Shadows and Substance

Now, it is written that only a prince of Amber may walk among Shadows, though of course he may lead or direct as many as he chooses along such courses. We led our troops and saw them die, but of Shadow I have this to say: there is Shadow and there is Substance, and this is the root of all things. Of Substance, there is only Amber, the real city, upon the real Earth, which contains everything. Of Shadow, there is an infinitude of things. Every possibility exists somewhere as a Shadow of the real. Amber, by its very existence, has cast such in all directions. And what may one say of it beyond? Shadow extends from Amber to Chaos, and all things are possible within it.

---Nine Princes in Amber

In my campaign, a great deal of the story takes place in various Shadows. Whether the Golden Circle, or the various particular Shadows of Elders, there is seldom a month that doesn't go by in which Amber matters require travel into Shadow.

So whether or not Players create their own Shadows, the GM has a hierarchy of such places.

I use a simple expansion of the basic ADRPG rules for Shadows.

Shadows 'cost' more to create and control as they have impact beyond their own borders; not based on internal definitions. So a Shadow that is 'close' to Amber or draws powers outside of itself is more noteworthy and more cost.

Shadows 'cost' more to protect as those protections thwart more Real Threats, or actually conceal from Real Perceptions. So a Hidden Shadow is more cost than a Guarded one, which is more than a Limited access type.

Shadows 'cost' more to make changes once they have a nature that is observed by someone Real. Adjunct to this determination is that even Shadows that are easily changed become less so as they are visited by more Real observers. Additional costs may be incurred over time unless the changeable nature is rational to observers.

Shadows 'cost' more to 'edit' relative to Threads of Reality. Time relative to Primal Locations is more noteworthy, therefore being able to match Chaos time, or Amber time is more noteworthy.

Shadows 'cost' more to 'edit' relative to Threads of Reality. The Primal underpinnings of a Shadow cannot easily be altered from within. An Real observer or traveler cannot easily be entangled with a specific Shadow.

Shadows of Desire can substitute for carefully crafted Personal Shadows.

Shadows can be found which have many of these properties at no cost to the Character, but some experience or ability may be required to hold the proper parameters of the search and introduce no errors. Times are relative to Amber.

With little experience; such Shadows may be found for two months of searching for each point cost; this might be four years for the most complex desires.

With experience; such Shadows may be found for one month of searching for each point cost; this might be two years for the most complex desires.

With advanced experience; such Shadows may be found for two weeks of searching for each point cost; this might be one year for the most complex desires.

Shadows of Desire can be found which have general properties matching no higher than 1 or 2 point costs for 1/4 of the above costs. A single quality above 2 points negates this quick search. Errors are to be expected in these faster searches. Times are relative to Amber.

rank

reality of contents

personal shadow

minimum cost; specifications defined at creation

shadow of the realm

location close to Amber/Other

shadow protean

source of othershadow; example: Keep of Four Worlds

shadow primal

source of reality; may cast shadows

protection contents

barrier

specifications; in, out, both, powers, psyche, trump, pattern, logrus, magic

limited access

specifications; place, environment, actions, powers

guardians

specifications; place, environment, actions, powers

concealed

specifications; place, environment, actions, powers

control contents

alter contents

edit interior physical and metaphysical

alter time

edit interior relative to Amber/Other reality

alter primal

edit interior primal source relation to reality

alter destiny

edit exterior location, destiny, relation to reality

point cost adds; each rank of control includes the functions of ranks of less cost