Valastainen, the City of Shipwrights

INTRODUCTION

Valastainen (val-ah-STY-nen) is an ancient elvish city situated upon the Lake of Lamps in Tailimisia. It serves as the central hub of the administration of the Murhestinal family and, as of the death of Tywyn Leofrosin in the matter known as the Expulsion of the Night Prince (X.512) of Aita Valmindene, the house has been ruled by the Tywynne Myrialandina, daughter of Leofrosin and strong supporter of the new elvish Queen, the Gwyderia Ilisia the Historian. The city controls all tolls on the southerly branch of the rivers Lyrissen and Idabrell. Though its name translates as "Place of Lamps," in Varan the city is often called Watchway, for its massive lighted tower that guards the mouth of the River Idabrell.

The city is famed for its canals and the closeness of its manors, for the elves of Valastainen built along the canalways to permit ships to reach the very doors of their houses. The city is lit at all hours of the day or night by many thousands of silver lamps, and a longstanding custom has it that every house must take responsibility to light the canals, or pay toward a general fund to lighting the woods about the city. Long ago, enchantments were laid on the forests all about to give light through will-o'-the-wisps that can prove both helpful and jocular.

The entire region surrounding the Lake of Lamps feeds Valastainen, the free elves of the farms bringing their goods by raft to the Mede of the Springmaiden for distribution. The entire region pays homage to Senia, Meri, and Tulia above the worship of Anunia, thanking Senia and Tulia for the fruits of the earth, and Meri for the bounty of the rivers and the lake.

HISTORY

One of the oldest elvish settlements in Tailimisia, it was built around the same time as the first towers were lain in Aita Valmindene. The oldest towers are situated on the small archipelago of islands that dot the Lake of Lamps, which are known as the Seven Sorrows. These seven ruins belonged to powerful elvish families now long extinct, and for centuries have served as magnets for adventurers.

During the War of High Sorcery Valastainen was often used as a staging ground for Harnholme dwarves moving further west. In that age, a compact was made between the then-ruling house of Deepriver and four clans of Blue Dwarves to construct a series of locks and canals to help control the flow of the lake and the river. These same dwarves assisted the elvish high sorcerer Tulimestya in the construction of the fabulous lock-and-canal works at Mount Aurisia, and they still dwell in Valastainen to this day.

Because of its situation on a large, deep, calm lake, Valastainen is the premier location of shipwrights in Tailimisia, and one of the only places within the Greatwood were deep-draft ships can be prepared and launched to the sea. For that purposes, Valastainen magicians, aided by Tulimestya the Waterwright, long ago deepened the Idabrell to permit the transit of ocean-going ships southward from Lake Valoina. This has earned Valastainen the nickname "City of the Shipwrights."

House Murhestinal and the Weeping Palace

House Murhestinal takes its arms (a weeping elf's head with long flowing hair) from the grant of the Weeping Palace to the original Murhestinai in the last age. This ancient stone structure sits at the heart of the city, and is fed and shot through with many private canals. Most of the wings of the Weeping Palace have been abandoned, as the house is not as large as the old Princes of the Lake, but they can be put to good use housing adventurers, levies, and free elf companies arriving from other regions.

The Weeping Palace boasts a large temple to Talifer, the Wounded God, and the elves who patrol the Daleadau under the Gwyderia's orders often set out from the Square of the Wounded Warrior at its gates. Murhestinal can marshal some of the largest and most powerful levies in the central forest.

The Grand Temple of Talifer is the largest of its kind in Tailimisia and one of the largest in the entire elvish culture-zone. It is tended by Curhemelian the Blade, the High Priestess of Talifer, and by a platoon of twenty Stormsword bachelors.

