Brand wakes up.
Now that he is awake, we tell Brand that we think the overall plan is rubbish. Improve the Land of the Dead, yes. But we think the rest of it is unworkable.
Chalice also wakes up, and joins us with Brand.
We repeat our objection to the 'make everyone equally powerful' aspect of the plan.
"I told you nobody would go for that," she tells Brand.
"I'm happy for other people to check my reality rewriting devices," Brand tells us. "I don't expect people to take my word for it that they'll do what I say they will. Alas."
Tristan also berates Brand for neglecting his defences against Oberon. He just shrugs.
"Why have we never tried to bring back Morgana?" Phoenix chips in, suddenly struck by this thought. "She might have an opinion on all of this, and be a balance against Oberon."
"Or Moins for that matter..." Adds Tristan.
We consider all of this. We realise that we also have no idea what Oberon's sisters thought about the division of responsibility over the Patterns.
Phoenix pulls out her Trump of Delaney and concentrates on it. When he takes the call, she holds out her hand and he brings her through to join him, vanishing from Brand's citadel in the traditional flash of purple Trump energy. She appears in the sitting room of Tristan and Isobel's quarters, where Delaney is continuing his bodyguarding work.
Tamarind also pulls out a Trump, of Tenebrae, and concentrates on it. When the link opens, he steps through to check on Beltaine.
Phoenix tells Delaney what we have discovered while Isobel listens, and with his permission downloads all she has learned to him, so he can form his own view of it. They agree that they should maybe tell Random about all of this.
So they go and find Random, leaving Isobel behind, guarded by Delaney's subordinates.
He proves to be in his office, working.
Phoenix and Delaney tell him everything.
Random considers this. "I want Brand to consult with me before doing anything," he says at last. "Thank you."
Delaney leaves to return to his bodyguarding duties. Phoenix accompanies him.
In Tenebrae, Tamarind finds Beltaine easily and they too discuss the situation.
She is broadly in favour of the plan Ossian described.
Tamarind congratulates her on what she has done to Finndo.
Back in his citadel, Brand receives a Trump call. "It's Random," he tells us, taking the call.
He talks back and forth to Random over the link for a short while, then looks up at us. "He wants a Word," says Brand. "Does anyone else want to come back to Amber?"
We all nod, apart from Chalice. "I'll stay here for now," she says.
Before we go, she promises that she will at least write down for other people any additional experiments that she may think of in the interim.
Then Brand passes us through the Trump link into Random's office and comes through himself.
Random looks at Brand.
Who explains what he was playing at in regards to the Land of the Dead.
Damien pours a glass of Brandy and places it in Random's hand.
"Don't you ever learn?" Random demands of Brand. He seems to be really not impressed with him.
The rest of us present defend Brand a little bit. After all, he claims he was going to consult with everyone else before actually doing anything.
Having finished his business in Tenebrae, Tamarind Trumps Random and, when he takes the call, rejoins us in Random's office via the Trump.
At our suggestion, Brand explains the rest of his plan to Random. That is, rewriting Reality so that everyone has ultimate cosmic power. The term Brand uses for the new race of people, those who have undergone the process of having been given recyclable life-force and the ability to manipulate their memories, is 'Eternals'. Perhaps a justified term.
"You what?" says Random at frequent intervals. Some of this seems to be incredulity, some of it incomprehension.
Brand does his best to explain.
"I don't want any more messing with the universe!" states Random.
We suggest that he discuss it with the rest of the Family, including those in Girasol.
Random is also informed of Ossian's words, especially regarding Finndo. In that it is up to Finndo when he gets out, no-one else is targeted, and that Ossian was not responsible.
He considers this.
We leave him and Brand to talk further.
"I don't know what else to do to get Finndo out of his bubble," says Tristan when we are outside Random's office.
"Not interested," says Tamarind, and leaves us.
"I still think we should see what Finndo was doing to get himself into it," says Damien persistently.
Tristan gives up for now, and goes off to return to Isobel.
Ibrahim heads off to check on Amber's state of readiness. Just in case...
