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.
A map of the Courts of Chaos is now available.
Anch - Known as the Ways of Anch, this Shadow is one of several Shadows governed by House Sawall.
Cainsmarsh - A swampland to the southeast of Gravenhage rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of dead Chaosians.
Cardiff - Ways of Hendrake, currently ruled by Mason Hendrake. Cardiff lies to the south of Donegal, and is known for mining of precious metals and gems.
Cerelaine - Ways of Amblerash, currently ruled by Baalam Amblerash. Cerelaine lies on the far side (east of) Gravenhage.
Isle of Corinth - The main port of the Courts of Chaos found the Isle of Corinth, off the shore of Skeltland. The Port of Corinth is the main gateway of travel toward outlying Shadow and Amber and is known for its fishing and seafaring. Corinth is ruled by a minor house, but historically has been strongly influenced by House Chanicut.
Donegal - Ways of Minobee, currently ruled by Rhees, the daughter of Belissa Minobee. Rhees was appointed Duchess of Minobee by Shaenan after he returned from Inferno. Donegal is known for its handicrafts and tapestries.
Firegate - A fiery gateway that connects the Courts of Chaos to outlying Shadows. The Gate serves as a magical stopping point and provides instant one-way transport to a number of Shadows. To operate it, one merely need look to the lit towers across the sea beyond the gate, focus upon one, and step through the gate. At present, many of the towers are unlit, as many of the links to Firegate have yet to be re-established.
Gantu - The personal Shadow of Dara Helgram, which lies between Gwynedd and Sawallways. Gantu is actually the name of the fortress that dominates this otherwise uninteresting bit of land.
Golgotha - Cumulative term for the hell Shadows which lie on the edges of the Courts of Chaos. The great majority of these hells were formed by Mandor, including Inferno.
Gravenhage - A forest which rivals the vastness of Arden, Gravenhage is nothing short of a bosk of nightmares. The forest lies generally east of Sawallways and Gwynedd.
Gwynedd - A Shadow of high magic and the ancestral home of House Helgram, Gwynedd is currently ruled Dara Helgram Sawall. Gwynedd lies just north of Sawallways.
Inferno - A Shadow hell created by Mandor. Stylized after the Judeo-Christian Hell, it serves as a storage place for those who have irritated Mandor. During the period following the Abyss War, Prince Shaenan found himself stranded here, but escaped with the aid of Leviticus. Among it's more inconvenient features, the time flow in this Shadow is greatly slowed, such that much time passes outside the Shadow while one is trapped here.
Mandorways - The personal Shadow of Mandor of Sawall. When Leviticus closed off Sawallways at the beginning of the Abyss War, he indirectly closed access to Mandorways, as it is only accessible through the Ways of Sawall, leaving the Shadow untouched. Mandorways remains impossible to enter, save by Shaenan Sawall.
Meath - Ways of Jesby, currently ruled by Stead Jesby, son the Emperor Despil. House Jesby, previously the weakest of the major houses of Chaos gained much in recent years through its close ties with the ruling house. Meath is mostly comprised of rolling hills and farmland, and is south of Thelbane and Sawallways.
Pit of Chaos - The upper reaches of the Abyss on which the Shadow and castle Thelbane lie. The borders of the various Shadows are impervious to Abyss, save for the Pit. There can one enter the Abyss and journey to farther Shadows, through the aid of Abyssal Demons. Note that the Abyss does not really link to any of the other conjoined Shadows in Chaos (save for Sawallways), nor does it expand into the Shadows, nor send its minions forth into Chaos.
Rial - An underwater realm located off the coast of Cerelaine. The royal family of Rial are shapeshifters and a minor Chaosian house, yet most of the Shadow residents of Rial are limited to life in the water.
Sawallways - Noteable Shadow of the Court of Chaos, ancestral seat of House Sawall, currently ruled by Lord Shaenan Sawall. Due to the actions of Shaenan, Sawallways has become 'occupied' by the creature known as Leviticus, and is now essentially a living Shadow. It is impossible to enter the Shadow without Shaenan's express permission. The Ways of Sawall lie to the west of Gravenhage, and east of Thelbane. Recently, Sawallways was destroyed...its links to the Courts severed. It drifted into the Abyss, taking much of the heritage and history of Chaos with it.
Skeltland - Ways of Chanicut, currently ruled by Sarah Chanicut, wife of Delwin, is directly north of Gwynedd, and borders Gravenhage to the west. Skeltland is known for its temperate climate and vinyards.
Thelbane - Shadow and castle; The ancient seat of power in Chaos, now ruled by Despil. Thelbane is located at the edge of the Pit and is adjacent to Sawallways, Gwynedd, and the Ways of the Logrus.
