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Taer Lian Doresh

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Taer Lian Doresh, the Fortress of Fading Dreams is a nightmarish feyspire in the Whitepine Forest of the Lhazaar Principalities.

“
YOU ARE CREATURES OF TOO MANY WORLDS. BORN IN THE FEYWILD, BROUGHT TO OUR LAND, AND DRAWING ON THE POWER OF DREAMS. TWO WORLDS TOO MANY... AND ONE YOU'VE NEVER TRULY SEEN. LET DREAMS BE YOUR HOME NOW, AND LIKE A DREAM, BE SOON FORGOTTEN.
”
— Cul'sir to the eladrin of the Spire of Dreams, before banishing them from Eberron[3]

History[]

The Spire of Dreams[]

Taer Lian Doresh was once the Thelanis feyspire known as Shae Doresh, the Spire of Dreams. The plane of Thelanis becomes coterminous with Eberron every 255 years for 7 years, sending the feyspires to the Material Plane.[4]

80,000 years ago in the Age of Giants, after Shae Tirias Tolai slipped from Thelanis to the Material Plane in Xen'drik, the giants pillaged the village and claimed both its people and its treasures.[4][5] The lords of Shae Doresh demanded vengeance beyond what the other eladrin lords were willing to do.[5]

The eladrin lord Shan Doresh and his gnome court jester Marrot the Fool pleaded with the other eladrin lords to join their cause to no avail.[6] Still, twelve knights of legend rode from every corner of Thelanis to the Spire of Dreams and pledged themselves to the Lord of Dreams with an oath "to live or die in avenging the lost City of Song and Silence."[7] As the other eladrin strengthened their defenses, Shae Doresh transformed the feyspire into a fortress by making weapons, armor, and spells to prepare for battle.[5] Shae Doresh spent the next 255 year period preparing for battle with spells, and armaments.[4]

The Fortress of Fading Dreams[]

Shae Doresh challenged the giant emperor, but the titan king banished them to Dal Quor, the Region of Dreams using a powerful ritual.[5][7] Five knights from the other feyspires who pledged themselves to the Fading Dream were slain in battle, while the seven surviving knights were transformed into the Knights of Terror.[7] The fey of the Fading Dream were trapped in the Region of Dreams for thousand of years until the cycle of Dal Quor spat the fortress back to Thelanis. At that point, the giants had been defeated by the dragons.[5]

The Fading Dream reappeared on the Day of Mourning in 994 YK.[5][8]

The inhabitants of the Fading Dream hunt and kill any who come too close to their citadel. They now despise other eladrin for their weakness, and consider elves to be a debased form of eladrin that must be wiped out.[5]

Description[]

Whitepine Forest is a cold forest in the mainland of the Lhazaar Principalities.[9] The jade evergreens are dusted with snow for much of the year, and the forest appears pale due to the mist that clings to the canopy of the woods. The forest is dense, and the wood appears dark even during the daytime, which makes it easy to become lost unless guided by a Lhazaar ranger.[1]

The woods of the Whitepine Forest surrounding the feyspire are haunted by the ghosts of the feyspire's victims, including banshees.[10]

The immediate area is surrounded by natural springs and volatile geysers, and the rising steam signifies the border where Dal Quor and the waking world blend.[10] The ghosts and banshees manifest as their greatest fears rather than the wounds that slaid them.[8] Vicious scarecrows surround the feyspire, and craft more scarecrows out of the remains of their victims.[7]

The Fortress of Fading Dream is a feyspire of eladrin and other fey warped by their long banishment to Dal Quor.[5][9] The feyspire is ruled by the former ghaele of winter, Shan Lian Doresh.[5] Taer Lian Doresh is reachable through both the Material Plane and through traveling through dreams in Dal Quor.[1]

The fortress appears as a vision out of a nightmare, and the feyspire's appearance varies based on the viewer. The fortress exists in both Eberron and Dal Quor, which allows for the spirits of dreamers and quori to manifest within the fortress.[5]

Inhabitants[]

Wyrds[]

Shan Lian Doresh refers to his subjects as wyrds, meaning "the fated."[6][11] These fey are transformed by Dal Quor into nightmarish versions of themselves, with terrifying traits such as dark voids instead of eyes. Wyrds are immortal, immune to fear, can resist psychic damage, and can teleport once an encounter.[11]

The feyspire is primarily inhabited by eladrin with some gnomes, and other fey.[5] Of the 4,000 inhabitants, 3,000 are eladrin.[2] The eladrin of Taer Lian Doresh can sow nightmares into victims.[5] Dryads of the Fading Dream live within six mighty trees that have been reshaped into forts and transmuted into iron.[10]

