Khitan’s Diary part 12: Rinaldo – Excommunications – Hall of Mirrors – Rebellion

In The Doom that Came to Amber

27^th Bull 3658 – afternoon

So it was that I found myself at the scene once more of Clarence’s funeral. I was eager to find out what had actually happened, but I was also keen to recover from my injury and take a rest. With Asmark and Aylwin I set forth to discover a place where we could relax and take our bearings. On the way we met Rinaldo.

As we left the field where the funeral had been held we saw that some poor wizard had been trampled to death in the rush to get out. Once we were out of the field it became apparent that insanity had taken grip in the minds of many. I saw one poor sorcerer who had lost his eyes. I went to try and aid him and calm his mind, but to my horror I discovered that not only had he pulled out his own eyes, but also that the insanity was so strong that I was on the brink of being infected myself.

I thought that perhaps Nyarlathotep could use his insanity attack to greater effect if he channelled it through another weaker mind.

Aylwin said that the sorcerer was beyond help, and I reluctantly agreed that he might be right.

As we considered whether to take further action two of Rinaldo’s men appeared with drawn swords that were stained with blood. They said that they had put some deranged being to the sword, but had lost one of their number.

Rinaldo said we should talk and so we departed by Trump to his Kingdom of Kashfa.

He said that he had a special room where we could converse without being overheard. Apparently this room was created by Brand (so unfortunately it may not actually be all that safe from his machinations, assuming that he still lives, which he may, considering Deirdre’s survival).

There was a discussion of what had happened at the funeral. Rinaldo said he wanted it kept quiet what had happened. Apparently Alaric had mentioned Nyarlathotep to annoy Clarissa. I cursed myself for not warning Alaric more severely about this kind of risk. I am sure he had no idea of the repercussions of his actions, but everyone else seemed to blame him personally.

During this discussion it became clear that Aylwin had lost his Trump related abilities. I cannot remember how this came to our general attention because I was worried about the next day.

Apparently Clarissa is determined to seize Amber by force and has the ability to observe all that passes in Amber and to lightning bolt any location close to Amethyst. She was casting a mighty spell when we left Amethyst, I could feel the power building. I told the others but they did not react.

Rinaldo said that he was plagued by a cabal of wizards who had been loyal to his mother (Jasra apparently) but now were under someone else’s influence. I remembered that I had once before prepared myself for combating these very same sorcerers and that I had two spells designed especially to take them out. Rinaldo wanted help in fighting these in return for which he would offer his support to Amber.

He also wanted Kashfa to become part of the Golden Circle.

I examined the magical construction of the ‘secure’ room and I feel that studying Brand’s work provided me with some insight into magical workings. A devious construction, with perhaps some hidden elements, or perhaps not?

I was considering the preparations for the next day, a visit to Lyon Abbey, dread place, when Aylwin asked me if I knew of a way to get him to Fiona’s side as he had a plan to aid her with his magical songs. I replied that I had at least two ways of travelling such distances but that they were not by and large safe and also that we did not really know where she was. This seemed to put an end to this speculation.

I considered creating some special weapons custom-made to fight any vile creatures that we might meet at Lyon Abbey. However I realised that this would take too long so I decided to settle for my usual trusty spell of War Chest summoning and to concentrate on preparing a magical shield, with the Elder Sign inscribed upon it, to defend me from any vile monsters. I was pleased with the shield I created - its magic seemed strong and the Elder Sign was well inscribed in silver on a blue background.

Before sleep I meditated upon the shield to protect me from the vile happenings of the previous day and to prepare myself for the horrors ahead.