Helena: Maybe when she gets back, she can get a meeting alone with Benedict, and try again to deliver that parcel

GM: Benedict is not immediately available to you after the mission, but you are approached by one of the king's functionaries about rescheduling Helena's meeting with Random. You think the man mentioned something about a medal, but maybe you heard him wrong.... Regardless, the meeting is for the next evening at dinner, and appears to be something of a formal affair.

Would Helena pursue Benedict, or wait until after things were resolved with Random?

Helena: Hmm. I think she'd really like to confirm her position with Benedict if he's available, so she'd try to set a new appointment for before this dinner. If he's not available, so be it; she wouldn't try and track him down or anything.

GM: The earliest appointment you would be able to arrange would be for the morning after the dinner, unfortunately. Do you accept the late appointment, or make none at all?

Helena: Yes, she does. Also she has plenty of work to do at the Jesby trade mission / embassy, so she can be busy until either of these things take place.

GM: Once the tarps and covers are off, the uppermost level is quite serviceable, lacking the level of must and dust Helena anticipated for a building out of use. The office level has old desks and no chairs, which impairs it's functionality quite a bit, while the shop level is quite bare. Would she initiate efforts to furnish, or wait for the confirmation she seeks first?

Helena: She will start right away. Whether or not she ends up staying, the work won't be wasted; the opportunity is too valuable for her House to throw away if she can't pin it down herself.

She will start by going through antique shops in Amber, getting a feel for prices and cost of living around here as well as seriously looking for furnishings that will suit the old warehouse interior.

GM: There appears to be a healthy import market for furniture, but little local industry along that line. Most furnishings seem to have a fairly high markup, but the quality is almost in line with the price. Housing seems to be under less pressure than that of the principalities near Chaos, and food is fairly cheap, so long as your tastes run to fish and upland produce. Coffee, tobacco, and other 'luxury' sundries are a tad pricey, and in high demand. Art objects don't see much trade, unless commissioned or crafted by an Amberite, in which case the prices are outrageous.

Helena: Excellent. I will look further into prices, the import situation, etc. over the next couple of months. Meanwhile I will prepare a report for Loren, and deliver it to him. (I assume I spoke to him immediately upon our departure from the shadow of the weapon. Dad! I'm alive!)

GM: Loren was very happy to hear of your safe return, and updated you on some of the information about Hendrake and the Laundry House that I imparted at the end of the session.

Helena: Was there anything of that that could be officially or unofficially passed to Amber?

Loren: "Let the King of Amber know that it was a minor house entangled in this breach, and they have been 'stricken,'" which Helena would know means completely purged, to the last soul. Of course, that might be considered merciful if their minds were all bent by that 'Arden'.

Helena: I will save that on my list to bring up to the King when we have our private meeting.

GM: Toward the end of the day, as you return to the proto-embassy to get ready for dinner with Random, you are hailed by a page in Princess Florimel's service who had been waiting at your door. The young man presents you with a formal invitation, and a small additional note describing the color scheme of the evening and other minor points of protocol.

Helena: I take those points in. In delivering my report to Loren, I also ask him for whatever formal message he would like to convey to the King from Jesby or from him personally.

Loren: Loren hand lingers over yours as he passes you a formal scroll with greetings and a praise of peace from the house, and then he says, "Personally, just thank the him and the Lord General for my daughter's safe return, if you would." He allows himself a proud smile, with a hint of relief showing beneath it.

Helena: I bow to him. "I will,Sir."

I will prepare for the dinner appropriately. Does anything in the notes indicate whether I should dress as Lady Jesby or in my formal uniform of station?

GM: Formal uniform seems to be the order of the day, and the recommended colors seem to be a mixture of the green and gold of Amber and Random and Benedict's autumnal personal colors.

Helena: Sadly my uniform is blue, black and gold. But I will pin up my hair in gold, with green, orange and yellow falls of colored diamond.

GM: If you've read and interpreted everything correctly, you're convinced that you'll make a suitably positive impression.

Helena: I prepare and head to the dinner.

GM: You are directed to a smaller room than you expected, although still suitably grand. The great table has already seated many whom you recognize: Random at the head, Vialle at his left hand and Benedict at his right. An empty chair beside Benedict is followed by seats holding Caine and Gerard. Likewise, there are two empty seats beside Vialle before Florimel - pulling off a formal dress plus faintly military jacket look splendidly - and another empty chair. A small card at the tail of the table has Helena's name and full position written out neatly in the Thari of Chaos, including "Ambassador to Amber" in gold script on the last line. Gerard and Benedict rise slightly from their chairs at your entrance, while Caine and Random nod their welcome, and Florimel and Vialle's welcoming smiles banish some small measure of your discomfort.

Helena: I make an appropriate short bow to the assembly, and a full bow to His Majesty as I am announced, and follow the usher to my place.

GM: Your introduction is formal and complete, and then, as soon as you are seated, the first course arrives, as if they had been waiting for you - but you know you were on time, if not early.

A conversation starts at the other end of the table about some minor point of local diplomacy, with Random and Flora the most active participants.

