Vapra

North of the Endless Forest, the Black River flows through Namopo Valley toward the northern shores. The land rises on either side of the river’s neck into hard blue and gray mountains. The tallest peaks among the range are well above the place where the trees stop, eternally capped in white snow that shines, unmelting, even under the light of the suns.
Where the Black River meets the Silver Sea, the cliffs rise sharply on either side, covered by ice in the winter and kissed by mineral-green waves in the summer. There the domed, thatched roofs of Ha’rar cluster around the magnificent Vapran Citadel—home of the All-Maudra, and capital of the Gelfling world.
The Vapra ("VÆ-prah") are known in the Skarith Land for their elegant appearance and lifestyle, luxuries afforded to them by, and often displayed as proof of, their relationship with the Skeksis. Flowing garments and extravagant hairstyles are not uncommon, even among the Vapra who perform trade or menial work; jewelry of metals and gems is worn to signify prestige and wealth, so that the social hierarchy even within Ha’rar can be preserved. Similarly, the Vapra have taken on a particular way of speaking, which in some ways resembles the accent of some of the Skeksis Lords when they use the Gelfling tongue. This accent is distinct and noticeable, and the Vapra seem to enjoy emphasizing it when speaking with non-Vapran Gelfling or with the Skeksis themselves.
Vapran members are often called "Silverlings" by other clans, due to the common silver-white color of their hair. Although the Vapra are generally impervious to the cold weather, ice, and snow, they still may dress in cloaks and hoods to protect their clothing and fancy hair and jewelry from the elements. Fair in hair and complexion, the Vapra's appearance allows them to disappear among the snowdrifts of their mountain home-a skill that has led many Vapra to boast that their clan are masters of disguise.
Often considered haughty by their fellow Gelfling. Vara believe that their culture is statelier and more refined than that of the other six clans. This sense of superiority is no doubt rooted in the fact that for almost a thousand trine after the arrival of the Skeksis, most All-Maudra were Vapran. This political dominance, a result of the Skeksis patronage, meant that for long stretches, the Vapran capital of Han rar served as the de facto capital for Gelfling society.
The most recent in a long succession of Vapran All­-Maudras, All­-Maudra Mayrin was groomed from a young age be the matriarch of the Vapra and — by extension — of all the Gelfling of Thra. In turn, she strives to pass on her diplomatic and political wisdom to her daughters. She both respects and fears the Skeksis, to whom she must report as their chosen Gelfling ambassador.
Vapran soldiers are known as paladins. Led by Princess Tavra, they protect Ha’rar and its citadel, as well as accompany trade caravans heading south to the other Gelfling clans. Many are skilled fencers and Landstrider riders, and those with wings are particularly adept at airborne operations.
Although some Vapra will treat outsiders with caution and suspicion, it was no more extreme than any of the other other clans, and in truth, the overwhelming majority of Vapra are considerate, curious, and polite. Beyond that, their knowledge of history and the world in general is vast. Thanks to their high literacy and wealth of written arcana, most Vapra have a thorough knowledge of the history of the Gelfling, the Skarith Land, the Skeksis, and many other topics.

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Daily Life

Life in Ha’rar is very different from life in other areas of the Skarith Land, and not just because of its chilly climate. Thanks to its location at the mouth of the Black River, the Vapra of Ha’rar enjoy a constant influx of merchants and goods. And, thanks to the All-Maudra’s relationship with the Skeksis Lords, Ha’rar is a world of riches and luxury, where Gelfling are able to devote their time and energy to scholarly and political activities. Of the trade work performed by the Vapran artisans, colored glass and fine decorative metalwork are most famous; the stained glass windows in the rear of the All-Maudra’s chambers—visible even from outside the Citadel—are one of the most magnificent artifacts in the modern Gelfling world.
The Gelfling of Ha’rar have very private lives, spending their days working in their trade, and their evenings at home with their families. Rather than all in the clan rising and working at the same time, the Vapra’s schedules are self-determined based on their needs and the needs of the others who rely on them. This is effective for the large number of Vapra (and some other Gelfling) who make up the Ha’rar community; like a creature with many organs, the Vapra all do their part, together but specialized, and thus the community flourishes.
Due to their location so far north, the seasons of Ha’rar are slightly different from those of other areas where Gelfling dwell. The winters are long and dark, with snow falling nearly every day except on rare sunny days in summer. Although I am accustomed to cold winters, even I was caught off guard by the depth of the winters endured by the Vapra. On the last days nearing the solstice, the Great Sun’s light shines for only a few moments, and on others not at all. The Vapra, of course, think little of it; preparation for the darkness of winter is a recurring event, the shortening days at the end of summer a daily reminder.

