AMBARA

Real Name: Ambara

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Crystalium) human

Occupation: Serving maid

Group Membership: Forces of Order

Affiliations: Forces of Order, Alpha Flight (Shaman (Michael Twoyoungmen), Puck (Eugene Milton Judd), Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier)), Bekk, Crystar, Kalibar, Koth, Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), Ogeode, Shen, Stalax, Dr. Strange (Stephan Strange), Warbow

Enemies: Lavour, Malachon, Moltar, Zardeth

Known Relatives: Unidentified mother

Aliases: None given

Base of Operations: Galax and surrounding countryside, Royal House of Galax

First Appearance: Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (May 1983)

Powers/Abilities: Ambara was a maid serving under Lavour. She was skilled in her trade, and thus was an expert in the manner of cleaning and serving. She was also a capable medic.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (fb) - BTS) - As a child, Ambara grew up on the outskirts of Galax alongside Warbow. The future captain held a crush on her, but never spoke of his feelings. Her family was considered noble, although they were poor.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (fb) - BTS) - Ambara, through methods unrevealed, became assigned to work in the home of the noblewoman Lavour. She did the bidding of the haughty noble, but as she slaved away she started to fall in love with Lavour's fiancé Crystar.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8 (fb)) - At a party, held near the end of first Chaos War, Ambara served drinks to the guests. She confided with Captain Warbow over her feelings for Crystar, but felt that the prince would never be interested in her while he was with Lavour.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1) - As Chaos war ended, Ambara's feelings for Crystar grew, but she never dared act on them. As Crystar and Moltar had a friendly wrestling match, Ambara accidentally dropped a serving tray, causing Lavour to snap at her, thus distracting Moltar. She was not present when Ogeode arrived, nor was she aware of his words of warning to the twin princes. When Moltar injured Crystar and his uncle, Ambara was pushed to act. Dragging their bodies away while Moltar and his followers came under assault by the crystal rain, she stood by Crystar's side as he was transformed into a being of living crystal. She spent the ensuring battle safe with Ogeode, and witnessed the transformation of captains Warbow, Stalex, Kailber, and Koth. After the battle, she found the courage to declare her love for Crystar.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#2) - Ambara tended to the injured Stalax after the battle. Her relationship with Crystar deepened as the crystal forces tried to come up with a plan to stop Moltar. She accompanied Crystar and the rest of the captains on their mission to Ogeode's home in the slums of Galax in order to find a cure for Stalax's wound. Despite her fear, she stayed Crystar's side until they were attacked by a group of Magma men. Fleeing on Warbow's orders, she made to the house, only to discover the remedy Ogeode spoke of was not a physical item, but rather his daughter Ika. She was impressed by the young woman's mystical skill, but she kept to the background as a plan was hatched to save Stalax.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#4) - As Crystar and his followers were banished from Galax, Ambara bid her farewells to her mother and as she left with them, arguing that her place was with Crystar regardless of where he was.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#5) - While Crystar and Stalax enjoyed a brief game of soccer (or the Crystalium counterpart), Ambara and Ika sat on the sidelines and engaged in small talk. Ambara made it known she still trusted Lord Feldspar while Ika criticized the regent's actions. When the subject of physical intimacy was brought up, Ambara left in a huff. She embraced Crystar in front of the sulking sorceress, largely to prove her point. She would later leave with the rest of the crystal men as they petitioned Feldspar to reconsider the banishment. When Ika's spell backfired, Ambara threw herself between Crystar and Zardeth. Her actions worked, and a truce was later called while the mages went about putting their respective headquarters back where they belonged.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#7) - Ambara accompanied Crystar and his forces after their skirmish with the Green Hill people. She went with them as they traveled to the shore. She was apprehensive at the thought of sailing out on open water, but Warbow calmed her nerves. She went ashore with them as they soon landed and encountered the Council of Order, but said nothing as Crystar and his forces meet with the priests and Shen.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8) - As preparations were made to return back to Galax, Crystar was melancholy over the anniversary of the death of his friend Captain Heyatt. At her urging, Crystar retold the tale of his friend's death.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#9) - As debates raged over wherever of not the Council would help Crystar's forces, Ambara was little more than a silent observer. When Zardeth and Malachon, disguised as Feldspar and citizens of Galax respectively, attacked, Ambara stayed out of the conflict at Ika's urging.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10) - Back in Galax, Ambara stayed at Crystar's side as he tried to reconcile with his uncle. When ordered to leave when scouts brought news of an impending attack, Ambara argued to stay, but broke down and left at Crystar's urging. As she left the battlefield, she was cornered by Moltar and a group of Green Hill people. Captain Koth rushed to her aide and gave her enough time to flee back to Crystar. The last sight she saw of Koth was the brave captain being overwhelmed; leading her to believe Koth had been killed in her defense.

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#11) - Ambara's thought were sorrowful as they marched back into Galax in an attempt for one more meeting with Feldspar. When members of the group Alpha Flight arrived, Ambara stayed out of the way as the final battle between Chaos and Order was waged. When the fighting was over, and Zardeth and Malachon both slain, Ambara rushed onto the battlefield and embraced Crystar. Declaring their love for each other, Crystar promised to make her his queen, much to the delight of her mother.

Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, John Romita, Jr., and Jim Shooter. Concept expanded on by Mary Jo Duffy and Ricardo Villamonte.

Issue#4 was a bedtime story told by Kalibar to his children, so the events within and how they transpired is suspect.

Extra special thanks to Madison Carter for clarifying this question- yes, Crystar and all related characters are in fact Marvel owned and created. You might remember these guys from the Remco toy line, but the toys were a tie-in to the comic and not vice versa.

Profile by David Lawrence.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ambara should not be confused with:

• Mister Ambrose, robbed @ Code of Honor#4
• Mr. Ambrose, Thousand host @ Tangled Web of Spider-Man#3
• Any character who's first name is Amber
• Any character with a name beginning in A

Ambara's mother

A noblewoman, albeit a poor one, Ambara's mother was deeply concerned with her daughter's safety.

--Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#4 (4, 11

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Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1, Cover (main image)