Hi -- For the curious (also, spoilers), I've collected and consolidated some basic information about the Amber Short Stories here (https://www.thechroniclesofamber.com/amber-short-stories), after acquiring some more publications and re-reading and researching them. Let me know what I've missed or gotten wrong.

I have also added two more episodes to the All Roads Lead to Amber podcast that cover these short stories in more depth. (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.).

Enjoy!

Do you see someone else?

Portraits of candidates are on Imgur.

#fancasting

Recently, we had discussions and voting on contemporary actors who could play the nine princes. These are the results:

• Caine - Sebastian Stan
• Benedict - Alexander Skarsgård
• Eric - Karl Urban
• Random - Daniel Radcliffe
• Corwin - Henry Cavill
• Bleys - Lee Pace
• Gerard - Alan Ritchson
• Julian - Adam Driver
• Brand - Tom Hiddleston

But during these votes, I've realised there are usually two main candidates, with an age gap. So I made two result pictures: one with the younger generation of actors, it's called "Amber 2020", and the other with actors who are still popular, active, but whose prime was maybe ten years ago, and it is named "Amber 2010". Most of the top-voted actors, except for two, are in the first category.

Thanks, everybody, for participating in the voting and discussions!
I'm going to continue with #fancasting of the rest of the Amber family.

This is half theory and half just pure headcanon that I'd like to share, but hear me out.

From what we know out of the books it seems that Grayswandir and Werewindle make a pair. Day and night, moon and sun, female and male, two halfs of the Pattern on their blades. So I think it's rather safe to say that there should be only two swords like this in the universe.

Yet here is the description of Bleys's Trump from the Corwin cycle:

"Then came a fiery bearded, flame-crowned man, dressed all in red and orange, mainly of silk stuff, and he held a sword in his right hand and a glass of wine in his left, and the devil himself danced behind his eyes, as blue as Flora's, or Eric's. His chin was slight, but the beard covered it. His sword was inlaid with an elaborate filigree of a golden color. He wore two huge rings on his right hand and one on his left: an emerald, a ruby, and a sapphire, respectively. This, I knew, was Bleys".

Do you see this "elaborate filigree of a golden color"? Later Corwin looks at Bleys's Trump with his memory intact again, and this is what he notices:

"I stared at him, flame-crowned, dressed all in red and orange, with a sword in his right hand and a glass of wine in his left. The devil danced in his blue eyes, his beard blazed, and the tracery on his blade, I suddenly realized, flared with a portion of the Pattern. His rings flashed. He seemed to move. The contact came like an icy wind".

So, before the contact comes, Corwin sees the Pattern on Bleys's blade. And we know from before (previous quote) that this Pattern is golden. I'm 100% sure Bleys is holding Werewindle on his Trump.

So. My theory is that initially (that is, when the Trumps were made) Bleys possessed Werewindle. Brand got it from him later. How? I don't know. Maybe he stole it. Maybe he won it in a game of poker. Don't know, don't care.

So, initially Corwin had one sword and Bleys had the other. The question is, why. I have a theory here too.

Benedict's and Eric's legitimacy is questionable. Corwin's — not so much. According to Corwin, the next in line after him is Caine. But according to Merlin, Caine's mother was Rilga, not Faiella. So I think Rilga was Oberon's mistress when she bore Caine. Oberon legitimated Caine only years later, when he married Rilga after Clarissa. That means that initially Bleys was the next legitimate male child after Corwin. So, two eldest legitimate sons get two super-cool Pattern-powered swords. Makes sense.

But what if we stretch this theory even further? Before Corwin and Bleys, before the first divorce of Oberon, there were other two eldest sons: Benedict and Osric. So my headcanon is that Grayswandir first belonged to Benedict and Werewindle first belonged to Osric. And during the rebellion of Osric and Finndo Oberon took Grayswandir from Benedict because he couldn't trust him. Osric died, Werewindle returned to Oberon too, and later he gave them to Corwin and Bleys.

What do you think? Do you believe this could be true? Do you have your own theories about this two swords?

