Varetta is the capital of Lyris in the Stornlands. It is one of the oldest cities in Magnamund, and the home of Gwynian the Sage.
Appearance[]
The city walls and buildings are constructed from blood-red rock. Its walls have great stone dragons along the battlements their coiled tails entangling the gatehouses and portals of the outer wall, and angry faced gargoyles on buildings act are chimneys.[1]
Location[]
Varetta lies in the middle of of Lyris, and south of the Zaut and the Maakengorge. Varetta lies at a junction where multiple roads converge: To the north lies the town of Helin, to the east the town of Quarien, to the south-west lies Amory, and to the west lies Soren.
History[]
Varetta is one of the oldest cities in Magnamund.[2] It was built on the massive Cynx plateau.[3]
After Sun Eagle completed the Magnakai quest, he left behind a Lorestone in the city, subsequently named the Lorestone of Varetta. It was set into the throne of Lyris in the Tower of the King. Hundreds of years ago, it was stolen by Kaskor, a Salonese prince, who set the stone in a gold sceptre to be used in battle. He was slain in battle at Rhem, and both the sceptre and Lorestone were lost in the River Storn. Many have travelled to Varetta in search of the Lorestone ever since.[4]
In MS 5058, Lyris was at war with Magador, and although the war had had limited impact on Varetta, there was a curfew in place,[5] and mercenaries travelled from the south in search of employment.[6] Scattered groups of the Acolytes of Vashna still operated in secret in Varetta, despite Barraka's fall.[7]
In MS 5083, Lord Vandyan of Eldenora declared war on Delden, and conquered the country with the help of Magadorian and Ogian mercenaries. Vandyan's conquest did not stop there, adding Magador and Salony by mid-summer. Vandyan then invaded Lyris, and began to besiege Varetta, but with the help of the Vorka: An ancient breed of Agarashi long thought to be extinct, but under the control of Vandyan, thanks to him having discovered the Vorka Rune, indicating that Vandyan had discovered the Runes of Agarash.[8] Many Varettians fled the conflict, seeking asylum in Casiorn.[9] Lone Wolf ordered a crusade against Eldenora, sending the Kai to fight against the Agarashi, whilst sending Grand Master on a secret quest to destroy the Runes. Varetta held off Vandyan's assault, giving Grand Master the time to destroy the Runes, breaking the siege of Varetta, and turning the tide of the war against Vandyan.[10]
In MS 5102, Magador, led by Marshal Luthos Vorgada, invaded Lyris without a declaration of war.[11] Magador's attack on Lyris was devastating, to the extent that Eldenorean mercenaries had begun to gather in Varetta to help, despite having been at war with Lyris less than two decades earlier.[12] The Acolytes of Vashna had once again began to congregate in Varetta, although not as brazenly as the ancient city of Emolyria in the north of Varetta,[13] and Helin.[14] The return of the Acolytes of Vashna were further shadowed by the expansion of the Maakengorge, destroying Casiorn, causing people to flee to Varetta, mirroring the previous direction of refugees in the Rune War.[9] After the return of Archlord Vashna, a new invasion of Helghasts plagued the courts of Lyris, causing untold chaos and internal strife. The Sages of Varetta summoned the Kai to help, but Vorgada[note 1] claimed this was a pretext for the Sages of Varetta to gain power. A series of assassinations took place, the killers displaying Kai-like abilities;[note 2] Salony and Delden abandoned the Freelands Alliance soon after.[15]
In the gamebooks[]
Varetta is a major destination in The Kingdoms of Terror and Dead in the Deep, visited by Lone Wolf and Grand Master respectively. In both cases, they seek out Gwynian the Sage, located in the Halls of Learning on Brass Street. In a minor role, this also occurs in The Legacy of Vashna as Lone Wolf is travelling to Magador, and Dawn of the Dragons as Lone Wolf rushes back to Sommerlund to defend the Kai Monastery.
Varetta is a minor focus in Rune War, where it is besieged by Lord Vandyan and the Agarashi under his control.
Locations within the city[]
Buildings/Places[]
- Casiornian refugee enclave (MS 5102-):[9] The temporary home of Casiornian refugees, made homeless by the expansion of the Maakengorge, selling rare goods, including contraband.[16]
- Shop of Chanda the Taxidermist:[17] An evil taxidermist who has created a preservative that can supposedly provide immortality, and will try to trick Lone Wolf into being drugged.[18]
- East Gate:[19][12] Both Lone Wolf and Grand Master enter Varetta here, in The Kingdoms of Terror and Dead in the Deep respectively. In Dead in the Deep, public executions are performed here.
- Grey Tower:[20] An exclave of the Herbalish is located here.
- Halls of Learning:[21] Located in the western district of Varetta,[12] this is the location of Gwynian the Sage and his fellow Sages of Varetta.
- Inn of the Crossed Swords[22]
- Tower of the King:[23] The Lorestone of Varetta was once stored here, until it was stolen.
Streets[]
- Helin Way[24][25]
- Coachcourse:[26][9] The Casiornian refugee enclave is located here as of Dead in the Deep.
- Flute Street:[27] The shop of Chanda the Taxidermist is located here.
- Brass Street:[21][28] The Halls of Learning are located here, and the Tower of the King marks the entrance to this street.
Notes[]
- ↑ Luthos Vorgada died in the Maakengorge, thrown inside by Steel Hand. The Kai believe this imposter is itself a Helghast.
- ↑ These may have been the work of the Heldajdok-taagim.
References[]
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §100
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: The Story So Far...
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §120
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §119
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §16
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §147
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §294
- ↑ Rune War: The Story So Far...
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Dead in the Deep: §282
- ↑ Trail of the Wolf: The Story So Far...
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §213
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Dead in the Deep: §19
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §329
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §294
- ↑ The Dusk of Eternal Night: Timeline of Notable Events in Magnamund, MS 5102 Hestangor
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §144
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §121
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §84
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §100
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §32
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 The Kingdoms of Terror: §300
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §279
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §119
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §79
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §213
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §135
- ↑ The Kingdoms of Terror: §147
- ↑ Dead in the Deep: §99