Ian
Some Personal Information
Trump Portrait: I see a man looking somewhere or at something beyond the picture before me. He turned one quarter towards whatever has captured his interest, facing right, and his gaze is intent. His eyes are a brilliant green and his hair black. His hair is cut short enough that its natural wave barely shows. His face is tanned, as if he spends a great deal of his time out of doors. Most of his broad face is covered with a handle-bar mustache connected to sideburns, also cut fairly short. He is large in frame and well muscled, particularly broad through the shoulders. A sleeveless brown leather jerkin that goes to mid-thigh, adorned with large rings of bronze in two rows down either side of the front, is worn over a green cambric shirt, laces open at the throat. Around his waist is a wide leather belt clasped by a round bronze buckle adorned with an eight tined set of antlers on field of green encircled. His breeches are of brown leather, same as the jerkin. His left hand rests lightly on the basket hilt of his leather scabberded saber and he is holding an open-faced iron helmet chastened in bronze in the crook of his right arm, otherwise he is unarmored. A heavy gray cloak is thrown back from his shoulders.
The man is standing before a window set in walls of heavy gray stones. He stands before the left of two bays of the large window. At the cornice of the window, in the uppermost right hand corner of the picture, is the seal of Amber, the Unicorn rampant in gray stone. The man stands at the left side of the window with the wall to his right and the window to his left. Through the window can be made out a distant scene, mostly of cerulean sky and clouds, framed below by the dark green of a mighty forest juxtaposed to the white and blue of a stormy sea.
Colors & Symbol: Green, gray and brown; A pair of antlers, eight tined on a green field. He does tend to carry the stag motif onto other items of apparel. His tack, for instance, has cheek pieces made from bronzed antlers facing outwards. His cuirass has the antlers blazoned on it. His favorite heavy saber even has a stag's head damasked into the blade above the quillions (an anniversary present from his father-in-law).
Personality: Ian is quietly competent. He knows his abilities and how to use them. His career as an agent provocateur for Amber has left him with a somewhat pragmatic viewpoint, something which he occasionally regrets. His wife and the life he leads with her act as a vessel for all his hopes for Amber and for his and Its future. Ian does not mind appearing tactless or boorish if he can use them to elicit a reaction.
Powers: Ian has walked the Pattern (in Amber proper) and is well practiced at using the abilities this initiation grants. He has not, to date, tried to magnify, or improve on those basic abilities, except in regards to his paeculiar Talent, described below.
Ian has a peculiar innate power to communicate and , to some degree, control animals. It works easiest on those he is most similar to, i.e. mammals are effortless, and birds are relatively easy, but fish are fairly difficult and most invertebrates are take a great deal of concentration. Almost all animals are well disposed towards him and will approach him if called to perform whatever favors he asks of them. He can use this ability to modify their behavior, equivalent to talking someone around to your way of thinking. Since walking the Pattern this ability has waxed in power. Instead of something he must initiate, now Ian must work at screening out the babble of animal conversation around him. By bringing the Pattern to mind, he can sometimes call greater numbers of individual animals, or those from further away (sometimes even from adjacent Shadows).
Opinions Regarding "Family" and "Friends"
Immediate Family
Gérard- Ian regards his father as the ideal toward which he strives. He thinks all his uncles and aunts underestimate his father, but he is beginning to realize that may be deliberate on his father's part. Ian has no doubts where he stands vis-à-vis his father. They may disagree, and Ian realized a long time ago that he will walk his own path, not in his father's footsteps, but they have always had the most "normal" relationship between Amber parents and children. At least as far he can tell.
Alis- Alis is Ian's life, his hope, his everything. As much a partner as anything else. Ian will sacrifice anything for her. She even gives him his space. He couldn't ask for anything more.
Elders
Oberon- As far as Ian could ever tell, Oberon really never had very much use for him, and preferred to ignore his existence whenever possible. In return, Ian never liked his grandfather but he did fear him and, eventually, respect him. Ian recognizes that Oberon was a great ruler and good for Amber. On those counts, he actually almost misses him.