Damien sends word to Felicity, checking on the progress of her investigation. A note is quickly returned suggesting a meeting, which Damien attends. Unfortunately, according to Felicity, she has turned up nothing on Finndo's recent activities.
Tristan finds Isobel in their quarters, being bodyguarded by Delaney as usual, who has Phoenix with him.
Phoenix and Delaney leave so that both they, and Tristan and Isobel, can have a life. At least until we all meet up again later for dinner.
On the way back to their quarters, Phoenix and Delaney check on Finndo.
Nothing seems to have changed. He is still in his Tir-Na Nog'th bubble.
Tamarind, meanwhile, Trumps off to Girasol.
Arriving outside Castle Girasol, he is quickly admitted and asks for an audience with Osric and Sandrine.
After a wait for there to be opening in their schedule, he is admitted, and is greeted by Their Joint Majesties. He greets them in return.
"There are experiments being conducted involving rewriting the universe," he tells them. "To improve the Land of the Dead, with the assistance of Ossian, by letting people be resurrected, not just have their life-force recycle. But it would involve the destruction of the Patterns and their replacement by ... something else."
"In my opinion," he adds. "This is a good idea in principle. But there are indications that Oberon would be opposed to the plan, so there could be transitional problems."
"Also," he continues perkily. "Finndo is locked in a Tir-Na Nog'th bubble."
He gives Osric and Sandrine a moment to digest all of this.
"Oh yes, and what are the protocols for becoming a citizen of Girasol?" he asks.
Osric and Sandrine look at one another. "We're not sure," says Sandrine after a moment. "There is no precedent for a member of the Royal Family of Amber switching allegiance."
"Basically," Tamarind explains. "I do not want to serve under Random any more, in any way, shape or form."
He, Osric and Sandrine discuss this further before the conversation moves on to more general socialisation.
Following this, Tamarind thanks them for their time, then Trumps away to join Beltaine in Tenebrae.
In Amber, Ibrahim finishes checking the defences and security of the realm. Everything seems fine.
He then finds a private room and Trumps Margot.
After a short while, she takes the call, and at his request she comes through and joins him in Amber.
He tells her about Brand's Big Idea.
Damien leaves Felicity, and goes to see Finndo. He is still in his Tir-Na Nog'th bubble.
"Three people could have done this to you," Damien muses to the bubble. "Ossian implies it is not him, but knows how long it is going to last. But he doesn't get along with Oberon, so that leaves one other person. You stupid bastard. Why couldn't you have pissed off someone I didn't owe a favour to?"
He hangs around the bubble for a bit, then Trumps Angelique who, as far as we know, is still at the dig in the Girasol universe.
Slowly, and with a great deal of effort, the link opens up. It is hard going, but eventually he and Angelique are in contact. At his request, Angelique brings him through.
Damien tells Angelique what has happened. And that the dig is closing down. "I want all of the Amber people back on the Amber side of the universe," he tells her. "Tell Mercedes what's happening too, and suggest that she tell Osric and Sandrine to safeguard their sides of the Patterns. Osric seemed reasonable," he concludes. "But just in case..."
Angelique nods, and she and Damien start giving orders to the archaeologists. And Sebek and Miutjemes.
Sebek is mollified at having to leave the dig early by being allowed to chase the tomb guardians back into their chamber, so they can be sealed back in.
With the dig essentially closed down, Angelique and Damien concentrate on the Trump of the Amber Arrival Courtyard, and when the link eventually opens up, they pass everyone from the Amber Universe back through the Trump link to Amber, then go through themselves. This is quite tiring for them both.
But once back in Amber, Damien leaves Angelique and goes off to his quarters, where he changes for dinner.
As dinnertime rolls around, we all assemble in the Main Dining Hall.
There are relatively few Family members at dinner tonight. Just Flora, Deirdre, Tristan, Isobel, Damien, Ibrahim and Margot.
"So, tell us about Brand's plan," Flora asks.
We explain.
"It wasn't too clear to me," notes Damien. "Whether it was necessary to replace the Patterns just to improve the Land of the Dead, or only to turn shadow into a level playing field."
