The Unicorn

[Erick Wujcik]

I hate nit picking, but...

-Influences Corwin's actions and adds to his overall knowledge of the Big Universe of Amber by leading him to the Primal Pattern, thus revealing that Amber is but The First Shadow, that the Pattern is damaged, etc...

While this is the most likely explanation, it's also possible that Oberon, also along for that particular ride, was the main influence, either by manipulating the Unicorn, or deceiving the others into believing that they saw the Unicorn.

Likewise, you are assuming that the Unicorn is influencing Corwin. Considering that the Unicorn ultimately bestowed the Jewel of Judgement on Random, you have to consider the possibility that the Unicorn was deliberately appearing to Random, even at this early date.

As an aside, one can imagine that Oberon was pulling for Corwin, while the Unicorn wanted Random ("Mother, are you nuts? How is the runt of my litter suitable for the throne?"), and that this incident had to happen at the time because both Corwin and Random were present.

-Chose Random as King of Amber, since her champion, Corwin, did not long for the position any longer.

While the Unicorn may have considered Corwin her champion, it's just as likely  that the champion could have been Random all along... or that the Unicorn had no favorites, but simply did the best she could with whoever was available.

-The Unicorn is unaffected by the destructive forces of entropy within the Abyss.

I think 'unaffected' is an assumption. How do we know that the Unicorn wasn't horribly wounded, damaged or diminished? Or that the Unicorn had to make some Faustian bargain with the Abyss, or some other powerful force? Or that the Unicorn was unbalanced by the Abyss. Or that some creature of the Abyss, sensing the far-off destruction of the Unicorn, chose exactly the right disguise. Or that what came out of the Abyss was the physical embodiment of the Jewel of Judgement, generated as the Unicorn.

Erick

[Nihilistic Mind]

I hate nit picking, but...

Now, that the kind of nit picking we like around here!

While this is the most likely explanation, it's also possible that Oberon, also along for that particular ride, was the main influence, either by manipulating the Unicorn, or deceiving the others into believing that they saw the Unicorn.

True, it is possible. All of these points were made based solely upon Corwin's perceptions, in an attempt to define the Unicorn in a manner true to what Roger Zelazny provided in the books.

I think 'unaffected' is an assumption.

It is an assumption. Along with every other point I make in that paragraph


In any case, thanks for sharing some of your thoughts about the Unicorn, which lead me to ask an additional question: if the Unicorn can be affected by Oberon, can it be affected by the Pattern or other forces?

I personally like to think of the Serpent and Unicorn as beings above the influence of the Pattern, the Logrus (and the Abyss). What are your thoughts on that?

[gabriel_ss4u]

OK
The Unicorn has a shrine in Amber... showing her as a focus of worship (IMC there is an actual church based on it, with Eric in it's Pope-like office)
She can leap in & out of the Abyss - sounds primal to a high degree.
Is purportedly the mother of Oberon.

As far as the icky factor with equine-love, welllllll, the courts are 'alien' to humans in appearance, and what looks human is not usually the norm there.

I'd see the Unicorn as a Primal goddess on the level of the Serpent of Chaos.
Perhaps lovers at one time, before all... in the Abyss.
Then the serpent has the notion of creating the Logrus, and throughout time succeeded, while the Unicorn, (it's mate???), decided on a different 'master trump of creation', and found it's plan within Dworkin. Gave him a glimpse of "what could be", which may have driven him even further into insanity than the Logrus, and once their great escape from the Courts could be accomplished, plucked out the Serpents eye to use it as the catalyst to create the Pattern through Dworkin.

I've used the theme from "The Last Unicorn" IMC, and it worked out well.
Shadow unicorns still have power, like shadow dragons... still primal, but the original 2 are the source of all. The Red Bull worked as a great enemy towards Amber and the Unicorn.

[Croaker]

Maybe, through the Pattern, the Unicorn blocked itself in one shape in exchange for power?

[gabriel_ss4u]

Hmmmm, not my thought progression.
I could see changing from the Unicorn shape may inhibit her power, but I would only lock her into that shape as a plot-thread.

[RPGPundit]

I've always seen the Unicorn and the Dragon as two of what might once have been a whole group of "Old Gods", the rest of which are either dead or trapped somewhere.  They aligned themselves to their respective powers to survive.

Incidentally, the Church of the Unicorn is canon; Gerard oficiates as its priest when they bury Caine, if I recall correctly.

On another note, its wonderful to see an old thread and to read again Erick's comments about this sort of thing.

RPGPundit

[gabriel_ss4u]

I've always seen the Unicorn and the Dragon as two of what might once have been a whole group of "Old Gods", the rest of which are either dead or trapped somewhere.  They aligned themselves to their respective powers to survive.

yeeeesss... perhaps the Weirmonken???

