IMPORTANT NOTE: Just as in real life, history is written by the victors. The following historical 'facts' are officially true by order of her royal highness, Queen Dara of Amber. Questioning these facts could be hazardous to your health.

Canon Changes

The events of Corwin's Chronicles are assumed to be canon and publicly known with a few notable changes, listed below:

  • Benedict does not lose his mechanical arm to the ghost of Corwin during The Courts of Chaos.
  • The Pattern that Corwin creates, on his hellride to Chaos, is incomplete and broken upon creation. Brand steals the Jewel of Judgment from Corwin and grievously injures him. Corwin uses his incomplete Pattern to transport himself to the battlefield, but his creation is destroyed by the fury of the shadowstorm as he departs.
  • Dara finds the injured Corwin on the battlefield and helps dress his wounds, and protect him from the forces of Chaos that approach. When Lord Borel of Chaos comes across the two of them, and challenges Corwin to a duel, Dara is forced to choose between the two men. She takes up Corwin's sword and faces her uncle in Corwin's place. A fierce battle results in Borel's demise at Dara's hands.
  • Corwin then leaves Dara, assuring her that he can take care of himself and that he must find Brand, while she goes off to handle some other crisis.
  • Shortly after the confrontation at the Abyss with Brand, Dara comes to Corwin's side again.
  • There is no funeral procession for Oberon at the edge of Chaos. When the family returns home, they find that Gerard has already buried Oberon in a great tomb.
  • After the unicorn comes up from the Abyss, she does not give the Jewel of Judgment to Random, but instead stands in front of the assembled Amberites, with the Jewel hanging on her horn, waiting for somebody to take it. None but Corwin claim to know its secrets, so he reluctantly takes the Jewel from the horn of the unicorn, though he thinks the effort of protecting the family will claim his life.
  • The family is faced with two dilemmas. One that Oberon may have failed to fix the Pattern, in which case, even if they survive the Storm of Chaos, Amber will be gone when they return. The more immediate problem is that the Chaos Storm will decimate the Amberites if they remain on the battlefield. Dara tells the scions of Oberon that she can not offer them shelter within the Courts, as her alliance to Amber has now become known to the Lords of Chaos.
  • Corwin feels that he is too injured to hold the storm on his own and the effort will claim his life. Dara offers to help him, as she has special insights into these shadows and has been somewhat prepared for this possibility by Oberon. Many, in the family, especially Fiona, fear that Dara cannot be trusted and that if Corwin gives her access to the Jewel that she will flee and take it to Chaos. Benedict vouches for her, and Dara shows Oberon's signet ring as a sign of his faith in her. Corwin ends all disputes over the matter when he declares that if they survive he will take Dara as his Queen, as Oberon had wished.
  • Benedict swears an oath of fealty to Corwin and Dara, and is followed by the rest of the family.
  • Together, Dara and Corwin protect the family from the Storm. Afterwards it is discovered that Amber is engulfed in a Storm. Dara goes to Amber, and somehow stabilizes the area, ending the storms, presumably using the Jewel of Judgment. The Jewel is never seen after this again.
  • Once they return to Amber, Corwin is crowned King, and Dara is crowned Queen. Corwin's wounds heal, but day after day he seems to grow weaker. Many suspect Dara, but other say that it is the drain from using the Jewel to stop the storm, and save Amber. Still other say that Corwin's ailments are the result of Brand's blood curse.
  • Nine months after his coronation, Corwin dies, and Dara, alone, is ruler of Amber. Despite an attempt by Bleys to take the throne, which is blocked by Benedict, Dara remains Queen of Amber.
  • The reign of Queen Dara I begins.
  • The game starts 100 years after the end of the Patternfall War and the crowning of Dara.

The Reign of Dara I

Since returning victorious with the family of Amber from the edge of Chaos, Dara has ruled Amber. The land knows peace and Amber is again at peace with the neighboring countries, despite a few wars early on. The Queen's rule is absolute though, and perceived treason is handled without mercy. While the populace knows peace, many are weary of the increasing power of the Guild, and of the changes in Amber. In addition, there is a large split in the family between the supporters of Dara and those who wish to see her removed from power.