"Also," he continues. "I've warned Osric and Sandrine to guard their Patterns. Perhaps you should recommend the same to Random if he hasn't already done so," he suggests to Flora.
"I shall have a word with him," she nods.
Dinner proceeds. Neither Random nor Vialle turn up.
We discuss developments further, and eventually the meal draws to a close.
After dinner, Tristan goes to see Random, who proves to be with Vialle in their quarters in the Keep.
"Is the spiral design we saw in Tir-Na Nog'th from within the Jewel of Judgement?" he asks Random.
"Yes, possibly, from what you've said," says Random. "There are so many possible Patterns within the Jewel that based on your description I certainly can't rule it out."
Fair enough. Tristan thanks them and leaves.
We all go off to bed.
The next morning servants arrive with notes from Random summoning everyone to a full Family meeting in the Great Hall.
As we enter, Random can be seen sitting on his throne, with Vialle on hers by his side. He is wearing the Jewel of Judgement. Two empty thrones sit beside them on the dais.
Over the next few minutes all of the Family turn up, including Oberon, Dworkin and the Girasolians, but excluding Finndo, of course. Osric and Sandrine sit in the two empty thrones, next to Random and Vialle up on the dais.
Servants circulate bearing refreshments for those who wish them.
After a few minutes, Random stands up.
"I'm sure you're all aware of the plan to rewrite the universe to remove the Land of the Dead in its current form," he says to the room at large. "I have consulted with Vialle, Osric, Sandrine, Oberon and Dworkin regarding this. And we have decided to go ahead. Brand is to instruct others in the constructing of the devices to allow this to be done, and anyone who wishes to may observe."
Julian and Caine do not look hugely impressed by all of this.
"What side-effects will there be?" asks Phoenix. "On powers, and on shadow dwellers? Especially those who have been augmented using our existing powers, like Delaney, Vialle, Isobel and so on."
"The Trumps will stop working temporarily while the Pattern is rewritten," says Random. "And there will be a need to re-attune to the new power. But that should be it. The new power will be attunable to, like the Pattern, and will also have reflections. The two universe system of Amber and Girasol will also be maintained."
"Is the Unicorn on board with this?" asks Damien.
"Dworkin has apparently spoken to her, and she is in favour," says Random, glancing over at Dworkin, who nods.
Everyone looks around.
"And that is about it," says Random. "Thank you. We'll keep you all informed as things progress..."
And people begin to leave as the meeting breaks up.
As the formal meeting ends, Random invites all of us to join himself, Vialle, Osric and Sandrine in a smaller meeting room off the Great Hall.
We follow them in.
Once in the conference room, with everyone sat down and given drinks if they wish them, Random explains.
"I would like you to guard the machines while the universe is being rewritten," he tells us. "I would also like you to test the process of becoming Eternals."
"Requiem ended up a wasteland because people found they could do things, so went ahead and did them," says Phoenix. "I don't see what the hurry is. Why not continue the research for another fifteen years to see if the Land of the Dead can be improved without rewriting the Pattern?"
"Also," she continues. "What will be the social effect in shadow societies if everyone lives forever?"
"Though I accept that the decision has been taken..." she concludes.
"How do we become Eternals?" Ibrahim asks.
"It's a bit like how we resurrected the beloved zombies..." begins Brand.
We are collectively horrified.
"The process has been improved!" Brand hastens to add. "The whole point is to prevent shadow from being littered with broken psyches after we do this."
We consider this, but are still dubious. "Why can't Phoenix use her Shapeshifting to give us all innate life-force recycling ability?" we ask. It would wear off, but the rewriting of the universe will apparently only take a day...
"What would happen to Sebek?" asks Damien.
"He'd be unaffected," replies Brand heavily.
"You've thought about how this affects those with direct links to all the Patterns?" Tamarind enquires.
"Yes," replies Brand. "Including Beltaine."
"I want to go and consult with Beltaine," comments Tamarind. He makes for the door.