The Central Canals

The most densely populated region of the city is the central section, surrounding the Weeping Palace. Here, there are narrow lanes for foot traffic, but many networks of canals for ships. All mounted and wheeled traffic is forbidden from entering this region of the city, as it would clog the streets. Instead, goods are brought in through ships and barges to each of the grand homes. As a result, only the wealthiest merchants, mages, and elvish nobility in service to the Murhestinal Princess can afford homes here. The Illuminated Ones (the Valoi) also maintain their scriptorium, laboratory, and clave manor in this part of the city.

The Mede of the Springmaiden. This mere or mede is an island all its own, reached by high, slender bridges. It is here that the farmers of the Lake of Lamps come to sell their wares to the city each morning. The outlying towns each have their own days to come and bring their rafts, ensuring that the city receives a continuous supply of goods.

House of Illumination. This manorhouse, located on a side canal, behind hall walls with many tall garrets and glazed windows, is home to the Order of the Valoi, the Illuminated Ones, a powerful clave of central-Tailimisia wizards.

The House of the Silver Tree Guildhall. The House of the Silver Tree maintains its largest, most central, and most opulent guildhall in the central part of the city, opposite the mede of the Springmaiden.

Tuliameren's Arms. This inn is the largest in the city and used by elvish nobility from all over Tailimisia. When elves from the south must journey to Aita Valmindene, many make Tuliameren's Arms one of their stops on the route, for it is famed throughout the Greatwood. The inn is four stories tall, with wide-flung wings, and both owned and operated by Tuliameren Highwater, the elvish adventurer who ran the coffers for three successive adventuring parties, the last and largest being the Company of the Burning Horn, known for its jaunts into Elnuril.

The Great Light

The Tower of the Lamp, which stands at the mouth of the R. Idabrell, dominates this part of the city.

The Glazing Pits. This section of the city is constantly smoking and blazing with heat; here the great elvish furnaces produce glass from the lakesand of the Lake of Lamps. This is the largest single glassworks in Arunia, and Valastainen glass (also called lakeglass) can be found throughout Atva-Arunia.

The Hall of Ashes. Rumor insists that the Ashblade Assassins maintain a large enclave in the city. This semi-mythical foundation is known as the "Hall of Ashes," where death may be had for high prices in gold.

The Shipwright's Canals

This district is the poorest and most ramshackle section of Valastainen. Here are the many ships of elvish beechwood, highwood, and others, imported from across the elvish world, wrought, designed, and made. Sailmakers, rope-makers, weavers, and others live in close confines here to support the work of the shipwrights. Drydocks are all owned by companies of free elves, who whip together and work them; arrangements for construction of a ship must be made with these companies, which are often busy many years in advance.

The Dwarftown

Although the dwarves live all throughout the city, Dwarftown is where the four great clan-halls are located. These are the Irnval, Himril, Thangrin, and Istov clans of blue dwarves. Many dwarf sea-halls, with canals that pass beneath them and through them, entering the very walls of the home to provide hydraulic cooling or access directly to gathering rooms, stand amongst the elvish manors here.

Background Solutions: The Elves

As the Swords of Stock leave Tailimisia behind, encamped on the step of a feral, juvenile, white dragon, the question remains: what will become of the roiling civil conflict threatening to boil over in Aita Valmindene?

Since the city is a capital of the largest and oldest elvish kingdom, the chance that other powerful adventurers will be drawn into the conflict in the Swords' vacuum is quite high: let's say, something like 80%.

The composition of the city must be determined, in terms of active adventuring parties, but the highest-level and most likely replacements are the White Chalice, an all-elf part who began in the city of the white walls and have recently returned to it. The Crossed Pikes, a notoriously unpleasant party who slew one of the dragon princelings of Sylvasil for the old ruler of the elves, are also present, but have been hired by the troublemaking Prince Leofrysn.

With a simple table, we can discover how well the situation turned out in the absence of the Swords.

Thus...

1-2. Very Poorly
3-4. Poorly
5-6. Stalemate
7-8. Well
9-10. Very Well

We can add a +1 bonus to the roll because of the skill and cunning of the White Chalice, but whatever is going on in Aita Valmindene will remain a secret until the rumors percolate into Stock and the Reach.

