07.09h: Flotsam on the seas of reality

[Spellbinder]

At the docks of Rebma, a ship pulls in to dock. There is nothing special about this ship, nothing to set it apart from the ships that come and go every day. The lines are secured and the gang plank secured to the docks. The captain handles the formalities with the dock master and unloading begins.

A figure in a garish (mostly) red body suit with cape and hood walks down the gangplank (I'll frighten you with a picture later.) His face is lost in the shadows cast by the hood. Over his shoulder he carries an incongruously mundane duffel bag. He approaches the captain. "So, this it then?"

"Indeed. This is the city of Amber, and that is the Castle. I hope you find what you are looking for there."

"Thank you Captain. I don't know what I'm supposed to find here, but I guess I'll find out. Well thanks again, and good luck Captain."

The figure begins to walk into the city. Totally unaware, he is quietly singing to himself. "This looks familiar...vaguely familiar. Almost unreal yet it's too soon to feel yet. Close to my soul, but so far away..."

(OOC: To hear the song by the original artist, click here.)

[Joshua]

A shadowy figure in an ill-fitting green and blue body-suit approaches slowly. While it is possible that he is of the same sort, the jester-outfit isn't quite tight enough for supervillian-chic*.

Quin approaches the new arrival, "And here I was thinking I'd have trouble finding you." He will state, then bow low. "I'm Quin, your welcome party."
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*: Although, lots of shadows have Joker variations.

[Spellbinder]

Kevin returns the bow. "Nice to meet you Quin, I'm known as Spellbinder. So I am expected? When I was sent on this journey I wasn't even given directions or a proper name for my destination, but apparently they were kind enough to call ahead and make a reservation for me. That was kind of them. I have so many questions I'm not even sure where to start. If you're the greeter, maybe you know the basic questions well enough to know where to start?"

[Joshua]

Quin will pull out a comic-book and check it. "Are we allowed to go right to the talking phase? I even turned the whole dock into a meteor-summon. Do you have any idea how hard that is here?"

He ponders for a minute (if you let him), "Mostly, I'm here to greet a new prince of Amber. We don't see a lot of you, and most are a little surprised at the celebrity."

[Spellbinder]

Pause. "Oh! You mean the old 'heroes fight when they first meet and then realize they're on the same side' cliche? We could if you really want to, but I try to avoid the tropes. Well, most of the tropes. Okay, I try to avoid that one at least. Usually."

"The whole dock? Yeah, that must have be tough. As I've been getting closer magic has been getting harder. I can't even do the basic stuff any more. Lucky for me I have a few things prepped. It's because we're at a 'pole' of reality, right? If I go back everything will come back, but if I go to the other extreme it will be same as here?"

"Wait. What? Prince? What are you talking about? Remember, I'm the new guy here looking to buy a clue. How about we go over that in nice small, easy to understand words?"

[Joshua]

"You are in charge." Quin shugs. "Well, not the only one, and it's not official until you walk the pattern, but, yeah, divinely chosen ruler and all that." He will draw a deck of cards and flip through them. "Hmmm... prediction is a knight, actually. Strange, didn't take you for a brawler. Anyhow, you've come at an odd time. We have a tournament at one of the neighboring cities. Or... in one of the racial neighborhoods, if you prefer."

He will smudge a few chalk marks and scuff a odd bit of bent wire before heading over. "Well then... Carriage?" He will offer as one will likely pull up. "If you want, we can drop your things off at the castle first. Not to offend, but you are human, right?"

[Spellbinder]

"Oooo-kay, so nice small, easy to understand words that don't make a lot of sense when you put them all together. Oh well, I'm guessing it's one of those things that will make more sense in time."

"Sure, the carriage will be great. We may as well drop my stuff quickly at the Castle if that's where I'll be staying. If not then I suppose I'll need to find a place. Then your tournament sounds as good a place to start seeing the sights as anywhere else."

The two settle into the Carriage and start on their way. "Wait a minute! You read the book, you were ready for a fight, but you don't think I'm a brawler? Okay, I'm hardly world class with my fists, but I'm really good with the magic. I've mixed it up Atlanteans, demons, aliens and some major supervillians. I may not be at full power here, but I think I can still take care of myself."

"And racial neighborhoods? Seriously? Where people live is decided by the color of their skin? That's just sad."

[Joshua]

"color? Why would that have anything to do with it?" Quin will say during the ride. "Orcs don't like humans. Ogres are also difficult to put into a city. And the aquatic races really don't like living on land. Still, it is only humans at the castle. I hope I was right about that."

[Spellbinder]

"Orcs? Ogres? Oh! Duh! I'm sorry. Where I come from we tend to use the word race a little differently. Yes, I am human. So, the races separate themselves based on preferences and practicality? That would make sense. And you called me a Prince before you knew my race for certain, so humans can't be some kind of 'master race' here."

"So, what else do I need to know so I don't look like a total noob here?"

[Joshua]

"N00b?" Quin will blink. "Oh dear. I'm sorry, I thought... Okay, medieval city... low tech, most high-anything doesn't work." And he will give a basic breakdown (which most people know) by the time you get to the castle. "If you decide to stay, I am authorized to give you a deck that can be used to contact other Amberites and a few key staff of the castle."

He will think. "Your quarters have been prepared. The ability to walk pattern is rare, and you clearly have that. It... puts you on a new playing field. If you wish, we can take care of that now, or if you'd prefer, once we get you settled you can ask those who have already walked it what they think. You don't seem like the prudent type, but I assure you the pattern is quite fatal to those who don't pass its tests."