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Part 34c: Serena
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Part 34c - Serena by Dworkin (GM)
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The tower stands at the crossroads, or rather, it stands upon the crossroads. The roads actually meet beneath the base of the
half-mile-high structure, having passed through gates and doors of
ancient oak, bound with bronze straps, heavy with verdigris.
Every stone of the tower itself is engraved with a rune. Some
provide warding from such mundane threats as wind or lightning, but
others are intended to protect against... darker things.
Here, in the world known as Charyk, darker things are well known.
Is not the tower warded against them? Are there not devices
intended to protect the roads below from them. Do the ormvråkar not roost in their mews, ready to defend against them?
Do not the bodies of those who served those things swing yet from the
gibbets which encircle the tower, just beneath the entrances to the
mews?
The caravan emerges from the forest, close to suns-set, into the three
mile radius kill-zone which surrounds the crossroads. It is clear
that they are in trouble, although two of the pale suns of Charyk still
hang just above the horizon. The enemy has been growing bolder of
late, and travellers are not assured of total safety, even in daylight.
Lean shapes are harrying the flanks of the draft beasts, and one of
them falls, immediately halting the progress of the lead wagon, which
it is hitched to, and dooming its team-mates in the process.
With the lead wagon halted on the road, it seems that the others too
must stop, or risk moving onto the rough terrain to each side.
The ormvråkar leap from their perches within the mews,
plunging earthward, before flexing wings, large as bedsheets, to break
their fall and speed towards the enemy. The rider perched on the
back of the leading ormvråk curses, as he sees more of the
draft beasts pulled down, and even as the firelances upon the tower lay
down a withering barrage upon the attacking horde, he knows the caravan
will fail.
He turns to regard the rest of his group, his single eye glaring
angrily out of his scarred face, as he raises the arm that still bears
a hand, and signals them to attack.
And then the forest errupts in a storm of knives and fire, as they appear, wheeling through the air to assault the tower...
Serena awakens with a start. The same dream. Again.
The same people in it. The one-eyed man, the red-haired woman,
the young man with strange eyes, the grim-faced one, and the soldier...
all of them. All dying. Again.
If only she could work out what it means. Around her the inn is
stirring to life as the first rays of the rising sun paint the windows
with fire.
Perhaps somebody will be able to tell her when she gets home. To Amber.
There is a gentle knocking at the door of her room.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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Serena could hear the knocking at the door but she was still shaken
from the dream she had just had that same dream again. It must mean
something she thought."Just a moment please!" she called out.
After running a hand through her hair to make it look somewhat
presentable she grabbed her robe of the chair she had left it on the
night before. As she approached the door she put one hand on the handle
and called out " Who is it?". Serena had opened a door once before without checking who was there and has never made the same mistake again.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Dworkin (GM)
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"'S'only me, Milady. Polly." the voice is that of the young girl who had showed Serena to her room the evening before, "Ye sayed that ye wanted ter be woke early, on account as ye've a long ways ter go terday?"
A brief pause, and then, "So
I's come ter wake ye. An' ter tell ye that Pa's fixin' ye some
brea'fast now. It'll be ready just as soon as ye are, Milady."
Polly sounds nervous, and, if Serena's contact with her the previous
evening was anything to go by, it's almost certain that she's
curtseying on the other side of that closed door.
The inn is clean enough, and pleasant, but apparently it doesn't see
much trade, other than a few men from the nearby village who call in
for a few pints and a game of skittles. Polly probably doesn't
speak to many actual strangers.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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"Thank you Polly. Please tell your Pa I will be right down." Serena replies in a very kind tone of voice hearing the nervous tone in the girls voice.
Serena then quickly changes in a simple dark green riding dress and
boots. After quickly braiding her hair so it lies in one thick strand
down her back she is primarily ready. Making one last check that she
has everything in her two small packs she straightens the bed and then
heads downstairs to breakfast.
Serena hopes it is indeed ready after the dream again Serena has begun
to believe it is of great urgency that she return to Amber as fast as
she can. As she considered her traveling options she enters the inn
coomon room and takes a seat at one of the tables.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Dworkin (GM)
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The common room is filled with the aromas of cooking, though for the
moment it is almost empty. Only one other guest is present, as
yet, a young man, outlandishly-dressed, who nods a "Good morning" to
Serena from where he sits sipping tea while waiting for his own
breakfast to be served.
To pass the time he is sketching, occasionally referring to a notebook before correcting some minor detail.
Polly carries a tray through from the kitchen, bearing a loaf of fresh
bread, a dish of butter, three different fruit preserves, and a plate
of eggs, bacon, and still-sizzling sausages.
"Beggin' yer pardon, Milady, but Jed says yer
'orse'll be ready ter leave, just as soon as ye want to go. He's
got all yer gear ready, an he's givin' the 'orse a brushdown now."
