[Notes for the run of July 8, 1999.]

[I've tried to rearrange events a bit to follow game time, rather than the
order in which they were played out, since there were a lot of one- and
two-character bits.]

After Sevenday services, Henri takes the priests of chaos to swear loyalty
to the crown.  After doing so, Henri speaks in a different voice to the
Prince (but still in French), then falls over.  The Prince asks Mia for an
explanation, and she says she thinks he spoke in the voice of Binah, the
god of marriage.  She says that she thinks the Princess and Duke are the
Tarot card, the Lovers.  (The Prince says the King won't be happy about
that.)

Mia later tells the party about it.  What Binah said was:

	Binah hears the cries of the lovers,
	The howls of the lost,
	The truth of the damned.

	Let the Snake lead the way,
	For him of the twelve fruits
	To her of Good and Evil.

	The damned knew the path of the path,
	The damned spoke the path of the path,
	Binah blesses the lovers.

We discuss how to save the princess.  We deduce that she is "her of Good
and Evil" since the Lovers card has the woman standing in front of the tree
of Good and Evil.  So we need to figure out who the other lover is.  (We're
not convinced it's the Duke.  Henri apparently thought it was the Duke
because of a dream he had that involved a tree with twelve fruits.  We
wonder if it could be Baron Ruby, who Rory and Paris tell us is the person
also known as Silverlock.)

Calais asks about the "damned", and the "path of the path", wondering if
the demon thing is the "damned".  Brillig and Calais think "the truth of
the damned" might mean there was some truth to what the demon said, so
perhaps its description of using its (illusionary) armor to find a path was
a clue.

We muse about what the demon meant when it told the Prince "Ha ha ha, this
time _I've_ got the girl."  Rory says he thinks it has to do with something
he remembers: "Before the Prince and Baron got the gold cards from the
young/old lady, they rescued a baby from a monster with red eyes, but the
mother died.  Someone, maybe the Captain, used magic to save a horse, so
maybe he can see magic too."  Most of us don't remember that, but Paris
seems to recognise the tale.

Firstday, Claire goes to visit the earth mage outside of town, and spends
most of a day there.  [Don didn't listen to the details.]  She returns
there most of the rest of the week, apparently having gotten permission to
study his magic.  She tells us that if we need to get her attention during
the day, we should put a basket in a tree stump there.

Brillig plants his beans on Firstday.  Calais goes to begin his training in
how to wear armor.  Paris is likewise in training.  The others (Mia, Anton,
and Rory) go to see the Prince.  Mia explains that we're not really sure
who the male half of the Lovers is, but that it's important to figure out
who it is, since that person might be able to follow the cord.

The Prince asks about the damned, which leads Anton to ask what the demon
meant about having the girl this time.  The Prince at first wonders if
Anton is just looking for a tale to tell, but Anton assures him he is just
trying to find out more about the demon to try to understand the current
situation.  The Prince repeats the story about meeting the demon as it was
trying to sacrifice a baby.  The Prince ran his horse through the demon,
which "chose to disappear".  The Prince asks if we know what became of the
baby.  Anton says he doesn't know anything about him.  "Her."  It dawns on
Anton that that's the previous "girl" the demon was referring to.

In a sneaky attempt to sound out whether Silverlock might be the other
lover, Mia suggests that asking him about the earlier demon encounter might
yield more information about the demon, and is given permission to speak to
the Baron, but without Anton and Rory.  Silverlock is clearly in a bad
mood, and wants to know "where to put his sword" to rescue the princess.
His tale fills in many details [not all of which I caught for this record].
They were escorting the caravan bringing food to Westmore when they heard a
woman scream.  The Prince ordered the troops to guard the caravan while he
and Silverlock and some of Silverlock's men went to investigate.  They
found a stone altar where a woman had just given birth; the baby was on the
center of the altar.  There were two beings 16 feet tall, armed with clubs.
A third figure with glowing red eyes was about to kill the baby with a
sacrificial knife when the Prince jumped his horse over the altar into it.
A blue wall then appeared that kept the rest of them from reaching those
two for a time.  Once the battle was over, a woman appeared, about 18-20
years old, thanked them, took the baby, and left.  Mia asks about the
woman, apparently thinking she might have been the chaotic goddess of
birth.  (Mia is apparently too intent on learning about the gods of chaos.
The rest of us, when we hear the tale, realise she was obviously Dierdre,
she of the three forms.)

Mia tries to figure out if Silverlock is the lover, but can't be sure.
Silverlock tells us that the Princess is not betrothed, but we've already
figured that true love, not a political match.

