Undertow — Dartmouth and Brand
Dartmouth, Son of Brand, meets his father
© 2004 John Lees
--John:
I am playing Dartmouth in Ambercon's Undertow game. I belive that Simone wants us to do some discussion before the game in character between Brand and Dartmouth. She has the details of the character and can give you anything that you need.--Ian:
Simone's passed on your background and I've taken a quick glance over it. Let's work out some details.I'm still awaiting guidance from Simone regarding power levels and such, but I figure this much should remain unchanged: whether he can personally exert the power to do it or not, Brand is still the master of much arcana and esoterica. As such, he is a tremendous source for information and learning.
The downside is that he's a pariah. Certainly little love is offered to him from the rest of his family (still working out relationships with other Elders, but "friends" are likely to be few). The younger generation may not feel quite so strongly, but you never know.
Another downside is that this is a man haunted by his history. Since his return to Amber ten years ago, he's lived in practical self-exile in Kashfa, moping about. Taking long walks. Staring out the windows. Generally being reflective and depressed. He may not have been the most cheerful person to talk to, yet it would seem that if you could get him talking about powers that weren't too Pattern-linked, a bit of a spark would return to his eyes.
Before Patternfall, he was a busy man for obvious reasons. He set you in a shadow where you would learn, but perhaps not necessarily be challenged as much as you would like. Think of it as a cushy shadow where you could have it easy. Perhaps this infuriated you. Chances are he never told you that he had placed you in such a place on purpose.
Who's your mom? What was she like? Did she raise you primarily?
Being guarded about many things, especially after losing some of his power, you probably suspect that Brand knows a lot more than he lets on, but getting him to be forthcoming with the information could be a challenge.
Knowing that your father is a pariah and unloved by most, never in Amber, what kind of relationship would you have had with him in the ten years prior? What relationship would you like to have had with him prior to Patternfall? More than likely, he would have kept you hidden away in Shadow during the execution of his plans, though it's possible that Bleys may have known about you and found you after Patternfall, if you wish to have been involved in the family politics before Brand's return.
--John:
As far as his mother is concerned, there is one thing you can't pick, and that's your parents. His mother (were I to contribute to her selection) might be someone who is manipulative, but at the same time totally stealthy about it -- she would be the one to manipulate events to the point where she looked completely blameless. At some point in early childhood, Dartmouth would realize this (perhaps after dad pointed it out in something of a pique) and this sets him on his path. Note that she might not be the scheming evil kind of manipulator like Jasra, more the kind of person who does it for things petty and large alike. She may have been some kind of bon vivant, and dad may have just decided that she wasn't worth the effort of keeping her amused.--Ian:
Your mother is Flora.I lie.
Unless Simone contradicts me.
--John:
Flora and Brand? Scary combination of Sugar & Spice. Not to be obtuse (sounded like my chain was being pulled) but I'll wait for that confirmation from Simone before I start calling Florimel 'Mom'.--Simone:
Heh. It would be nice to see someone ask Flora about that possibility.--Ian:
I'd like to think that Brand would know, if she were the mother of his son. Of course, more be it the weirder if he didn't...--John:
Ooooookay. I (John) still belive that my (John's) chain is being pulled here. I'd better have word on who my mother is though for the record.--Ian:
I'll leave this to Simone, because I don't know either.--Simone:
Okay, okay! She's officially NOT DARTMOUTH'S MOM ;-)
--Ian:
I think your mother might have also been great at giving you the guilt trip when necessary, though. Think of everything you've heard about Jewish and Catholic mothers and amplify it.--John:
Yup. Sounds about right. Guilt is simply another means of manipulation. Also when done properly, guilt can become transformed into a value system based on honor and integrity, even an odd sort of honor like Dartmouth's.Just a slice of this "Odd sense of Honor": He would risk his life for an innocent, but have no compunction about stabbing someone to death in their sleep if they were someone he considered 'bad', note that does not mean inconvienient or troublesome or even potentially threatening (actually threatening yes, but someone who might later spoil my plans no).
