Formenos
Chapter Eleven - On The Threshold Of War
With the battle on the plains of Eragnor concluded, Kyle acted swiftly, suspecting that other Amberites might have suffered similar attacks from their own mirror-wraith counterparts. He initiated Trump contact with all surviving Amberites for whom he had Trumps, including Suhuy of Chaos. Only Corin, Joshua, Flora, and Caine failed to respond. Once linked, Kyle recounted the events at Eragnor and inquired about their wellbeing. It quickly became clear that nearly all had faced attacks by mirror-wraiths - Fiona being the exception, as she had remained with Kyle and was for some reason spared. Benedict and Julian had both been shielded by the guards of Castle Amber, while Dworkin had dealt decisively with his assailants - taking down his and Caine’s attackers with apparent ease. Llewella had been defended by the Royal Guards of Rebma, Gerard had been protected by Kyle’s own retainers in his Shadow, but Flora, tragically, had been slain. Suhuy reported that he had not been targeted but acknowledged the significance of these coordinated strikes and agreed to investigate individuals within the Courts of Chaos who were known to possess Amberite blood.
Benedict was furious, demanding to know how such attacks could be prevented in the future - and who was behind them. In response, Suhuy reached out via Trump to Merlin and Dara, confirming that they too had been targeted by mirror-wraiths. However, both had been protected by personal guards and had managed to destroy their attackers. With this confirmation, Suhuy ended the Trump contact.
The Amberites reviewed the known threats to Amber’s survival - those enemies believed to be working toward its downfall. Chief among the topics discussed were the status of the Old Gods, the enigmatic denizens of the Mirror Realm, the rising influence of the Church of the Serpent, and the unknowable horrors that might dwell within the Abyss. Though the Abyss demanded further investigation, the ever-present fear of its corrupting Taint remained a powerful deterrent. Bannoq raised the question of who might benefit from the recent and sudden disappearance of all demons, but in the absence of Corin and Joshua - whose knowledge of demonic matters was far greater than any Amberites - no clear answers emerged.
As for the Old Gods, it continued to be the case that they believed three remained imprisoned, two had faded from existence, and the remainder were either dead or otherwise accounted for. The Old Gods were known to have a strict hierarchy, with Abaddon once standing at its pinnacle. Though Macha had been the most magically powerful of their number, and The Serpent had ranked extremely high - even before the cosmic balance was reduced to a binary between It and the Unicorn, and both had absorbed more power than any being before them.
The group speculated on whether clandestine cults to the Old Gods might still persist within the Courts of Chaos - precisely the sort of mystery Joshua had intended to research. Regarding the imprisoned deities, it remained uncertain whether one or more had already escaped, particularly given the Golem’s recent emergence on the Primal Plane. Among the known prisoners, only Tauron had previously seemed rational and emotionally stable, though he had always remained aloof from the affairs of Reality. That, at least, had been true before his confinement.
Corin’s vision of the Planes of Reality was also revisited - especially the frequency with which the Realm of Mirrors was said to brush against the Primal Plane. They feared the Realm of Prisons might begin to do the same with increasing regularity, as the death of the Unicorn continued to destabilise the metaphysical fabric of Reality. Should this trend continue, the sealed horrors of bygone eons - and the three imprisoned Old Gods - might break free.
Finally, their thoughts turned to Stålmannen. Unique among all beings, he represented both a potential ally and an unpredictable threat. It was agreed he must either be brought into their cause or removed from the equation entirely. Bannoq speculated that some greater intelligence might be orchestrating events behind the scenes - perhaps even the mysterious inhabitants of the Mirror Realm.
Kyle initiated Trump contact with Dworkin, and soon he, Bannoq, and William stepped through to join the ancient sorcerer. The aftermath of Dworkin’s confrontation with the two mirror-wraiths at the Primal Pattern was still evident, though it was clear that he had dispatched them with speed and precision. Seizing the opportunity, they questioned Dworkin about the Mirror Realm and its origins. Yet even he - architect of the Pattern and one of the most knowledgeable beings in existence - admitted his understanding was limited.
Dworkin explained that the Mirror Realm had been created by Macha the Morrigan, the Old God of Magic, who had also seeded it with her loyal servants: the Shroudlings. These beings were dangerously unpredictable and possessed unusual, arcane abilities. He further reminded them that Oberon’s first wife, Savik, had been one of these Shroudlings, and that she had borne him three children. What became of Savik and her offspring after Oberon chose Amber - and Dworkin - over the Courts of Chaos and Savik, remained a mystery. However, Dworkin considered it highly likely they had returned to the Mirror Realm.
Though he believed it might be possible to force an entry into that realm, Dworkin cautioned that doing so would cause significant disruption to whatever area of the Primal Plane such an intrusion was attempted. Ultimately, he warned, any mirror-like surface could serve as a gateway into the Mirror Realm - provided the individual had the appropriate power to traverse it.
Dworkin informed them that Caine had regained consciousness and was having breakfast. When they went to check on him, they noticed Caine discreetly tucking something beneath his pillow - a Trump of Annael. It quickly became clear that Caine was fully up to speed on recent events, having been in contact with Julian via Trump. He was already preparing to return to Amber to assist with reconstruction efforts. After exchanging farewells, Kyle attempted once more to reach Corin and Joshua through Trump - and this time, both answered.
Kyle brought them up to date, particularly regarding the Shroudlings - information that sparked immediate recognition in Joshua, who was already familiar with them due to multiple encounters with Savik during her time with Oberon. They reviewed the ongoing discussions, and Joshua requested that any new intelligence concerning demons be relayed to him, as he was actively compiling data on their movements and purpose.
