[Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Human Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: MadPanda on 27-02-2007, 15:26:59</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>[Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>27-02-2007, 15:26:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>In the course of events, it becomes inevitable that those empowered to traverse shadow go their own way, or seek private conversations, or pursue interests unrelated to those close at hand.&nbsp; Here is where all such activities for Prince Zephyr shall be recorded.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>07-03-2007, 16:25:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>(from Part One)</em><br><br>Indira leads the way from the inn, and within a few minutes Zephyr can see the effects: she seems to change details very quickly, heading ever upward...after half an hour, the two of them are standing on a cliffside near to a massive waterfall.&nbsp; Indira finally speaks to him, having to shout over the endless thunder of water.<br><br>"This should be far enough.&nbsp; Have you ever wondered why none of the exercises you've memorized would work for you?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>08-03-2007, 16:10:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr looks at his sister, wondering if she was serious or not. " Oh, only whenever I did them, so no more than 2-3 times a day for some years now..." he answers wryly. "And what do you mean 'far enough' ? Obviously it's not a quiet place you wanted, or else we wouldn't have to be shouting. So you meant to get away from our dear family - why? Are you protecting me, them or yourself?"<br><br>Zephyr hoped he would be getting some long sought answers and information at last.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>08-03-2007, 16:18:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Take a moment to sense the background of this place.&nbsp; See if you can tell the difference between it and home."<br><br>What is she talking about?&nbsp; One place is very much like another, isn't it?&nbsp; ...wait.&nbsp; There <em>is</em> a difference--and Zephyr can tell even without sinking into meditation or performing a mantra.&nbsp; It's something he can't describe, not having the words, but it's definitely there.<br><br>"What you are feeling, little brother, is the magic of this shadow...that is as good a word for these other places as any.&nbsp; Shadows cast by the eternal light of our home.&nbsp; And the art you have so painstakingly learned does not work there."<br><br>She grins in a most unpleasant way.<br><br>"Mother does not wish to be invaded by an army of spellcasters.&nbsp; Out here, it's a different story."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>08-03-2007, 16:42:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I... see." Zephyr ponders her words for a few moments before continuing. "Shadows tend to get darker the further they are from the source of light which creates them. Does this magic act the same? That is to say, is the power stronger the farther we are from home?" As he speaks, another thought occurs to him.<br><br>" Adnan mentioned one has to be traveling in order to cause the changes - manipulate the shadow, I guess you could say - but that direction didn't matter. Conceivably then, one could ride around in a circle and still get someplace very... 'far'. So what exactly are the factors determining a place's - a shadow's, distance from home? Surely not the distance you traveled, nor the time, I imagine?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>08-03-2007, 16:52:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Indira laughs...unusual, to say the least!<br><br>"So full of questions!&nbsp; I wonder if I was this bad?&nbsp; Probably."<br><br>She shakes her head.<br><br>"Such matters are not a constant.&nbsp; Some places are more powerful than others, and not always in a consistant pattern...heh...that shows itself to even the most careful scrutiny.&nbsp; You will have to experiment.&nbsp; As for distance...let us say, you can always feel the difference.&nbsp; You might some day stumble across a shadow of our home that's so close you find your own room set up as you left it.&nbsp; And yet...you will always know."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>13-03-2007, 12:15:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"I see."&nbsp; Zephyr ponders her words a moment, as another bunch of questions well up. " How about this place then? How does it 'rate', power-wise? I'm assuming you've been around, as it were, and can judge."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>13-03-2007, 14:49:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Try something and see what happens."<br><br>Indira gives him another, almost mocking half-smile.&nbsp; Obviously there's something she knows that she isn't telling...but then, that's how she's taught him all along.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>13-03-2007, 14:54:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Trying not to show his exasperation, Zephyr goes through the brief breathing exercise he uses to calm and clear his mind, then goes through the first set of 'exercises'. It does feel different this time, as if he's working "through" something, that sometimes resists and sometimes helps his progress.<br><br>Curious, he waits to see what happens next.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>13-03-2007, 15:26:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				This time, there IS a response...which has never happened before!&nbsp; Ever!&nbsp; Unfortunately, with no previous experience to call upon, he's not sure whether this is a 'strong' or a 'weak' reaction.