SHADOWS of Some RELEVANCE

Amber and the Golden Circle

A map of Amber and the Golden Circle is now available.

Amber - Founded by Oberon and Dworkin, exiles from Chaos, Amber is the seat of the Pattern, and its stability is reflected outwards into Shadow, dominating reality as far as Ygg. In truth, Amber covers the region surrounding Mt. Kolvir, extending north and west to Forest Arden, south to Ghenesh, and east to the Bay of Cabra. Amber is currently ruled by Regent Meredith, until Crown Princess Lenore comes of age.

Amber City - The largest city in Amber, which lies at the base of Mt. Kolvir and extends to the Bay of Cabra. Amber City is ruled by Regent Meredith and supervised by the Mayor. The mayoral position is, in fact, merely a figurehead position that carries no real duties or authority.

Arden - A forest of epic size, Arden covers the regions west and north of Mt. Kolvir, and is bisected by the River Moison. Ruled by Prince Julian and patrolled by his rangers and hellhounds, Arden was nearly burned down during the Abyss War, but has recovered during the period of the Reconstruction.

Baylesport - Both city and Shadow, Baylesport is located at the juncture of the Western Sea and the River Moison, west of Forest Arden. Ruled by House Bayle, a noble family of Amber, the Bayles are known for their wine-making. The Bayles also have a home in the country, called Arbor House. Vinta Bayle was mistress to Prince Caine for a time, but she perished during the Abyss War. The current ruler of House Bayle is Lord Vincent.

Begma - A major Kingdom in the Golden Circle, Begma was one of the first Shadows to join the Golden Circle and is located directly south of Amber. It had a long standing rivalry with nearby Kashfa over a region known as Eregnor. When Kashfa was destroyed by the Abyss, Eregnor became corrupted and dangerous, and is now avoided by most people. The prime minister of Begma is a woman by the name of Nayda, who took over after her father passed on.

Cabra - A reference to the Bay of Cabra, which rests due east of Amber, and to the lighthouse which guards the northern mouth of the Bay.

Initially, Cabra was just a lighthouse. Now it's a small village clustered around the lighthouse. Essentially, Cabra has become a small community of shapeshifters devoted to studying the medical arts. They receive financial support from the Crown in exchange for providing healing services to any who need them. Not all who live at Cabra are doctors. Many are just shapeshifters who were ostracized by their own families and came to Cabra to learn about their own powers and find acceptance.

Corilaine - A Golden Circle kingdom that covers the far northern reaches of Forest Arden. Former home of Queen Sand. Corilaine is a dark, untamed, forested region that is filled with fierce wolves and the occasional wary hunter. Corilaine's major exports are wood, wood products, berries, mushrooms and ceramic materials. Corilaine is still believed to be ruled by Derrick, though the named ruler is Lord Sebastian.

Deiga - A Golden Circle kingdom located far to the east of Amber across the Eastern Sea. Deiga is a small island kingdom known for its seafood and tobacco, and for its rather formidable navy, which has historically aided Amber in times of need. Deiga is currently ruled by Regents for William of House Wayreth, the orphaned son of Nathaniel and Emma.

The Eastern Marches - The area of land to the northeast of Amber, further east than the Lightouse of Cabra, on the coast of the Eastern Sea.

Eregnor - A Duchy located between Kashfa and Begma. Since the destruction of Kashfa, Eregnor has become a dark and dangerous place, home to all manner of vile creatures. It has also become known as the refuge of those Chaosian soldiers who survived the Abyss War and the Reconstruction. A single village exists within Eregnor, called Quotidian.

Faeilla-Bionin - The Stairway to Rebma, located on a beautiful coral beach some seven leagues northeast of Mt. Kolvir, past the Lighthouse of Cabra. A giant staircase, which has an enchantment laid upon it to keep gravity and breathing for surface dwellers, it descends to an archway that marks the territory of Rebma. On each side are pillars atop which are flames which glow and keep the water warm. The stairs themselves are made of some type of white marble shot through with pink and green.

Garnath, Valley of - A valley southeast of Amber, adjacent to the Escarpment, which is the southern mouth of the Bay of Cabra. During the Patternfall war the Black Road ran through the Valley of Garnath and extended as far as Kolvir.

Ghenesh - A former Golden Circle kingdom, notable in history only in that it was there that the Moonriders were thwarted so many centuries ago. Located south of the Valley of Garnath and east of Begma, Ghenesh is currently ruled by Lady Morgana of House Cezare. Ghenesh is a temperate Shadow with abundant farmland, and so its major export is food and grain.