With the Trump call ended, Kyle, Bannoq, and William returned to Amber. Once there, Kyle re-established contact with Suhuy to discuss the attacks further and to suggest initiating contact with Dara. However, Suhuy strongly advised against it, warning that Dara - a formidable and notoriously temperamental sorceress - would not react well to being approached for the first time via Trump by a stranger. Such a misstep, he cautioned, could prove perilous.
Still sheltering within the Cult of Benedict’s hidden sanctuary alongside Gilva, Joshua examined the remains of his mirror-wraith attacker, hoping to uncover some clue as to its origin. Unfortunately, the body was utterly inert - yielding no insight. Turning to the cultists present, he asked whether any of them were familiar with the Old Gods or if remnants of their worship still existed within the Courts of Chaos. None admitted to any knowledge of such cults. They instead recommended that he consult Suhuy, or perhaps someone similarly ancient and well-informed, like King Swayvill.
Seeking answers, Joshua attempted Trump contact with Merlin. He succeeded, but found Merlin in the company of Dara - who immediately seized control of the conversation. Demanding to know who was calling, she gave Joshua little time to respond. He attempted to ask whether they had been attacked by mirror-wraiths, and Dara tersely confirmed that both she and Merlin had indeed been targeted, though they were unharmed. However, clearly irritated and focused solely on her efforts to counter the Church of the Serpent, she cut the connection short with a sharp Power Word of disruption.
Frustrated after his conversations, Joshua reached out to Suhuy via Trump and stepped through to join him. He questioned the ancient scholar about Abaddon and the Old Gods, specifically whether any active worship of them persisted within the Courts of Chaos. Suhuy admitted he knew of no such practices but speculated that secret cults might still exist. However, any such groups would be considered socially and politically unacceptable, given that the Serpent was recognized as the sole deity within the Courts.
Their discussion turned to the repositories of knowledge in Chaos - namely, the Royal Library and the Library of the Church of the Serpent. Yet Suhuy doubted Joshua would be able to access either. These institutions were protected by powerful enchantments that would almost certainly strip away Joshua's layered identity protections, exposing him. Moreover, Suhuy believed that those libraries were unlikely to hold anything beyond what he already possessed in his own extensive collection. Both were also fiercely guarded, particularly due to the ongoing tensions between the Crown and the Church of the Serpent.
Suhuy predicted that these tensions would soon escalate into open conflict. He did not entirely rule out the existence of Old God cults, but he knew of no individuals involved with them. As for Joshua’s safety, Suhuy cautioned that if he planned to move about within the Courts, he must avoid powerful locations - especially the Church of the Serpent. When conflict erupted, Dara would almost certainly be a central figure, and Suhuy emphasized how obsessively she guarded both Merlin’s autonomy and physical safety.
Instead, Joshua turned to subtler methods. He extended his Logrus tendrils in secret, threading them through the Shadows bordering the Courts of Chaos. His goal was to uncover traces - signs or sigils - that might indicate past or present worship of the Old Gods, manifestations that could serve as reflections of deeper, hidden devotions within the Courts themselves. His cunning and experience served him well. He did indeed detect faint echoes of such worship - flickering remnants preserved in the iconography and markings scattered across nearby Shadows. From these, he gained a clearer understanding of the visual language used to venerate the Old Gods and began to discern how such symbols might manifest within the Courts proper, particularly in connection to potential devotees of Abaddon.
Elsewhere in Shadow, Corin - now recovered from her mirror-wraith attack - sought to understand the current state of the Unicorn’s dispersed power by attuning herself to the Alicorn. Her intuition led her to believe that the Unicorn's primal energy had been fully scattered across Shadow, waiting to be reclaimed by anyone with the knowledge and skill to reassemble it. Such a feat, she reasoned, would bestow immense power on the one who succeeded.
Resolved to seek further guidance, Corin resumed her quest to find Bennu. Time lost meaning during her search, but with the Alicorn as her guide, she eventually pierced the veil separating the Primal Plane from Bennu’s reality. As she crossed the threshold, she was met by the immense presence of Bennu - his form appearing vast beyond comprehension - so before her she radiated waves of friendship and calm. In response to her approach, the colossal figure acknowledged her, then gradually condensed into a more manageable, though still towering, humanoid shape.
They spoke. Corin informed him of the Unicorn’s death and revealed the glowing mark the creature had left upon her. Bennu, visibly moved, admitted he had felt the moment of the Unicorn’s passing. Studying the mark closely, he recognised it as his sister’s - a trace of the Unicorn’s essence - and warned Corin that she must remove it soon, as its continued presence would eventually harm her.
At his request, Corin handed him the Alicorn. Bennu examined it in solemn silence, murmuring softly in a language Corin did not understand. After several minutes, he returned it to her. He explained that the mark must be transferred to an “unaligned” real being - someone who had not yet chosen allegiance between the Pattern and the Logrus. Only such a vessel could safely bear the mark without suffering the same deterioration Corin faced. Once the transference was complete, Bennu confirmed, that individual would be capable of drawing the scattered essence of the Unicorn back to themselves.
Corin turned the conversation toward Abaddon and the Abyss - primordial forces that, along with Primal Chaos, predated all things, whether living or dead, animate or inanimate. Bennu admitted that he knew of no being who had entered the Abyss and returned unscathed - if they returned at all. Its corrupting Taint, he said, had no known cure. He speculated that perhaps his own power, the Abiding Flame, might be able to burn the Taint away, but such an effort might prove fatal to the infected. Walking the Pattern might also serve as a potential remedy, though he was less certain of its efficacy. As for the Logrus, Bennu considered it an unlikely solution; surely, Chaosians tainted by the Abyss would have already tested that route, to no avail.