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>13-03-2007, 17:21:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Excited by actually getting a response, Zephyr continues progressing through the exercises, progressing to the longer, more demanding ones. It takes all his concentration to get them right, so he holds off on questioning his sister further for the while.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>15-03-2007, 15:35:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				While he's playing around, Indira has stalked off nearly a hundred yards and settled herself under a tree.&nbsp; From here, he can just barely make out what she's doing--she has one of the Trumps out, apparently, and is talking to someone.<br><br>Or perhaps she's talking to herself?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>18-03-2007, 12:46:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Bringing the exercise to completion, Zephyr looks around to spot Indira, apparently using a Trump to converse with someone. The image immediately sparked up several questions in his mind, and he decided to try and resolve some of them right there and then.<br><br>Not having tried the Trumps himself thus far, he decided to do some experimenting. Though not being an ideal first attempt scenario, he was quite sure Indira was currently in the midst of a Trump call, and wanted to find out what - if anything - would happen if he tried contacting her whilst she was so engaged. He was sorry he hadn't had the chance to make an 'ordinary' contact yet, so as to have something to compare *to*, but one seizes opportunities as they come.<br><br>Shuffling his deck to locate his sister's card, he concentrated on the image, trying to make contact.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 15:33:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It takes a few moments, but the Trump grows cold in his hand.&nbsp; Now, apparently, the only thing to do is to wait and see if Inanna answers.<br><br>The contact does not seem to firm up, but she suddenly turns and glares in his direction...then goes back to her other conversation briefly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 15:45:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Interesting, he thinks. So Indira did notice someone else was trying to make contact, and what's more - she knew exactly who it was. The question is - and this he hoped he could get an answer for from her - was this always obvious, was it an issue of practice, or was it something individual, that some could do and others could not.<br><br>He waited patiently for Indira to finish her conversation, but assailed her with those questions as soon as she returned to where he was stood.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 16:18:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				By the time she approaches him, Indira is a little less cross...which is to say that she only glares at him, but does not raise her voice nor berate him.&nbsp; She even lets him ask his questions.<br><br>"It is not always obvious, especially not to the untrained or the novice.&nbsp; In time, you may figure out how such identification may be made, and if your studies take you to plumbing the depths of these curiousities, then perhaps you may find a better way than mine.&nbsp; But that is for you to discover.&nbsp; Adnan is the real expert on the Trumps."<br><br>Then she scowls.<br><br>"Do not repeat that experiment.&nbsp; There are minds greater than ours who would react poorly to such an interruption."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 16:29:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr nods at his sister, grateful to receive answers in lieu of a scolding. A matter of practice then, he thinks&nbsp; - so there will be no getting around further experiments, whatever his sister says. But he keeps that bit to himself.<br><br>" So sister, back to our previous subject - the exercises. I now know there is magic in this place - shadow, as you call it. Can I use it as I please? And how?"<br><br>Though curious, he doesn't even bother asking whom she was talking to just now, and what about. Surely, that line of questioning is sure to raise her ire rather than yield answers.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 16:47:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Indeed you can.&nbsp; It is not always a simple thing--as you know, those formulae are complex.&nbsp; Each is a separate spell, and to fully prepare them takes a great deal of time.&nbsp; But know you know why you were taught these things."<br><br>She frowns slightly.<br><br>"Mother does not think it wise to have only a single specialist in any given area.&nbsp; And now, we shall part ways."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 16:52:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				" One last question there, sister dear. Both you and Adnan have mentioned Others who have similar abilities to us. I must deduce then that they too - and perhaps even other shadow inhabitants&nbsp; - can manipulate shadow magic in this way?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 17:01:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr's reward is a quirky little half-smile.<br><br>"It is possible, yes.&nbsp; You ought to keep a sharp eye out, just in case."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 18:37:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Of course. Yet another thing to keep a sharp eye out for." Zephyr laughs wryly. It would seem these new found powers and abilities came with a whole lot of baggage, and most of it bad one.<br><br>"Well, I guess this is farewell then, sis." he said as he mounted his horse again. " Don't hesitate to call if you get in trouble, eh?" he winks at her before turning his mount and starting off in a light trot, his feathery companion launching to the sky again.