Page 130 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

Play It Again. If diplomats and spies have one thing in I N TER S TING THINGS
E
common, it's a weakness for pleasant distractions. ABOUT V A LENAR
When not playing their games of deceit, they seek out
the best entertainment and companionship the island • The dragonmarked House Lyrandar helped the Vale­
has to offer. Characters with the entertainer back­ nar elves build the infrastructure of their kingdom.
ground can make many untrustworthy friends here. The half-elves have no homeland, but House Lyrandar
hopes to make Valenar a haven for its people.
AFTERMATH OF H E LAST A R • The ancestors of the elves fought goblins for control
T
W
By 975 YK, Throneport had grown into a small city in of this region many thousands of years ago. Relics of
which all of the nations and dragonmarked houses had that struggle are still scattered across Valenar and the
at least a small presence, turning it into a hotbed of in­ Blade Desert: ruins, haunted fortresses, and battle­
ternational intrigue. The Treaty of Thronehold further fields that have slipped out of alignment with time.
solidified Throneport as a multinational capital under • Valenar warbands include druids and rangers, and
the control of small peacekeeping forces from Aundair, druidic magic bolsters the military arsenal of the
Breland, Karrnath, and Thrane, with House Deneith elves. Walls of thorns surround elven fortresses, and
Throne Wardens in place to make sure the terms of beasts fight alongside the elves. Valenar horses are
the treaty are honored. Today, the small city is neutral known for being as fearless and stubborn as the elves
ground, but the castle and its grounds remain off limits who ride them.
and under the watchful protection of the wardens.
V A LENAR H ARACTERS
C
V A LEN R See chapter 1 for additional information about creating
A
Valenar elves. When creating a Valenar character or
Capital: Taer Valaestas
Hallmarks: Elves, horses, mercenaries NPC, consider the following:
Martial Role. Valenar was forged in war. As an elf, con­
In the midst of the Last War, an army of Tairnadal war­ sider your role in a warband. Are you a simple soldier,
rior elves from Aerenal seized this region from Cyre, an acolyte devoted to the elven ancestors, or a sage
invoking a claim to the land from long before humanity's familiar with your Valenar history? As a half-elf, you
arrival on the continent. The elves ofValenar devote might be an entertainer, a sailor, or a guild artisan
themselves to the arts of war. Their cavalry has no equal working to support the elf army, or you might be a
in Khorvaire, and they combine a talent for magic with charlatan seeking opportunities. As a human from
stealth and swordplay. Cyre employed the Valenar as Valenar, you could be an urchin born in Taer Valaes­
mercenaries until the elves betrayed Cyre and took a tas, or a folk hero fighting for the common people.
corner of the nation for themselves. These lands es­ Dreams. Have you left Valenar behind, or are your as­
caped the destruction visited upon the rest of Cyre. After pirations tied to the new kingdom? As a half-elf with
the Mourning, no one wanted to challenge the Valenar's Valenar blood, do you want to be recognized as a true
claim to the land they had taken; in the interests of Valenar-granted a bond to a patron ancestor and a
peace, the Treaty of Thronehold recognized the new elf chance at immortality-or are you more interested
kingdom of Valenar. in building a homeland for your people? As a human
Valenar elves spend little time at rest, operating in
small units called warbands. Those who aren't pa­ whose land the elves reclaimed, do you want to work
trolling the kingdom travel abroad seeking adventure. with the elves or do you want to drive them out-and if
Half-elves handle the civic administration. Some of so, who do you want to replace them?
these are the children ofValenar elves, but most are im­ Animal Companions. Feytouched beasts play an
migrants who've come from elsewhere in Khorvaire in important role in Valenar society. The Valenar are
search of opportunity. Cyran humans still occupying the known for their steeds, but a wide range of Valenar
region fall below them in rank. Once citizens of Cyre, beasts bond with non-elves. As a starting character,
now they're citizens of Valenar. Little has changed for you might not have established a connection to a Vale­
the commoners, most of whom don't care who wears nar beast. If you return to Valenar later in your adven­
the crown. turing career, perhaps you will find your bondmate.
The harsh sands of the Blade Desert cover northern C I T I E S A N D SITES
Valenar and serve as a natural barrier between this land
and the rest of Khorvaire. Beyond the desert, Valenar Most of the communities of Valenar consist of farming
transitions from rolling steppes to fertile plains. The villages, with fortress towers scattered across the plains
desert can be deadly, but the Valenar elves pose the as military outposts.
greatest risk for adventurers. The elves won't interfere
with peaceful caravans, but a well-armed group of trav­ MOONSHADOW
elers invites challenges. A peaceful Khoravar village built on the Old Road,
Moonshadow is a young community, built by immigrants
who hope that Valenar can become a home for their peo­
ple. Though small, Moonshadow has drawn half-elves
from across Khorvaire, and a surprising number of
gifted scholars and artisans thrive in the village.

C H APTER 2 I KHORVAIRE GAZETTEER
129