-- BenBernard - 28 May 2007

Given your relationship to Benedict, you would probably know about his power, even if its unlikely you'll use it: RosePetalPower

Thomas, Son of Eric 200 Point Version

Trump Description

Thomas looks to the viewer of the card with little expression, caring little for the lack of charm in his trump portrait. His hair is the color of night like his father's and his eyes are a pale shade of gray. He sits stiffly, seeming to be recovering from his wounds from a battle. He wears a heavy greatcoat reinforced with woven plates, which covers a chain shirt and red tabard. A silver sword rests at his side.

Personality

Thomas is a gruff man, wanting to be left to do his work for the crown and be at peace. He typically seems aggravated, but has been known to have some moments of sympathy and compassion.

Public History

Son of Eric, Thomas was raised in shadow and brought to Amber when he became of age to walk the Pattern. He spent several years in Amber learning the ways of the court and military, having natural talent from his father in battle and accepting additional training from Benedict. During Thomas' stay in Amber, a plot was revealed that Eric was attempting to amass an army to attack Amber. Eric was imprisoned, and soon after Thomas joined the military. To this day Thomas is an important enforcer of King Benedict's reign.

Private History

Thomas was a product of Eric's allegiance with an unusual race of people he had found in shadow called the Weir. These people had natural regenerative and shapeshifting capabilities that made them very difficult to kill, and strength to rival those of Amberites. His thought was to gather a group and use them as shock troops in an attempt to steal the Jewel of Judgment. Thomas was told to keep secret of his bloodline to the Weir when he came to Amber - Eric's goal was to have Thomas walk the Pattern and then leave, preparing to bring a group to Amber. Unfortunately, Benedict took a personal interest in Thomas' abilities with the sword and battle, which Eric couldn't get him away without raising more suspicion. Eventually Benedict did figure out Thomas' background, supposedly by using some of his blood that been drawn from a practice spar. When Benedict found the Weir, he was rumored to have personally disposed of the Weir permanently. There was a confrontation with Eric, Benedict and Thomas - Eric was to be put to death, but Thomas begged Benedict for mercy, offering his allegiance to spare his father's life. Benedict agreed, with certain conditions.

Thomas was to become a member of Benedict's military, acting as one of his special officers to take care of the "dirty jobs" within the Golden Circle to ensure their compliance. Also, since Thomas has an alternate form of a werewolf, Benedict had Gerard implant a shard of a Pattern sword near his heart. This ensured a few things: if Thomas was to ever shift to his werewolf form, the shard would pierce his heart and kill him, also, if he were ever try to walk the Pattern again, the power from the Pattern would react with the shard and likely kill him. If Thomas was to ever betray King Benedict, Eric would be put to death.

Thomas cares for his father, and has accepted the burden of being Benedict's dog to ensure his father will still live. He has done terrible things in King Benedict's name, keeping his emotions running cold and harsh like the pain in his heart. Benedict has allowed Thomas to speak to his father once a year, through the cell door of Amber's dungeons, as well as keep Eric's saber, one of the sharpest blades in Amber next to the Pattern blades.

Status with Benedict

Thomas works for him, but hates the control Benedict has over him.

Trump Deck

Thomas has a decent trump deck with all of the elders, as well as several trumps of lieutenants in the Amber forces for intelligence updates and several location trumps of key points along established shadow paths to make for quick dispatch to Golden Circle realms. He also has a trump to the original shadow of the Weir, though none of the original inhabitants live there.

Link

So your link is Eric? - Ben

And yes, Eric is his personal bond. He only gets to talk to him once a year, but he does love his father and accepted being in the position he's in for Eric. Also, I really wanted to kill off the Weir ... We're making sure the Amber books never happen, one plot element at a time. -Andi

Stats

Attributes:

• Psyche [10 pts]
• Strength [30 pts]
• Endurance [20 pts]
• Warfare [95 pts] * was going to be first, but backed off to second

Powers:

• Pattern [50 pts*]
• Shapeshifting [35 pts]

Extra:

• Trump Deck [2 pts]
• Eric's Saber [8 pts, Exceptionally Deadly Damage]
• Shadow Network [Combat Reflexes, Shadow-wide]

[+2] Stuff

20 Unused points

Comments

From Andi: You know sometimes one might as well take the 10 pts of bad stuff, because we're all going to get hosed anyways...

So, one of the fun things I've been thinking over... The idea of the shard in Thomas' chest was that it would hinder him from taking his alternate form, but that he could regenerate. It causes him pain but he copes with it. If for some reason I may try to get it out of his chest, (Oh, you know, those huge moral character-breaking questions that occasionally come up might drive Thomas to try...) I'm thinking that an advanced shifter probably couldn't do it for him. I mean, it's a shard of a Pattern blade, and it was the only thing that could kill the Weir (thanks, Corwin... sheesh), so it may have the same reaction getting near someone that shifty? And let's face it, the only people that would have that much shapeshifting would be some icky Chaos Lord.

And then there's the whole question of where Benedict got a piece of a broken Pattern blade.... tee hee! Oh, don't mind me, just thinking aloud, planting fun ideas.... why make it easy for myself? Thought you may appreciate it.

just updating everyone's character with a note on stats: I have you spending 0 points, with 20 points left unused

-- BenBernard - 20 Jun 2007

I'm spending some of my points... since it was decided that Thomas actually has an intelligence network, I may as well spend them and make them actually useful. A steal at 8pts.

Even though it may not help me much, I'd also like to sink 2pts in Good Stuff.

Let's say they've got the 2pt Combat Reflexes (decent warfare ability) at Shadow Wide quantity (x4). They're a pretty large group spread widely through the golden circle realms, sparsely the further out, and then heavily in Amber as a "secret police". If Thomas needed a good strikeforce, he could summon one pretty easily, or if he had more time he could get together a small but skilled army.

-- AndiBlija - 23 Jun 2007

Also, now that I'm finally done with the log at 4AM (ack!!), may I take 10 more points as contributions? I was going to do a journal, but after finishing that monster, I'll just do it for fun as I have time.

As far as Thomas' actions during the day, there's no question that he's going to stop this army. (he's still got Eric, and it was nice to see him before our year anniversary) Assume he's getting ready troops as well as getting together specialized strike teams to do special missions. (I'm thinking getting Fiona back may be a priority...)

-- AndiBlija - 23 Jun 2007

That sounds great, and yeah, of course take the extra 10 points... that puts you at 20 unused, with 8 in the shadow network and 2 in good stuff...

-- BenBernard - 23 Jun 2007

Just making a Wiki note to you that I put 10 points into Rose Power... though I very well may upgrade to the 20-point version in the near future since I don't think Benedict is going to be handing me another one anytime soon.

-- AndiBlija - 26 Jun 2007

Also, I've started a post-session thread for ThomasAndEric

-- AndiBlija - 26 Jun 2007