Eldenora

Unified Principalities of Eldenora
Capital	Duadon
Demonym	Eldenoran Eldenorian
Government	Principality
Ruler	Unknown (MS 5103) Lord Vandyan (MS 5083–MS 5092)
Population	137,000+ (MS 5050)
Currency	Gold Crown
Resources	Timber, agriculture, silver, shipbuilding
Relations	Part of the Stornlands Delden (enemy, MS 5083) Magador (enemy, MS 5083) Lyris (enemy, MS 5083)

The Unified Principalities of Eldenora, more commonly referred to as simply Eldenora, is a country in the Stornlands. Its capital is Duadon. It is an unstable country, with constant fighting amongst itself and its neighbours.

History

Early history

Eldenora was first settled by the Vaderish and Aluvian migrants from Southern Magnamund, tempted by its rich timber valleys and silver mines. The first settlers guarded their lands jealously, forcing later migrants to settle in Slovia and Salony instead. This jealous trait became a feature amongst Eldenorans, leading them to fight amongst themselves and their neighbours. The first King of Eldenora was murdered in his sleep after barely two years of rule, and since then, few princes of Eldenora have gained enough support to declare themselves King.

During the Age of the Black Moon, Eldenora fought and lost various wars with Delden, losing land in the process. The Knights of the Owl, who established Delden, disintegrated after the War of the Lorestone, and the House of Naumon of Eldenora claimed the crown of Delden. After Vashna's death, Eldenora enjoyed a rare moment of stability, with its citizens choosing to band together to recover from the Darklords. This unity broke down within a decade, as Eldenora returned to civil war.

During MS 5000, Eldenora was ruled by King Tellian, attaining the title of King via his alliance with Talestria, and his considerable diplomatic skill.

Lutha's tyranny

Some time before MS 5077, Lutha, a lowborn blackguard, became the ruler of Eldenora, styling himself the "Prince of Duadon". Lutha had become a follower of Darkness, and collaborated with the evil Plague Lords of Ruel. During this time, a plague struck the towns of Nursha and Abisko. In MS 5077, during the events of Dawn of the Dragons, Eldenora declared war on Palmyrion, attempting to seize its northern territories. At the same time, Lutha, aware of Lone Lone Wolf's plans to return to Sommerlund to defend the Kai Monastery against dragons summoned by Naar, attempted to stop him, including employing an assassin, who was caught.

Depending on the actions of the player, if Lone Wolf chose to go via Duadon to reach Sommerlund, he was arrested outside of the capital. In his cell, Lutha attempted to destroy Lone Wolf with a ring of green crystal. Lone Wolf either deflected the blast (killing Lutha), or fought and killed Lutha, or was blasted and played dead. Either way, Lone Wolf escaped into an underground river, and eventually reached Rhem in Salony.

Vandyan and the Runes of Agarash

In MS 5083, prior to the events of Rune War, Prince Lutha fell, and Lord Vandyan crushed all opposition to became the new ruler of Eldenora. Vandyan hired Magadorian and Ogian mercenaries, and falsely accused Delden of violating his territory. Delden raised its armies to discourage any possible aggression, which Vandyan used as a pretext to attack. Delden quickly fell, and Vandyan enslaved its people. Vandyan did not stop there, attacking Magador with its own mercenaries, which quickly fell too. Salony too fell by mid-summer, and Vandyan turned his attention to Lyris. Vandyan's invasion of Lyris was brutal, with many atrocities committed, particularly in southern Lyris. By this point, Vandyan had found and awakened the power of the Runes of Agarash, allowing him to bolster his armies with the Vorka, a breed of Agarashi long-extinct. Gwynian the Sage requested that the Kai help defend Lyris, and Lone Wolf agreed, declaring a crusade against Eldenora.