<br><br>He had no real idea where he wanted to go yet. He did know it needed to be a place of some power, where he could learn more of magic manipulation, and hold various experiments with that and the Trumps. He looked up at the sun, seeing it was already well past midday. Very well, he could travel a few hours at least, try changing the environment about, get a feel for things before he set out in earnest on the morrow.<br><br>Little changes at first would be easiest, he assumed. Or not even changes, just... predictions. Like a bend to the North in the trail just up ahead.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 19:08:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"May Grandfather watch over you, little brother.&nbsp; Now get going.&nbsp; You'll need your practice without my playing nursemaid."<br><br>Indira waves him off, not even watching him leave.&nbsp; If he looks back, he finds her already gone...<br><br>Zephyr gets his northward bend with surprising ease.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 19:13:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pleasantly surprised at the ease of his first attempt, he decides to try something a bit more complex. After this next hill, he expects the trail to become a road, a field of corn on it's right and a meadow with bright red flowers on the left. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>19-03-2007, 19:24:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It takes a while--things seem to move better if he concentrates on one detail at a time.&nbsp; But after half an hour he gets the cornfield on one side and the meadowful of bright red flowers on the other...<br><br>And two battle lines drawn up on either side of the road, blocking progress with a fierce melee!&nbsp; Uh oh.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>20-03-2007, 12:38:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr curses under his breath as the lined up combatants come into view. He reigns his horse to a stop, using the opportunity to give it some rest while he takes stock of the situation.<br><br>He tries to get a measure for the numbers on either side, and respective strengths, as well as trying to appraise the possibility of simply riding around the whole scene, either through the corn field or the flowery meadow.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>20-03-2007, 16:04:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The good news is that Zephyr, being well off to one side, is in no immediate danger from the general free-for-all with pointy sticks breaking out all along the line.&nbsp; The bad news is that there are at least a thousand participants on each side, and they have outriders...<br><br>Some of whom carry lances and wear some kind of black armor.&nbsp; And by way of fact are carrying it in his general direction at high speed.&nbsp; A moment later, a couple of outriders from the other side of the battlefield also head towards Zephyr.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 12:09:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr lets loose a longer string of curses - It's not like there's a lack of opponents for them to attack, that they have to go a-chasing random passerby horsemen!<br><br>Well it's fight or flight, he reckons. And since there's several of them, well armored and armed, he doesn't much like his odds on the former choice. But then again, this does present an opportunity for another experiment... Being much lighter than any of the armored assailants, he trusts he can make his escape good, given some head start. Time enough for one attempt then, he decides.<br><br>Quickly entering the semi-meditative state he uses for what he now knows to be magic manipulation techniques, he attempts to gather energy together out of the surrounding area, shaping and directing it, letting it build up then releasing it all at once on the road, directly in front of the foremost riders.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 15:15:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				There's not as much 'magic' in this shadow as he'd like...gathering enough to be effective feels like it will take some time, which he might not have!<br><br>The riders grow closer, but slow a little as each incoming party spots their opposite number.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 15:26:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr quickly realizes gathering enough power will take longer than he feels comfortable with, considering the riders' pace. Abandoning the effort, he wheels his horse around, and spurs it forward. After all, direction of travel should be meaningless, and he didn't *really* need the damn cornfield anyway!<br><br>He rides in full gallop for a couple of moments before turning in his saddle to see if the opposing parties are giving chase, or have turned attention to each other instead.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 15:41:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr gets lucky--the pursuing horsemen fall on each other after a short while, leaving him to flee as he wishes.&nbsp; Still, it rankles...and if he took the time now, surely he would find enough power to smite them?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 16:02:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Glancing back over his shoulder, he was pleased to see the two groups now joined in battle. Reigning his horse in sharply, he turned it around again, watching the fight and letting the horse rest a bit.<br><br>Perhaps he should resume the experiment now, he pondered. He should have enough time, his pursuers being occupied with each other as they are...