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Hermit and outlander are natural backgrounds, but TH RANE
you could be an acolyte or a sage who consults spirits
instead of books. Warriors and shamans both wear Capital: Flamekeep
masks to present a particular face to the spirit world. Hallmarks: Divine magic, fine crafts, fruit, livestock,
Dinosaurs. Talenta halflings have a close bond to their the Silver Flame, textiles, wool
dinosaur companions. If you don't begin the campaign The modern Church of the Silver Flame was founded in
with a dinosaur mount or companion, you might ac Thrane, and most of the people of the nation follow this
quire one over the course of your adventures. You can faith. During the Last War, the people of Thrane chose
also consider whether a fallen dinosaur is part of your to set aside the rule of the monarchy and to embrace
backstory; perhaps you lost your faithful mount in the the leadership of the church. For the last seventy years,
Last War, but you believe its spirit is still with you. Thrane has been a theocracy. The head of the state is
1 1 -year-oldjaela Daran, the divinely selected Keeper of
C I T I E S A N D SITES the Flame. ] aela depends on the Council of Cardinals to
The Talenta Plains have been described as an ocean of perform the practical work of running the nation.
grasslands. The nomadic halfiings have little interest The primary purpose of the Silver Flame is to defend
in building towns; most shelter in the Talenta Plains is the innocent from supernatural evil. The church has
temporary. Halfiings shun the ruins scattered across the always had a militant aspect, with battalions of templars
Plains, believing them to be haunted by fiends. and peasant militias prepared to face undead, lycan
thropes, or other monstrous threats. But compassion
GATHERHOLD and charity are core values of the church, and the tem
All the halfiing tribes come to Gatherhold to trade, hold plars are tasked to defend all innocents. Even during the
councils, and settle disputes. House Ghallanda main Last War, if a fiendish threat arose in a Brelish village,
tains the town, but Gatherhold belongs to the people, Thrane templars would ally with the locals to bring an
not the houses. Other dragonmarked houses offer their end to the threat. Not all Thranes rise to this ideal. Zeal
services here as well. The town is on the shore of Lake ous Thranes believe the church is destined to reunite
Cyre, and once people came by boat through Cyre; now Galifar under the Silver Flame, and corrupt priests are
the Mourning has cut off that passage. interested only in power and wealth.
Not all priests are clerics, and the typical templar is a
THE W A NDERING INN mundane warrior. However, due to the deep faith of its
This caravan maintained by members of House Gha people, Thrane produces more clerics and paladins than
llanda is a traveling fair, providing entertainment and any other nation in Khorvaire.
shelter to any fortunate enough to cross its path. When
times are dark and travelers are weary, one can always
hope that the Wandering Inn is just beyond the horizon.
-- THE --
AFTERMATH OF H E LAST W A R S M � � n 1 n Q U I S l l l W �
T
The halfling tribes joined together to defend themselves
from outsiders, and the Talenta Plains were recognized
as a nation under the Treaty of Thronehold. Now that I WAS S C OR C H E D
the war is over, most of the tribes have returned to their
hunting grounds and ancient traditions. They united to
T
defend their way of life, and now they wish to enjoy it. BY H E S I L V E R
But the halflings don't yet know if it's possible to
return to the previous ways. More foreigners visit
the Plains than at any time in the past. Settlers and F L A M E !
merchants cross the Plains as they make their way to
Q'barra, and they clash with Q'barran bandits. The Vale
nar elves ride through the Plains in search of adventure. Growing up on the streets of the Callestan district in
Monsters emerge from the Mournland. Dragonmarked Sham, I learned not to put my faith in anything I couldn't
houses seek to expand their role at Gatherhold and to see or hold. I think that's why my editor sent me to
Flamekeep to cover the Ascension; surely I'd see clearly,
explore the untapped resources of the Plains. with eyes untouched by faith. I thought so, too. But then
The halflings have no interest in change, but it might I found myself in the Chamber ofTira's Sacrifice, a pillar
be inevitable. Lathon Halpum believes that if the tribes of silver fire marking the spot where one woman gave
can work together, they could become a nation of na her life to protect countless innocents. I saw people from
tions, but others aggressively oppose such a path. Holy all nations joined together in song, celebrating both that
Uldra is a powerful shaman and the leader of her own ancient sacrifice and the end of our current war. And
tribe. She urges halfiing warriors to join together for a looking into the innocent eyes of the child priestess, I
single purpose: to drive all outsiders from the Plains truly heard the words of that song for the first time: a call
and to maintain the ancient traditions. The halflings for all of us to be better than we are, to protect those in
must decide whether the tribes will choose the path of need, to remember that we are all one people in the light
of the Silver Flame.
peace or return to war.
C H APTER 2 I KHORVAIRE GAZETTEER
