Lapis

From TheNewCourts

Lapis: Skyreach Descending

The term isn’t black market, it’s blue market... because Shadow reflects Lapis. In Lapis, you can come by, one way or another, anything your heart desires. Well, almost anything. Corwin abhors it, railing against it in the marketplaces. He was considered part of the entertainment until his daughter ascended the Throne of Skyreach, the city in the sky above Lapis. Present in the sky at all times and quite real, Skyreach provided Corwin and his daughter Queen Dara with all they need to descend and cleanse Lapis of the moneychangers. The symbol of Lapis is a white smilodon with crystal blue eyes, fangs, and claws.

Sipal beneath the waves is removed from the conflict, and Queen Ahnwaf is married to Prince Bleys of Lapis, having exchanged Sipal’s Jewel for Andauntric, Bleys’ Pattern Blade. Julian is Protector of Roads and Toll collector in the Black Forest. Skyreach is an immense, city-sized leech on Lapis, providing little and requiring all of Lapis. Its citizens have lived on Lapis’ largesse for millenia, and will be horrified if it ceases.

Disposition of Royals at Start of The New Courts

Dworkin

Dissipated and relaxed, enjoying the fruits of his creation

Oberon

The ultimate negotiator. Unfortunately, Corwin’s a fanatic

Benedict

Washed his hands of the whole place and left centuries ago. Sightings occur all the time, of course

Osric

Wizard Warrior of Lapis, and one of its few full-time defenders

Finndo

A berserker, he died in combat in ages past. Long enough ago, in fact, that details of his death are blurred, and Corwin is currently using him as a symbol.

Eric

Diplomat and Boytoy trainer with Florimel

Corwin

The enraged hypocrite who’ll bring ruin and doom down on the city

Caine

Lord of the smugglers in Lapis and Shadow

Deirdre

Amazon Queen and Defender of Lapis, she and her armies are everywhere.

Fiona

Psionics and memory master. She teaches, and also hires out. Her prices are the highest ANYwhere, though

Bleys

Married to Queen Ahnwaf of Sipal and wielder of Sipal’s Jewel. He is in the Courts of Chaos, forging an alliance between the Courts and Sipal, to protect it if Lapis falls

Llewella

Unofficial noose around Lapis’s neck. Sipal’s foodstuffs are the lifeblood of both Lapis and Skyreach, and while Queen Ahnwaf is officially in charge, Llewella oversees the harvest. She’s also the mistress of all sorts of underwater entertainments

Brand

Head of Lapis’ secret police. They’re all artists, with Brand as their patron

Florimel

Harem mistress and trainer with Eric

Julian

Protector of Roads and Royal Toll Collector. A Real Sheriff of Nottingham

Gerard

A fat eunuch, he oversees and trains the gladiatorial pool

Random

The casino master of Lapis and Shadow, he lives in Skyreach, and his loyalties are about to come into question

Laura

Osric’s daughter. A warrior after her father’s heart, she’s never made it as a sorceress

Mikail

Son of Bleys, and looks just like him, except he has a chin and wears a mustache. He is a conjuror par excellance, and his suave exterior belies his membership in the Interdimensional Slavers Guild, and his necromantic skills.

Maria

Daughter of Julian. Dressed in black mask and cape, accompanied by two black panthers, Maria is her father’s nemesis, the Robin Hood to his Sheriff

Martin

Son of Random, he often plays front man or shill for his father

Max

Flora’s son. While trained well by Eric, he is following more in Caine’s footsteps