<br><br>Giving a mental shrug, and pinning the blame on the riders for starting the whole business in the first place, he once again started gathering the energy, this time planning to release it right within the group of fighting cavalry.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 16:11:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Just as the fight seems to be winding down, but before one side can rally enough to continue the pursuit, Zephyr reaches what feels about 'right'.&nbsp; Which leaves one question: which of so many methods will he unleash?<br><br>Mechanics note: in essence, Zephyr already has a spell in mind, racked and ready to go, after all the constant drills Indira forced on him.&nbsp; The question is which linchpin gets slotted...Future spells will require the usual amount of trouble.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 16:49:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The energy builds up until he feels it's enough to accomplish what he wants. Putting the final touches to it, he releases it in the form of lightning. Let's see how well those metal sheets they have on protect them from that, he grins inwardly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 16:54:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The results are impressive!&nbsp; Apparently chain-mail is highly conductive, and for a few moments the entire battlefield lights up even more as the recently deceased horsemen act as some sort of filament...<br><br>However, not being here when someone else comes to investigate is almost certainly a good idea.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 17:25:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr is quite surprised at the success of his endeavor. The pyrotechnics are soon followed by the stench of burnt flesh however, giving him yet another good reason to make himself scarce. He starts his horse off again, away from the charred corpses, continuing his original quest for a more 'magical' environment.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>21-03-2007, 17:28:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				(and Zephyr now gets between 2 and 5 years subjective time to play around out in Shadow...go ahead and describe his antics as you wish.)
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>29-03-2007, 12:08:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr spends some time traveling, seeking a shadow rich in magic. When he does, he sets up 'shop' there, furthering his studies into Sorcery, learning and experimenting the manipulation of magical sources. After about 3 years, he sets out traveling again, seeking out shadows with different varieties and intensities of magic, spending time in each in order to practice working with as many different environments and conditions as he can.<br><br>He also seeks out any 'local' Sorcerers in these shadows, for the purpose of learning whatever he can from them. Another 2 years are spent in this manner.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 16:47:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				And then one day, more or less out of the blue, Zephyr gets an incoming Trump contact that carries as much grace and subtlety as a brickbat dropped from atop a high tower.<br><br>He can, of course, refuse to accept it...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 17:20:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr is rather surprised at first, not having been contacted in this way for quite a while (or hardly ever at all for that matter). He does have enough understanding, however, to realize whomever is trying to make contact is going about rather forcefully. While this could well mean some sort of malicious intent, it can also mean someone in a great hurry, or someone not very practiced with the Trumps (such as himself, he admits inwardly).<br><br>Taking a moment to prepare against the former, adversary option, he opens up slowly, feeling for the other party. "Yes? Who is this?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 17:43:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				It's Indira.&nbsp; She looks even less happy than usual, which is saying something!<br><br>"Are you doing anything so important it cannot be left for later?"<br><br>Her tone, never very cheerful, makes it only too clear that the only acceptable answer to this question is 'no'.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 22:10:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Zephyr's surprise only grows when it turns out to be his older sister who initiated the contact. She must really be beside herself to be out of control like that, he thinks. Best be on my best behavior.<br><br>"Nothing important, sister. What can I do for you?" Must be more 'family business', is the first thing that comes to his mind. And family business is anything but dull, he suspects.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>MadPanda</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 22:22:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You'd best come through now, then.&nbsp; We'll explain when everyone's gathered."<br><br>She holds out her hand to pull him through the Trump...<br><br>(and Zephyr may now also proceed back to the main thread, which will be active shortly.)
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Amber: Court of Dreams] Side Quests: Zephyr's Thread</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>TheAlchemist</strong> on <strong>11-04-2007, 22:29:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Now this Zephyr did not expect at all. But as he had offered his services already, there was no backing out now. Reaching out, he grasped the proffered hand, and took a step forward.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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