The thirty scarecrows that guard Taer Lian Doresh are also considered wyrds, and they are more independent than would be expected for constructs crafted by the hags of the feyspire.[7]

Notable Wyrds[]

  • Shan Lian Doresh or Shan Doresh, Lord of Fading Dreams is an eladrin ghaele of winter who rarely leaves the feyspire.[5] He is the eldest of the seven lords of the feyspires, and is the archfey warlord who led the crusade against the giants thousands of years in the past.[4] He prefers to watch the world through the dreams of innocents or unwitting victims while sharing secrets and visions.[4][5] He desires the torment of the descendants of the fey lords who abandoned the fey of Taer Lian Doresh ages ago.[4] The eladrin lord is cautious and has numerous plots, and has sent agents to the Eldeen Reaches, Zilargo, Darguun, Karrnath, and the Mournland to monitor the feyspires. He does not desire to return to exile in Dal Quor, unless it means drawing the other feyspires there along with him.[12] His advisors are Marrot the Fool, Santyriana, and the Shrouded Sages.
  • Marrot the Fool is the gnome patriarch of the Harlequinade, a troupe of performers, minstrels, and entertainers who serve the Fading Dream. Marrot is an old friend and advisor of Shan Lian Doresh, and the Harlequinade is known across Thelanis. During his best days Marrot performed for many archfey, including the Queen of Dusk, all the Brothers of Night, and even the Council of the Silver Tree.[13] He has been the court jester of his feyspire since it was known as the Spire of Dreams, and is the only one who still remembers Shan Lian Doresh's true name. Marrot traveled with Shan Doresh to persuade the other lords of Thelanis to side with the feyspire against the giants, which resulted in the feyspire being banished to Dal Quor when the other eladrin lords decided to focus on defending their own feyspires instead. He wears a mask mimicking his previous appearance as a grandfatherly gnome, while his real face beneath is wooden like a puppet's. Marrot is a famous clown in children's stories and faeries tales, appearing as a fool who could swindle dragons, prank demons, and burn kings alive.[6]
  • Santyriana, Mistress of the Shroud is a night hag leader of the Shrouded Sages, a council of eladrin and fey mages.[5][14] She is an advisor to Shan Lian Doresh. She is the most powerful night hag serving Shan Lian Doresh. She admires, envies, and lusts after the ghaele lord of the feyspire. She acts as the emissary of the Fading Dream in Dal Quor. She shares a mutual dislike for the night hag Kyrale, the ambassador to the demons of the Demon Wastes.[14] She maintains a larder of mortal subjects from beyond the walls of the feyspire, where her servants comfort the victims during the day, while at night she personally torments them through nightmares before feasting on the victims' flesh.[14]
  • Sammet the Eyeshot, is a blind cyclopes, the only one found in Shae Doresh. He wrangles battlebriars and serves as a stablemaster for the finest mounts of the feypsire. He dwells beneath the groves of the feyspire in a warren of igneous rock.[10]
  • Seven Knights of Terror serve Shan Lian Doresh, each one embodying a primal fear.[5] These fears are death, failure, isolation, pain, vulnerability, remorse, or the unknown. These dread cavaliers usually stay in Shan Lian Doresh's court, but may ride on an errand across Khorvaire while leaving calamity in their wake.[14] Each of these knights superficially resembles an armored, mounted, and mantled mythical cavalier but are clothed in dreams that causes their appearance to vary based on the viewer. The noble eladrin they once were is still sometimes visible when they take action.[7] The knights are drawn to their former feyspires, and venture out into the continent see the feyspires for themselves. One knight journeyed to view Shae Joridal in Darguun, which caused terror in the goblinoid troops sieging the feyspire, and another rode into the Karrnwood in Karrnath to view Taer Syraen but killed those who saw her.[7]
  • Sidgevin, Viscount Vindicator is an eladrin who formerly acted as a noble just outside of Shae Doresh before its exile to Dal Quor. Sidgevin fought beside Shan Lian Doresh against the giants and was exiled to Dal Quor along with the others. Since their return and his lack of his own sovereign authority, Sidgevin has gained an obsessive passion for battle. He advises Shan Lian Doresh to attack the outside world, and he stews at how he is denied a place among the Seven Knights of Terror. He resembles a noble eladrin warped by nightmare, exuding hatred for outsiders. He wields a double-bladed khopesh that gives off black smoke while adjusting in size based on his wishes.[2]
  • The Paranymph, Bridesmaid of Souls is the spokeswoman for the fey for any who seek, make, or break a pact with the Fading Dream. Any who form a pact with the feyspire weds his soul to the Paranymph. She appears in an overly long slithering robe and cowl of either white or black, with only her mouth and feminine hands visible. She speaks in either a whisper or a scream. She is suspected to be a water nymph of Shae Doresh before the feyspire's exile to Dal Quor, or an eladrin princess betrothed to one of the lords of Shae Tirias Tolai before that feyspire was razed by the giants.[14]

