Ruby

From TheNewCourts

Ruby: The Oberon War

Ruby (patron beast: Ki-rin) has been shaped by two entirely different imperatives: the deaths of Osric and Finndo, and the inventiveness of one man. King Oberon ordered Benedict to slay his own brothers for the crime of treason. Benedict did so-- and then cut off his own right arm, which had wielded the sword. He served Oberon faithfully for millenia afterwards, however. A trip up Red Stair a few years back, however, provided Benedict with a new, silvery right arm, with which he slew Oberon. Corwin (having slain Eric centuries before, after Deirdre’s accidental death) took the Ruby Throne and prosecuted the war against Benedict, aided by most of his remaining relatives.

Most, but not all. Llewella is consort to King Khatir of Aquapolis. Formerly known as Garnet, Khatir renamed it as it grew in size. He has learned how to build underwater, and Aquapolis is three times the size of Ruby, spread over the sea floor. Red Stair reaches into the heavens on moon-lit nights, and to the west lie the forests of Elysium, looked after by Florimel.

Disposition of Royals at Start of The New Courts

Dworkin

Aloof, in hermitage at the Pattern

Oberon

Slain three years ago by Benedict

Benedict

The elusive enemy of Ruby. His vengeance, thought to be over when he vanished after slaying the King, was just getting started as he tried to murder Fiona. His failure revealed a vulnerability of his new arm to magic, and the last two and a half years have been a war of Shadows.

Osric

Dead at Benedict’s hand, by order of Oberon, for crimes of high treason

Finndo

Dead at Benedict’s hand, by order of Oberon, for crimes of high treason

Eric

Killed by Corwin after being unable to stop his Pattern Blade, Bloodblade, from killing Deirdre. He and the blade are entombed on Kolvir.

Corwin

King in Ruby. The family has solidified about him, but he still feels guilty for having aided Benedict into Red Stair that fatal night three years ago. Greyswandir is not least among the weapons he wields against Benedict

Caine

Admiral of the Fleets

Deirdre

Slain by Bloodblade, in the hands of Eric. Corwin buried her in a hidden location out in Shadow

Fiona

Responsible for the long-term strategies of Ruby, Fiona has been able thus far to stave Benedict off, and destroy several armies he has sent

Bleys

The head of Ruby’s Diplomatic Corps and a roving hero, he ensures that Ruby’s vassals and allies have good reasons to stay loyal to Ruby

Llewella

Consort to King Khatir, and Chief of the Castle Staff in Aquapolis

Brand

Fiona’s ace in the hole, Brand is the roving Trump spy on Benedict that Fi refers to as `a reliable source’

Florimel

The Lady of Elysium rides a white charger named Borealis, and wields the Pattern Blade Andauntric. She is also in charge of the Gardeners and Groundskeepers of Elysium

Julian

Protocol Master for Ruby, his finely waxed mustache rides above the final word on matters of manners and civility

Gerard

Captain of the Castle Guard since the former captain attempted to defect to Benedict. Very loyal to Corwin

Random

Head of Corwin’s Secret Service, he is not seen in Ruby much anymore

Morgana

Daughter of Brand, a Trump artist and wizard who spends most of her time in research in her tower room in Ruby. Meghan’s older sister

Ian

Son of Eric, and looks like they cloned him. Far from being like his father, he is instead solidly behind Corwin, and acts as a roving troubleshooter for the crown

Danielle

Fiona’s daughter, and her personal bodyguard. Danielle is a weight-lifter, and loves to spar

Raphael & Uriel

Deirdre’s twin boys, they are (respectively) the most revered healer and the most feared necromancer in Shadow. They are two sides of the same coin, and good friends

Catriona

Corwin’s daughter, and Heir Apparent. Her education, attended to by her father, has been extensive.

Meghan

Daughter of Brand, a Trump specialist. Morgana’s younger sister

Jennifer & Jessica

Caine’s half-Chaosian teenaged daughters. One of them has walked the Pattern