Phoenix has also been considering matters. "After this, I'm retiring from Royal service," she states. "I think this has a lot of potential for going horribly wrong."
"But," she also suggests. "I think Delaney could help. I have made him immortal, after all."
"I agree," nods Random. "And perhaps others that you've made immortal, such as Isobel and Nitocris?"
Outside, Tamarind concentrates on his Trump of Chalice. When she takes the call, still appearing to be in Brand's citadel, he goes through to her, and once there explains the situation to her.
From there the two of them Trump off to see Beltaine.
Upon arriving in Tenebrae, they have a family discussion.
"I'm worried about what happens if the rewriting of Reality pops Finndo out of his bubble," Tamarind tells Beltaine. "Or that you will lose your powers."
"I don't think I'll lose my power," says Beltaine reassuringly. "I'll hang out with Ossian while the changes occur."
"Being shapeshifted into an immortal by Phoenix should be just as good as being reconstituted as an Eternal," Brand tells us. "I admit I hadn't though of that alternative," he allows.
"Is there anything else you haven't thought of?" asks Damien.
"Don't think so," replies Brand with a slight smile.
Ibrahim takes a copy of Brand's notes so that he can check the process for himself, and leaves to examine them.
Rather than get straight down to it, he goes and talks to Margot about it.
"Dad isn't wild about the whole idea," she admits.
"Well, the current situation is not a natural order either," Ibrahim points out. "Just the way Dworkin set things up." Fair point.
Tristan leaves the meeting to talk to Isobel, and upon arrival at their quarters explains the situation to her.
"I'd like to be in Corvallin when the change takes place," she tells him.
"You should take Corvallin to an island of Reality out in shadow that we know of," Tristan suggests. "And I'll then join you afterwards." Sounds fair.
Phoenix also leaves and goes and gets Delaney. She too tells him the results of the meeting.
He agrees to help protect things during the change.
Phoenix is still not convinced about the Plan. "Without death, nasty people will just get nastier," she comments.
They go to a pub to continue their discussion.
"I don't see the point of making everyone physically immortal as well as being able to reincarnate," Damien tells the assembled monarchs, and Brand, basically agreeing with Phoenix. "It doesn't seem thought through."
"What's the point of death?" demands Brand. "I am convinced that universal immortality has to be better than the old cycle of life and death."
However, he does also let slip that people who reincarnate come back in their own universes, in their own bodies.
"So every slave will come back straight into slavery?" demands Damien in return. "Not a brand new biological life every time?"
"I want no part of this," he tells the monarchs. "I'll guard the others if they guard the machines, but that's it."
Brand seems to consider Damien's points.
At this point Tamarind, Phoenix, Ibrahim and Tristan who have all finished their discussions with their various other halves, return to the conference room.
More discussion ensues.
"You shut me out of the research group so that you could control the project," Phoenix accuses Brand. "And you're motivated mainly by guilt."
Brand cannot deny this.
"People should have natural life-spans," suggests Tamarind. "Then die and go to the Land of the Dead, from where they get reincarnated into a new body, live a second life without memories of the first, die again and recall all their previous lives while in the Land of the Dead. Their memories of previous lives can then be used to influence how they reincarnate themselves."
"I like that idea!" exclaims Brand.
"That would make the Land of the Living something like a giant role-playing game, with the 'players', inhabiting the Land of the Dead, incarnating as 'characters' in the Land of the Living," Ibrahim points out. "Not that I think that is a bad idea..."
"Will powers work in the new Land of the Dead?" asks Phoenix. "Will they be able to harm each other?"
"No, and no," replies Brand confidently.
"Some kind of society is likely to emerge there," points out Ibrahim. "So the place will need a steward to take responsibility for it."
"I'll do it," volunteers Brand after a pause. "Not forever, but to help look after the place for a while."
The idea that perhaps Family members could take it in turns is raised.
The only issue with this is the question of how we can act as stewards if no powers work there?
"Initiates of the new power should have power there," says Brand.
"And," adds Phoenix. "They'd need to be able to call in help."
"What happens to the Jewel?" asks Ibrahim.
