Now there’s something to think about. Working from that assumption, why is it the only artifact we see [Fiona] using in the entire series is her mirror which – it can be inferred from her words – she made herself. Even at the climactic scene of the Patternfall War, where you’d think she’d pull out all of the stops. there’s no indication that she’d pulled out her magical toybox.

Tommy Tanaka, Amber Diceless RPG Yahoo!Group

This jives nicely with how I tend to view first-series Amber.

Corwin’s Amber is about the subtle magics, the kind that doesn’t walk up and slap you in the face, and it’s about relying on yourself and your powers, not on your tools.

Fiona only uses the mirror once.

Corwin only uses the notable powers of his sword, what, twice? Three times? Once to kill weir, and once to speak to beings in Tir. And of course the silver arm incident.

And your tools can kill you. Eric may have relied over-much on the Jewel, and he died. Corwin, when he pulls too much from the Jewel, experiences ill effects. (What price did Corwin pay for Grayswandir? What price was Morgenstern? What dangers do they have to avoid? I’ve seen the swords addressed, but rarely the horse…)

These are lessons Merlin never really learns.

As a consequence, Merlin’s series is flash-bang, high-tech, wield what you can when and how you can for as long as you can. He doesn’t even learn the right lesson from Ghostwheel’s going rogue. The spikards come with such mild consequences – oh noes, a controlling spell that’s easily avoided – what price is he going to pay for them later?

We know the price Jasra paid for the Font at the Keep of the Four Worlds: her husband. What about Mandor’s spheres? What about Werewindle? What will they cost their wielders?

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