Benedict- Ian's oldest uncle was never around very much. He really didn't seem to have much liking or time to spare on the family's perpetual squabbles. His exploits were beyond impressive, however, and Ian always admired the taciturn warrior. That admiration has mellowed into a profound respect. Ian has no doubt that Benedict, like his father, has the same basic motivations as he does.
Eric- How could you not admire Eric? A natural leader and a great warrior. When everything was falling apart, it was Eric who held it all together. Sure, he did it out of enlightened self-interest, but he did it. Ian supported Eric's reign and has not forgotten his sacrifice.
Corwin- On the other hand from Eric, you have Corwin. As a boy, Ian admired Corwin for many of the same reasons he admired Eric. Their nearly fratricidal rivalry was one of those family problems that Gerard made sure Ian both publicly ignored and stayed out of the way of. Then Corwin disappeared and became more of a mixed memory than anything else. When he returned, however, he definitely had set his own interests above the good of Amber. Ian has not forgotten this. Even though he may have played some critical role as determined by Oberon in the Patternfall victory, he was willing to lead forces against Amber.
Recent interactions haven't changed this opinion. Corwin's short-sightedness brought the tragedies in Cassus to pass. Ian does acknowledge that he has done Corwin a great wrong and wonders about what restitution might be possible and watches for what revenge Corwin might take...
Deirdre- Bright, shining princess. Able to move from battlefield to courtroom with equal grace. Deirdre was the aunt Ian had his first crush on and that fondness never really went away. She fulfilled many different roles: doting aunt to Ian as a child, confidant to the angry young teenager, partner in drinking and sparring, comrade in arms. Ian misses Deirdre and probably always will.
Bleys- Impossible not to like and therefore very dangerous. Bleys has done worse to the good of Amber than Corwin and has paid less of a price. He must be watched, but from as much a distance as possible. To come close is to come under the spell of his personality. Unfortunately, now that he is Viceroy of Amber, Ian does have to deal with him somewhat regularly.
Fiona- The aunt who always wanted to study him. Ian has the vague notion that Fiona would love to vivisect him to find out how his Talent works. She, too, put her own interests above those of Amber and needs to be watched. Again unfortunately, Ian has begun to push his Talent in new ways and Fiona may be the only one who can guide him.
Brand- The ultimate traitor. At least Bleys and Fiona came to their senses. Before the war, Brand never seemed to have much use for Ian. When he did, he was twice as disturbing as Fiona. Ian is secretly relieved that he is gone for good. Moreover, he is responsible for Deirdre's death. Traitor and fratricide both. If the Abyss has mercy, Ian hopes it cradles Deirdre gently. If it has justice, may Brand's death be a neverending hell.
Llewella- Always kind, if somewhat distant. Their mutual relationship with Morgan is about all they seem to have in common.
Caine- Willing to do anything for the good of Amber. Ian sees much that he both likes and dislikes about himself in Caine. He also realizes that Caine has no problems being what he is. Something else to admire. Ian may have doubts about his uncle's methods; he has none about his motives. The trick is to make sure that though he may be like Caine, he does not become Caine, and certainly that he does not become Caine's.
Julian- Distant, cool and demanding, but that is because Julian expects no less from everyone else than he expects from himself. While Gerard was a good father in almost every respect, it was both asked and unasked conversations with Julian that would get Ian to attempt to try surpass himself. And if he failed, to try again and again until he succeeded. Julian has always seemed to find Ian useful, even if it is just to figure out what is really going on with the Hellhounds.
Flora- Ian's relations with Florimel are neither cool nor affectionate. Neither has spent much time in the circles the other frequents.
Random- The bad uncle who is a lot of fun to be around, but invariably gets you into all sorts of trouble. Random was responsible for a lot of good times (playing cards, getting drunk, going to whorehouses) but always seemed to be great at avoiding the consequences. Why the Unicorn chose him King is a great mystery, though he had begun to change, even if it was in support of Corwin. Hopefully, his failure to claim his throne is not indicative of a regression into old bad habits.