--Ian:
Has he ever discussed his code of honour? How does he determine who's good and who's bad?--John:
As far as Dartmouth's relationship with Brand, he saw him as a worthy figure of fear and respect during the period leading up to Patternfall, someone that Dartmouth would consider challenging. The shadow where Dartmouth was dropped was cushy and boring. Dartmouth hated it, and resented being dropped there. It was in this place that Dartmouth perfected what his retainers called "the Slump", a kind of ennui filled slumping posture (usually seated) that declares for all to see that he is bored top the point of mourning. Dartmouth would try to make things interesting by getting into more and more trouble (what he could at least) in the shadow -- from fomenting rebellions to helping star-crossed lovers, whatever he could do to alliviate the boredom. Near the end there, he would probably be desparate or near-suicidal. If anyone took him out of that shadow after Patternfall he would be most appreciative (hint hint).--Ian:
That wouldn't have been me. Simone, you'll have to suggest someone else that may have rescued Dartmouth from the fate I gave him before falling into the Abyss. Bleys, maybe, or Fiona. Or maybe Random. Who's to say he might not have tried to get some revenge on Brand's son. Of course, he may have also found wisdom from the venture that led to the eventual pardon of the father.--John:
After Patternfall, Dartmouth's feelings towards his father were somewhat more like disappointment, not that his father did not succeed, once he discovers what dear ol' dad was trying to do, Dartmouth would actually be mortified. Dad recreating the Pattern to make the Universe in his own image? That is entirely too much like cheating to Dartmouth, nevertheless he would admire the machinations Brand took during the lead-up to Patternfall.--Ian:
Cheating? This might be an interesting philosophical discussion, should Dartmouth have ever approached Brand about it. Is it cheating? Given the difficulty, it certainly wouldn't seem like cheating.And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!
--John:
Actually, I have always founb cheating is often more difficult than actually doing things the "right" way. Of course in this situation, I was referring more to the fcat that after everything was done it wopuld be like cheating. Once you are the master of the universe, patterning it after yourself say, you will be basically unopposed. THAt is too much like cheating.--Ian:
By the way, something for you to ponder: I tried to stick Martin for the blood to cleanse the Pattern, even though I knew where I could find some ready Amberite blood.--John:
Yeah, I caught that in an earlier email as well. Is Dad gonna dance around that one, or dole anything out. ("It seems like something you'd like to get off your chest dad.") I like the 'cleanse the Pattern' bit as well, nice touch.--Ian:
He'll dance around it again and again. When the topic comes up, it always seems like something that pains him.--John:
Okay. Dance away. I figure at this point (OOC) that I was to have simply been put on notice on the subject and something will come up in the adventure to reveal it further.--Ian:
All roads are open. I'm getting a pretty good feel of what's making Brand tick here. All I have to do is be able to convey it.More to ponder: Random pardoned me when I returned from the Abyss.