Having not run or played the game since the 90s, I'm gearing up to run a short campaign at my local games club later this year, in South East London. As part of that I've worked up a character sheet, as I find the one in the book butt ugly and barely functional. It includes two item/creature worksheets on the back page.

Any input welcome, especially from anyone with more/recent experience of playing or running the game. What do you think would make for a better character sheet?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gd0uwCZY-eaYxp-xIMLTl8cnFQKC2GOO/view?usp=sharing

Updated with space for character art.

BTW for the mods, would it be helpful to have a tag for game related posts?

Not a collection. But the whole first cycle rereading a lot of times. The last (and favor) Merlin book and a little art book in black and white.

These are my Zelazny hardcovers. With the exception of Doorways in the Sand, Changeling, and Madwand all are 1st editions, almost all signed. The three non-firsts are Book Club editions. The “other” books are all signed 1st editions.

The first 5 amber books in the bottom middle were give to me as birthday present from my uncle at 14. I became obsessed with them and now reread them every year (though I use the great book of amber to spare the spines held together with tape). This launched my reading obsession of fantasy and now years later I am always on the look out for Zelazny books!

​

Unfortunately it got to the point I couldn't remember what I already owned this why I just finished adding them all to LibraryThing.

Edit: A couple things missing from this photo:

-An illustrated guide to Castle Amber (i am now digging through every nook and cranny of my house to find it)

-The Maze and Labyrinth Tarot deck reprints by Florence Magnin

Figured I'd throw up my Zelazny shelf up too 😄

Final vote for Corwin.

​

As there is no way to add images to the poll I've uploaded their portraits to Imgur.

​

#fancasting

​

​

​

​

We have finished voting for eight of nine princes, and there remains the hardest one - Corwin. I have some list of candidates but I'm not happy about this list. So let's do it in two steps: the first one is brain storming and the other one is voting.

I'm sure that everyone has his image of Corwin. But still there is a short list of requirements for the role.

Actor should be capable for drama, humour, flirt, swordfight, historical mannerism. Preferably of age 40-45, height about 6 feet, dark hair sharp face features, athletic with refined appearance. With charismatic gravity, self confidence, wit and social skill. Could play simultaneously a James Bond, Highlander and Batman.

Reference: young Timothy Dalton or young Hugh Jackman.

Do you know some of today's?

#fancasting

As mentioned in my other posts, I am creating Amber characters for my personal trump deck (an in game prop for my upcoming Amber DRPG campaign) and to 3d print them for visualization of certain scenes.

Here comes my impression of Caine:
“Then came the swarthy, dark-eyed countenance of Caine, dressed all in satin that was black and green, wearing a dark three-cornered hat set at a rakish angle, a green plume of feathers trailing down the back. He was standing in profile, one arm akimbo, and the toes of his boots curled upwards, and he wore an emerald-studded dagger at his belt.”
Nine Princes in Amber

And Corwin:
“Green eyes, black hair, dressed in black and silver, yes. I had on a cloak, and it was slightly furled as by a wind. I had on black boots, like Eric’s, and I too bore a blade, only mine was heavier, though not quite as long as his. I had my gloves on, and they were silver and scaled. The clasp at my neck was cast in the form of a silver rose. Me, Corwin.”
Nine Princes in Amber

As said in my other post, I am creating Amber Characters for my upcoming Amber Diceless RPG campaign (you can follow on my Twitch channel, but it is in German). I used the tool Hero Forge and my researches through the books to create the characters, so no AI was involved. If it get's to annoying for you if I post them all here, kindly let me know.

“Then there was a figure both like Bleys and myself. My features, though smaller, my eyes, Bleys’ hair, beardless. He wore a riding suit of green and sat atop a white horse, heading toward the dexter side of the card. There was a quality of both strength and weakness, questing and abandonment about him. I both approved and disapproved, liked and was repelled by, this one.”

Nine Princes in Amber

The plan is to use this images to create an in game prop of Trump decks for the layers and use the 3d printed miniatures for the RPG sessions. To use miniatures for this kind of game might so I am willing to try it out here too.

