Places of Interest

Begma the Fallen

Home to one of the nine broken patterns. Madrak claims to have witnessed the destruction of Begma. The one attempt to reach Begma by sea was prevented by an unusual storm.

Chiare, the Phoenix Empire

And the Warrior called out into the breach after the defeated lord of demons, saying, "May your belly be filled with fear at the Empire I shall raise from the ashes of your desolation. So that the memory of this day will never be lost, the throne of the Empire of Chiare shall be in the image of the Phoenix. Fear the day that my Karcists, in the name of the Goddess, return the favor of your visit by knocking at your door, and fulfilling forever the Mandate of Guardianship I have given them ! "

The Empire of Chiare spans a region of shadow centered around the broken pattern known to the inhabitants as the Wheel of Runes. The region of shadow is mostly flat fertile plains, almost all of which has been converted into farmland. The empire resemble s the great oriental empires of China and Japan. The society is highly ordered and hierarchical, but lacks most of the sexism or similar societies on Shadow Earth. Society is rigid but is not a complete caste system. Children are expected to follow in the footsteps of their parents, but some leave. The written history of the empire extends back more than 5000 years, to a dark age of wars with demons. The end of the demon wars was marked by the rise of the Sorceror's Citadel, home to the Karcists that have defended Chiare from demonic invasion ever since.

Kashfa

Home to one of the nine broken patterns. Formerly ruled by King Rinaldo I and his wife Coral of Begma. Caine of Amber killed Rinaldo and now holds the city under martial law. According to Nayda, a friend of hers, Coral escaped and now hides under the protection of Corwin's Pattern. Kashfa is a hot dry city with a splendor reminiscent of Shadow Earth Arabia. It is also the land of Vance's birth.

Alfar/Arcadia the Faerie Realm

Home to one of the nine broken patterns, referred to as the Tapestry of Light and Darkness. The realm is divided into two demesnes, the Seelie Court of Queen Titania of the Bright Fay, and the Unseelie Court of King Mordred of the Dark Fay. Recently, Mordred got his wrist slapped for allying with a Lord of Chaos and both rulers were required to swear an oath to work together protecting the Tapestry from the schemes of Amber and Chaos.

Thule the Island Realm

Home to one of the nine broken patterns, called the Watery Flame. Thule is also the homeland of Vance, though not the land of his birth. Thule is ruled by ten kings, sons of Lir, a sea god, and Cleito, whom we recently learned is also Faella, one of Oberon's wives.
The people of Thule possess steam engine technology, but do not use electricity. Their primary source of domestic lighting is a mineral called "Orichalcum", a golden metal that glows. Recently, Reed discovered that Orichalcum is radioactive and has the potential for achieving critical mass. Menelius, the High King of Thule, has been warned about the various dangers of using radioactive substances for lighting and will presumably pass measures limiting their use.