#reyghis

[rta-alec-blog]

Another Amnesiac Appears from the Forest

Moxon is covered in pitch and, most shockingly, "not feathers." Though he's taken some precautions against needing a dip in a large copper kettle full of turpentine, he's still unfazed by being remarkably sticky despite swathed in rags and boasting a set of goggles from the set of a cheap sci-fi movie -- probably "Begma Attacks!" He hums a Gheneshi shepherd's song while reapplying the vicious, stinking goo to the cracks and seperations in the great fortress wall. For someone so fond of cigars, he must be praying nobody lights a smoke.

Moxon says, "o/~Ohhh, she shears sheep shrewdly, so it's said, th' sheep are sheared in the horse's beee-eeed!o/~"

Alec spots, and hears, Moxon right as he enters Eastgate. He stops and watches his uncle work, looking both curious and confused. However, he eventually steps closer. "I'd offer to help, but that looks a lot less fun than the chores I usually catch you doing."

Dirk walks in on two feet and sneaks up behind Alec.

Moxon shrugs? "It's like the midnight patrols. Someone's gotta, and I just do the things I'd only hand out as punishment 'til someone pisses me right the Hell off. I'd say 'grab a bucket,' but this is ugly work."

Alec eyes one of the buckets as though debating it. "Yeah, I think I'll pass," he eventually says. He doesn't seem to notice Dirk.

Dirk punches Alec in the shoulder hard.

Moxon painta-painta-painta. "Crap chores still gotta get done. What's new, eh?"

"Ow!" Alec seems more startled than injured, though. He rubs at his shoulder and shoot Dirk a glare, but soon drops the look with a sigh. "Hey Dad," he mutters. Alec looks back toward Moxon. "Not much is new, I suppose..."

Moxon says, "Forest is gettin' more dangerous for Lieutenants. More deaths. I think I'mma sit on the beach in Sukho and mail your instructions by pelican. Sound good?"

Dirk hugs Alec and laughs. "How are you? I may be working with Caine."

"That actually seems like a good plan," Alec says to Moxon. "I don't want you dying. Bring Harper with you if you can." He grimaces at the mention of Caine, though. "I...was better before you told me that, I think..."

Moxon snorts. "It'd take a lot to kill me. A lot." He paints in dick-shaped swirls at the mention of his father's name. Dicka-dicka-here, dicka-dicka-there.

Dirk laughs at Moxon's a ctions. "Yep that he is."

Alec nods to Moxon. "I'd hope so," he says. He glances at Dirk. "So, why, exactly, are you working with him?"

Moxon says, "He did come by the Lodge, once, to offer coordinated effort against The Danger. I made an ass of myself, predictably, but Dirk's still on decent terms. He'll help. I wanted to punch him, but. He's Kingish."

Dirk says "Because I wanted a better relationship and he was perhaps going to have me be the liason from arden to the castle."

Moxon says, "See?"

Moxon gestures with tar-loaded brush. See?

Alec looks at Dirk skeptically. "But why do you /want/ a better relationship with him?"

Dirk says "Because he is my dad."

Moxon says, "Because boys want their fathers to nod when their names are-- yeah. You'd be right furious if Dirk hated you. Ha-ted."

Dirk nods "He took in Carm and I talked to him a while back about why he disowned me."

Alec looks at Dirk. "Well, yeah. But Dirk seems like a lot better person than Caine is. If he were like Caine, though, then it would just be a 'guess the feeling's mutual' sort of deal."

Moxon says, "I still think Carm and I were switched at birth. I'm Benedict's. He's Caine's. That'd explain a lot, y'know."

Moxon rises from pitching, shucking enough pitch-stained clothing to have a presumably-cleanish drink of water.

Dirk says, "I think Caine was surprised at how I have changed since he disowned me. "

Moxon says, "Everybody changes."

Alec nods. "It's a bit hard for me to say, though. I've only known Dad since he could turn into a cat. Though, I'm not sure how I feel if Caine seems to like how you've changed..."

Moxon shrugs. "But we don't pick how people change. Dirk is more some things, less some things. Moxon the same. Your friends will stay because they appreciate your constant bits -- call you on your bullshit. That's what friends do."

Dirk nods "its wierd but it works. He is going to let me hang out in his king's room."

Alec shakes his head. "I wouldn't trust it. That seems like a trap, Dad." Then, to Moxon, he adds, "You've been rather motivational recently. It's nice."

Moxon side-eyes Alec. "Look, kid, life here is hard and the people are ... thorny. Me, your Dad, all of us? We're walking wounded and crusted with bullshit and still fighting arguments we lost five years ago? I just don't want any of that to ruin your time. You focus. Focus on not being a fucktrumpet." He wags a finger, warning.

Moxon says, "My Dad might be a nice-enough guy. But I *hate him* and I will die if I have my way sinking my teeth into his neck. So don't ... don't do like I do."

Dirk nods "Yes please don't plan on dying sinking your teeth into your dad's neck Alec. My neck would appreciate it if you refrained."

