#vialle

I promise this blog isn't turning into a solely Amber-oriented blog but been thinking about this series a lot lately and I also have thoughts on it I didn't share in public ever, only with one (1) very very special person and here it seems like a rly safe space to do so cuz Tumblr doesn't seem like a thing that starts discourses or something so I can make Benedict hand puns and Corwin's crow puns and Random random puns and other puns and talk about what poor awesome overpowered childish baby people Amberites are in peace

Random's sneaky character development throughout the series that culminates in the Unicorn choosing him

Julian being the person Fiona went to to tell that Brand's lights are flickering in crazy colors upstairs

Gerard protecting Brand, greeting Corwin with "I'm happy to see you have your eyes back" and supporting Benedict through the funerals of his servants

"I don't know, Corwin! I think it's your fault!"

"please continue on without the benefit of the footnotes."

Eric effectively sacrificing his physical and mental health to protect Amber, whether he knew it or not

Corwin's PTSD when he enters his cell

Corwin's reaction to the word "Amber" and to seeing Deirdre's Trump

Llewella trusting Benedict enough to let him take Martin to Avalon

Vialle's kindness to Corwin

Benedict being dad-uncle to Martin

Coral nicknaming Rinaldo "Rinny"

Note that Random is canonically a psychopathic asshole at this point.

In the books Vialle is a sculptor but clay doesn’t really work underwater so she weaves baskets and things out of reeds, graceful sinuous things people love. She’s teaching Random to make chainmail to keep his hands busy because you can’t really drum (or smoke) underwater.

El piloto del Team HRC, Tom Vialle no estará entre los pilotos que participarán en el MXGP de Letonia. El número 16 hizo todo lo posible en Alemania para superar el dolor, pero tras perderse esas carreras, ahora ha tomado la difícil decisión de no participar también en Kegums. Vialle había tenido un excelente comienzo de temporada, por lo que sin duda no quería tener que tomar esta decisión,…

NEWS: VIALLE SE ALEJA DE KTM!Como una bomba, llega la noticia de que el piloto Frances Tom Vialle se aleja de las filas de KTM Factory Racing. Sin definirse su futuro el anuncio llego por las redes sociales de KTM . View this post on Instagram A post shared by KTM Factory Racing (@ktmfactoryracing)

When Random and Vialle hug, Random always pulls her up so they are the same height, and Vialle's feet dangle above the ground. Oh, and he swirls her around whenever he was away for quite some time.

Random is a workaholic as king. Vialle literally drags him out of office whenever he's staying up too late.

The first Tarot of Amber post identifies four of the characters of The Chronicles of Amber with Greater Trumps from the Major Arcana of a paranormal pack of tarot cards.  But it also identifies a problem.  It is clear Roger Zelazny wrote each principal character as a personification of a Trump, and it is clear that Dara was written as the Empress.  Yet, while later it is discovered a Trump does exist for Dara, this Trump is a new addition.  Raising the question:  Was there already a Trump for the Empress in the original deck and, if so, whom did it portray?

More Than One Player in a Single Role

It seems certain that the card does not stand in for one of Corwin’s sisters.  The role of the Empress is assumed by Dara in the second installment of the story (The Guns of Avalon).  In the chapter of Nine Princes in Amber where the Empress appears (per the logic of the Journey of the Fool the author’s plot was loosely following), prior to Dara’s appearance, Queen Moire is in this role.  And by the end of the story, some might argue the role passes to Vialle.

Some older packs of tarot cards contained more than the now-standard 22 Major Arcana best known through the collaboration of A. E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.  In a family as large as the ruling house of Amber, one quickly runs out of room, and it may be the Tarot of Amber holds more Greater Trumps than the 22 passed down to the Golden Dawn from the Marseilles set.  What of Osric and Finndo, for instance?  What of Sand and Delwin?  Or Dalt?

In the special case of the Empress, the card would have to portray a queen no longer numbered among the living, thereby leaving the role itself open, waiting to be filled.  Who would it have been?  My own money would be on Faiella, who appears to have been the spouse most beloved of Oberon.  But Dworkin points out the most productive union was with Clarissa, who bore Oberon his three most ambitious and talented offspring.  Yet Cymnea was the original Queen of Amber and the mother of the eldest and most powerful surviving prince, Benedict.

