The Trump You'd Like in Your Deck

[Grimward]

Prominent amongst Roger Zelazny's concepts in his two Amber series were the Trumps of Doom. These tarot cards allowed the characters to communicate, travel to, and even deliver objects, spells and other arcane functions to the subject on the card.

If you had the ability to create, Dworkin-like, your own trumps, what would you carry in your deck?

The Rules:

1. Pictures are allowed, but MUST conform to Chrons Rules (especially Term of Use #2 on the rules thread). Redundant, I know, but a little reminder never hurt anyone!

2. No more than 3 trumps per post (although you certainly may choose to post again).

3. Trumps must be people or places. No "concepts", if you please!

4. Use of the trumps to dump matter on the creator of the thread are severely frowned upon, and may be subject to "return to sender" rules!

OK, I'll get it started.

My first trump is a cozy table by the fire with a pint and (What Else? ) a good SFF book, of course!

 

[Grimward]

No takers? Oh well, you might as well kill this one too, Teresa! (Is that Damocles sword hovering over the thread?!!! ) I thought for sure there'd be someone out there with a take...

 

[Bibliophile]

I'll have a go at this one:
I'd have a trump for a private bungalow on a tropical beach. Warm breezes, plenty of drinks, and all of my books in a Solarium overlooking the ocean.

And a trump to get back home when I needed to...

 

[Grimward]

I think we All need those 2 trumps, Bib!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Easy -

Heaven - Hell

It would save all that messing about in between called life.

 

[Strife]

i'd paint a trump of my sweetheart and call her all the time instead of using the cellphone

she's got wavy black hair and cat's eyes

 

[Grimward]

Hear hear! (Or maybe that's "Hear here"!)

Excellent Strife, and if you figure out how to do it, make sure you charge the wireless carriers extra on the "dropped transfer" charges for trump calls!

Ah, but it still leaves you with a dilemma, doesn't it TEIN?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Hear hear! (Or maybe that's "Hear here"!)

Excellent Strife, and if you figure out how to do it, make sure you charge the wireless carriers extra on the "dropped transfer" charges for trump calls!

Ah, but it still leaves you with a dilemma, doesn't it TEIN?

Not so. Both have their attractions. All the interesting people will be in hell and with the heaven card you could have the occassional holiday. Don't forget by the way, and I've never understood this attraction with going to heaven, that if to get into a place you need to follow certain rules and regulations such as no sex, alcohol or enjoying yourself in general. Why would anybody think that after acceptance the rules will change. No an eternity of boredom awaits the 'lucky few'.

 

[Grimward]

Hmm, I see things somewhat differently, but will nevertheless extend kudos on a well thought out pair of trumps as befitting your perspective. Let's hope that Heaven card doesn't experience the "dead" sensation Zelazny wrote about on a few occasions in the 2 Amber series, though! Maybe, in light of that possibility, you'd care to try for a 3rd trump, after all?

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

... a few occasions in the 2 Amber series, though! Maybe, in light of that possibility, you'd care to try for a 3rd trump, after all?

Now this is news. I confess I stopped reading the amber series and I can't remember why. Probably due to lack of funds back in the mythical days of 'student grants'. However I wasn't aware that there was a second series. I seem to remember a black road upsetting the status quo... It was a long time ago I may have to seek them out for another bash.

A third trump.... mmm let me think......... oh yes - and you'll be needing a bucket NOW!


The chrons network talking to all the wonderful fellow chronies.

 

[Snowdog]

OK, two trumps. The first is my bed. The number of times I've been to the pub or a party, am dog-tired and a little drunk, and all I want to do is fall into my own bed but am instead faced with a long walk home, usually in the rain. Secondly, a trump to my own desert island, somewhere with just sea, sand and palm trees - unihabited except for Martin Bremen, who lives there and is always ready to serve me with an ice-cold daiquiri.

