House of Vaalor: Difference between revisions
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| statement = "For honor, pride, and glory." |
| statement = "For honor, pride, and glory." |
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| founder = [[Aradhul Vaalor]] |
| founder = [[Aradhul Vaalor]] |
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| ruler = [[Qalinor Falustro Vaalor| |
| ruler = [[Qalinor Falustro Vaalor|Qalinor Vaalor]] |
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The '''House of Vaalor''' have always produced the finest warriors of the Elven race. All Vaalor, male and female, enter the military at a young age, serving for some hundred years. Perhaps because of this, they are the haughtiest of the Elves. They had little tolerance for the lesser peoples of the lands, especially mixed-breeds. They have never suffered the Elven culture or bloodlines to be tainted by others. During the height of the [[Elven Empire]], they chafed under the leadership of the [[Faendryl]], believing the high seat should be theirs. |
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The '''House of Vaalor''' was one of seven noble houses of [[elves]] in the ancient [[Elven Empire]]. It was founded by [[Aradhul Vaalor]] in -48,897. |
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[[image:Crestdragon small.jpg|200px|right]] |
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=== Early Vaalor === |
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The House of Vaalor was among the earliest elven houses to form in the [[Second Age]] when the elves first emerged from their ancestral forests. Formally founded in year 210 of the Elven Calendar (48,897 years before Modern Era), the House of Vaalor began as an alliance between the six families that settled on an island upon the Mistydeep River. [[Ta'Vaalor]], the work of the great [[Aradhul Vaalor]], was built more as a fortress than a city. As Ta'Vaalor grew and more elves flocked to join the house, Vaalor society became stratified: the original families became the landed nobility, and others were considered commoners. |
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Aradhul Vaalor established Ta'Vaalor in -48,897 at the same time as the [[House of Faendryl|Faendryl]] was created. The [[House of Nalfein|Nalfein]] elves were originally elves of the Vaalor, who split off from the Vaalor around -47,578 to form their own house. |
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Regardless of their heritage, all Vaalor elves were expected to train as soldiers. Aradhul named the Vaalorian army the "[[Crimson Legion]]", and full citizenship was restricted to those who served for a hundred years. Military advancement was based on merit (though naturally, the noble scions could afford the best tutors). Each of the noble houses also commanded a militia for their own territories. Successive campaigns led by Aradhul and the Vaalorian Patriarchs that followed him claimed wide swaths of territory for the Elven Empire, giving rise to many lesser landed noble families to administer the new holdings. Lineages were carefully recorded to ensure that those who could trace their bloodline to the city's founding were given the proper deference. |
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The greatest threat to the Vaalor occurred around -15,186 with the rise of [[Despana]] and her undead army. They marked the beginning of the [[Undead War]]. Her armies first struck the southernmost elves, among them the Vaalor. The Vaalor martialed their army under the leadership of [[Taki Rassien]] and engaged Despana's hordes in the [[Battle of Shadowguard]]. The battle lasted less than a day and was a crushing defeat of the best that the elves had. Notably was the lost of the famed military elite of the Vaalor, the undefeated knights [[Sabrar]]. Rumor persisted that Taki Rassien had personally killed the arch-lich general of Despana's army, [[Dharthiir|Daarthiir]], in a last ditch charge of the Sabrar. Regardless, the destruction of the Vaalor army, served the purpose of uniting the elves and slowing down Despana's army. |
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In year 1529 (47,578 years before Modern Era), [[Zishra Nalfein]], head of one of the major noble families, tired of the regimented traditions of the Vaalor court and left with his followers to found his own house at [[Ta'Nalfein]] along the southeastern coastline of Elanith. Ta'Nalfein would become the political center of the Elven Empire, drawing those who preferred more social fluidity. |
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=== Elven Empire === |
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During the height of the Elven Empire in the Second Age, the Vaalor clashed often with the leadership of the [[House of Faendryl]]. The other elven houses mostly deferred to the Faendryl in respect of their mastery of magic, but the Vaalor believed themselves more suited to command. While the Faendryl dedicated themselves to research, the Vaalor continued to expand the reach of the Empire, claiming territories as far west as [[Darkstone Bay]] near modern-day [[Wehnimer's Landing]], and often fought brigands from the uncivilized races. On one occasion, a Vaalorian prince was killed by a rebel group known as the "Black Wolves" led by [[Aramur Forean]]. The Vaalor sent an army to hunt them down and trapped the Black Wolves in the sea caves, where they eventually died of starvation, and -- according to legend -- became wraiths who haunt those caves to this day. |