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The Role of the All-Maudra

Long ago, the seven clans were fraught with discord. Gelfling struggled with seemingly unsurmountable rivalries, constantly engaged in territorial skirmishes and dwelled on differences they thought could not be overcome. However, thanks to the Skeksis’ vision and wisdom, the Gelfling were able to find order. The Skeksis chose the Vapra to represent all clans in the Skeksis court, finalizing once and for all which clan’s leader would be called All-Maudra from that day forward. From her throne in the Citadel, the Vapran All-Maudra heeds the Skeksis’ will and brings it to the rest of the Gelfling. And in this way, we have order, and wisdom, and most importantly, peace.
The All-Maudra’s Throne
The All-Maudra bears a heavy burden, of course. The Skeksis are formidable and demanding and, for all their wisdom, understandably impatient with mortal Gelfling. Unlike maudras of other clans, who are able to devote all their time to caring for their clan, the All-Maudra must divide her focus between the Vapra, the six other clans, and the Skeksis Lords. I believe this is one reason that the Gelfling of Ha’rar have come to self-regulate their daily tasks in such an organized fashion; without their individual responsibilities met, the livelihood of the city would be in jeopardy. It is very noble and respectable that as a community, they have come to an arrangement that allows the All-Maudra to fulfill her duties.
Another result of the All-Maudra’s distance is that some Vapra may go their entire lives without ever having met her. This is less traditional than the role of maudras in other clans. The very word maudra means “mother”; among Stoenwood clan, for example, all Gelfling of the clan regard the maudra as a mother, second only to our birth mother. If a Gelfling’s parents were ever unable to perform their caregiving duties, the maudra would adopt the child as her own.
It is not the same with the All-Maudra, whose time is so divided. To merely gain a hearing with her is an exceptional honor. It is understandable why this is so, but many Gelfling from other clans cannot shake the feeling that it is not right.

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The Tithe

Once every three unum, the other clans make the journey to Ha’rar to join the Vapra in offering their goods to the Skeksis for the Vapran tithe. This ceremony is a tradition many Gelfling look forward to, as it offers one the rare opportunity to behold the Skeksis and the All-Maudra face-to-face. In a long procession that lasts several days, Gelfling present the products of their labor—be it grain or fruits of the harvest, handmade crafts and goods, or a particularly devoted song teller’s tale—to the Skeksis in the hopes of winning favor for their family and their clan.
One by one, small groups of Gelfling came before the Skeksis lords, the Collector, the Ritual Master, and the Scroll-Keeper. There they knelt, offering their tithe in handwoven baskets or chests adorned with what decorations they could afford. But before the Skeksis, even the most elaborate Vapran trinket seemed like a child’s toy; and what else could one expect? The Skeksis built the Castle of the Crystal; there they rule with only the Three Brothers above them, and even then, the suns seem but wanderers traveling along the paths ordained by the Skeksis Lords.
So what tithe could a Gelfling possibly offer that might suffice? Perhaps that is the purpose of the tithe, in reality—to humble the Gelfling and remind them of thier limited comprehensions and narrow frames of mind. To remind them that they are but flowers in a garden tended by a much wiser, more powerful gardener than they could possibly understand. The tithe is not a tithe but a practice of humility—a sign of our acknowledgment of the Skeksis’ sovereignty and an embodiment of the Gelfling’s willing, needful prostration.

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A New All-Maudra

Though not often, the time eventually does come when the ruling All-Maudra must pass on her position to an heir, usually her eldest daughter. When the date for the ceremony of appointing the new All-Maudra is set, the All-Maudra breaks her Living Crown into seven pieces. Six of the pieces are sent by Windsifter to the maudras of the other six clans, who then make the pilgrimage to Ha’rar with their piece of the crown. This gathering of the maudras with their eldest daughters and closest councils is a celebrated occasion, bringing Gelfling from all across the Skarith Land to Ha’rar to witness the event.
In a rite showing their loyalty to the Vapra and the All-Maudra, the six incumbent maudras reassemble the Living Crown and place it upon the brow of the new All-Maudra. Each imbues her piece with a blessing and an oath of fealty, not only to the All-Maudra, but also to what she represents as the Gelfling ambassador to the Skeksis. It is to announce their loyalty to the All-Maudra, to the Vapra, and to the Skeksis Lords, whom she represents. This has been the way since the Skeksis created the role of All-Maudra and ordained the Vapra the bearer of her duties.

