General Theme
Questions and answers about Amber theme. Is something appropriately themed or not?
Entries
Question: Are there any differences between this and any other fantasy world? Are there specific things that should or should not work in Amber that I should know about?
Answer: While your character may or may not know these things, they are still canon, and discoverable during rp.
Gun powder does not work in Amber. If you try to fire a gun in Amber, nothing will happen.
Technology of a higher level than technopunk doesn't work in Amber and even that works only sporadically. Cars being driven towards Amber will stop somewhere out in the plains or the forest, leaving a very long walk to get to the city itself.
Question: is there more than this switchback?
Answer: Yes! Yes, there is definitely more than the Switchback. Part of the early game experience revolves around discovering what more there is.
Question: What about the Pattern?
Answer: A simple gift search will show a pattern initiate gift. This is something right now available only if you have walked the pattern before waking up on the Switchback. Pattern abilities that you may have had in the past do not work. Trying to sense the Pattern gives one the feeling that maybe there is something out there but not where or what.
Question: What is canon for this game? What should I absolutely know to play here?
Answer: In general, if you've read Roger Zelazny's books, you can consider that any of the events from the book have occurred in YOUR background. However, this may be different from any and everyone else's background.
If you have not read the books at all, then you need to know that this is generally a fantasy setting. Sword and sorcery is more appropriate than Transformers and Star Wars. Your character does not need to know anything about Amber - and may have amnesia about their lives prior to waking up in the Switchback.
Characters are human in appearance - no elves, dwarves, Klingons etc. The more different you look, the more difficult it will be to be accepted icly in Amber - and this should be taken into account when coming up with your character. While shapeshifting is potentially available in future, we ask that all characters start out as human.
No child characters will be allowed, nor characters that look like children. NPC children may be allowed, at staff discretion. This would include children of existing PCs, who may be born. It is our expectation that these children will not be placed in situations that are not allowed for any other character.
If you are in doubt please ask.
Question: How did this game start?
Answer: A tremor can be felt, starting at the Royal Palace in Amber and extending throughout the universe. The tremor continues for several minutes, becoming more pronounced and impossible to miss. The sky goes slowly dark, as a large cloud slowly crosses over the sky.
The tremors continue, spreading into the countryside, along the beach, past Kolvir. Past all the mountains everywhere.
Where did the birds go? The sky continues to darken, and the temperature drops. A large crack sounds, but nothing seems to be broken. A second crack, and then a third. The stairs up to Tir appear, and then seem to crumble, the tremor shaking them to pieces. The stairs down to Rebma crack, and half of them fall. The Shadowpaths break. Routes between Shadows vanish without a trace. There are still no birds. No animals.
The city lights in Amber itself begin to go out, making the darkness seem darker. This happens everywhere. Did the stars go out too? Did the sun dim? Shadows grow, taking over, as darkness comes. As the last light goes out, and darkness takes over everything, the tremors stop. There is a final large horrid never ending CRACK. And then nothing ...
... nothing ....
... nothing ...
In the darkness, in the void, the sensation - a nibble at first - of something trying to pull you apart too. Something trying to unmake you. A struggle to stay together, requiring the Will to just be. For what seems like forever. Until finally, a crack of light in the distance and the sensation of struggle fades. Some time passes.
The world is a different place.