Months of the Year
The Amber year is divided into thirteen months, each lasting 28 days. The months are:
- Aufort - The month of the Swordmaster (AU)
- Picier - The month of the Judge (PI)
- Blacktyde - The month of the Wanderer (BL)
- Merryweather - The month of the Warrior Maiden (ME)
- Forgefer - The month of the Lady (FO)
- Lewys - The month of the Trickster (LE)
- Marpheux - The month of the Shunned (MA)
- Salfalaise - The month of the Seaborn (SA)
- Clegane - The month of the Captain (CL)
- Sunderland - The month of the Huntsman (SU)
- Bonfrere - The month of the Warrior (BO)
- Florent - The month of the Beauty (FL)
- Vortimer - The month of the Fool (VO)
Magic
There is virtually no magic in Amber. It is said that magic existed years ago, in the Age of Heroes, but no one has been known to practice magic publicly for several thousand years.
Maesters
The men with medical knowledge are called Maesters. Maesters must swear an oath to serve, and give up their family name and any claim to an inherited title. Their training takes place at the great citadel in Oldtown. It consists of forging a chain, one link at a time. Each link stands for a different practice they have mastered – healing arts, astronomy, warcraft, ravens (for sending messages), etc. Maesters are always men.
Religion
The dominant religion of Amber is that of the Thirteen. With the exception of those born in the Iron Islands, all people in Amber are raised to follow the Thirteen. Worshippers pray to specific aspects of the Thirteen for help and guidance depending on their need. See Faith of the Thirteen for more on the aspects of the religion.
Tredecon/Tredeca
The priests and priestesses of the Faith of the Thirteen are referred to as Tredecons (for men) and Tredeca (for women). These individuals are often tasked with teaching the children of the Houses about religion, history, and other matters that their parents deem relevant. Most (but not all) Tredecons and Tredeca choose a specific aspect of the Thirteen with which they identify most closely, but they are knowledgable about all aspects of the Thirteen.
Slavery
Throughout Amber, the practice of slavery is despised. Men in the Seven Kingdoms have never kept slaves – all men are born free.
The North and the Wall
A great wall, hundreds of feet high, marks the far northern border of Amber. Beyond the wall lie Wildlings, a barbarian people who would overrun the kingdom should the Wall be breached. An order of men was formed, known as the Night’s Watch, to live on the Wall and keep it secure. Although some highborn volunteer for this harsh duty, the bulk of the Night’s Watch is made up of bastards, smallfolk, and criminals. Rapists, poachers, and the like sometimes are given a choice between the dungeons or "taking the black" and serving on the Wall. It is as much exile as anything else – men of the Night’s Watch live far from any town, and desertion from the watch means death.
The South
The Red Mountains mark the far southern border of Amber. Beyond the Red Mountains lie a number of small fiefdoms, which are not united under any central ruler. The Southroners generally remain uninvolved with the people of Amber, and vice versa.
To the West and to the East
At this point in time, no one is sure what lies to the west or the east. The few ships that have tried to sail west have never returned, but that is the direction the Baurig came from. The few ships that have tried to sail east have similarly never returned
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