Cyran avengers are survivors of Cyre who seek both answers and revenge for the devastation of Cyre during the Last War and on the Day of Mourning, and after.[2][3][4][5] They may also be known as revengers of Cyre.[1]
Attitudes[]
The Cyran avengers started the day that Cyre ended. They arose among the survivors, share similar stories, suffered similar losses, and led similar lives after that day. But they, in particular, are consumed by a sense of vengeance and a need for answers, driving them each to pursue their personal quests.[2][3] For them, the Last War has not ended; they still bear bitterness, anger, and hatred for Cyre's enemies and struggle each day to reign it in, and resent that the Treaty of Thronehold does not punish any of them while the Cyrans still suffer.[2][3] They believe they and their fellow Cyrans are the victims of history.[3] They stubbornly deny that Cyre itself could have been responsible for its own obliteration.[2]
The Cyran avengers maintain their patriotic zeal,[6] hold tight to their principles,[7] and dedicate themselves to their quests, while they grieve for the dead, if only in their nightmares.[6] But it is vengeance that most fuels them, and is their sole pleasure.[3] They exist in a gray area between being heroes and acting as vigilantes.[6] They can be tragic figures too—likely to die before ever getting their revenge and seeking answers that may never be found. They serve Cyre nevertheless.[6][7]
Activities[]
The Cyran avengers have twin aims: to get to the bottom of what befell Cyre on the Day of Mourning and, most importantly, to punish and destroy her enemies for how the Cyran people suffered during the Last War and for the thousands upon thousands who died, and still suffer and die today.[2][6][3][5] No matter how enormous the undertaking, they devote their lives to these goals and keep them always in mind, seizing every chance they get to avenge the crimes and injustices heaped upon the Cyran people, whether real or imagined. Whenever they learn of some fresh crime or threat, they pursue it with obsessive dedication.[6][8] Regardless, Cyran avengers in general may sometimes stop and lend aid to others in need if they felt sympathy for them, and if they still felt sympathy at all.[3]
With so many mysteries to the Mourning and so enemies to choose from, the actions of Cyran avengers are many and varied. Some might venture into the Mournland to discover for themselves the truth of the Mourning and others to target the Lord of Blades and his warforged followers, or eradicate the monsters that infest the land, while others will hound bandits and scavengers looting Cyran relics and magic.[8][7][4] Others investigate the Mourning from outside the dead-gray mist, pursuing rumors and seeking answers and justice, even if they have to kill to get them.[7][3][4]
Still more focus on present-day threats, acting as vigilantes striking back at bandits and criminals who target Cyran refugees.[9][4] They desire justice, and require proof, most of the time.[4] Away in Stormreach in Xen'drik, the Dannel's Wrath militia are led by a Cyran avenger and focus on dispensing vigilante justice in defense of the refugee community in the Dannel's Pride ward and on claiming a new Cyran homeland.[10][4]
Yet others focus solely on retribution and revenge for deeds done in the Last War.[4] While some target governments and militaries that opposed Cyre in the Last War, a few may even blame all non-Cyrans,[3] but such avengers are little more than bandits and killers attacking anyone they come across, wanting neither proof nor approval.[3][4] The Mourning Dawn terrorist network target a long list of supposed enemies of Cyre, prime among them House Cannith.[4] In Valenar, one band of elite Cyran avengers plots to massacre as many khunan hamlets as possible before fighting to the death against the elves, all in revenge for the slaughter of Cyran refugees on the Day or Mourning.[11]
Some avengers will try to recover by force lost Cyran valuables and secrets such as the clockwork armors,[12] and they're quick to buy back any cultural heirlooms, even those as unlikely as gliding boots.[1]
Cyran avengers are few and far between,[7][8] but will work with one another on occasion.[8] But they have hardly any resources or allies to call upon. A few Cyran avengers may have sympathetic relatives who can give food and shelter if nothing else. Some may find sanctuary in New Cyre in Breland, but its mayor, Prince Oargev ir'Wynarn, doesn't want them to bring Brelish authorities hunting after them.[7] Regardless, New Cyre is a 'home away from home' for them.[8] To succeed, Cyran avengers train in combat and advance their investigative talents. Some create disguises and cover identities with which to infiltrate organizations and facilities of their enemies, to uncover their secrets or bring them down the inside.[6] They travel across Khorvaire—a life made easier with the end of the War—to find answers or enemies, or because they have no home where they can or want to settle.[6][7]