Here are some of the recent events, with years recorded relative to the death of Oberon and the beginning of Dara's rule. The years subsequent to the end of the Patternfall War, are labeled as the New Age (N.A.).
YearEvent
??-?? NA –   Prelude: Fragments of Shadow Past ( Conall )
~ -250 NA Corwin is imprisoned on Shadow Earth by Eric.
~ -100 NA Oberon disappears into Shadow. Presumably he is trapped by Chaos or the Bleys/Fiona/Brand cabal.
-13 NA Brand stabs Martin above the Primal Pattern. date unconfirmed
-12 NA Brand imprisoned by Fiona. date unconfirmed
The beginning of the events chronicled in Nine Princes in Amber
Corwin escapes Shadow Earth.
-11 NA Corwin and Bleys lead an army against Eric in Amber.
Eric is crowned King of Amber.
Corwin is blinded and placed in a cell.
The Black Road begins to form. Historians mark this as the start of the Patternfall War.
-7 NA The events chronicled in The Guns of Avalon, The Sign of the Unicorn, The Hand of Oberon, and The Courts of Chaos.
Corwin escapes from Amber.
King Eric I dies in battle against the forces of Chaos. Corwin serves as unofficial regent after his brother's death.
Brand freed from his prison.
King Oberon returns to Amber.
The Armies of Amber depart Amber for the final battle of the Patternfall War, referred to, by many, as the Black Road War. While only a short time passed for the forces of Amber, seven years passed in Amber with Gerard as regent. These years saw Amber plagued by Shadow Storms and cut off from much of Shadow.
0 NA End of the Patternfall War. Corwin and Dara crowned rulers of Amber.
–   Prelude: At the Edge of the Abyss ( Akira Mordred Roland )
Dara begins the Black Purge, a concentrated, almost fanatical, effort to wipe out the remaining Chaos forces that lingered in Amber and surrounding areas.
–   Prelude: Mordred and the Dead Prince ( Mordred )
Nine months into his rule, King Corwin dies
–   Prelude: Bug Hunting ( Mordred Roland )
1 NA Brennus born 8 months after Corwin's death. It is a day of national celebration.
3 NA The first Artificers appear.
6 NA Dara declares the Black Purge successful.
10 NA The Guild is formed and officially sanctioned by Dara. Some rumors say that the Guild is under the thumb of the Queen, while others suggest that it is now the Guild which really controls the throne of Amber.
19 NA Julian officially made Duke of Arden.
20 NA Roland named Duke of Evermoor.
29 NA –   Prelude: Lost in Arden ( Brennus Roland )
30 NA Corraline declares war on Amber, is put down, and made a province of Amber. Caine is made Duke of Corraline.
–   Prelude: Landfall at Corraline ( Brennus Mordred )
Brennus leaves Amber.
38 NA The first of Dara's purges of the noble families, and the merchant houses. It, and the subsequent purges, are referred to, by some, as "The Red Purges".
40 NA Mordred's Ivory Tower completed.
63 NA Dara's third child, Merek, is born. Rumors circulate the court as to who the father might be, but the mystery is as alive today as it was then.
69 NA A relatively small purge of the nobility and merchant houses is ordered by Queen Dara. Many are found guilty of plotting treason and are put to death.
81 NA Brennus returns to Amber.
84 NA Eregnor splits from Begma.
85 NA Amber conquers Eregnor.
–   Prelude: A Meeting of Minds ( Brennus Mordred )
–   Prelude: The Last Stand of Eregnor ( Brennus Mordred )
Martin is made Duke of Eregnor
Brennus leaves Amber
87 NA An assassination attempt is made on Queen Dara by Andreas, son of Bleys. Benedict foils the attempt and kills Andreas. The assassination attempt is linked to Bleys, and he flees into Shadow. A sentence of death is placed upon his head by Dara.
Shortly thereafter Ariadne comes to court.
88 NA The gossips report that romance blooms between Lady Ariadne and Prince Merlin.
91 NA Random attempts rebellion, but is thwarted. Dara is merciful and imprisons Random for life. Previous to his attempted rebellion, Random had left his wife, Vialle, safely in Rebma. Many suspect Martin's influence was responsible for Dara's 'mercy'.
Shortly thereafter Martin leaves Amber.
Dara performs a purge of the nobility. Nobles who aided Random's rebellion are put on trial and executed.
92 NA Laughing Boy is introduced at Court. early 92
–   Prelude: A New Face in Amber ( Ariadne Laughing Boy )
–   Prelude: The Guild Quarter ( Ariadne Laughing Boy )
–   Prelude: The Giving Spirit ( Akira Ariadne Mordred )
The gossips report a sensational breakup between Lady Ariadne and Prince Merlin. mid 92
93 NA Lady Ariadne officially named Royal Trump Artist.
~94 NA Gerard leaves Amber.
97 NA –   Prelude: Buried Treasure ( Laughing Boy )
97-98 NA –   Prelude: Growing Pains ( Laughing Boy )
99 NA Brennus returns to Amber. late 99
100 NA Present Day. The story begins.

Unique Shadow Walkers