The Battle of the Abyssal Plain

The personal diary of Darig, son of Corwin

We were preparing for battle when Benedict's first message came; I was to assemble a force of magic hardened troops and prepare to have them trumped to a battle that would affect the fate of all of shadow. It meant I would have to abandon the Emperor Jerome again; he should be alright if he can meet his enemies piece-meal as I have instructed, but then last time I left him alone he invaded Muscovia without properly securing his supply lines.

Taking the Red Lancer Regiment, I shadow-walked to Dorica and collected the Centaur guard along with a few other volunteers and awaited Benedict's Trump call. When it came we were pulled through to a place of surpassing strangeness. Roiling sky above us and before us the ground dropped into a valley, rose again into a low ridge and beyond that darkness as if we were drawn up to fight the night itself. A night lit by the flickers of tormented rainbows and crossed by flimsy wisps of cloud which yet bore armed troops; behind them a place or thing twisting and changing floating on the void, the Courts of Chaos.

The briefing was short and to the point, I was to hold the right flank up to the Black Road, Prince Bleys would have a cavalry reserve behind me to reinforce me or to counter the Black Road at need. I would have pike from one of Benedict's Regiment to hold the line. On my left would be troops under Delwin. A swift precis of the qualities of the troops about me and we were taking position. We test a few of the battle wands, but they did not work, one destroyed a tree forty foot behind it, this area might just be chaotic!

The enemy came into clear sight not so much an army as a horde, there were occasional groups that seemed to be together but it was the exception. Men, half men, beast-men and demons were swarming forwards. Individually they were more than a match for us but that was what they were, individuals. We made a series of short charges at squadron strength and cleared the enemy back each time, pausing to take a breather behind the shelter of the pike. We lost some men, Jacoby to something that leapt and had extending pseudopodia, shame, good man. It jumped at the pike men after that who raised their weapons and made short work of it.

A slew of manticora were one of the major threats but they are one of the curses of Dorica and my centaurs were waiting. We held them back but more kept coming swarming off their cloud and into the fight. Each charge had to end a little further back; each took its toll on both sides. Away to the left I think some of our troops broke. Delwin's troops were being pushed back and I had to let the pike man retreat to hold the line.

Twice enemy leaders challenged me, one I slew with style as it gave a moment’s respite and helped morale. The other I shot through the eye, hand cross-bow, fool to expose himself so. As I rode back to rest the squadron I saw that the sky behind us was lit by a storm twisting through the sky like half a dozen hell-rides together.

Then to the sound of trumpets the men of Arden advanced in the centre, steadying the centre and left of the line but Delwin and I were still heavily pressed. I pulled two squadrons together, if Bleys did not come soon I would have to angle a charge across the front of my troops and Delwin's - all it would buy was time and the flank would still be turned.

Then, at a signal from Benedict, Bleys attacked out from the right flank. Timed to the moment when the enemy were at their most extended, the charge cut through their rear leaving their vanguard cut off and surrounded. With none of the forces that they might use able to turn the tide of the battle they fell back into defensive knots around their chieftains.

Again we advanced, cutting apart the those groups who might be able to join and oppose us; surrenders were starting to come thick and fast. Even as this began a bolt of lightning arced down upon a forward unit of our cavalry and then another in the centre. At once I began rallying my troops once more, horses hardened to the thunder of spells spooked and scattered. I drew up those that I could for another attack was surely coming.

Then nothing, the enemy collapse continued bit by bit and, one group at a time, they surrendered or were destroyed. In the centre I could see Benedict and a dark haired man in white armour, Prince Julian I suppose, speaking to the troops. The rest of the family seemed to be on the heights. Already, eyeing the storm nervously, troops were preparing to leave the field.

Riders appeared on the black road, appearing ghostly through the storm but sounding trumpets that echoed eerily across the field. Horsemen on white steeds then a strange creature bearing the banner of Amber then long columns of strange humanoid some carrying torches guttering in the wind, musicians marched among them playing and the troops sang.

An enormous army from across shadow marched past. Time and the storm seemed to stand still and at the end of it a wagon bearing a coffin draped in the flag of Amber. Almost without thought I drew those troops with me up to the Black Road, which was hard by, and ordered the salute. To my right some of Delwin's troops followed this lead. And the procession passed into the Courts and was gone.

Once more I turned to the task of rallying the troops, gathering the squadrons of the Red Lancers, 3rd Squadron sadly depleted. Benedict's regiment had already formed a square around the prisoners in our sector, more humans than I had thought. The centaurs were dismembering a manticore, its face strangely innocent in death.