Visitors[]

Dreamers and quori can manifest within the fortress due to the feyspire's lasting connection to Dal Quor. Though Shan Lian Doresh does not serve the Dreaming Dark, he will work with the quori when their interests align.[5]

The eladrin of Taer Lian Doresh have recruited warlocks through pacts, along with those who are willing to serve the feyspire for fey gold.[5]

Notable Visitors[]

  • Adjuvant, Envoy of Blades is a warforged warrior envoy of the Lord of Blades. As Adjuvant entered the fortress, the wyrds of the feyspire took the warforged captive. Shan Lian Doresh allows for Adjuvant to freely wander the feyspire, but does not let him escape the citadel. The wyrds are ordered not to harm him unless attacked themselves.[13]
  • Amradashar, Consul of the Dreaming Dark is a hashalaq quori inhabiting her Inspired vessel and is the Riedran consul representing the interests of the Dreaming Dark among the nightmare fey of the feyspire. Amdrashar the quori and her inspired host vessel are separate entities within the confines of Taer Lian Doresh. She can freely wander the feyspire to a greater extent than other quori, and does not need permission to access areas below the feyspire.[15]

Factions[]

The Shrouded Sages are a group of mystics led by the night hag Santyriana. This cabal studies patterns and prophecies from the planes, relics and lore from the outside world, and from the dreams of victims. Each sage wears a hooded long robe that is ragged from centuries of nightmares. They appear to be eladrin, but some have smaller hands than expected which suggest they could be gnomes or eladrin children. They brew philters of fear known as philters of the Fading Dream, which incite nightmares and invite the drinker's spirit to Taer Lian Doresh the next time they rest. Those whose spirits travel to the feyspire this way usually forget the subject of the dream, and remember bits of a nightmare.[1]

The Harlequinade are a traveling troupe of wyrds (mostly gnomes with some eladrin, nymphs, and satyrs). They are comedic entertainers led by Marrot the Fool that travel Khorvaire in caravans covered in bright colors and perform in bell-covered garish costumes. They carry caches of philters of the Fading Dream out to the wider world in the wagons and caravans of the Harlequinade. Each of the wyrds in the troupe has an unusual appearance due to their time in Dal Quor, and possess a row of sharp, piranha-like teeth.[13]

During the final stand of the Dreaming Citadel against the giants, the dreamshapers were a group of warriors able to use the feelings of others to summon different things into reality (such as a huge and mighty warrior representing their hope). After their time in Dal Quor, the surviving members of this faction, such as Kalas Tan Doresh, retained their powers, but focused them on fear and nightmares; thus, they can transform existing items to incriminate someone falsely accused of a crime, or temporarily turn a person's worst fear into a breathing, living enemy.[16]

Appendix[]

Note[]

Whitepine Forest and the Fortress of Fading Dream appear in the third novel in the Thorn of Breland series, The Fading Dream by Keith Baker.

See Also[]

Further reading[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., pp. 81–82.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jeff LaSala (August 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Agents and Enemies” (PDF). Dungeon #181 (Wizards of the Coast) (181)., p. 85.
  3. ↑ Keith Baker (October 2010). The Fading Dream. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 0-7869-5624-0.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., pp. 79–80.
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 49, 143–144. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Jeff LaSala (November 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Villains and Vendettas” (PDF). Dungeon #184 (Wizards of the Coast) (184)., p. 47.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 Jeff LaSala (November 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Villains and Vendettas” (PDF). Dungeon #184 (Wizards of the Coast) (184)., pp. 49–50.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jeff LaSala (November 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Villains and Vendettas” (PDF). Dungeon #184 (Wizards of the Coast) (184)., p. 51.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., p. 78.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., p. 82.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., p. 83.
  12. ↑ Jeff LaSala (November 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Villains and Vendettas” (PDF). Dungeon #184 (Wizards of the Coast) (184)., p. 52.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Jeff LaSala (August 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Agents and Enemies” (PDF). Dungeon #181 (Wizards of the Coast) (181)., pp. 78–79.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Jeff LaSala (May 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Fortress of Fading Dreams” (PDF). Dungeon #178 (Wizards of the Coast) (178)., p. 80.
  15. ↑ Jeff LaSala (August 2010). “Explore Taer Lian Doresh: Agents and Enemies” (PDF). Dungeon #181 (Wizards of the Coast) (181)., pp. 79–81.
  16. ↑ Keith Baker (October 2010). The Fading Dream. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 125, 161. ISBN 0-7869-5624-0.
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