The Great Houses of Tailmisiä

The ancient elvish kingdom of Tailimisiä, the eldest of the Wind Elf civilizations descended from the original kingdom of Ylvasmetsa, is ruled by a handful of powerful noble houses. As in other Wind Elf kingdoms, these houses were created by the elevation of their founders to the rank of nobility by the ruler—in this case the Gwyderion, High Priest of the Daystar—for some great service rendered to elvish civilization; that is, the development of some fine artwork, spellcraft, or service on the field. These houses are inevitably short-lived, dying out after a few generations thanks to the legendary infertility of elvish lines.

The great houses of today (late X.511) can be divided into two general camps: the War Party, and the Gwyderion's Party. Tensions between Caelatulia Elimya and the rest of the elves have been at an all-time high throughout the spring and summer of 511, having finally come to a head. One of the most contentious issues is that many elves have been swayed to the belief that the ruler of Tailimisya should be an elected king as it was in the days after the death of King Feanwe. The discussion over a return to elective kingship has stirred beneath the surface of the kingdom's political life for two generations.

It should be remembered that the ilmai (the free elves) form the bulk of all citizen-levies in the Greatwood. Unlike the mannish kingdoms, ilmai are not drafted as peasants, but rather are the citizen-army of the Greatwood. To that end, they may or may not be absolutely loyal to their own lords.

The War Party
House Sovarael
Heraldry: A pair of crossed staves above a sphere of glass on a blue field
One of the eldest surviving elvish houses in the kingdom, the Sovaraels are in their final decline. The Sovaraels have holdings in and around the ancient elvish capital. Their chief holding, of course, is Sovaraila, the great town-sized courtyard-manor which the house has been expanding since their original elevation. There are a number of well-decorated members of the house, knights of high stature, placed in powerful positions in elvish society. The Lord-Captain of the Southern March is none other than Brenauren Sovarael, Lady Toveri's grandson.

The House of Sovarael also has one of the most well-trained (though smallest) armies in the kingdom. They maintain a handful of swordsmasters and grandmasters of various weapons in their employ to serve as high guards and generals.

Important Members of House Sovarael
Tywynne Toveri -- The 478-year-old matriarch of House Sovarael. She spent her early life as a scribe in the grand city of Aita Valmindene. Lady Toveri never expected to become the Tywynne of her house, as in those days she was a junior member of a cadet branch. However, after the death of her uncle and brothers at the Battle of Sorrow's Pass, she was catapulted into power as a young elf.

She is a pale flaxen-haired elf who dresses in horrifically expensive garments dripping with gemstones. There is an undercurrent of fear that courses through the Sovarael family as Toveri approaches the age of elvish senility; there are wary watches placed on her for signs that she is beginning to lose touch with the world-as-it-is and beginning to be lost in the world-as-it-was.

Tywyn Brenauren -- The most important member of the family after its inestimable matriarch is Lord Brenauren, the Tyratalit Etelia (Lord-Captain of the South), is one of several powerful positions granted to elvish captains by the Gwydereon of Tailimisia. It grants the Sovaraels absolute control over the southern border of Tailimisia. Brenauren is the grandson of the Lady Toveri, and has won many battles against the ogres of the Gelethmiras hills east of the Silverlode Mountains (which the elves call the Idabrimara).

Tyra Raitiroyen -- A young knight, Raitiroyen is betrothed to the Tywyn of House Alaimya, Lord Covestia. While she cares very little for her husband-to-be and generally flaunts (in the elvish style) her dalliances with other elves in Aita Valmindene, the alliance is an important one for the war party.

Drysorahisse -- Drysorahisse is a smith who lives in the courtyard-manor of the Sovaraels. She is the granddaughter of Lady Toveri, and is generally considered to be the inheritor of the Sovarael line.

