Allies and Enemies

Allies and Enemies are ways for players to make friends and influence people. You pay points to gain friends. Gain points by taking on enemies.

1 Point Ally: This is a non-family member of any court. They like you. Are likely to help you out in general but not likely to put their life on the line. Court retainers, heralds, grooms, kitchen staff, guardsman, secretaries, etc. Also includes members of noble families.

2 Point Family Friend: Members of the royal houses of Amber, Avalon, Mandalay, & Chaos. This person will go to reasonable lengths to help you out in need.

4 Point Devote: As Family Friend only much more serious. The devote will go to the ends of the earth to help you. Expect them to save your but in a pinch or vouch for you even to the King. Becoming lovers is not unusual.

8 Point Amber Partner: You are a partner in the activities of the person. They will go to great lengths to help you solve your problems and will expect you to help in their problems. This is a very high state of involvement. Marriage level.

1: Foe: This is a casual foe who dislikes you. Not vitrolic but they are likely to be snide to you and interfere in you actions if they are likely to not get caught.

2: Family Adversary: A member of the Royal family of Amber, Avalon, Mandalay, or Chaos who hates you. They will actively interfere with you. Badmouth you at court and otherwise get in you way.

4: Rival: This is a person who massively hates you and is likely to get violent if given the chance. They will go to great lengths to hurt you. Expect him to be behind anything bad happening to you.

8: Sworn Enemy: This is a very serious enemy that is making it their mission in life to see you dead. If you take this it is as if you are telling me, "Go ahead, Gull, I dare you to try and kill my character. I bet you can't do it." Do not take this lightly. Decide if the points are worth it. I bet they are not.

Paired Allies & Enemies:

This is when you take an ally and an enemy at the same time. Basically you become friends with someone and you gain their enemies. It means you will be sticking your nose in their business and taking their side against a specific foe. The advantage is that you basically spend no points to gain an ally, and gain the foe in the bargain.

Taking a paired Ally & Enemy becomes geometrically more dangerous the higher they are. You shoot too high, you may get hurt. Taking an 8 point Pair is tantamount to asking me plan your immediate death. Big risks, big points. After all they are just paper & ink, ones & zeros.

You can suggest who you want as an ally but do not automatically get them.

You get no say in who is your enemy.