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Chrysalisday—Celebration of the Sister Moons

There is a night twice a trine on which all three moons appear in the sky (or so the stargazers say. Although it is impossible for a Gelfling to see the Hidden Moon by eye alone, far-dreamers say it is possible to feel it in one’s heart), celebrated by Gelfling across the land as the Celebration of the Sister Moons.
In Ha’rar, this fated night is preceded by Chrysalisday, named for the chrysalis form of the Unamoth, the Vapra’s sigil creature. Common in the north, Unamoths cover the trees like a coat of fluttering white petals. During the mating season, millions of Unamoths flock on the northern coasts, until every surface is flowing with their white and silver wings. They lay their eggs along the rocky mountain faces and the frozen bark of windward-facing trees, and when spring arrives, the eggs hatch into worms, which later go dormant inside their glowing chrysalises.
Herein lies the mystery of the Unamoth, which enchants even the wisest of Gelfling sages. For although Unamoths are common and easy to observe, no naturalist or far-dreamer has ever been able to predict when the Unamoth chrysalises will blossom, releasing newly transformed moths. Some of the chrysalises open within unum; some have been known to wait trine. Still others, kept as amulets of good luck, have never awakened—and perhaps never will. I have heard that the All-Maudra keeps many chrysalises within her personal chambers, as a reminder of the potential of the future and the unpredictability of fate.
And so, the Vapra, enamored with the mysteries of their Unamoths, begin the Celebration of the Sister Moons on Chrysalisday. On this day, the youth of the city carry lanterns along the streets down to the wharf. The procession and the release of the lanterns are intensely beautiful as the sky darkens and fills with flickering lights, rising quickly toward the Sisters as they hover over the sea.
The lanterns themselves are made of paper, crafted by hand by their bearers. In its pulp form, the paper is roughly mixed with flammable dust. These veins of bluedust eventually catch fire from the heat of the lantern’s candle, exploding in a pop of color and light. However, thanks to the uneven distribution of the dust, it cannot always be predicted when such a thing will occur, if at all. Thus, the release of the lanterns is symbolic of the unpredictable transformation of the Unamoth as it escapes from its chrysalis, fluttering off into the night in a spark of color and light.

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The Art of Flight

It is no secret that the Vapra, whose wings are broad and light, are masters of flight; in competition, they are rivaled only by the Sifa from a purely physical perspective. Wind is constantly blowing in from the Silver Sea, striking the cliffs upon which Ha’rar sits and gusting upward and through the area at all times. Hot springs riddle the mountains, and several springs flow down underground channels beneath Ha’rar and nearby areas. Within the village, jets of steam explode from vents carved for that purpose, mimicking the geysers and natural escape holes that occur naturally in the rugged mountains.
These hundreds of invisible, airy pathways crisscross through this land characterized by mountain heights; all one must do to ride them is spread one’s wings. So reliable are these currents that many homes have additional doorways on the roofs, adorned with sculpted hand- and foot-rails and platforms for comfortable landings. It is no wonder that the Vapra have been able to refine their abilities in the air and on the wing so well, with such ample opportunities to be airborne so easily.
Even still, not all of the Vapra’s aerial prowess can be credited to their environment. Hand-in-hand with their location and its natural benefits is the Vapran tradition of flight; as far back as any Vapra can remember, taking wing has been one of the most joyous pleasures of Gelfling life. And it is not just for recreation. Perhaps most importantly within Ha’rar, flight is a sign of ability, prestige, and power. Disputes between women are settled in the air in tests of agility and strength; many Vapran garments made for men include wing-shaped vestments along the back. According to the Vapra themselves it is their superior skills in flight that are the reason the Skeksis selected them to lead the Gelfling through the All-Maudra.