Grove of the Unicorn - Grove in the Forest of Arden, where Oberon first sited the Unicorn.

Isles of the Sun - A cluster of Islands located due east of the Lighthouse of Cabra, just a few miles distant from the shores of the Eastern Marches.

Kashfa - A former Golden Circle kingdom. Kashfa was ruled by Queen Jasra, and its capital city was Jidrash. A few months before the Abyss War, Kashfa was consumed by the Abyss. Where it once existed is now only a rift...a dark sea of nothingness inhabited by foul creatures. No one chooses to go there.

Kolvir - A mountain in Amber, seat of the Pattern and of Newcastle, the castle built upon the ruins of Castle Amber.

LeDorne - A Golden Circle Shadow located northwest of Baylesport on the coast of the Western Sea. LeDorne is a rather large Shadow that encompasses a variety of temperate regions. The Shadow is ruled by Queen Maeve of House LeDorne. LeDorne's chief exports are spices, glass, steel and porcelaine.

Mordentia - A Golden Circle Shadow to the northwest of Forest Arden, due west of Corilaine. A densely forested and mountainous region, Mordentia is ruled by Duke Laoric of House Thessela. The climate in Mordentia is cooler than Amber, and the primary exports for this Shadow are stone, steel, and gemstones. Trade to and from Mordentia goes through LeDorne by way of the River Morin, which connects in LeDorne to the Western Sea at the coastal city Besancon. The capital of Mordentia is Levenbrook.

Mu - Personal Shadow of Gawain, adjacent to Rebma, and similar to Rebma in a great many ways. Entry into Mu is nearly impossible, save when Gawain extends his invitation.

Newcastle - Home to the royal family of Amber, built over the ruins of Castle Amber on Mt. Kolvir.

Primal Amber - The seat of the Primal Pattern, the foundation of all of Amber. Primal Amber is inaccessible via Trump, Magic, Logrus and Pattern, though it may be possible to reach it by teleporting from the center of the Pattern...should Blethius wish it. After the conclusion of the Abyss War, Fiona kept Primal Amber sealed off from everyone, and she resided there in solitude. It remains to be seen if Blethius intends to do the same.

Rebma - Rebma is one of the three First Shadows cast by the Primal Pattern and has a functional, though mirrored, Pattern. The Castle was a mirror image of Newcastle, though altered as befits an underwater realm. Rebma's recovery following the Abyss War was long and painful, for the legions of the Abyss had polluted Rebma so thoroughly that it was uninhabitable for two years. Then, just when Rebma finally seemed to be back on its feet, tragedy struck again and the populace was destroyed/absorbed by Thule. Currently Gawain's son Brand is slated to be coronated as the next King of Rebma. He will have his work cut out for him trying to repopulate the city once more.

Sento - A Golden Circle Shadow occupying the northern coast of the Eastern Sea, northeast of the Eastern Marches. Sento is really little more than an extensive area of temperate grasslands populated by nomadic herdsman. The primary export of Sento is livestock, and though the majority of the populace of the Shadow live rather simple lives, the capital city of Norn d'Sark is actually very civilized. Sento is ruled by Baron Timeus of House Sento.

Tir-na Nog'th - Amber's reflection in the clouds. Once believed to only exist in the light of the full moon, it has since been discovered that the entirety of Tir-na Nog'th travels through Shadow. By using specialized magic, one can Shadow shift with the city and thus have no risk of being stranded in Shadow by its movement. After the death of the members of House Barimen, the castle disappeared, only to be later recovered by Cerridwen when she turned seventeen years of age. As its queen, Cerridwen was able to travel through the Abyss using the magic of Tir-na Nog'th. Unfortunately, Cerridwen was fully an Amberite and showed a great deal of reticence about allowing anyone to enter her demesne...unless he or she had something worthwhile to offer the Queen of Tir-na Nog'th. Since Cerridwen's regression to childhood, no one else has laid claim to the Tir.

Tulloch - A Golden Circle Shadow east of Ghenesh, on the coast of the Eastern Sea and the Dark Sea. Tulloch is only nominally a Golden Circle Shadow, as it is a rather desolate region with little to export. Tulloch is all that remains of a greater civilization, long since thrown into decline. Though the houses of Tulloch do swear fealty to Amber, they generally regard Amber as a young upstart, lacking the rich traditions of their own culture. Tulloch is ruled by a council of the heads of the various noble houses.

SHADOWS of Some RELEVANCE SHADOWS of Some RELEVANCE