MB&LK's Amber Bits

The Spy Reports

(ednote: The following was written for SWtE, but may prove amusing outside of the campaign.)

We have obtained this early report from the remains of House Helgram. It appears to be a preliminary report from a scholar/spy sent soon after initial contact was made, with one or two notes added in just before we obtained it from a Helgram lieutenant. It's statedly based entirely on official reports, which limits its usefulness as an informative document, but makes it especially useful in terms of what we're "supposed" to know.

Preface

Much important information regarding Amber is, within their walls, public knowledge. An in-depth perusal of their libraries and a period of study at a university of a nearby kingdom has turned up much that will lay the groundwork for more details.

I believe that the single most important note is that Amber, by and large, is as ignorant of us as we are of them. From the simple facts that we were contacted first by the Sorceress Fiona, this came as some surprise, but it seems that she and her brothers were the recipients of special training from Dworkin the Betrayer. It seems that the self-styled King Oberon has seen fit to keep the rest of his family ignorant of the glories the Great Empire has to offer, and little wonder, with the reactions of the few who did learn of us.

History & Genealogy

There is much here not pertinent to our needs. However, in the histories can be found a complete listing of Oberon's acknowledged children, and even one or two who were not. A word of caution, however: As with many upstart kingdoms begun in the dark of night, Amber's histories are primarily tools of propaganda, and may contain inaccuracies. The single strongest example is perhaps the war with the Fey: Amber records a decisive victory, sundering the Fey realms and locking them forever from Amber's lands. However, my wife and fellow researcher has spoken with several in the Kingdom of Rebma (qv). She affirms that confronted with this outlook, they are prone to fits of - and though perhaps an inappropriate term for this report - giggles.

His get with Lady Cymnea Sawall are, of course, known. Their fates, however, have come to light. Finndo and Osric are both recorded as fatalities in Amber's war against the fey. As recent skirmishes have already revealed, Benedict has advanced upon the Path of the Warrior with a singleminded determination. I can tell you that the `locals' find him quite as frightening as our own soldiers have come to, and in matters of city parents cajoling their children to eat properly, he often takes the place of our own Vormax, Stealer of Forms. None of the three have any known heirs.

{That would be Benedict, Marquis of Klavikus. Klavikus was a holding of his mother's, absorbed by the Empire upon her departure; it has been honorarily awarded to Benedict in hopes he may wish to reclaim his roots--H}

Oberon's second wife was a woman named Faiella. My wife has noted that the great stairway between Amber and Rebma is known as the Faiella-Bonin, but we have not yet ascertained the connection. With her, Oberon again had three children: Eric, Corwin, and Deirdre. (Note that Caine also was born in this period, between Corwin and Deirdre, but the chronological breakdown is not the purpose of this section.) These also were of age for the war with the Fey. Strangely, it is Eric, not Benedict, who has recently staked the strongest claim for the throne. Corwin seems to be dead, or at least missing, while the rumours about town suggest that Deirdre does -not- support her remaining brother's claim. Again, if any of these have heirs, they are not recorded anywhere that I have access to.

{Corwin, now known as the Opener, evidently resurfaced soon after this report was sent in. Troubling indications suggest that he Opened the Way unknowingly; the destruction he caused us in the War certainly suggests he is not, as Strylgalldwir insisted he must be, on our side. That this error caused the General's death I can only consign to Justice--H}

There are indeed indications that his next wife, Clarissa, may have been of an outlying region of our own Empire, who found a way to Amber in seeking to improve her own standing. This may indicate why her children received the special attention from Dworkin that the others lacked, or they may simply have been the first that Oberon left unattended at a young enough age. (Specifically, during the War with the Fey.) Their names are known to us: Fiona, Bleys, and Brand. (Note, again, that Llewella was born before Brand; Oberon shows some pattern of tiring of his wives one child before disposing of them.) More will be known from these three among those who have spoken with them in Chaos than I will turn up here.