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The Ha’rar Port Market

Thanks to the ever-changing tides and Gelfling, every day is new and fresh with sights and sounds and scents. Song tellers play for stories and word from distant places; merchants trade and barter; carpenters and stoneworkers repair ships; and healers mend wounds. Here you can find anything you might be looking for, so long as you have goods to trade, from Vapran steel and Grottan poultices to the whispers of a far-dreamer whose cryptic visions may hold the key to your very future.
When the winds favor it, the Sifa arrive in the Ha’rar port in fleets, their bright ships bringing a shock of color to the usually monochrome sea. It is a place where Gelfling of nearly every walk of life convene, soldiers from the castle among farmers from the Spriton Plains, all together in one place for a common goal. The only other location that may be similar is the Castle of the Crystal, where Gelfling from all seven clans unite to serve the Skeksis.

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Mountain Hot Springs

Once of the most interesting places one can experience is the mountain’s hot springs. These springs, pools of hot green water that bubbles up from deep below the mountains, pocket the blustery cliffs in steamy groves. The hot springs are a difficult destination—though the reward is surely worth the dangers of the mountain climb.
Through freezing wind and constant blizzards one must climb while bundled tightly in silver cloaks. Every step is more challenging than the last. At a certain point the wind will finally break and in the stillness, as your vision and senses return, the smell of the pure water hits your nose and the pools are revealed. Anyone who makes it to the pools are sternly insturced to disrobe before entering the vicinity of the pools. In the pools, all Vapra are one—nay, all Gelfling.
Stripped of our material garments, hair teased from braids and unadorned with any jewels or metals, no one can tell whether anyone in the springs are merchants, song tellers, elders, or the All-Maudra’s daughters themselves.

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Food

Thanks to their position both as a port and as the Gelfling capital, the Vapra enjoy foods brought for trade from across the entire Skarith region. Sifan and Grottan spices abound at the wharf market, their scents mingling with those of fresh fish, ripe fruit, and meats from the woods and fields to the south. If you have a craving for a food of nearly any kind, you are likely to find it close at hand in Ha’rar—though depending on the source, you may be asked to pay handsomely for it.
The Vapra have a more subtle approach to flavor in their cuisine, using fewer spices and preferring less seasoning in general. However, Vapran cuisine tends to be sweeter than other dishes, perhaps thanks to the groves of sugarwood that thrive in the wintry climates and high altitudes. One example of traditional Vapra food is the following:
A hearty, sweet stew of mushrooms and cream, served with a baked mint-apple over top of it and garnished with shimmering Hooyim oil. After supper he brought me a slice of Vapran frost—soft cheese dusted in powdered sugar. It was simply divine.

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Songs of the Vapra

The Citadel and the Legacy of the All-Maudra
The Citadel of the All-Maudra is a legendary landmark, visible from nearly anywhere along the coast and most certainly the highlight of any visit to Ha’rar. The Citadel is built from stone carved from the Vapran mountains, reinforced with crystal and metal. The windows are made of stained glass in rainbow colors, shaped in the likeness of wings. The interior architecture resembles that of a whorled white shell, or perhaps a wave-smoothed stone.
Who built the Citadel, and when, are facts lost to time and now transformed into legend; however, most historians assume that the Citadel was built by the Vapra with the help of the Skeksis and their infinite wisdom. It is a structure unparalleled in beauty and importance, an obelisk built to honor the Vapra’s loyalty to the Skeksis Lords. It is the symbol of the Vapra, the home of the All-Maudra, and certainly the most impressive Gelfling architectural feat of our time.
One boastful ditty—meant to be humorous, in an effort not to be utter blasphemy—goes so far as to compare the Citadel to the Skeksis’ Castle of the Crystal:

Twin Castles

One dark and one light

Black obsidian and silver ice

Lovely crowns of equal height

In this world exist but twice

Not all Gelfling revere the Citadel as highly as this. Wandering within the Citadel, at times a different song is heard…

Old Mauddy’s Song

Up and down the silver hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Tap of the broom in the quiet hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Morning sun through the windowpanes

Rise, rise, rise

Different yes but ever the same

Rise, rise, rise

Up and down the silver hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Tap of the broom in the quiet hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

In the courtyard, watching the childlings play

Oh, oh, oh

Lassywings flying the day away

Oh, oh, oh

Up and down the silver hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Tap of the broom in the quiet hall

