------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Elder Amberites: Lorelei Princess of Amber A daughter of Oberon who left some time ago. A warrior, she aspires to be better than Benedict, and jumped him in shadow with a small army. Seems to be disliked by most of the rest of the family. Sister to Lawrence. Osric Prince of Amber "FOOL! I AM A GOD!" Osric, brother of Benedict and Finndo, supposedly died in the war against Rebme. Yeah, Ishmael and Rose only wish. He seems to be more than a little insane these days; unfortunately, he also seems to be incredibly powerful. Ishmael nuked him while he was trying to fix the Rebme Pattern; his subsequent dissolving and reforming suggesting that he's somehow become a part or an avatar of the Rebme Pattern. While his long-term goals are unknown, he would seem to be trying to power the Rebme Pattern and kill off the rest of the family. He works with John and his brother Finndo, and carries a golden mace. Keeps inadvertently trading Jewels with Ishmael, who he would dearly love to kill. Finndo Prince of Amber *scream of pain* Finndo, the ancient master of arms, is the man who trained Benedict. These days he seems to be a little bit insane; at the very least, he's thrown in his lot with Osric in that worthy's mad scheme. He's probably just a tiny bit upset with Ishmael for blasting him into a wall, hosing him down with a fire extinguisher while in fireform, cutting off both his ears, and putting out his right eye. It's doubtful he's fond of Rose, either, considering how she grabbed him with the Logrus and bit off the back of his neck. Poor Finndo. Possibly the most devastating warrior in shadow, mauled by some punk kids. Sand Princess of Amber "I see much that is hidden..." The enigmatic mistress of dreams, she spends a lot of time in Tir Na Nog, using the Air Jewel to somehow keep an eye on things. Her role in matters is unclear, but she seems to be on the side of the angels; steering Ishmael to uncover John and Osric. *Young Princes and Princesses of Amber: Rianna Princess of Amber, Scion of House Sawall "Doh, that's not good." The daughter of Fiona and Mandor, Rianna is a studious, research-oriented psychic powerhouse. Like many of her fellow scions of Amber, she walked the Pattern; lately, she's begun exploring some of the more advanced uses of it, such as using it as a lens. Her pattern expertise has saved the Heroic Trio more than once, getting them out of (and helping them into) several tight scrapes. She also is an expert on syllables of power, capable of disrupting trumps, locking up someone's brain, or negating magic with a gesture and a word. Like her mother Fiona, she shows signs of becoming a potent sorceress, although more of a scientific bent than her mother. Rianna often is involved in bizarre or outlandish experiments, including once hooking a werewolf up to a complex machine to try and learn shapeshifting. She attempted to get some of Koa's genetic material at the dinner party siege she and Ishmael threw; they seem somewhat friendly. She doesn't usually carry a weapon other than a dagger, and tends to rely on her arsenal of arcane skills rather than engaging in hand-to-hand combat. While bright and insightful, she's also more than a little absent-minded, acting at her best when she has time to deliberate over things. She gets along well with Rose, and is on close terms with her mother and father. Random owes her a favor or two; she's acted on his behalf more than once. She also knows all of the younger Princes and Princesses of Amber exceedingly well, having grown up together with them. Ishmael and her often work well together, although she doesn't completely trust him. Julian currently regards her with extreme suspicion for her part in the Eric's Tomb caper. In addition, the mysterious spider assassin has targeted her and Rose, and has yet to be captured or identified. Rose "Princess" of Amber "Look what I brought home, mommy!" Rose is the foster daughter of Flora, found on a battlefield during the Patternfall War, she is actually a Chaosian by heritage, so far as can be told, although there is some reason to believe she may bear the blood of Amber as well. She has walked the Logrus, and become quite adept in its use. Rose is the very antithesis of her mother, tall, skinny, and not very graceful, with long black stringy hair. She dresses in dark colors and looks very gloomy, despite being a fairly perky person. She is most noted for her skills in shapechanging and logrus use, but also has some minor fame for her magical embroidery basket which is capable of shapechanging anything put into it. Her association with Ishmael, Katsura, and Rhianna has been quite fruitful of late, but has also gotten her into all sorts of trouble, such as ending up as a flaming puddle of logrus-charged water in the Pattern Room of the Fire Pattern... Otho Prince of Amber "Just out for a... walk." The son of Caine, Otho is a compulsive practical joker and rogue. Unfortunately, he's surrounded by people who are just as devious, if not more so; he's been locked in a cage in the form of a lizard, and is currently the unwitting instrument of Ishmael's elaborate campaign against Julian's sanity. Roderick Prince of Amber "I'm