House Alaimya
Heraldry: A spinning wheel surmounting a hammer and tongs, flanked by spears, on a green field
The Alaimya are a family of artisans and craftsfolk who dwell primarily in the far south of the Greatwood, in the region known as Valtimya. They are firmly in the war camp, having supported the Sovaraels since the young Lady Toveri was elevated to the position of Tywynne. They are one of the most minor great houses to have access to the Gwyderion's court.

Important Members of House Alaimya
Tywyn Covestia -- the patriarch of the house, betrothed to Tyr Raitiroyen, Covestia is two hundred and fifty years old. He succeeded to the lordship of the house when his father, Tywyn Aristoroyen, went into the West. He is an extremely changeable elf, prone even more than other elves to bouts of great fury and great sorrow. To this end, Covestia is sometimes called "the Storm."

House Tornadallion
Heraldry: A willow wand flanked by three glass beakers on a blue field
The House of Tornadallion was created only two hundred years ago, when the young Tywynne Isimilia was elevated to the status of nobility in honor of her spellcraft, which she used to shape glass into strange and beautiful forms. As a new house, it has been granted rolls of honors and commands an extremely large citizen-army. The Tornadallions were in sharp ascendence at court until their alliance with the war party placed them at odds with the Gwyderion.

The house is deeply invested in the Temple of Anunia, and the North Wind (one of the four divine offices of the Temple of the Winds) is a Tornadallion scion. Many of the temples of Anunia in the Greatwood are allied with this house. It was none other than the Lady Isimilia and her house who encouraged the war party to submit an ultimatum to the Gwyderion and demand he step down.

Important Members of House Tornadallion
Tywynne Isimilia -- a sorceress of no little skill, Ismilia raised her family to greatness and intends to keep it there. Though she has no designs on the throne of the Greatwood, she also believes she has a moral obligation to return the elves to the rule of elective kingship.

Oronunepalarien -- The North Wind, high priest in the Greatwood. Oronunepalarian (also known as simply "Palarian," "he who listens"), is a virulently anti-Elimia elf who has taken every opportunity to enhance the power of the war party.

The Gwyderion's Party
House Elimia
Heraldry: A blazing sunburst over crossed scimitars flanked by three stars
The House of Elimya was created long ago, but has seen a resurgence of life with the election of its scion, Caelatulia, to the position of Hierophant of the Noronite faith. The Elimia dominate the Council of Lights, and Elimia loyalists from a handful of lesser houses occupy the most important positions in the realm.

The Elimia command the largest army in the kingdom through their network of temporal and religious clients. The Eldamyrin (the House of Fire), Clecaran (the House of Swords), and the Lumicarainen (the House of the Weasal) are all minor houses with strong ties to the Elimia. They also have the legendary skyknights at their beck and call, who are sworn to protect the throne of Valmmindene.

Important Members of House Elimia
Gwyderion Caelatulia -- The Hierophant of the Temple of the Daystar, Caelatulia Elimia is a no-nonsense elf with an administrators understanding of centralization and power. He commands the Council of Lights with something approaching an iron fist, and whenever demonstrations occur in Valmindene, particularly those involving servants of the Great Houses that want him removed, he deploys retinues of gold-clad knights from his household.

Tyr Simiralainen -- Simiralainen is the head of Caelatulia's household guard, and is a grandmaster swordsman. He is a quiet, scowling, creature with dark hair who snarls regularly at everyone who passes by. Like the rest of the household guard of house Elimia, he wears gold gilt armor.

House Cavamirastiran
Heraldry: Five hills, each topped with a tower
The House of Cavamirastiran is one anchored in the sorcerous traditions of the elves. Each of the descendants of Cavamireon the Enchanter are trained in the sorcerous arts in addition to the paidea. This means that even the most ill-trained and irresolute of the Cavamirastiran are minor magicians.

