Aerenal

The island-continent kingdom of the elves radiates with magic. Jungles of bronzewood and densewood blanket the land, and the boundaries between life and death have become blurred and indistinct in the ancient elf civilization. The honored dead of Aerenal walk among the living. The Sibling Kings call upon the ancient lords of the Undying Court for guidance, and the ranks of the elf armies overflow with heroes who died in glorious battle. In the depths of the City of the Dead, the elf kings of ages past chart the movement of the Ring of Siberys and prepare for greater days to come.

The elves of Aerenal have always revered their ancestors. Once slaves of the giant tribes of Xen’drik, the ancient Aereni elves bought their freedom with blood and magic, and elf bards still sing of their heroic deeds. In the center of the island-continent lies a region where necromantic energy flows easily, and it was here that the elf Priests of Transition discovered the rites and rituals required to preserve their elders beyond death. Sustained by the veneration of their descendants, these undying elves have guided their country for more than twenty thousand years. The strength of the deathless has carried Aerenal through conflicts with hobgoblins, humans, and even the dragons of Argonnessen. Yet the Aereni have never sought to conquer; their undying armies have always fought in defense of the nation.

Because of a superstitious fear of the walking dead and the isolationist attitude of the elves of Aerenal, few humans ever visit the island continent and those who do rarely venture beyond the port city of Pylas Talaear. Thus, the island-continent remains a mystery. What ancient treasures are hidden in the City of the Dead? What magic lurks in the Densewood Jungle? And what has driven the conflicts between dragons and elves?

Location

Straddling the Thunder Sea and the Dragonreach Sea, the island nation of Aerenal lies between the continents of Khorvaire and Argonnessen roughly at the equator of Eberron.

Society

Aerenal is an ancient nation. It watched the goblin empires of Khorvaire rise and fall, saw the arrival of humans and the common races, and observed the formation of the Kingdom of Galifar. The elves respect their elders and are devoted to their ancestors. Over the course of thousands of years, elf families have developed distinctive customs, including manners of dress, speech, art, and the use of magic.

Despite the cultural differences that have developed over the millennia, a number of common factors tie the Aereni families together. Most families are extremely insular. They have a strong belief in the importance of preserving their ancestral blood, and generally marry within their own lines; they appear to have few of the negative genetic markers that cause problems for human families that maintain a closed breeding pool. Humans often see the Aereni as cold and distant, but the truth is that most elves are uncomfortable around strangers, especially non-elves. They can predict the behavior of other families and read the emotions of their own kin with ease. But the unpredictable behavior of the shorter-lived races is disconcerting, and until an elf comes to know and trust an outsider, he usually shields his emotions behind an inscrutable façade.

Another trait shared by the Aereni is their attitude toward death. For the elves, death is not something to be feared; instead, it is embraced and ultimately welcomed. Each family expresses this attitude in a different way. Some wear intricate death masks. Others tattoo their faces with skulls or similar patterns. Members of the line of Jhaelian mimic the appearance of the undying while they are still alive, using magical and alchemical substances to induce rigor and apparent decomposition of the flesh. While all these customs are striking, there are many families that internalize their respect of the dead and do not demonstrate it in a physical form.

As for the deathless themselves, they are concentrated in the great cities of the nation’s interior. A family estate may have an honor guard of undying soldiers and an undying councilor advising the living elders of the line, but the majority of the undying gather in the City of the Dead. Regardless of family, all Aereni respect the undying as heroes of their race and always treat them with respect and deference. Many humans who hear about this assume that Aerenal is a land of vampires and zombies, when in fact nothing could be farther from the truth. An undying soldier or councilor is an undead creature, but it is charged with positive energy and sustained by the devotion of its descendants. Vampires, liches, and their ilk are abhorrent creatures that destroy life to preserve their own existence, and they are seen as a perversion of the undying. The creation of mindless undead, such as zombies and skeletons, is seen as an unforgivable insult to the body and soul of the deceased.