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In the thirtieth millennium of the Empire, news began to arrive of orcs and trolls gathering in great numbers in the Southron Wastes, along with something else never before seen. The barren wastes were of little interest to the elves, however, and those strange rumors were dismissed in the elven courts. When the undead horde of [[Despana]] emerged and struck at the Elven Nations, the nobility continued to believe it was not truly a threat. [[Taki Rassien]], the greatest Vaalorian warrior of his time, led his [[Sabrar]] knights to the fortress of [[Shadowguard]], determined to stop the undead advance there. The [[Battle of ShadowGuard]] lasted less than one day. The undead destroyed the entire garrison, leaving fewer than a score of survivors. The elite Vaalor armies had been lost, along with Taki himself. (Tens of thousands of years later, a [[The Battle of ShadowGuard, A soldier's journal (An eyewitness account)|journal]] was recovered detailing what happened on that day.) |
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The defeat at Shadowguard shocked the houses into cooperation, and together with allies from the other races of Elanthia, the undead were fought to a standstill, then ultimately defeated years later at the [[Battle of Maelshyve]]. |
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The fallout from Maelshyve led to the banishment of the House of Faendryl from the Elven Nations. The next twenty millennia were known as the Age of Chaos. Power struggles consumed what remained of the Elven Empire. The outlying territories rebelled with the Vaalor army absent, too focused on safeguarding their home against the other houses. Piece by piece, the Empire that had extended over all of Elanith fractured and diminished. The Vaalor withdrew inward, maintaining their own small pocket of order and discipline but rarely deigning to venture outside their protected walls. The traditionally hereditary Vaalorian royal succession changed to an elective monarchy selected by a Council of Regents, which in turn consists primarily of members of the original five noble families. |
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=== Modern Era === |
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Approximately four thousand years ago, in year 725 of the Modern Era, the [[burghal gnome]]s made their first appearance in the Elven Nations. Starting from Ta'Nalfein and quickly spreading to Ta'Vaalor and the rest of the elven cities, [[Winedotter]] gnomes integrated easily into elven society, finding employment as household servants to the nobility. Today, many burghal gnomes are settled in an [[Burghal Gnome Enclave|enclave]] in the tunnels beneath Ta'Vaalor. |
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Some time in the recent past, an elven sorcerer named [[Virktoth]] went mad after the death of his wife and turned to necromancy, raising an army of the undead to invade Ta'Vaalor. He was slain on a hill not far northeast of the city. The area is known today as Virktoth's Hill, and various undead creatures are still drawn to it. |
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In 5112, King [[Tyrnian]] was assassinated by [[Tiope Ysinia Vaalor]], one of the Crimson Legion commanders (it was later discovered that she was under the spell of a [[Ties That Bind|powerful lich]]). [[Qalinor Falustro Vaalor]] was chosen as the successor and coronated from his position as Steward in 5113. |
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==The Vaalor Today== |
==The Vaalor Today== |
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Almost every young elf of House Vaalor, male and female, was trained in the military. |
Almost every young elf of House Vaalor, male and female, was trained in the military. |
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The king of the Vaalor elves around the time period of 5103 was [[Tyrnian Vaalor]]. King Tyrnian was assassinated in 5112, and succeeded by Lord Legionnaire Commander [[Qalinor Falustro Vaalor]], who was coronated from his position as Steward in 5113. |
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== Verbs == |
== Verbs == |
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Revision as of 05:11, 21 April 2018
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The House of Vaalor have always produced the finest warriors of the Elven race. All Vaalor, male and female, enter the military at a young age, serving for some hundred years. Perhaps because of this, they are the haughtiest of the Elves. They had little tolerance for the lesser peoples of the lands, especially mixed-breeds. They have never suffered the Elven culture or bloodlines to be tainted by others. During the height of the Elven Empire, they chafed under the leadership of the Faendryl, believing the high seat should be theirs.
History
Early Vaalor
The House of Vaalor was among the earliest elven houses to form in the Second Age when the elves first emerged from their ancestral forests. Formally founded in year 210 of the Elven Calendar (48,897 years before Modern Era), the House of Vaalor began as an alliance between the six families that settled on an island upon the Mistydeep River. Ta'Vaalor, the work of the great Aradhul Vaalor, was built more as a fortress than a city. As Ta'Vaalor grew and more elves flocked to join the house, Vaalor society became stratified: the original families became the landed nobility, and others were considered commoners.
