House Lyrandar: History (Patreon)

The Mark of Storm first appeared two thousand years ago, manifesting in communities on the banks of the River Aundair. According to the sages of the house, the mark first manifested on two half-elves. Lyran lived in Daskara, in the slums of the city of Daskaran. His ancestors were elves of Aerenal  who had married into Daskaran families, but elf and human alike had no love for their hybrid children. Selavash was one of the so-called “River Elves” of Thaliost, descended not from Aerenal but rather from elves who had emerged from the Towering Wood. At that time, the River Elves were itinerant families with few shared traditions. They were often unjustly depicted as criminals and vagrants, scapegoated for whatever troubles a community might be suffering from. It was in this bleak landscape that Lyran and Selavash—so the records say—received a vision from the Sovereigns Arawai and Kol Korran. You are true children of Khorvaire, Arawai told them both. Take our blessing, Kol Korran said, and take your rightful place in this world. As others might saddle a horse or yoke a tribex, you will harness the wind and the water. Take this gift and prosper. 

These are the stories of House Lyrandar, and none can say if they are entirely true. But what happened next is historical fact. Lyran and Selavash joined forces and traveled up and down the River Aundair, recruiting downtrodden half-elves and sharing their stories. It was Selavash who coined the term Khoravar. Both humans and elves came from distant lands, she said. We aren’t half a thing. We are the true children of Khorvaire, born and beloved by the land itself. Their message and their miracles—the wonders they performed with their Dragonmarks—quickly gained them a following. Not all of their cousins joined them, from either side of the river. The powerful priests of Daskara condemned Lyran and Selavash as heretics and servants of the Six, cursing any who proclaimed themselves Khoravar. In Thaliost, many of the fractious River Elves dismissed Selavash due to old vendettas or stubborn independence. But the Khoravar slowly increased in number, guided by the leaders that they called “the Firstborn.” 

The concept of Khoravar identity was something that spread across the land farther than the Firstborn themselves. Lyran and Selavash made no demands on the Khoravar, merely encouraging them to embrace their identity and to build a culture together. But the Firstborn were there at the heart of the movement, as was the Mark of Storm. Lyran and Selavash recruited anyone they could find with the Mark, urging them to use the blessing to build a foundation for the Khoravar— a business that would give them leverage within the world. Selavash organized a corps of dragonmarked sailors, teaching them to fill sails with summoned wind or to propel vessels with manifested water spirits. And Lyran gathered those who could sense the currents of the storms and taught them to control the weather. The first decade was hard, as the Firstborn struggled to find heirs and to fight against Daskaran oppression. But in time, the people of the region began to appreciate the services these Windwrights and Raincallers could provide. House tales say there was a time when Selavash and her children were brought before the priests of Daskaran in chains, accused of being servants of the Shadow and vessels of fiends… but that Selavash stunned her accusers with the wisdom of her words and her proof of Arawai’s blessing, and that from that day forward her family flourished. 

According to House legends, the Firstborn never died. When they grew old, they took a boat to what is now known as Scion’s Sound, accompanied by their most accomplished Windwrights and Raincallers. What success we have is but a fraction of what you have been promised, Lyran said. It is time to move beyond the river, to claim the oceans. We will always be with you. And with these words, Lyran and Selavash dove into the waters of the Bitter Sea and were never seen again. By this time, the concept of the Khoravar was widespread across Daskara and Thaliost. The members of the inner circle who had accompanied the Firstborn to the sea were drawn from across both of these regions. But then and there, they declared that they would all be known as the children of Lyran—the Lyrandar.

Lyrandar Rises. In the century that followed, the Lyrandar extended their reach beyond their homelands and across Khorvaire. Propelled by elemental power, Lyrandar vessels were faster and more reliable than any mundane vessel. Some say the early Lyrandar called up storms to sink rival merchants and sailors; House records say that “In those days the Devourer was hungry, but the blessing of the Firstborn shielded us from his wrath.” Whatever the truth, the Lyrandar were soon recognized as the most reliable ships on river or sea, whether serving as merchants or couriers. They carried the concept of the Khoravar with them. Many half-elves sought to serve on Lyrandar vessels, but even those who had no interest in this embraced the Khoravar name. As the War of the Mark began to brew, the leaders of other powerful Dragonmarked families curried favor with Lyrandar, drawing them into the union of the “True” Dragonmarked. The Lyrandar were pleased to have their power recognized and willingly joined this alliance. They provided logistical support during the War of the Mark, and in its wake they proudly joined the Twelve as House Lyrandar.

