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Spirits of the Past

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The Spirits of the Past is the primary faith practiced by the Tairnadal elves. Followers believe that they have a special bond with one of their ancient legendary ancestors and must emulate that hero in their own life to preserve their ancestor.[6] The priests of the faith are known as Keepers of the Past.[7][8]

Description[]

Most Tairnadal are followers of the Spirits of the Past. Even elves who follow a different faith will still honor their ancestors.[9]

Each adult member of the Tairnadal has been chosen by an ancestor spirit in a ceremony administered by the Keepers of the Past, after which they start using the name of their ancestor as a surname.[10] Tairnadal society is split between the warriors and the zaelantar ("peaceful spirits"). The bulk of adult Tairnadal are warriors, serving as soldiers and officers. A much smaller portion of adults are members of the zaelantar, civilians who honorably support a fundamentally militaristic society.[11]

Relations[]

Dogma[]

The Keepers of the Past honor the heroes of Xen'drik and ensure the warclans remember their ancestors.[12]

Among the Valaes Tairn, there is a growing warrior cult, the Dalan Rae, who believe that death in battle transforms warriors into undying spirits. This cult seeks to create a powerful army of spirit warriors who will fight alongside the living.[12]

Worshipers[]

Followers of the faith are known as revenants. A revenant believes that a particular ancestor has chosen to be their patron, and that by carrying out actions in their life similar to those of their patron ancestor, they allow the ancestor to live through them and guide them. If a revenant's ancestor was a master of arcane magic, they might study to become a wizard, or if their ancestor fought giants, they may seek a similar great foe to defeat.[6][13] Revenants study the stories of their ancestors, learning all they can about their ancestors' deeds to know how best to emulate them.[7]

Rites[]

Services for the faith often involve retellings of great deeds done by the ancestors. Revenants also spend time resting entering into a trance to commune with their ancestor.[6]

The Keepers oversee Tairnadal coming-of-age rituals for elves, and divine what particular ancestor chooses the elf to bond with.[13][6] The Keepers use divination magic to ascertain what ancient hero chooses the initiate.[11]

Besides the coming-of-age rituals, Keepers also lead followers in services commemorating the deeds and stories of their ancestors. These services are generally not carried out in a temple, but in a circle marked on the ground by a blade.[6] Tairnadal also commune with their ancestor spirit while meditating in the trance elves go into instead of sleeping.[6]

Clergy[]

The Keepers of the Past lead the Tairnadal elves in venerating their legendary ancestors.[6] Some, such as Ilaen Coeliras, are loyal supporters of the revenant blades' role in their society.[14]

Many of the Keepers of the Past are clerics or bards.[8] The Keepers of the Past maintain temples, keep records, and tell stories and songs of the deeds of their people.[7] The Keepers in Aerenal also tend to the education of young Tairnadal there.[11]

Keepers of the Past are primarily found on the island-continent of Aerenal or in the nation of Valenar in Khorvaire.[15][16]

Temples and Shrines[]

As the Tairnadal are primarily a nomadic culture, they do not have permanent temples.[6] One exception to this is the Temple of the Ages in Taer Valaestas, where Keepers are trained.[17][18] In Taer Valaestas, the Keepers live in the temple called the Cenotaph next to the Darkwood Palace.[11]

Symbols[]

Clerics who follow the Spirits of the Faith use an object associated with their patron as a holy symbol. Other symbols commonly associated with the faith are the zaelshin, an amulet bearing the seal of a revenant's ancestor, and the zaelta ("spirit mask"), a veil worn over the face so that enemies see the ancestor, not the revenant.[6]

Magic[]

Activities[]

History[]

The Spirits of the Past honor elven ancestors from thousands of years ago, primarily the elves who rose up against slavery at the hands of the giants in Xen'drik, like Vadallia and Cardaen, but also other ancestors who became known for their deeds fighting dragons or goblins.[7][13] Followers believe that the souls of these heroes stay alive by reincarnating in their descendants.[8]

Since the occupation of Valenar by the Tairnadal in 956 YK, some humans and half-elves have also sought to become followers of the Spirits of the Past. However, the Keepers of the Past have declared only elves can form bonds with their ancestors, citing the elven trance to commune with their ancestor as evidence that the faith can only be practiced by elves.[6]

