Journey into Shadow

LadyMiho

LordDiomedes

Once the group of Amberites splits up, each pair will head off into Shadow. Both of you begin from the clearing where you had breakfast and start to ride your horses through Shadow. The day has dawned clear and bright. The skies overhead are only a shade different to those in Amber and the woods around you, only a little less impressive than those of Arden.

There is a stream running not too far away from your campsite (it may be the place that Miho went to bathe earlier). Miho and Dio have their first choice. Do you want to follow the river, perhaps widening it and making it bigger as you move through Shadow until you find a small village or town that has a boat which you can take, buy, or borrow? Or do you want to head off into Shadow to find a large city-port and commandeer a ship for yourselves? Shadow can provide you with anything that you need for your trip as you work your way towards the Shadow that Gerard described.

Who is going to lead the Shadow-shift to begin? And what are you heading towards first on the way to your final goal - which is the place where Corwin was last seen?

Miho will ask that Dio handle the shifting at first; she would like to contact her father as she follows.

Diomedes, with some discussion with Miho, will be happy to do the heavy lifting at the start.

To summarize her thoughts on how to approach it: following the river until it opens up into a place where they can get a craft sounds excellent to her. She's always more comfortable upon the water. She would suggest a small craft, but large enough for a small crew so that she and Dio can concentrate upon the shifting that they will need to do. Miho is going to methodically go about the approach to where Corwin was last seen. She isn't interested in side trips... she's going for the most direct route. Yep, she's Gerard's kid simple plan, strong will, bull on through. grins This may change once she realizes the obstacles cannot be simply pushed through.

Diomedes will arrange the shifting so that they continue to follow the river "downstream". The river will widen, and deepen, and become more important as far as aquatic travel and traffic are concerned. Finally, based on what he read about Corwin's last known whereabouts, if Miho is still letting him do the driving, he will be angling for an esturine environment and town, where a small to medium craft capable of river and sea traffic can be had, as well as a small crew to handle details.

At Miho's suggestion Diomedes can easily broaden the small river. In fact it helps to do so. By focusing on the river, he can just ignore the familiar landscapes around them. He may be less experienced than some, but one of the first things any of them learns is to look away from the Golden Circle when trying to get to the depths of Shadow. Staring at it too much will make it linger longer than you may like.

It's a long day's ride. Coming across a bridge that looks too familiar, and then modifying it, and then getting rid of it altogether. Reducing the weeds and thickets along the banks for easier walking, but then coming across farm country. No matter. As they pass a small mill with a handful of happy children playing nearby, Diomedes deletes the lot of them and carefully re-inserts pretty little wildflowers. Any of which are suitable for him to pick.. so that Miho can put them in her hair.

During one break Miho has the opportunity to call her father.

Before she does so, she suggests to Dio that he contact Obi and Drake, to assure them both that they are well, and that they will contact again in another subjective day.

With a half dozen adjustments the time of day fluctuates, but eventually the weariness of their horses signal that they have done a days travelling. Diomedes works at it until the river swells and they come across a village built along it's shores. Houses are partly on land, and partly built on stilts extending into the water itself- such that one entrance to every building opens up on a platform. Rafts of various design are used to travel to domiciles and work buildings. It will be easy to obtain a raft from here, and adjust it to their needs as they go on. Unfortunately the villagers are unwilling to come with them. They're not explorers or serious traders, just fishing folk.

After a true opportunity to rest, they get their raft one way or another and head out again.. now truly into Shadow. Diomedes fiddles with landscape for a while, working on obtaining some fir trees, when he turns and concentrates very hard.. to warp the raft into a proper river craft which Miho can steer with a rudder and not a pole. Further adjustments to the craft will be easier now.

A few minutes later they start to pass a group of people on the shore pointing in their direction. Perhaps an opportunity to pick up the crew?

Miho will suggest that they move in to the shore and call greeting, and see if they would be interested in joining them. She suggests shifting to look for loyalty and amenability.

"Shift first, then try to hire them." Diomedes agrees. Diomedes concentrates hard on the small changes. Personalities are difficult, so Diomedes makes the shifts based on economicshe is shifting for a nearby shadow where these people hire themselves out as river crew and navigators. The people that they will be picking up in their destination shadow are pointing because, why, that's their traditional method of getting business.

Only when Diomedes is relatively satisfied will he signal Miho to move in closer to shore.

Which Miho will do, and call out.