Relationships[]
They are widely viewed as vigilantes and outlaws,[7][8] and even as assassins and terrorists. The peoples of Aundair, Karrnath, and Thrane, already unsympathetic to the Cyran refugees, treat their would-be avengers as terrorists and react accordingly, compounding their views on all Cyrans. Meanwhile, the people of Breland, who gave sanctuary to some of them, are ill-disposed to the avengers at best, thinking they should just be thankful that they're alive and can call New Cyre home.[8][5] Either way, Cyran avengers have bad reputations and are wanted for crimes of violence, attempted murder, and terrorism all over Khorvaire.[7]
The ordinary Cyrans themselves have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they look to the avengers with pride and gratitude for devotion to them and their lost land. On the other, they are concerned, even fearful, they may trigger fresh conflict that will only further alienate the refugees to their hosts. Publicly, Prince Oargev asked the avengers to accept the Thronehold Accords.[8]
However, Cyran avengers are welcomed by the Covenant of the Gray Mist, a secret society of Cyrans who share the same goals. Indeed, they have six Cyran avengers among their thirty-strong number and would accept more. Through the Covenant, Prince Oargev covertly depends on the avengers to discover the truth of the Mourning and dispatches them to investigate enemies of Cyre and those rumored to be responsible, and doesn't object to their methods, but they do require proof before acting.[8][4] Thus, many Cyran avengers consider Oargev their unofficial leader, and all regard him as their rightful ruler,[8] though their actions besmirch his reputation.[5]
Requirements[]
Naturally, a prospective Cyran avenger must have been a native of Cyre before the Mourning, and now possess the drive and courage necessary to pursue their goals. They must have the skills to hunt their quarry, in gathering information, seeing through deception, and even following tracks on the ground, and they need great survival skills, as well as the combat prowess to face them at the end of the trail. While Cyran avengers can arise from any trade or social class, rangers are the most likely.[2]
Abilities[]
Cyran avengers train for battle and cultivate skills in deception, investigation, and the acquisition of information, keen senses, stealth, and the ability to follow trails and survive in the wild. Those capable of it continue to advance their spellcasting, whether arcane or divine.[2] Their heroic spirits make them luckier than seems the norm, letting them achieve greater feats.[2][13]
To strike back at Cyre's enemies, they are known for making grievous avenging strikes against foes who had hurt a fellow Cyran or an ally within the past hour, for revenge is a dish best served lukewarm. They do this in melee combat, but more capable avengers can do it at range, and can do it a few times a day.[2]
While operating within the borders of a targeted nation, a Cyran avenger enhanced their skills in deception, interrogation, and gathering information, as well as in survival and their effectiveness in battle. They chose one or two enemy regions according to experience and can occasionally change their targeted region. All those nations involved in the Last War are candidates: Aundair, Breland, Thrane, and Karrnath, as well as Darguun and Valenar, the Talenta Plains and Zilargo, and even the Mournland, the former land of Cyre itself.[2]
Cyran avengers learn to use discern lies to expose enemies of the Cyran people and speak with dead to give the slain a voice.[2]
Tactics[]
When it comes to battle, Cyran avengers favor trickery and stealth to get near enough to their enemies and to strike them hard and fast.[14]
Possessions[]
Owing to the need for stealth and speed, they favor light armor and to learn magic that enhances their combat prowess, stealth, and evasiveness.[14]
Notable Cyran Avengers[]
- Mirasandra ir'Thavar, waging a war against Darguul raiders targeting Cyran refugees in Breland[9]
- Degen Korr, investigating Karrnathi spies and the Order of the Emerald Claw[7]
- Garu ir'Kulan, Mournland explorer and opponent of the Lord of Blades[7]
- Fury, leader of the Dannel's Wrath militia[10]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Wolfgang Baur (2006-11-20). Clockwork Wonders: "Cyran Gliding Boots". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 131. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 89. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 89–90. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 63, 75. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
- ↑ Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: Crossing Valenar” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2010-01-07.
- ↑ Wolfgang Baur (2007-02-12). Clockwork Wonders: "The Clockwork Armor". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 87–88. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.