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Adar is the mountainous region in southeast of Sarlona. It is inhabited mostly by humans (including the kalashtar), though there is a prominent contingent of blue dragons on the uppermost peaks.[1]

To its inhabitants, Adar is mostly known as a refuge from the dictatorship of Riedra, and many of its residents can trace their lineage to refugees and dissidents of the Riedran state. To this day, Riedra considers Adar a danger to its enforced stability, and regularly sends troops to attack the borders of the region.[1]

No magic exists that cannot be found in the mortal soul. Those who traffic with forces outside themselves—celestial, draconic, or fiendish—are fools. The mortal soul holds within it all potential. As mortals we are the masters of creation, not just actors on its stage.
— Chanaakar, Speaker of the Word[2]

Etymology[]

Adar is an ancient Riedran word meaning "refuge".[2]

Geography[]

Sarlona 3

The regions of Sarlona

The region of Adar covers the southeastern tip of Sarlona. The region is defined by tall mountains, cliffs, and plateaus, with the majority of the land being over 12,000 feet in elevation. This includes the mountain of Korrandar, one of the tallest mountains in all of Eberron.[2]

About 20% of the region is arable land, mainly in the valleys between the mountains.[4] The region has a number of manifest zones to Lamannia and Kythri, the largest being Ahdryatmin in the center of Adar.[2]

Government[]

There is no single source of authority in Adar. Individual communities are led by a council of elders, those in the community who are considered the wisest and oldest.[4][5] The communities among the mountains pay respect and generally listen to the counsel of the Speaker of the Word,[1] a spiritual position currently held by Chanaakar.[3]

Defenses[]

The land of Adar is under constant siege by the Unity of Riedra, but the mountainous terrain protects Adar from a direct assault. The passes to enter the region are guarded by hidden monasteries and the unpredictability of the weather.[5] Adar is also protected by the Shroud, an energy field that blankets Adar, preventing teleportation in the region and hampering divination magic like scrying.[4][6]

History[]

During the Age of Demons, it is believed the overlord Ran Iishev was bound beneath the mountain of Korrandar in Adar.[7] A group of dragons known as the Storm Guardians guard the region to prevent the overlord from awakening.[8]

The first human tribes who made their home in modern Adar called it Sthanadiv, meaning "Land of Earth-Sky", for its massive mountains.[2] While the rest of Sarlona saw the rise of city-states that eventually coalesced into twelve kingdoms, Adar developed a reputation as being an independent region where people could find refuge from the conflicts between various kingdoms.[9] During this time, monasteries began to be established across Adar, each with their own calendars.[7]

About 1800 years ago, a group of rebel quori spirits fled from the plane of Dal Quor through mortal dreams until they wound up in the dream of a monk named Hazgaal, the leader of Kasshta Keep in Adar. Hazgaal agreed to be a host for the fleeing quori, along with 66 of his students, creating the first of the kalashtar. Hazgaal bonded with the leader of the quori Taratai to become the kalashtar Haztaratai.[10][11] The modern Adaran calendar dates this year as the first year in the Age of Taratai.[9] Through Haztaratai, Taratai first taught the beliefs of the Path of Light to the kalashtar, which would become the primary religion of Adar.[10][11][12]

While the kalashtar established themselves in Adar, the rest of Sarlona entered a period of upheaval known as the Sundering, sending another wave of refugees to Adar. The Sundering ended with the unification of most of Sarlona under the Unity of Riedra, led by a group known as the Inspired.[9] These actions were the results of secret efforts of the same quori who had forced Taratai and her followers to flee Dal Quor, and they had kept an eye on the kalashtar of Adar.[11] On 677 Age of Taratai (-125 YK), a series of psionic attacks took place on the Riedran side of the Rideran-Adaran border. Labeling the attacks the Madness of Yaruun, after the town most affected by the attacks, the Inspired blamed the kalashtar for the attacks and invaded Adar. It is unknown whether the attacks actually were made by the kalashtar as they have no record of such an attack.[13]

In the autumn of 702 AT (-100 YK), Riedran forces laid siege to Kasshta Keep. Taratai's lineage of kalashtar gathered together with a small force of monks to help defend the monastery. They engaged the Riedran army near the Kasshta River in a great clash of psionic power that drove back the Riedran army, and captured the quori general Ulakhun's spirit. The war continued for several months, during which time the monastery of Malshashar was razed by the Riedrans, and many of Taratai's lineage were killed. The last few remaining members of Taratai's lineage sacrificed themselves to create the shroud resonators that now protect Adar.[10] However, the Riedrans also suffered great losses during their campaign, and chose instead to place Adar under constant siege.[13] The siege of Adar has been maintained by Riedra for over a thousand years in a stalemate that remains to this day.[11]

Notable Locations[]

Monasteries[]

Eight monasteries act as fortresses and form a defensive ring around Adar.[4][14] With the exception of Kasshta Keep, the true locations of these monasteries are kept hidden from outsiders.[14]

These monasteries are:


Monasteries of Adar
Dvaarnava · Ghoza · Haztaratain Monastery · Kasshta Keep · Malshashar · Ruukosi · Shalquar · Tashalatora

Other Settlements[]

Inhabitants[]

Humans and kalashtar combined make up over 95% of the population of Adar.[2] However a few other psionic races live in Adar, including wandering half-giants, the xephs of the Xaryai Coulee and the dromites in hive cities below the region.[16][15]

Appendix[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 187. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  6. Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 35. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  8. Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 27–28. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 24. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 64–65. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  12. Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  14. 14.0 14.1 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.
  16. Keith Baker, Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Glenn McDonald, and Chris Sims (2007). Secrets of Sarlona. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-4037-0.

Further Reading[]

Connections[]


Regions & Nations of Sarlona
Adar | Riedra | Syrkarn | Tashana Tundra
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