Aundair
Geography
After the Treaty of Thronehold, Aundair is a third of its original size, shaped like a right facing hook. The nation’s west border touches the Eldeen Reaches at the Wynarn River, though it used to touch the Icehorn Mountains. To the north, the Eldeen Bay is fed by the Bitter Sea, across which sits Frostfell. To the south, Silver Lake continues the western border, and the mining mountains of Breland separate those two countries, while Thrane makes up its contentious southeastern border (the Starpeaks being a natural buffer). To the east, Scions Sound is the natural border between the nation and Karrnath (it used to be crossed by the White Arch Bridge, destroyed during the Last War).Postwar Aundair
Aundair spent most of the Last War in battles against Karrnath and Thrane, and those nations remain rivals to this day. The Treaty of Thronehold established Scions Sound as the border between Aundair and Karrnath, and the two nations eye each other warily over coastlines that bristle with defenses. At any given time, most of the Aundairian Navy’s flotillas are patrolling Scions Sound and Eldeen Bay, keeping a close eye on their Karrnathi counterparts.Aundairians keenly feel the loss of the Thaliost region in the east, which wound up in Thrane’s hands after the Treaty of Thronehold. Many Aundairians mutter that Thaliost is “Aundair’s by heritage” and believe that Queen Aurala’s diplomats capitulated too easily. Other Aundairians point out that Thrane’s Army of the Northern Crusade was camped in Thaliost when the treaty was signed (and have been in control of the region, for the most part, since 977 YK), so it’s not surprising that Thrane wound up with this chunk of land. Aundair would very much like to reclaim Thaliost—through either diplomatic or military means.
The loss of territory on the western border also continues to haunt Aundair and its leaders. Forty years ago, the nation lost two-thirds of its land mass and a fifth of its people when the Eldeen Reaches declared independence. Periodic efforts during the Last War to reclaim “Western Aundair” met with bloody failure, and a low-intensity guerrilla war still wages between the Aundair army’s border garrisons and the people of the Eldeen Reaches.
Despite the loss of territory, Aundair has strengths that match its strategic ambitions. Aundair’s army and navy are slowly rebuilding from their low point at the end of the war, and periodic saber-rattling about “liberating Thaliost” ensures a steady stream of young recruits. The Arcane Congress (described below) provides the country with access to arcane magic that often exceeds that available anywhere outside the dragonmarked houses. Moreso than any other nation, Aundair integrates arcane magic into its military efforts—from the magic missile-casting sorcerer attached to an infantry squad and the artificer-built arcane weaponry, to the summoned creatures and earth-shaking spells of mighty wizards. This arcane potency is enough to make any enemy think twice before clashing with Aundair.
ROLEPLAYING AN AUNDAIRIAN
Many outsiders consider Aundairians to be fiercely competitive, almost arrogant in their willingness to display their verbal, martial, and intellectual skill. Arrogance is hardly a unique trait in the Five Nations, however. A clever commoner would instead say that an Aundairian learns from an early age to stand his ground. Those who grow up in the country with many brothers and sisters quickly learn to deal with competition. Any Aundairian who’s worked an afternoon in a trading village’s marketplace knows that making a living depends on making your opinions well known.This doesn’t mean that an Aundairian responds to any disagreement by being stubborn; quite the opposite. Aundairians know that if they can’t settle something with a quick test of wits, a simple duel to “first blood,” or a clever quip, their neighbors are “resolute” enough to hold a grudge for a long time. Bad feelings can easily escalate into a more dangerous conflict. An Aundairian is more likely to follow someone with a good plan or glib tongue than the largest or strongest warrior in the group. When bullied or coerced, an Aundairian patiently waits for a time when he can overcome his opponent with wits, not force of arms. This is as true for monks and bards as it is for well-armed fighters. Aundairians who are unusually belligerent are more likely to embark on adventures in distant countries, since boorish or crass behavior isn’t tolerated in local trading villages and marketplaces.