Incidentally, the Church of the Unicorn is canon; Gerard oficiates as its priest when they bury Caine, if I recall correctly.

Yes again... i did put IMC, (besides, Eric was dead then in the books, I tend to keep the elders around, even if not in game-play) I really see Eric as the Cardinal Richelieu type, though Pope Eric may teach the cardinal a thing or thirty. (a shadow of Eric IMC)

On another note, its wonderful to see an old thread and to read again Erick's comments about this sort of thing.
RPGPundit

My thoughts exactly, I was re-reading the post before I commented, and it was .... cool.
perhaps I'll do more reading on his older comments.


Yes....

[boulet]

Maybe, through the Pattern, the Unicorn blocked itself in one shape in exchange for power?

I'm leaning toward this type of answer. I see a tiny improvement though. The Unicorn used to be a fellow lord of chaos, a shapeshifter too. Dworkin had the idea of the pattern but needed a surface where to transcript the blue print inside the jewel of judgment. The Unicorn sacrificed her essence for Dworkin's dream. Maybe mont Kolvir is the unicorn ? And the primal pattern could be the metaphorical navel of the Unicorn. Born to shape from Chaos by the blood shed by Dworkin. The parallels with catholic dogma are creepy actually.

I'm not sure I want to know the details of Oberon's conception

[weilide]

On a similar note, what do people imagine the Book of the Unicorn to be like? I have always imagined as somewhat Whitmanesque. E.g., a few evocative passages:

COME, said the Muse,   
Sing me a song no poet yet has chanted,   
Sing me the Universal.

…

In spiral roads, by long detours,   
(As a much-tacking ship upon the sea,)   
For it, the partial to the permanent flowing,   
For it, the Real to the Ideal tends.   
 
For it, the mystic evolution;     
Not the right only justified—what we call evil also justified.   
 
Forth from their masks, no matter what,   
From the huge, festering trunk—from craft and guile and tears,   
Health to emerge, and joy—joy universal.   
 
Out of the bulk, the morbid and the shallow,   
Out of the bad majority—the varied, countless frauds of men and States,   
 
Electric, antiseptic yet—cleaving, suffusing all,   
Only the good is universal.

…

All, all for Immortality!   
Love, like the light, silently wrapping all!   
Nature’s amelioration blessing all!   
The blossoms, fruits of ages—orchards divine and certain;
Forms, objects, growths, humanities, to spiritual Images ripening.

…

Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems,
You shall possess the good of the earth and sun, (there are millions of suns left,)

You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, nor look
through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books,
You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me,
You shall listen to all sides and filter them from your self...

I know I have the best of time and space, and was never measured and never will be measured.
I tramp a perpetual journey, (come listen all!)

[RPGPundit]

I'm leaning toward this type of answer. I see a tiny improvement though. The Unicorn used to be a fellow lord of chaos, a shapeshifter too. Dworkin had the idea of the pattern but needed a surface where to transcript the blue print inside the jewel of judgment. The Unicorn sacrificed her essence for Dworkin's dream. Maybe mont Kolvir is the unicorn ? And the primal pattern could be the metaphorical navel of the Unicorn. Born to shape from Chaos by the blood shed by Dworkin. The parallels with catholic dogma are creepy actually.

I think its closer to pagan myth than christian dogma. There's something positively Norse about that whole story, with a twist of course, but its there.

I'm not sure I want to know the details of Oberon's conception

You sick bastard.

RPGPundit

[gabriel_ss4u]

Nice job weilide, perhaps with your permission I will use it in a 'Book of the Unicorn' scenario with your permission.
"as scribed by the pen of Bishop Weilide"

[weilide]

Nice job weilide, perhaps with your permission I will use it in a 'Book of the Unicorn' scenario with your permission.
"as scribed by the pen of Bishop Weilide"

Well, it's all Whitman. I just went at it with the scissors.

[RPGPundit]

Good job, Weilide

RPGPundit

[gabriel_ss4u]

I don't see why the Unicorn has to be a shapeshifter, we already know that Dworkin is.

Personally, I think that "the unicorn is Oberon's mother" is quite possibly metaphorical.

the Unicorn doesn't have to be a shapeshifter, but it fits with the idea, an originally Abyssal creature. Blending the blood of Chaos with the blood of (possibly) an elder god, would give reason an Amberite would be Chaos+.
Also, I think not. it's an interesting idea, metaphorical motherhood... but I don't see it.
I take it for what it was stated, the Unicorn is Oberon's mother.
here's a pic for thought. Horny 'ol Dworkin may not be able to resist;



here's a pic that always reminded me of the love affair between the Unicorn & the Serpent before it lost it's left eye. (Just an idea from my campaign)

[RPGPundit]

OH GOD MY EYES!!!

NO furries on theRPGsite!!

RPGPundit