The three decide to try talking to the Duke.  He is still recuperating;
he's not being allowed to work.  Anton starts to explain why they're here,
but Rory cuts to the chase and explains that they think the Duke's armor
might allow him to see the silver cord leading to the Princess's soul.
He's confused a bit, but they manage to explain.  He decides he hasn't been
given any orders against putting his armor on, so he does so, though he
clearly finds it painful (but tries to hide it).  Anton gets permission to
cast a spell, and casts Sense Magic.  The Duke remarks that Anton's eyes
appear to be glowing.  Anton turns off his spell, and the Duke says his
eyes stop glowing.

They tromp off to see the Princess, the Duke leaning on Rory for support.
After passing through a few corridors full of guards, they come to a group
that includes Silverlock.  He greets the Duke, who says he believes he
should see the Princess.  The Baron asks permission to check whether the
Duke's face is well attached.  The Duke ponders this and agrees that it is
a reasonable precaution under the circumstances.  He mutters something
about "Gideon" and removes his helm.  The Baron steps up and, "with your
permission, your Grace," starts tugging on the Duke's ears, nose, etc.
Anton can't help but start to smile at this, whereupon both the Duke and
Baron turn to look at him.  Anton is highly discomfitted, but manages not
to soil himself.  The Duke replaces his helm, and they enter the room.

The Duke apparently is able to put his hands around the silver cord; it
doesn't move away from him as it did for Mia.  He starts to follow it; Rory
says he will support him as long as necessary.  The wall grows indistinct,
and they find themselves in a strange place, with vibrant colors as in
Tarot, but no grass etc.  Mia, Anton, and Silverlock accompany them, but
the other guards and dogs that filled the princess's room stay behind.  The
Duke is apparently able to see more details of the terrain, and says the
cord leads up to a hill with two trees.

As they get closer, all of them can see the hill, and then the trees.  One
of the trees is surrounded by a silver wall.  From the hill they can look
over the wall and see a woman who resembles the princess, cavorting amid
flowers, apparently oblivious to the others.  She's plucking petals,
chanting, "He loves me.  He loves me not...."  Closer examination shows
that the silver wall is actually an enormous silver snake.

The other tree has not twelve fruits, but thirteen.

Mia prays to Binah, asking her (him? Mia's waffled a bit on which it is) to
bless the lovers.  But she doesn't do a very good job of it, and nobody is
impressed, let alone Binah.  The Duke and Baron try calling to the Princess
(whose name is apparently Carline), but she doesn't respond.

Mia prays again, but this time asks Binah what to do with the fruits.  (We
conjecture that it doesn't do to ask the same question twice in a row; the
gods of chaos must be easily bored. :-)  No response.

The Duke asks why the tree has thirteen fruits.  Anton suggests perhaps
picking one, and the Duke does so before anybody can suggest otherwise.
But then what to do with it?

Mia again prays, reverting to asking Binah to bless the lovers.  She
doesn't quite end up falling in love with Anton.  (Mia is relieved. :-)

Anton (or was it Mia?) says the fruit should probably be used by the person
of significance to the Princess, but the Baron and Duke repeat that the
Princess is not betrothed.  Rory explains that it's not a matter of who her
father might've wanted, but who she herself loves and is loved by.  He's
told that there are "repercussions", but asks if those are worse than
letting the princess die.  The Baron turns to the Duke and says, "Well,
Evan..."  The Duke decides to try taking the fruit to the Princess.  Rory
volunteers to try passing the snake, but the Duke says he's done enough
already.  The Duke hobbles toward the snake, which watches him carefully.
The snake does not make way, so he tries to fake past the snake and toss
her the fruit.  The snake intercepts the fruit and swallows it.  The Duke
draws his sword, but as he does so the snake settles down and appears to
sleep.  It splits open, and a merely large snake comes out and coils around
the princess's tree.  The Duke steps up to her just as she comes to the
last petal.  "He loves me!"  He picks her up, and Silverlock turns and
addresses Anton.  "Bard, if you would keep your tongue in your mouth, speak
nothing of this until you are told you may do so."

They proceed back to the princess's room.  When they arrive there, the Duke
is no longer carrying the princess, but the one in the bed opens her eyes.
The PCs quietly take their leave.

On Twosday, Rory manages to introduce Mia to Anson Samuels, the person who
knows how to make waybread (but who needs the herbs).  He remarks, "Rory,
you didn't tell me you would be introducing me to such a lovely lady."
Etc.  Mia is clearly going to have her hands full (or something, but this
is supposed to stay PG :-) dealing with both him and Henri.