Regardless of their heritage, all Vaalor elves were expected to train as soldiers. Aradhul named the Vaalorian army the "Crimson Legion", and full citizenship was restricted to those who served for a hundred years. Military advancement was based on merit (though naturally, the noble scions could afford the best tutors). Each of the noble houses also commanded a militia for their own territories. Successive campaigns led by Aradhul and the Vaalorian Patriarchs that followed him claimed wide swaths of territory for the Elven Empire, giving rise to many lesser landed noble families to administer the new holdings. Lineages were carefully recorded to ensure that those who could trace their bloodline to the city's founding were given the proper deference.
In year 1529 (47,578 years before Modern Era), Zishra Nalfein, head of one of the major noble families, tired of the regimented traditions of the Vaalor court and left with his followers to found his own house at Ta'Nalfein along the southeastern coastline of Elanith. Ta'Nalfein would become the political center of the Elven Empire, drawing those who preferred more social fluidity.
Elven Empire
During the height of the Elven Empire in the Second Age, the Vaalor clashed often with the leadership of the House of Faendryl. The other elven houses mostly deferred to the Faendryl in respect of their mastery of magic, but the Vaalor believed themselves more suited to command. While the Faendryl dedicated themselves to research, the Vaalor continued to expand the reach of the Empire, claiming territories as far west as Darkstone Bay near modern-day Wehnimer's Landing, and often fought brigands from the uncivilized races. On one occasion, a Vaalorian prince was killed by a rebel group known as the "Black Wolves" led by Aramur Forean. The Vaalor sent an army to hunt them down and trapped the Black Wolves in the sea caves, where they eventually died of starvation, and -- according to legend -- became wraiths who haunt those caves to this day.
In the thirtieth millennium of the Empire, news began to arrive of orcs and trolls gathering in great numbers in the Southron Wastes, along with something else never before seen. The barren wastes were of little interest to the elves, however, and those strange rumors were dismissed in the elven courts. When the undead horde of Despana emerged and struck at the Elven Nations, the nobility continued to believe it was not truly a threat. Taki Rassien, the greatest Vaalorian warrior of his time, led his Sabrar knights to the fortress of Shadowguard, determined to stop the undead advance there. The Battle of ShadowGuard lasted less than one day. The undead destroyed the entire garrison, leaving fewer than a score of survivors. The elite Vaalor armies had been lost, along with Taki himself. (Tens of thousands of years later, a journal was recovered detailing what happened on that day.)
The defeat at Shadowguard shocked the houses into cooperation, and together with allies from the other races of Elanthia, the undead were fought to a standstill, then ultimately defeated years later at the Battle of Maelshyve.
The fallout from Maelshyve led to the banishment of the House of Faendryl from the Elven Nations. The next twenty millennia were known as the Age of Chaos. Power struggles consumed what remained of the Elven Empire. The outlying territories rebelled with the Vaalor army absent, too focused on safeguarding their home against the other houses. Piece by piece, the Empire that had extended over all of Elanith fractured and diminished. The Vaalor withdrew inward, maintaining their own small pocket of order and discipline but rarely deigning to venture outside their protected walls. The traditionally hereditary Vaalorian royal succession changed to an elective monarchy selected by a Council of Regents, which in turn consists primarily of members of the original five noble families.
Modern Era
Approximately four thousand years ago, in year 725 of the Modern Era, the burghal gnomes made their first appearance in the Elven Nations. Starting from Ta'Nalfein and quickly spreading to Ta'Vaalor and the rest of the elven cities, Winedotter gnomes integrated easily into elven society, finding employment as household servants to the nobility. Today, many burghal gnomes are settled in an enclave in the tunnels beneath Ta'Vaalor.
A cult of V'tull in the city was actively repressed in the year 2537 by Vaalor authorities after uprisings and no evidence of resurgence has arisen since.
Some time in the recent past, an elven sorcerer named Virktoth went mad after the death of his wife and turned to necromancy, raising an army of the undead to invade Ta'Vaalor. He was slain on a hill not far northeast of the city. The area is known today as Virktoth's Hill, and various undead creatures are still drawn to it.