A final element that permeates all levels of the culture of Aerenal is immense racial pride, a superiority complex that extends thousands of years into the past. The elves of Aerenal are among the most accomplished wizards of Eberron. Their ancestors walk among them, and the greatest of the undying have almost godlike power. Their nation has driven off the dragons of Argonnessen not once, but multiple times. The elves are not blatantly arrogant. Instead, they are completely self-assured, possessing an unshakable faith in their peoples’ place in the world.

Religion

The Aereni tradition of ancestor worship has evolved considerably since the birth of the Undying Court. Instead of revering those ancestors long dead, the Aereni venerate the dead that remain. In the eyes of the elves, existence is a spiritual journey that takes thousands of years to accomplish—a journey only the undying can complete. Thus, the Aereni honor the deathless who are on this final path, but their true deity is the combined essence of the ascended councilors, the undying who have journeyed beyond life and death to reach the final destination of the elven soul. While the ascendant councilors can still take physical form, the elves do not worship them as individual deities. Instead, they revere the ascendant union as the ultimate embodiment of the elf race. As a result of these beliefs, the Aereni do not fear death.

On the contrary, it is a state to be desired as the next step on the path to ascension. However, an elf must earn the right to walk this path. The Priests of Transition are the ambassadors to the Undying Court, and it is these clerics who judge the achievements of an elven life and decide the fate of a candidate. Those who have shown tremendous heroism and skill at arms may be reborn as undying soldiers, while the wisest among the elves become undying councilors. An elf judged to be flawed or foolish may be left to die, leaving room for a stronger spirit to enter the community. But more often than not, the Priests of Transition use raise dead to restore a fallen elf so that he may continue his journey along the path of existence.

The elves believe that it is the devotion of the family that preserves the spirits of the undying. As a result, an elf is expected to be deeply familiar with the lives of his undying ancestors, and to show respect to all of the undying. The Tairnadal elves of Valenar and Northern Aerenal have a different focus. While they respect the elders of the Undying Court, they worship the spirits of the warriors of Xen’drik—elves who fell long before the Undying Court was raised. The Tairnadal priests are known as the Keepers of the Past, and their ranks include both clerics and bards. At birth (or upon joining the Tairnadal, in the case of a half-elf or Aereni recruit) the Keepers of the Past consult the spirits to determine an elf’s patron ancestor. The Tairnadal believe that by emulating the behavior of their patron ancestors, they give those ancestors a chance to live again in the current generation.

Industries

Aerenal is best known for its mystical lumber. Due to the magical resonance of the land, densewood, livewood, soarwood, and bronzewood trees only grow on the island continent; darkwood also flourishes in the jungles, though these trees can be found in other lands. The elves take care to limit the amount of this miraculous lumber that they export. They have a long view of life, and have no intention of deforesting the land for quick profit. The elves of Aerenal are some of the best carpenters and woodworkers on Eberron, and they export wooden items of all types, from works of art to fine weapons. The lumber and leaves of darkwood and bronzewood trees can be used to produce beautiful and effective weapons and armor. In addition, herbs and plants found only in the Aerenal jungles are useful for the creation of necromantic potions and magic items, while others are invaluable in funerary rituals and for preserving corpses.

Government and Politics

Two forces govern Aerenal. The Sibling Kings hold all temporal power. By ancient tradition, the nation must be ruled by a bonded brother and sister. When either sibling dies, the Undying Court selects a new pair to rule. The Sibling Kings are seen as the living embodiment of Aerenal, and the conduit for the power of the Undying Court. The current siblings are Belaereth and Tezaera of the line of Mendyrian.

While the Sibling Kings guide the daily affairs of Aerenal, the Undying Court shapes the destiny of the elf race. This council of the deathless selects, advises, and empowers the rulers of the land. The motives of the Undying Court cannot be understood by mortal beings; their plans stretch out over millennia. But those who have studied the elves—and their conflicts with the dragons in particular—are convinced that the deathless have a goal whose fruition may still be centuries away. Indeed, since the deathless measure existence in time spans that even dragons cannot imagine, their machinations and plots worry the dragons no end.

Each family owes obeisance to the Sibling Kings and the Undying Court, but each has its own traditions of an internal rule. Some are matriarchal, some are patriarchal, and others have their own sibling lords.