Meanwhile, of course, there is nothing that would have stopped Dworkin from creating a new Trump when Oberon took a new queen.  There is probably more than one version of the Empress among the various sets.

The Hierophant

He is the Pope, and sometimes the Archdruid, but he is always the high holy man.  Like his female counterpart, the High Priestess, often shown between the two pillars emphasizing the duality with which all of us are routinely confronted in life.  Two priests or believers are normally shown paying obeisance before him (one symbolizing thought, the other desire), as well as two keys, one cast from solar gold, the other from lunar silver.  His staff, often capped with a Vav (Hebrew for connection or link), points toward heaven, declaring his direct access to the divine.

The leader of an institution entrusted with instruction, the Hierophant reveals and enforces traditional rules and conduct.  So his astrological connection to Taurus is perhaps not so surprising.  Yet the number of this Trump is 5, revealing the influence of Mercury, who thinks and acts more swiftly than most others — a mind moves behind the rituals and teachings, for they can either serve the spiritual betterment of faithful followers or the selfish desires of corrupt leaders.  Every Tarot card, after all, may appear reversed in a reading, pointing to its negative aspect.  The High Priestess holds a closed book or scroll so that those who would learn from her understand that hers is secret lore recognized only by initiates, meant for the spirit within.  The Hierophant sometimes holds open a book (in lieu of the two keys, themselves often displayed in a manner suggesting they might each be pages of an opened book), and sends a different message.  His knowledge is dogma and doctrine for the masses and followers within a social institution more concerned with external demonstrations of understanding — with creed, protocol and ceremony.

Bleys

“Then came a fiery bearded, flame-crowned man, dressed all in red and orange...and he held a sword in his right hand and a glass of wine in his left, and the devil himself danced behind his eyes...”

He assumes the role of a religious leader, and persuades Corwin to do the same so that, together, they can use the blind faith of their warrior followers to wage a holy war against Eric.  More than that, he has arranged that Corwin and he are worshiped as brother-gods.  Ceremony and ritual are of supreme importance to him, and he is determined to depose Eric before he can hold his coronation.  Random points out to Corwin the flaw in this — “It’s as easy to attack a king, though, as a prince, isn’t it?” — and argues for taking more time to build a stronger force to go against Eric when his guard is down.  But it is too late to change course and the two brothers ascend the perilous narrow stair along the face of Kolvir.  Bleys is foremost and thus first to face the city troops hand-to-hand, valiantly keeping his pact with Corwin, willing to expend his life in order to play the role to the bitter end.  A fighting pope, he is neither all bad as the Hierophant, nor all good.  “Bleys,” thinks Corwin when he first hears the name, “I like you.  I forget why, and I know that I shouldn’t — but I like you.”

The Lovers

Arthur Edward Waite’s Rider Pack describes this card, once referred to as the Lover, as the scene above.  Earlier still, it was, simply:  Love.  A couple physically joined by holding hands were shown about to be struck by Cupid’s arrow and thus joined in both body and soul.  As “The Lover,” the story the card told was altered to show a man torn by his choice between two women (sometimes deemed to be Athena and Aphrodite) as Cupid hovered above.  Bringing both meanings together, Waite removes the second woman while retaining the idea of the choice at the crossroads.  The Tree of Knowledge beside Eve indicates a certain kind of choice, while the Tree of Life beside Adam may indicate another.  The Archangel Raphael, who heals, blesses the union. The world of sensation and the world of the spirit can be in conflict, leading to the illusion that a choice must be made between them.  Yet when love truly moves us, the grace of a power greater than ourselves descends and puts them in harmony, healing mind and body.  As in the much older story of Eros (erotic love) and Psyche (soul), the two can be compatible (the story that is the template for “Beauty and the Beast”).  The choice is not between the two, but in whether they shall work with or against each other.  Adam represents the role of the conscious mind in this, allowing itself to be guided by the subconscious, embodied in Eve.  And the subconscious which looks and listens to the spirit will know what to do.

