Alaric’s Diary part 5: Begma & Zircon

In The Doom that Came to Amber

Session 5

I have brought myself to into the hands of Uncle Gerard in his physician’s guise on board his flagship somewhere on the sea boarders between Amber and Zircon. He has reset my broken lower left leg and strapped my fractured right shoulder blade and reconstructed my poor right cheekbone. I am thus recovering and sit up awkwardly in a high tech medical facility in a battleship on the high seas. Uncle says I must wait for two days until the drain from my cheek has concluded its work. I can walk but not run I suspect. So I must lie here and think and reconstruct.

But two nights ago, in the aftermath of confusion and panic I left Amber for Begma. Someone tried to kill the King and his Wife – an Ambassador from one of the lands of the Golden Circle was vaporised by a laser weapon. Some of my cousins are going to the technocracies to investigate further. Others remain in Amber to continue their researches. My mother and Uncle Bleys seek answers elsewhere.

14^th Bull 3658

And I? I had business of my own to conclude in Begma – and other business to begin in Amber. On that matter I spoke with Mira and explained the likely slowness of our endeavours. She was not pleased nor was she entirely surprised. A relative spoke with me briefly on the parentage of my sponsor and some existing intelligence is confirmed.

I collected my armour, the gift of Mira to her prophet, and my friend, Paolo. We worked together as I was clad in my armour and I trumped us through to Nayda’s residence in Begma and was welcomed despite the unorthodox manner of my arrival.

I was taken in to see Nayda. She looked ill – run down as if afflicted by an influenza. She seemed unaffected by my arrival and said that she was still very tired after her “illness”.

Believing her still to be possessed by the entity I had glimpsed in my portraits of her, I asked a series of questions in an attempt to determine the degree or manner of the possession. From her replies, I believe that she is still within her body but that someone else has shared ownership of her mind.

When asked if she felt sufficiently well enough to sit for me again she asked for how long. After brief consideration she rejected my desire for one hour of her time and energy and suggested that I ask again in a few weeks. In truth I have little desire to touch her mind – or at least not without the presence of Khitan, or Morwaith or Aylwin perhaps. I have already experienced possession at first hand and fain would avoid it again.

I left her with fair but suitably vague protestations and when I returned to my room I re-sketched her. The sketch again indicated a star-less void where her fair eyes had once been. I then read my Trumps asking for an indication of Nayda’s current influences. The spread was as follows:

Significator: Devil – power; hidden forces; opening of minds; occult forces

Aspirator: The Lovers – partnership, choices between the new and the old

Instigator: Death – some sort of change

Hidden Influences: The Priestess reversed – shallow cruel woman

Culminator: The Star – hope, life

Pivot: The Hanged Man – Merlin, or someone ‘like’ Merlin?

I wonder if there was ‘someone like Merlin’ at Kashfa? Or if it is more obviously my cousin? I shall Trump him soon and speak with him. It may be that he is the immediate cause of the possession or, and I truly hope, he has the knowledge to cure her. A powerful reading in any case.

I spoke also with another at Begma – about the specific event at Lyon Abbey and the previous and current occurrences that had been reported to me by Begma’s Ambassadress to Amber, Ferla Quist. They acknowledged the existence of a serious occult problem – one clearly out of control and thus a threat to the Golden Circle and, in effect to Amber herself.

They also showed me a symbol, which they believed was somewhat efficacious against the Beasts. I queried whether Nayda had been shown this symbol and the answer was yes. The lack of reaction to the question suggesting that she was unconcerned by such symbolism.

Thus the symbols are merely that, symbols; that which afflicts Nayda is of a higher magnitude of creature; it is something/one else entirely that possesses her [the darkness and absence of stars suggesting the Abyss and thus Brand’s influence]; or that she had not, since the attack at the Abbey, been exposed to the symbol.

[sketch of symbol].

I explained to the Lord of Begma my desire to travel first to Eregnor to investigate the earliest stories of the existence of the “Coven” and would travel from there to Kashfa to start some preliminary investigations there – and I had not travelled there for some time and I will admit that I was curious to meet Greeneyes and her brother Razor in their own environment.