Some of the people cry out immediately to get their attention, but searching only for the most likely candidates, Diomedes shifts their craft over a few shadows. Precise personalities are difficult, but circumstances are a little easier. The changes are almost imperceptible, as only a few people themselves change with each shift. However the two of them will notice modifications on how the people are dressed, equipped, and array themselves on the shoreline.

By the time they reach the shore the negotiations can begin.

After the better part of an hour they acquire a small crew which should be sufficient to handle the little craft and any changes it might subsequently undergo. Terms of wages and compensation are reached in short order, for it won't be difficult for Blood of Amber to meet any material demand. They both know the trick will be retaining the crew once they realize this is no ordinary journey.

Not everyone is called to join them. Some decline.

After they set on their journey again, it inevitably comes up after Diomedes has taken them beyond the point at which anyone recognizes where they are. After a few days, some abandon the journey, making signs to ward off evil.

There are those who remain however. Those that choose to do so, profess to the belief that they are going on some sort of spiritual journey. They have nothing really to return to, and hope optimistically for something meaningful to come into sight when their craft finally comes to it's final destination. These brave adventurers are at first astonished with the transformations happening around them and on the boat. Eventually they come to accept it. When the time comes to add to their ranks from those who jumped off, they help to recruit those who are looking for something 'more' than just easy work.

As for the journey itself, a discovery is made. Should the company head for the sea, and then shift towards Corwin, it takes them back towards a river. This happens consistently enough that between Diomedes and Miho, they can ascertain that the search for Corwin is inland, not across any ocean.

"No scent of the sea for us, dear cousin." Diomedes comments after a couple of tries.

Miho nods.

Before a subjective week of travelling is done there is a definite sense that they are following Gerard's guide correctly and making small corrections to it. That is refining the variables by comparing how any new elements fare when alternating between looking for where Gerard described and looking for Corwin. Miho and Diomedes are not sure how close they are yet, but it's getting somewhere.

They have run into very little that seems like a 'blockade' so to speak. There have been obstacles, but they are always countered with the Pattern, or just a little bit of teamwork and effort from the crew. Then, as they pause for provisions at a small settlement and news that their existing river will soon be dumping into a large one called the Mizzipy, that they run into their first peculiarity.

The river turns dramatically and inexplicably low. Not so much as to ground them completely, but it does make travelling slow and painstaking. Not a true 'blockade' but it is.. unusual. As if someone had just dammed the river up behind them. After pushing on just a little further Diomedes will spy something nailed to various trees on the banks.

Decorative and beautiful symbols painted on wood and hung predominatly facing what is now just a broad stream. Not sign posts, but wards.. hexes. Peering at them he can deduce that the locals seem to be trying to ward off evil from the river.. or rather placing these 'hexes' to protect the river from harm. to purify it somehow. The river is under attack?

Tempting as it might be to call it an effort to thwart their personal passage, it would appear the band could abandon water travel and continue on foot if they wish.

They should come across another settlement in another few miles, or they could try to continue to work around it.. or take another tactic altogether?

"It's possible that the supersititions here are not only that." Diomedes says to Miho at one point. "Its possible that the River itself is being attacked in an esoteric manner, or being drained for some purpose. It's clearly a barrier, though, to our progress."

"The river is not our problem," Miho says quietly, but firmly. "We continue on land. Those who wish to continue to accompany us are welcome, or others may choose to remain here. On land a larger group will be more noticable, but also will afford us some protection."

She glances around, then nods to herself. "Riding mounts, of whatever is available. If superstition abounds, then technology may not."

"Onto dry ground, then." Diomedes agrees with his alluring but deadly cousin. He quickly gives the orders to the crew to make port at the nearest settlement of size where mounts can be obtained. Payment will be made to those who wish to remain, those who wish to remain as outliers in their band are more than welcome.

At Miho and Diomedes' firm direction, the crew works to keep the ship moving down the dying river. Not a man jack of them wishes to be abandoned here, and under these circumstances. While the woods to either side of the diminishing river are peaceful, the brightly colored geometrical hexes make everyone feel ill at ease.. The consensus is to keep travelling with the cousins, though they suspect that some will truly evaluate that decision once they get to a settlement.

Miho will start to have a sense that they are being watched from a distance. Finally her sharp eyes will notice people watching from the trees. They are a tanned people, with dark hair, dressed in worked and tooled animal hides. She spies one carrying a bow, but they do not make any threatening gestures- but they are watching. Only a few of the crew spot them, unless she points them out (after which they'll have more success).

Miho will subtly talk to the crew and Dio to make sure they are aware that they have company along the trip.