The Kai rode to Lyris, and setup camp outside of Varetta, which was under siege. In secret, Lone Wolf then sent Grand Master on a quest to destroy the Runes of Agarash in Vandyan's fortress of Skull-Tor, knowing that this was the only way to truly remove the threat of the Vorka. Grand Master infiltrated Duadon, meeting Hulsta and Delissa, Gwynian's agents there. Hulsta led Grand Master through a secret underground tunnel to Skull-Tor, but was crushed by a rockfall in the process, forcing Grand Master to continue alone. In the meantime, Vandyan spoke with his commanders, declaring his ambitions to pincer in the Kai from Casiorn, but also to summon Zorkaan the Soultaker to Magnamund, as well as the Vaag, the most ruthless and deadly of all Agarashi. Grand Master, who overheard this speech, made their way further into Skull-Tor, eventually destroying the Runes of Agarash, and fleeing Vandyan's pursuing forces. Vandyan placed a 10,000 Gold Crown bounty on Grand Master's head, while they hid in Delissa's home. Despite the bounty and intense security in Duadon, Grand Master managed to escape, and left Eldenora on Banedon's Cloud-dancer skyship. The destruction of the Runes also halted Vandyan's aggression, releasing the siege on Varetta, and forcing his troops to retreat.

Acolytes of Vashna takeover

Vandyan's failure made him expendable towards the other forces of Darkness, although he retained power in Eldenora. In MS 5092, Delissa sparked an uprising against his tyranny, intending for him to be arrested and tried for his crimes. However, the Acolytes of Vashna manipulated this. They arranged for Vandyan's assassination, blaming it on Delden. Yet at the same time, they manipulated King Loarn of Delden into invading Eldenora to conquer its northern timberlands. This resulted in a war, the War of the Warrens, which Delden won in MS 5093, gaining territory and tribute. The Acolytes of Vashna took advantage of the chaos and misery to gather more recruits to their cause, and eventually took control over Eldenora. They placed a bounty on Delissa's head, forcing her to flee to Varetta with Gwynian the Sage's help.

In MS 5102, The Acolytes of Vashna began to congregate in the ancient northern Lyrisian city of Emolyria, and at the same time, Magador invaded Lyris without a declaration of war. With Lyris struggling with so many threats, they were forced to resort to employing mercenaries from their old, hated foes of Eldenora.

Geography

Eldenora is part of the Stornlands, to the south-west. Its eastern border largely follows the River Storn. It is bordered by Delden to the north, Salony and Slovia to the east, and Palmyrion to the south and west. The River Reloni flows through the middle of Eldenora.

Politics

Eldenora is a Principality, ruled by a Prince. Eldenora, much like the Stornlands is prone to infighting, as well as conflicts with its neighbours. One of its major titles is "Prince of Duadon", a contentious title given Eldenora's instability.

Known rulers of Eldenora

• King Tellian (during MS 5050)
• Prince Cillan of Tyssek (during MS 5050)
• Prince Lutha (MS 5077–MS 5083)
• Lord Vandyan (MS 5083–MS 5092)
• Under the control of someone loyal to the Acolytes of Vashna (MS 5092–present)

Economy

Eldenora is rich in resources, with lush timber forests to the north, and silver mines. Timber, agriculture and silver thus are important exports, as well as shipbuilding.

Eldenora is well-connected to its neighbours, although frequent strife can be disruptive to trade.

Demographics

Eldenora had a population of over 137,000 in MS 5050. Its natives descend from Vaderish and Aluvian migrants from Southern Magnamund.

Known people of Eldenora

• Hulsta
• Delissa (before MS 5083)

Culture

Eldenorans are naturally jealous, distrusting people. This contributes to much of Eldenora's instability and strife with its neighbours.

Its national anthem is called "Mighty Duadon".

The Silver Bow of Duadon, a magnificent bow, is named after the capital.