I accepted the Lord’s offer of two armed men and I left immediately for Lyon Abbey, the easiest place in Eregnor for me to arrive as I already held a Trump for the Abbey’s Courtyard. I also reported the continuing possession of Secretary Nayda to both the Overseers of the Golden Circle, and in response to her lack of concern to the King himself. He was displeased with the interruption.

The Monks at Lyon Abbey seemed very alarmed at our arrival and scattered to fetch the Abbot. He greeted our party with warmth but curiosity and ordered that a table be prepared for us. Over a private dinner, I questioned him closely about the earlier attack on the Abbey and whether he had undertaken any research. He replied that he hadn’t and that he considered the stories that I had heard to be but fairy stories and the product of rogue woodcutters. He also said that the guest wing of the Abbey had been sealed and that I was to sleep in his private bedchambers. I thanked him and retired with Paolo to the bedchamber. Charles and Hawtrey, my Begman guards, were given a bunk in the laymen’s dormitory.

Paolo was, for various reasons, troubled by the atmosphere in the Abbot’s room and was vocal in objections. I, tired, listened to and noted these concerns but decided to remain in our Quarters, albeit if I slept in my armour. Paolo awoke me urgently at around midnight – clearly having enjoyed little, if any sleep. I listened and consented to Paolo’s desire to sleep elsewhere and we walked to the laymen’s dormitory. Whilst there – and the monks present were again surprised by our appearance in their midst – Paolo gestured to the light, almost an indigo blue but in truth even to an artist such as myself an indescribable blue, coalescing from the sealed guest wing. As we observed, it drew swiftly towards the Abbot’s rooms – where we were to have been accommodated.

I sought a monk to fetch the Abbot and called him back when I noticed that the lights of the Abbey Church were lit – with no service to the Unicorn due for at least an hour I concluded that the summoning of the light entity was from within the Church, and, presumably that the summoner was the Abbot himself. Yet again my impatience had laid my person open to attack.

Thoroughly alarmed, I told the monks to remain in their dormitory and sort my Trumps to contact Khitan, who by common pact had agreed to assist me with this matter by means of sorcery. He alone of my recent acquaintances had made some sensible comments about the nature and source of the earlier attack.

Paolo saw the Hound [of Tyndalos] appear from that light and enter the Abbot’s room as if following a scent. The absence of immediate prey sent it into frenzy and we ran past the room in an effort to stop the ceremony and uncover the Summoner. Khitan answered my call but determined to speak with another before I brought him across.

We continued towards the Church – my armour announcing my presence with every step. Khitan contacted me again and brought through a woman with him as the Hound emerged from the Abbot’s room and it became apparent by its scenting that it was my person that it sought. We ran but Paolo was unable to match our speed. I stopped to pull Paolo with me.

As the hound launched itself at me, Khitan by use of a phrase caused the Hound to quit our presence. His woman companion, who had swiftly introduced herself as Isabelle, announced that she had sorcery, and could change herself into a Puma I can only assume that she did so as we went on towards the Church as I caught sight of her in this shape several times later. Paolo was already clearly shocked and beyond helping me further that night.

The Church door was locked; my strength proved inadequate but Khitan was able to force it open. There was no one in the body of the Church but from the crypt beneath we could hear chanting and a word like ‘Nyoathetek’.

We arrived in the Crypt in time for the end of the Summoning. It was too dark then to see the features of the man in the centre of the now closed Magic Circle. He giggled as he completed his magic? And, rather strangely, Khitan giggled almost simultaneously.

The Abbot began a transformation into a hideous creature and Khitan seemed to begin a counter spell of his own construction. The Abbot seemed slow and uncomfortable of movement, enabling Khitan to continue his preparation.

There was a considerable rumpus above us in the Church but my sole concentration was on the Abbot [series of sketches to show the transformation]. The stairs behind me, barely wide enough for one, seemed crammed with panicked voices – and a puma – the woman, I assumed.

As the creature lurched towards Khitan I prayed for protection and put myself in front of him. My sword made no impression on it but my armour protected me from the slash it aimed at my chest. The weight of its attack threw me to the floor and thus I received the first of the night’s injuries – to my shoulder.

