Destiny of the Valenar (Calling Tyrlaan!)

The time for your great story has come. It is the time of coming of age for you and your brothers and sisters in war. You have been summoned unto the tent of your warchief along with the other young whose time of adulthood has come. You are about to be sent out into the world to claim your birth-rite before being called back into action for your people.

Character Submission Guidelines: Choose a class as detailed below. 1st level characters, using any Eberron book, PHB, or Complete Book. Stuff from other sources might be okay, just ask first. No evil characters please. I know the Valenar can be evil...but not these Valenar. For stats, use the standard array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) and max starting gold for your class. I will kick-up the stats in a special method I have, once I have selected a party. I will select the 4 characters I like best based on back-story, ancestor story, style, and abilities.

What I want from you: Stat block, description, a brief history (you are young and have yet to do anything really impressive.), and the most famous exploit of your patron ancestor. If you like writing lots of cool history, the history of your patron ancestor is what I want to see. Only go into detail about one exploit: their most famous one. You can mention others if you wish.

My take on the Valenar: I look at their culture as Vikings with a Bedouin MO and a Samurai philosophy. Throw in a dash of Gypsy for good measure.

What is different about Elves in My Eberron: when they “sleep,” instead of accessing Dal Quor, they access an ancestral memory containing every event that any elf in history ever experienced or witnessed. Only the most highly trained and disciplined elves can ever remember more than bits and pieces of these dreams, but just seeing these things night after night is what creates the indelible desire of elves to worship and venerate their ancestors. Among the Valenar, the Keepers of the Past are those who can most often recall important parts of these racial-memories (this is reflected in the Ancestor domain ability and the Bardic Knowledge ability). Because their “dreams” are tied to a racial memory, and not Dal Quor, elves cannot harness psionic powers unless they are somehow possessed by a Quori spirit. Because elves in the past have experienced horrific things on par with nightmares, elves are still prone to dream-based spells. In the distant past, elves who committed atrocities against their fellow elves, or where accused of doing so, were stricken from the racial memory, to be forever forgotten. Sometimes the magics that struck these elves from the ancestral records fail. (See Warlocks, below) Otherwise, use the Eberron books and Dragonshards for information.

Allowed Classes
[SBLOCK]Barbarian: Embrace the spirits of berserker ancestors and relive glories of past battles. In addition to traditional Barbarians, the Bear, Boar, Eagle, Horse, Lion and Wolf totem barbarians from UA will be allowed, to represent different patron ancestors. The Hunter Barbarian variant from pg. 58 will also be allowed.
Bard: Keepers of the Past. Sing war-songs and battle-dances. Esteemed among the Valenar. In addition to standard Bards, divine bards from UA will be allowed.
Cleric: Also Keepers of the Past. Cleric religion is that of the Keepers of the Past as detailed below. In addition to the standard cleric, the UA pg. 58 warrior cleric will be allowed.
Druid: Draw on power and worship ancestors with close ties to nature. In addition to standard druids, the Pg. 58 UA hunter druid will be allowed. Valenar Druids usually call Valenar Riding Horses as Animal Companions.
Favored Soul: Favored by a particular ancestor. Favored weapon is that of their ancestor.
Fighter: Paragon of martial virtues and training.
Healer: Worshipful of the great combat medics of the Valenar. Receives a Celestial Valenar Riding Horse in place of Celestial Unicorn.
Hexblade: Brings down the curses of the Valenar ancestors upon enemies. May choose to have the Animal Companion ability: 1st tier abilities (lvl 5-8), 2nd tier abilities (lvl 9-14), 3rd tier abilities (lvl 15-20) in place of summoning a familiar. This is generally used to call a Valenar Riding Horse.
Marshall: Skilled leader of warbands.
Monk: Molds their bodies into a weapon. May take whirling steel strike or double steel strike with scimitar/double bladed scimitar. Monks may emulate the specific fighting styles of their ancestors, choosing any of the variant monk fighting styles from UA.
Paladin: Valenar Riding horse as Mount. Worships an ancestor who was a paragon of virtue and goodness. May choose the hunter paladin option from Pg. 58 of UA. May also choose the Paladin of Freedom option. May combine Hunter and Freedom options.
Ranger: Venerates ancestors with ties to nature.
Rogue: Masters of tactics and seeking lost elven artifacts for the glory of the Valenar.
Scout: Crafty warriors who focus on mobility.
Sorcerer: Granted powers by a powerful patron ancestor. I will give you a list of spells lvl 0-9 that you must take at first possible level (and can’t trade out) that are your ancestor’s favored spells. These are CL +1. I will base these spells on your description of your ancestor. May have an Animal Companion in place of a familiar. 1st tier abilities (lvl 2-5), 2nd tier abilities (lvl 6-11), 3rd tier abilities (lvl 12-17), 4th tier abilities (lvl 18-20).
Spirit Shaman: Channel and speak to the spirits of long past ancestors, as well as spirits of nature. Belong to the Keepers of the Past.
Swashbuckler: Warriors with STYLE.
Warlock: Gain power from ancestors who have committed atrocities against the elven people. These Valenar contact the memories of these ancestors in their reverie and are granted dark powers. Their patron ancestors are those who are, wrongly or rightfully, stricken from the racial memories.
Warmage: Arcanists trained for war. Taught in regimented schools amongst the Valenar.
Wizard: Trained to support troops. Magic is highly valued amongst the Valenar. May have Animal Companion in place of a familiar. 1st tier abilities (lvl 2-5), 2nd tier abilities (lvl 6-11), 3rd tier abilities (lvl 12-17), 4th tier abilities (lvl 18-20).[/SBLOCK]