Power Groups

Dragonmarked Houses

The dragonmarked houses have been allowed to operate only in the port city of Pylas Talaear. Since the destruction of the line of Vol and the more recent Shadow Schism, most Aereni views the dragonmarked with a certain degree of suspicion, even those of the two elven houses.

The Cairdal Blades

A small, elite force, the Cairdal Blades consist mostly of fighters and rogues, along with a few wizards to provide magical support. A few undying soldiers of legendary reputation bolster the Blades’ power. Due to the traces of Phiarlan blood still coursing through Aerenal, the Mark of Shadow appears once or twice in each generation. Elves bearing this mark are always inducted into the Blades and generally trained as rogues. Superbly trained and well equipped, the Cairdal Blades provide Aerenal with a highly effective force that can operate across Eberron. In theory, the Blades serve the Sibling Kings, but some believe that their first loyalty is to the Undying Court; is there a cabal within the Court carrying out plans that the living rulers of Aerenal know nothing about?

The Deathguard

An elite order of knights and priests, the Deathguard is dedicated to the utter eradication of all negatively charged undead and the necromancers who defile the souls and bodies of the dead. Created to battle the corrupted spirits of the realm, the Deathguard played a critical role in the destruction of the line of Vol; to this day it continues to fight the Blood of Vol cult. With their skull-tattooed faces and artificially decomposed flesh, members of the Deathguard often resemble blackguards more than paladins.

The Tairnadal

These warrior elves inhabit the northern steppes of Aerenal, where they can better care for the warhorses their ancestors brought from Xen’drik. The Tairnadal have a more active and aggressive culture than the elves of the jungle. They seek to honor their ancestors by emulating their heroic deeds in the present. In the last few millennia, many younger elves of southern bloodlines have left their homes to join the Tairnadal, and what was once a minor sect is slowly becoming a significant force on the island.

There are three major groups among the Tairnadal. The Valaes Tairn is the largest; these elves believe that glory in battle is the highest goal, regardless of the nature of the foe. Most of these elves left Aerenal during the Last War and now control the nation of Valenar. The two smaller groups are the Silaes Tairn, who are determined to return to Xen’drik and reclaim the ancient realm of the elves, and the Draleus Tairn, who wish to destroy the dragons of Argonnessen.

Relations between the Tairnadal and the elves of the Undying Court are cordial. They honor the same ancestors and respect the shared blood that flows through their veins. The southern Aereni feel that the Tairnadal waste their blood by refusing to become undying after death; the northern elves believe the elves of the jungle spend too much time dreaming of the past instead of acting in the present.

The Stillborn

Long ago, the line of Jhaelian began the practice of physically altering its living members to resemble the undead. In recent centuries, this practice has spread to a handful of disaffected youths in other families.

In Aerenal, undeath must be earned. These younger elves are arrogant and impatient; they believe that their souls are being unfairly trapped in mortal flesh. Calling themselves the Stillborn, these rebellious youths have long demanded the right to be reborn. The elders have ignored the Stillborn, holding to the traditions of Aerenal. But the sect may be more dangerous than the elves believe. The Blood of Vol is determined to seize the island of Aerenal—and recently the cult has formed an alliance with the Stillborn. Many of the elves are willing to accept vampirism or lichdom in lieu of becoming deathless, and the sect may play a critical role in any Vol scheme involving Aerenal.

While elves of the line of Jhaelian share the undead appearance of the Stillborn, the Jhaelian family is loyal to the Undying Court; the Deathguard includes many Jhaelian elves. This may be a source of confusion or conflict if adventurers who fought the Stillborn later encounter Jhaelian elves.

History

Elven civilization began on the continent of Xen'drik. The elves were slaves to the giants of Xen'drik for thousands of years. Thirty-nine thousand years ago the elves went against their giant masters and started a war for freedom, but both sides lost. The giants were destroyed and the elves had to leave or they would have been destroyed with the giants. A visionary named Aeren lead the elves away and to the island of Aerenal, which was named in commemoration of their leader (who died shortly after arrival). With the giants dead, and no need to fight, the elven tribes started to separate, but unlike before they stayed in contact with each other. The elves shared a common reverence for their ancestors and with the war ended and arcane knowledge they gained from their former masters most elves set the sword aside and took up the path of the book. The elves dedicated themselves to the study of magic, mysticism and a way to avoid loosing their elders. The art of necromancy became very interesting to the elves. In time, two schools of thought came to dominate the field of necromancy: the techniques of the line of Vol, which many blame for the spread of vampirism into Khorvaire; and the traditions of the Priests of Transition, which focused on positive energy and the power of Irian. The way of the Priests of Transition won out and the tribes united in support of the cult of The Undying Court. The Tribes became the noble lines of the elves. To this day The Undying Court rules the land.