Khitan finished his work – incredible timing – and a manticore appeared at the side of the creature. The manticore’s initial barbed attack hit the creature, Khitan and myself. I was protected by my armour but the poison noticeably affected Khitan. They fought and we retreated.

Whilst in the Church I ordered the monks to take a defensive position and Khitan trumped someone – and to safety, for I know he still lives even if he would not receive my call.

Paolo and I left the Church and I considered how best to solve the problem. I sought Trump as always. The Overseer was too busy and disinterested in any case. Mother was beyond contact and so was Uncle Benedict.

The creature, having overcome the Manticore, was in the Church and, when last I saw, it sought to leave the Church’s confines for the tastier world of the Abbey.

I left that place almost immediately for Castle Amber and sought what help I could. The Overseer was too busy to assist and she was my best hope in terms of military prowess to defeat the creature. Moreover she possesses a Pattern weapon and perhaps the laser would work in Eregnor? Without her I sought the aid of my Elder relatives. I knew already that neither my Mother nor Uncle Benedict were available.

Aunt Deirdre eventually acquiesced to my impassioned plea for help. I waited whilst she dressed and she appeared in the corridor in her customary plate and double-headed axe. She handed me several bandoleers and, albeit with a vice-like grip on my neck, we trumped back to Paolo in the courtyard at Lyon Abbey.

The creature had torn the body of the Church apart. The monks stood in a defensive cordon around the Church but in truth they were doomed. I ordered them back to their dormitory. They were convinced that the puma had attacked and killed the Abbot. I knew otherwise.

My Aunt was not impressed with the lack of information my near panicked description had given her. She waited to get in close with the hit she needed and I was the bait. I fired both pistols at the creature. The second directed its attention towards me. It slashed again at my chest. I parried and the bladed claw slithered up my chest finally landing on my cheek – slashing it open and crushing the bone beneath.

The second attack came in and I called again for protection but Deirdre came in close for her attack and her aim was swift and deadly accurate. The creature collapsed on top of me, its head decapitated and my left leg broken under its weight whilst the right creaked ominously.

My Aunt helped me to my feet and the creature returned its size and features to that of the former Abbot. My immediate concern was for the well being of Paolo and I requested that Deirdre helped me to search the ruins of the Church. Fearing the worst, I called his name and he answered. Bloody, clearly frightened, nonetheless alive but more than a little pale after bits of monk became identifiable.

I returned all of us to Amber. Paolo helped me with my armour and together we gave thanks for our deliverance from this particular evil. Paolo collapsed onto my bed and I left him there to sleep whilst I collapsed onto the floor – unsure as to the severity of my injuries but I reasoned that if they were that serious I would have already been in shock.

15^th Bull 3658

In the morning, I awoke. Paolo still slept exhausted and shocked and smelling unaesthetically of urine. I concentrated on Khitan’s Trump. He blocked my call but that in itself proved he was yet living.

I managed to wake Paolo and I was assisted in my desire to sit on the side of my bed. I knew I was a mess and that my immediate hope was that Uncle Gerard would put me back together. I trumped him, having instructed Paolo to remain in my room. Thus I am here in the medical facility of a warship and, unexpectedly in the company of Nathan, injured in an attempt to enter Zircon.

I need to accomplish many things this day. To check on the wellbeing of Khitan and to retrieve a wondering Puma from the Abbey at Lion and to place Paolo in a more proper environment. I marvel at the miracle of my armour and at the deeds and conversations that have taken place this day. I marvel that I live yet!

I quite forget to report that Charles and Hawtrey, my Begman Guards, lie either injured or dead due to my failings as a Commander. I left them with the Monks and saw that Charles was injured by the Hound with half the skin of his face ripped off and Hawtrey was last known to be in the Church. I shall search for them and whatever I find I lie with the knowledge that my ineptitude in command makes me responsible for their needless deaths. Their presence in the Crypt (where they able to contend with the emerging unpleasantness of the situation) may have enabled us to shoot at the Abbot before the completion of his summoning. Perhaps. But I have much to think on.