sorry dear, I have to go save the universe... yes, I know that's what I said last time..." Roderick is the son of Bleys, and tries his best to outdo his father. It's doomed to failure, but Roderick is still no slouch in the areas of dancing, womanizing, and generally being charming and flamboyant. He's periodically flirted with Rose and Rianna, and is currently attached to the daughter of the Duke of Baylesport. Who doesn't think much of the company he keeps, especially after the dinner party siege... Albert Prince of Amber "Ho ho ho!" The vikinglike son of Gerard, Albert is a blond giant of a man. He likes drinking, singing, wenching, and hitting things with his big axe - not always in that order. His longhouse home in shadow is the frequent site of parties among the younger generation. He also appears to serve in the Amber navy, having accompanied the fleet into action against the Shalomar Pirates - apparently he's as much of a sailor as his heritage would suggest. Theresa Princess of Amber "..." The daughter of Corwin and a woman on shadow Earth, Theresa has been distant and mysterious, at least of late. She appears to be somewhat more calm and reserved than the rest of her generation. *Alternate-Universe Amberites: Osric (alternate version) King of Amber (the alt one) "Well of course you are." The monarch of the Amber accessed by Corwin's Pattern. He seems to be more stable than his doppleganger; he's allied with Findy, and generally oversees things on his end of reality. Due to hold a summit with King Random to broker a treaty agreement. Findy Princess of the Alternate Amber "I mustn't run away..." Daughter of the alternate Finndo, and an accomplished trump artist. Particularly skilled in the making of cloth trumps and trump traps. Findy had a vision in Tir Na Nog of Rose killing her, and decided to take care of her first. She tried several trump- based assassination attempts, but was tracked to her shadow tower by Rose, Ishmael, and Rianna. Captured, she was taken to Amber and thrown in a cell, where she was to remain until a deal could be reached with the Alternate Osric. Findy had a Palantir at one point; it was taken from her, and is now in the hands of Suhuy. A complete copy of her memories was made by Ishmael, and resides in a box of his. *Lords of Chaos: Ishmael Lord Jurist Of Hendrake "I have a cunning plan." The son of Dara's sister, Ishmael is a up-and-coming young Lord of Chaos. He is, to put it mildly, a man with an inflated sense of his place in the grand scheme of things. Sadly, he often tends to be right. Ishmael usually walks a fine line between audacious briliance and overambitious stupidity. He often comes across as mildly eccentric and a bit confused; this is an act. Ish usually has a plan or three in mind, generally aimed at grabbing power and saving his skin from the fallout of his previous schemes. As befits a scion of Hendrake and distant descendant of Benedict, Ishmael is the best of his generation in the arts of war. While not quite as much of a psychic powerhouse as Rose or Rianna, he's still fairly adept; his strength and endurance leave a lot to be desired, though. He's also a hotshot conjuror, relying heavily on his ability to whip up artifacts and constructs of unusual and potent ability. Of late, he's also become the resident collector of Not-Quite-Jewels-of- Judgement, having come into and out of possession of the Fire Jewel, the Earth Jewel, a Tir Na Nog copy of the Fire Jewel, and Dworkin's 'prototype model' of the Jewel of Judgement. He's a fairly adept trump artist, and, after repairing the Ember Pattern, he seems to be moving into the field of Pattern Imprint as well. He's a man with connections. Suhuy is an old friend and mentor, as is Benedict, and he's been on favorable terms with Dara for a while. He reports directly to Duke Tybalt of Hendrake, and thus has much of the weight of that house behind him. Of late, he's been the pupil of Dworkin - a true meeting of the eccentric and overambitious artificer nutcases. Finally, King Random owes him a favor or two. Not to mention the Ember Pattern, which seems to regard him as its semi- creator... He's also a man with enemies. Osric and Finndo want him dead; he 'killed' the former twice and lopped the ears off the latter before putting out an eye. House Tremere of Chaos has a hit out on him. And if Julian ever finds out who's been behind the practical joke offensive, he's sure to be very, very put out with Ish... Physically, he's a slender man with white hair, red eyes, and sharp features. His colors are black and orange, and his symbol is a red eye in an orange trangle. He tends towards quilted eastern robes worn over armor, and carries a hiltless blade at his belt. A heavy ring, a potent artifact, sits upon his left ring finger. In combat, Ish generally uses his swords, Cutter and Dicer. The two destructive damage weapons convert to a number of forms, the most commonly used being a repeating hand crossbow. He's also been known to use bandannas as weapons, and has a nasty combat trump trick. During his possession of the Fire Jewel, he used it as the focusing prism for a Patternlaser. Ish's plans are assisted by his two longsuffering retainers, Morrigan and Battleaxe. Morrigan