Notable Ancestors[]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Keith Baker confirmed that Daealyth became a patron herself with others following her path.
  2. ↑ The surnames of the following elves are presumed to indicate the spirits they follow: Elsaral Quilath, Orphalas Gillaead, Kalasta Wryn, Talmein Iriist, Ilidris Kayael, Alar Siviel, Luruna Pasaras, Tlymir Kaest, Ziria Vasuant, and hence are listed as ancestors here.
  3. ↑ The ancestor followed by Valea Ildallia, the Tairnadal ranger.
  4. ↑ A Valenar elf, Irristia, has the last name "Immiar", which means she follows the spirit of that particular ancestor.
  5. ↑ This particular ancestor is an adaptation of a figure of the same name from the world of Toril, a deified elf who joined the Seldarine, with his story being changed to fit Eberron and the origin of his legendary bow.
  6. ↑ The book calls her Falaen, presumably the Elven word for "silence" adapted to work as a name.
  7. ↑ He also gave a name to one of the clans Vadallia united.
  8. ↑ A swordsmith of the Valaes Tairn, Jhaer Varedi, follows this ancestor, who allegedly sends him visions about creating a legendary weapon.
  9. ↑ A Valenar elf, Saer, has the last name "Vordalyn", which means he follows the spirit of that particular ancestor.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, & C.A. Suleiman (2006). Faiths of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0786966890.
  4. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook (5th edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 296. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  5. ↑ David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 147–148. ISBN 0786966890.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 258–259. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, & C.A. Suleiman (2006). Faiths of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.
  9. ↑ David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.
  10. ↑ Keith Baker, Imogen Gingell, & KB Presents (November 2022). Chronicles of Eberron. (DMs Guild), p. 53.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: The People of Taer Valaestas” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2010-01-07.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Jesse Decker, Matthew Sernett, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, & Keith Baker (2005). Races of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 80–81. ISBN 0-7869-3658-4.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Keith Baker (January 2021). “Eye on Eberron: Vadallia and Cardaen” (PDF). Dragon #407 (Wizards of the Coast).
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 143–144. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
  15. ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 163. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  16. ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 176. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  17. ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  18. ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
  19. ↑ Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, & Amber Scott (2006). Secrets of Xen'drik. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Keith Baker (2004/04/10). The Elves of Valenar, Part 1. Dragonshards. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2020/12/01.
  21. ↑ Keith Baker (2005/07/25). Heroes of Battle, Part One. Eberron Expanded. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2020/12/02.
  22. ↑ Keith Baker, Nicolas Logue, James Desborough, C.A. Suleiman (2008). City of Stormreach. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-4803-5.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Keith Baker (2005/11/28). Weapons of Legacy. Eberron Expanded. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2021/08/15.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 24.8 James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 82–83. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
  25. ↑ Keith Baker (2004). Shadows of the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-3276-7.
  26. ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 166. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  27. ↑ James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5. It is also the name of one of the noble lines of Aerenal.
  28. ↑ Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: Crossing Valenar” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2010-01-07.
  29. ↑ Keith Baker (April 2008). “Expeditionary Dispatches: The Walls of Taer Valaestas” (HTML). Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2010-07-07.
  30. ↑ David Noonan (2006/02/05). Karrnath Decries New Elf Fortress in Talenta. Sharn Inquisitive. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2021/08/06. Warchief Shulach Miritarn.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 David Noonan (2005/08/29). Ambassador Protests Warhorse Sales. Sharn Inquisitive. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2021/08/09. Daera Sorandal and Syrrak Nayairt.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 Keith Baker, Imogen Gingell, & KB Presents (November 2022). Chronicles of Eberron. (DMs Guild), pp. 47, 48.
  33. ↑ Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
  34. ↑ Keith Baker (November 2008). The Queen of Stone. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 82. ISBN 978-0-7869-5009-6.
  35. ↑ Keith Baker, Imogen Gingell, & KB Presents (November 2022). Chronicles of Eberron. (DMs Guild), p. 158.

Connections[]


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