House Clemens
House Clemens is by no means a titled house in the kingdom of Amber. They are only just better then a powerful street gang. They are a public face of organized crime in Amber.
The Clemens Family has been part of the day to day business of the Harbors of Amber for centuries. Some more honestly then others depending on the personalities. In all the port regions from Ober to Jal there will be members of the family. They often have representatives or people in their employ in the ports across shadow. While distaff parts of the family come from generations past the current "Ruling Line" is that of Eustance Clemans, the Harbor Master of Amber. All the members tithe to this figure who represents the highest rank a member of the family has achieved.
While considered the legitimate managers of the Harbor District of Amber and also considered an organized crime family by many it must be admitted that they make the ships run, turn over the correct amount of money to the crown, and have many friends among the royal family. While Prince Benedict is polite to them, Prince Caine is a vocal friend, advocate, drinking buddy and "their guy" in court. Prince Gerard respects many aspects of them and is a hesitant supporter. Many in the Navy are on good terms with them.
The Tosa/York and CHAD forces are bitter enemies of them after Claxton Clemens initiated the Battle of Port Tosa
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Members of "House Clemens"[edit]
Eustance Clemans[edit]
The Harbor Master of Amber.
For all practical purposes the head of the Clemens family. At least he is the one who covers their bail.
"House Clemens" is a presence in the Harbor District of Amber. Somewhat like a street gang that is bordering on legitimacy.
Euatance achieved the office of Harbor Master under Oberon and there was some accord between them. He is efficient and corrupt. Friendly but cruel. Flexible but ruthless.
For the most part the operation of the Harbor is run with extreme efficiency.
Eustance stays far from the less reputable parts of the family business while maintaining the surety of his own control of the family. He is one of the few Clemens that is welcome at Court and he likes it that way.
Cornelis Clemens[edit]
Cousin of Eustance. An administrator on the docks and is often the guy in the office if people seek the Harbor Master.
Basil Clemens[edit]
Harbor Master of Garn. A friend of Gerard, Caine and Jopin.
Leader of what he calls the Garn Clemens. He maintains that he runs a tight and legal harbor. He tithes to the family and also trains the up and coming on how a legal port is run. The Garn Clemens train recruits and employees on the technical details of running the port, with an understanding that they will eventually go elsewhere and be taught how to get around the law. The recruits Basil keeps are often the best and unsurprisingly live just as well as the criminal elements of the family.
He and his family and staff are almost never involved in social activities with other parts of the family but do attend official functions with them.
Basil is the owner of several tobacco plantations in Amber and shadow, and is involved in the import and export of smoking materials.
There is some argument that Basil is the rightful leader of House Clemens. But his father, grandfather, and great grandfather never fought the issue. It is a matter for the heralds. However Eustance respects Basil and somehow convinced Basil not to pursue the matter. Money may flow into Basil's accounts despite his lawful behavior.
Clayton "Claxton" Clemens[edit]
A major leader of a distaff family line. Big, mean, demanding, and reasonably stupid about things. He is often the muscle overseeing the extortion business. If there is a Godfather of the illegal side of the family business then Claxton is it.
He received a stunning rebuke by initiating the battle of Port Green Vale/ Port Tosa.[[1]]
Ambrose Clemens[edit]
Son of Clayton and nearly always in the group when Clayton makes trouble.Dock worker, thought to be slow, might just be dumb. Incredibly strong, but a poor brawler in the long haul.He can demolish someone in 2 or 3 blows but after that he looses his train of thought.. Often in trouble with the law for dumb reasons. One of the only family members that does occasional work for Ashanti Clemens in the royal moorage. He tell anyone that complains that the work pays well.
Judith Clemens [edit]
Wife of Eustance, mother of Lara
Lara Clemens[edit]
Acts as Eustance’s secretary in many ways. Involved in the business of the Harbormaster. Takes not a crap from ships officers and crews who misunderstand her role in the Harbor Office. Has degrees from Fantalin in business, law, & wildlife management. Has her own cadre of toughs if she needs someone "talked to"
Ashanti Clemens[edit]
Mistress of the Royal Moorage. Great Aunt of Clemens. A Lady in Waiting for Queen Paulette.