Bennu acknowledged his own limited knowledge of the Abyss. However, he suggested that his lost sister, Macha, might hold the key to purging the Taint - none had ever matched her mastery of Magic. He confessed that he had not felt her fade from existence, though he had been too drained by the struggle against Abaddon to know for sure. Bennu then told Corin of Macha’s most devoted acolyte: a powerful figure known as the Glazier. Passing Corin a psychic impression of the Glazier, Bennu explained that this servant had been Macha’s most formidable creation - and might possess the knowledge needed to cure or prevent infection by the Abyssal Taint.
Corin thanked Bennu for his guidance, and he explained that she could contact him again through William, should the need arise. He reaffirmed his willingness to support the transference of the Unicorn’s mark and promised to inform William of their agreement - and of the new alliance now forming between them. As their conversation drew to a close, Corin’s thoughts turned to Alesha, realising that she perfectly fit the criteria for the transference: a real being, unaligned to either the Pattern or the Logrus.
Kyle, William, and Bannoq returned to Castle Amber amid the ongoing reconstruction efforts. They entered directly into the Throne Room, where the aftermath of the mirror-wraith attacks remained starkly visible - blood still stained the floors and walls. Benedict greeted them and briefed them on the recent combat, confirming that Flora had been killed by her own wraith.
Together, they speculated on why no further attacks had occurred. The consensus was that the force behind the mirror-wraiths likely lacked the capacity to launch another wave so soon. Furthermore, Kyle’s deduction - that one must destroy a wraith not their own - made a repeat assault far less effective. Benedict asserted that the link between the mirror-wraiths and the Mirror Realm was now beyond doubt. As such, any reflective surface within Castle Amber could be a potential vulnerability. He issued a warning: no member of the royal family should be left alone again.
Benedict then shifted the conversation to strategy. He emphasized Amber’s need for new allies and reiterated the importance of investigating The Verdant Tree. Yet he also made it clear that Stålmannen presented a more immediate concern. Though the enigmatic droid had not acted aggressively since walking the Pattern - and Bannoq believed it simply wished to be left alone - its immense power posed both a risk and an opportunity. It was imperative, Benedict declared, that Stålmannen be either recruited or neutralized. Progress was needed, not only with Stålmannen, but with other potential allies and enemies as well.
Benedict further stated that he would not leave Amber undefended until a new monarch had been chosen. With the Unicorn gone and Random’s condition potentially irrecoverable, the question of succession could not be delayed much longer. Until then, he charged Kyle with leading the mission to confront and resolve the situation with Stålmannen.
Corin returned to Amber via Kyle’s Trump, where the group convened to discuss the Mark of the Unicorn and Alesha’s potential role in the transference. They noted that Alesha remained unaligned - neither sworn to the Pattern nor the Logrus - and already possessed a unique connection to Bennu through William. Seeing this as an opportunity, Kyle reached out to Alesha via Trump, contacting her in his Shadow of New Terra, and brought her through to Amber.
Though she arrived somewhat wary, Alesha agreed to listen. The group explained the situation: the Unicorn’s essence, now dangerously lodged within Corin, needed to be transferred before it caused irreparable harm. Alesha, they believed, was the ideal candidate. Bennu - revered by William as a father - had offered his aid in performing the transference.
Alesha was understandably concerned. She questioned what the procedure might do to her and expressed scepticism, having little reason to trust the Amberites. However, they reasoned that she might trust William, and after he personally explained the plan and offered sincere reassurances regarding Bennu’s intentions, Alesha’s suspicions began to ease. Ultimately, she agreed to go forward with the plan.
Corin, eager to free herself from the Mark before further damage was done, pressed to act immediately. Bennu had indicated that the transference would be swift - so without delay, they prepared to proceed.
Meanwhile, Joshua sought out representatives of the Abyssal Divers Guild. As it happened, a large gathering of guild members had assembled at one of the primary diving precipices. Though none were actively diving at that moment, all eyes were fixed on the edge - clearly something unusual had occurred. The crowd stood in quiet tension, watching the drop below, while filmys circled overhead.
Joshua soon spotted the reason for their concern: a taut jumping cord extended from a nearby diving pole, stretched impossibly tight. Some 300 to 400 feet below, suspended at the cord’s maximum extension, hung a diver - frozen in time and completely motionless. The only signs of life came from the occasional subtle vibrations travelling along the line.
The divers above were deep in discussion, clearly unsettled. None had witnessed anything like this before, and despite the growing unease, no one dared attempt a descent to rescue their imperilled comrade. As Joshua surveyed the crowd, he noticed that several individuals wore badges or House insignia - some bearing the marks of prominent Chaosian Houses. A few of these symbols resembled ones he had observed in Shadow during his earlier investigations. However, those bearing the markings were scattered throughout the crowd, with no indication of organized presence or coordination.
Joshua decided to intervene. Leaping past the onlookers, he seized the cord and began to shimmy down toward the suspended diver. His actions caused an immediate stir - cries of alarm and disapproval rippled through the crowd. As he descended, Joshua was struck by a growing sense of unease. No matter how far he climbed, he made no visible progress toward the diver. The cord remained impossibly taut, and his movement along it appeared to have no measurable effect.
Seeking greater insight, Joshua extended Logrus tendrils downward. This provoked a sharp reaction from the observers above - particularly from those with Sight - who cried out in growing agitation. As the tendrils pushed further, Joshua’s discomfort deepened. Despite clearly advancing away from him, the tendrils appeared to draw no closer to the diver. Instead, they encountered mounting resistance, as though the very air had thickened into a near-solid mass.
Then, without warning, the tendrils themselves were snapped taut. A powerful force began pulling Joshua downward. Had he not possessed such formidable strength, he might have been torn from the cord entirely. Reacting swiftly, he severed the tendrils and began climbing back up. Upon returning to the edge, he addressed the crowd, bluntly stating that their fellow diver was gone - and that the cord should be cut.