I am always accepting Alts. If enough good submissions are placed, I may start a second team!

Hrm, I guess I'd like to give it a go. I'm a fan of arcanistsbut maybe I'll be a Swashbuckler....

Hmm I am very interested... maybe a Warmage as I have never played one, and they interest me a great deal

Alright, I'm making a Warlock. Never done one of those before.

Byndaral Eidas
[sblock]Male Elf Hunter-Paladin of Freedom 1
medium humanoid(elf)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Patron Ancestor: Kalai the Unshorn
Region: Valenar
Height: 4’11”
Weight: 109 lbs.
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Brown
Age: 135

Str: 14 (+2)
Dex: 12 (+1)
Con: 11 (+0)
Int: 13 (-1)
Wis: 12 (+1)
Cha: 17 (+2)

Class and Racial Abilities:
+2 Dex, -2 Con, Immunity to magic sleep effects, +2 racial save vs. enchantments, low-light vision, elven weapon proficiencies, +2 racial Listen, Search, Spot. Favored Enemy (Undead) +2, Aura of Good, detect evil, smite evil 1/day.

Hit Dice: 1d10
HP: 10
AP: 5
AC: 15 (+1 Dex, +4 armor)
Init: +1 (+1 Dex)
Speed: 20ft

Saves:
Fortitude +2 [+2 base, +0 Con]
Reflex +1 [+0 base, +1 Dex]
Will +1 [+0 base, +1 Wis]

BAB: +1
Melee Atk: +3 (2d4+3/18-20, falchion)
Melee Atk: +3 (2d4+4/18-20, falchion while mounted)
Ranged Atk: +2 (1d8/x3/110 ft., composite longbow)

Skills: ACP -4

Handle Animal +7 [4 ranks, +3 Cha]
Listen +3 [0 ranks, +2 racial, +1 Wis]
Ride +5 [4 ranks, +1 dex]
Spot +3 [0 ranks, +1 Wis, +2 racial]
Search +3 [0 ranks, +1 Int, +2 Racial]
Sense Motive +5 [4 ranks, +1 Wis]

Feats:
Bladebearer of the Valenar

Languages: Common, Elven, Goblin

Equipment:
Falchion
Composite Longbow
Scale Mail
Backpack
Waterskin
Rations x 2
Arrows (20)
Torch x 2
Flint and Steel
Belt pouch
6 gp
9 sp
8 cp[/sblock]
History: Byndaral Eidas has always chafed under authority, a trait that he comes by honestly. He has always been taught that to accept anything other than your own way of doing things is a weakness and that it is worth a fight to come by things your own way. His own way has led to the discovery that kindness is preferable to cruelty, and compassion preferable to dispassion. As a young elf he was picked on for being slower to learn the lessons of the Keepers of the Past and he found himself the victim of bullying. He harnessed his body, and excelled in the arts of combat, not only to protect himself, but to protect those like him. He became well liked amongst his teachers and his peers, both for his personal dedication to doing things his way, and to his self-taught love of protecting those who suffer at the hands of those stronger than them.

