Asmark’s Diary part 2: Sapphire & Lyon Abbey

In The Doom that Came to Amber

In Sapphire with Bathsheba, Asmark decided to produce a trump sketch of King Flashheart. In doing so, he started to feel contact with him. He observed Flashheart talking to Lady Greeneyes. They were discussing the representatives to be sent to the talks. Flashheart said he was planning to send Razor; that clearly surprised Greeneyes. Asmark’s recollection of Sapphire politics placed Razor in the other (losing) camp of the recent family feud. As he tried to break off contact gently, Flashheart seemed to notice and said “I have told you not to bother me when I am working” and broke off abruptly. Asmark accordingly suspected that he had been mistaken for someone else.

Shortly afterwards, Khitan of Cordoba and his retinue of ten knights (all mounted on camels) arrived. They were seeking Bathsheba to request assistance with increasing problems with rebels.

At dinner, it was noticeable that Razor was in the least favoured position of any family member. During the meal, two children were brought in to say goodnight to Flashheart. The boy bore a marked resemblance to Asmark. Greeneyes definitely noticed this.

Bathsheba, Asmark, Khitan, et al, set off for the abbey. For the overnight stopover, Bathsheba found a deserted fort in the near shadows. Khitan posted guards and Asmark examined the place with trump sketching and determined that the place had been stormed rather than peacefully abandoned. They then all observed a manifestation of a Unicorn. While Khitan was examining this, Asmark briefly thought he saw Khitan as a Cthuloid monster, but nothing certain in the light. Shortly after this, Bathsheba was in trump contact with Alaric and the party arrived at the abbey by trump.

Bathsheba was seriously concerned about the impending arrival of the three potentially mutually hostile retinues, expected to be about 200 each. She wanted to obtain some troops of her own. Various other Amber lords were contacted and proved unwilling or unable to help. The best prospect seemed to be Bathsheba’s werewolf troops; the difficulty being reaching them. Asmark examined Bathsheba’s ring and produced a trump based on it. It was not clear what it connected to, but it was probably to Eric (its original and dead owner). Khitan performed a magic analysis and attempted a spell to send Bathsheba to the werewolves. After a delay (during which Bathsheba attempted to get Alaric to trump her back and he refused to help), Asmark took Bathsheba’s own trump from her pack and contacted her. Using this he brought through the troops. However there was a slight problem bringing Bathsheba through herself, he thinks due to the effects of her Pattern dagger.

At some stage, the message was forwarded from Bill Roth, via the queen, Alaric and Bathsheba that his mother’s will has been located. Asmark is pleased both about the news and that the queen actually took the time to forward the message.

Intentions (these are as much reminders for me for next time as anything else):

1) He wants to sort out the Will. Provided that he is financially independent, i.e. does not have to work for a living, which is all he really wants. However, he also wants to find out who tried to suppress it and why.

2) School friends: He now views their refusal to help him as convenient. It means he owes no favours in that direction. He would help a friend in genuine hardship [he has Good Stuff], but he would feel no obligation to help them advance their careers beyond giving honest advice. One thing he does not know is how good the Amber rumour machine is; will his school friends know he has spoken with the queen and is now assisting in her binding on a diplomatic mission?

3) His ‘position’: Asmark is de facto factotum to Lady Bathsheba. He would however deny being an employee, certainly if he has inherited enough to live on from his mother. He does not think that an oral offer of employment on unspecified terms by an unidentified impostor constitutes a binding contract. He is a loyal subject in the service of the crown for whatever favours (if any) the crown chooses to bestow. He considers royal patronage of any sort a far more valuable commodity than mere money.

4) The queen expressed an interest in his art and he will offer to show her the works she is more likely to appreciate when he is next in Amber.

5) His ‘shadow’ in Sapphire: He would be interested in finding out more about the boy he resembles: notably who his mother is. If he can find someone to discretely enquire of, he will say he noticed the resemblance and wonders if the boy’s mother might be a relation of his.