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Shadow Name:Begma

Current Ruler:First Consul Maelgad

Time Flow (Relative to Amber):One Shadow Hour = 1 Amber Hour

Technology and the like:Steam powered engines have been developed and are not uncommon in fairly

primitive forms in the cities. Locomotives have recently been introduced across the Shadow by Maelgad.

Begma is on the cusp of an industrial revolution fueled by their increased military interests. Electricity is

still not present and lighting is achieved through oar fish oil, all though these creatures are quickly

becoming endangered. Gun powder functions without difficulty and is a primary component of their

most effective weaponry.

Function of Various Powers:Trump: Normal function.

Pattern: Normal function.

Logrus: Responsiveness waxes and wanes, but in general function is normal.

Magic: Pattern, Logrus, and Trump based magic works normally. All other magic is difficult to work and

energy draining. Spells take twice as long to hang here regardless of what style of magic they are based

on.

Proximity to Amber or the Courts:Golden Circle.

Typical Denizens:Begmans tend to be on the shorter side and typically have a sturdy build. While there

is some variation, hair color and eye color are typically brown. Those of the northern regions tend to be

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fairer skinned and those of the southern regions more swarthymost likely due to the mixing of

populations with the neighboring shadow of Eregnor. Prior to the revolution the upper classes dressed

in finery of exotic silks and other rare imported cloths; whereas the average citizen wore simple garb

made of coarser more practical fabric such as cotton, linen, or even burlap for those living in the more

rural areas. Since the revolution those who serve the Cult of the Orchid dress completely in purple

signifying their service to the Cult. Others tend to wear either military uniforms or dress in the moresimple styles of the that were previously associated with the lower class.

Type of Government:Up until recently, Begma was based on a parliamentary structure, but General

Maelgad led a military uprising against Prime Minister Orguz in the midst of the chaos that Ambers

sudden loss from the political scene resulted in. He was publicly beheaded and Maelgad was named the

Consul of Begma For Life. His primary goal is to make Begma the dominant force within the Golden

Circle as Amber once was and ultimately name himself Emperor of all of the Golden Circle.

Type of Culture:The separation between the fortunes and daily life of "haves" and "have nots" in

Begma had increased dramatically over the past quarter of a century leading to general unrest which

resulted in fertile ground for the revolutionists to sow their seeds in. Currently citizens who had once

been members of the aristocracy, landed nobles, or held positions within the former parliament have

been stripped of their properties and rights. Those that were not put to death have been rounded up

and placed in prison camps where they are forced into hard labor. The rest of Begma is slowly being

cultivated into a well oiled military machine as Maelgad works to orchestrate their rise to power within

the Golden Circle. Many citizens are called to serve in the military in some function, and those that do

not, typically devote themselves to the Cult of the Orchid. The general atmosphere is very anti-Amber

and Maelgad uses this sentiment to fan the flames of resentment toward Merlin, Rinaldo, Coral, and

Nayda. They initially infested the northern region of Eregnor with the Cult of the Orchid, allowing it to

take root and give them strongholds from which to launch internal attacks. They now have rather

uneasy control over approximately three-quarters of Eregnor. The remaining quarter borders Kashfa and

the southern folk of Eregnor are receiving support from King Rinaldo as they attempt to battle their kinin what is becoming a rather bloody civil war. Travel through Begma is grossly restricted at this point and

even Begman citizens are forced to produce passports at routine checkpoints scattered throughout the

shadow.

Typical Weaponry:Conventional style weapons, bayonets, rifles, pistols, grenades, rudimentary

machine guns, and poison gases. It is rumored that they are attempting to develop tanks at the current

time.

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Rebma

the Enigmatic City

"Everything was to be seen through a green haze. There were buildings, all of them fragile and most of

them high, grouped in patterns and standing in colours that that entered my eyes and tore through my

mind, seeking after remembrance."

". . . Inside the city, we were conducted up a wide avenue, lighted by pillar flames set at even closer

intervals than on Faiella-bionin, the people stared out at us from behind octagonal tinted windows, and

bright-bellied fishes swam by. There came a cool current, like a breeze, as we turned a corner; and after

a few steps, a warm one, like a wind."

'Nine Princes in Amber', Chapter V

Rebma is such an enchanting part of the Corwin series- and what a quietly awesome place it is.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We see several strong elements of Rebma that are "inverted mirror states" of Amber:

Women have a strong role in events

The Palace is larger, made of glassy material, and full of light

The City is larger and has tall towers that seem fragile

Justice has a compassionate and practical side

Arcane solutions to breathing, pressure, lighting, warming, and in the construction of Faiella-bionin

Soldiers and citizens who are not deferential to Princes of Amber

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Society does not evidence as many sexual taboos

The complexity of Rebma, the sensuous realization of its power to compel us, is nowhere realized as

strongly as in the Queen of Rebma.