Kalai the Unshorn was enslaved by the giants of Xendrick long, long ago. The giants that enslaved Kalai were powerful necromancers who harnessed negative energy to enslave their elven servants- even beyond death. Kalai was an unruly, but highly valued servant who was being led out into the wilderness where his master was to conduct a ritual at a sacred site, harnessing Kalai’s will, when his giant master was attacked by a powerful fiend. His master was near death, and despite the fact it meant certain enslavement, Kalai chose the evil of this world rather than that of another and slew the fiend and saved his master. His master was grateful, and released Kalai into the wilderness. Kalai was not content to rest there with only his own freedom. Over his lifetime he released a number of slaves from the Death Giants, and became the leader of one of the major elven factions involved in the great rebellion against the giant opressors. Kalai had his name from him long hair which he never, in his lifetime cut. He claimed his hair would not be shorn until the day came when all elves where free from bondage.

Well'Xix

[sblock]Male Elf Warlock 1
Medium Humanoid (Elf)
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Patron Ancestor: Unnamed. [Jull the Great Traitor]
Region: Valenar
Height: 5’3”
Weight: 98 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Age: 147

Abilities
Str: 9 (-1)
Dex: 16 (+3)
Con: 11 (+0)
Int: 13 (+1)
Wis: 16 (+3)
Cha: 17 (+3)

Class and Racial Abilities:
+2 Dex, -2 Con, Immunity to magic sleep effects, +2 racial save vs. enchantments, low-light vision, elven weapon proficiencies, +2 racial Listen, Search, Spot. Eldritch Blast (1d6), Baleful Utterance.

Hit Dice: 1d6
HP: 6
AP: 5
AC: 17 (+3 Dex, +4 armor)
Init: +3 (+3 Dex)
Speed: 30ft

Saves:
Fortitude +0 [+0 base, +0 Con]
Reflex +3 [+0 base, +3 Dex]
Will +5 [+2 base, +3 Wis]

BAB: +0
Melee Atk:
Ranged Atk: Eldritch Blast +4 [BAB +0, Dex +3, Weapon Focus +1]

Skills: ACP -2
Concentration +4 [4 ranks, +0 Con]
Listen +5 [0 ranks, +2 racial, +3 Wis]
Know (Arcana) +5 [4 ranks, +1 Int]
Search +3 [0 ranks, +1 Int, +2 Racial]
Spot +5 [0 ranks, +3 Wis, +2 racial]
UMD +7 [4 ranks, +3 Cha]

Feats:
Weapon Focus (Eldritch Blast)

Languages: Common, Elven

Equipment:
Chain Shirt (100gp)
[/sblock]

Description: A slim, short elf, Well'Xix is wracked by an unending feeling of guilt. He always seems to be trying to prove himself, wielding his unusual arcana abilities to support his warband in combat. He knows that he is not trusted by his brethren and this pushes him to strive even harder to prove his trustworthiness and ability.

Background: There was more than a little confusion at Well's birth. One of the Keepers stated that his patron ancestor was a great arcanist, while another mentioned an ancient warrior. Eventually it was decided that his ancestor must have been Gala', the Horse Lord, but this was decided with some rumbling. From then on, the young man was watched with a wary eye, even more so when he began manifesting strange and potent abilities quite unattainable to normal elven arcanists.

Jull the Great Traitor: In the beginning, before there was an Aerenal, before there were Valenar, before the Undying Court, the elves dwelt upon lost Xen’Drik. They arose at the feet of giants and learned magic dropped from the mouths of dragons as contemptuously as crumbs. Then the Qori came and the giants unleashed their final solution, decimating their own land even as they banished the Quori back to their homes. Stories say that the elves took this opportunity to rise up and turn the tables on their masters, seeking to claim the glory of the giants for their own. The way the elves tell it, they were on the verge of victory when suddenly the great wyrms descended upon them, razing giant and elf alike and forcing their flight from their ancestral home. Many say that it was an elf who had called down the dragons, fueled by promises of riches and power in the new dragon-led regime.

