Then Lance set his foot on the Pattern. Suddenly it felt like 68. He was reminded of how his mother's card had felt cool in his hand... this felt similar, but way more... intense.

His foot was outlined by blue-white sparks.

He kept walking, slowly but steadily...

There was a crackle, and he felt his hair beginning to rise a bit... He took another
step, watching the line in front of and under his feet...

Then the thing began to curve, abruptly, back upon itself. He took ten more paces, and a certain resistance seemed to arise. It was as if a black barrier had grown up before him, of some substance which pushed back upon him with each effort that he made to pass forward.

Each raising and lowering of his feet suddenly required a terrible effort, and it felt as though sparks were shooting forth from his hair...

  It was the first veil, and it was where his mom had yelled encouragement to him his last time through.  He heard her words echoing in his memory as he pushed against it.

01:23, Today: Lance rolled 12 using 2d6+2 with rolls of 5,5.  Str roll for first veil (include stat bonus plus said what I said).
This message was last edited by the player at 06:27, Sun 21 Nov 2021.

(Ariadne takes 2 more special Tiredness damage.

If you try to go forward, switch to a Str roll.

If you decide to wait for Lance, then just wait right there.)

Lance moves through the First Veil like it's nothing.

...Okay, definitely not like it's nothing, but like he does this every week. (Which, lately, isn't incredibly inaccurate.)

(CON for your second roll, Lance...)

The first veil parted before him and he was through.  He needed to reach Ari, to be there to help if needed.  He redoubled his efforts.  This time he wasn’t focused on his own inner demons, instead he was resolute in his single purpose….helping Ariadne.

15:42, Today: Lance rolled 11 using 2d6 with rolls of 6,5.  Con roll.

Out of the corner of her eyes,  Ari saw Lance,  at least she thought it was Lance, enter the Pattern.  She was angry and grateful,  both touched that he was apparently coming to help her, but furious at herself for needing help with this, her greatest task.

She reached back, into the very essence of her personality,  of her life.   All of her anger and resentment at everyone who'd tried to change her,  everyone who'd looked down on her for who or what she was.
She forced herself to continue.

OOC:  16:58, Today: Ariadne rolled 9 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 6,2.  Strength

Ari stops thinking about what she's doing (as much as possible), stops feeling the weariness, and just treats the Final Veil like it's simply a test of strength... and she manages to push through it.

(Ariadne takes 1 more special Tiredness damage.)

All that's left is a short arc, ending in blackness. Three steps...

One, two...

And to take the last step is like trying to push through a concrete waIl...

But she does it.

She turns slowly and looks back over the course she's come. She would not permit herself the luxury of sagging to her knees. She was a princess of Amber, and by heaven, she hadn't walked all that way to allow anything to humble her further (not with family watching, anyway)...

Not even the Pattern!

She did it without anyone else's help! Unless of course you count family members cheering, and proving that they're willing to undergo the same trials to help her if she had needed it...!

Now she gets to go anywhere she wants... Anywhere in all the worlds that reality might possibly shape itself (or be shaped?) into...

Or will she just pop over there to her cousins?

Or will she just pop to a nice soft bed, and flop into it?

Or will she just wait for Lance? She sure hopes he doesn't have trouble of his own with the Final Veil, that's for sure...! She's pretty worn out...!

Jon gives Jade a hug from behind. "See, we just had to have faith in her.  I knew she would do it. I never doubted it." he says softly to her, but she can hear how happy and excited he is for Ari.

Breaking the hug he steps back, so as not to yell in Jade's ear. "Congratulations Ari!!  Knew you could do it!!!" he shouts excitedly.

Jade smiles happily, "She did ! YOU DID IT !"

Jade opened her parasol and waved it, "Congratulations Ari ! WOOOOO !"


"Come on Lance, you can do it !"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:45, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

  Lance hears a yell and spares a glance.  Through the sprays of sparks and the polarized glasses he sees what he thinks is Ariadne pushing her way through her final obstacle ahead.

  Thank God, she made it!!

  The relief hit him in a rush, as it did, his mission lost it's urgency.  Complacency, however, had no place here, and when he hit the third veil was quickly reminded of that very thing.


15:23, Today: Lance rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  Lance, Willpower check for the 3rd veil.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:37, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

(16:19, Today: The GM rolled 6 using 2d3 ((3,3)).

Ow. Lance takes 6 special Tiredness damage. He'll get back double the usual amount the next time he uses the Rest move. (Unless he gets takes any other type of damage on top of it, in which case he won't.))

Ow. The Pattern is not something where it gets easier every time you do it.

But, still, he did it-- Lance reaches the center. Again!
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:22, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

Ariadne had never been particularly ashamed to show emotions, though she never liked to be thought of as particularly girlishly emotional.  Still, tears of relief and pride streamed down her face as she stumbled into the center of the Pattern.  The urge to collapse in a heap there on the cool, invitingly cool, stone floor was overwhelming, but she resisted.  She remembered the couple of times she'd done the Boston Marathon.  Her first time, in fact, she'd pushed herself hard and, despite joining on a last minute whim and with hardly any preparation or training, had finished in the top ten.  Then she'd made the mistake of laying down on the sidewalk to rest.  Within minutes, it felt like her entire body had turned to stone, and getting back to her feet was agony, as muscles locked up.
So, she stayed standing, planning to stay that way until after a hot bath or something.

Then she remember Lance.
Turning quickly (as quickly as she could), she saw him making his way towards her.  Guilt washed over her, and she hoped fervently that he made it as well.  If the unthinkable happened and Lance stumbled and perished on this, an unnecessary trip on the Pattern, she'd never forgive herself.  She was already angry at herself for being so close to failure that her cousin felt she needed to be rescued.
In that regard, she already considered herself a failure.

But, since it was her first time doing this thing, perhaps she could forgive herself (though, she couldn't possibly imagine wanting to do this hellish experience a second time)

They'd said that she could use this powerful magic to send herself anywhere in the universe she wanted.  That seemed too bizarre and overwhelming a concept to take seriously, especially as tired as she felt.  But, for now, she'd wait for Lance.  It felt wrong to "magic" away while he was still walking.

When the big blond man made it to where she was (seemingly more quickly and smoothly than she did, she felt), she was there to grab him in a bear hug.  Ariadne started laughing with joy, tears still streaming unabated down her cheeks.
"Welcome to the coolest hangout spot in town, Cousin."

  The Pattern gives Lance a final reminder as to his own insignificance and relative mortality, despite his early successes. Lance gets through the third veil and passes the final three steps into the center of the Pattern where Ariadne stands waiting in triumph.  She hugs him, and he returns the hug fiercely.  As he does, he lets out a sigh and visibly relaxes, and whispers to her.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:48, Wed 24 Nov 2021.

Ariadne nodded to her cousin, laughing wryly as she whispered back
"I can definitely tell you're a Renn Faire kid.  You have the lingo down pat.  And don't worry,  Lance,  I'm annoyed with myself for doing this so badly,  and even giving the appearance of needing help, but I'm mad at me, not you.  And, if we're being honest,  I know that I'm more mad about this than I should be , because,  on Earth, I've never really had to try this hard for anything.   I mean,  i hadn't lived a pampered life or anything,  but i got a little spoiled competing with Earth people,  and am a little soft for Amber challenges "

She turned and waved to her other cousins, the ones who supported her and cheered her on.
Her family.   She was feeling so close to them all.
Though that might just be exhaustion and delirium talking

Jade waved her parasol like crazy coming close to bopping her other cousins and waving with her other hand at Ariadne and Lance.

Ari smiled wearily
"If anyone else was going to try, I'll wait for you here, if you'd like"

Jade closes her parasol and looks to Jon.

"You will do well, and if you have troubles do you wish me to come out there, I will. It is as you saw an incredible test and quite possibly a lethal one."

Jon waves to Ari with a big smile beaming with pride at his Cousins' accomplishment.

He turns to Jade. "You gave me luck this morning, remember." he blushes slightly "Thank you, but no.  Do not risk yourself if I falter. I need to know that you will be safe, here.  I know it will be hard.  Just as it was for Lance to watch Ari. But have faith."

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, he holds it a minute and lets it out slowly.  Opening his eyes, he smiles at Jade, resolved mixed with a hint of happiness.  Holding out his hand for her Parasol. "My Sea Princess, may I have the honor of carrying your parasol as I make my way to the center?" he says formally with a partial bow.

Jade nods and passes over her parasol to Jon.