Aundairians walk a careful balance between pragmatism and idealism. Even common folk feel a responsibility to stand up for what is right. When a hero makes a stand, an entire village steps forth to support him if he fights for what is right—or mobilizes against him if they believe he is wrong. If the world does not live up to an Aundairian’s ideals, he is patient enough to work throughout the year, or even a lifetime (in some cases), to make it right. Its citizens are ambitious without being foolhardy. They know that the nation has skilled fighters and wizards to resolve problems they cannot handle, but if no heroes are around to aid them, they will tackle the problem as best they can.
Aundairian Style
What distinguishes Aundairian style from its neighbors? As in the other nations, the influence of the unified kingdom of Galifar makes some aspects of architecture and fashion similar, but Aundair has developed its own variations that make it stand out from the rest of Khorvaire.ART
The people of Aundair tend to employ paint and rhyming verse when it comes to artistic expression. Fine art, in the form of oil paintings and watercolors, ranges from realistic renderings of landscapes and people to the uniquely developed and increasingly popular Mage-Aundist style. First seen in the markets of Arcanix, this form combines a highly stylized approach that uses mildly glamered, richly pigmented paints to create a type of expression that one Wynarn University provost called “life at its essence, as seen through an arcane haze.” Compared to its fine art, Aundairian rhyming verse tends to be crude, boisterous, and relatively unsophisticated.ARCHITECTURE
The people of Aundair prefer neat, orderly construction that stresses function above style or comfort. That isn’t to say that Aundairian architecture is neither stylish nor comfortable, just that utilitarian concerns are first and foremost in mind when a building is designed and constructed.In Aundairian cities and towns, towers of magically worked stone form the central spoke from which he rest of the community grows. Most buildings tend to be made of brick or worked stone, though wood is used in portions of the construction. Everything has an elegant look, light and airy, with ornate features that suggest the soaring spirit and outlook of the people of this nation.
Farms and villages promote a simple architectural style that one can find throughout the rural regions of the Five Nations. A traveler can tell he’s visiting a farm in Aundair, however, due to the concave gables that adorn the roofs of the houses, barns, and outbuildings.
Interior design throughout the nation strives to create open, airy, well-lit rooms with high ceilings and few partitions separating one space from another.
CUISINE
Aundairian cuisine features a cacophony of ingredients that their classically trained chefs turn into a symphony of taste and texture. Aundairian meals consist of small portions presented in elegant fashion, each plate a beauty to behold and a wonder to savor. Sauces play a heavy role in any recipe, and the cuisine of this nation is considered to be exquisitely rich and suitable for special occasions.Pan-seared rabbit with an Aundairian wood-nut sauce, gold pheasant stuffed with sparkle mushrooms and rice, and dragon salmon in butter and dark wine sauce are particular favorites that have begun appearing in House Ghallanda inns throughout the Five Nations.
This region also has a reputation for its premier vineyards, and the wines of Aundair are considered among the fi nest in all of Khorvaire. Some of the best recent vintages now being traded in markets across the land include fi reburst wine from the vineyards of Arcanix, dark Orla-un wine known for its fruity sweetness, and Windshire rainbow wine, a type of mursi (red wine) that changes color and flavor as one consumes a glass.
Finally, Aundairian pastries and sweets reveal a level of artistic and culinary sophistication unmatched throughout the Five Nations. From tarts to cremfels (thin, fruit-and-cream-fi lled pancakes), the desserts that originated in this region combine elegance with artistry that reveals at least a portion of the Aundairian spirit.
FASHION
The Aundairian taste for elegance and sophistication extend to the fashions worn in cities such as Fairhaven and Passage, where frilled glimmersilk combines with ornately decorated cloaks and jackets to adorn the rich and powerful. Those of more modest means attempt to duplicate these styles as best they can, using spider-silk or some similarly less expensive fabric in place of glimmersilk. Men and women in the cities and largertowns wear elegant party gloves in public, a style that began as an accoutrement to fashions worn for a night on the town but have become the common practice. Many feel that they haven’t finished dressing if they haven’t donned their party gloves.The simpler folk, including common laborers and farmers, wear simpler garb. Everyday clothes for both men and women include the bard-style tunic, a pull over shirt with a V-cut neck and fl ared sleeves, durable cotton pants, and sturdy leather boots. Most men try to have at least one set of “best clothes,” an outfit suitable for wear to a town gathering, a special function, or holiday party. Women keep a simple dress and an elegant dress (made of glimmersilk or spidersilk if they can afford it) for the same purposes.