Vialle The Archangel Raphael is the Angel of the Air, Spirit of Mercury, and Gemini is the sign presiding over the Lovers.  So Random, the Gemini of the royal house, is implied.  The original subject embodying Love on this tarot may have been Mirelle, Random’s only full sister, who died tragically, and later may have been Morganthe, who also died tragically after bearing Random’s son.  Gemini is the Twin.  The twin to Random’s spirit, who loves him unconditionally and wins his love in return, who helps and heals him so he can become a better and happier man is Vialle.  Random is so inspired by Vialle that he risks his own life in a wild bid to take down Eric — an attempt far crazier than Corwin’s.  (This after he tells Corwin that even with his navies and Bleys’ armies Eric is unbeatable and concludes, “You’re crazy, Charlie.”)  And she is so inspired by her love for Random that she joins him in prison when this bid fails.  She even accepts Corwin for what he is, and helps him to understand what he does not know:  the true object of his greatest love.  No one else in the story represents so well the power of Love.

The Chariot

Seven classical planets, seven spheres of the heavens, and seven is the number of this card.  The emblem often displayed on the front of the Chariot is the joined yoni and lingam (yin and yang) borne aloft by the wings of inspiration.  Whether this emblem is visible or not, the two beasts (horses, sphinxes, unicorns, etc.) pulling the Chariot are white and black, signifying the same thing:  the pair are now united and pulling in the same direction, their opposing forces harnessed by will and knowledge.  Here the king confidently holds the reins with his left hand, but they are unnecessary, as the Chariot now answers to the staff carried in his right hand (the wand of will).

The young king wears the laurel of victory on his brow, surmounted by the eight-pointed star of dominion.  He has gained control of himself and natural forces through boldness, discipline and strength of will.  For this reason, he is often shown with crescent moons as epaulets on his shoulders, commemorating his victory over lunar influences (natural impulses and emotions).  This card is connected to the moon and, therefore, the sign of Cancer.    Having broken the hold of civilization and material comforts, he leaves behind the city (sometimes shown with seven towers).  He has mastered nature and is ready to move toward spiritual attainment.  The celestial canopy over his head suggests the stars are with him.

Julian

It is no coincidence that this prince first appears in chapter four, the “car chapter” of Nine Princes in Amber, in which Random and Corwin drive a Mercedes from Westchester, New York, to the Forest of Arden.  Appropriate for the Chariot, his emotional self-discipline is legendary.  In command of his relationship with nature, he has no fear of it.  This is evident from his lordship over Arden and his control of the mightiest of horses, Morgenstern.  The presence of lunar forces is also obvious, as this is the chapter where Corwin and Random battle werewolves and rescue Deirdre, whose line is “Ill-met by moonlight.”  Julian’s armor is white and impervious to weapons.  Like his hunting horn, symbolic of the moon.  Finally, and consistent with the message of the Chariot, it should be noted how Corwin gets past Julian:  through boldness and self-control.

Justice

Though shown as the eleventh Key here, older decks place this card eighth among the Major Arcana.  The pillars Jachin and Boaz of Solomon’s temple, found with the Hierophant and High Priestess, appear again (the Tree of Knowledge and Tree of Life, though, may also be interpreted as the two pillars of existence).  The sword raised to defend justice prevails, cutting away whatever interferes with the desired equilibrium as measured by the golden scales.

The sign for this card, of course, is Libra.  Balance, or fairness, must come at a price, and the best result must often be achieved through sacrifice.  The sword has two edges, cutting both ways — its action is impartial and impersonal.  Justice does not care whom it cuts.  When legalities and interests in a contract or agreement are considered, the outcome which is deemed best for all is the only object.  This card also refers to the Furies and other supernatural forces aligned with Severity; the karmic reflex action of the universe is unavoidable.

Caine

“So I assumed he had sold us out....  The cards had lied — or else been very correct — when they’d pointed to him as the key figure.”

In the sixth chapter of Nine Princes in Amber, Corwin contacts all the players involved.  He reaches Brand in his tower, and even makes brief contact with Oberon.  He communicates with them via his Trumps, making deals where he can.  The critical arrangement, however, is the one made with Caine, who promises to allow Corwin’s navies to rendezvous with the armies of Bleys in Amber.  Instead, Caine is waiting for Corwin with every ship under his command, all fully crewed and battle-ready.  He rationalizes this betrayal with, “Your force is far too weak to hurt Amber, so save lives and surrender it now.”  Corwin and his warriors fight bravely, but only Corwin makes the rendezvous with Bleys, dooming their assault on Kolvir to failure.  Caine is the one who tips the scales, and tips them in Eric’s favor.

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[Opening image:  Amber - Tarot Minor Arcana - Cups Suit by Eldarianne]

The series of posts is continued here: