Mordu

Physical Description: Mordu stands 5’10” (in boots) with a full, muscular build. He has black hair, olive complexion, and striking, sky blue eyes. He usually wears royal garments, in his colors, and a crown adorned with emeralds, jet, and the skulls of rats. He holds himself with a regal bearing.

Personality: Mordu is an intelligent, sly and manipulative man. He is suspicious and distrustful of anyone he does not know (and most that he does know), and delights in manipulating and misleading anyone gullible. He is polite, smooth-talking, and is slow to show emotion. If someone earns his trust, he can be quite valiant and supportive. He is extremely protective of his nephew, Jazz. He understands the value of information and reconnaissance, and the benefits gained by allies.

History: Mordu was born and raised in a Shadow based on Greece in the Middle Ages. Eric brought him to Amber when he was ready to walk the Pattern. He lived in the castle under Oberon for some time, until his surly attitude and contempt of rules got him “exiled” from the castle (not Amber, just the castle).

He spent many decades living on the underside of the city, and became a notorious smuggler, dealing in drugs, slaves, and stolen goods. He was a powerful figure in the city’s underground. He earned a reputation as being cruel but fair.

When Eric took the throne, Mordu “cleaned up his act” and returned to the castle. Being Eric’s eldest son apparently made other people with their eye on the throne uncomfortable, and it was during this time that someone drugged him and dumped him in shadow.

The drug was highly addictive, and caused a euphoric, invulnerable, berserk state. A Chaosian kept him well supplied. The Chaosian also used him as a mercenary and assassin throughout shadow. It was at this time that he gained the enmity of both Bleys and Benedict. Eventually he broke free from the hold of the drug, and exacted a most gruesome revenge on the Chaosian.

After spending some time back in the city of Amber, Mordu wandered in shadow. He found a shadow inhabited with people knowledgeable in Trump. He spent several years there learning all has could, before he destroyed the shadow. He then traveled to the shadow Moradin, a medieval fantasy world where magic works poorly and the gobliniod races were hunted to near-extinction. He rallied the goblin races and conquered the shadow. He now rules there with an iron fist, goblins, hobgoblins, ogres, orcs, and similar races flourish, while the humans lived oppressed and in squalor. He lives in a castle identical to Amber (it is too far in shadow to contain a pattern) where he works on furthering his knowledge of Trump. He created an immense network of spies throughout shadow, all loyal to (and deathly afraid of) him. This network has earned, grudgingly, the respect of Benedict.

When the attentions of other Amberites focused upon him, he faked his death and the destruction of his shadow. Of the younger generation, only his sister Tourmeline, knows of his continued existence. Of the elders, Benedict, Bleys, and Dalt know, and possibly others.