The Valley of Garnath

[eeach]

I've begun reading Amber again. This will only be my 3rd time through the series (or 4th?). When I got to the end of NPiA something stood out that I hadn't noticed before. When Corwin is at Cabra looking over the valley... he is looking directly at the part that Julian burned.

I think the first time I read the story I caught it, but took Corwin's at his word that it was caused by his curse. The second I was too interested in getting to the Guns of Avalon; I love when Corwin comes up the mountain all full-auto saving the day. But this time, maybe it's that I didn't have tGoA handy to plow right into, the ending of NPiA seemed much more profound than any other time I've read it.

What do you think caused The Black Road?  Was it Corwin's curse? Was it some Chaos plot to invade Amber? The breaking of the Pattern (which more than Corwin's curse I've always believed it to be)? *Julian's burning of Garnath?* or something else?

[Nihilistic Mind]

At this time, here's my view on the whole Black Road thing:

The Pattern being the basis for Order in Shadows has succesfully repelled the Black Road (obviously a tool of the Courts, whether you wish to associate it with the Logrus or not). This means that a Black Road could potentially be 'deployed' but it would eventually fade under the positive influence of a healthy Pattern.

When the Pattern is damaged, the 'deployed' Black Road sticks around. I theorize that creatures of Chaos need its general influence to stay strong. Even if they do not need it to survive or for some sort of sustenance, the Black Road makes troop travel that much easier, either way, it's very necessary for such a far away invasion.

Corwin's curse, IMO, caused a weakening of Amber's defenses, physically as well as metaphysically, causing the Black Road to reach further with less efforts.


In my current story arc, the Black Road is maintained by Champions of the Courts. Much like in Guns of Avalon, killing the Champion weakens the influence of the Black Road, which in turn weakens the troops, which would explain why Avalon repelled Chaos hordes easily enough once Corwin killed the goat-headed demon-man (Strygalldwir or something?).

Of course, another Champion can always take its place, but the efforts required are usually doubled due to the lack of influence from the Black Road itself.

[gabriel_ss4u]

Yeah... whut he sayd.

I believe that troop movement & all on Chaos's side was co-ordinated and prepared in approach to the "Day of Blotting" or whatever name you choose for when the Pattern was smudged with Martin's Blood.
Everything after that could be looked at as 'emminations of Chaos' from the damage to the Pattern and the Logrus' attempts to force the Black Road closer past Ygg, the point where it starts to lose influence in Shadow - (according to some campaigns).
IMC I have a legion of commandos that were preparing for the attack against Chaos for a Generation, and they became commanders of different parts of the Chaosian Forces.
As those ripples around the pond move more violently should the breaking of the surface be with enough force, so too the waves of Chaos may have come as aftershocks of Chaotic recourse throughout all of Shadow.
Having gone through the books over 5x now, I still see things I miss or rather don't notice as much/don't question as much.
When you have a footnotes copy of the Chronicles (where you highlight and write your own sidebar notes) you will have amassed alot of theoretical points to Zelazny's greatest works. (I still add to mine).

[Trevelyan]

At one point, Dara confirms that Corwin's curse was not directly to blame for the black road, although it did add a little metaphysical weight to the efforts of Chaos.

The road itself owes a little to several different factors:

1) Corwin's curse, which perhaps gave strength to the enemies of Amber and hindered the efforts of Eric & Co to see them off.

2) The damage to the Primal Pattern; Corwin remarks that the damaged section of the Pattern reflected the damaged slice of Amber, cut by the Black Road.

3) The deliberate efforts of Chaos; the Merlin series suggests that black roads can be sent by the forces of Chaos to facilitate inter shadow travel, but strongly suggests that the effort required to do so over long distances is significant (the road in that series is a narrow and somewhat pitiful thing only a yard or two across).

Putting these together, I surmise that Corwin's curse laid the foundation to support the betrayal of Brand and the invasion of Chaos. Damage to the Primal Pattern left a significant underlying weakness throughout Amber and much of Shadow, which the forces of Chaose were able to utilise in order to lay down a Black Road of far greater than usual strength and range than would otherwise have been the case.

Had the Pattern not been damaged then the Black Road would have had to fight the forces of order as it approached Amber and likely have been too weak to transport an invading army. Had Corwin not laid down his curse then any number of minor factors might have worked against Brand and Chaos to prevent their plans.

[gabriel_ss4u]

Yeah, what I said...

Corwin WAS referred to as the opener of the way, or which ever title the cats and the demon gave him, (copies of Chronicles out of reach), so that is direct reference as well that his curse held great weight on the effects of the road being successful in reaching the foot of Kolvier.

This one seems pretty easy to wrap up, but as always, great to hear other Amber-lovers thoughts on it and perspectives which always help.

I'm getting tired of waiting for that new Amber game though.