Both Tristan and Brand agree that the Jewel of Judgement precedes everything, so it would (should) be totally unaffected.
"Then what if someone tried to draw a new Pattern in the Land of the Dead?" continues Ibrahim. "Or anywhere else?"
A fair question.
"It may take a while to revise the plan in the light of all of these new ides," Brand says at last.
"And we'll do so together," we emphasise to him.
"Please help me do this, especially you, Phoenix," says Brand sincerely, and perhaps a little contritely.
And we set about it...
It takes quite a while, but the scheme is redesigned along the lines discussed, with Tristan, Ibrahim and Phoenix keeping a close eye on it all.
Damien acts as a sounding board for the rest of the Family, explaining the detailed Plan to everyone, allaying their concerns, and reporting any new concerns raised back to those actually working on the Plan.
Phoenix does something similar with non-Family members.
Tamarind spends time with Beltaine and Chalice.
Feedback from these various discussions leads to some further changes to the new Plan.
As matters progress, Damien brings Nitocris to Amber. Just in case.
And eventually the New Plan is complete, and the Devices to carry it out constructed. And we are ready to go.
Everyone is armed and armoured to the level they think appropriate. In addition to Wilkes and Dashwood, Damien has a repeating crossbow with some particularly nasty crossbow bolts, their bladed tips Empowered by him to continually grow out into a fractal bush of blades until stopped.
Since the change to the universe involves re-writing the link between life-force and psyche, before we proceed, Phoenix shapeshifts us all so that we recycle life-force as she and the Unicorn do.
"We should at least take the activator switches for the Abyss Guns with us too," suggests Damien. "So that we know no-one is going to turn up wielding them."
A fair point. The activator Trumps are provided, then Random hands us the Jewel of Judgement. All of us, as well as Brand, Chalice and Delaney, concentrate upon it and we and the Machines disappear in a red glow of Jewel energy, to reappear next to the Primal Pattern.
Once we are there, Brand busies himself setting up the Machines around the perimeter of the Pattern. They look very similar to the ones we previously saw in the dreamscape, though not exactly the same.
And when he and everyone else are ready, he activates the machines.
They make an ominous ticking noise, then start to throb with Power. As the throbbing builds, they begin to glow with an increasingly bright pinkish-gold colour, the same colour as that of the Primal Pattern itself.
And the Primal Pattern begins to disappear, flaring up and fading along its length from start to finish, rather like a fuse burning up.
All of us have a great sense of Power flowing from the Primal Pattern and into the devices.
Brand is racing from machine to machine as all this takes place, keeping everything working and in balance.
The fading of the Primal Pattern reaches the centre, and the Primal Pattern is gone. We all feel our Pattern imprints fade away. At the same time the sense of fascination that we all feel at the Primal Pattern also fades away. Those of us with magical powers sense that they now work here. Tamarind checks his Trumps, and finds that they, too, are now working here.
There is a hush, as the universe hangs in the balance...
Then, with a pulse of Power, the machines kick in again.
We all breathe once more as a pearly white glow forms around the machines. A similar glow builds where the centre of the Primal Pattern used to be, and starts to spiral out from that point. It appears to be developing into the simple spiral design that we saw in the Tir-Na Nog'th vision of the altered Land of the Dead.
Brand continues to beetle from machine to machine, ensuring that nothing goes wrong.
As we watch, we notice a ring of storm clouds form just beyond the depression in which the Primal Pattern used to lie, and begin expanding outwards away from us.
The Spiral continues to grow.
Then Tamarind begins to feel a build-up of Trump energy coming from right next to Brand. Building up very quickly.
He tries to block it, while shouting a warning to the rest of us. From what he can tell, it seems to be Dworkin Trumping in.
Unfortunately, the incoming caller is too powerful and too fast. Dworkin appears out of a purple Trump rainbow, accompanied by Oberon.
Tristan steps between them and Brand.
"Step aside, boy," Oberon demands.
"No!" snaps Tristan, who is all grow-ed up now.
Ibrahim begins to concentrate on the Jewel of Judgement.
