Post by Dungeon Master on Apr 22, 2024 22:38:43 GMT -5
Story of the Elven Exiles
Inath-Wakenti, Valley of the Blue Sands
Inath-Wakenti, Valley of the Blue Sands
The Elven Exiles trilogy begins in spring 426 AC and ends in spring 428 AC.
Khalkist Mountains
Skyfire Mountains
Northern Khur
Inath-Wakenti meaning "Vale of Silence" is the elvish name for a horseshoe-shaped valley near where the desert of Khur meets the Khalkist Mountains. The legends of the elves claim that this was the first place on Krynn where the gods set foot in corporeal form, henceforth serving as a kind of neutral ground. This place is known by the people of Khur as the "Valley of the Blue Sands" because of the bright blue-green color of its soil, which also seems to absorb sound. While Khurish city-folk dismiss it as legend, the nomads of Khur consider it sacred to their gods and allow no one to enter it.
The ancient elven sorcerer Vedvedsica was also rumored to have been exiled to the Vale of Silence by Speaker of the Stars Silvanos Goldeneye for some unnamed, terrible transgression.
Post War of Souls
A few years after the War of Souls, Speaker of the Sun and Stars Gilthas Pathfinder sent his wife Kerianseray on an expedition to the valley to estimate whether it could serve as a new homeland for the elven race. The valley has a much better climate than the rest of Khur, being spared the blistering heat of the desert. A wide and shallow stream - named the Lioness' Creek by Qualinesti archivist Favaronas - provides clear water.
Even though cedars and pines are plentiful, there are no animals and insects in the valley. Ancient lichen-free ruins built from huge stone blocks, large monolithic spires and paved roads are clear signs that the valley was inhabited in the distant past though by what race remains unknown. Beneath the spires (perhaps sealed by them) are misty tunnels decorated with beautiful Silvanesti paintings depicting the Thon-Thalas strangely devoid of living beings. The only "inhabitants" of Inath-Wakenti seem to be small globes of light with various colors (red, yellow, blue, green, white and smoky orange) that make any living being they touch disappear and ghostly apparitions that look different to different individuals.
From the Story of the Pathfinder -Speaker of the Sun and Stars Gilthas Kanan
Following the last disastrous foray into Silvanesti in 426 AC, Gilthas declared that they would no longer throw elven lives away by trying to take back the elven nation. Instead, his people would try and find a new temporary sanctuary for his people. He found a valley called the Inath-Wakenti and he had his wife lead a contingent of scouts to investigate it.
While his wife was gone, an assassin tried to kill him when he was hit by an arrow on the right side in the hollow of his neck and it also cut his jaw. When his servant Planchet pulled the arrow from his body, he did not pass out from the pain of it ripping out of his body. His life was attempted on by the Khurish Prince Shobbat who shot an arrow from three miles away with the aid of magic. Gilthas would not allow his people to go to war over this and held them in check. Eventually, when his wife came back from her scouting trip, she did some things that were detrimental against the elves living in Khur against the people of Khur. Gilthas had to do the hardest thing of his speakership and that was to strip her of her command. When the Khur Nomads showed up following this, she took control of most of the army in a rebellion to attack the nomads. Before this could happen, Gilthas' people were able to talk things out with the nomads, and when Kerianseray was going to give herself up, the Khan's soldiers crushed the nomads and Kerianseray disappeared. Gilthas was heartbroken, but he decided to march his people to Inath-Wakenti.
Despite the sudden disappearance of his wife, Gilthas knew deep within himself that she was not dead and dispatched a search party to go and find her while he and the rest of the elven nation continued its march to Inath-Wakenti.
While Gilthas and his people journeyed through the harsh desert of Khur. They were continually attacked by the Nomad tribes led by Adala. It was the Nomads belief that it was their fate to keep the Valley of the High Ones free from the elves. Another reason for the aggression was due in part to the misconception that the elves were responsible for the massacre of a nomadic tribe of Adala's. Which was actually brought about by a creature sent to kill the Lioness by the wizard Faertus. Mainly by virtue of the Speaker's resolve, the elves were able to withstand the constant attacks of the Nomads. Gilthas lead his people to a section of rocky outpeaks called the Lion's Teeth for shelter. Gilthas then finds that he is suffering from the illness consumption that is ravaging his body from the insides out. The Nomads capture, maim, and return a group of elves to Gilthas on Lion's Teeth.
With the help of a Nomad named Wapah who sees that Adala is wrong for her actions. Gilthas and the elves sneak off Lion's Teeth and make a final push for Inath-Wakenti. While the group of maimed elves led by his closest friend Planchet stay behind to make the Nomads think the elves are still there and fight the Nomads who might pursue the elven nation. Gilthas is very upset as he knows Planchet and the maimed elves have basically volunteered for a suicide mission. Nonetheless Gilthas departs for the Valley.
