From: mfterman@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Mutant for Hire)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.misc
Subject: Amber Sorcery: Appendix: Shadow Nature
Date: 4 Sep 92 19:55:58 GMT
Reply-To: mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu (Mutant for Hire)
Organization: Mutant for Hire, Inc.

Shadows do exist, and they can have unique properties. It is best 
to view them as images superimposed on a more fundamental reality, 
with the Pattern and the Logrus residing on two points of this 
fundamental reality. The Logrus throws out random power, and the 
Pattern stabilizes it into ordered Shadows, all sitting on top of 
this more fundamental reality. Few people are actually aware of 
this more fundamental place, with exceptions like Dworkin and 
perhaps Suhuy. Merlin has recently become aware of this place, 
having been dragged in there.

Shadows can have many properties. There are places where magic 
does not work, including even the sorcery of the Pattern and the 
Logrus. It is well known that there are places where Trumps do not 
operate, where Shadow Walking is impossible due to darkness or 
chaotic conditions that fail to allow for shifting of the 
environment.

There are no primal Shadows, just Shadows closer to a primal power 
than another, with the exception of the Primal Reality, which, 
while existing, can be only reached with great difficulty and 
while there, one is totally cut off from both powers. It also 
can't be manipulated in any way except the normal sense. All in 
all, its not a fun place to visit, though it might be a great 
place to imprison somebody.

Near Amber, reality settles into fixed patterns and doesn't 
tolerate disruption of the laws easily. This reason is why Shadow 
walking is so hard near Amber. The movement of a person through 
Shadow is minimal disruption, but near Amber, the Pattern holds 
everything so firmly one must struggle against even it to move 
from one Shadow to another since that isn't in the natural 
accordance of things. Logrus initiates have a hard time moving 
near Amber and are stuck on the Kolvir itself unless they have 
trump. One can't burn a thread out of there unless the Shadow is 
malleable to the effect, and Amber isn't.

Near the Courts, one has the opposite problem. Shadow walking in 
the Courts is tricky since everything alters too abruptly to allow 
for shifting. There are no "near but infintesmally different" 
shadows in the Courts, so you need to trump or walk along special 
paths. On the other hand a Shadow Technician could make a path 
through the Courts easily enough. Of course, some people may not 
want a path built through their areas. All in all, the Courts are 
confusing.

Given the way Logrus and Pattern initiates move through Shadow, 
there are subtle differences. Pattern people in general have it 
easier, as they can just envisualize their destination and then 
walk to it. Logrus people burning a path don't have that 
flexibility. They can burn a path to an established Shadow found 
or scryed by someone, such as Shadow Earth, but finding a Shadow 
Earth identical in all ways but slightly different is beyond their 
control. They'd have to burn a path to a quite different Shadow 
instead.

So while an Amberite walks to a Shadow until she or he finds the 
one wanted, a Logrus initiate goes for a rough approximation, then 
starts to bend and distort the place. Of course, this is hard 
anywhere away from the Courts and the neighboring lands, so most 
of the members of the Courts stay in that area. Also, unless the 
bending and distortion has been in place for a long time, there 
will be a tendancy for a Shadow away from the Courts to snap back. 
So the hapless Shadow Alterer has to put a lot of effort into it 
and stay there some time.

-- 
    Martin Terman, Mutant for Hire, Mad Scientist, Priest of Shub-Internet
    Disclaimer: Nobody else takes me seriously, why should you be the first?
mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu mfterman@pucc.bitnet terman@pupgga.princeton.edu
"Sig quotes are like bumper stickers, only without the same sense of relevance"