Corwin's chronicles are a fairly good starting point for events leading up to Patternfall. The elders, except for Gerard, left to Chaos with their troops and armies to end the troubles in order to restore the superiority of Amber as it should be.

While there were losses on both sides, perhaps the greatest loss to the war was Dierdre, who was pulled into the Abyss with Brand after Caine shot him. The skirmishes in Chaos lasted only a few weeks, though the trip there and back took several months for those that were there.

For those that left children behind, they fully expected to return to find their offspring still being minded by nannies and tutors. Unfortunately the great storm that went through shadow moved things a long a bit more than expected. In their absence, children grew up, became adults of a fashion and began living their own lives outside of their parents input and guidance.

The elders have been back for about a week and calls have gone out shadow wide for a return to Amber of all those of the blood. There is to be a victory celebration that is being held in conjunction with the Autumn Feast, a tradition that Oberon had observed longer than any of the Elders can recall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:19, Sat 01 Nov 2014.

Sowing Week - not celebrated as much in Amber City as it is in the countrysides, it is a week where farmers travel together to all the farms in the area, plowing and sowing seeds for the upcoming growing season. Within Amber city, merchants will use this week to clean out old merchandise and show off their new wares.

Hocktide - celebrated on the last day of Summer. This is the traditional day which taxes, tolls and rents are collected. Typically noted by small family feasts which celebrate the release from debt that incurs during the last year. Windows are often left open to invites the spirits of good fortune to visit the family.

King Oberon I Day - Celebrated on the fifteenth of August as the great King's Birthday. No businesses are open and celebrations are held throughout the city at His Majesty's Expense (ie, built into the yearly budget from taxes) which begin on the evening before hand and often run well into the late afternoon the following day culminating in a great feast and ball. The annual ball in Amber Castle is one event that most nobility throughout the Golden Circle hope to receive an invitation for.

Autumn Feast - Traditionally celebrated on the last day of the harvesting season (typically around November 1st), it is a day of giving thanks for good harvests and having a community potluck dinner where each family brings a meal to share with their friends and neighbors. Again, typically celebrated in the outer regions of Amber but gaining popularity in the city where neighborhoods can get together and celebrate for an evening of camaraderie and socialization. Ha'penny breads are served to children and the lucky boy or girl who receives the slice with the ha'penny (half penny coin) is the King or Queen of the feast and permitted to sit head at the adult table, a notable honor for a child. While not a terribly big holiday in the city still, Oberon himself considered this to be a very important day.

Candlemas - The Day which is held in strong reverence by the Unicornian Church, and of which Oberon subcribed, as the Day that the Unicorn first appeared to the great old sage Dworkin and showed him the way to inscribe the Pattern as the first Great Gift. Families often celebrate by the giving of gifts to one another and to tithe back to the Church. In poorer families, the gifts often run to practical items, clothing or shoes, but in wealthier and noble families the gift giving is usually of some luxury item, a coach or weapon. Often this is a day when the military give promotions and medals to deserving members. Candlemas is celebrated on the 7th of February.

The money of Amber is divided into three basic denominations: the penny, the pound and the 'Corn.

The Penny is a large flat coin of silver, scored into 8 pieces for division.

Twenty pennies make the worth of a Pound, a flat gold coin with no scoring.

One hundred pounds make the 'Corn, which is a paper note that is backed by the Crown.

The average servant to a wealthy noble is approximately 10 pounds a year, not including what they receive in food, lodging and clothing from their employers. The service industry is one that is generally very well paid.

Princes and Princesses of the Crown receive an annual allowance of ten 'Corns per year and a stipend of 5 'Corns for the staff and education of their children who have not obtained their majority.

Unlike some shadows, Amber is not a bastion of equality and fairness. Women are, by and large, not considered full members of society. Arranged marriages are not uncommon with nobility and royals alike. Women are not given a voice in noble councils nor allowed to sit jury within the courts. Ladies are confined to the balconies of any judiciary or royal court.

Ladies of non-royal status who choose to buck tradition and propriety are often treated with scorn and ridicule. This is not the same, however, with those of Royal breeding. Princesses, by their very nature and blood, are given greater allowance for male like peculiarities than other women, but it is still not looked well upon for any female not to show deference to the traditions of their realm.

With Random as King, the old ideologies are slowly being replaced and women are finding a voice in society and it's coming out strong.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:49, Sun 09 Nov 2014.

The City of Amber is divided into three distinct segments: The Waterfront, The City and The Castle.

The waterfront is housed at the base of Kolvir where ships dock to deliver goods and men from Shadow. The city is based half a mile up and carved into the side of the mountain. Another mile higher and ascending the great staircase is Castle Amber, the stone monolith where the Royal Family reside.