 

[Grimward]

*Chuckles at TEIN's and the Snowdog's posts*

The bed! To quote the Guiness commercial, "Brilliant!" Now if we can only find a way to drag the car thru the trump, we won't have to rectify the situation where we walked home thru the rain, only to remember the next morning that we drove to the bar in the first place....(at least we didn't drive home under the influence!).

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

*Chuckles at TEIN's and the Snowdog's posts*

The bed! To quote the Guiness commercial, "Brilliant!" Now if we can only find a way to drag the car thru the trump, we won't have to rectify the situation where we walked home thru the rain, only to remember the next morning that we drove to the bar in the first place....(at least we didn't drive home under the influence!).

Surely trumping under the influence would be regarded even worse than driving--------------- (sorry, just couldn't resist. I tried, honestly I tried)

 

[Grimward]

(And, since we've tossed restraint to the wind....)

Come to think of it, Merlin (again, 2nd series) did trump once or twice when he wasn't "quite right", if I recall correctly, although it wasn't from alcohol. He DID end up somewhere other than he intended, too, so I believe you have a point. New rule: No trumping under the influence...Friends don't let friends trump drunk....take the cards, save a life....oh, well, you get the picture!

 

[yngvi]

Okay, a trump. Onto the boat (I think) at the start of 'Doorways in the Sand' by Roger Zelazny, where the the protagonist sees 'do you smell me dead' written in the clouds (more Rorschasch than magic mirror)

 

[Grimward]

Hmmm Yngvi, skirting the line with rule #3, but any trump that takes one back to Zelazny's stories can't be bad, can it?!

BTW, if I haven't already extended such, welcome to Chrons, and may many happy hours be your's here.

 

[Boneman]

So, Okay, this thread has been dormant for 8 months, but I just re-read the chronicles of Amber again, (after a 15 year gap!) and will get onto the next books with Merlin soon. Never read those originally, so although everyone says not as good, it is still exciting!!
Great idea for a thread, so here's mine:
1. Michelle Pfeiffer - that would be soooo cool, to be able to contact her whenever..... the thought of taking her hand and pulling her through to wherever I am, sends shivers down my spine.
2. My Heritage Softail Harley. So I could step through and jump on it at any time.
3. The White Sandy beach on the deserted island with the blue sky and sea, so I could get away completely from everything. (But I'd take my Michelle Pfeiffer trump with me.....)

 

[Grimward]

And, were anyone to ever get up the courage to make Amber into movies, you could definitely see Michelle Pfeiffer as one of Corwin's sisters or Merlin's Aunts (Fiona comes to my mind).

Technically, the motorcycle doesn't qualify as a person or place, but it seems reasonable to allow it (especially if yours can shadowwalk, although your need for the trumps lessens with such a device!). Good set of trumps, Mr. Boneman, sir, and good to revisit this thread! Enjoy the second Chronicles, and weigh in afterwards ( I personally thought there were some interesting mutations within them ).

 

[ghost8772]

Merlin never trumped while under the influence....... but he did go on one BEAUT of an unintentional hellride... Luke though, did trump U.I. but opps without a card. So taking the trumps away might not be a good thing.

OK, my trumps.....

Lighthouse of Cabra sounds perfect...... Just let me get my pole and bait.
I'd have to wait for development to finish for Daughter. but her definitely.
home? no, home is where she is.
a third.........interior of my van? yeah that sounds pretty good..... obviously makes for quick getaways

 

[Grimward]

*Extremely minor spoiler warning here for the B-Man and others who've not read the 2nd Chronicles of Amber. Can't see how it would ruin anything, but just in case....*

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OK, OK, I can take a hint. Rule #3 is amended to include vehicles. Possibly, I can be persuaded to allow other objects, too, but you makes your case and you takes your chances!

Quick getaways sounds good, ghost. Speaking of ghosts, always thought Ghostwheel was a cool conception for Zelazny as the marriage of computers and magic...maybe 1 Trump is good enough! Not really a spoiler of anything, B-man, but you'll be the judge.