Felix Log #15

After the end of the Red Pattern War...

The New Amberites took off into shadow, in hopes to do whatever... now that the suppose threat was over and 'normal' life returned. During the many years that passed, some interesting developments began to occur. A white barrier contained all of Shadow, out to the Border Lands, and in addition to that, a white dome barrier also surrounded the Pattern.

This barrier is of some Old power and it protects the Pattern side of Shadow from being invaded by Chaos and the Courts. No one has been able to pass through the barrier. Also, the Golden Circle has expanded, as far into shadow to encompass Shadow Earth in the Golden Circle. Needless to say this has been very dramatic, politically, for Amber. This means that new agreements for trade and such were needing attention.

Further rumor has it, that Delwin and Sand were not captured at the end of the Red Pattern War, and are still at large. All ttempts at finding them have not been successful.

When Felix returned to Amber, it was in the midst of all this. As soon as Felix got back, he noticed that someone was trying to spy on him via Trump. But it was momentary and it soon passed, and no discovery was made as to who the person was...

Later Felix went to his room in Amber, only to find some Black Box sitting on his bed. Felix returned later with Morpheus and Despil to look at this thing, but when we returned the box was gone. We determine that there was some line of power left and decided to follow it off into shadow, only to discover that it lead straight up to the site of the Keep of the Four Worlds. But it wasn't a Keep any longer. It was a HUGE black cube that was drawing in shadow and power from all directions.

After some momentary study of it, we decided it was in our best interest to let some more people in on this. So we went back to Amber and notified Random of our discovery. At that point, Morpheus and Despil decided to take off, but before they left, again the feeling that I was being watched occurred...and Felix made mention of it. Despil spoke up that he felt it too... but Morpheus denied it.

Random said that there was a possibility that a Group Portrait was created by Osric, and that it has Trump power. Furthermore, Random said that it was not found in the Castle of the Shadow King (Victor) when it was finally ransacked. He suggested that it might be the cause of the problem.

Anyway, Felix stayed behind in Amber and Morpheus and Despil took off out into shadow once again.

Run #15

Despil, Felix, and Morpheus eventually met back in Amber after a few years out of action. They met in the dining hall where Martin was with some female. Several points of interest were discussed during the meal. One was that shadow was harder to manipulate now. It seemed as if Chaos's influence was being blocked from Shadow. Despil said that it was very difficult to bring the Logrus up as well. The borderlands were blocked off from Chaos as well. Felix said that someone had left a gift for him in his room.

It was apparently a box that was left on his bed. He wanted us to go up to his room to take a look at the object. Apparently it was sucking some energy away from him and his active trumps. He said that he could detect a line of energy going from it. At this time Felix and Despil said that they felt like they were being watched, but Morpheus did not seem to notice anything of that sort.

Felix draws a trump of the box that was there and it turns to dust. A line is formed and using the Pattern lens we follow. For four days we follow it through shadow and again they feel like they are being watched, but Morpheus still does not know what they are talking about. They finally reach the source of the power lines. The Keep of the Four Worlds.

Instead of a Keep they find a huge black box that seems to be sucking in shadow. Morpheus brings up the Pattern lens and it starts to move away from him and into the box so he cuts it off. Despil brings up the Logrus and it STINKS. It is really effective here. Magic is strong here too but seems to get sucked into the cube after a time. It is also easy to shift shadow here as well.

As this is going on Felix talks to Torent and tells him that there was a portrait of the company in the citadel. It was trump quality but not trump powered. Felix said that he wants to go to the Borderlands so Morpheus trumps to his shadow then trumps Felix through. Felix leaves. Then Morpheus and Despil go to Amber and discuss things.

From Morpheus's point of view, the Pattern of Amber has been "put away" and protected by the bowl that he placed on it at the end of the Red Pattern War. This would keep the effects of Logrus out of Shadow and that would explain some of the changes in Shadow. According to Despil, Chaos is getting nastier and the Logrus is getting harder to wield. The Abyss is getting larger and the Courts are getting more chaotic. Corwin's Pattern in not accessible from Shadow either. This means that it has to be outside the effect of the bowl which means that it should be performing the same tasks as the Amber Pattern was when it was "free". Despil also said that the cube was the throat or the feeder of some great creature.

