Xaeyruudh's Index

Vaerana Hawklyn

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This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

At a Glance

A ranger, and a Harper. Vaerana is the Lady Constable of Elversult, second only to the Lady Lord Yanseldara.

In the Xaeyruudh Campaign

In published Realmslore Vaerana is said to be Yanseldara’s “consort” but there isn’t any official definition of this term due to WotC/Hasbro’s puritanical standards when it comes to sexual preference. At least they’re defying the taboo against demons and devils, though frankly if we have to pick one or the other I would respect a sexually liberated game more than one graced with fiends. In any case, I am not so handicapped, so in my campaign their relationship is not so undefined.

They were far more open (one might even rightly say “exhibitionist”) in their adventuring days, but they’ve agreed since taking the reins of Elversult that public displays would compromise the “professional” tone of their regime —to no greater or lesser extent than kings and queens pawing and petting each other on public stages— so they keep their affection under wraps when they’re in public. However, within Moonstorm House they are mates as surely as Azoun IV and Filfaeril.

I haven’t seen anything official about Vaerana’s age, so I played around a bit in Excel and came up with some estimates. These details are completely unofficial.

Vaerana was born in 1329 DR, and helped slay her first goblin raider at the age of 15. She joined Yanseldara’s adventuring band some time after that, and quickly became very fond of her. Vaerana stuck with Yanseldara as other members came and went, and they continued making forays together into the hinterlands of the Sword Coast until 1363 DR, when they brought about the defeat of a lich who had held the city of Elversult in thrall for decades. Responsible and beneficent leaders were in short supply in the city due to the previous regime, so they elected to take the throne themselves to bring about a new dawn of peace in what had been a dark blot on the Dragon Coast lands for the past century.

Vaerana and Yanseldara had reached their current levels in 1363, and the demands of ruling the city have removed all semblance of “free time” for adventuring. Both to serve the city’s best interests and also to stay acquainted with “the smell of the world-with-no-walls” Vaerana tries to lead a group of Maces and local adventurers into the Giant’s Run Mountains, the Tunlands, or the Reaching Woods once each summer, for training exercises. She keeps them outdoors for two or three weeks, to familiarize her “troops” with the lay of the land and practice surveillance and wilderness lore… as well as dispatching any threats they might find. She has magic that enables her to return to the city instantly in the event of emergency— or whenever Yanseldara is in a feisty mood.

Vaerana is taller and more imposing than Yanseldara, and she appears to be slightly older than her mate. Her public demeanor is confident and dominant, whereas Yanseldara is softspoken and unfailingly elegant. Most locals —who are quite aware of their lady rulers’ love even if not the particulars of their relationship— might be surprised to find that they’re equals when they’re alone. Vaerana laughs often and smiles constantly in private, and Yanseldara also seems to come out from under the mantle of rulership and grow into a larger-than-life personality. They both keep a tight rein on their emotions —both anger and joy— in public, but they are passionate and intense when they feel free to be.

Rulership doesn’t suit either of them particularly well, and they’re very open to passing the crown to suitable successors. This is becoming more difficult, however, as they increasingly love the citizens and the standards for a “suitable” successor are rising. Still, they yearn for the open countryside. Freedom from the city would enable them to enjoy a few more years fighting for the cause of good and justice, before age begins to take too great a toll on Vaerana’s body. They would both like to escape scrutiny and eventually retire to a little cottage or loft somewhere. They’d be equally happy in Deepingdale or Waterdeep, as long as they’re together and they don’t have to “put on a mask” for anyone.

Sources

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