Moxon nods. He seems to think this is the appropriate time to 'be done,' so he is done. "I need a long soak. I'm out." *sqush, sqush* go his tar-laden spare boots.

Dirk says "Have fun peeling the crap off you."

Moxon says, "... you shush or I'll put you on hole-patching next time. As a cat."

Alec chuckles. "I'd like to see that," he comments. "Have a nice bath then, Moxon." He waves.

Dirk says "You can try bossy pants."

Moxon says, "I'd sic Harper on you."

Dirk says "SHe likes me."

Alec raises an eyebrow. "Harper doesn't seem as scary as you, though..."

Dirk is being a hyper kid and pokes at you.

Alec grins. "You're in quite the mood, Dad," he says.

Dirk nods "Yes I am happy about how things are going with caine,."

Alec grimaces. "Yeah... I'm sure..." He sighs.

Dirk says "what's the problem?”

Alec says, "The problem is that he's an asshole who shouldn't be on the throne, and I don't understand why none of his siblings have torn him off of it and claimed it for themselves."

Dirk says, "because they don't want to do it?"

"Then they don't care about the future of Amber," Alec says with a frown, arms crossed over his chest. "I'd take care of things myself, but I already know I'm pretty much useless as I am..."

Dirk says "He's doing a good job."

Alec scoffs. "I'm sure. That's why everything in Amber's going so well."

Dirk says "He's doing more about it than almost anyone."

Alec looks doubtful about that claim.

Alec and Dirk are standing outside of the recently re-pitched walls of the town of Eastgate, talking. Alec looks somewhat skeptical about something that Dirk has just said, and his arms crossed over his chest and frown on his face make it seem that he's not too happy about their topic. "I'd believe that he's doing the most to cause the problems," he mutters.

Dirk says "You don't have to like your grandfather just because I do."

Reyghis stumbles out of the woods. A man in a black breastplate, with a dirty, scraggly beard, there is some sign of dried blood near his left temple. He is armed, with a sword, as well as a dagger, but he has no backpack on, no pouch, and no other personal belongings evident besides the dirty tunic that falls to his wrists, the swords belt, and a confused look on his face. He seems to be following the path, and when he spots the walls and draws closer, he calls out "Hail the gates."

"And I'm not going to," he says to Dirk, looking over at Reyghis' approach. Alec uncrosses his arms and walks toward him, a concerned look on his face. "Were you attacked out there?" he asks, eying the bloody mark on Reyghis' face.

Dirk looks over "Are you ok?"

Reyghis continues to approach and replies, to the men, "I'm not sure if it was by wine or by mailed fist, to be honest my head hurts too much. Might I trouble you for a name for this place? And..." He pauses, then shakes his head, instantly regretting it with a wince and his gut area contracting, though he shuts his mouth instead of vomiting. When he recovers, he looks at the pair. "I'm none too sure where I am, to be honest, or how I got here."

Alec's look of concern changes, and he glances back at Dirk briefly before nodding and returning his attention to Reyghis. "This is Eastgate in Arden, outside of the city of Amber."

Reyghis nods at Dirk, which produces another wince though not as large and no obvious need to quell his stomach this time. He looks to Dirk and nods, his hand carefully kept away from his sword hilt. His left hand reaches for the side of his belt, pauses, and pats the empty space there before he adds, "So much for asking the location of a healer. Never heard of either one. Or...gods, my head. I can't think at all right now."

Alec offers to help Reyghis walk. "There aren't any healers out here, I don't think," he says. "But I can help you to the lodge where you can rest and get something to eat and drink." He nods at Dirk's mention of a Mandrake. "We can take you to the charity hospital in the city to see a Mandrake, but it's a bit of a ride..."

Reyghis looks to Dirk at his suggestion, then back to Alec as the man nears to offer a hand. "I don't see anything to ride, but I suppose I could follow your advice. It isn't like I have a better idea what to do at the moment. Your welcome to accompany me of course, but I think I can walk as long as I don't shake my head again." He pauses then considers both men, before saying, "Forgive my rudeness. My name is..." He pauses, his eyes unfocusing as he struggles to remember, then tells them both with a uncertain querying tone, "Reyghis? I think?"

Alec gives a slight nod. "Alec," he gives as introduction. "And that's my dad, Dirk. I'm assuming you have amnesia, then?" He looks a bit sympathetic. "Do you want to go to the lodge here or head to the city? If you want to go to the city, we should be able to get horses from Eastgate."

Reyghis says, "People just hand out horses here?" Reyghis looks at Alec with a chuckle, and admits, "Right now I am having trouble figuring out my own name, so you'll forgive me if I'll let you decide. As long as you don't..." he pauses, his eyes squinting once again as pain blanches his face, and he adds, "Right now it hurts to even try to think."

"I was the same way when I came here: Hurting all over, splitting headache, and only a name in my head," Alec says. "And there's horses to rent for a few coins. This place isn't made for amnesiacs. It's only if you make it to the city alive that you get free things."

