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Valenar is a nation that broke away from the nation of Cyre during the Last War when the Valaes Tairn mercenary elves annexed the land.[1][2][3]

Geography[]

Valenar is located in the southeast part of the continent of Khorvaire. It borders the Talenta Plains to the north and Q'barra to the east, while the Mournland and Kraken Bay lie on its western border. Valenar is the closest nation on Khorvaire to the island nation of Aerenal, which is a short sea journey to the south.[4]

Most of northern Valenar is covered by the Blade Desert, while the southern tip of Valenar is a peninsula containing the jungles of Ravar Orioth. The central part of the nation is covered by plains.[1][3]

Government[]

The Valaes Tairn are divided into 45 units known as warclans, each holding between 200 to 500 elves. All of these warclans owe fealty to War Leader Shaeras Vadallia, the High King of Valenar. However, only 20 of the warclans are under his direct command at any one time, known as the Host of Valenar. Warclans serve in the Host of Valenar for 10 years, before rotating out to become independent again. Half of the warclans in the Host of Valenar serve in military operations, while the other half polices the kingdom.[1] Vadallia rewards valiant service with noble titles and land in Valenar, but most elves prefer to remain in the saddle rather than settle down to rule.[3]

With the Valaes Tairn focused on military affairs, the civic administration of Valenar is left to the half-elves of House Lyrandar.[3]

Relations[]

The elves of Valenar have little interest in building relationships with the other powers of Khorvaire. The nation has tense relationships with the Talenta Plains, Q'barra, and Karrnath because of raiding Valenar warbands.[3]

Most of the dragonmarked houses have a limited presence in the country, with the exception of House Lyrandar, who holds land in Valenar in violation of the Korth Edicts and helps run the country, and House Vadalis, who are banned for trying to steal horses.[1][3][5]

History[]

Pre-Galifar[]

About 10,000 years ago, the Aereni elves founded settlements in the plains in central Valenar. These elven colonies engaged in trade with the goblins of the Dhakaani Empire for about a century. Despite the initial success, the colony eventually became embroiled in a war with the goblins, and the elves voluntarily withdrew back to Aerenal.[1][3]

The humans of Valenar are believed to have descended from immigrants from the ancient Sarlonan nation of Khunan, which lay in what is now central Syrkarn.[6][7]

Under Galifar[]

By the time of the kingdom of Galifar, the land had become part of Cyre and primarily populated by humans, with a smaller population of hobgoblins and halflings.[1]

The Last War[]

During the Last War, a faction of the Tairnadal elves known as the Valaes Tairn were hired by Cyre as mercenaries to fight in the war. These mercenary elves fought tirelessly for Cyre in the war until 956 YK, in which War Leader Shaeras Vadallia shocked his Cyran employers by claiming the land now known as Valenar for himself and his mercenary people. He named himself as high king of this new realm, citing the much earlier Aerenal habitation on that land and the blood that his people had shed in its defense in recent times as his justification. With Cyre beset by enemies on all sides, they were not able to contest this loss of land, and the local population did not resist either, as the Valenar levied fewer taxes than their Cyran rulers.[1][2][3]

Valenar offered elven mercenaries at discounted services to any nation that recognized them, an offer that was accepted by Aundair in 980 YK, and by Breland in 988 YK.[8] The nation was formally recognized across Khorvaire by the Treaty of Thronehold.[9]

Notable Locations[]

Cities and Settlements[]

Cities of Valenar
Aerie · Ariolan · Jal Paeridor · Kasserine · Keth · Moonshadow · Norinath · Pylas Maradal · Shivairn · Stonefeather Spire
Taer Shantara · Taer Valaestas · Taer Valior
Valenar Elf

An elf scout of Valenar overlooking the city of Taer Valaestas.

Other Notable Locations[]

  • Griffonclaw
  • Starhaunt
  • Taer Elladorn
  • Taer Zanathar

Inhabitants[]

Revenant Blade

A revenant blade of Valenar.

Over 40% of the population of Valenar are elves. The elves of the Valaes Tairn in Valenar are all in active military service, as those who can't fight remain in Aerenal.[3] They mainly operate in warbands of eight to twelve elves who either patrol the nation or seek adventure elsewhere[1]. With the elves focused on military service, a burgeoning middle-class of half-elves has developed to handle civic administration in the country. Below them are the Cyran humans who continue to farm the land as they did for centuries under Cyran rule.[2][3]

Keepers of the Past[]

The Keepers of the Past are bards and clerics who determine which ancestor will guide a newborn Tairnadal elf through life. In Tairnadal religion, each elf is duty-bound to honor and emulate his or her patron ancestor. The Tairnadal believe that these warrior ancestors, known as Spirits of the Past, can live again in the present if their deeds are recreated. Elves who share a common ancestor will compete with each other to become the perfect embodiment of their patron.[1][2]

Siyal Marrain[]

The Siyal Marrain (Horse Watchers in Common), are a Valenaran druidic order charged with keeping the Valenar steeds. These horses were believed by the elves to be the descendants of elven warriors who fought against the Su'lat League to free the elven people from slavery, but were cursed to remain in the equine forms they'd taken to carry their comrades into battle.[10]

The druids of the Valenar serve two roles. First, they are charged with preserving the bloodline of the elven horses. The druids protect the breeding grounds, tend to injured horses, and help raise the young. These blood guardians mingle with the herd using wild shape and speak with animals, forging the bond between horse and elf from the beginnings of the horses' lives. They also help to match elf and rider and worked to forge the sacred bond between rider and mount. Beyond this, the Siyal Marrain are warriors. Just as their ancestors fought the giants with lightning and flame, the druids of the modern day may ride with a warband, turning the power of nature against their enemies.[10]

House Vadalis would love nothing better than to obtain some of the Valenaran steeds from the elves for interbreeding with their own stock. The Siyal Marrain are a formidable barrier to that objective, believing that such a thing happening would bring the greatest dishonor on them and the horses, whom they consider to be their brothers.[10]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 210–211. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 129–130. ISBN 0786966890.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 162–165. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  4. Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War: Map of Khorvaire. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786966890.
  5. Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
  6. Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: Crossing Valenar” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast).
  7. Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: The People of Taer Valaestas” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast).
  8. James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 37, 39. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
  9. Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 225. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Keith Baker (2005/11/14). Druids of Khorvaire, Part Four. Dragonshards. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017/04/30. Retrieved on 2021/06/25.

Connections[]


Regions & Nations of Khorvaire
Aundair | Breland | Darguun | Demon Wastes | Droaam | The Eldeen Reaches | Karrnath | Lhazaar Principalities | Mournland | Mror Holds | Q'Barra | Shadow Marches | Talenta Plains | Thrane | Valenar | Zilargo
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