The beans Brillig planted on Firstday sprout and ripen on Secondday and are
harvested on Thirdsday.  Planting those, they find that each generation
takes twice as long as the previous, until they level off at the rate of
normal beans.

On Thirdsday, we are all called to the palace.  (We tell the messengers how
to find Claire.)  The throne room is being decorated again.  As we wait, a
herald announces the arrival of Lady Paris and Lord and Lady Gryphon.
Paris looks rather pale.  The Prince explains to the Gryphons that there is
to be an award ceremony for Paris and her companions, and asks Paris to
join the rest of us.

We are told once again to stand aside and not say anything.  There is a
fanfare, and the Archpriest enters.  There is again much exchange of
bowing; again, the Archpriest and Prince don't bow.  The Archpriest asks
the Prince if he has considered what they spoke of before.  The Prince says
yes, and he is about to issue an edict to have the church they spoke of
banished from the city.  He asks if the Archpriest has found someone to
help the princess.  The Archpriest indicates Father Such-and-so, who asks
if he can see the princess.  So the Prince has the Duke escort her in.  The
Archpriest maintains a fine straight face as the Father and Princess
exchange pleasantries until he and the Archpriest can politely exeunt.  As
the still stone-faced Archpriest leaves, the Prince issues his edict,
banishing the Black Church from the city.  The Prince looks like the cat
that ate the canary.

The Jouet party is called forward.  "It seems we have much to thank you
for."  A list of our accomplishments is rattled off.  "We hear you find
cards more valuable than silver or gold."  "It helps us to serve you
better, lord," replies Anton.  At a nod from the Prince, the Duke opens a
box; we each are given five cards.  The Duke also gives Mia a scroll, a
deed to her church.

Brillig is asked to explain the unexpected harvest.  Brillig tells about
the beans.  (There's only been one harvest at this point.)  They conclude
that they need to arrange for a midsummer harvest festival.

"You should stay for the festival, but then I have a task for you two,"
indicating Paris and Rory.  "We need to know more about your orders."
Since we've been good at finding major arcana, they are told they will be
sent to find Strength and Justice.

Calais asks Paris if this would be an appropriate time to approach the Duke
about training under his artificer.  In response, she takes Calais and
introduces him to the Gryphons.  Lord Gryphon is struck by the resemblance.
Calais tells them they have a lovely daughter.  Lord G. is obviously proud
and pleased; Lady G. just looks at Calais.  Paris asks their advice, and
Lord G. says we should strike while the charge is primed, and brings Calais
back to the throne room, where the decorations are being taken down.

Gryphon introduces Calais (whom everyone but the Princess already knew),
and says Calais has a request.  He thrusts Calais forward, and Calais
stammers out his desire, again, to train as an artificer.  He says he
understands better now why such training is not to be handed out lightly,
and asks how he might gain the trust needed to permit it.  He also points
out that what little artificer skill he already has was what enabled him to
bring back the sample of poison that saved His Grace.

The Duke says Calais would have to swear loyalty to him and his family, to
keep their secrets, etc.  And that the Duke's artificer would have to
accept Calais.  A meeting will be arranged.  Calais says that is more than
fair, and thanks the Duke, and also thanks Lord Gryphon.

Mia rushes off to her church to show Henri the deed, whereupon he picks her
up, swirls her around, and kisses her.  This seems to surprise both her and
him. :-)  They then break open the sacrimental wine to celebrate.

That evening, Paris gets back late as usual.  Calais is waiting up ask her
about why she was referred to as "Lady Paris".  (Apparently others intended
to ask her about this as well, so I'll leave it public though I'm not sure
when everyone else asked.)  She says that some people believe the Prince
intends to make her a knight, which would make her a Lady Knight.  The
herald presumably just got ahead of things in using the title now.  Calais
also talks privately to Paris about why she was so pale and unhappy in 
court.

We also ask Paris and Rory if they want the rest of us to help them in the
task we heard they were to be set.  They do.  There was some debate as to
whether we needed to deal with the Warlord first, since his card (the
Chariot) is the next in sequence, or even whether we needed to finish
dealing with the Emperor in order to deal with the Warlord.  Paris notes
with regret that she didn't think to ask the Empress for a name by which we
might know the Emperor.

Rory mentions that it looks like we'll be doing a lot of travelling, and
since the Prince has offered to supply us we should plan to ask for horses,
which means we should all plan to learn how to ride them.  Since we expect
we can get horses for training also, we can either spend a week and use the
+1 to learn it with no card, or spend half a week training and add a card.
This, combined with the upcoming harvest festival next Firstday, suggests
that we should plan to leave around Fourthday next week.