His suggestion was not well received. One of the divers angrily demanded, “If your brother were down there, would you cut the rope?” Given Joshua's extremely poor relationship with his own brother Oberon, one of the two most infamous Children of Chaos, despite raising a finger in response, he checked himself and wisely kept his answer in the affirmative to himself. Suspicion mounted. Joshua was an outsider, unfamiliar to them, and his abrupt arrival and grim pronouncement only heightened their mistrust. Murmurs spread, and calls went out for representatives of the Church of the Serpent, with many insisting that the Church would find a way to save the lost diver.
Joshua made his way back through the crowd, quietly selecting a target. With a deft application of subtle and potent magic, he slipped into the mind of the chosen diver and implanted a command: cut the cord. The victim moved with quiet determination. Drawing his blade, he suddenly sprang into action - leaping past the gathered onlookers before anyone could react. He reached the cord, seized it near its anchor point, and with a clean strike, severed it just below his grip.
The tension in the line launched him backward with violent force, flinging him up and over the edge of the precipice and into the throng of onlookers. Meanwhile, the severed cord plummeted toward the depths. Yet when it reached roughly the same point where the original diver hung, it, too, stopped - suspended mid-air as if caught in invisible amber. The diver and the rope now both appeared frozen, caught at the edge of reality, as though resting on the event horizon of a black hole.
Joshua’s enthralled pawn was immediately seized by his fellow guild members, dragged away as he protested his innocence - pleading that he had no idea why he had acted. The crowd looked on in hushed confusion and growing anxiety, murmuring in disbelief. No one could explain what had just transpired - and a sense of unease now hung heavy in the air.
Back in Amber, Kyle, William, Corin, and Alesha prepared to enter Bennu’s realm to complete the transference - the "operation" that would remove the Unicorn’s mark from Corin and place it upon Alesha. Kyle attempted Trump contact with Bennu’s realm, focusing specifically on Bennu himself. Even for someone of Kyle’s considerable power, the connection took time to establish. To aid in the process, Kyle used William - Bennu’s son - as a psychic anchor, bridging the immense metaphysical distance between Amber and Bennu’s domain.
Eventually, the Trump contact connected, and Kyle found himself face to face with Bennu. The sheer force of Bennu’s presence was overwhelming, even through the Trump - this being’s power eclipsed nearly anything Kyle had encountered. It was, Kyle realized, Bennu’s first experience with Trump contact. Nonetheless, Bennu adapted instantly. Sensing its nature, he suppressed his aura, cloaking the full extent of his power, and effortlessly expanded the connection into a full gateway, inviting them through.
The group stepped into Bennu’s realm - a place thrumming with raw, living energy. Bennu called forth his children, beings like William, radiant and strange, to assist in the ritual. Though Bennu was clearly holding much of his strength in check so as not to overwhelm them, the sheer pressure of his suppressed power weighed heavily on all present - an oppressive, awe-inspiring force that filled the air and settled into their bones.
Corin and Alesha stood together, each holding the Alicorn between them. Alesha was visibly anxious, her grip hesitant, but resolute. Bennu, sensing the potency of what was to come, urged the others to retreat to a safe distance. Behind him, his gathered children - beings like William - formed into a phalanx, each placing a hand upon the shoulder of the one before them, forming a living conduit for the energy about to be unleashed.
As the ritual began, the air around Corin and Alesha shimmered with gathering power. Their hair lifted and crackled with static, standing on end as a field of energy swelled between them. The build-up reached an unbearable crescendo, and then - without warning - they both erupted in searing, blinding light. It was clear that the process had begun to take a heavy toll. Both women writhed in visible agony, their bodies convulsing under the immense strain.
Eventually, the Alicorn itself shattered into a cloud of dense, luminous dust, which drifted down and settled upon Alesha. Watching through the lens of his Pattern Sight, Kyle saw ethereal tethers of immense power stretch between Corin and Alesha, linking their very essences. The pain intensified. Both continued to suffer, their cries piercing the charged silence, and Kyle could sense that even Bennu was sharing in their agony - channelling part of the burden himself.
As the energies finally waned, several of Bennu’s children broke from the phalanx. They moved to Corin and Alesha’s sides, gently catching them as their bodies gave out. The two women were lowered carefully to the ground, unconscious but alive. Bennu, clearly fatigued, confirmed that the transference was complete - though what might happen next, particularly to Alesha, remained unknown. The power of the Unicorn now resided within her, but how it would manifest was impossible to predict. Bennu offered to train and protect her, should she remain in his realm. Regardless, he warned, Alesha must be closely guarded in her current, vulnerable state.
With the transference complete, Alesha and Corin remained in Bennu’s care to recover. Recognising the limits of Trump within his realm, Bennu personally assisted Kyle and Bannoq in their departure, as external Trumps would not function without his explicit support or permission. The transition was smooth - almost effortless. They felt themselves gently ushered out by Bennu’s power, as if guided by an unseen hand, until they emerged once more into Shadow - somewhere between the poles of Chaos and Order, in a liminal space that marked the midpoint of reality’s great divide.
Meanwhile, Joshua discreetly followed the Divers as they escorted his enthralled victim away from the scene. Before long, they were met by a contingent of minor clerics from the Cathedral of the Serpent. The Divers and priests engaged in a tense discussion about the incident at the precipice, and eventually, the entire group returned to the edge for further deliberation. Over the course of the next hour, amidst heated conversations and theological justifications, a consensus was reached: Joshua’s victim was to be punished.
The chief cleric passed judgment - death by casting into the Abyss. The sentence was swiftly carried out, and the man was hurled over the precipice. As with the original diver, he became suspended mid-fall, frozen in place at the edge of the void, as though time or gravity itself had ceased to function.