After just a few miles the trees on one side of the river start to thin a little, and in the distance the party will make out houses and buildings. A thin trail of smoke trailing from one chimney. Soon a large wooden dock built alongside a building comes into view. It is built large enough to accommodate river rafts and other trading vessels, back when the river must have been higher. The crew struggles to pull close to it without getting mired. They are spotted by the townspeople and a cry goes out.

As they disembark, a man with a short beard and broad arms and shoulders strides down the dock. He, and the rest of the townsfolk, do not resemble the watchers from the woods. Paler in skin tone, the cousins can surmise that these folk are more builders and manufacturers than the watchers. Different cultures obviously. The man sizes up Diomedes and clearly takes him to be the leader.

"You the folks sent by the Governor?" his tone is clearly speculative. "We better get you folks off this dock before we start to draw attention. They can be right vicious." He offers his handshake to Diomedes. "Harris Mumford," he introduces himself. "I'm the smith in these parts. If you're the ones we're waiting.. for we can put you up in the Inn." And again, he's not sure if you are the ones he's expecting.

This is the first settlement, what do you say or do now?

Diomedes shoots a look at Miho that says "Trust me." He gives a smile to her, and then turns to the Smith.

"We are, Smith Mumford. My associates and I would like a situation report as we go to the Inn, however. The Governor expected us to get news and information fresh from the ground, on site."

He gestures for the man to proceed him, Miho and their cadre toward the Inn.

Harris' face relaxes in a look of relief. He looks the group over again, cocks his head, and then shakes it once "You're not what I expected Mister, but then-" he pauses to run his hand through his hair. "This sure isn't any normal situation."

"So what is going on?" Diomedes says, giving entree for the man to begin his story as they walk.

Miho walks to Dio's side, a little behind, opposite where Mumford walks. Her voice is low as she murmurs to her cousin, "How do you know this is not simply another barrier to our progress? We should not let ourselves be drawn astray."

Smith Mumford glances back and observes the two talking. Instead of intruding, he uses this as an opportunity to excuse himself. Once the travellers have cleared the dock and gotten a little away from the direction of the river he starts to call out to men from nearby buildings. He rallies them to help the travelers.

Diomedes voice is quiet, intimate and reserved for Miho's ears alone.

"I don't think this is as much of a barrier or distraction as you think. Or if it is, it seems possibly tailored and honed in a specific fashion, and that makes it interesting enough that we should let this play out." Diomedes paused and then adds. "I think its tailored for me."

"Oh, shut your trap Ben Johnson," Smith Mumford can be overheard growling at one of the other townsmen. "She's a china-girl, probably his servant. He's European," he says behind his hand. "A Scott, I think. Who knows, could be a Right Reverend Doctor.." he emphasizes. "The Good Shepherd knows that might be what we need."

"I'd still like to see an army behind him," grumbles Ben Johnson, but then falls silent as the rest of the men fix him with a look that says he better not go offending Diomedes.

MIho's expression remains placid, except for a faint drawing together of her brows. She keeps her voice low and private between herself and Diomedes. "I mislike anything that makes us delay... I do not feel that he is here, and it distracts us from our goal. One night we need rest as it is. But if anything begins to feel as if it would keep us here longer, I must leave. I would hope that you join me."

"Ah then," Smith Mumford says rubbing his hands together apologetically for interrupting them. "Don't know what to call you there, Sir." He pauses for Diomedes to introduce himself and whoever else.

"Dismas. Doctor Dismas." Diomedes introduces himself. "My associate here is Miss Long-Wang"* Diomedes does not introduce the men that they've gathered from their journey here.

"We'll get your people set up in the Inn, get some hot food cooking for ya.." He breaks into an anxious smile. "I'm sure Pastor Twiddy will be hot footin' it over here shortly." He glances off to the woods to the right. "You asked for a report..? Well, I think the best thing I could do it just show you. It says more than I could put into words... but.." he hesitates. "I'll do my best."

Harris gestures on to the Inn. "But let's get you folks settled for the night first. You just got off the river, you'll want a night's rest."

"Trust me," he adds.

The group are hosted in the Inn. Diomedes and Miho can start to pick up some basic information. Like this is the town of Evan's Mill. It's a predominantly a farming settlement, that used to be a popular river stop before hard times came. Curiously, the community isn't strongly concerned about the river being low per se. Though that is explained shortly.

After they've been issued quarters at the Inn, Harris volunteers to take Diomedes, and whoever he deems should come as well, to "a place where you can see 'em, without fear of attack." A few young farmers accompany them as an escort, safety in numbers.

