Florimel, Daughter of Oberon

From the Hiers and Spares Page

Florimel, Daughter of Oberon

Rather surprisingly, Flora has become something of a stateswoman, and Random's right hand woman. Her official title is Chief of Protocol.

She has acted as Regent on several occasions when Random has had to leave Amber, and also negotiated a number of the treaties which have brought new shadows into the Golden Circle. She maintains holiday homes on shadow Earth, THelusia, Kashfra, Adzikis in Winter, Nenton, and other less well known worlds.. As Chief of Protocol she is in charge of arranging for official meetings between Amber and other kingdoms. She is also in charge allocating rooms in Castle Amber. Her small senior staff include Dame Margot, Dame Lucia Feldane

Much to the surprise of many Flora has become nearly indispensable, frequently working longer hours than Random. Her sleek decorum and good sense has helped her navigate situations where her kin might well have resorted to bloodshed.

Her new quarters in Castle Amber are now a huge, luxurious suite of rooms in the keep, one floor down from the Royal Suite, and opening onto the Sea View Gardens as if they were her own patio. However, she also keeps up her old quarters, a large tower in the body of the castle, fairly near the keep, in case of need.

Son: Zachary

Daughter: Elayne

AoS

Flora-AoS Article of Submission

Sea View Garden, Amber

Overlooking the beach at Cabal's Neck, from the eastern edge of the 6th floor of the Castle Amber is a wide verandah balcony that is one of the most truly beautiful sights in all of shadow. Flora out did herself during Eric's reign when she converted a bare rooftop into one of the friendliest places in the city of Amber. One hundred tables adorn this lush flower overgrown slice of heaven. Each table seems to have a great view and each seems to have ample privacy. Flora tells me that somehow the design of the place, with its rises and shallows seems to hinder the flow of sound from table to table, if not the flow of sea breezes and spring flower's scents. There are small steps between levels that no one ever seems to trip over. She insists its good design, not sorcery but I'm not fooled. Having people tripping and spilling platters and drinks would spoil the ambiance.

This is the Breakfast Nook of Amber. Nearly all of the family, and most of the guests, try to get table space here to take their morning coffee. Waiters scurry unseen, the buffet is always fresh, and the coffee pot is always full. Tables seat between 2 and 20 people. It is not rare to find the Ambassador of Chaos and the King of Amber sitting together, taking croissants and cocoa at sunrise.

At night candles and oil lanterns that emit only light illuminate the garden. Glow globes sit on the tables themselves. The light is important because without them it is dark, dark, dark like a tomb. No city lights are visible. The castle itself blocks most of them. Even the great Signal Fire at the harbor gates is obscured.

Flora can be found here most nights, holding court amongst the ladies of the elite. Romantic dinners and private parties nestle amongst the vines and eavesdropping is considered a terrible breach of etiquette.

Let me tell you, there is one thing you do not want and that is to have Flora give you a lesson in etiquette after you have been caught showing that you need one.

Addendum

"The breakfast Nook of Amber...."

"Sea View Gardens casts shadows of elegance. It is Flora's crowning achievement."

"Each of us are archetypes and this is the expression of my dear sister Florimel's archetype.

It is easy to underestimate sister Florimel. She cultivates the appearance of weakness and neediness and a shallow veneer that is so often attached to stunningly gorgeous women. It makes others defend them or provide for them.

Don't be fooled. She carries grenades in her purse. Her wolfhounds are never more then a whistle away. She is a crack-shot with bow or rifle, shuriken or butter-knife. She stood the line at the edge of the Abyss during the Battle of Patternfall, raining deadly arrows on the foethings. It is often said "He acquitted himself like a Prince of Amber." That day she acquitted herself as well as any prince. I saw.

She is shockingly strong when she needs to be. I am told that during an argument Caine once slapped her. Her response was to kick him in the yarbles. Apparently medical attention was needed. Caine denies it but I've noticed he never stand close to Flora when shes angry.

In our youth we were all given military training. She fixated on archery. She no longer competes in the Civilian City Cohorts archery tournaments and is often their judge. She has instructed both army and Elites in the longbow. She may not be a wargoddess but Diana has nothing on her at arrow point.

Her allure is that of a flibbertigibbet. Her resolve is steel. Never let her batting eyelashes make you forget that she is a Princess of Amber.

Men have come to fear me, or Benedict or Gerard or Julian, and even Dierdre. Remember Lothario, Florimel is of the blood royal and her knives are sharp.

The floral displays are exquisitely balanced for height, thickness, color combinations and scent. The food is a complex menu spanning simple fair such as bagels, cream cheese and lox, cold cereal, and oatmeal to crescents, crepes, and mind-boggling other concoctions common across shadow.

Some piece of minor sorcery and structural design does keep it fairly difficult to eavesdrop.

There is a piece of etiquette that has developed in Sea View that bears mention. While one may see a vast number of people at Sea View one does not usually walk up and just talk to them. First one catches the eye of the person you would have conversation with then make a tiny gesture, a quarter twist of a hand, indicating you would like to approach and speak. The response in the affirmative is for the respondent to motion with of opening and closing an upturned palm. A negative response is back and forth sweeping motion with the hand. The only counter to a negative response is to rudely ignore the desires of the respondent.

Flora is very unhappy about the fact that a number of conflicts have broken out here, harming the flowers.

By the way, thinking that Sea View Gardens is a better shortcut into Castle Amber then arriving through the Castle Amber trump is a bad idea. This way is guarded too. While you may get away with it once or twice, because Flora does not stock violent toys in abundance, it should be noted that Flora is often here holding court, and she is not someone to piss off. There is also a fair chance that the diners on the verandah might be violently annoyed if their lunch is disturbed. Fair warning.

A further note-I recently learned that the Amber Elites do in fact schedule meals here for the purpose of guarding the entrance as well as eating their meals. They REALLY don't like having THEIR meals disturbed.

((GM-Notes: This place is certainly a hotbed of activity. I envision PCs who need to talk to Random, or any Elder, might meet them here for drinks or lunch. Lover's quarrels. Random and the Ambassador of Chaos are said to meet for breakfast here. Handy information))

Winchester, New York

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