But even for the long-lived elves the past was long ago, and stories are mistold every day. Even the race memories of the elves are not always infallible….

“Jull! Where are you going!?!?!” screamed Rior as an explosion rocked the forest mere yards away.

“Can’t you feel it?!” Jull screamed, but of course he knew that the warrior couldn’t. Rior’s arcane skills had always been weak; he was a warrior not a mage. He could hardly start a fire let alone feel the magic in the wind. But Jull couldn’t just feel it, he could taste it. As battle raged, Jull had felt that familiar tingle. He’d broken ranks, he’d fled the scene of battle, he would be reprimanded. They were fighting for their race, his commanders would say, but Jull knew that something more important lay ahead.

The other warrior called something out again but by now the sorcererous Jull was well out of hearing range. As he approached the monolith built on a scale that dwarfed even the giants who it was built for, the feeling only get stronger, something foul was in the air. He pulled his spells of protection close, this was one of the most well-protected strongholds of the giants, their mages would rip him to shreds with nary a thought if he was noticed, but he had to find out.

He breached the perimeter, finding the cracks and passages that were completely unreachable by giants but years of training had shown him how to locate. As he entered the temple he could feel the sheer energy in the walls, the entire ziggurat-like structure was funneling an inordinate amount of power, enough power to rip the sky asunder and bring the moons crashing down. He began to hear voices leak through the stonework carried by the strange acoustics of the building or perhaps by the magic. As he finally breached the final chamber he saw the true extent of the giants’ plan and his heart quailed.

The elf turned to flee, to warn his people, but he had been found. The ways were blocked, his protection spells fading away quickly under the assault of giant magic that seemed to come from everywhere. He fled through the passages weighing his options, knowing that he had to warn someone, anyone. They had to be stopped. In their desperation they had chosen a course of action that could never be undone!

As the elf nearly gave in to the eldritch forces searching for him, grabbing at him, he saw ahead of him his one chance. As the elf placed his hands upon an oversized orb of crystal he felt a bizarre pulling in his soul. For an instant, he caught a glimpse of the future, caught a glimpse of the centuries of warfare, of the creation of elf-kinds’ most dangerous and overwhelming foes. He saw it all, the thousands and thousands of fallen elves, the children left orphaned, the fall of an entire bloodline of powerful elven magic. His heart quailed, tears welled in his eyes, and then he focused his mind.

“Attention, Dragons of Argonessen! The giants have gone beyond the bounds of reason and threaten the world in their madness! Even now they plan to launch the blow which will send our world teetering into the darkness! You must come and put a stop to this! If you do not, then all is lost!”

As he closed his mind and ended the transmission the elf fell to his knees, sobbing. “May I be forgiven.”

Eliseri "Silverleaf" Aligilla

[sblock]
Eliseri "Silverleaf"Aliqilla
Female Valenar Elf, 1st Level Ranger
Medium Humanoid (Elf)

Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (10 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+3 Dex, +2 armor, +1 shield), touch 13, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+3
Attack: +4 Composite Longbow (1d8/x3), +5 ranged with MW Arrow
Full Attack: +4 Composite Longbow (1d8/x3), +5 ranged with MW Arrow
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Favored Enemy (Giant)
Special Qualities: Wild Empathy +2, Immune to magic sleep effects, +2 saving throw bonus vs. Enchantment spells and effects, low-light vision, Secret Doors
Languages Spoken: Common, Elven
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 11, Wis 14, Cha 13
Skills: Climb +4(2), Hide +7(4), Listen +8(4)*, Move Silently +7(4), Ride +5(2), Search +2(0)*, Spot +8(4)*, Survival +6(4)
*+2 racial bonus (already factored in)
Feats: Point-blank Shot, Track
Alignment: Chaotic Good

