When Random was formally crowned King of Amber, he decided to make some changes to Greater Amber. As a fan of a slightly-less old-fashioned lifestyle, in the weeks following his Coronation, he imposed his will upon Amber, to bring it foward from late-Medieval/early-Renaissance to a much more Victorian Steampunk-style, based on technological magic, with some steam-based industry and improved water distribution and sewage disposal throughout the City.

The city stretches down the side of Mount Kolvir, from below Amber Castle to the sea and Amber Harbour.  Amber City has the Upper Town, Mid Town and Down Town or port/dock areas, and is divided into 27 Wards for administrative purposes. The main thoroughfare is King Oberon’s Way,  which leads from Amber Casle, down to the Civic Square where the Guildhall, seat of the semi-autonomous Amber Court of Common Council, and then on to the east, eventually ending up at the Amber Military Reserve.

Amber Harbour and Airship Dock

“Amber Harbour” is actually made up of three sections:

  • The Pleasure Marina
  • The Civilian Docks
  • Amber Naval Base

To the west of the Harbour, the coast follows the cliffs up Mount Kolvir. Located in the bay at the bottom of the cliffs is the Amber fishing port.

To the east of the Harbour is the Amber Airship Dock, owned by the Corporation of the City of Amber, and leased to the Amber Airship Company.

Beyond that, is a long stretch of sandy beach, which extends to the Amber Military Reserve. The Crown Casino is located along this beach.

The Amber Military Reserve is where the Amber Naval base is located, along with the Army and Naval colleges and barracks. From there, the coastline blends first into the Amber Hinterland, and then into the Forest of Arden.

The Court of Common Council

The Court of Common Council is the primary decision-making assembly of the Corporation of the City of Amber, and usually meets every four weeks in the Great Hall of the Guildhall. Its main business focuses on the reports of the committees and commissions it works through, and questions and motions from members Guild Representatives.

As well as the Mayor and City Clerk, the Court of Common Council is made up of 80 Common Councillors, 18 Aldermen and 61 Guild Representatives, for a total of 161 individuals. Members of the Common Council are elected by the wards of the City, and each ward returns between two and ten members depending on the size of the electorate.The Common Council meets once a month on the first day.

  • The Councillors represent a wide range of professions and City interests and take the major strategic decisions that direct the work of the City Corporation. There are 80 elected Councillors.
  • The Aldermen, serve on both the Court of Common Council and the Court of Aldermen (which meets eight times a year and is chaired by the Lord Mayor). In addition, Aldermen act as governors and trustees of a variety of schools, hospitals, charitable foundation and trust with connections to the City. There are 18 elected Aldermen.
  • Guild Representatives, there are currently 61 accredited Guilds, and each is allowed to send a representative.

Councilmen and Aldermen serve on the Court of Common Council committees, while Guild Representatives do not. There are two main types of committee:

  • Those made up of one member from each of the City’s wards plus ex-officio members (membership due to holding a specific office or role);
  • And those made up of members directly elected by the Court of Common Council, plus ex officio members.

The minutes of all Common Council meetings and committees are available for inspection at the Guildhall.

The Guilds

The Guilds (also known as the Livery Companies) are a combination of governing bodies for their particular trade, general trade associations, and also administer training for the members of their Guild. As such, they play a significant part in the life of the City, both in a business sense, and by providing charitable-giving and networking opportunities. Each Guild has the right to send one representative to the Court of Common Council.

A prospective member of a trade or craft must spend at least seven years learning the basics as an Apprentice under an accredited Master or Mistress. Thereafter, they become Journeymen/Journeywomen (not that they travel that much any more!), honing their skills further, but still under supervision. The decision as to when the student is ready to be elevated to become a full member of the Guild is almost always at the discretion of the supervising Master or Mistress. At that point, the former student becomes a Master in their own right, and is allowed the Freedom of the City.

Very occasionally, if personal difficulties get in the way, a student may feel that they’re being held back unfairly by their Master or Mistress. If this happens, an appeal procedure does exist. This varies by guild, but usually involves the student being interviewed and tested by a panel of three other Masters, who can judge the skill of the student.

Duke Artur Acker, Lord Mayor of Amber

Duke Artur is the grandson of Prince Bleys, and the son of Grand Duke Ian Helgram and his wife, Grand Duchess Marina.

He is married to Mahuika ke keike Pele, and they have three children: a daughter naned Konani and her younger twin brother, Ke’ahi; and a younger daughter, Makana. Neither Mahuika nor his daughters live in Amber full time, although they are regular visitors.

His son, Ke’ahi, owns and runs a pub (The Boar’s Head) and restaurant (La Sanglier) in Amber City.