Important Members of House Cavamirastiran
Tywyn Safarielanyrn -- The powerful sorcerer Safariel is one of the pillars of the Gwyderion's command over the Greatwood; it is well known that he is a master of High Sorcery and has delved into the mysteries of Elder Magics. It is even whispered through the Greatwood that he knows the arcane languages of the Wyrms and the Giants.

House Murhestinal
Heraldry: A weeping elf's head with long flowing hair
The Murhestinai are a house of poets and warriors. They are also known as the Weeping Elves, and there are many of their number who are dedicated sworddancers. The Murhestinai command a vast swathe of land in the center of the Greatwood and their powerful liege-levy makes up the bulk of the Greatwood's army. Indeed, it was the Murhestinai that protected the Daleadau for so many years, and fought along the fringes of Sylvasil for generations.

Important Members of House Cavamirastiran
Tywyn Leofrysin -- A grandmaster of the glaive and the sword, Leofrysin has never been defeated in single combat. He is a grave, tall, dark-haired elf with the temperament of a lyric poet.

Neutral Houses
House Malidenorainen
Heraldry: A harbor teeming with ships and surmounted by a mountain

House Doraeses
Heraldry: Three dancing elves beneath a crescent moon

Books of Arunia: On Alth'is and the Wild

This book was found by Fenrus' Very Best in the rooms of the Red Lances after their slaughter at Stock. It was first written in X.439 under the reign of King Lucas by the scholar Theodosius of Elborg.

IN THE SIXTH AGE the northern reaches of Craftsman's Reach were the location of a new revival of half-elven ancestry; the kingdom of Al'this, in response to the formation of Calantheas and Teraspis in the central Reach. The Althissan state encompassed the southern portions of what are now the Untamed Lands and the northern portions of the Reach, particularly around the Aelfwater. Rulership was confined to a number of families that grew up in and around the borders of the elven kingdom—many of the Althissan rulers were trained magicians and sorcerers who learned their craft in the haunts of Tailimisiä. This, of course, set the stage for the later antagonisms between the Thessalian lords and chiefs of the Reach and the elves of Talimisiä.

The Althissan capitol was built south of the Low Plain, straddling a number of small hills. It is, today, a windswept moor. Unlike other great cities of the past such as Temeros and Cathadria, the old city of Altem has no treasures, no secret caches of hidden gold, and no mysterious vaults. The rain and acidic soils have reclaimed most of the stone, leaving only a few great plazas of mosaic stone exposed to the bleaching sun. Perhaps it's because the kingdom was tenuous, small, and only lasted for a brief time. Perhaps it's because old Altem was never a city of any great size.

For a few brief centuries, Al'this clung to the north and its roots as a heritor of Ys. Part of that connection rested in the Al'thissan requirement that, like the later-to-follow Protectorate of Dorlinum, its supreme leaders and highest levels of functionary must all be magic-users. Wizards were the order of the day in Al'this, and a number of sites were chosen to serve as magistracies throughout the north of the land.

Contest with the dwarves of Mount Sirune and the foemen of Hard Heath and the Untamed Lands further north was inevitable. Battle rocked Al'this almost from its very first days, and Calanthea and Teraspis gave the Al'thissans no quarter along their southern border. It was with great perspicacity, then, that the Al'thissan rulers, who were known as Altharchs, made bargains with the remaining populations of stone giants throughout the Reach, drawing them inexorably northward, and awarding individual giants with generalship of the Al'thissan armies.

Even within Al'this, there was an intrinsically dangerous tension: the subjected Thessalians of the Reach, who thought of themselves as a noble people descended from the Spear-bearer, and resented the presence of Al'thissan sorcerers, who considered themselves to be descendants of the half-elves of Ys. The Thessalian retaliation that emerged in the centuries after the fall of Al'this was, of course, a concerted hatred of the Elvish powers, which ended with the war between Tholnia and Tailimisiä.