--John:
Does this fall into the "Read the Corwin Chronicles with Brand as Hero" line of thought? Or is there something else, something more behind the scenes. Random, as the father of Martin, would have reason to hate Brand; but wait there's more... Martin was working with the Courts at one pointa s I recall and Oberon once said "Keep an eye on Martin" Two possible oinetrpretations: Martin was more deeply involved in this and Brand knows enough about it to leverage Random into a Pardon or that there is some special quality about Martin (perhaps even all of the third generation) that makes him especially dangerous.--Simone:
When Brand was delivered to Amber by House Hendrake, he was apparently hardly able to lift his own head. He was stripped of the Pattern, and the gift of Trump seemed to have left him. Perhaps Random just thought the revenge was a dish that had grown too cold.--John:
Now that dad is a little wasted and a little used up, Dartmouth would not simply discard him, especially if there is something left for him to learn from Dad (there probably still is). His sense of justice would also kick in, and he would spend time with his father. Spending time discussing non-Pattern powers (this is where he no doubt was able to finsih his trainign in Trump Artistry) would be the best path.--Ian:
Wasted? Maybe. Maybe not. Since you spend time with him, you can probably sense that there's still considerable power in him, just not Pattern. If nothing else, the power of his knowledge brought to bear on a subject could be positively withering. He is a font of knowledge, but thus far he's only doled it out in little morsels.--John:
Wasted more in the political sense, in terms of sheer power, I would assume that the others fear him whether he can traverse shadow via Pattern or not.--Simone:
Certainly, for whatever reason, Brand has not had a lot of visitors.--John:
As far as his knowledge, yes he is a vital resource. He is also a cautionary tale: there are some gambits, however lofty, that simply cost too much. He doesn't just come out of pity, or guilt or even a sense of adventure as he tries to pry things from his dad. He is connected to this individual, and this is the right thing to do; he can also learn from Brand, not just the secret knowledge byut who he is and what kind of path he has taken.Depending on how things turn out, Dartmouth could be up for another change in direction or it could simply confirm the direction he has already taken.
--Ian:
Well, a lot of things are changing all at once. The beginning of the game will see a major change in Brand, though I think it may be off-camera and only a couple of days prior to the start of the game.Chances are you will not be party to the change yet, though. I'm not certain what the circumstances of the startgame will be.
GM-willing, spending time with Brand could certainly help with trump training. Simone, is Brand capable of making place trumps?
--Simone:
Brand took a short cut in regards to Trump, as implied by the Trump info message I sent out a short time ago. He is a technically skilled artist, and can probably try to describe a lot about what you're trying to do. But can you feel it?--John:
More to my line of interest, is Dartmouth? I caught what Simone said about trumps generally in her email, but being a trump artist, I assume that I can draw my own (people and places). BTW, Dartmouth does not necessarily advertise his trump artistry, nor does he hide it. Kind of like how Luke operated (Merlin as I recall, did not know if he painted or not because it probably never came up). He is not afraid to use it as a baragining chip either: in order to manipulate, you have to have something that others want.--Simone:
You can certainly draw your own Trumps of people and places. Your place Trumps, like everyone else's, are vague and uncertain, as though they drift.People, by the way, are easiest to draw when they are willing and you have been in intimate / mental contact with them. They are hardest if you have only looks to go on, and you might end up with only a near shadow of the person.
--John:
At some point, Dartmouth would even attempt to get his father to discuss the time before the Pattern and Logrus, there were artifacts of order during these times as well, and the conversations and research would no doubt be esoteric but interesting. It would get dad off of the subject of the Pattern and into a different frame of mind (in theory).Alternatively, when he is in one of his moods and is being hateful, Dartmouth would try to needle some of the stuff that he thinks Dad is holding back.
--Ian:
Do you think you actually get meaningful information when you try? Perhaps it is times like these where it seems that Brand truly fires up inside. Pitting mind against mind, even if it's only a verbal contest, he's interested. He's also enigmatic, giving what may sound like a straight answer, but would always end up sounding doubtful with later information. Is it a riddle or is it not?--John:
Not getting meaningful information when I try would actually make him more interesting than ever. It would take an act of kindness moved by pity and guuilt to something more challenging, meaningful even. Your description of what happens when Brand fires up makes him the best choice of parent possible for Dartmouth. Needling Brand when he is being hateful isn;t actually designed to get something meaningful out of him, it is designed to play off of the pain he is suffering with regards to the subject. Petty? sure, but Brand can be infuriating when he is being nasty.--Ian:
He is evasive, indirect, prone to talk in terms that aren't concrete, fuzzy, filled with variables and concepts that have not been adequately defined. He's one that is so intimately aware of the higher levels of things that he doesn't necessarily have the sight to see how a neophyte sees things."No rug will save you," Brand seethes.