Equipment: Composite Longbow, Quiver (20 Regular Arrows, 10 MW), Longsword, Dagger, Leather Armor, Buckler, Backpack containing Full Waterskin, Flint/Steel, Whetstone, 100' ft Silk Rope, Grappling Hook, and an Empty Sack. Belt pouch containing signal whistle and 8cp. Spent 239gp 8sp and 2cp on Equipment. Weight Carried 54.5/66lbs (Light Load)
[/sblock]

Description: A strong and graceful elf, Eliseri is radiates outer beauty. Her personality is very overbearing and she has a hard time dealing with people. She sees herself as a loner when it comes to survival, not wanting to rely on anyone. But, she feels that it is her duty to protect her race and make sure they survive like her patron ancestor once did. She prefers to scout ahead and make sure all is fine for those who follow.

Background: When Eliseri was born the keepers said that her patron ancestor was a great savior and a true warrior against the giant races of Xen'drik. From that day forth, Eli trained to imitate the courage, beauty and devotion that her ancestor, Silverleaf exemplifies.

Silverleaf the True: As the dragons came down on Xen'drik from overhead, Silverleaf hid low in the brush scanning the land ahead. All was quiet except for the loud flap of wings overhead. Though it was quiet, she knew that many of those of her race weren't far behind in the jungles. Staying low to the ground and moving graceful through the brush Silverleaf advanced closer to the shoreline. Coming up to the sands of the beach, Silverleaf spotted a group of giants looking at two boats anchored offshore and everything became more perilous. How are our people suppose to flee from this ill-fated island when those who enslave are everywhere?, Silverleaf asked herself as she sat there watching them from the tree line. She knew what she had to do. Taking arrows from her quiver she quietly and tactically lay them on the ground in front of her. Notching the first arrow she slowly breathed out as she let lose the first arrow she knew was to be her last quiver.

She let loose almost her entire quiver on the two giants before they could react. Each arrow flying true, struck a mighty blow to the giants. One was dead and the other wounded badly. As she let loose he last arrow, the giant called down fire from the heavens onto Silverleaf. The last arrow couldn't have flown truer. Striking a killing blow to the remaining giant, he collapsed to ground in a cloud of sand. Lying on her back, looking to the skies through the canopy, it was all Silverleaf could do to reach down and pull up the signal whistle she had around her neck to her mouth. Giving the whistle three loud blows, the signal that her people could advance, darkness finally closed out the light of the sun.

As the legends say, Silverleaf confronted the giants knowing it was all she could do to save her people. As arrows fell from the sky, the clouds parted and the sun shined down on Silverleaf, the giants fell and her people were able to leave the island that was doomed.

Doh! I meant max starting gold. These are looking good so far!

Ah, this sounds very interesting indeed. I'll put together a character at some point this evening. Currently, I'm tossing around ideas for a Favoured Soul, Spirit Shaman or Paladin.

I have decided I am going to go ahead and boost stats now. The way I am going to do it is: I am going to roll a column for each of you, and keept them IN ORDER. I will keep whichever is higher, your assigned stat or the rolled stat, for each Ability Score. You may swap two ability scores (before racial mods) ONCE for your final stats.

Ex. Byndaral Eidas: Str 14, Dex 10, Con 13, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 15.
I rolled: Str 12, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 17.
Your stats before swich: Str 14, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 17.

So you look at what I've given you, and decide that 17 strength would be really nice.
Your final stats would be: Str 17, Dex 15 (13+2), Con 11 (13-2), Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 14.

I find this creates more dynamic characters, while eliminating ridiculously low stats.

Once you get your new stats, they are tied to this character. If you change your mind and want to submit a different character, then I will roll you new stats. Once you get the stats, you are free to change any major details of your backstory that might have been changed by having (ie Byndaral's low Int) a low ability score higher than it was before.

Byndaral Eidas:[SBLOCK]
Str 14
Dex 13
Con 13
Int 10
Wis 12
Cha 17[/SBLOCK]

Well'Xix:[SBLOCK] I think you have 4 too many skill points. 2+Int(1)
Str 9
Dex 14
Con 13
Int 13
Wis 17
Cha 16[/SBLOCK]