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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Serena nodded good morning to the young man sketching and then replied to the servant girl w2ith a smile"That is perfect . Thank you very much.". After Polly brings the food out Serena makes a plate of fresh bread, preserves and some sausauge.
Being naturally curious Serena takes a seat at the table right next to
the man who is drawing. As casually as possible she will try to get a
look at what he is working on. Serena laughed inwardly as she
thought, and if that does not work I'll up and ask to join him.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Dworkin (GM)
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The food is excellent, and the young man turns as he smells it so
close, and smiles at Serena. Noting her interest in his sketch,
he turns it so that she can see it better... and at that moment Serena
almost chokes on her breakfast.
The stranger drops his sketchbook, leaping to his feet and moving around to pat Serena on the back until she stops coughing.
"The food is that good, eh?" he comments as he passes her a glass of water. "Or my work is that bad?"
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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After Serena drank some water she said, ""Your work is very good actually. Do you know who that woman is?" Serena had smiled as she complimented his work but she couldn't take
her eyes off of the sketch. Hopefully he knows who she is Serena
thought to herself.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Dworkin (GM)
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"Yes, as a matter of fact, we are aquainted, though friends would perhaps be too strong a term for our relationship. Her name
is Cyan. Unfortunately, if she has a second name, then I'm
unaware of it" He pauses for a moment, studying the sketch.
"It's a good likeness, even if I say so myself. Do you know her, Miss... ?"
"Ah... forgive me, my name is... " he bows, then straightens up, with a smile, "Leonardo Henri Cezanne."
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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Serena thought "Cyan" why does that name ring a bell. "" I am afraid I have never met her. However, I know of her. Would you happen to know where she is?" She wasn't sure how else to explain why she knew her without going into the dream situation.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Serena Barimen" then she extended her hand to shake his and smiled.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Leonardo
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Leonardo looks a little nervous as he replies, "Well,
that could be a problem, you see. We parted on somewhat...
strained terms. The bard herself, Cyan, can be pleasant enough
company, but one or two of her companions are a trifle... boorish."
He taps one long finger against his cheek, "Then there would be the small matter of whether she, herself, would want to be contacted. She may be a little busy."
Pausing, he seems to reconsider, "However, if you need to contact her urgently, I'm sure that I can try?"
"Barimen? I've heard that name before."
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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Serena listened carefully to everything Leonardo ha said and was
thrilled to here he could contact this "Cyan the bard". After being
plagued by that damn dream again and again it could only be important.
"If you would be willing to try to reach Cyan I would be very grateful. I really need to speak with her. Serena said her face and tone showing utter sincerity.
"Barimen is a family name. Where do you remember hearing it? Did you by chance hear of it from Cyan?" Serena was wondering if Cyan was one of her many cousins. Having been
gone from Amber for so long who knows how many cousins are running
around out their Serena thought wryly.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Leonardo
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Leonardo suddenly claps one hand to his head, "Ah... Barimen. Of course... You're from Amber, yes?"
He pulls a small suede pouch from his pocket and starts to search
through its contents, cards bearing images of people and places and
objects. No... that's not it... it's here somewhere... " so intent is he on his search that he doesn't even notice when, behind
him, the fire crackles, and a burning coal falls onto the hearth, a
stray spark drifting across to scorch the cuff of his trousers.
"Aha! I knew I still had one!" the card he holds bears another image of the red-haired woman.
"Are you familiar with the use of Trumps?"
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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"Indeed I am from Amber and I do know the use of
trumps. If I might be so bold to ask how do you have these trumps. Are
you from Amber as well?" Serena asks politely and extends her hand to take the trump of Cyan.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Leonardo
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"No, sadly, I have only visited Amber, and... haha!" a somewhat nervous laugh, then, "... I'm not sure how welcome I would be if I returned, since the Bard has he ear of one of your kin."
"The card? I have some little expertise in their
manufacture. You can have that one, since I think it unlikely I
will need to contact Cyan again, and if I do, well then... I can make
another."
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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"I thank you for the card and the aid. However,
before I try to contact Cyan could you tell me which of my kin she
knows. It might help me while speaking to her.". Serena thought to herself how more likely it might convince this Cyan that I am who I say I am.
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Re: 34c - Serena by Leonardo
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"Your kin? Then you are of the Royal blood?" the artist smiles, and seems about to ask something, but then he shakes his head, "No... I suppose not. Haha! Just a passing idea."
"As to which of that family she is known to, well there would be at
least two, and possibly a third I believe. Julian and Fiona are
the two certainties, while I believe we may also have met Benedict,
though he kept his identity to himself."
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Re: 34c - Serena by Serena
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"Thank you Leonardo. You have been more help than
you can know. If this works will you please give the first bag to the
innkeeper. The second is for yourself." Serena then sets two drawstring bags on the table which clink with the sound of money.
Grabbing her bags and the trump of Cyan Serena leaves the inn and
looking about finds a place where she would be hard to see. Then
holding the trump Serena uses all of her ability to try to activate the
trump and make contact.
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