{That our Champion was struck down was less tragedy than many may see; I fear Brand was an unstable tool from the start. We would have fared better had the Hendrakes seen the importance of our cause -before- the Battle of the Black Road, rather than after. Fiona's treachery was disappointing, but not entirely a surprise--H}

Llewella was an illegitimate child of a Rebman lady. I have been unable to determine her precise lineage, though my wife has turned up indications that it may be then-Queen Moins. Rebman people indicate that she was recognized as an acknowledgement of Rebma's strength, while the rumors I have found suggest that it was the result of a fight between Oberon and Clarissa. That these Amberites treat their lineage so casually is one of the fullest signs I have seen of their inherent barbarism.

Of Dybele, Oberon broke his pattern of threes and bore but one child: Princess Florimel. It is most particularly difficult in her case to state the name without the honorary, for all that we do not recognize Amber's rights as a Kingdom. I have seen her myself, and she holds the bearing due a Princess.

Rilga returns, now, in a legitimate capacity as Oberon's wife. Exactly what Rilga is I regret I cannot say, but her longevity and the legends, still, of her great strength lead me to believe she is either Fey or an inhabitant of a nearby Primal Plane. Her children were Caine (born, as noted previously, under Faiella's reign), Julian, and Gerard. Gerard captains His Royal Highness' Navy, while Julian guards their borders at Arden. It is significant to note that while all of Oberon's children have been assigned holdings as befits the children of a Sovereign, these two are the only ones I have found in whom there is any indication that they take their duties seriously.

{An affirmation must be made for posterity: while Corwin is the most individually intimidating, it must be acknowledged that Rilga's get caused more damage to our assault than any but the Marquis--H}

There are records, if one knows where to look, of a wife named Harla, who bore Oberon twins. I have found some residual holdings in their names on the outlying regions, but again, it took some hunting. No further records exist of what became of these, and in checking the almanacs, I found no indications of strong auspices either way at the time of their birth.

{Delwin has since been located, and a tentative approach made, but they remain largely an enigma at this time--H}

Oberon's final wife, as of the date of his disappearance, was Paulette, who bore him a final son, Random, and a daughter, Mirelle. Her death is officially recorded as of natural causes, but the rumors of suicide are fresh, and strong enough to hold plausibility. Mirelle must be counted among the `missing, presumed dead', while Random has done nothing to distinguish himself.

Of a final note, I have spoken with a man named Dalt, who claims to be Oberon's child by way of a woman named Deela. While I could not broach such subjects in my capacity, he seems a likely candidate for conversion to our cause - as an unrecognized child, he appears to hate his family with a passion rarely seen. In particular, he focuses his anger upon their symbol, the Unicorn.

{We have observed this Dalt, and he serves better as an unwitting tool than a witting one. His fury makes him unreliable, and unlike Clarissa's children, he has nothing to offer us save his ability to distract the Amberites. We attempted to feed him supplies in hopes he would mount an assault to draw off their forces at the right time, but it never materialized. Our caravan has not been recovered; whether it was waylaid or Dalt is simply biding longer we have been, in the wake of our losses, unable to determine--H}

If one is interested in their history in general, I recommend the following:

An History of Amber (L. Goshaven) - my primary source

The Golden Circle Kingdoms: Their History, Heraldry, and Husbandry. Vols I - XIV (various authors) - it contains too little of their military to be of practical use, but was crucial in establishing my identity as a Begman native, necessary for application at their universities.

The Amber Family (C. Addams) - in the traditional style of the unauthorized biography, this book focuses upon scandals and rumors, and gives little reason to suspect its veracity. However, some of the rumors listed within it bore out.

Webs of Passion (S. Swedjwick) - actually, nothing whatever to do with the Amberites, but I found it misfiled among the geography texts, and found it a delightful read. Intriguing, frightening, and sexy, as the Eregnor Sun-Tribune says. My wife enjoyed it as well.

Posted by LintKing at June 17, 2003 06:11 PM