07.09h: Flotsam on the seas of reality

[Spellbinder]

"Thank you. That helps a lot. When traveling to new worlds it's best not to assume you know everything going in. I've learned from that mistake."

"Not the prudent type? Now you're sounding like my mother." Kevin goes quite for a moment. "Fatal? You run that risk in most of the really important magical tests. I wouldn't still be here if I hadn't learned that. I'm smart enough to at least learn something about the test and how to survive before I jump in with both feet. There's no reason I need to rush this, is there? This Pattern of yours isn't going anywhere, right?"

[Joshua]

"Not the one you will be walking, no." Quin offers. "Okay then..." he will exit the carriage, and lead you through the castle. It's... a bit of a maze. Not that it was designed as such, just that the corridors aren't always quite where they were before. "Don't mind the layout, you get used to it after a while. This place is still slightly in flux, so, it can be hard to pin down. On the plus side, it's relatively predictable, and at the moment, not malicious. I think Dworkin might be able to change that, which is why he leaves it like this. Still, only half of what is said about Dworkin is true. the trick is figuring out which half."

Your quarters, custom made for you, are easy to find and contain all the comforts of home. At least, what ones will actually function in this world. Any idea what they look like?

[Spellbinder]

As he enters the room, Spellbinder's outfit changes to red sweats, with the hood still partially obscuring his face and his feet bare. We wiggles his toes in the soft carpeting. He begins walking around the room. He opens the wardrobe to find clothes designed more for comfort than looking flashy, running heavily to shades of red. He throws his duffel bag onto the king sized bed and lays down for a moment. "Not a Sleep Number bed, but close enough. Definitely better than anything since I left home."

He gets up and walks over to the bookcase, which is empty. "Oh well, best if I stock this myself anyway I guess. If I didn't know better I'd almost expect..." there is a very soft click..."You're kidding, right?" He easily slides the bookcase aside revealing a hidden room behind. "Nice, but it can't be all that secret. Someone had to build it. Still, I think I can make it pretty secure with some work."

Continuing on, he barely pays attention to the desk and padded office chair. He glances over at the empty display case. "Yeah, I guess I'm starting from scratch again aren't I? Oh well, fresh start and all."

At last he comes of a conversational grouping of a couch, two armchairs and a table. He sits on the couch and then lays down. Staring at the ceiling he say, "Yeah, that will do nicely."

He rolls to his feet, his clothing changing back to his superhero costume. "You do realize that this is kinda creepy, right? This is just so...personal. Any way, you said something about a festival and some people I should probably be meeting. Best if we get there before things break up and they scatter."

[Joshua]

"I'm not quite so sure someone built it. There's talk that Dworkin conjures things in the castle. Like rooms..." Quin will explain, lounging in various places as you settle around. "And the pattern allows you to seek things you need. Or other people need. Or you maybe can kinda describe. Or can't..."

"Usually Dworkin and Darnell do the searching. I think it's a contest, but you'd have to ask them. And there's a lot of secrets in the castle. I personally have only found a few of them. I would bet there's a second exit through your lab somewhere."

Quin will nod. "The tournament will likely last all day, but sure."

[Spellbinder]

"Well, nice as this is I've been cooped up a too long on my trip here. I really should start getting know the place if I'm ever going to figure where, or even if, I fit in here."

As they leave the room, Spellbinder raises a hand. "Wait. Let me. If I'm going to be staying here I should learn my way around." He leads the way and reaches the main gates, but not as efficiently as Quin found their way in. "I see what you mean. Things did change a bit. It wasn't much, but enough to throw me off. Still, just needs a little getting used to. I'm sure I'll be fine."

As they board the carriage again, he says, "So, tell me about this festival. There will be food, right?"

[Joshua]

"It's... Like... it's a tournament. You know, jousting, melee, football... Only, it's actually in the middle ages instead of pretending to be one. The orcs and dwarves have plenty of food and drink prepared." Quin will stop by one of the vendors around the castle (who are there all week, BTW), and will offer a possibly anachronistic funnel cake. "Although, we do get a lot of different realities clashing here. We call them shadows, by the way."

The carriage will head to the large fort, making its way around to the back today so there's slightly less walking... "I think... I should see if Oberon is available. He's also of the human court. There's also a raven shapeshifter... I was kind of surprised he counted as human actually."

Quin will draw a card from his deck, and concentrate on it. "Good then..." he will mumble. "If you don't mind, I can pass you off to him for now."

[Spellbinder]

"Yeah, that's cool. You did say you were there to greet me, not babysit me. Seriously, you've been a big help. Thank you. I'll be seeing you around." Kevin will offer his hand to Quin (not sure if he accepts, but either way is good), and then turns to face the festival.

[Joshua]

Quin will shake your hand. As the carriage pulls away, Oberon will arrive.

It occurs to me I haven't given much of a description. Oberon is about 230 lbs, dark hair, light gotee-like beard, and well muscled. He's wearing a coincidently red and gold quilted winter tunic. (there's about a foot of snow on the ground here and there.)

He will offer his hand for a firm handshake (he has a steel-grip). "Greetings. I'm Oberon, Page of Amber. Quin said we had yet another arrival. Sometimes I think Dworkin times these for the new year."

[Spellbinder]

Kevin returns Oberon's handshake firmly. "Good to meet you. I'm Spellbinder, Sorceror of, well, nowhere I guess. Not any more any way. I get the impression I'm expected to stay here, but we'll see. I don't see how your Dworkin could have timed my arrival, but Quin did seem to know when I was going to arrive. I could at least buy into it being some kind of scrying. Well, I'm here now so I guess the rest is just speculation."

Kevin looks Oberon up and down. "Uh, I'm not taking you away from anything, am I? If you have plans I can manage on my own."

(OCC: Kevin is putting Oberon's appearance together with words like "joust" and maybe "melee" and possibly even "football".)

[Joshua]

"Oh, I'm signed up for the last tournament. The freestyle brawl, but that's about it." Oberon will offer, before realizing... "This is just a winter tunic. It's fashionable in the castle."

He will ponder, "I think Dworkin can alter fate within this realm. Not completely sure, but that's one theory. It wouldn't surprise me that he could scry as well, but he's been at the tournament the past few hours. If you want, I can introduce you, he's the dwarf over there..." Oberon will point to one of the openings in the side of the mountain.