Dirk nods "I have a trump if you guys want to go fast."

Reyghis says, "I looked for a coin pouch. I didn't feel one. But maybe I hid it." He pats down and around my breastplate, as well as down his tunic, before a twitch is all his neck does, avoiding another shake of his head at the last moment. "I suppose I do have amnesia. And a very sore spot on my head. Do things like this happen a lot around here?" He then looks to Dirk, and asks, "A trump? Is that some sort of wheeled carriage?"

Dirk shakes his head"A magic way of getting from one place to another.”

Alec nods. "It does. I heard there's something wrong with the pattern, and it keeps dragging people from shadow that it thinks can help, but the process erases memories." He looks over at Dirk. "I didn't know you had a trump to the city, but suddenly a lot of things make sense. Let's go."

Reyghis's eyes widen at the mention of the word magic, though nothing else causes a reaction as he considers Dirk carefully. Then Alec. Then there is a shrug as he admits, "I will take you both up on your kind offer, as long as you provide the magic and it causes no harm."

Dirk concentrates upon a Trump, and begins to fade away.

Reyghis grabs ahold of Dirk and begins to fade.

You grab ahold of Dirk and will be brought along when he Trumps out.

Dirk fades into nothingness, leaving behind a rainbow afterimage.

Alec and Reyghis fade out with Dirk.

--[ Northern Gate ]-----------------------------------------[ Amber City ]----

   The northern gate is the back entrance to the city, and not frequently    

   used as the trail to it winds through the mountains and over Kolvir      

   itself. It is, however, a massive, well-guarded thing, and from the      

   vantage point of its heights, one can see the Black Road twisting        

   through the Valley of Garnath and stopping short of Amber herself at      

   the river Oisen.                                                        

   Alec, Dirk, and Reyghis are here.                                        

------------------------------------------------------------[ Exits: N S ]----

Dirk appears suddenly.

Alec and Reyghis appears with Dirk.

Dirk smiles "Here we are?"

"I really need to learn to make one of those," Alec says to Dirk. He then looks to Reyghis. "We can help you get to the hospital if you want, or to the Crown and Rose, which offers free food and lodgings to amnesiacs."

Reyghis blinks and looks around, marvelling in the change. As the stunned look fades, he asks, a touch curiously, though his words are still very carefully chosen, "I take it this is the city of Arden then, if I remember your introduction. I'd say it was blurry, but I think the fault lies in myself. Still, it is a pretty place. The hospital, I think...if I fell asleep now, would I wake up? I'm none too sure of it."

Dirk nods and laughs as he punches Alec in the arm. "After you two."

Alec hisses air through his teeth and rubs where he was hit. "Love you too, Dad..."

-[ Damsel's Rest ]-----------------------------------------[ Amber City ]----

   Centuries ago, this was a relatively pleasant part of the city,          

   devoted to industry and trade for the working classes, and noted for      

   its breweries. Canal Street runs straight through this ward, and          

   although the road itself is in poor repair, the buildings along it are    

   supported by pride. Some fluke of geography often blankets the ward in    

   rolling fog off the sea on chill nights, causing the glow of the          

   lamp-globes to diffuse eerily. But it is on the side-streets that the    

   true common profession of the ward becomes apparent, in the red          

   lanterns displayed in front windows, the condition of each building      

   and its signage an indication of the social class served therein.        

   Laughter and liquor alike spill out into the narrow streets, masking      

   the misery of poverty that lurks beneath.                                

                                                                               On one of the streets in better repair is the tired-looking marble        

   facade of the Mandrake Charity Hospital, and opposite it, the            

   converted townhouse that does service as the City Hall. To the south      

   lies Fishcutter Square, and the fishy odors disguised with many a        

   perfumed handkerchief. A makeshift barricade to the west does little      

   to cut off the stench that assaults the nose as one nears the Dredge.    

   To the east lies the Great Lift, and the harbor district. Before          

   reaching the lift, one has to pass the great Parthain Hall, its          

   pennons fluttering over an iron-bound door.                              

   Alec and Dirk are here.                                                  

-------------------------------------------------[ Exits: S E W NE SE SW ]----

Reyghis looks around briefly, before bringing his hand to his head. "I think...I shall let the nice chirurgeons have me...but I shall remember you both...well, provided I can. I would normally find you both at the gates of Arden?"

Dirk nods "And if you see a huge black cat its me."

"And I'll check in at the Crown over the next few days to see if you're around," Alec says. "There's also a runner in town named Atesia who knows me, and you might be able to send a message to me through her if you pay her."

Reyghis looks back at Dirk and squints at him. Then a nurse has come over, and has told the dirty fighter he must sit, and he must let her look into his eyes carefully, bossing the man as he bemusedly accepts her orders. Seperating patient from benefactors, she begins to examine the bump on his head and fussing over him in a manner sure to keep his attention for quite a while.