Then I became aware that far away on the heights the Unicorn was there, white, stark and beautiful across the carnage of the field. Her glance touched me and seemed to pierce my heart as though the air itself had become more lucid than glass and she stood right before me. I felt as though I had been judged, benignly, but found not to be what she sought, I felt as though I wanted to sob or cry out but the moment was gone and I was bereft.

The duties of command returned within seconds and I began once more to prepare to march, the Trump inside my shirt seemed lifeless but soon Benedict rode through the army leaving a trail of order and purpose in his wake. We were, it seemed, to enter the Courts to talk terms. The army was to proceed along the Black Road and my troops were to cover the rear. So we rode into the heart of chaos itself!

The great hall of The Courts is enormous, the size of a small town at least. On the balconies above swarmed the residents, fully half their number appeared humanish or had taken human form for the occasion. Swayvil High King of Chaos (and a dozen titles beside) was brought forth. Though apparently frail he filled the room with his voice - perhaps not so surprising when people seem to move half the length of the hall in a few strides.

As was my duty I scanned around for threats but apart from the strangeness of the ground nothing presented itself.

After the formalities were done I stepped up to Benedict, quarter of a mile in four steps - this would be a deadly place to fight and I do not wonder that their troops all fight as individuals or small groups, how else could you fight here?

Benedict told me that the Elders who were here were being assigned to the greater houses, each of the houses has its own interests and successful negotiation is the only way not to become entrapped in this place. Benedict himself was to lodge with House Hendrake, one of the most martial of the houses. I was to be with House Petrus. He said that the arrangements for the care of our troops were satisfactory.

Demons approached to guide us to our respective hosts. I was assigned one of the less appealing specimens apparently made of dark grey shale and called Coprolith. He was to guide me to Stoneguard, the Ways of Petrus, but I first insisted that he took me to see my ADC and Celtus, who is now leading the Centaurs. Each unit seemed to be in its own cavern and detached from the passing of time. The Red Lancers seemed to be situated right next to the great hall, the centaurs in many places including a volcano and a small patch of the arctic.

The place seemed made of infinite tiny shadows, each touching at random points. I walked, breathing freely, along a whale’s back and through a shark’s mouth across a city street, apparently in a technocracy, and somewhere that looked like an image of hell.

We finally arrived at a basalt fortress like a towering city but all fortification - in a place with normal rules it might take a quarter of a million men to take it; here, I cannot say. Coprolith led me in and I was greeted by Nico, a Chaos Lord of the House. Tall, well built with iron grey hair though her face is youthful, she was clad in stone armour of sophisticated design.

I was taken into the main hall of the fortress and introduced to Chatsis Demissa, the head of this household, and her Chaos Lords, all clad in the same stone armour, though that should almost entirely be Ladies as it was explained to me that, as a martial house, they had suffered heavy casualties in the battle. Though two of their dead had fallen at my hand they bore no grudge as that is the way of battle and they and their patron house Hendrake were seeking some sort of deal with Amber.

At her request I gave Demissa my wand; it is of little use here except perhaps as a club and was merely drawn from the supply wagon of Jerome's army. Demissa seemed unduly fascinated by the fact that I am a fosterling. She suggested that there might be advantages to my being adopted into the house.

After we had eaten I was shown a room where I could bathe and rest bare but functional. My clothes were taken to clean but I kept my mail & weapons in sight.

I could not remember the last time that I had slept and when it is impossible to watch your own back there is not much you can do. No was point in barring the door - they could probably rise up through the bath plug if they wished to and a show of trust and confidence could be worth the risk.

After a sleep, it seemed ill-advised to rely on anything as conventional as days here. I met with Demissa once more. It seems that she was over enthusiastic to think of adoption when I am not a shape shifter, far too much of the courts is inimical to one who cannot access demon form. I also learned something of the histories and the alliances of the place. The Amberites were referred to as House Barimen, of which my Great-grandfather Dworkin was a rebel member. Since the house still exists I determined to view the Brú na Bóinne, the Ways of Barrimen, and whilst this was being arranged I took the chance to exercise. House Petrus has demons who I can practise against.

Whilst I was exercising a group of my relatives was announced: Havelock, Margrath, Sorashi, Constance & William.

We introduced ourselves and tried to establish our course of action. William has been in the Courts the longest but seems to have been divorced from even the normal un of time here and has spent just a short time in shadow.

We all agreed that establishing allies amongst the houses is the best route forwards and we certainly cannot afford to make enemies too quickly. There is also information to exchange. It is very ill advised to play with the Pattern here; Constance tried it in the great hall and it felt like it might blow up. William confirmed it would probably be a terminally bad idea.

All reported on the Houses to which they had been assigned and Constance on a visit to the temple where Oberon lies in state. We agreed that the next step was to use my arrangements and visit Brú na Bóinne.