After discovering their trickery, the Nomads pursue the elves and position themselves between the elves and the valley. Gilthas leads his people in what he feels may be their last stand. Facing certain defeat Gilthas suffers a wound to his head and falls. While looking up to the sky he sees dark figures approach. The search party he had sent out was successful in finding Kerian, as well as Porthios and Alhana Starbreeze. Together with a small band of fighters mounted on Griffons, the Lioness swoops down from the sky to save the elven nation from destruction at the hands of the Nomads. Gilthas then leads his people into the Inath-Wakenti to establish a new home for the united elven nation.
The Valley of Inath-Wakenti
After the final confrontation with the desert Nomads. Gilthas led the united elven nation into the Valley he hoped would be their salvation. Free from the scorching heat and the violent attacks from the Nomads, the elves rejoiced. Their joy was short lived however, as life in the valley was exactly as Kerian had described it to Gilthas previously. Lifeless. Not only was there no food to be had. There were also strange Will O' The Wisps that dogged any elves that might venture too far into the valley. The Wisps were responsible for many an elf disappearing from the camp. Confronted with these new developments, Gilthas had to do his best to avoid a public confrontation with Porthios. Porthios was pushing very hard to take control of the Elven Armies and go to war to reclaim the elven homelands. On top of everything else the disease Gilthas was suffering was starting to take its toll on his health.
A grand meeting of all elves called a Sinthal-Elish was called. During which, Porthios made his play to sway the elves to fight. Gilthas decided to let all the elves to choose which road their fate would take them. Any elves wishing to leave with Porthios and Alhana had his blessing to do so. The Lioness was conflicted about her desires, but chose to stand by her husband and his decision to stay in the Valley and move onward to establish a new elven stronghold. With the decision made, Gilthas began in earnest the process of deciphering the mysteries of Inath-Wakenti. He and the elven scholars pored over every piece of information they had in their possession that could help them make a new life for themselves in the Valley, but the more they found out, the more questions arose. Gilthas remained steadfast though, even if every other elf left with Porthios, he would stay and let fate decide his destiny in the valley.
The next day the elves brought about the division of the elven nation once again. Basically, every elven warrior, save for a few hundred, decided to ride with Porthios to take back Qualinesti. The civilian elves were to remain with their Speaker in the valley. Porthios told Kerian the route he planned to take fully expecting Gilthas to be dead soon from his disease. Once Porthios and the Army of Liberation departed he turned and began his journey into the valley by stepping into Lioness Creek which had been named after his wife.
As the elves journeyed into the Valley, Gilthas found that it was much as his wife had described. Lifeless and filled with ghostly spirits and weird creatures of light. The valley was also filled with massive stone monoliths that looked to have been shaped and placed in some pattern. Other phenomena that plagued the elves was the continuing disappearance of their dwindling food supply. They valley seemed intent on making sure the elves were to perish by starvation or outright destruction by the Will O' The Wisps. If these lights touched a person, they immediately blinked out of existence. Kerian believed the wisps to be guardians of the valley. Not just keeping the living out, but keeping whatever, they were guarding in. Kerian also told Gilthas of the massive tunnel system which ran under the valley. Somehow there was a greater story about the valley that was eluding them thus far. During this time the rouge wizard Faertus had made his way back into the valley and was heading to what he called the Stair of Distant Vision with an elf captive named Favaronus who was with Kerian's original scouting party. Favaronus began to decipher the lost scrolls of the valley, and Faertus needed him to finish the translation that would bring about a spell that would kill all the elves.
After an attack by ghostly spirits Gilthas became even more ill. It was also wondered if Lady Sa'ida who was a cleric of Elir-Sana (Mishakal) would be able to help cure Gilthas as well as lend advice in dealing with the dead spirits. Kerian departed immediately to get the priestess. It was also around the time Favaronus was visited by spirits telling him how how might be able to stop the wizard Faertus. Kerian returned with the priestess just in time to save Gilthas form dying, although not fully curing him. Sa'ida also helped the elves protect themselves from the ghostly attacks. It was then that Faertus began the complex spell that would use the valley's hidden power to destroy the elves. During the chaos the spell was creating in the valley, Gilthas began to hemorrhage blood internally and slowly began to die. Just as Faertus began to recite the last line of the spell, he was killed by a Dark Knight who had mistaken him for the since departed Porthios.
With that Favaronus finished the spell and unleashed the valley's hidden power that restored life to Inath-Wakenti.
The unleashed power also restored Gilthas back to full health as well the rest of the elven nation. Inath-Wakenti became a utopia in a matter of minutes. Flora and fauna were everywhere. The elves finally had a place to call home.
As Sa'ida journeyed back to her home she was paid a visit by Zivilyn, who she found out was the "guiding" force behind the elves success. For this he was to be banished from the heavens for 500 years and lose his divine powers, while inhabiting the body of an elderly man. To him the survival of the elf race was worth it. Kerian also bore Gilthas a son he named Balif. And as soon as she was able flew off to join Porthios in his war to reclaim the elven homelands. It would be up to Gilthas to raise his son in the meantime.