| The Royal Office |
 |
| Information |
| Ruler: | Queen Moire |
| Heir: | Crown Prince Martin |
| Treasury: | Full |
| Popularity: | High |
| Policy: | Diplomacy |
| Motto: | We Are One Beneath The Waves |
The Royal line of Rebma is nearly as old as Oberon's rule in Amber; however, there has been a series of successions as while Rebman aristocracy is long-lived, they do not hold on quite as long as their Amber counterparts. Even so, the transitions on the Deep Throne have been made with significantly less fuss. Despite the various dramas that will occur in any dynasty, the line of inheritance has always been made very clear, from a divine standpoint. Within the past century or so, the royal family has had a greater share of scandal and tragedy, quite possibly reflecting the turmoil that has been occurring in Amber.
History of Succession
The first Queen Beneath the Waves was Manawydan, daughter of Lir Himself. Young and as inspiring in her own way to the new citizens of the ghostly reflected city, she is a romantic figure often depicted in full Rebman armour and wielding a trident. As a self-declared monarch, to solidify her rule and protect her people still living on ancestral territories, she launched a determined campaign to pressure or force the other intelligent races of Rebma to swear fealty to her. Although unafraid of war, she spared her troops and those of the Tritons from never-ending battle during The Triton Wars, by challenging their monarch to single combat, a move that while it cost her her life, made such an impression on the merfolk that they did eventually join the realm.
Following in her footprints, her only daughter Moins became Queen, but the fighting was all but over by then, giving way to an age of diplomacy, bureaucracy, and amassing wealth and influence and the good will of the diverse populace. While many great strides forward were made during her reign, it might be murmured that Moins could never step out from her mother's magnificent shadow. Shortly after the birth of Moins's daughter Moire, she entertained King Oberon of Amber. This would not normally be an issue in Rebma, but the affair resulted in the birth of Llewella, and the scandal was compounded when Oberon acknowledged the girl. Two wars followed, however as the latter clash, against Kitezh, was as disastrous as the former against Minos was triumphant, the experience of shocking loss was deeply disturbing to the peacetime monarch. A few centuries after Llewella's birth, Moins passed the Deep Throne to Moire and retreated to solitary reflection, dying a few decades thereafter.
Moire started off her reign on shaky footing due to public scandals and post-war shortages, but solid counsel from her Court Advisor and Ministers and a fair amount of natural cunning had stabilized her rule. She increased diplomatic efforts with Amber and into the Golden Circle, and reconciled with her half-sister, so that Llewella became a common and welcome face in the Rebman court. Most significantly, Moire turned more and more to the clergy of the Cult of Lir to address the weak spots in her public relations, recalling the power that omens and Prophecy had over the Rebman populace in the early centuries. In return for her support, the Cult deployed the Holy Order of Eilrahc to seek and investigate all leads on the portents and visions of the Priestesses, but especially the Great Prophecy. Mirror magic with all its convenience and supposed accuracy in seeking the Past became distinctly unappealing to Moire, which alienated House Ygrayne. After the Black Road invaded Amber and then Rebma, the Queen became progressively ill and unstable, and a few years after the Cataclysm, it is said she lapsed into a coma due to poisoning by the Black Road.
Current State of Succession
For a long time, Moire's only child was Princess Morganthe; when the Princess took her own life, Moire was left without an official heir. Her grandson Martin might have once a claim to the Deep Throne, but it is clear he was passed over, likely due to Moire's resentment of Random.
While Moire's coma resulted in Martin's ascension to the Regency of Rebma, the succession had since become vested in the Queen's new infant with Prince Corwin: The Tirian-Amberite-Rebman child Faiella, a messianic figure held as the fulfillment of the Great Prophecy - until, that is, Lord Regent Martin became engaged to Princess Miriam of Tir-na Nog'th, that act thereby threatening to usurp the same Prophecy.
As of CY 2017, Moire has returned to the Throne, at first only spiritually; in possession of Lord Merrisol's body which was discovered to be a vessel attuned to the royal line. Ostensibly to stabilize the line of succession while she had the chance, she promoted Martin to Crown Prince, the first male heir to the Crown. She has urged young Princess Faiella to explore her Tirian gifts with the guidance of the Priestess and the protection of the Temple of Lir. This would appear to set her up in a future position of Royal Seeress to her cousin-nephew Martin when he sits the Throne.
The Royal Household
The Royal Family of Rebma is uncomplicated compared to that of Amber, currently consisting of:
- Queen Moire, daughter of Queen Moins. She is the ruling monarch beneath the waves.
- Prince Martin, grandson of Queen Moire and heir to the Deep Throne.
- Princess Faiella, child of Queen Moire and Prince Corwin of Amber.
- Princess Llewella, half-sister to Queen Moire, daughter of Queen Moins and King Oberon.
- Her Reverence Lady Morgana, daughter of Princess Llewella. Currently out of play.
- Princess Miriam of Tir, spouse and Princess-Consort to Prince Martin.
Llewella is considered a Princess of Amber, having removed herself from the line of succession for the Rebma Throne. She has other acknowledged children who are not officially accounted members of the royal family. Most of them, however, are granted special status at court.