This creature had been part of the race that constructed the bowl. They were in existence before either the Courts or Amber. IF they were still alive (they should not be) they could stand to rule over the increasing Chaos while Amber would be turning more stable, but less malleable.

Despil and Morpheus go to find Random. He is on the third floor playing his drums. We tell him what we have found out and ask him if he needs anything else. He was pleased that we came to him so soon to inform him. He also asked us if we would take an oath of loyalty to Amber in the near future. After this Morpheus contacted Bleys.

He needed to get a new trump of his father after the old one was destroyed during a contact at the cube at the Four Worlds. They tell him of the information they have discovered and his eye falls out. He puts it back in. Morpheus mentions the cube at Keep Of Four Worlds and Bleys gets pissed and forbids him to go there again and takes off in a hurry. Morpheus and Despil sit there as Morpheus finishes the steak that Bleys had ordered. Felix still was away at the Borderlands.

[GM NOTE: Bleys knows that Morpheus is highly Brand-o-phobic. Morpheus has been looking for someone with one eye for a long time since he's pretty sure it would be Brand... Hence, the false eye trick Bleys was baiting him with. Morpheus was completely freaked out when this happened but blocked it out and ignored it, refusing to believe it or speak of it... :) Despil has, at this point, made allusion to being able to breach the barrier and travel to Chaos. They have not questioned him on this yet.]
 

Some more news:

Fiona was still missing, and has remained missing since the Red Pattern War. It was said that she was last reported going to the Courts but never seemed to arrive. And no one has said anything to the contrary, ever since then.

There was a discovery of more Black cubes in Shadow, and at last count, there were Four of them total. In addition to this, there have been reported sightings of creatures, of various colors , that have neither the Power of the Pattern or the Logrus about them. Also they have been reported to be passing though the Great White Barrier back and forth between the Courts and Amber.

A Chaosite has been reported to have successfully come through the barrier, but seems to be stuck on this side of it. His name was Harper and he is more than likely hanging around Despil.

Torent came back to Amber. Felix saw him and talked to him for a little while, playing catch up and such, since neither one has seen the other since the Red Pattern War. Torent was discussing some events going on in one of his more favorite shadows. Creatures from there have been quite playful, so it seems, as they hunt after him through shadow (a new trait that he said they have acquired). At any note, he said they were annoying at best, but he was wondering how this might have occurred. And on and on the conversation went...
Felix talked to Torent in order to bring him up to date about some of the more current events. And he mentioned that he too, every once and awhile, said that he got the feeling that he was being watched. So this seems that there might be some substance to Random's earlier suggestion about a Group Portrait Trump (Strange that Morpheus said that he hasn't had the same sensations.... oh well, he is more than likely lying again... in hopes that he might gain some 'unique' status....*sigh* what a pity!)

At any note, Torent went off to talk to Random and Felix decided to leave and go talk to Bleys. Felix caught up with Bleys in a pub off in shadow... and after some discussion about Family things, and some impressive parlor tricks... Morpheus (w/ Despil) showed up and talked to Bleys about these Black Cubes and colored geometric creatures. Bleys forbade him to go back there... then Bleys trumped away. Morpheus shrugged and finished his father's meal.

In the meantime, Felix talked to Morpheus about Corwin's Pattern and said that he would like a lift out into Shadow, by getting to Morpheus' home world (which was near the Border Lands). Morpheus agreed and Felix trumped off to Morgaard. Felix made it to the Border Lands and attempted to make it to Corwin's Pattern, but was not able to make it to the Primal Plane of the Pattern. So, after much effort and such ... he decided to go back to Amber.
 

Run # 16

After meeting with Bleys, Despil and Morpheus travel to a shadow close to the Keep of the Four Worlds (thus not breaking Bleys' command). There they waited for any unusual occurrence or any word from Felix. There Morpheus held a trump conversation with Felix. He could not reach past the borderlands. He was trying to find Corwin's pattern, but could not shift into the proper shadow. He tried Corwin's trump and it was 'alive', but no contact could be made.

As Morpheus and Despil discuss a bunch of shadow metaphysics, a worm-hole opens up and a humanoid shape comes through. It is a man, from the Courts. He has come through the barrier. He said that he originated from the Courts and followed several gelatinous cube creatures through the barrier. He was practicing at the training grounds when he saw them go by, he followed and went through the barrier. Once through they split up in different directions and traveled through shadow. He was deposited here.

