07.12e: At the Practice Yards

[misfit]

Suddenly an odd look crosses Harrune's face and his eyes get a faraway look. He cocks his head and says (presumably to Dworkin), "Knight? ...no, that doesn't feel quite right. Eight? No,that would be Ruben. Seven? I would guess seven." His eyes focus again and he definitely looks at Dworkin. "Is that right?"

[Chtalo]

Ch'talo watches the exchange bemusedly, tail swaying slightly in.. mirth? It's hard to tell given all the teeth. But he nods when Rebma is mentioned.

"I may breathe air, but my place and has always been near the water, it would make sense, from what I have gathered of how things work here. If you want to see more... I can draw more, I just thought it rude to invoke something like this without invitation." Deadpan, droll...but bloodlessly precise in his language. Very hard to tell if he is serious, mocking, or somewhere in between.

"I assume you are referencing to the portrait cards I saw in use on the way here? So the suits and numbers actually have deeper meanings. Like in divination?"

[misfit]

"Yes, I was indeed referring to the cards, which we call Trump. Each of the suits corresponds to one of the four Courts. Swords for Amber, Cups for Rebma, Wands for Tir-na Ng'oth and Coins for Ht'Gon An-rit. I think the numbers have some significance, but they hardly define all of who we are. Think of that as just another title. It describes a part of who you are in a way that is still open to interpretation."

"To give you an example, mine own card is the Ruler of Wands. As I have been told, it is up to me to define what that really means. Of course that is tempered by what I can get my Court to accept. It is not my nature to try to be an absolute dictator, and I cannot imagine the Amberites of my Court allowing me to be so. I suspect in the end I will be closer to 'first among equals' or 'committee chairman' than 'king.' And of course Ruler is only a part of who I am. There is much more to me than that."

"To be honest, I'm not sure how they are chosen for us. Someone," Harrune gives Dworkin a sidelong glance, "has told me that if I wish to know then I need to find the answer for myself. I intend to do so at some point. As for you, that was just a hunch, and I intended no judgement of you."

[Chtalo]

Ch'talo shrugs, a long whole-body affair. "I don't know the system so I don't even know enough to be offended. I saw enough of the portra.. Trumps on the way back to see that "lesser" is a matter of ordering rather than either power or respect. I wonder if there is a key somewhere for traditional meanings of these things. It might be enlightening. Or at least entertaining." The latter includes a meaningful glance at Dworkin.

"Among spirits and lesser gods is a heretical sect that believes the entirety of existence is but an infinite jest at the cost of all who are within it. Sometimes, I find, it's best to believe they are correct. It makes the absurdities of Creation that much easier to accept, if no less easy to understand."

[misfit]

Harrune chuckles. "Agreed. After all, aren't the funniest jokes merely simple statements of truth?"

[Joshua]

Dworkin will nod in agreement. "Perhaps you are learning." He will say, then look at his shadow. "Ten minutes? Seems fair." Before turning back to the group, and saying to Ch'talo, "So, yes, you should talk to Ashara. As for me, I do not require a service. There is no need to ask for something already given."

[Chtalo]

Ch'talo quirks at that, then chuckles. "By my understanding, I've not yet finished the one task I suspect you desire me to. I don't feel it necessary... yet. Though I thank you for your hospitality."

He turns to Alys and bows his head. "Thank you for teaching me on the way. I learned a great many things. For now, though... I should make appearances and perhaps look for a meal. That was a tougher battle than I expected."

With that he'll turn and start to head off. Which, since he doesn't know Amber and its environs at all, makes it rather surprising* that he heads pretty much right towards Rebma.

--
* Some might think it's some survival trick or spiritual gift. Though... water flows downhill. Where else would you put a submerged palace?

[misfit]

"The task might be as simple as coming here and starting to make connections. That seems to have been enough for Spellbinder. If that is given, walking the Pattern can wait. It will come in its own time." Harrune chuckles. "And if it can't wait I suppose we could just give you a hard push."

[Joshua]

Dworkin will chuckle. "Seems like you have learned quite a bit. So, we were interrupted, what were we talking about?"

[misfit]

Harrune scratches his ear. "Hmmm...what were we talking about? I told you about Lane and his so called god. And then...oh yes, that was it...I was mentioning learning more. I'm finding I don't have to walk as far to shift shadows any more. I even managed to do it without walking...once. That was very difficult so I won't be doing it often. We can all lead others with us, but I think I know now how to bring many more with me. I haven't had time to put that to the test, and not sure when I will."

"And then there was that thing I just did with Ch'talo. I'm not sure what that was. Was it a function of Pattern, or just a normal hunch? I don't think I could do it again..."