"A woman sat upon the throne in the glassite room I almost recalled, and her hair was green, though

streaked with silver, and her eyes were round as moons of jade and her brows rose like the wings of

olive gulls. Her mouth was small, her chin was small; her cheeks were high and wide and rounded. A

circlet of white gold crossed her brow and there was a crystal necklace about her neck. At its tip there

flashed a sapphire between her sweet bare breasts, whose nipples were also a pale green. She wore

scaled trunks of blue and a silver belt, and she held a scepter of pink coral in her right hand and had a

ring upon every finger, and each ring had a stone of a different blue within it."

-Corwin

And in Moir's own words. . .

"Therefore, I will punish thee . . . You shall marry the woman of my choice and remain with her in my

realm for a year's time, or you will forfeit your life."

-Moir

In the Eternal City campaign, Queen Moir and Rebma play a strong part in the policies; present and

future involving Amber. Perhaps because Rebma has a better grasp of the past of both cities; and their

secrets.

Queen Moins did not outlive Oberon, and Moir became Queen when Llewella stepped aside. Young

Moir held her own with King Oberon across decades; therefore, it is easy to see that Moir has much

more experience than Random. The queen also has Llewella as an active supporter, and the support of aPattern-initiate negates much of Amber's traditional advantage over Rebma.

As everyone says, "Llewella has no strong love of Amber."

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Llewella is also several steps older than nearly all of the remaining Royals of Amber. Only Benedict,

Corwin, Fiona, and Bleys have more years. Benedict is similar in his politics to what we see of Moir.

Corwin is often absent from Amber and shows signs of becoming involved in distant matters (in the last

of Zelazny's works). Corwin also seems quite taken by Moir's presence; certainly he would not forget

her help in his dark days. Fiona and Bleys would be an effective counter to the arcane knowledge of

Rebma, if only they were not the least likely people for Random to trust.

Even without Martin added to the active Rebman supporters, Llewella and Moir have between them an

excellent grasp of how strong Rebma is.

Random is not in a different position than Eric was in trying to maintain Moir as an ally, and there is

personal history between the two rulers to consider. As there is Vialle. Random might as well act for

Rebma's interests through his Queen if nothing else; doing so can only help his authority.

Moir makes a point of not adding to Eric's woes when Corwin arrives in Rebma looking for aid. She tells

Corwin that she will not allow the strife of Amber to be reflected in her realm. Moir, like Benedict, has

no desire to upset the stability of Amber. Moir shows compassion and a practical sense of the twined

destiny of Amber and Rebma.

Moreover, does she have a knowledgeable hand in Vialle becoming Queen of Amber? Can we suggest

she has some special knowledge of whom the Unicorn might choose for Amber's King?

How strange. How very interesting. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rebma has its own traditions, its own noble classes, and it has its own allies in the Sapphire League.

These are the Shadows under the Sea that regularly do commerce with Rebma.

In truth, the history of Rebma encompasses many of the Shadows that it keeps alliance with. Among the

Shadows reflecting the magnificence of Rebma are Bal-Sagoth, Lemuria, Arb-Mu, Atlantis, Tonga,

Oceania, the Ethereal City, Yonaguni, R'lyeh and Tantalis.

Rebma is a place that values art and knowledge. The Theatre Musica holds performances of musicians,

whales, and other sea-life. The Rotunda makes regular presentation of Rebman Opera. The esoteric

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knowledge of Arcane Makings reflects in the lighting and special environment of Rebma. It is a very

magical place and its own people reflect this skill and disposition as Amber does not.

Rebma city districts

The arrangement of Rebma is in nine districts. Four of the districts (cabra-ward, amber-ward, south-

ward, and gate) are gates into the city from the outlying areas. These gates include fortress outposts

flanking them within one hundred yards. Large barracks of warders (Rebma's professional soldiers) are

within each fortress. Most citizens participate in militia exercises several times a year. Rebma has always

been a ready source of military strength and its history includes several encounters with enemies of

Amber.

The Palace district is the highest ground in Rebma. The palace has a surrounding boulevard that is over

twenty meters wide. There always seems to be some architectural reconstruction going on at the edges

of the palace. The background image of this page is swimming above the palace district. The palace hasadditional buildings complimenting in several directions and in total is much larger than the castle in

Amber. In the oldest parts of the Rebma palace, you may hope to avoid the Passage of Ghost-Mirrors

which is responsible for over twenty disappearances in the last thousand years.

The four remaining districts are largely residential, but they also concentrate certain aspects of Rebman

society.

In the Crafts district, you find the whispering statues of the Hall of Heroes. Here are the extraordinarysmelters for metalcrafting, the smiths who construct mechanical wonders, and the amazing clothiers

who craft fine cloth imports of seven worlds.

In the Arts district, the Galleries of Galantia hold the Trump landscapes that permit access to lands of

many different cultures. The Rotunda of the Royal Opera has faerie lights that burn day or night. The

huge entrances to the Theatre Musica allow passage by whales arriving to perform.

In the Noble district, the beautiful mansions glitter like undersea jewels. No guards or walls limit these

estates, for the nature of the Rebma culture has no crime or jealousy in its heart-- another curious

mirror-inverse of Amber.

In the Trade district, the busy guild halls work the commerce of the seabed farms and the Sapphire

League trading economy. The tall fragile towers of this district have sighting lenses that can see through

the dark waters some sixty miles.

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