Arvendor

Overview

The Arvendor are a civilization built on a belief that defines everything about them. They claim direct descent from the gods, and this claim shapes their entire culture. They live in The Citadel, a massive floating fortress that hovers impossibly above the clouds, accessible only by airship or powerful magic.

The Citadel is far more than just a stronghold. It serves as the repository of Arvendor knowledge (also known as The Arvendor Archives), a centre of worship, and the seat of their power. The fortress itself is a statement of their connection to the heavens. Every building, every street, every sacred space reinforces the message that the Arvendor are something more than ordinary mortals. They are the chosen of the gods, or so they believe.

History

The Arvendor are an ancient civilization that rose in 200 BR. They were the first to record history in Valaron, preserving knowledge that might have otherwise been lost forever.

In their earliest days, the Arvendor were nomads, wandering the lands in search of meaning. They believed they had been chosen by the gods and destined for greatness. Eventually, their journey led them to The Citadel, a vast floating fortress originally created by The Ancients that became both their home and a symbol of their divine purpose.

Thousands of years passed, yet much of that time remains a mystery. The Arvendor devoted themselves to building their civilization, expanding their understanding of the world, and strengthening their claim as the gods’ chosen people. They only recorded what they considered truly important, leaving behind large gaps in their history - gaps that have baffled scholars for centuries. Perhaps they wished to conceal certain truths, for as the saying goes, history is written by those who prevail.

The most significant event is the brutal war against the Ombric at 8700 AR, a civilization they paint as monsters that emerged from the depths of the world. The conflict was devastating and the death toll was staggering. The Arvendor emerged victorious and sealed the Ombric away beneath the earth using magic that continues to bind them.

But the true history is far more complicated than the official narrative suggests. The Ombric were not always monsters spawned from the underworld. They were once Arvendor themselves, exiled to the depths long ago. Separated from the light for generations, something changed in them. The details have been buried along with the dead. What is known by the few is that the Arvendor orchestrated the war centuries before it even happened.

The true cost of this victory has been carefully concealed. The massive loss of life in the crypts became the fuel for the Runemark of Eternity, the artifact that keeps the Citadel floating. From that war, the Arvendorians learned a grim truth: blood and death could sustain their civilization forever. The council swiftly seized control of the narrative, and through calculated propaganda, the truth was buried. Most Arvendorians never learn what truly powers their home, believing instead that the Citadel floats by divine light and ancient wisdom. The elite know otherwise.

What makes this history truly unsettling is the rumor that a man from that ancient war still walks the world today. A witness who saw the conflict with his own eyes. Someone who stood at the dawn of the Arvendor and may still be there when their story ends. The Arvendor rarely speak his name. When they do, it’s in quiet whispers, as if even acknowledging him invites danger. All evidence leads to one being in particular: Mahol.

Nature

To be Arvendor is to inherit both a gift and a burden. The gift is the Citadel itself, a home built by the ancient Ancients. The burden is the responsibility that comes with it.

Beneath The Citadel lie the ancient crypts. These were not built by the Arvendor. They inherited them from the Ancients, along with a duty that has lasted for thousands of years.

The Runemark of Eternity, the artifact that keeps the Citadel afloat, draws its power from these crypts. But it requires sacrifice. Human souls feed it, keeping the fortress suspended and the seals strong. This dark secret is something only the Arvendor elite truly understand and accept.

Philosophy

The Arvendor see themselves as righteous inheritors of a divine gift. They claim to be guardians of cosmic knowledge, touched by the gods themselves, serving as custodians of the world's safety. This image is carefully maintained.

The reality is far different. The Arvendor civilization is built on layers of carefully concealed truth. Most Arvendor honestly believe The Citadel is powered by divine light. They take comfort in this belief. The elite know that blood and death feed their civilization. They accept this burden and keep it hidden. Those few who question too deeply about the war, about the crypts, about the true nature of the sacrifice. They tend to disappear. Quietly.