"You really should stand aside," says Dworkin mildly.
Damien moves so as to get clear shots of both Dworkin and Oberon.
Phoenix heads for Dworkin, while setting her blood creatures on Oberon.
Ibrahim changes his mind, and hands the Jewel of Judgement to Tamarind, so that he can fight instead.
Tristan points his Lightning Cannon at Oberon, activating his flying crystal knives at the same time.
"Let us do what we came to do," says Oberon.
"This new universe requires direction," he continues. "I and Dworkin claim the right to provide it."
"The deadline for objections to the Plan has now passed," Ibrahim and Damien point out.
"Go ask permission of Random, Osric and Sandrine," Tristan tells Oberon.
"You should let us do this," says Dworkin. "It'll be for the best."
"We don't want any conflict," Ibrahim tells him.
"This is what we've wanted you to do, since we got back," Dworkin tells us.
"For the good of Amber, and the universe," growls Oberon. "Allow us to know what is occurring. No more surprises. A policeman in every head. Me."
It is quite clear that they - or at least Oberon - are trying to take control again.
Ibrahim breaks into a run.
Damien fires his repeating crossbow at Oberon. Tristan goes to do likewise, with his Lightning Cannon. Damien shoots a second bolt at Oberon.
Phoenix and Delaney pile onto Dworkin.
Oberon swings a fist at Tristan as he tries to fire the Lightning Cannon. Being much the faster of the two, he catches Tristan a solid blow that throws Tristan off to one side, unconscious, the Lightning Cannon falling to ground away from him.
One of Damien's crossbow bolts hits Oberon; the other misses.
Phoenix leaps onto Dworkin, injecting him with lots of poisons to which she has made herself immune.
Delaney also barrels into Dworkin, striking at him with his sword.
Damien is running and shooting, and fires a bolt into Dworkin too.
Ibrahim tries to get between Brand and Oberon.
Oberon sweeps the flat of his (large) sword at Ibrahim, attempting to swat him out of the way. He seems to be very strong, and fast, but does not appear to be as fast as Damien.
By now, Tamarind has summoned some energy from the Jewel of Judgement. He attempts to use it to slow Oberon down.
Phoenix discovers that Dworkin is very strong as he attempts to throw her off him. He seems annoyed now. "Bah. Stupid children," he grumps.
She attempts to drain his life-force.
Two more of Damien's crossbow bolts hit Oberon, who also has Phoenix's blood creatures crawling over him.
Ibrahim continues to block Oberon.
Before it grows too much, Oberon pulls out one of the crossbow bolts and stabs at Ibrahim with it.
Rather than attempt to block it, Ibrahim goes for an all-out attack. Oberon gets a sword in the neck as Ibrahim gets a fractally-growing crossbow bolt in the side.
Tristan's flying crystal blades are harassing Oberon and Dworkin.
Oberon seems to be slowing down as Tamarind throws Jewel energy at him.
Damien takes advantage of this to strike the other side of his neck, severing all of it but the spine.
Dworkin is beginning to bubble and writhe under the effects of Phoenix's poisons. He reaches towards Delaney, who vanishes in a flicker of purple Trump-light.
Taking this about as well as might be expected, Phoenix goes berserk.
Damien wrenches his sword out of Oberon's neck and ducks around to Ibrahim, deactivating the crossbow bolt in his side. It stops growing, though it is still quite deeply rooted in him.
By now, Tamarind's use of the Jewel is slowing Oberon significantly. His reflexes seem to have now dropped to the level of Ibrahim's.
By now, Tristan is regaining consciousness. His head hurts.
Seeing Delaney disappear, Tamarind diverts some of his attention to Trumping Delaney.
Ibrahim and Damien attempt to dismember Oberon.
He grabs at Damien, who dodges and pulls out a hollow dagger filled with the best of Phoenix's poisons.
Oberon strikes at Ibrahim instead. He is knocked quite a distance off to one side.
Phoenix finds that Dworkin is adapting to her attacks, and is now beginning to pump poisons into her.