Despil theorizes that these creatures could possibly be from the same race that owns or created this shadow sucking creature that now envelopes the Keep of the Four Worlds. Morpheus calls Random about the new intruders and about the new Chaosian visitor, then talks to Bleys. He pulls us through and we end up in a restaurant that is inhabited by several people dressed up in costume. Those not in costume were eating. Felix was there discussing several things with him, and Bleys showed several tricks with his trump powers. Morpheus suggested that he try to track down some of these creatures and Bleys agreed.

He goes to the Borderlands to start the search. There, at the entry points, the barrier seems more solid and strong. While he is there for a while he notices Felix off in the distance hiding near some rocks, so he keeps a Psyche eye on him. Morpheus called Bleys to notify him of the new guests. Bleys suggested that he go find Arin. Maybe he would be able to help 'investigate' the big cube, by seeing what is on the inside....

After sometime, Morpheus returns to Amber and gets a trump call from Torent. He has made some enemies in shadow and he wants Morpheus to help take care of them. Apparently they use magic of some sort and can travel through shadow...

Felix Log #17

New and Improved News:

Another Chaosite has been reported to have successfully made it through the White Barrier. It was said that he too followed the strange geometric creatures through to the other side of the barrier and into the Pattern Side of Shadow. It seems that the Golden Circle is still expanding and it is projected to continue to grow until it reaches the Border Lands. Thus, this would make everything, a lot more real.... This has a fatal potential, if the white barrier were to go down. You see, there is a buffer that keeps the two greater powers (Pattern and Logrus) from canceling themselves out. It is shadow... But since the Chaos, is 'in theory' cut off, and if reality reached the Border Lands, there would be no buffer to prevent a HUGE destruction of both Logrus and Pattern - if the White Barrier were to go down (for some strange reason).

Still no word about Fiona....

There have been no other sensations about supposed Group Trump... It was said that there might be someone experimenting with the potential use of such an item, but since there haven't been any reported contacts with it, maybe the tests are over....

Felix, after some time in Amber, decided that he would take off into shadow to take care of some business... He said something about trying to figure out who the person was with the Group Portrait Trump... After some time though, he returned to Amber with not much success to report. Then some time later: Arin has decided to make his debut back in Amber after some time off in Shadow. Felix met up with him the Great Hall, and they began to talk about some of the more current events of Amber. In other words, bringing each other up to date as to some of the goings on of the other and etc.

Arin said that he needed some help from Felix about some things and the two of them took off into shadow. Arin said that it was something of a personal nature. Torent and Morpheus were said to be off in Shadow somewhere with the new Chaosite that appeared in Amber. It is rumored that they were off dealing with the same problem that Torent mentioned earlier. Something to do with some creatures from his more favorite shadow (probably now getting less favored....but what can you do....)

Run #17

Torent was still asking Morpheus to help him fix the problem he has created off in Shadow. There was a long debate as to the reasoning behind wanting to go off on such a tangent when there was more important tasks at hand. Eventually Morpheus agreed to take a looksee at what Torent was up against. Morpheus went off to discuss matters with Bleys and returned some time later. He met back up with Torent and said that he was going to prepare himself in Morgaard. They parted with the understanding that they would meet back there when Morpheus had gotten his spells prepared.

As Morpheus leaves he notices Martin talking with a stranger who turns out to be from the Courts. Tzerot has come through in a similar fashion as the other Chaosian. Martin dumps the new-comer off with Morpheus and takes off in his tech-suit. After some discussion with the new-comer the two take off and prepare for the journey into Torent's shadow. Eventually the three take off towards Torent's shadow. There Morpheus and Tzerot witness things that are strange and of interest, but the visit is cut short when Morpheus realizes that they cannot trump out of the shadow. At this he becomes upset and decides that he has had enough of this seemingly irrelevant detour. He tries to lower the trump barrier and is put into Psyche combat with another force (again).

Upon contact with this other force, a glowing 20-sided die appears in mid air. It seems to be focused on Morpheus. Morpheus sets off a barrier spell and the contact is cut clean. He gets ready to leave when a skeletal figure appears wearing deep red robes and two swords strapped to his back. His name is Ikellar and Torent knows him. He discusses some stuff with Torent and Morpheus and asks them if they wish to see the Urvile camp (the reason why they were there in the first place). They agree and the sorcerer draws one of the blades that sends a feeling of fear through the others. He cleaves open an area of the air and they are sent through it. They appear above the Urvile encampment.