--John:
Probably not knowing exactly what it means (unless Dad has told me) I would simply take that as a nice and clean threat. If Brand has told him of the significance, or someone else for that matter, Dartmouth would make certain that he found the most beautiful rugs he could and had them sent to Dad within a few weeks of the comment, waiting for him to be in a better mood first. There would not have been any note, nor any comment that Dartmouth would have made about them (if asked directly he would say: "I was hoping that you would find them life-affirming. At least when you see them, you'll think of me.")--Ian:
In truth, I don't think that Brand would even utter such a thing. It's such a metagaming line to say. No, if Dartmouth pushes Brand's buttons too far, I think there are far more effective threats than that of bodily harm. Dartmouth seems far less concerned about bodily harm than, say, information that is withheld.There are lots of responses, I suppose. Distraction, deflection, denial. Brand could use any one of them, even to the point of giving Dartmouth some kind of nugget of arcana to go run off and play with to leave him alone. Or even a red herring puzzle.
--John:
Dartmouth's relationship with Luke would be interesting. Luke follows a different path than Dartmouth, but there is a lot to be admired of the Salesman's technique even if it is a bit blunt. He would probably not start too much trouble in Kashfa, it being someone else's back yard and all, but he would certainly be a passive information gatherer and indulge in the Kingdom's potentials for female companionship.--Ian:
Try Marie at the Red Petticoat. She's got good hands.--John:
Most appreciated, Amber Endurance should be good for something other than running and jumping and waiving about sharp pointy objects right?--Ian:
Actually, Simone, what kind of hospitality or relationship do we have with Luke? Presumably, since he's letting me live in his kingdom, he and I share at least a cordial relationship. What's life like in Kashfa? Is Luke active in his interaction with his dad?--John:
Ditto for Dartmouth.--Simone:
Luke is a regular but infrequent visitor. Brand's presence here is officially Luke's private business. It is clear that while it could not be kept completely secret, the fact was encouraged to fade out of the public consciousness. As King, Luke is concerned for his reputation and cannot look like a puppet of Amber nor like a complicitor in Brand's personal war there.--Ian:
For his part, Brand has laid low and taken to spending time in solitude, taking long walks in the garden, painting, reading, or just plain staring off at something in the distance.--Simone:
He's in a hard spot. He clearly derives a great deal of pleasure from showing up at the estate, getting everyone a little drunk on extremely expensive wine, and talking theoretical shadow physics and probabilities until the wee morning (with bawdy tales and horrible jokes thrown in for good measure). But he doesn't quite know what to do with Brand, either. The father he tried to revenge for twenty years turned out to be... alive.--Ian:
Brand, when he finds out what Luke had done for him, would express gratitude, though I figure this would have happened during his depression and he was likely not about to throw Luke a party for being such a good, avenging son.--John:
BTW, How is Vinta Bayle? If Dartmouth has a chance, he would check up on her through clandestine means (indirect questions to third parties and that sort of thing, never revealing himself if he could help it). If she ever falls on hard times he would ensure some degree of safety for her. In his mind she was the only real victim of the Caine assassination. If she seems to be mounting a revenge play, he might try to defuse it if he can from afar. He never mentions his interest in Bayle to anyone, nor his motives (if he understands it entirely himself)--Ian:
Simone, what mix of first and second series are we playing with? As far as I know, Caine is still alive, so the whole assassination thing never went through, so second series doesn't appear to have occurred. However, I think Simone was referring to the <some date in April> attempted assassinations on Merlin by Luke. What's the story here?--Simone:
There has been conflict between Luke and Merlin, and attempts on the royal family up to the explosion at the funeral procession requiring Vialle's intervention. Luke is settled into the throne in Kashfa, but the Merlin part is not played through (nor likely to go down as written). Luke is not married to Coral; she is as yet an unknown quantity.* * *
other writings: Background, Quiz, "Dartmouth and Brand", "Dartmouth and Rio", Undertow conclusion,