Caine, from beyond the grave

[RPGPundit]

So Caine is dead, again.  I've seen, and certainly run, many a game where Caine was not really dead; he had once again faked his death.  This is something I've seen on a very regular basis.

I'm not telling whether I'm making him dead or faking for my current campaign (where he's only just died), but I did come up with an interesting thought, and I'm looking for ideas here (ideally from people other than my players): A dude like Caine, always scheming, surrounded by contacts and agents, probably had a lot of contingency plans and plans in progress at the time of his second "death".

What would be some interesting ways that, dead or not, Caine's influence can continue to be felt in Amber and shadow after he has died, short of his coming back?

RPGPundit

[Rel Fexive]

Helpful notes written in advance delivered at just the right moment.  Or messengers, or advice that suddenly becomes relevant (like in Signs), or whatever.

[LostinShadow]

Blackmail material on various and sundry nobles and possibly even his family that will be released on his death if certain conditions arn't met.
We all know that post mortem any of the Amberites is probablly even more vindictive.

Hidden monies to pay for the services of certain parties, (Mercenaries, investigators, assasins) that upon his death are paid out to carry out tasks he wished. If he is truly dead then chances are these are deeds that are even more horrifying because Caine doesnt have to worry about repercussions.

Caine did keep Fiona from doing an autopsy on Eric, perhaps Caine truly has died before and knows given time any of them will regenerate and come out of the deathlike state if not prevented from doing so.  Or maybe he, Julian, Gerard and Eric simply had paid necromancers waiting in the wings.

Did Eric get infected by the Weir ? Can they even affect an Amberite ? Who knows except the GM running the game. But this is a possible come back plan as those weir would have come back if Corwin didnt run them through with Greyswandir.

Maybe Caine posseses a shadow of him while the real him is someplace safe, although even a shadow of Caine is probablly damn hard to posses.

Also the blood curse is a possible means of rebirth sending oneself down ones bloodline to be reborn again. Blood calls to blood and all that.

Just some ideas.

[JongWK]

Ok, I know I'm a player in this campaign, but... you know what happens when a mob boss dies?  

[Syzygy]

What next gens do we know about:

• Merlin: bastard;
• Martin: bastard;
• Coral: sired illegitimately;
• Luke: orphan;

See a pattern here?

Three of these four were not raised by their Amber parent, and the fourth never showed up until his Amber parent died.

My theory is that there are a lot of other kids waiting in the wings, with orders to stay far away from Amber...until, perhaps, they're needed to avenge a fallen parent....

No question in my mind that Luke is going to be targeted by some very dangerous proteges of Caine's....

[Trevelyan]

What next gens do we know about:

• Merlin: bastard;
• Martin: bastard;
• Coral: sired illegitimately;
• Luke: orphan;

See a pattern here?

Three of these four were not raised by their Amber parent, and the fourth never showed up until his Amber parent died.

My theory is that there are a lot of other kids waiting in the wings, with orders to stay far away from Amber...until, perhaps, they're needed to avenge a fallen parent....

No question in my mind that Luke is going to be targeted by some very dangerous proteges of Caine's....

Well, Coral is technically a member of the older generation, being a child of Oberon himself.

Oberon's ghost mentioned to Merlin that he had 47 illegitimate children that he was aware of. Any number of those might have been discovered and initiated into the Pattern by a sibling looking for a secure ally. Caine could have a whole group of brothers and sisters working for him and looking to avenge him.