Quotes from the session: "Oh, it's just a trinket. Dad calls it the Jewel of Judgment." - CaineJessica agreed to steal the Jewel of Judgement, not knowing about it's propeties, so that her father could get his revenge. She thought it would just be used for blackmail.
"Trust me. One can always trust one's parents."Caine
Very next morning, Hazard returned from Benedict's mansion out in Shadow, where she had just lost her game of 7D chess. Benedict came back via the Amber Trump as soon as he could make it.
That evening, in the Feast Hall, Brand was declared Regent, much to Caine and Hazard's alarm, as they had thought Bleys or Eric would be crowned. It appeared they had been outmaneuvered by the red-heads. Hot Damn.
Benedict walked out of the room, in anger and disgust at the double dealings of the family, as the assembled nobles rose to their feet in astonishment at the naming of Brand. Hazard followed Benedict, on the grounds that Caine could keep track of anybody inside the hall, and anyone leaving it was a danger to their plans. She saw him leave the castle, but lost him as he rode off into Shadow. Following his trail, she found herself in his personal Shadow, Teraximion, (Its real name is unpronouncable, except by Benedict himself. All those others who know about it call it Ax) and tried to calm him down, without revealing her part in Oberon's downfall. Even she couldn't explain why she did, but it's possible she felt sorry for Brand, her grandfather, if he tried to take the throne back. Anyway, she eventually told him all, almost resulting in her death, but managed to persuade him to keep on with his neutral stance, and not to throw Brand off the throne on the grounds he was an ambitious git who would tear the place apart trying to keep order. While she was trying to explain to Benedict that Brand might not be bad for Amber, things were moving very fast indeed back home.
Corwin had heard of the deposing of Oberon, and was raising an army. Deidre was helping him, and Bleys was in on the plots of three cabals; himself, Deidre and Corwin; Brand, Fiona and Flora; and Julian and Caine, who were trying to work out how to depose Brand with the minimum bloodshed.
Caine Trumped Hazard, who told him that Benedict could not be relied on to get rid of "the Oik on the Throne" Caine cursed a while, but didn't enquire further, much to Hazard's relief.
Meantime, Diedre arranged for Jessica to go on holiday, so Hazard would have to go look for her, and Eric, unbeknownst to the rest of the family, explained to Flora the benefits of supporting his particular section of the family, with particular respect to the large army that would make sure whoever stuck to him won. Flora rapidly defected, without leaving the castle, of course.
What happened next was incredibly complicated even from Hazard's twisted point of view, and Jess knew nothing about it.
Flora somewhere obtained written proof of the infidelity of Clarissa, Brand's mother, and using it, Eric was able to have himself instated as Regent, and have Brand thrown out. Brand vowed revenge and took himself of to his Shadow, Di'as, at the same time as Corwin appeared on the horizon, with his own huge army, and Deidre backing up his claim. Eric was defeated but not killed, and Corwin was crowned. Then Eric and Bleys decided that Corwin, who had been missing for years, was unfit to rule, and raised another army... This one had three Amberites leading it - Eric at the head, taking in the naval contingent, Caine, not strictly attached to the army at all, and just hanging around letting the hostile navy pass, and Bleys, who managed to put himself in charge of the foot soldiers. Julian thought for a while and then let the army pass.
Bleys Trumped in Jessica as a second in command, on the grounds she was docile and stupid, and the attack commenced. Around dawn, the navy was sighted, and Bleys came out of Arden. At around 10, the navy had destroyed its counterpart and at about 11, the two contingents massed for a charge up Kolvir. Bleys and Jess took the side steps, and Eric the main road. At 12, Eric held the main gate, and about then Bleys fell off Kolvir. At about one o'clock, the army was routed by what seemed to be gunfire, and Jess was taken prisoner. Eric was killed. Bleys's body was not found, or at least not in one piece. They were never really sure if he was dead.
Hazard Trumped Benedict and told him what was going on, and he Jess was thrown into the dungeons while Corwin decided what to do with her, and Julian was in big trouble for letting them through. It was only when he mentioned that if he died, Corwin could never safely leave Amber again, as he would have to pass into Arden sometime, that the King relented. Julian was released, Jess was not. Caine was never even implicated.
At the end of the session, Jessica was in the lowest dungeon, and Fiona had been ordered to block her Trump. Hazard was preoccupied with trying to get her out without anybody knowing. Hazard was also reaching an alarming conclusion about herself, which she refused to share with anyone...