WikiSysop at 18:06, 13 June 2010

2010-06-13T18:06:20Z

WikiSysop: New page: [Logger note: we are on just-in-time time, so Marius and Raven will be arriving in Amber during the Big Family Meeting.] It takes two days and about five rounds of shifting before Raven s...

2010-05-27T13:21:01Z

New page: [Logger note: we are on just-in-time time, so Marius and Raven will be arriving in Amber during the Big Family Meeting.] It takes two days and about five rounds of shifting before Raven s...

New page

[Logger note: we are on just-in-time time, so Marius and Raven will be
arriving in Amber during the Big Family Meeting.]

It takes two days and about five rounds of shifting before Raven sees
something she'd wondered whether she'd ever see again: the Cabra light,
which was the sailor's gateway to Amber. A ragged cheer goes up from
the crew when it comes into sight, and sailors go belowdecks to rouse
their companions to tell them that at long last, home is near.

As they sail up the coast, the castle eventually comes into view by
spyglass. Raven can see that one of the towers has collapsed and been
partially rebuilt. The approach to the city shows the same: parts that
have burnt down with only some of the destroyed buildings
reconstructed, and not always in the same style or according to plan.
The balance and grace of the city are diminished; where once she
floated above the harbor, now she limps.

The harbor is desolate compared to the old days. Many of the berths
have been destroyed and even so, too few ships to fill them are at
anchor. The flags of the old Golden Circle treaty shadows are gone,
instead replaced by some Amber banners, a similar unicorn banner in
red, and another with a unicorn and a fleur-de-lys that Raven doesn't
recognize.

When they come ashore, the Harbormaster is deferential to Marius,
calling him Captain and putting sailors and officials at his disposal.
A carriage is found to take him and Raven and Thalia up to the castle.
Raven's sailors are allowed the freedom of the city while the Navy
inspects and repairs her ship. It's clear the Harbormaster and the Navy
have uses for it.

Prince Caine is acting as Regent; Marius clearly means to see him at once.

Other than making sure that anything portable that the Navy might
consider contraband is quietly smuggled off the ship as sailors leave
- something she leaves in the capable hands of her first mate with a
few words below-decks and well away from anyone that hasn't been on
board for at least six months - Raven and the Vale's papers are ready
to go.

If it hadn't been clear to Raven that Marius was a royal before, the
way he's treated on their arrival at the castle makes it clear he is
one. He sends pages looking for several people Raven's never heard
of--some men and some women--and there's something about knights as
well. His orders are given rapid-fire as they follow members of the
royal guard up to the office Caine has commandeered, Caine's office is
guarded by midshipmen; Northern Fleet is Raven's guess. On Marius'
greeting, they open the door for Marius and his companions.

Caine is seated at his desk, his mind clearly on a card that he's
holding. Marius seems to know what he's up to, because he says, "Tell
whoever it is you'll talk to them later, Admiral. I've a story to tell
you now. And--" he turns to the guards "--we need to put Lady Thalia
under house arrest for aiding Huon of the Horn in an assault on Rebma.
Captain Raven will stand witness to the perfidy of Gateway."

Marius has Caine's attention now.

The guards move to take Thalia into custody.

Raven salutes the Admiral sharply and then waits to be addressed,
although she does shoot Marius a brief and faintly irritated look when
he mentions her name. There is not, in her opinion, much she can do
about Thalia getting arrested; this isn't her ship, she isn't even
passably in charge, and she can't help but suspect that Thalia had to
know this was coming - after all, she could have left at any point
after they made port.

Besides, the best way she can come up with to clarify her position on
Gateway and on Thalia involved maybe implying that Marius was either
lying or deluded - which she suspects the Admiral will not
appreciate... and she has no proof either way regarding the
Thalia-Huon thing anyway, just a general trend of conversation. So
she waits, silently.

"Have the Lady kept under guard in the guest wing," Caine orders. "I'll
be in to speak with you later, madam," he says as Thalia is escorted
out. Then he turns to Marius. "There's a meeting in Paris. You can tell
me what you need to later; tell them first." He looks at the card again
and holds out his hand to Marius.

Marius takes Caine's hand and then something happens. It's like he
steps forward, but then he vanishes. There's something like a rainbow
left for a moment in his wake, but then it, too is gone.

"And have someone bring up dinner for the Captain," Caine calls after
the departing midshipmen. Once the door closes behind them, Caine turns
back to Raven. "Sit down, Captain, and let's hear your report."

[In progress]

Characters:RavenLogs/AA Arrival - Revision history

WikiSysop at 18:06, 13 June 2010

WikiSysop: New page: [Logger note: we are on just-in-time time, so Marius and Raven will be arriving in Amber during the Big Family Meeting.] It takes two days and about five rounds of shifting before Raven s...