In 5102, the Second Battle of Shadowguard occurred, this time as undead armies of the Dark Alliance assaulted the elven city-states in search of a shard of the Griffin Sword. In this battle, the Vaalor military defeated their undead opponent.
In 5112, King Tyrnian was assassinated by Tiope Ysinia Vaalor, one of the Crimson Legion commanders (it was later discovered that she was under the spell of a powerful lich). Qalinor Falustro Vaalor was chosen as the successor and coronated from his position as Steward in 5113.
The Vaalor Today
Vaalor society assumed a very martial bearing and were considered to field the finest Elven army. Their very city, Ta'Vaalor, was built as a fortress and all Vaalor elves were required to serve in the Vaalor military for a period of no less than a hundred years. Vaalor was also the largest of the Elven houses.
Almost every young elf of House Vaalor, male and female, was trained in the military.
Verbs
{verb} set {standard/culture}
| Verb | First Person | Third Person |
|---|---|---|
| GIGGLE | Just as you are about to giggle you remember that soldiers don't act like schoolgirls. | There is no third-person messaging. |
| SALUTE (holding item) | You snap to attention and bring your (item) to your chest in salute. | Elf snaps to attention and crisply brings her (item) to her chest in salute. |
| SALUTE (empty hands) | You snap to attention and strike your chest with a closed fist. | Elf snaps to attention and crisply strikes her chest with a closed fist. |
| SALUTE <self> (holding item) | You snap to attention and bring your (item) to your chest in salute, practicing your form. | Elf snaps to attention and crisply brings her (item) to her chest in salute, practicing her form. |
| SALUTE <self> (empty hands) | You snap to attention and strike your chest with a closed fist, practicing your form. | Elf snaps to attention and crisply strikes her chest with a closed fist, practicing her form. |
| SALUTE <person> (holding item) | You snap to attention and bring your (item) to your chest in a display of respect to (target). | Elf snaps to attention and crisply brings her (item) to her chest in a display of respect to (target). |
| SALUTE <person> (empty hands) | You snap to attention and strike your chest with a closed fist in a display of respect to (target). | Elf snaps to attention and crisply strikes her chest with a closed fist in a display of respect to (target). |
| SALUTE <creature> (holding item) | You snap to attention and bring your (item) to your chest in a honorific display towards (target). May the best warrior win! | Elf snaps to attention and brings her (item) to her chest in a honorific display towards (target). May the best warrior win! |
| SALUTE <creature> (empty hands) | You snap to attention and strike your chest with a closed fist in a honorific display towards (target). May the best warrior win! | Elf snaps to attention and strikes her chest with a closed fist in a honorific display towards (target). May the best warrior win! |
| SALUTE <object> (holding target) | You snap to attention and crisply raise your (item) in salute. | Elf snaps to attention and crisply raises her (item) in salute. |
| SALUTE <object> (holding item) | You snap to attention and bring your (object) to your chest in a display of respect to (target). | Elf snaps to attention and brings her (object) to her chest in a display of respect to (target). |
| SALUTE <object> (empty hands) | You snap to attention and strike your chest with a closed fist in a display of respect to (target). | Elf snaps to attention and strikes her chest with a closed fist in a display of respect to (target). |
| SCREAM | You bolster your morale with a Vaalor call to arms, belting out in (language), "(random message as noted below)!" | Elf belts out in (language), "(random message)!" A look of renewed pride overcomes her expression. |
| Elf belts out in (language), "For Honor, Pride, and Glory!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "Remember Shadowguard!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "{Elf's family name}!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "For the honor of Noble Qalinor!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "For the glory of the Fortress!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "For the pride of the Vaalor!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| Elf belts out in (language), "Remember the Sabrar!" A look of renewed pride overcomes his expression. | ||
| TURN | You turn in a slow, precise circle, assessing your surroundings from every direction. | Elf turns her head in a slow, precise movement, assessing her surroundings. |
| TURN <self> | You turn sharply on your heel, reversing direction with military precision. | Elf turns sharply on her heel, reversing direction with military precision. |
| TURN <person> / <creature> / <object> | With military precision, you turn sharply on your heel to face (target). | With military precision, her turns sharply on her heel to face (target). |
External Links
| Elf - edit | |
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| Great Houses: | |
| Major Settlements: | |
| The Founders: | |
| Famous Elves: | |
| Rulers: | |