is a demon with a lifetime contract; a sorceress and Logrus-manipulator capable of functioning in the realms of order. Battleaxe, a beast from the stables of Hendrake, serves as Ish's steed. Both tend to emerge from his various jaunts with everything from bruises to missing limbs; Ish himself has a knack for coming through hell itself without a scratch. Rose and Rianna, his frequent partners in crime, have learned to view him with a great deal of distrust and suspicion. Unfortunately, insane as his plans tend to be, oftentimes its the only one available - and, as he's fond of pointing out, they haven't been caught yet. Tybalt Duke of House Hendrake "This is grave." The current Duke of Hendrake, formerly the leader of the minority liberal faction. Tybalt opposed the war with Amber on the grounds that he could not assure the King of victory; Borel, as a punishment for such disgusting lack of confidence, took him and his supporters from their commands in the front lines. While quite a slap, it also assured that Tybalt and his faction would largely come through the Patternfall War alive and unsullied by the defeat. A rather devious sort for a Hendrake, Tybalt is also a superb general. He was widely regarded as at least the equal of Borel in his management of an army and grasp of strategy, although his skill with a blade is decidedly below that of the former Duke. He has a knack for unothodox tactics, and has been actively restructuring the somewhat ponderous, monolithic army to a more fluid and adaptable force, capable of operations of any size in any terrain. Tybalt is closely allied with Ishmael, being his immediate superior in the House. He also seems to be in communication with King Random; as the King had Ish deliver a sealed message to him. Koa Captain of the Redsky Watch of House Hendrake "I haven't killed this many people at once in almost six months!" One of the rising stars of Hendrake, and a friendly rival of Ishmael's. A guest at the dinner party siege, where he met Rianna and had a fascinating conversation with her. Gilva Hellmaid, House Hendrake "I am NOT a succubus!" The leader of the pro-Amber, anti-reform conservative faction in Hendrake. A guest at the dinner party siege, and a childhood friend of Merlin's. The Great Bore of Chaos A Lord of Chaos "And then I fought the skeletons, or wait, were they zombies... they had bits sticking to them... I forget. But I cut them down, and then I was attacked by the men of House Dannan... or was it House Firbolg... maybe it was both..." An elderly Lord of Chaos who frequently corners people at parties and tells long, dull, boring stories. A form of slow torture. He's taken a particular liking to Ishmael, probably due to Ish's mistake of feigning interest. Dreaded by practically everyone. Aphrodite Mistress of House Olympus "Dance with me." A politician, flirt, and shameless manipulator of men. She tried to use Ishmael to start a fight with her current lover; Ish, however, slipped out of it with a line of doubletalk. Valerian Duke of Chanticut "Yes, dear." Flora's current lover, for which we either feel great envy or great pity. First met Flora's adopted daughter Rose when she fell through a trump contact onto him while he was in bed with Flora. Rose was in demonform at the time... He seems to be a decent enough fellow. Last seen leading an army of carnivorous trees to the defence of Sawallways. *Others: John King of Therin "Do you have any... Kevlar?" Thought to be the son of Eric, John rules the shadow of Therin, a fairly important shadow along the Golden Circle. He's made noises about being the rightful heir to the throne, and is somehow in with Osric and Finndo - Osric helped him walk the Pattern in Tir Na Nog. Met Rose, Ishmael, and Rianna briefly under the disguise of a trade embassy from Chaos. Thought to be connected somehow with House Helgram. Clarissa Former Queen of Amber "You killed my son, now you're all going to die." The mother of Fiona, Brand, and Bleys, and currently the jailer of Corwin. Has a grudge against Amber, probably due to the fact that they killed Brand. A psychic powerhouse, and wearer of a really funky Neo-French Enormous Hairdo. Briefly trumped by Mandor and Rianna, but she tried to kill them so they cut the connection. A scary lady. Mona Expert Trump Artist "I need blood." A woman residing in a shadow near Chaos, and an expert on cloth trumps. A distinctive style and wide knowledge of trump artistry. Sent Rose, Ishmael, and Rianna to collect basilisk blood, which she needed for a particular trump. Findy studied under her at one point. Dworkin's Hat Doomsday Device "DIE, ISHMAEL!" A pointy felt hat with 'Wizzard' written on it. Also a sentient, destructive force of nature. It escaped from the cage Dworkin was keeping it in and rampaged through shadow, destroying (among other things) a citadel of House Tremere before Rose, Ishmael, and Rianna managed to track it down for Dworkin to recapture it. Has a tendancy to scream "Die, Ishmael, die!" as it destroys things; this is due to the fact that Dworkin had named its old cage 'Ishmael'. Until he discovered that last fact, Ishmael of Hendrake was going mildly insane trying to figure out what he could have done to offend a killer hat.