The Duel of Storms. House Lyrandar prospered in the ensuing centuries, but the leaders of the House always yearned for more. The most infamous chapter in Lyrandar’s history is known as Gravan’s Grasp. While Galifar Wynarn was waging his war of unification, Patriarch Gravan d’Lyrandar invaded the island of Orthoss, proclaiming his intent to bring all of the eastern islands under the Kraken banner. Galifar met with the leaders of the Twelve in the city of Korth, warning them that he sought to bring unity to Khorvaire and that the Twelve could be woven into the tapestry of his united kingdom, or they could be an obstacle in his path. The majority of the houses saw great potential in Galifar’s vision—a future in which they wielded unparalleled economic power—and they demanded that Lyrandar abandon its territorial ambitions and withdraw from Orthoss. When Gravan refused to comply, Cassala d’Lyrandar defeated him in a duel fought on Orthoss itself. The stories say they fought with lightning and wind, and that their battle devastated the port of Blackrock. Under Cassala’s leadership Lyrandar withdrew from Orthoss. Cassala’s courage won her Galifar’s favor, and the house grew close to the crown. Eventually—in 347 YK—House Lyrandar was granted an indefinite lease to the island of Stormhome. While in theory this lease could be revoked, Lyrandar has transformed the island and it is effectively a city-state under Lyrandar rule. 

Elemental Engines. The Twelve exists to ensure the mutual prosperity of the Dragonmarked Houses. The Elemental Galleons were one of the first great fruits of this union—something that no one house could produce alone, which provided a huge benefit to Lyrandar. Initially, elemental engines simply focused the powers of Lyrandar heirs; an heir with the Greater Mark of Storm would have to manifest the elemental. It was House Sivis that proposed the alliance with the binders of Zilargo that produced the modern Elemental Galleons—and paved the way for the Airship. 

Lyrandar in the Last War. Initially, Lyrandar sought to maintain its mercantile operations during the Last War, engaging solely in civilian shipping. While Lyrandar vessels could be stopped and searched, the rules of engagement established at the beginning of the war forbade any nation from seizing legitimate cargo or damaging their vessels. As the war continued, Lyrandar worked with Deneith to broker the services of mercenary warships, troop transportation, and to explore the martial application of Lyrandar Raincallers. Over time, two developments would change the shape of the house forever. The development of the Elemental Airship has unlocked countless opportunities for House Lyrandar, and the House is pouring resources into producing airships and docking towers, expanding its routes and reach. The second major shift is less obvious in the Five Nations, but is just as significant to the future of the house. In 956 YK the Tairnadal elves seized eastern Cyre and declared it the nation of Valenar. But the needs of a nation are quite different from those of an army, and the Tairnadal were soldiers, not bureaucrats. Lyrandar saw a void and flowed into it. Lyrandar shipping was vital for supplying the isolated new nation. Beyond this, Lyrandar provided the civilian infrastructure the Tairnadal lacked—providing mediators, administrators, and other crucial assistance. The House has supported the immigration of Khoravar to Valenar, helping to build a role for their people beyond the services provided by Lyrandar itself. High King Vadallia may wear the crown of Valenar, but it is well on its way to becoming the Khoravar nation Gravan dreamed of in the days before Galifar. 

What Happens Next? Lyrandar has always been ambitious, and there are lots of opportunities on the horizon. 

Air Power.. Air travel is still in its infancy, and Lyrandar wants to expand and capitalize on it as quickly as possible. This means building new ships—something that could require them to find an alternative to Aereni soarwood in order to meet the demands of the growing fleet. It means building docking towers in cities and towns—something that could be sabotaged by agents of House Orien or locals convinced the towers are tied to some nefarious plot. It means the continued evolution of airship design, with the potential development of luxury vessels or aerial warships. And it raises the question of how far Lyrandar, Cannith, or the Twelve will go to preserve Lyrandar’s current monopoly on the skies, should some other faction develop a viable, widespread form of air travel. Why does this matter for player characters? Adventurers could be brought in to help test experimental airships, or simply find themselves onboard as passengers. They could be caught in the crossfire when someone seeks to sabotage a docking tower. If Lyrandar turns to the Eldeen Reaches in search of an alternative to Aereni soarwood, adventurers could be hired to delve deep into the Towering Wood in search of rare lumber. They could have to protect Lyrandar interests from Ashbound druids—or they might find themselves on the side of the forest, protecting the Wood when Lyrandar starts destructive logging operations.   

Valenar. House Lyrandar is working to embed the Khoravar in the fabric of Valenar. But Valenar has an uncertain future. Part of the reason the Tairnadal are content to let Khoravar run the nation is because they have no long-term interest in nation building; ultimately, they want war. Sooner or later, their ongoing provocation of other nations might bring that war to Valenar. Alternatively, the elves might tire of the gambit and simply leave Valenar. Either option could spell disaster for Lyrandar’s ambitions. Lyrandar or not, any Khoravar adventurer could have ties to Valenar; if you have family in Taer Valaestas, the outbreak of war could be a greater concern. 

House Orien. Lyrandar’s conquest of the air threatens Orien’s dominance of overland travel. How far might the Unicorn go to defend itself against the Kraken? Adventurers could be drawn in on either side of this conflict, or just caught in the crossfire. 

The Hurricane Harvest. Described in more detail in the following section, the Hurricane Harvest are extremists who believe that the Mark of Storm is a divine gift—a gift intended to be used as a weapon. Members believe that the Firstborn guide them through dreams, which could make them easy pawns if the Dreaming Dark has a use for them. Lyrandar Harvesters could be part of an isolated threat, unleashing a devastating storm in a small town or sinking ships at sea. Or they could be part of something grander, triggering war in Valenar or even hoping to fulfil Graven d’Lyrandar’s ancient dream of conquering the Lhazaar Principalities.