"Yes, I remember. You can do this just like Ariadne and Lance did."
She gives him a hug.

Ari clapped her hands, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't at a baseball game.
"You got this, Jon!!!  We believe in you!!"
She stopped and put her hands on her hips, lea ing forward a little, realizing that she was out of breath, just after yelling encouragement
"Oh, fer crying out loud....maybe we let him do this in silence for a bit...."
she took some deep breaths

Jon takes the Parasol and Hugs Jade back, he holds her tightly. "For you, I will always return." he whispers, it is a mixture of emotions, but holds the power of a promise.

Breaking the hug, Jon turns and quickly steps on to the Pattern...

  Lance leans over and whispers to Ariadne, "Well, I've seen you through as I promised, so my work here is done.  Jon made his preference for my absence clear enough so no need for me to stay for his walk.  Once again, congratulations.  I'm heading upstairs to take a nap and try to get rid of this headache.  Probably having dinner with my mom tonight, then heading out on my mission in the morning.  Not sure when we'll see each other next, with all the universe at our beck and call, but do take care of yourself and if you ever need to reach me please don't hesitate."

Immediately, sparks rose about his foot. He took another step. More sparks. A tiny crackling noise. Another step. A bit of resistance as he moved again. . . .

The chill was surprising, the small shocks less so. He felt as if there was already a map of the Pattern somewhere inside him, and it was almost as if he read from it as he moved along that first curve, resistance rising, sparks flying, his hair stirring, the crackling, a kind of humming...

He reached the First Veil, and it was like walking in a wind tunnel. Every movement involved heavy effort. If he just kept pushing he would advance, albeit slowly... The trick, clearly, was not to stop. Starting again would be horrible, maybe impossible. Steady  pressure  was what was required just now...

(STR check, please...)

12:52, Today: Jon rolled 9 using 2d6+2 ((6,1)).

Jon listened to his instincts, following the pattern in his mind more than looking at the ground. His jaw set with determination and perhaps even a bit of defiance. His pace is steady.

Under his breath he talks to the pattern as he walks it "Jade believes you are sentient, I don't know if you are or not.  But I am Jonathan Bishop Hawk, Ranger of the Faewylds, Son of Eric and Prince of Amber.  I will not falter, I will do this and claim the power of my birthright." As he tries to push through the veil.

(11:34, Today: The GM rolled 1 using 1d4 ((1)).

Jon takes 1 special Tiredness damage.)

A few moments more and he would be through. The going would be easier.

Turn, turn...

He was through. He knew, from watching the others, the way would be easy now for a time. He began to stride with a bit of confidence. He negotiated a long curve, then a sharp switchback. The sparks reached up to his boottops now. His mind was flooded with memories of springtime in the FeyWylds, with politics in the Courts, where people dueled and died over whim and caprice... No more. Push it all away. It didn't matter now. Nothing mattered but the present moment.

He gritted his teeth. It was hard to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. Part of the effect of the Pattern...

Another step... Tingling sensations all the way up his legs... The crackling sounds as loud as a storm to him... One foot in front of the other... Pick them up, put them down... Hair standing on end now... Turn...  Push... An autumn rainstorm, wind at his back... No, blowing in his face, chilling him...

Three more steps and resistance rises once more...

He is upon the Second Veil, and it is suddenly as if he is trying to push a carriage out of a muddy ditch... All his strength goes forward, and the return on it is infinitesimal. He moves with glacial slowness, and the sparks are about his waist... He feels that he is blue flame...

(CON check, please...)

Jade was jumping up and down, "Way to go ! You can do it, just keep going." She had a wide smile. She glanced over to Ballad briefly before returning her attention back to Jon on the Pattern.

15:22, Today: Jon rolled 9 using 2d6 ((5,4)).
Special Damage: +1 from the 1st veil
Total Damage: +1

As he pushes against the memories and the veil, he takes a deep breath centering breath.  He focuses his mind on his training, the practice.  The will to push through his limits to get better to reach the next level.

A light chuckles "Jade may be right about you.  But I am going to claim my birthright, not for me but to protect them those who are special to me.  I will not let you win, I will protect Jade, Mom, Ballad, Ari, Janessa and even Lance!" he says to the pattern and he pushes against the second veil.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 28 Mar 2022.