Following this, the priests declared an immediate suspension of all diving activity. A senior cleric from the Church of the Serpent was summoned, and by the time he arrived, most of the Divers had dispersed - many grumbling about the overreach of the Church. Still, the act revealed something telling: the Church of the Serpent now wielded enough power and influence to issue life-and-death commands without significant resistance, a clear sign of its growing dominance amid rising tensions with the Crown.
Soon after, high-ranking members of the clergy arrived and began establishing a formal base of operations near the precipice. As part of their investigations, they dropped various items into the Abyss, only to witness the same phenomenon: each object froze in place at approximately the same depth as the two suspended divers - trapped at the boundary between reality and whatever lay below.
Joshua reached out to Suhuy to inform him of the events at the Abyssal precipice. As they discussed what had transpired, it became evident that Suhuy harboured suspicions - he clearly believed Joshua had played a role in the so-called “crime” that led to the diver’s execution. Still, Suhuy confessed he wasn’t sure what to make of the incident as a whole. The situation was further complicated by the near-total absence of demons in the Courts. Nearly all had departed, leaving behind only the rare, solitary types - beings known for their independence and uniqueness in a culture otherwise marked by tribal structures and communal behaviour.
Seeking further insight, Joshua attempted Trump contact with Corin, but the call failed. He then reached out to Merlin, but found him similarly unresponsive. Left with few immediate options, Joshua performed a Trump casting, seeking guidance on how best to uncover the deeper mysteries surrounding the Abyss.
The result was striking. The first card drawn was Stålmannen - and no other Major Arcana appeared in the spread. Every additional Trump drawn pointed toward the same conclusion: Joshua needed to establish contact with the enigmatic, Pattern-walking construct. The path forward, it seemed, would begin with Stålmannen.
Kyle and Bannoq returned to Amber via Trump to confer with Benedict. The discussion quickly turned to the escalating situation involving Caine, who was determined to exact revenge on Annael. Benedict was far from pleased. Outraged, he demanded that Annael be brought before him immediately.
Kyle attempted Trump contact with Annael but was initially blocked. Undeterred, he forced the connection - and what he saw was alarming. Annael and Caine were locked in violent combat. Julian lay unconscious nearby, surrounded by several incapacitated prison guards. Annael, though clearly wounded, was holding his own and had begun to push Caine back with surprising strength and fury.
Realising the urgency, Kyle expanded the Trump contact to include the others in Amber. Benedict, grim and resolute, ordered Bannoq to end the confrontation at once. Bannoq stepped through at precisely the right moment, using the element of surprise to knock both combatants apart - Caine hitting the ground hard, while Annael dropped to his knees, weakened but defiant.
Before Annael could recover his footing, Bannoq quickly invoked the one name that might halt the chaos: Alesha. The effect was immediate. Annael froze, his attention fully seized. He demanded to know where she was and what had happened to her. As Caine stirred on the ground, Bannoq levelled his blade at him in warning. Caine tried to bat the weapon aside, shouting that Annael had to die. Bannoq, however, held his ground, refusing to yield.
Turning to Annael, Bannoq instructed him to lower his weapon. But Annael refused. He declared he would not return to his cell and then turned to flee. Kyle attempted to catch him via Trump, hoping to lock him in psychic combat, but Annael unleashed a Power Word of Disruption, severing the contact in an instant.
As Annael fled, he used additional Power Words to hasten his escape. Both Bannoq and Caine, equally skilled in such arcane tactics, pursued without hesitation.
Badly wounded and clearly exhausting his reserves, Annael soon realised he could not maintain his flight. Slowing, he turned to face his pursuers. Before reaching him, Bannoq acted swiftly - catching Caine off guard with a sudden kick that struck with precision and force, rendering him unconscious.
But before Bannoq could speak to Annael, Kyle intervened. With absolute control over the elements of his own Shadow, he summoned a bolt of lightning from the sky, striking Annael with brutal efficiency. The blast dropped Annael to the ground. He vomited from the shock, the residue dripping from his lips as he struggled to rise. Through gritted teeth and sheer will, he managed to gasp out a defiant declaration: he would not return to his cell.
Bannoq approached cautiously and spoke to Annael of Alesha, assuring him she was safe - and that she wanted to see him. The effect was immediate. Annael’s resistance faltered. Aware that he was in no condition to fight, he lowered his guard and surrendered his sword to Bannoq. Still, he issued a final warning: if either Julian or Caine made another attempt on his life, it would be the last thing they ever did.
Kyle Trumped through and promptly retrieved Caine’s Spikard, removing the dangerous artefact from his possession. He then transported both Annael and Bannoq back to the prison for medical attention. At Kyle’s instruction, sedatives were included as part of Annael’s treatment to ensure compliance and stability. Julian and Caine, both injured, were also tended to by the medical staff.
Once the necessary care had been administered, and with the exception of Julian and Caine who remained under observation, the others returned to Amber. Annael, though physically stabilized, remained emotionally cold toward Benedict. The stoic protector of Amber, unshaken, remarked that Caine and Julian should be returned as well - he intended to have words with both in due course.
Turning to Annael, Benedict made it clear that nothing had changed in their arrangement. He ordered the guards to place Annael in the dungeons of Amber. However, Bannoq intervened, redirecting the escort to a more comfortable, though still secure, apartment - balancing necessity with compassion.
In Bennu’s realm, Corin awoke feeling as though she had been utterly scrubbed clean - renewed, yet profoundly altered. Within her, she sensed something unfamiliar but undeniably powerful: a new spark that pulsed with quiet intensity. As she focused inward, she realised she had been gifted a fragment of Bennu’s primal power - the Abiding Flame.
She began to explore the sensation, and it didn’t take long for her to recognise it. The energy was strikingly similar to what she had once drawn from William when she had used him as a raw power source. This, she now understood, was no coincidence - it was a side effect of Bennu’s direct involvement in the transference of the Unicorn’s essence.