Major Settlements

Most of the inhabitants of the jungle live in communities dedicated to a single family line. They are called estates but are in fact self-sufficient towns of up to three thousand elves. The Tairnadal prefer to stay in motion, but a handful of small villages are scattered across the northern steppes. In addition to the estates, Aerenal has a few larger cities where the different families mingle freely with the undying. Three of these are described below. One feature common to all Aereni communities is the prevalence of monuments. The elves believe that it is vitally important to remember and honor the deeds of their ancestors, and monuments of densewood or stone are scattered throughout every city or estate.

The City of the Dead (Metropolis, 42,460)

While Shae Cairdal is the seat of the rulers of Aerenal, Shae Mordai, the City of the Dead, is the spiritual heart of the nation. Built at the center of a flow of necromantic energy, this ancient metropolis is the home of the Undying Court, the great council of deathless elves that guides the destiny of the elf race. The City of the Dead is the only city in Aerenal built from stone instead of densewood. It is cluttered with shrines and monuments dedicated to past heroes, including those who now reside in the Undying Court as well as the ancient heroes of Xen’drik. The city is a center for arcane study and a place of worship, as well as the only place where the ritual of the undying can be performed. As a result, commerce is minimal despite the city’s size, and visitors of other races usually receive a cold welcome.

Undying soldiers can be found throughout the city, and undying councilors can be seen consulting with arcane scholars and advising visiting descendants. A vast area at the center of the city is devoted to the Undying Court itself. The Priests of Transition and the Sibling Kings are the only living beings allowed to enter the confines of the court. Whispered tales say that the court is far larger than it appears and that hundreds of mystical guardians and traps protect it. Rumored to hold the greatest Aereni treasures, including relics of ancient Xen’drik, the court has never been breached by thief or force. The City of the Dead is built on a manifest zone tied to the plane of Irian, the Eternal Day. Within the city, spells that use positive energy, including cure spells, are maximized, while spells that use negative energy, including inflict spells, are impeded.

Shae Cairdal (Metropolis, 52,460)

The largest city in Aerenal, Shae Cairdal is the capital of the Sibling Kings. Built by the Aereni shortly after their exodus from Xen’drik, Shae Cairdal is a fortress surrounded by walls of densewood, although over the millennia the city has expanded and spread far beyond the original walls. In addition to being the royal seat, Shae Cairdal is a center for commerce and diplomacy between the largely isolated family lines of the elves. While members of other races are rarely seen, the cultures and styles of the families are so distinctive that Shae Cairdal often feels more cosmopolitan than Sharn. In addition to a vast marketplace where different families trade their goods, the city includes a number of arcane universities, an enormous temple of the Priests of Transition, and the barracks and training ground of the army of Aerenal. The city also has the second highest population of undying in Aerenal. It is no match for the City of the Dead, but deathless scholars and advisers can be found throughout Shae Cairdal, and a considerable number of the guards and soldiers are members of the undying.

Pylas Talaear (Small City, 10,460)

This port city is the primary point of contact between Aerenal and the rest of Eberron. It includes outposts of all of the dragonmarked houses except for House Orien. The primary purpose of the city is commerce; it does have one mystical university, but Pylas is filled with lumber yards, warehouses, and marketplaces selling a wide variety of goods. The governor of Pylas Talaear, Syraen Melideth (LN female elf, wizard 13), is a beautiful elf with a full-sized skull tattooed on her face. Syraen took her post at the start of the Last War, and over the last century has come to view humans more sympathetically than most of her kind. However, she is ruthless when it comes to maintaining order within her city, and adventurers must watch their step in Pylas Talaear.