Ships send their heavier cargo to the city on platforms drawn up by man and beast attached to a large cog mechanism rather than by cart up the stone road that leads to the city gates. For more precious merchandise, a few armed men generally ride the platform to dissuade greedy dockhands from cheating the sailors.

It is within the waterfront region that such infamous places such as Bloody Bill's lies and it is indeed the area where one is likely to find less than honest men and women for their deeds and misdeeds.

At the city, one finds within the town square a large statue of King Oberon as well as the gallows, used only in the most extreme cases where life has been forfeit. To the north is the city's gaol and courts where everyday criminals are housed. To the south is the entry to Amber's merchant district and to the east and west are the residential areas.

Despite what popular myth may be, Amberites enjoy their baths. Unlike the privacy of some modern shadows, Amber's baths are reminiscent of Roman baths and a very communal event. Even bickering siblings will put aside their differences for a healing and relaxing dip in the bath.

The baths are heated by channels beneath the large bathing tub (swimming pool size but no deeper than 4' at any point) by a large fire built in a stone furnace.

There is typically no gender separation of baths, in one of the rare instances of gender equality, and it is not uncommon for men and women to be in a bath at the same time without concern of propriety.

Servants often bath with their masters and mistresses in order to serve them at any time during their bathing rituals.

The Golden Circle itself is comprised of half a dozen (or so) shadow realms that are near enough to Amber (and more importantly, the Pattern) to have established some manner of permanence independently of any Barimen involvement. Note: Rebma is not considered a Golden Circle shadow but is one of the Primary Realms

Kashfa - A largely desert like environment with great cities strewn out between vast expanses of sand. The largest of these kazbahs (cities), Al Zaharah, is closest to Qaadim, the land's only sea. Houses are generally made from sandstone. Upon reaching the shores, one can almost instantly smell the spices which has made Kashfa well known. Tea Houses and dancers are easily found in this warm nation, for both are revered.

Begma - A steam driven city, industrial in nature and appearance. Much of the technology from Begma simply will not work once travelled to Amber. Their usefulness to Amber is largely in manufactured goods, such as fabrics and building materials. In some cities, pollution is bad enough that the citizens wear cloths over their mouths and noses to avoid inhaling the dirty air and Noon is as dark as midnight. Here one is likely to see dirigibles and steam ships heading in and out of port, though their is a larger number of convential ships for travel between shadows. The weather is typically very wet and foggy.

Eregnor - a very contested region between Kashfa and Begma, each claiming it for their own, Eregnor is a lush farming area with rich soil and temperate weather, perfect for agricultural prospects. There are a large number of wineries near the Begma/Eregnor border which are often claimed by both as their own. Eregnor's spiced wines are usually shipped from Begma.

Ascheron - A small and relatively new Kingdom, Ascheron is often used as a layover for ships on long journeys for supplies. Ascheron's greatest export are its warriors, of whom there are no short supply as well as a great haven for privateers and yes, pirates who often scourge throughout shadow. A warm realm, there are no shortages of sugar plantations and pirate havens, as well as ancient tribal ruins to entice the treasure hunters.

[This is only a partial listing. Others may pop up later.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:04, Thu 14 May 2015.

The Unicornian Church

The Unicornian Church of Amber is held by the basic principle that the Unicorn is the Great Giver of Life and that She is alone in her divinity. She gave the great sage Dworkin the ability to create Order out of Chaos and Amber was the result and the One True City. With this gift, unto Dworkin she gave her son, who was to be raised to rule her new Order. The Unicornian church is not one of a huge number of doctrines and commandments and the priests are more often women than men. Oberon and his children were all commended to this church.

The Church of Amber

The CoA is a small faction of people who believe that the Royals are Gods in and of themselves. They tend to build smaller temples to the Royals and see them as the Living Divinity. They tend to take information of rumor and conversations or things that royals said (or supposedly said) regarding how to live their lives and behavior that they should emmulate extremely seriously. Different factions have been known to start fights with one another over conflicting statements between Amber Royals. Zealous is a good word to describe those that follow the CoA.

[Obviously this is a very brief overview for game flavor and not meant to be all inclusive information about these religions.]

Okay, I realized that this is often a bone of contention so here's the way I'm working out the full/half siblings for the elders.

Osric, Finndo, Benedict - Cymnea

Eric, Corwin, Dierdre - Faiella

Fiona, Bleys, Brand - Clarissa

Llewella - Moins

Caine, Julian, Gerard - Rilga

Florimel - Dybele

Random, Mirelle - Paulette