I don't have Mana from Heaven in front of me (several states away (sigh)). In one of the short stories didn't they talk about powers that were outside of shadow? Beyond the influence of Chaos and Amber? I'm not talking about the spikards, but more along the lines of creatures or something? I think it was the Salesman's Tale.
Don't remind it. Are you talking of the shroudlings?
I found a copy of The Salesman Tale online (and no, I'm not going to share the link). This is what I was talking about earlier. Powers from before Chaos and Amber seem to be pushing events along. Perhaps contemporaries of Dworkin and Suhey? I find it interesting that the Spikards number 9 and the "Ancient Powers" number 11.
QuoteFinally, "At the deepest level," she said, "what threatens the peace?"
From my left, Caution seemed to speak, though the Tongue chimed his words
overhead.
"A redistribution of ancient powers," he said.
"In what manner?"
"That which was hidden becomes known and is moved about" answered Risk.
"Are both Amber and the Courts involved?"
"Indeed," answered Desire, from before me.
"Ancient powers," she said. "How ancient?"
"Before there was an Amber, they were," stated Memory.
"Before there was a Jewel of Judgement--the Eye of the Serpent?"
"No," Memory responded.
She drew a sudden breath.
"Their number?" she said.
"Eleven," Memory replied.
She grew pale at that, but I held my silence as she had instructed.
"Those responsible for this stirring of ashes," she said then, "what do
they wish?"
"A return to the glory of days gone by," Desire stated.
"Could this end be realized?"
"Yes," Foresight replied.
"Could it be averted?"
"Yes," said Foresight.
"At peril," Caution added.
Regarding the "ancient powers," I find it interesting how the Amber universe keeps on expanding to incorporate new elements.
I made this a major element of my last campaign, with the Shroudlings. The idea of something totally alien to the entire multiverse makes for an excellent potential threat.
RPGPundit
This would be an Outside Context Problem. The most blatant example would be the Beyonders in Marvel Comics to me.
Did anybody flesh these eleven ancient powers out? Were they in any way linked to the Spikards?