Reassured that the new energy posed no immediate danger, Corin rose and checked on Alesha, who was still sleeping peacefully. With everything in order, and with Bennu’s assistance, Corin departed his realm and returned to Amber.
With everyone now gathered in Amber - save for Joshua - the group turned their attention to deciding their next move. Should they attempt to breach the Realm of Prisons? Kyle believed it was a possibility. He had gathered enough data from the recent tear in Reality - the same rupture that had allowed the Golem to enter the Primal Plane - to suggest that, with further study, he might be able to construct a Trump bridge into that forbidden realm.
Recognising the volatility of their situation, and the likelihood that any engagement with Stålmannen might devolve into conflict if diplomacy failed, they agreed that all available resources and allies would need to be ready. Acting on this, Kyle reached out to Joshua via Trump. The contact was accepted, and Joshua soon returned to Amber.
Once there, he recounted his experiences in the Courts of Chaos and the events surrounding the Abyss. His conclusion was sobering: someone needed to descend into the Abyss to gather information. Without direct observation, everything they knew - or assumed - about the threat it posed remained speculative at best.
The group turned their attention to the thirteen known Spikards - powerful artefacts of immense significance. Of these, two remained unaccounted for. They also discussed the evolving situations of Annael and Alesha. Before departing Amber, they agreed it was time to speak with Annael directly.
They visited his quarters - a well-guarded but relatively comfortable room. Aware that Annael was already familiar with Trump (having used one to escape Amber at the end of his first confrontation), Kyle offered him a specially crafted Trump card. This one allowed for communication only, not travel, and depicted Alesha. It was a gesture of goodwill, granting Annael the chance to speak with his sister.
They gave him a brief explanation of what had happened to Alesha, including the transference of the Unicorn’s essence. Curious - and perhaps still combative - Annael requested to see where the mark had been placed on Corin. She responded with a withering, sarcastic look, unimpressed by the request.
Despite the tension, the conversation proved productive. Moved by the news of Alesha’s condition and open to the possibility of reconciliation, Annael agreed to suspend his vendetta against Amber - at least until he had spoken to his sister. However, the animosity between him and Benedict clearly remained unresolved.
They left Annael alone to speak with Alesha - though Kyle, ever cautious, observed the conversation through Trump. What he witnessed was heartfelt and sincere. Annael and Alesha spoke warmly, their reunion marked by tears and expressions of deep affection. Alesha clearly believed the Amberites had acted in good faith and spoke fondly of her experiences in Bennu’s realm, describing it as wondrous and serene.
Kyle noted the emotional conflict in Annael. Though his hatred for Amber still simmered beneath the surface, Alesha’s words were clearly reaching him. Her presence, her trust in their supposed enemies, and her obvious transformation were beginning to soften his resolve. Kyle sensed a subtle shift - Annael was beginning to question the certainty of his vendetta.
Their conversation lasted a long while, filled with reminiscence. They spoke mostly of their shared past, recounting moments from Alesha’s early life. By the time she was a baby, Annael had already been a fully grown adult, and it became evident that he had visited her often in the Shadow where she had been raised. Yet, as intimate as their bond was, Kyle noted a telling absence: there was no mention of the Blood Droids, nor of Annael’s life beyond his relationship with Alesha. It was clear she knew little - if anything - about who her brother truly was outside of the role he had played in her life.
They returned to the Throne Room to brief Benedict on recent developments. He expressed strong approval of how they were handling the delicate situation with Annael and instructed them to continue managing it with care. As for Caine and Julian, Benedict told them to leave those matters to him - he would handle his younger brothers personally and in due time.
Kyle then presented Caine’s Spikard to Benedict, offering it as a gesture of goodwill, suggesting it be returned under Benedict’s discretion. The conversation turned briefly to Martin, who had also made an attempt on Annael’s life. Benedict stated that he would deal with Martin as well, noting that among the family, he had the closest relationship with him - even closer than Random had.
With internal matters delegated, Benedict turned their attention to the larger threat: Stålmannen. He instructed them to either bring the Pattern-walking construct into their alliance or, if that proved impossible, remove him from the field entirely. The group agreed, settling on the plan to approach Stålmannen directly. Other concerns, such as Trebernaxus and the Verdant Tree, would have to wait.
Kyle retrieved Stålmannen’s Trump and attempted to observe him, though establishing contact proved unusually difficult. The process took far, far longer than expected, requiring Kyle to constantly adjust the psychic connection - as if Stålmannen was shifting or evolving moment by moment, becoming something other than what he had been. Anyone with lesser Trump mastery would likely have failed, but Kyle’s skill allowed him to finally break through.
What he saw was chaos.
A massive battle was underway on the outskirts of a gleaming, futuristic city. Adjusting his view to align with Stålmannen’s perspective, Kyle observed a vast, gate-like structure in the distance. From it surged an endless tide of demonic creatures. Above, Blood Droids - though likely simulacrums, as the originals had been destroyed during the retaking of Amber - soared through the skies, cutting down flying demons and raining destruction upon the enemy below. On the ground, countless lesser droids battled ferociously, but their efforts were hampered by the relentless replenishment of demonic forces flooding through the gate.
Seeing the urgency, Kyle converted the vision into full Trump contact. Stålmannen, though clearly occupied, had no choice but to accept. He tersely acknowledged his situation but remained focused on the conflict. Kyle immediately offered support, and Stålmannen accepted, bringing them through to a relatively secure vantage point from which they could assess the battlefield.
From their vantage point, they studied the demon gate in detail. It appeared to be a tunnel carved through Shadow itself, a jagged rupture in reality. At its mouth stood two enormous demons, commanding the battlefield and intervening whenever a Blood Droid drew too close. Thus far, none of the airborne Blood Droids had directly engaged these larger adversaries.