Sweep, sweep, sweep

Voices of children pretending to sleep

Now, now, now

Hush now the babes in the nursery

Now, now, now

Kira-Staba the Waystar and the Founding of Ha’rar
On a bluff overlooking Ha’rar, there is a grove of trees that glow bright and blue at night. Although one cannot see them from within Ha’rar itself—their light is blocked by the cliffs—the light of the trees is visible from almost anywhere along the Silver Sea coast. Some say that it is likely the reason Ha’rar was built here, as the early Vapra were enchanted by the light of the grove and, like Unamoths, followed the twinkling, thinking it was a guiding star. When they found it was, in fact, a grove of luminescent trees, they knew they had reached the place where they would build their legacy, and thus named the trees the Waystar Grove.
Visiting the grove is not an easy journey. There are no paths carved into the sheer cliffs, and the wind off the sea rushing up the cliffs freeze many people’s will to continue on. Upon reaching the grove as evening falls, one might realize that the grove is actually a single entity, growing in a ring like toadstools called Kira-Staba, the Waystar and the patron tree of the Vapra.
As the glow intensifies, the ring of trees slowly come to life. It is one of the most magical things anyone can witness in the Skarith Lands.

The Forty Sisters

Many trine and many trine before

Forty sisters came

Pressed their hands on silver door

Opened wide to silver shore

Since many trine and many trine before

Forty sisters left

The nest that cradled them no more

And thrust them on the silver shore

For fifteen trine through lands unknown

Forty sisters wander

Along the silver beach alone

To find their eternal home

Then sixteen trine’s horizon dawns

Finds forty sisters weary

But light upon the line is drawn

E’en after suns are set and gone

White like snow under full moons three

Forty sisters hopeful

Chased the light on the horizon seen

As if in an unending dream

Then to the mouth and cliffs and sea

Forty sisters fell

With tears of joy to eighty knees

At the foot of luminous Waystar trees

“Ha’rar, this place shall be named so,”

Forty sisters heard

From the star-like constellation grove

Crowned and cloaked in silver snow

And so Ha’rar, the silver mountain nest

Forty sisters built

And nestled within its snowy breast

Finally they lay themselves to rest

The Library
Though dozens of important buildings make Ha’rar a desired destination, it is perhaps the Vapran library that is most remarkable. This peaceful, domed building rests a few minutes’ walk from the Citadel, built of white marble that matches the snow that dusts its thatched roof. Within, light shines through the stained glass in the ceiling’s skylights, illuminating hundreds of thousands of tomes and scrolls. These precious—nay, sacred—artifacts are kept safe in the library, preserved and organized by fastidious librarians. These keepers of the books are also available to read aloud to others, as most Gelfling do not possess the skill of literacy. Like spell crafters or Sifan far-dreamers, they share the mysteries hidden in the countless writings with others, so that anyone may experience the magic within.
While perusing the books and breathing in the musty scent of their parchment, one can easily become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of wisdom and song contained within a single building. So much lore could never be read by a single Gelfling during one lifetime. And yet, time seems to slow while wandering the stacks, peeking under pages and blowing dust from covers.
This ode of delight is credited to a song teller who was present on the day the library building was completed, many, many trine ago.

Immortal House

Rest me in this immortal house

My head upon one thousand tomes

Lost within one thousand pages

Kept within a single room

Oh, ignites me more, does nothing else!

Than this place of paper, board, and string

The world without cannot compare

Nor make my song teller’s lyre sing

This scent of etcher’s burning palm

These inkèd sheets, these binded spines

Keep me captive and enchanted

In towers infinite and divine

For I would leave my life complete

Should I live until my final day

Resting within this immortal house

Bound forever by words that stay

Basic Information

Clan Name: The Vapra
Hometown: Ha’rar
Region: Northern Mountains
Maudra: All-Maudra (Mayrin)
Totem animal: Imperial Unamoth

Colors

Core element: Light
Clan color: Silver
Sigil color: Purple / silver
Pennant color: Purple w/ gold & silver detail

Spelling & Style

Noun singular: Vapra
Noun plural: Vapra
Adjective: Vapran

Vapran Character Traits

• Resourceful
• Noble
• Academic
• Competitive
• Entitled
• Pretentious