Vael

While the frontier has more than its fair share of villains, there are at least a few heroes out there aside from your adventurers—a handful of champions celebrated in song and story. Vael is just such a figure, a masked hero who protects common folk from reavers and brigands. They’re armed and armored in the fashion of the elves of Valenar, wielding a doublebladed scimitar with deadly skill. But Vael is no mercenary and accepts no payment from the people they aid. When asked why they’re so far from their homeland or why they place themselves in danger to help strangers, Vael invariably responds “I do what must be done.” Some believe Vael has a definite purpose—that they are searching for a rival, or waiting for an event that could be years in the future. Those more familiar with the Tairnadal say that Vael is likely following in the footsteps of their patron ancestors, that they may be emulating the deeds of an ancient champion of the common people. However, Vael will not speak of their ancestor, and while their armor has the traditional Tairnadal trappings that should identify a patron ancestor, no scholar on the frontier has ever been able to identify Vael’s patron.

Vael never removes their armor or mask, and they will not speak of their own past. They seem to benefit from some form of enchantment that sustains them without the need for food or drink, though they will often sit in the common room of a tavern to enjoy the scents or the music. As an elf, they do not sleep; even in their trance, they always remain on guard.

If you’re a Tairnadal elf, it’s possible you know Vael. It’s also possible that you encountered the elf on the battlefields of the Last War, or that they assisted you at some point in your past; if you want to explore one of these ideas, discuss it with the DM. Otherwise, you can always hope that if you find yourself outnumbered or outmatched by your enemies, this masked stranger will come to your aid.