All folk of the brightest realm, wave the flag for victory! Build the walls high that none can harm a land so free! Aundair is on the move! Hold your standard high! March on! March on! Aundair strives on until victory is ours!
—March of Tensin, the Aundair
Population: 2 million
Area: 560,000 square miles
Sovereign: Queen Aurala ir’Wynarn, heir to Galifar and Regent of the Brightest Realm
Capital: Fairhaven
Major Cities: Passage, Stormhome
Climate: Temperate
Highest Point: Mt. Colieris in the Starpeak Range, elevation 16,112 feet
Heraldry: The head and wings of a dragonhawk, on a field of blue, beneath the tome of knowledge and grains of unending wheat
Founder: Wrogar, fourth scion of King Jarot
National Motto: “What we sow in effort, we harvest in good fortune.
—March of Tensin, the Aundair
AUNDAIR AT A GLANCE
Data based on census, 997 YK.Population: 2 million
Area: 560,000 square miles
Sovereign: Queen Aurala ir’Wynarn, heir to Galifar and Regent of the Brightest Realm
Capital: Fairhaven
Major Cities: Passage, Stormhome
Climate: Temperate
Highest Point: Mt. Colieris in the Starpeak Range, elevation 16,112 feet
Heraldry: The head and wings of a dragonhawk, on a field of blue, beneath the tome of knowledge and grains of unending wheat
Founder: Wrogar, fourth scion of King Jarot
National Motto: “What we sow in effort, we harvest in good fortune.
Royals of Aundair
In 894 YK, when the Kingdom of Galifar collapsed and each scion declared his or her nation to be a sovereign and independent country, Wrogar, fourth scion of Jarot, reluctantly declared himself king of Aundair.The rulers of Aundair are outlined on the table below. This information can be gleaned with a DC 10 Gather Information or Knowledge (history) check.
Date |
Monarch |
| 892–920 YK | Wrogar (declared king in 894 YK) |
| 921–923 YK | Wrella |
| 923–940 YK | Marlex [regent] |
| 941–961 YK | Aarott |
| 962–979 YK | Barvette |
| 980 YK–Present | Aurala |
FIVE THINGS EVERY AUNDAIRIAN KNOWS
1. The names of fine wines and other liquors. Not every Aundairian can afford Bluevine wine or something from the Mount and Moon cellars, but everyone can name his or her favorite labels and engage in animated conversations about the relative merits of each.
2. Some signature dueling moves. Aundairians love the flash of swordplay, and even the clumsiest citizen can slowly emulate the “twisting lunge” or “dragonhawk riposte” that he sees in the sword-fighting demonstrations common in villagesquare entertainment.
3. A bit about horses. With its rolling verdant hills, Aundair is horse country second only to Valenar in Khorvaire.
4. Several “add-a-verse” songs. Popular as everything from children’s lullabies to drinking chanties, rhyming songs where a verse is added each time (such as “The House that Galifar Built” or “The 12 Days of End Year”) are an Aundairian tradition. Some run for nearly a hundred verses.
5. The Epic of the Valiant and Vigilant. Popularized some forty years ago by Aundair’s bards, this tale takes about forty-five minutes to recite and most Aundairians have heard it so many times that they can recite it from memory. The Epic of the Valiant and Vigilant describes the twin sieges of Tower Valiant and Tower Vigilant in 951 YK, told from the perspective of two lovers, each trapped within one of the castles but believing the other to be safe.
AUNDAIRIAN SPEECH
The following turns of phrase are uniquely Aundairian.“Chattering doesn’t roll the barrel.” Shut up and get to work, in other words. “Dirty hands stroke a white beard.” As you get older, you may have to compromise your youthful ideals. More generally used to mean “sometimes you have to compromise.” “Have two strings for your bow.” An expression of caution and preparation. “Without wine there is no conversation.” Beyond its obvious meaning, the phrase is spoken as a request for or promise of hospitality. “Brightness be!” An expression of surprise. “Aundair dares! Aundair dares!” A warcry and taunt popular among Aundairian soldiers during the Last War.
Type
State
Included Locations
Comments