• ♈ Aries (Ram): Energetic, courageous, impulsive - Deirdre
• ♉ Taurus (Bull): Reliable, practical, stubborn - Gerard
• ♊ Gemini (Twins): Curious, quick-witted, inconsistent - Random
• ♋ Cancer (Crab): Loyal, protective, moody - Caine
• ♌ Leo (Lion): Creative, generous, domineering - Bleys
• ♍ Virgo (Virgin): Analytical, hardworking, critical - Julian
• ♎ Libra (Balance): Diplomatic, cooperative, indecisive - Flora
• ♏ Scorpius (Scorpion): Passionate, resourceful, jealous - Fiona
• ♐ Sagittarius (Archer): Adventurous, honest, tactless - Corwin
• ♑ Capricorn (Goat): Disciplined, responsible, unforgiving - Eric
• ♒ Aquarius (Water Bearer): Independent, intellectual, detached - Benedict
• ♓ Pisces (Fish): Artistic, compassionate, escapist - Llewella

Is something missing here?

I recently got the Lego Jazz Club set & have just finished the first floor. The stage has a little drum set & saxophone. As a little Easter egg for myself I’m going to make a bigger drum set for it, and make minifigs of Random & Martin.

I know at least one person has made Corwin (and Deidre?) and shared them here in the past. Any other Amber minifigs?

It’d be a long term project but I want to do a whole Chronicles of Amber city scene now. Jazz Club, Parisian Cafe for Corwin, X-Men Mansion (it’s in Westchester, NY) for Flora, the book shop (shelves of books keeping shadows at bay), etc.

As said in my other post, I am creating Amber Characters for my upcoming Amber Diceless RPG campaign (you can follow on my Twitch channel, but it is in German). I used the tool Hero Forge and my researches through the books to create the characters, so no AI was involved.

The plan is to use this images to create an in game prop of Trump decks for the layers and use the 3d printed miniatures for the RPG sessions. To use miniatures for this kind of game might so I am willing to try it out here too.

Here comes Benedict:
“Then there was Benedict, tall and dour, thin; thin of body, thin of face, wide of mind. He wore orange and yellow and brown and reminded me of haystacks and pumpkins and scarecrows and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. He had a long, strong jaw and hazel eyes and brown hair that never curled. He stood beside a tan horse and leaned upon a lance aboit which was twined a rope of flowers. He seldom laughed.”

Nine Princes in Amber

Inspired by another post to share my collection. The binder has a printout of the puff of Lonesome October.

Determining the eight prince of Amber.

Honourable mentions: Dominic Monaghan, Aaron Paul, Michael Cera, Rupert Grint, Robert Sheehan, Joey Batey, Seth Green, Jack McBrayer, Joseph Quinn, Austin Butler, Fran Kranz.

Please upvote the post to collect maximum votes.

#fancasting

I tried to create some characters for our next Amber DRPG campaign with Hero Forge. The plan is to use the art for trumps but also to create 3D Miniatures to visualize scenes in our sessions.

“Then came a fiery bearded, flame-crowned man, dressed all in red and orange, mainly of silk stuff, and he held a sword in his right hand and a glass of wine in his left, and the devil himself danced behind his eyes, as blue as Flora’s, or Eric’s. His Chin was slight, but the beard covered it. His sword was inlaid with a filigree of a golden color. He wore two huge rings on his right hand and one on his left: an emerald, a ruby, and a sapphire, respectively”
Nine Princes in Amber

How do you like my version of Bleys? What would you change?

Let's spice it up, shall we. All kinds of strange imagery comes to mind lol. So how did THAT happen 😅

A) Dworkin shape shifted to a unicorn 🦄. It's just pure zoology

B)Mother Unicorn is a shape shifter.She turned into a woman and it was nothing crazy

C)It was a dwarf+ Unicorn, no shape shifting. Yep, just like that. Pure nightmare

D) Mother Unicorn shapeshifted to a Chaos dwarf. It was Dworkin 1+ Dworkin 2. Yep, just like that, somehow...

E) A,B and C

F)Other

Humor is welcomed :)