Aros- Does Aros even really belong here? He is definitely a new player on the stage who seems determined to keep everyone else off-balance. Aros could be a potential threat to Amber and must be watched. Let his deeds determine Ian's opinions. So far, deeds indicate caution.
Contemporaries
Vialle- Known distantly as an acquaintance of Morgan's, now she is Queen. She seems to be worthy of the position, or making herself so, and seems to have a sort of quiet grace and calm wisdom that might be just what the court of Amber needs. Alis is both watching her and helping her.
Morgan- If any Amberite could be said to have a best friend, Morgan is Ian's. The two were thrown together merely by their similarity in ages, but instead of inspiring rivalry it has inspired a centuries long companionship. The two have been on any number of adventures together. Morgan is a frequent visitor to Ian's manor and is also friends with Alis. Ian realizes that Morgan's life is filled with pressures and duties that he does not have to endure: the duties of a Prince and Heir, bearer of his Realm's objects of power, unknown Amberite father, so he knows that there are times and things on which the two of them cannot come together, but maybe it is Morgan's distance from the hurly-burly of Amber that makes their friendship possible.
Kids
Auric- If there were ever a father and son that deserved each other less than Auric and Julian, Ian does not know. The two are manifestly ill-suited to each other, a source of constant friction that Ian adroitly stays well away from. Auric is somewhat dreamy and easily distracted, but does give a good effort to task you can draw his attention to. His ability to draw Trumps is astounding and worthy of admiration in and of itself. Auric seems to be easily drawn in by those who might not have his, or Amber's, best interests at heart. Witness the relationships he has started up since his father's return from Patternfall.
Andrew- Ian saw Andrew as a young man of potential. The revelation of his Amberite heritage has come as something of a surprise. He is withholding judgment on this young man he did not know nearly so well as he thought until they can converse privately.
Armond- A young man of amazing raw ability and potential. Seems obsessed with his own personal problems and a bit flighty in seeking help with them. He needs a good dose of pragmatism, but that will come with time. Ian is fond of Armond and is actively seeking to include him within a new circle of younger Amberites working together for the good of the Realm (Morgan and he being the nucleus of that group).
Martin- The boy has earned his scars and shows every sign of being able to overcome the demons that haunt his past. Ian knew Martin before Patternfall, mostly obliquely through Morgan. He never went out of his way to involve himself in Morgan's life, but was actively pleasant to him. Ian understands being the ignored child. Ian hopes that Martin will allow Patternfall to recede into his past and he will learn from his mistakes. Martin is the only person involved in plots against Amber that Ian has ever really forgiven. Ian sees Martin as another potential recruit, much like Armond, but one that must be handled more carefully, even if he has greater reason than most to see the purpose behind such an alliance.
Merlin- Corwin's son was only briefly met and might be effectively lost forever. Ian has not really formulated an opinion on Merlin as of yet. His one brief encounter leads him to think that Merlin succumbs too easily to the appearance of defeat. Too fatalistic and not pragmatic enough. Ian also acknowledges that he may have done Merlin some wrong in the handling of Corwin and the Cassus situation.
Others
Captain Fitzgin- Who does this man work for? He seems much too involved in Family matters to be a mere ship captain. Fitzgin too must be watched and confronted.
Sport- A fine horse. The best match in spirit that Ian has met in a steed in a long time.
Shadow- A sensible mare who should be able to keep Armond well in hand and hopefully out of the kind of in-over-your-head trouble he seems to attract.
Morgenstern- Impressive and intimidating. One of the few animals who doesn't talk to Ian. It seems he would prefer not to, and how would you force him? Ian can sense some subtleties in Morgenstern's moods, enough to know when to back away.
Ian's Letters are copyrighted (c) by Cal Rea 1998, 1999.
Edited for game purposes by George Gitari.