Ways of the Logrus - Formerly known as Suhuyways, the Ways of the Logrus are located deep in the caves under Sawallways, and are home to the Spider. Currently sealed off at Lord Shaenan's command.
Arcana - Once the Shadow known as Mellisondra, it was transformed by Gawain and Edgar into a major pole of reality based around the Magic Circle.
Arnok - The Shadow hell in which Caine was imprisoned during the Abyss War by Llateri. The only exit from this Shadow is via the Broken Pattern, which will not work for full Pattern initiates. Here, Caine met a woman named Felicity and had a child named Aelric.
Avignon - Personal Shadow of Adam. Very similar to the France during the reign of Louis the Sun King. At the beginning of the Abyss War, Avignon became sanctuary for those fleeing Chaos and Amber. Some of the people who lived there included Florimel, Despil, Rowan, Lylesberg, Bleys, Stead, Elinore, and Adam. Despil and his family returned to Chaos with the aid of Cerridwen shortly after the surviving Amberites were returned to Amber.
Contré-Mu - A relection of Mu, where a Shadow of Gawain named Gwin is revered as a god-figure and called the 'Sewer of Chaos'. His children became gods and their conflicts shaped the destiny of Contré-Mu. During the time of the Reconstruction, Princess Katrina found herself stranded here...an unpleasant time as she was reviled within the mythos of this Shadow.
Earth - Shadow Earth, a major Shadow, due to the number of Amberites who have spent time there. Earth is known as Florimel's territory, and given her recent personality changes, most Amberites fear to tread there.
Ellipsis - A high-tech Shadow near Earth that is often frequented by Lady Emma. Ellipsis is Emma's personal Shadow, and she tends to vacation in Orleans, which refers specifically to the estates and surrounding areas inhabited by Emma, located in the region known as Centre. It is a land in the thick of the jazz and early swing era, replete with flappers and gin mills...with all the improvements technology has to offer.
Keep of Four Worlds - The intersection of four elemental Shadows. It contains the Firefountain, a vast source of magical energy. In fact, the Firefountain could best be described as a sort of stationary spikard. The Keep of Four Worlds is currently joined to the cluster of Shadows surrounding Mellisondra.
Mars Colony - A high-technology Shadow set in the year 2894 AD. The actual Mars Colony of this Shadow is dominated by a very Luddite philosphy, the result of a long series of wars that devastated Earth. But there are still those who esteem technology, and as such his world is very divided into technology haves and have-nots, with the lower class belittling the very technology that the upper class uses to control and manipulate them. Lord Shaenan was born and raised in this Shadow, and it was here that he first encountered Mirelle.
Mellisondra - Home Shadow of Meridian. A strange world ruled by four castes based upon the four elements; a land of high sorcery. Meridian's researches gave Mellisondra its own reality, when he caused it to house a greater power known as the Magic Circle. It was eventually transformed into the realm known as Arcana.
Noire - A prohibition-era version of Shadow Earth, in which Emma found herself trapped following the conclusion of the Abyss War. Strangely enough, the Shadow also possesses analogs of the various Amberites that were important to Emma's history. Charles DeQuehen (Caine) is a mob boss there, as is Sandra Balducci (Sand). Sol (Meridian) and Nicky (Nix) also live there, and aided Emma briefly when she lived there.
Paris - Former home to Corwin's Pattern; now a wasteland. Paris in unique, however, in that it houses one of the few remaining, functional Broken Patterns.
RLW 1289 - A high-technology Shadow adjacent to Earth. In this world, intergalactic travel was developed relatively early on. Maximillian, Katrina, Elizabeth, and Emily were raised in RLW 1289; it was here that Bleys and Elizabeth met and were married. Mirelle and Benedict have also spent time here; and Princess Meredith found herself trapped here during the Reconstruction.
Sanctuary - A Shadow that once belonged to Princess Meredith, destroyed by her own hand before the Abyss War. Sanctuary was a high-Pattern Shadow inhabited by all manner of fantastic creatures.
Spindlekeep - Primal Plane that holds the Spindle, it belongs to Melanie Chanicut.
Ulteria - A prison Shadow constructed shortly before the Abyss War. Its creator and its purpose is as yet unknown.
Ygg - The tree that marks the boundaries between Logrus and Pattern, planted by Oberon originally. Ygg is unique in that it is the only linear point between Amber and Chaos. Anyone journeying between those two places will eventually pass through the Shadow inhabited by Ygg, though the individual may or may not actually see the Ygg tree.
All text on this page is © 1997-2004 by Matthew Richardson and Kris Fazzari.
Last modified on May 12, 2004 by Kris Fazzari.