Undertow — Philip's game log
Philip - Undertow Summary
© 2004 Jack Gulick
At the 20th anniversary...
Watched his cousins and spoke to his father first. Was slightly surprised to be invited to the Arden for more conversation, with both of them obviously testing each other as much as conversing.Was offered an army spot by Bleys (though eventually realized that applied to pretty much everyone, so ignored it).
Gerard called on him to prepare drinks for a bit (also a common event)
Was berated by Corwin for being soft and uninvolved. Almost took it seriously, since he more than a little wanted to be involved in things at Amber, but was very turned off by the later outburst between Corwin and Caine.
Briefly spoke to Caine, to little note.
Most of his conversation with cousins was muted and polite; he had little in common with most, finding them shallow and self-involved. (No, he didn't realize that standing by himself much of the time likely left the same impression with them.)
In the Interim...
At least a bit of the time in the middle was spent not on gambling but in a shadow military, as both Julian and Bleys had made it clear such knowledge was critical. He found it fitting to his skills, but not his personal taste.10 years later...
Was playing poker (naturally) when the odd feeling came upon him. He used what gift he had for shadow (and the glasses) to find a shadow path that should have taken him toward Amber, but instead it led him into a desolate desert, where a hard wind blew against him, turning him back. He retreated to the first inhabited place he could find, a hardscrabble farm, but was unable to acquire a mount (they had nothing bigger than goats). Made his way toward a town, but managed to find only jungle-overgrown ruins, where he was found by Caine and Gerard's ship.Caine told him what had happened in Amber and to his father, to the point of asking him if he would take up Arden. He refused, expressing no interest in the role. He then offered to assist in finding their way back to Amber via the confused Shadow paths, but spent as much time observing Caine (a master of the art of finding routes through Shadow) as helping.
Upon return, his initial interest was in his father's condition. Perhaps there is little warmth there, but there was really only one man whose respect he wanted. Initially, little information was exchanged, though, and Julian seemed uncertain about many things.
After the full meeting and information sharing by the walking wounded Elders, he focused on the condition of Amber's borders. He sought cousins Duncan and Byron (at his father's advice), with only the former agreeing that the borders were a priority. Caine also agreed, and so he took to the sea (so far as Philip knows) while Philip and Duncan rode the land borders. Benedict refused to directly assist them, having other priorities.
Together, they rallied the much harried troops, pulling them back to defendable spots, setting up communication lines between all too isolated units, and offering personal support. Philip pointed out more unusual new shadow paths (glasses used to help), and they both put their military knowledge to work. They had made most of the circuit when they were met by several Swan Women, which addressed Philip a bit more respectfully than they did Duncan, curtseying in a manner Philip found natural and familiar. They were taken into the First Kingdom, where they found Byron (trying to hide in a glamour, which was eventually removed though Philip had seen it, if not through it, earlier thanks to the glasses) and opened negotiation, at least slightly. Sufficient to call a truce, at least, if they could get Benedict to agree. Duncan took that task for himself.
Andrew had contacted him by trump during the early moments of the negotiations, insisting there was something happening at the Pattern, but Philip cut him off as having critical maters at hand and suggested he try Duncan instead. After the negotiation, Duncan did return via Trump and Philip remained in one of Julian's hunting lodges, to which the First Kingdom returned captured tokens from the fighting. (He stayed behind because they were deep in the Arden and it made little sense for both to go back and have to ride days out again.)
He spoke to Julian by Trump then, getting some explanation of the history and prior deals with the First Kingdom. They discussed what the return of tokens meant (Julian said it was a sign of respect, Philip guessed it also meant they had little fear of Amber's forces at this moment and were showing theirs, and both agreed the other had part of the truth in what they said), and what their options now were. Philip came to realize that, with Julian's condition, it would likely be Byron, Duncan or him in charge of Arden soon. And, unhappily, he realized the only one of those he really trusted in that role was himself, as Byron seemed likely to favor the Kingdom over Amber and Duncan had more love of the army than of the forest.
Julian seemed to agree, and there was at least a hint that the respect he thought he'd never find was there after all. Their conversation ended when Julian's weakness overtook him, but with promise of more conversation to come.
And Philip sat in the lodge and wondered if he had the hand he would need to win this.
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