In the gamebooks

Dawn of the Dragons

In Dawn of the Dragons, Lone Wolf is targeted by Prince Lutha of Eldenora, being a follower of Darkness. At the same time, Lutha is invading Palmyrion, where Lone Wolf starts this book. Lone Wolf's goal is to reach Sommerlund as fast as possible, as the Kai Monastery is under attack by dragons summoned by Naar. Lutha throws several obstacles in the way, including an assassin at the very start (who was captured beforehand).

The journey from Palmyrion to Sommerlund, however, inevitably crosses Eldenora without a massive detour. The most direct route is to go via Eldenora anyway, whereas a safer (but longer) route is to go via Slovia, only entering Eldenora via the Fabri Forest. Lone Wolf can choose either option. The Slovia route has limited Eldenoran aggression, but faces a roll of death without Animal Mastery, Kai-surge or Kai-alchemy. The Fabri Forest has Eldenoran scouts on the border with Slovia, where another roll of death must be attempted, although disciplines remove this instant death result. The Slovia route then follows the Eldenora-Slovia border, and both routes eventually converge at the town of Ellio.

If Lone Wolf chooses to enter the lion's den, via Duadon, he faces significantly more danger from Eldenora. Lone Wolf will encounter a plague outburst, possibly caused by Lutha's alliance with the Cener Druids of Ruel. Outside of Duadon, Lone Wolf will be arrested, and have his Weapons, Belt Pouch, Backpack and cape confiscated, although his Special Items are not, as these soldiers are superstitious and afraid of touching magical weapons and artifacts.

Lone Wolf, now in a pit, will then face Prince Lutha. Lone Wolf will realise that Lutha is an agent of Naar, just as Lutha blasts Lone Wolf with a ring of green crystal. Lone Wolf can defend as follows:

• Sommerswerd: Deflects Lutha's attack straight back at him, killing him. Lone Wolf then escapes into an underground river.
• Magi-magic at Grand Thane: Lone Wolf casts Hold Enemy, scales the pit, and fights Lutha.
• Assimilance at Grand Guardian or higher: Lone Wolf conjures up a mist, preventing Lutha from seeing him, although Lone Wolf is hit by an unfocused blast (-3 Endurance). He then fights Lutha.
• Kai-alchemy: Lone Wolf casts Levitate, escaping the pit, and fights Lutha.
• No item: Lutha blasts Lone Wolf with a vortex of energy:
  • Platinum Amulet: This protects Lone Wolf somewhat (-4 Endurance), and reflects the attack back at Lutha, killing him. Lone Wolf then escapes into an underground river.
  • No Platinum Amulet: -10 Endurance (-6 with Kai-screen). Lone Wolf then feigns death, and Lutha rejoices, and orders for Lone Wolf's body to be disposed of. Lone Wolf awakes, and escapes into an underground river.

If Lutha is fought, he has the following statistics:

Prince Lutha (with Ring of Power)
Combat Skill 54, Endurance 39
Immune to: Mindblast, Psi-surge
↪Dawn of the Dragons: §9/§172/§306

After escaping into the river, Lone Wolf eventually escapes Eldenora, reaching Rhem in Salony.

Rune War

In Rune War, Grand Master is tasked with infiltrating Skull-Tor, Lord Vandyan's stronghold, to destroy the Runes of Agarash. Grand Master will first meet Hulsta and Delissa, agents of Gwynian the Sage, in Duadon. Hulsta will accompany Grand Master into a secret underground tunnel, but will perish from a rockfall. Grand Master will continue alone, eventually destroying the Runes of Agarash and horde of Vorka, before fleeing Skull-Tor. They will then hide in Delissa's house, evading Vandyan's attempts to find him, before sneaking out of Duadon in disguise, where Banedon takes them both to safety in Varetta aboard Cloud-dancer.

Dead in the Deep

See also: Delissa: §Dead in the Deep

Although Eldenora is not visited in this book, some lore about Eldenora post-Vandyan is found in this book, as Lyris and Eldenora have intertwined, violent histories. Grand Master can also meet Delissa again, providing even more lore.