As of Session 13

King Swayvill was healthy and firmly in control despite the Patternfall debacle when he died by Benedict of Amber's Blood Curse. Nobody was prepared for his death, let alone those of several ministers and the orgy of bloodshed that followed as Swyavill's spawn, their supporters and their enemies settled old feuds and cleared the way to the throne. The Curse had some effect in a number of other Houses as well.

Swayvill gets most of the blame; Shurak the Adept of the Black Watch and House Sawall get the rest. The succession is a much higher priority for everyone than playing blame games.

Sawall assessment of relative strengths:

1. Jesby, out to remain Number One
2. Chanicut, support The Rake (for now), hold much of the Royal Palace
3. Hendrake
4. Helgram
5. Sawall, distracted by internal business and falling behind
6. Crane, covering all bases
7. Varda, always obscure but often in opposition to the Black Watch
8. Barimen, normally neutral

Known Live Heirs of Swayvill:

1. Dauntless (claimant): smart, dynamic, charming, accomplished, talented... he should be a Sawall. Mother was of (now extinct, wiped out in war with H. Yyrvael) House Wyvern. He was hunting in Shadow with Huntress when the Curse hit. They survived the assassination attempt by parts of their entourage and split up. Dauntless disappeared. Recent reports indicate that (lesser) House Roc is allied to him and moved him around via the Void. Location unknown but changing.
2. The Huntress (fled): antisocial, hates court politics, prefers the wilds. Split amiably with Dauntless and went deeper into Shadow vowing to never return.
3. Fisher (claimant): brilliant, possibly mad (he certainly faked it for quite some time), he suddenly has supporters all over after centuries of quiet, eccentric country life. His communications are so good he may have H. Barimen's secret support. He may have been responsible for more assassinations of his siblings, before and after the Curse hit, than any other person. Mother was of H. Yyrvael (only a splinter group, H. Varda, survived the war with H. Wyvern), so Shurak the Adept and the Traveller are his close kin. Moving closer to the Palace with a mixed force of royal units, Jesbys, Chanicuts, Hendrakes, Cranes and Helgrams.
4. The Nun (claimant): brilliant, ruthless, long snuggled in close to the Church and Lord Bances Amberlash in particular. Her mother, of a minor House, tried to kill Swayvill when The Nun was a child; her life rested on a thread ever since. She is supported by Bances' faction (the ruling one) in the Church.
5. The Librarian (not a claimant): a respected scholar for centuries, author of a great work on the reigns of former Kings and Queens of Chaos. Mother was of H. Helgram but The Librarian has had little to do with them. The Librarian has spent most of the last century in the Royal Archives and has gained the Archivists as allies. Chanicut attempts to dig her out have failed completely.
6. The Rake (claimant, in Chanicut hands): young and frivolous, might be good king material eventually. Grabbed by Chanicut while on a month-long carouse. In the Royal Palace.

Most Houses would prefer to nail down either Dauntles or Fisher as clearly giving them preference. The Nun is in a good position too with her Church support.

Muddying the waters: Brand of "House Brand" is in the Royal Court, housed where he and his siblings stayed previously. (An 'inn', a palatial -- by Amber standards -- complex used by a number of minor Houses, located in a minor Sphere of the Royal Court.) Brand and his entourage ("associates") have restored order and power to the area and have the support and cooperation of locals. Brand claims to be interested in consulting with experts in certain magical specialties, and in using the Royal Archives. He is willing to make deals.