The scale of the invasion was staggering. Demons poured through the gate in endless waves, and it quickly became clear that unless the gate was sealed, there would be no path to victory. Despite Stålmannen’s near-total control over the surrounding Shadow, even he had been unaware of the gate’s emergence. Its creation had gone undetected, and he had no knowledge of how it had pierced his domain.
Attempts to analyse the gate proved futile. The tunnel seemed to actively resist scrutiny, draining or nullifying any magical or metaphysical power directed toward it. Every effort to probe its structure or origin was simply absorbed or negated - as if the demonic energies fuelling it existed in defiance of all conventional understanding.
Determined to reach the gate, Bannoq set off toward it, triggering his innate Danger Sense almost immediately. Sensing the risk, Joshua cast protective sorcery over him before joining the fray himself. Both Joshua and Corin shifted into their Primal forms, plunging into the heart of the battle alongside the allied forces. Kyle, by contrast, remained apart - observing and supporting from a distance through his strategic command.
The battle raged with unrelenting intensity. Though they proved individually superior to the demons they encountered, the sheer number of enemies made meaningful progress nearly impossible. Despite their strength, none of them were able to push close to the gate itself. Worse still, an oppressive weight seemed to hang in the air - an invisible force that periodically interfered with their access to their respective power sources, slowing their responses and dulling their magical instincts.
Then, something unexpected happened. Corin, attempting to tap into her newly acquired abilities, suddenly burst into song. The effect was profound. Her voice radiated a resonant power that washed over the battlefield, revitalising not only herself and Joshua but also the ground-based Droids fighting nearby. The oppressive atmosphere began to lift, and those touched by the song felt an invigorating surge - physically, mentally, and magically. The tide, at least momentarily, had shifted.
Bannoq carved a path through the demonic horde with practiced precision, cutting down foes with relative ease as he advanced steadily toward the gate. However, the closer he drew to it, the more intense the oppressive atmosphere became. The very air seemed to thicken around him, pressing against his body and movements - as though reality itself was trying to restrain him. It wasn’t just magical suppression anymore; it felt physical, like a leaden weight dragging at his limbs and dulling his senses.
In response, Bannoq invoked a Power Word designed to disrupt Chaos, hoping to push back against whatever force was bearing down on him. But it had no effect. The pressure remained undiminished, and the path ahead grew ever more treacherous.
Amidst the chaos of the battlefield, Kyle turned to sorcery. Focusing his will, he reached out and established a mental link with a nearby demon. The connection was successful, and with his superior Psyche, he swiftly overpowered the creature’s mind. With its will bent to his own, Kyle commanded the demon to turn on its kin.
The results were immediate - and noticed.
The possessed demon launched itself at its brethren, sowing confusion among the ranks. But the act did not go unanswered. The two towering demons guarding the gate appeared to sense Kyle’s intrusion. In response, they projected a surge of power across the battlefield - an unmistakable effort to break Kyle’s control and sever his psychic hold.
Joshua followed Kyle’s lead, but with greater intensity. Channelling his formidable mind control abilities through his Spikard, he seized control of multiple demons at once. He turned them against their own kind, ordering them to attack any not under his command. This manipulation, like Kyle’s, drew the attention of the towering gate guardians, who once again responded with a wave of disruptive power aimed at breaking the enchantment.
But Joshua was no ordinary sorcerer.
With the backing of ancient strength and the immense amplification provided by the Spikard, he maintained his grip on the possessed demons. The battlefield descended into chaos as demon fought demon, creating a ripple of disorder through the enemy ranks. Seizing the opportunity, the Droid army - now reinforced by internal sabotage - pressed harder, and the overwhelming force of the combined army held the demonic horde in a tenuous stalemate.
Kyle turned his attention to the fabric of the Shadow itself, attempting to reshape it in hopes of closing the demonic gate. Drawing on his powers of manipulation, he probed for weaknesses in the surrounding reality. But it quickly became evident that Stålmannen maintained absolute control over this Shadow - every aspect of it bent to his will.
And yet, even with such mastery, not even Stålmannen had been able to prevent the creation of the gateway, let alone seal it. The tunnel remained stubbornly open, a wound in reality that resisted all efforts to close it.
All three sorcerers - Kyle, Joshua, and Corin - followed Joshua’s earlier example, using their powers to seize control of additional demons. The tactic worked. With enemy ranks turning on themselves, the tide of battle began to shift. The frontline shrank, drawing the conflict inward toward the gate itself.
Now within striking distance of the towering demon commanders, Joshua acted decisively. He unleashed a disintegration spell, channelled once again through his Spikard. The result was devastating: the spell tore through one of the massive demons, obliterating half its body and hurling the rest to the ground in a charred heap.
With one of the commanders down, the Blood Droids surged forward. The demon horde began to falter, their coordination fraying as fear and confusion took hold. But the gate remained open, and the flood of reinforcements showed no sign of stopping. Despite the mounting momentum, the sheer volume of new demons spilling through the portal brought the droid advance to a grinding halt.
In a bold move, Corin unleashed a combined Logrus and Primal magic monofilament net, casting it across the mouth of the gateway. The effect was immediate and brutal. Demons charging through were instantly shredded, their bodies reduced to mincemeat as they passed through the slicing filaments. The advance halted abruptly - but only for a moment.
Without warning, an overwhelming wave of power burst outwards from the gateway. The net was obliterated in an instant, and the shockwave blasted demons, droids, and defenders alike from their feet. Even Joshua, Corin, and Bannoq were forced back by its power.
As the dust settled, a hush fell over the battlefield. A solitary human figure emerged from the heart of the tunnel. Corin recognized him immediately - it was the same being who had once offered her freedom during her imprisonment in the Abyssal Dungeons of the Courts.