"All right." Diomedes agrees.

Along the way he provides a summary of the situation. Sometime during the previous winter the damnedest thing happened. A pack of troublemakers came down the river and took to settling down not far from Evan's Mill. A savage lot, they've attacked river travelers and townsfolk that have tried to drive them out. A local militia was raised to get the lot to move on, but was met with fierce resistance until the townspeople abandoned it. Harris Mumford tries to explain, but does a poor job of it, that these aren't any kind of people that 'Diomedes' is likely to have run across. Folks have been thinking there is something 'witchy' about them.

Well, later that year after requesting help from the Governor of the Territory to send troops to run these miscreants off, the town made a decision to partially dam the river itself. The troublemakers stick to the river exclusively, not engaging in any communication or trade with anyone. Since the folklore surrounding these strangers has been steadily growing (children have gone missing, and of course these river gypsies have been attributed to stealin' em in the night), people have come to fear the river itself. Upstream from the dam they've constructed, Evan's Mill has been diverting the water into a series of re-directed streams and man made lakes.. to protect it's water supply for its crops.

Unfortunately, they didn't anticipate the response they would receive from a local Indian tribe that lives just downstream from where the 'troublemakers' have squatted on the river. The Indians have now taken to trying to either raiding the town and it's outlying villages in retaliation, or destroying the dams. But Harris Mumford maintains that the dams are the only real way they've had to combat what has become a real menace to the families that are trying to survive in this area. He also points out that the Indian's won't attack these 'queer folk'. He jokes that the Indians think the outlanders are 'bad medicine' as much as the towns people do- and yet it's an uneasy and forced sort of humor. "It'll make much more sense once you see it," he maintains.

Finally they come to a place where the river is banked by a steep hill, and pushing through the trees and brush the group that travelled here can indeed 'see it for themselves'. White flowers line the banks where the water meets the land on either side of it.

Diomedes and Miho only have to take one quick look and they know that what they're seeing has absolutely no business being where it is. It's a complete anomaly. The people of this shadow, or at least this region of it, have neither the magical nor technological means to create anything like it. Such that it's no wonder that the people of Evan's Mill are frightened out of their wits.

It's a ship. Tall masted, it probably belongs on an ocean, though it could technically navigate a deep river. For now it rests in the deepest part of what is left of the river surrounded by slow dirty water; which in no way detracts from it's splendor. In the distance people in white flowing silks, robes, and gowns stroll it's decks.. in contrast to the sturdy and simple handmade clothes of the townsfolk. The ship itself is made of diamond, glass and silver- radiating like a platinum star in the mud.

Miho stares at the ship, her head cocked, taking in the strange appearances here in this shadow.

"It's all wrong." Diomedes says softly, so only that Miho can hear.

The townsfolk are willing to help in anyway that they can.. so do you have questions for them? Wish to discuss amongst yourselves? Investigate personally (maybe tomorrow morning), or something totally different?

"Let me speak with my associate." Diomedes says to the townspeople. If Miho consents, he will draw her off to the side and speaks quietly to her.

"I understand the desire to try and push through to find Corwin." Diomedes begins. He doesn't quite touch Miho, respecting her personal space, but his tone and gestures are intimate.

"This, though." he gestures to the mystery ship. "I don't want something like this behind us. Obi and the rest are going to hate it, but if you want to proceed ahead of me, do so." He smiles to his deadly cousin. "I will investigate and deal with this ship. And try and determine what its doing here and how it may be connected to Corwin. I think it no coincidence."

Diomedes does then dare to put a hand on her shoulder and bends his head in an intimate gesture to regard her.

"And, dear Miho, if you should run into something." Diomedes pauses and shakes his head. "When you do. I'd bet money that you will. When you run into an obstacle or anomaly like this, be careful. Don't let anyone sucker you into a trap by thinking you can just push past the obvious problem."

Miho is quiet, considering for a long moment. "I expect obstacles and more obstacles as we travel," she says. "I am afraid if we stop to investigate each oddity that we find, we will never reach our goal. I will take some of the men with me, and I will find others as I travel. When you are through here, contact Obi or Drake, and go to them. When I contact them, you can rejoin me, if we have not already come together again."

She smiles, and slips from beneath his hand, reaching out to touch it briefly before stepping back. "I will see you again soon. I plan to contact both Drake and Obi before I go. Take care."

"Soon." Diomedes promises. He gives a nod and smile to Miho as she departs.