From the ground, Tristan begins casting a spell that will create an illusory Unicorn that will say "Do not do this, my love - come with me," to Dworkin, then bound off.
Damien stabs Oberon in the bottom with the poisoned dagger. [Thus the alternative session title...]
He looks very unhappy.
From his landing position, Ibrahim grabs the conveniently close Lightning Cannon and fires at Dworkin, at least what he thinks is Dworkin, he and Phoenix being rather ... merged ... at present.
Oberon continues to slow. Tamarind diverts some Jewel energy into an attempt to set Oberon on fire.
Tristan's spell and the Lightning Cannon go off at the same time. The illusory Unicorn appears just as Dworkin is fried by three of the four lightning bolts fired by the Lightning Cannon. The first bolt, however, rebounds and hits Ibrahim.
Given her proximity to Dworkin (that is, being on and almost a part of him), Phoenix is also stunned by the lightning bolts, more so than Dworkin, who simply staggers. He tears the berserk Phoenix from him while she is recovering, and tosses her away, though she manages to leave her life-force draining spikes in him.
Damien continues to whittle away at Oberon, who is now smoking somewhat.
Tristan tosses a life-force draining spike of his own creation to Damien, who stabs Oberon with it.
Phoenix lands on Ibrahim, shaken out of her berserk state by the damage she has just suffered.
Ibrahim casts a Healing spell on himself.
Dworkin pulls the fractal crossbow bolt out of himself.
Phoenix generates some more life-force draining spikes within herself.
Tristan staggers over to Tamarind and begins concentrating on the Jewel of Judgement too.
Oberon begins to split into some five smaller Oberons.
Ibrahim pulls out his musket with the Hard-Wired Militia spell in it, and fires at them.
Tamarind also intensifies the heat he is applying to them with the Jewel of Judgement.
Phoenix throws her mass of tiny life-force draining spikes into Dworkin.
Through the life-force lens, Tristan can see that Oberon has divided his life-force into five equal portions for his duplicates. He also notices that Dworkin is casting a spell, so he begins to cast a Dispel Magic spell to counter it.
BLAM! goes the Militia Musket. Lead balls fly at high speed towards the dividing Oberon, who is hit by at least some of them and knocked back some distance. Two of the Oberons are down, one is injured, and the other two seem unharmed.
Damien draws Wilkes.
Tamarind sees that the two Oberons who are down are burning up faster than the others. He concentrates his attention on the upright ones.
Phoenix goes into flaming avatar form and barrels into Dworkin, who is still casting his spell.
His concentration wavers a little at this, but is not broken. Those of us who know magic get the feeling that this is a large, powerful spell he is casting. Which gives Tristan time to cast his Dispel spell. Unfortunately, Dworkin seems to be aware of such things as Dispel Spells, and his magic only flickers briefly as the Dispel Magic washes over it. Damn.
That being so, Tamarind hands the Jewel of Judgement to Tristan and then charges Dworkin, stabbing him with Nexus, activating all of the Trumps on it and filling Dworkin with Trump energy. This is bad for spells.
Dworkin's spell detonates massively as all of its magic is released in an uncontrolled fashion.
Brand and Chalice, by the machines, work desperately to keep them safe. As the wave of magic is released, Chalice sings, and a glistening dome of force appears around the devices, deflecting the splash of raw magic away and keeping them safe. Phew.
Tristan then uses the Jewel to save Dworkin's life. He uses it to teleport him away - a long, long way away, to somewhere where he will be safe.
Dworkin disappears in a red flash.
Damien and Ibrahim lay into the still upright Oberons. Phoenix also attacks one of them.
Tamarind, not having any magic, is largely unaffected by the surge of raw magic. He begins Trumping Oberon to distract him.
"Dammit," mutters Oberon. "No damned respect any more..."
Damien kneecaps one of him.
Tristan turns the power of the Jewel on Oberon once more, fuelled by his centuries of fear and hatred for the man.
The two fallen Oberons catch fire again.
One of the mini-Oberons goes berserk, turns into a ball of blades and spikes, and leaps at Damien.