Helena: Am I the only member of the "team" present?

GM: Yes.

Helena: Also, is everyone attending to the same conversation, or are many small conversations starting up? For the time being I am content to listen.

GM: It appears to be just the one conversation. No one has looked to include you in the discussion thus far, and the point they're discussing seems so minor as to be almost trivial.

Helena: Oh, and I suppose I handed the scroll to the usher to be held for me until I call for it. It would not do for it to just sit on the table while we eat.

GM: There is a servant assigned to your seat, who holds the scroll as you wished.

Helena: Then I will attend to the conversation politely, and use the time to learn more of the rhythm of interaction here. Assuming the food is excellent, I pass compliments to the chef to the servant who attends me when the plates are changed.

GM: As you follow it, the discussion seems to have several sub-layers, revealing a sense that there is a division - or more properly, several divisions - among those present. The surface disagreement seems to be between Random and Flora, with the others merely contributing even more minor points, but the subtext shows a totally different alignment. Random and Vialle are one camp, while Gerard and Caine seem to represent the opposed faction. Flora and Benedict appear independent, loosely allied to Random's faction, but not to each other.

Do you continue to just listen politely, or ?

Helena: As I know little of the subject, I will continue to listen; plus, the politics are interesting. If there is any sense that it starts to appear like eavesdropping, I may catch Benedict's eye, just to make sure everything's okay.

GM: Benedict catches your eye after a while, very subtly, perhaps curious as to your opinion, but leaving to your discretion as to whether you choose to offer one.

Helena: My impression is that I don't have enough background information to offer an informed opinion, and so I do not offer one. [If on the other hand it is something I do know thoroughly, let me know. If that knowledge brings a new point of view or new information to the conversation, I will offer it; if it just brings me to support one side or the other, again I will keep silent.

GM: The conversation meanders for several courses, never really straying into Helena's comfort zone in terms of an informed opinion. However, just before the main course, Caine restates a piece of the 'dilemma' in fairly plain Thari, and directly (although with all apparent casualness) asks Helena what she thinks. If you follow the logical path of the argument as stated, your answer would seem to put you in the Caine/Gerard camp, but to do otherwise would require a great deal of intuition and guesswork to compose an intelligible answer. What sort of reply do you offer?

Helena: "Prince Admiral, you flatter me. I would not wish to make an opinion without knowing the background of the situation and its nuances as you all do. Areas I would investigate further would be... (x, y, z... I state in detail the kind of information I would want to inform my choices: exactly what I would want to know to feel comfortable either agreeing or creating a guess/intuition of my own. If possible, I would even explain some routes I would take to get the information, where that's not obvious on the surface.)" I end with, "Of course, sometimes further facts are not available. If a decision must be made on that basis in this matter, I certainly bow to your statement of the problem."

GM: Random lightly applauds your analysis, and Flora echoes his accolade, albeit less rigorously. Caine and Gerard look at each other, something unreadable passing between them, and then the topic seems to drop. As the main course comes out, you think you glimpse the start of a smile creasing the lips of the Lord General, but it is gone before you can be sure.

After dinner and dessert, during the port and tobacco course, Random rises from his chair, and the other Elders echo him, raising their glasses - although Caine and Gerard seem to do so half-heartedly at best. "To the good Ambassador from Jesby: May the peace between Amber and Chaos be long and prosperous!"

Helena: I bow my head in acceptance of the toast, then after drinking I stand to make my own. "I have two toasts, if I may. First to the reign of King Random and his good Queen, the support of his brothers and sisters, and the might and wisdom of Amber that after such time of war our two worlds could be brought together again in peace: I salute you." I raise my glass, and before drinking, say the second, "Second to my House and my father who stand behind me in offering this bond of prosperity and friendship, and to my family here, that I may come to know and earn my place among you: my eternal gratitude."

GM: "Hear hear!" is the general response, slightly more heartfelt from some than others.

Helena: I drain the glass and set it down, bowing to the King and Queen again before I retake my seat.

Either immediately or when it next seems appropriate, I ask for the scroll from the servant and say, "Your Majesty, if I might present you with this formal statement from House Jesby."

GM: There is a pause for a fresh filling of glasses, and then the moment seems right.

Random accepts, offering a small but suitable bow as he accepts it. After a quick scan of the contents, he paraphrases sharply to his siblings, "T'would seem that we are avenged." All but Caine and Gerard openly - if quietly - accede to the news, and another toast to peace works the table.

Helena: A little shyly, I add, "I have only a little information about this matter, but any questions you have, you may ask."

GM: Some looks come your way that seem to imply that both Random and Flora would like to speak with you in private, but nothing is openly said. As if queued by the stretch of silence, chamber musicians somewhere behind a partition begin to play, and Gerard excuses himself, claiming business with the fleet.

Helena: I stand correctly as he departs, unless anyone signals me otherwise, and then return to my place. I will get up and pay more direct respects when it becomes clear that dinner is over and such approaches are invited.

GM: All the men, aside from the King, observe similar courtesy, although to a (sometimes much) smaller degree. Do you approach Random or Flora first? Random is speaking with Caine at the moment, and Flora is chatting with Vialle.

Helena: Flora, as I can thank her for her note before the party.

Flora: Florimel notes your interest, and subtly shifts position to invite you into the conversation. After concluding her compliment to the Queen's dressmakers, Flora bids you welcome in flawless Chaosian Thari before asking, "I realize it is early, Ambassador, but should I be making room in my social schedule for events Jesby intends to host or sponsor?"

Helena: "It is early, Highness, but I imagine we would wish a public opening of the trade offices. I do not know Amber's calendar well (this is a slight lie: she knows it well, just not very very well), but I would think a weekday opening followed by a hosted dinner would be appropriate, and I can think of no one else's presence to make the event more complete than yours. Would I be able to count on you in two months time? I could certainly choose the date to keep the event in line with your schedule.

Flora: "If your schedule permits, we could make time in the next few days to discuss color schemes... perhaps at my design house in the City?"

Helena: I smile a little shyly. "Certainly. I will arrange a time with your people there.

Flora: Flora seems very pleased.

Helena: "I thank you, also, for the assistance you gave me in preparing for this evening. It made me much more comfortable to have your assessment and information before coming."

Flora: "It was my pleasure, Ambassador. Anything in the interests of peace, certainly." She smiles, wordlessly intimating that her ulterior motives are modest and tame.

Helena: I give her a nod that's part bow, and look over towards the king to see if he looks clear. If so I say, "Excuse me, Highness. I should pay my direct respects to His Majesty also."

Flora: "Of course. I look forward to hearing from you."

GM: Caine has chosen this moment to take his leave, although Helena missed whether he gave a reason as Gerard had that the music and conversation drowned out, or merely bowed out. Random sees you looking his way and smiles just so, opening the way for you to address him.

Helena: I approach and give him a full bow. Smiling as I stand, I say, "Your Majesty, though he has done so formally, my father wished to thank you for creating the mission that saved my life among many others' and that gave our people the opportunity to find and eradicate a source of treasonous threat and embarrassment. The minor house involved in this breach has been stricken."

Random: "I'm glad to see that the Houses take the Treaty seriously. As for the mission... (he leans close and adopts a more casual, jocularly conspiratorial tone here) you and your cousins pulled all our collective rumps out of the fire, and we're not likely to forget that."

Random nods to Benedict as the Lord General quietly takes his leave.

Helena: Helena gives him a nodding bow as he goes, and turns her attention back to the king. "The Lord General was very generous in offering the space for our trade embassy and offices. We met at an... awkward moment; I would say his intervention saved my life.

"I usually pride myself on being informed, but in that case it was I who had not read the treaty closely enough. I behaved foolishly in travelling here as I did, and I wished to apologize for my intrusion. I caused your forces a great deal of trouble, and that was not my intention."

Random: "Funny, I hadn't heard about any intrusions recently. I guess I'll have to talk to Julian about that. So long as you're no worse for wear, we can call it a 'joint security exercise' if any paper needs to be wasted on it. As far as the establishment of the Jesby Embassy goes, are you going to need anything from the Crown? I can't spare much time personally at the moment, but anything you care to run by my staff will probably get approved."

Helena: "At the moment, I would be most grateful if there could be some official statement and allowance for our activities, within guidelines you set of course. Though we have the Lord General's verbal blessing for the venture, that may hold very little weight should anyone formally object."

Random: "I'm afraid I don't have the guidelines I had in mind at hand, but I'm sure you'll find them satisfactory. Benedict has the particulars, as well as suitable licences for import and export, with the Crown's seal. I thought it would save you some time, since he was spearheading the embassy runup anyway, and had mentioned a meeting with you in the near future." Random pauses for effect, then asks, "Was there a particular objection you were anticipating, Ambassador?"

Helena: I blink a moment. Of course, there was one, but he must know that already. A little lamely I reply, "Of course our... means of transport may be objectionable to some. I think my father's use of the Logrus on the other side of a private Trump link caused some difficulty once already. If there is that level of sensitivity here, we will have to come up with some sort of ward or gate system...

Random: "If the local transport is Trump only, which I'm sure you and your people can manage, I think we won't have any trouble."

Helena: I nod. "Other than that, I am sure you know the politics of your family and your subjects better than I can have learned in this short time."

Random: "Well, we are full of surprises, even to each other... but I'm sure you'll find your way eventually."

Helena: "I do hope so. Your hospitality and that of the Lord General have been most kind. I am glad I was able to repay it in some small measure."

Random: He smiles. "We all stand to profit from this peace. A little hospitality is a small price." Some imperceptible signal catches his attention, leading him out of the conversation. As he takes his first step away, "We'll talk again, I'm sure... especially if the rumors I've heard about your House's Dragon Brandy are true." After a nod, a half-turn, and a polite farewell, he rejoins his wife to leave.

Helena: I glance around the room so as not to leave precipitously, and if no one else is trying to catch my attention, I make my thanks to the head servant and take my leave.