Caldan’onae (pronounced Kahl-DAHN-no-nae) is situated in the high peaks of the Stagged Mounts north of Crown’s Reach, and is the most prominent kingdom of Aedri elves in the north—and quite possibly the world.
Or at least that is what is believed. Alas, Caldan’onae has not been heard from in over 20 years. No humans are permitted entry into their ancestral territories, nor do the Aedri send emissaries south; the nation has essentially been closed to all contact for a generation. In centuries past, it had been an Aedri tradition that the noble houses send their ten greatest swordsmen and swordswomen—called Dìn’lán—to serve as elite ambassadors to the ten human kings, there to guard and advise their families for generations. However, with the spread of the Illumination Reformation (and the Church’s insistence that non-humans be categorized as soulless, lesser creatures), many kingdoms have abandoned the Dìn’lán traditions of old. Now barely half the kingdoms retain the services of a Dìn’lán. Not many Aedri seem bothered by this fact, but then few have actually been seen or questioned about it.
The Over-King of Caldan’onae, Oerus an’Ithanuil, is reputed to be a powerful Aedri sorcerer, and as such the Church of Light has placed a 10,000 gold-piece bounty on his head. Few can say what the Aedri think of this—or even if they even care what humankind does any more. Aedri society is matriarchal; all noble houses are headed by the most powerful elder Aedri females. Over-King Oerus, a widower, is only acting regent until his daughter Amthia comes of age, which will be soon.
Caldan’onae is considered to only be one small part of the overall high-elf empire, which as a whole is called Elenoré, meaning “only for high-elves.”
Locale: Somewhere within the northern Stagged Mounts; borders Cymry (south) and Danthrane (southwest), as well as Fulkinrohr (northwest) and Nordr (north) in Midgardr
Banner: A silver crescent moon on a night-blue field bordered in white snow falcon feathers (white marble for brooches)
Role: Kingdom of the Aedri (high elves); have not been in contact with humans in over 50 years
Theme: High Elves. Fly-high with their snooty noses-in-the-sky elves. You can’t find them, but if you’re not careful, they’ll find you.
Ruler: His Impermanent Glory, Over-King Oerus an’Ithanuil
Duchies: The Aedri do not meddle in land ownership
Capital: Caldan’dora
Cities & Strongholds: The Lake City of Brelen’duon; Taura Eleál
Notable Towns: Oster
Landmarks: No natural features bearing names are remembered in the annals of man
Exports: Nothing now; magic and crystal in centuries past
Internal Factions: The Cal’otar Isìlar (“Knights of the Moon”), the Dìn’lan (or Dìn Lan, meaning “Horizon Defenders”, though in Cymwyr this actually translates to “Sharp Blades”)
Old Tongue: Lamthranélda (High Elven)
Nobiliary: an (example: Windlord Alreas an’Anor’algar)
Noble Houses: Althinae (Pure Flight For All), Anor’aeluthin (Sunsail), Anor’algar (Sunglory), Anor’lang (Sunsword), Anorlindel (Sunsong), Anoron’alia (Dawnlight), Anoron’ilad (Dawnglow), Anun’elin (Morningstar), Anorthilna (Suncrown), Anor’tir (Sungaze), Duenor (Virtue is Lofty), Gwelu’lon (Windhaven), Hriev’unlu (Winterfall), Ithanuil (Named Akin to Sky) (ruling), Lairethilna (Summercrown), Tuin’qenes (Falcondown), Tuinthilian (Falcon Top Sanctuary)
Faiths: Ancestral Worship (87%), Aegyr Udoen (6%), Wakhan Shakoi (5%), Deith Diadh (1%), Other (1%)
The capital city of Caldan’onae sits primly above the clouds on a high pass in the western Stagged Mounts. The few men who have gotten close enough to gaze upon her fluted spires can only speak of the wonderment of Aedri architecture. Noted human adventurer Gabrel Thron was said to be so distracted by the sight of Caldan’dora’s graceful towers and arched bridges—”moving, it seemed, with every shift of every cloud beneath”—that he walked straight off the trail and fell to his death below.
Belanda’s daughter, an expert with the elfin rapier and schooled in sorcery. Bolean was sent to Danthrane to seek out her brother Geras’ whereabouts, but has not been heard from for many months.
The soaring, jagged mountain range that provides a border between Midgardr and the Northern Kingdoms of Crown’s Reach is well known but scarcely traveled. On occasion, bands of Nordr raiders risk the dangerous clefts and collapsing tunnels to raid down in Gault or Cymry, but most men who know the risks fear the Stagged’s Wrath more than they fear the fighting capabilities of the foolish folk that live south of the range. The Stagged Mounts western territory serves primarily as home to the high elves of Caldan’onae, though few human nations ever deal directly with this nation any more.
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