Through the Trumps, Tamarind can sense that the Oberons are less linked now, so he attempts to focus his Trumping on just one of them, intending to attack it through the link.
By now, the two fallen Oberons have burned away to nothing but ash.
Tristan thus concentrates on the bouncing berserk one instead.
It too begins to burn.
Taking advantage of this distraction, Damien chops it up some more, and it stops moving.
The Oberon that Phoenix is fighting begins splitting up further, the separate parts beginning to move towards the Machines.
Phoenix casts a Quicksand spell on the area they are moving through, trapping them as the ground liquefies. She then re-solidifies the ground, trapping most of them more securely.
The rest of the Oberon turns into winged things that flap into the air.
Ibrahim casts a Sandstorm spell, sweeping them up away from the Machines, and Damien casts a Hellfire spell into the heart of the Sandstorm, burning them as they fly.
By now, there is only one Oberon left, which Tamarind is holding via his Trump link.
Phoenix stabs the Oberon with a life-force draining spike and drains all of his life-force away.
And the Oberon is gone, turned into a Beloved Zombie.
With the fight over, Tamarind attempts to Trump Delaney properly, with his full concentration.
Tristan pulses Jewel energy to Delaney to help him teleport back.
With this assistance, a horribly injured Delaney appears in a red glow of Jewel energy, and immediately falls over.
Phoenix begins patching him up.
Tamarind then scans Dworkin's Trump. He finds that it is not currently active, but attempts to jam it again nonetheless.
Damien deactivates his growing fractal crossbow bolts.
Then he incinerates the last bits of Oberon in Hellfire.
While all this is taking place, the Machines continue to generate the Spiral, its pearly white line growing out and out from the centre until it is the same size and shape as the old Primal Pattern - an oval some one hundred and fifty yards long and one hundred yards wide.
Then the Power fades from the Machines and there is a sense of finishing, of completeness. The Spiral is now glowing a steady pearly white.
As the Spiral is completed, we feel the Reality of this place rise quickly back to its original level. Our various magical artefacts stop working, as do Tamarind's Trumps.
And it is done...
We suggest that Chalice should have the honour of attuning to the Spiral first.
"Dad should go first," replies Chalice.
There is some discussion of this. In the end, Ibrahim walks it first.
He finds that the Spiral takes about as much overall effort to assay the old Pattern, but with it there is a steady increase in resistance throughout, rather than a series of veils. He also finds that it evokes ones memories as one walks it in the same way as the old Pattern.
Eventually he reaches the centre.
After taking a moment for a breather, he wills himself back to the rest of us waiting at the start of the Spiral, then tells us what it was like.
With its safety established, we all walk it.
Those of us with Advanced Pattern skills find that we now have Advanced Spiral skills instead.
Tristan thinks this place is perhaps less fascinating, and therefore less hostile to weaker minds, than it was before.
And then we go to shadow Haven to recover and celebrate, for old times sake.
Once we have had a rest after the exertion of walking the Spiral, we go to see what the new universe is like.
Much the same as before, really. Amber is much as it was, though we do find that typewriters work there now. Shadow seems essentially unchanged. However, the Land of the Dead is much improved, as per the plan, and everyone apart from ourselves is now an Eternal.
Tristan finds that Isobel and Corvallin are fine. Likewise, Margot, Beltaine, Nitocris, Sebek and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all are unchanged. Finndo is still in his bubble.
And so we are done...
Phoenix and Delaney retire.
Tamarind defects to Girasol, as intended.
Ibrahim and Margot get married. The entire Family apart from Dworkin and Finndo turn out for this occasion, the ceremony of which takes place in Castle Arden.
And at the reception, Ibrahim toasts the New Amber...
Not much later Phoenix and Delaney also get married on the sly.
And so the universe goes on...
Eventually we also find out that Alicia of Girasol was responsible for the various disappearances in Amber, as part of her spying on Amber for Osric and Sandrine. When this is discovered, Damien and Phoenix spend a long and arduous time tracking her down. When they finally achieve this, they give her a good kicking and return her to Osric and Sandrine in a bucket.