The remaining colossal demon commander flanking the gate displayed unmistakable deference to the newcomer. The human newcomer raised a hand and, with a casual snap of his fingers, the demon horde began a sudden, disciplined retreat. As they withdrew through the gateway, their pace accelerated unnaturally - almost as if being sucked back into the tunnel. Yet despite this gravitational pull, Joshua, Corin, and Bannoq felt no such effect. At the same time, Stålmannen ordered his droid forces to stand down and retreat as well. The battle was over.
With a final wave, the mysterious human sent the larger demon through the gate. Then, turning once more toward the battlefield, he swept his gaze across the ruins and survivors alike. Though he spoke no words, all who met his eyes understood: this was far from finished. A moment later, the figure stepped back through the gate - and the gateway collapsed into nothingness behind him.
The droids moved swiftly across the battlefield, collecting their fallen and carrying them away for repairs where possible. As the Amberites observed, they noted something peculiar: the Blood Droids bore a faint argent sheen across their metallic forms. To their trained eyes, it resembled the tell-tale shimmer of Pattern-infused energy - something not unlike the magical resonance found in Bannoq’s or Julian’s armour.
The ground was littered with demonic corpses, a grim testament to the scale of the conflict. In the aftermath, the Amberites spoke with Stålmannen to assess what must come next. They made it clear that they had come both to offer support and to request it, knowing that the challenges ahead would require alliances rather than isolation.
Stålmannen, to their relief, appeared receptive. He admitted that had they attempted contact before the demonic incursion, he likely would have turned them away without a second thought. But the invasion had shaken his confidence in the security of his realm. He now saw the need for collaboration and agreed that such incursions must be prevented in the future - and that whoever was responsible must be identified and eliminated.
His directive was unequivocal: the demons must be destroyed.
Joshua and Corin, however, explained the immense difficulty of that goal. The very nature of the Abyss - and the extreme danger of venturing into it - made intelligence gathering impossible. It was not a matter of will, but of access, survival, and the unknowable forces that awaited within.
Stålmannen gave orders for his servants to gather the remains of the fallen demons so their essence could be analysed. The bodies, already beginning to rapidly decay, were swiftly collected and placed into a containment device that appeared to halt their disintegration instantly. Once filled, the device launched itself away - likely bound for a distant laboratory for further study.
Stålmannen explained that by examining the demonic material, it might be possible to develop a means of protection against the Abyssal Taint. Such a safeguard would be essential for any future expedition into the Abyss - an expedition he deemed necessary if they were to learn more about their true enemy.
However, he was clear about one thing: the person undertaking that mission should not be a being of “Order.” Those aligned with Pattern, he argued, were too far removed from the nature of Chaos and would draw attention, no matter how well they cloaked their aura. Subtlety would be critical, and Order-aligned agents would never go unnoticed in the Abyss.
Their conversation shifted to the battle’s final moments - and the mysterious human figure who had emerged from the gate. As they reflected on the encounter, Kyle suddenly recoiled in shock, a cold realisation dawning upon him. The figure’s appearance... it was disturbingly familiar.
With a growing sense of unease, Kyle pulled out the Trump deck Dworkin had given him when he was first introduced to Amber. His hands moved quickly, flipping through the cards until he found the one he dreaded: the Trump of his uncle - Brand. The resemblance was undeniable.
After a moment of contemplation, Stålmannen raised his hand. From the metallic paving beneath his feet, a silvery liquid began to rise, shifting and reshaping itself until it formed into a humanoid figure. He introduced it as Ettskinnavstål - a Skin of Steel. Designed to protect a non-Order-aligned being, it would serve as a safeguard for anyone venturing into the Abyss.
Joshua immediately volunteered.
Stålmannen agreed that Joshua was the only viable candidate. All others in their group bore some connection to the Pattern and thus would stand out too starkly in the chaotic energies of the Abyss. He explained that Ettskinnavstål would bond to Joshua, adapting to any form he assumed, while simultaneously shielding him from the Abyssal Taint.
Stålmannen also made it clear that Ettskinnavstål was loyal to the Pattern Droid's purpose. So long as Joshua remained focused on the mission - to uncover the nature of the threat lurking in the Abyss - it would work in harmony with him. It would not interfere or impose its will unless Joshua strayed from the core objective: a reconnaissance mission to gather vital intelligence.
Kyle reached out via Trump to Fiona, Benedict, and a few other members of the family. Fiona, however, did not respond. To those who did, Kyle shared the disturbing news - he believed the mysterious figure who emerged from the gate bore a striking resemblance to Brand. He also provided a general update on the recent events, including the outcome of the battle and the emerging alliance.
Benedict was clearly pleased to hear that an "alliance" had been formed with Stålmannen, viewing it as a significant strategic gain. However, the mention of Brand’s possible return troubled him deeply. The implications were serious - and potentially catastrophic.
Eager to begin his mission, Joshua agreed to the merging process with Ettskinnavstål. The silvery figure approached him and, without hesitation, began to morph - flowing seamlessly over his body like liquid metal. Within moments, Joshua was entirely encased in the gleaming silver skin, which then subtly reshaped itself to match his exact appearance before sinking beneath the surface of his flesh.
Stålmannen explained that Ettskinnavstål would remain dormant until needed, surfacing in moments of danger to protect Joshua. While bonded, it would significantly enhance all of Joshua’s physical attributes. Additionally, while merged, Ettskinnavstål was capable of mind-to-mind communication, allowing it to coordinate with him directly and intuitively.
Now fully camouflaged and equipped for the Abyss, Joshua initiated a Trump and stepped through - returning to the Courts of Chaos.
Before the others departed for Amber, Stålmannen made one final request: if at all possible, he wished for a live demon to be captured and brought back for study. A living specimen, he explained, could provide invaluable insights - crucial to understanding their nature and developing stronger defences against future incursions.