Ashanti has a long history with the royal family and the rest of the family, except for her great grand nephew,staying far away from him. She has been responsible for turning over several members of the family to royal justice, including a brother and a nephew who were eventually both executed centuries ago. The betrayal of the family has kept her at a distance. The under-the-table Clemens business stays far away from the Royal Moorage.
She owns a fine but small yacht that she frequently sails and otherwise lives on, that moors next to the dock office.. Her rules for any vessel in the Royal Moorage is that she is allowed to sail them. She is taught any particularities of the crafts and knows who is allowed to visit, use, or live on the crafts.
Many of the harbor staff are members of the Amber military in good standing serving either will still in the military or after a term of service. They are scrupulously legal.
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Elstead Flintborn Clemens[edit]
A son of Eustance Clemens, he disappeared at the age of 9 not to return for over 100 years. He had become a cabin boy and rose to command a Ship of the Line in a shadow near Diaga. He joined the Amber navy and sailed for Caine as a pirate hunter for over 200 years leading up to Patternfall. He was involved in many of the naval battles of patternfal.
He received a knighthood and Caine sent him to Rasak.
After Rasak he transferred to the Army and served 40 year before being transferred to the Elites. His flashy style and murky connections to merchant shipping made him an obvious candidate for the Kolvir Musketeers when they were founded and he was a founding member.
His nickname of "Flintborn" caught on early and has followed him ever since. He has a small schooner for recreational sailing
While polite to the other members of the family he has made it clear he wants no part of the illegal business of the family.
However he does occasionally sit the desk at various harbors.
Running Sheet Flintborn Clemens
Buck Flintborn[edit]
Born on a ship of the line and raised in seaside taverns Buck has salt water in his veins. He spent a lot of time growing up as Elstead Flintborn's cabin boy, second mate, first mate and eventually a captain in his armada. He learned to fight from captains and crew. In the seas around Diaga the cavalier style was common among sailors.
He was bon and raised during the time his father was away from Amber. When he joined service with Prince Caine Buck remained in shadow sailing for over a hundred years. In time he joined several different militaries, splitting his time among them and between reveling. He became a mercenary, a gambler, and a reveler. He is a member of numerous guilds:thieves, sailors, captains, and more.
When the Black Road War broke out his father found him and made him a captain in his war fleet. They fought the rest of the war together. Afterwards he was sent to Rasak with his father. He remained in the navy under Prince Caine for a decade then joined the army. His behavior and reveling was had to compare with his heroism and adventures for king and country.
He has had almost no contact with House Clemens and does not use the family name. Running Sheet Buck Flintborn
Kail Clemens[edit]
Dock Foreman and Harbor Master for Ober. He controls illegal shipping in Ober. Ober has a large traffic in illegal goods but it also has a massive fishing industry. They have magical flash freezing equipment allowing fresh fish to be shipped nearly anywhere. A frequent tavern brawler.
He runs the Ober Clemens. Generationally he is equal to Eustance but his line comes from David's 5th younger brother, Kael. the 2nd to 4th younger brothers had lines that died out.
Orsist[edit]
Elincia[edit]
Activities[edit]
North Riding[edit]
Ober[edit]
Jal[edit]
Port Green Vale/Port Tosa[edit]
The village is notable to the Clemens family because of the battle initiated by Claxton Clemans.
Port Garn[edit]
Traditionally Garn was a small city at the tip of the continent of Amber before Patternfall. Mostly rich estates and a series of recreational marinas. Retirement communities for Amber's sailors and soldiers rimmed the waters and dotted the inland.
The Port was built to house a far larger navy then Amber has ever maintained in preparation for new threats. Three separate naval bases are in the region as well as 23 separate naval facilities for Golden Circle kingdoms.
Despite the size of military ports the majority of harbor space is for merchant shipping. Vast amounts commerce occurs in Garn and the harbor Master's office in Garn, Basil Clemens, is probably the most law abiding one in the Clemens control; something to allow them to point to as evidence of their good service to the kingdom.