The camp has an area that has been made invisible from the Urviles. In that area is a large black cube with several cubes moving about it (seemingly maintaining it). The Urviles seem not to notice this place. Eventually Ikellar asks where they would like to go next. Either back to Oberon's castle, or to another place of interest. Torent and Morpheus return to Amber while Tzerot goes off somewhere else. Morpheus and Torent return to the Pattern room. They see the bowl barrier still in place. Morpheus considers going to Dworkin's room via the trump in Corwin's old cell. He thinks better and returns upstairs. He attempts to call Random (busy with guests) and Bleys (no answer).

Tzerot returns and says that he was in a place where there was a spherical Pattern design under a glass-like material. Cubes would enter into the shield and place black cubes on the glass covering the Pattern. When he got out of that place he found himself at the Borderlands. Morpheus tries to contact Felix, gets a contact and then is shut off. He trumps Arjuna, but it is blocked. He trumps Arin, gets an answer and comes through.

In Quinn's Domain, Arin and Felix were chit chatting with her about some of the latest developments concerning Amber. But Quinn interrupted by getting up to go attend some fountain burning in fire and smoke. She preformed some enchantment and within the smoke some faces appeared. Morpheus, Harper, and the other Chaosite Tzerot -

Continuing... she performed something else and all three of them appeared in her home. Felix and Arin talked to them as they introduced themselves... But Felix took Quinn aside for a moment and whispered something to her. She and Felix then excused themselves and went off to talk. After sometime, Quinn and Felix returned but everyone had disappeared - but Arin. He and Felix talked a little bit - Felix gave an odd jeweled dagger to Arin - then waving goodbye - Felix pulls out a card and Trumps away.

Later, some time passed - Felix caught up with two of the Chaosites and pulled them through to where he was and talked to them about the Courts, and such... but was interrupted by a Trump call from Morpheus... He said it was in our best interest that we all return to Amber as soon as possible. Life and Death, that sort of thing... The two Chaosites when to Amber and Felix said he would be there shortly.

In the meantime, most of the other New Amberites and most of the Elders returned to Amber for this meeting. They were all in the Library and they all sat down for some discussion. Morpheus then began to tell his tale as to some of the current goings on out in shadow - with the Black Cubes and such. He also mentioned that Bleys called him for help and said that he was trapped in the Black Cube. Furthermore, there was some discussion about Corwin and that there was some things going on at his Pattern, or at least near his Pattern. After some more discussion, the family decided to group call Corwin...

Felix arrived at this time, and was told what was going on - so everyone group called him and was successful. Corwin came from a place that he said was above the Pattern, a place he called "Limbo" - he said that he was following a lead into there - but then got stuck in there and couldn't find a way out. Morpheus briefly repeated his story to Corwin to bring him up to date - Corwin said though that he had a plan: It involved a ritual at the Pattern - in Amber, Rebma, and Tir'na Nogth - so that a Ripple of Power would be sent out from there in hopes of shattering the Barrier.

Benedict then stepped up and said that he had a plan as well. He said that he was successful in destroying one of the Black Cubes - and he was able to forge a weapon out of the material the cube was made of - his plan involved using the new weapon to pierce the barrier - so that he could walk the Pattern and remove the bowl (that Morpheus put there). Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Bleys - and Morpheus said something - but then Dworkin entered the Library...

Dworkin listened to everyone and their plans and he thought that the best chance was to do the ritual at the Primal Pattern - first - then Benedict would walk the Pattern - and get rid of the bowl. So Dworkin lead everyone from the Library to the Primal Pattern. Benedict brought up the end - and I thought I heard Julian yell about a Chaos Scum... well anyway... Dworkin said that we should take his trump... "Hold on..." He goes off for a little bit and then returns with some cards of himself and passes them out to everyone (Including the Chaosites).

So as he was saying, he wanted everyone to concentrate on his trump and send him their energies. Everyone did so...and a huge ripple of Power from the Pattern went out into shadow. Benedict then stepped up and drew his new weapon. It was a nasty looking saw-toothed black stone sword. He drew back and held a pose for a moment, in preparation to strike - then he let out a large yell and struck the barrier. He disappeared, but later - you could see this blue flame growing from behind the barrier (Obviously, it was Benedict walking the Pattern). The Blue Flame peaked and subsided - then we hear this loud clank as Benedict decided to chop up the ground around the bowl - in order to remove it. Some time passes and the Barrier went down. Dworkin pulled out this bag, and said: "Hop in Kiddies!" and everyone but Coral, Dworkin, and Corwin jumped in... The bag closed and bounced up and down a little bit as though we were being carried. Then there was this feeling that we went through a trump...

Dworkin opened the bag, and hopped in: "You can handle it from here!" - he said as the bag closed and began to move again. Some more time passed and all of this sudden this familiar blue flame appears and rises up from the bag and glows around everyone. Corwin was walking his Pattern while holding the bag (we had all shrunk down inside it). Then Blue Flame peaked and subsided. The bag opened again, and everyone was dumped out in the middle of Corwin's Pattern. But there was nothing else to be seen. It was a black void - filled with moving multi-colored geometric creatures, and black cubes all over the place. Then there was a rumble and off in the distance from both sides there was a huge tidal wave of power (one Pattern & the other was Chaos) rolling towards each other - and we were right in the middle of it.

Dworkin pulled out this Deep Red colored Jewel and held it over the Pattern. He waited.... and waited... the rumbling got louder and louder because the Effects were coming closer and closer... and at the last second he dropped the jewel in the center of the Pattern. All of the sudden - everyone was put in the Jewel - and Dworkin created a new Jewel of Judgement - based off of Corwin's old Pattern.

Some more time passed and Corwin decided to go outside the jewel and he began to walk. Corwin took the New Jewel and inscribed a new Pattern. Once it was created everyone in the Jewel was dumped out onto this virgin Pattern and again shadow was created and rippled outward in all directions. This new Pattern was atop a mountain of Magma - as it was in the beginning of creation. Corwin threw the jewel over to Random, and he said "Well it's about that time!". Dworkin said "You better send everyone away - or you will be asked a ton of questions..." Corwin nodded and *Poof* everyone was spread out and separated out into shadow.
 

Run # 18

Morpheus, Felix and Arin started out in their cousin's personal shadow. Quinn has been laying low for quite some time, but has not been sitting stagnate. She has grown with higher Pattern understanding, Logrus abilities, and a large amount of Trump knowledge. She was entertaining a man who originated from the Courts, but has been spending some time in Shadow.

His name is Morchrist (neat name). As they sat reminiscing about the good old days, Quinn informed Morpheus that someone was attempting a Trump contact with him. He accepted the call and it was Tzerot. Then Harper called in. They could be seen from a brazier located in the room. They appeared side-by-side and wished to be pulled through. Morpheus asked if it was alright with Quinn and she accepted. They came through. After some time, Quinn leaves with an impatient Felix. They had business to discuss. No doubt she will be accommodating as usual.

She returns and asks us to depart, in not so many words. Morpheus pays his respects to her and teleports out in a haze of dark shadows. The others leave by the front door. How mundane. As the three Chaosians and Arin take their leave of the front door, Tzerot stood still all of the sudden with a puzzled look in his face, then brought up the Logrus. The other Chaosians saw him lined in blue Pattern energy. He disappears. They continue on to the borderlands to investigate the Barrier. Arin goes off on his own.

Eventually Morpheus and Tzerot arrive in the Borderlands. There they are attacked by a band of teleporting Urviles. A black bolt hits them destroying both of their horses. Morpheus is protected within a force field and Tzerot is blown forward several yards. That attack came from behind. Smart assassins. Morpheus looks at Tzerot sorrowfully and teleports away in a cloud of shadow. Eventually they meet back up in Amber.

According to Tzerot, he Trumped Martin to get help. Martin had been attacked by the same creatures. Martin asks for help and Tzerot pulls him through. Bad move. With some tech and some luck the two escape and return to Amber. Unfortunately, the others were there as well. In keeping with his humanistic personality Morpheus tries to Trump Harper to warn him of the danger. He can't get through be cause he does not HAVE a Trump of Harper. He gets him nonetheless. Thank goodness.

[GM NOTE: Morpheus has just recently learned Pattern Magic and did a summoning of Harper... as he is a Chaosian. Harper finally is pulled through and finds himself in a Pentragram of force. Morpheus tells him, "Just wanted to talk with you,"]

Apparently Felix and Morchrist are doing something important off in a fast Shadow and will return as soon as possible. According to Harper, Corwin was seen coming through the Barrier and then Trumping away. Morpheus Trumps Bleys to inform him of the recent developments, and he receives a shocking surprise! Bleys was naked with a dead mule and... no really, his Trump turned to dust and he passed out, not before he got a few words into Bleys. Bleys asked him to try and retrieve him eventually, but what was more important was that he try to get rid of all creation or something goofy like that, but it sounded serious. He said something choppy about the Pattern and Logrus coming together and destroying everything. Then Morpheus went to sleep.

Ah! But it was not the sleep of Angels, no sir. He woke with a headache and Trumped Random. He received a shocking surprise! Random was naked in the shower. For real. He apologized and said that urgent business needed to be attended to. Random asked for a few seconds pardon while he powered up. After closing the Trump contact with Random, Morpheus Trumped the elders to bring them to Amber for a meeting of the minds. He got all but Benedict and Llewella to come through. Come to think of it, Brand did not come through either.

After the gathering had formed Morpheus reported what Bleys had said. Tzerot mentions the crystal sphere place, a limbo above Shadow, and Random wants oaths of fealty to the Crown. Morpheus suggests that they all group Trump Corwin. It goes over and he seems happy to be back. He suggests a ritual on the Barrier that will allow a pulse of Pattern to get through and weaken the Barrier. Benedict walks into the room and says that he has a weapon that may indeed crack the barrier. Dworkin shows up, breaks Harpers arm and suggests that we try the ritual first and then Benedict can do his thing. We all travel to the Primal Pattern for the ritual. It goes off.

[GM NOTE: Dworkin slaps Tzerot on the arm, saying "Good to see a fellow from Chaos come visit us here in Amber!" Tzerot, who has Chaos STR tends to break when Dworkin, who was being 'rough' smacked him.]

Benedict slices through the barrier and walks the Pattern. Once in the center he hacks away at the bowl. Dworkin asks us all to step inside a bag of holding and later steps in himself. The only people left outside are Benedict and Corwin. We feel ourselves being taken into Shadow and then feel ourselves being walked across a Pattern (Corwin's). We appear at the center and Dworkin produces a newly made Jewel. He waits for an approaching wave of Chaos and Pattern to collide then drops it into the Pattern we all get put inside of it. From there we feel an explosion. Corwin gets out and start walking with us. We feel the fire rise again as if we were walking a Pattern. Eventually we appear outside of the Jewel on a new Primal Pattern (Corwin's second). From there we are dispersed into newly forming Shadow. We all go about our individual business. Some going to the ruined Courts, some rebuilding a new Castle ?, and some establishing themselves in Shadow.

[GM NOTE: I've decided to include logs from the two Chaosites in the party and their perceptions of the 'End of the World'. One should note that when this Big Bang occurred it snuffed out the Logrus and nearly demolished the Courts. The Logrus was 're-kindled' by Suhuy but those who had taken it before could no longer draw upon it for power. They had to re-essay it. Also, those with shape-shift were pretty limited since I determined that the 'laws of nature' in shadow at this time were primitive and would not allow high variance in forms until Shadow itself became more diversified. Well, anyway... here are logs from Tzerot and Morchrist.]

If ever they were to make a maxim for Amber itself, it would have to be, 'there's never a boring day in Amber'. Of course, the importance of this is that I'm writing this after the end of the world. I won't go into the details, because they are exceptionally tedious, but what it amounts to is that the infamous Corwin, and the rebel master Dworkin, destroyed everything in order to save it from some outside force. I'm not sure exactly how this makes me feel, I've never exactly been in love so to speak with shadow, but at least it was interesting. But, there's no use getting into nostalgia, the deed is done and there is no changing it. Now there is nothing to do save to wait.

Random, making the best of things, is rebuilding Amber with the help of Martin. If they are successful, it should begin to reconstruct shadows of substance. In the interim, there is only us, the Amberites, and billions of trilobites. One good thing that has come from this is that I have discovered I like the taste of trilobites. Perhaps I too am simply making the best of things, who's to say.

Morpheus continues to become more and more deserving of retribution. Pre-apocalypse, he left me in a rather bad situation with some foes, my own fault to an extent I suppose, for placing the smallest modicum of trust in him. It did serve for one lesson at least, i've begun reviewing the basics, I had slacked off somewhat in my studies of the arts in my quest to satiate other intellectual curiosities. That is what I am currently involved in.

There is something else that disturbs me. There is less than a hand full of sentience left in existence, and some of those remaining seem hell bent, pardon the slip, there isn't a Hell anymore, on eliminating those who are left, until they alone exist. The singular God of countless trilobites. This I cannot allow. In keeping with this belief, I've begun hanging spells and recreating Trump, to prepare myself for battle should their arrogance and ambition take them too far. These concerns are not paranoid ravings, they have their basis in fact.

I contacted Morpheus not long after i'd recovered from the apocalypse, and he was in the process of constructing a castle of power. To what end, I do not know, since he has no known enemies left. But he seemed very concerned that it be done quickly. The Serpent preserve us, I fear there are far darker times ahead for all of us. The few that are left anyway.
 

I pull myself agonizingly slowly towards Chaos. Where as before I could have stretched the Logrus far across shadow to pull me to my goal, or simpler yet employ a spell to take me there in an instant, now I must drag myself across shadow one at a time with my pitifully weak tendrils. Worse yet, even this simple action is monumentally difficult in my weakened state. I think back to the actions that led to my degraded state. It all seemed to happen so quickly once I came on to the scene, I hardly had time to contemplate it until now.

In order to destroy the cubes, the Amberites apparently destroyed all of Amber, shadow, and the courts. It seemed a rather extreme move to me, but perhaps it really was necessary. Still I can't help but feel some contempt for those who destroyed all I've worked these many years for. Wiping out in a few moments what I had taken so long to build and hoped would see me far into the future. I'll particularly miss Sarik, I never suspected that a beast of Chaos could be so intelligent, refined, and above all such a good friend. When conditions are right to rebuild my Khan'Abbadon I shall have to find one as much like him as possible, although it still won't be the same Sarik. I should dearly like one day to find those who sent the cubes, if they still live, and make them pay for the loss of my world. Vengeance, however is not of any immediate concern.

As of now I must make my maddeningly slow way back to Chaos and essay the new Logrus. It is not a matter I look forward to, I clearly remember the pain and madness that accompanied my first Logrus essay. It is not something one desires to experience more than once. After that I shall establish a home for myself in Chaos for a time, to hone my relearned arts. Then I start over, building my power towards my nearest goal, the Pattern.

I'd thought I had my passage to the Pattern insured when that Amberite came to me with his altered aura, probably designed by my half brother Rinaldo to keep track of him. Asking me to name my price for removing it. My price, I'm sure he would have been less than pleased to find out, would have been passage to the Pattern when the time was right. Unfortunately that is no longer a possibility. With the new Pattern in place, simply walking it as he must to regain his power over shadow should be sufficient to nullify the effects. I'll simply have to start over in that capacity as in all others. I have to wonder why it is that as soon as I came in contact with the Amberites, the whole universe came apart, literally. I'm no doubt simply being bitter, but right now, dragging myself across shadow after monotonous shadow, hunger eating at my gut and thirst burning my throat, I think I'm entitled to a little bitterness.

My luck seemed to go bad when I met my distant cousins in Amber, but I've never held much confidence in luck, and I shall not dwell on that matter. The hunger pangs racking my body serve as a reminder of the wretched state of my powers. For one who's used to only eating or drinking when he desires, the feeling of hunger can be most terrifying. The idea of starving to death has occurred to me more than once, and it seems an absurd way for one who's used to complete control over his internal anatomy to die. I do not have that control now, however, my ability to shift is limited to my human and Chaos forms. If the hunger gets much worse, I'll have to shift to my combat demon form. Maybe with my reduced mind and increased savagery I could actually stomach a trillobite or two, in my human form the notion of feeding on such things repulses me. It may very well become necessary if I don't reach Chaos soon.

The landscape is becoming increasingly erratic, which is highly reassuring. Soon I feel the Courts will be before me, and my new life begun. Still, those trillobites are starting to look damn tasty.

[GM NOTE: Thus ended a major portion of the campaign and began a new and different one.]