This once beautiful forest was the home of the Silvanesti elves for millenia. During the War of the Lance, The Speaker of the Stars, Lorac used a Dragon Orb and accidentally turned his homeland into a living nightmare. Let’s learn more about Silvanesti. Buy Tales of the Lance: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/16961/Tales-of-the-Lance-2e?affiliate_id=50797
Transcript
Cold Open
Lorac’s Nightmare has twisted both the land and its inhabitants.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Silvanesti in the War of the Lance Era. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing the Tales of the Lance boxed set and War of the Lance sourcebook for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!
Discussion
The nation of Silvanesti has suffered the most in the War of the Lance when the Speaker of the Stars, Lorac Caladon used the Dragon Orb in an attempt to halt the advance of the Dragonarmies, but instead the spirit of Viper within the Dragon Orb took control of Lorac, summoned Cyan Bloodbane and twisted the land into a living nightmare. While these fabled woods were the homeland of the elves for millennia, they had to earn it, through two dragon wars. Now in the War of the Lance, they must somehow cleanse the forest of Lorac’s Nightmare and start life anew.
While the War of the Lance era only recently affected Silvanesti, let’s examine how it was just before and after Lorac used the Dragon Orb. The Silvanesti forest is unutterably beautiful. The trees stretched high into the sky creating a canopy over the forest floor. The crystalline Thon Thalas river ran through the forest, splitting to surround the capital city of Silvanost, then turning west to split again toward Blöde and The Plains of Dust. The cities were crafted from living wood and marble. After the vast population fled to Southern Ergoth, and Lorac’s Nightmare took over the land, the climate matched its new state. Winters run from H’rarmont to Chislmont which feature blizzards and biting winds. Springs are stormy due to the warm currents from the Eastern Courrain Ocean. The Thon-Thalas River frequently floods between Chistlmont and Corij, and summer begins thereafter from Corij to Reorxmont with hot and humid weather and the perpetual stink of decay. By Autumn in Reorxmont, the living trees turn as dry and brown as the dead ones.
While the Silvanesti are xenophobic, focusing on preserving the integrity of their race and being distrustful of other races after the Cataclysm, they live in a rigid caste system. You are born into a House and you are expected to perform your duties under the House in service to the nation. They are taught the skills relevant to their House, and rarely ever leave or change their House. Prior to their exile, they traded little with outsiders, and when they did it was with ivory, wood, wine, woodcarving, needlecraft, metalcraft and herbal medicines. When the Dragonarmies first arrived, the Speaker of the Stars attempted to negotiate a truce, however the Dragonarmies turned against their truce and attacked the nation. While the population fled, the Speaker stayed to face them with the Dragon Orb. Under a hundred Silvanesti Elves remain in the forest in this era.
Silvanost, the City of Towers, was one of the most visually stunning cities in all of Krynn. It is situated on the island of Fallon, its towers are made of white marble, ivory quartz and glittering crystal. The stone would glow in the evening from the light absorbed from the silver moon Solinari. While every elf lives in towers of some height, the Palace of Quinari and the Tower of the Stars are the tallest structures. The streets are now populated with flickering shadows of madness, undead and twisted creatures. The trees drip blood, the tower walls are now black and lean in unnatural angles. There are no more than twenty elves currently living in the tortured city. The next largest population lives in Kurinost. This town is north east of Silvanesti and was a beautiful crystal city. The entire city was crafted by the talented hands of House Mason and Woodshaper. Now the crystal buildings project horrid visions and can hypnotize those who gaze too long at their walls. The trees are poisonous and twisting, emanating sweet smells to draw in travelers, then reach out to ensnare them.
Alinost now has a population of eighteen. It is located north of the capital on the banks of the Thon-Thalas River. While the population made their living off the river, their homes were made of stone and their storehouses were crafted from wood. The population that remained were transformed into feral monsters and summoned other magical creatures into its borders. Balinost and Ravinost each have under fifteen residents. Balinost was named after the Kender general and is located south from Fallon Island. Both towns guard the southern entrance to the river. Now they feature swampy shores where octopus-like creatures terrorize any foolish enough to get close. Giant spiders have overrun the towns, covering it in webs, through which maniacal laughter from the undead echo. The skies are patrolled by bloodsucking creatures as well.
Phalinost was barely affected by the nightmare. Its white marble towers overlook its shoreline. Its ruler Lord Dwalinwyth Theladon of House Mariner was charged with organizing the evacuation of Silvanesti. Sithelnost is in the northern reaches of Silvanesti. Named after the son of Silvanos, it was home to numerous important families. A portion of the town features a Gallery of Heroes, massive stone statues of elven warriors. The city was evacuated following a Green Dragonarmy attack, and the nightmare that followed created a massive carnivorous plant which dwells therein. There are a few important sites worth noting in Silvanesti. The Barrier Hedge surrounds Silvanesti. It is impassible by most, intentionally containing the worst of the Nightmare within. The hedge now seems to have a life of its own, opening to allow passage, then closing in on those trapped within, slowly killing them. Fallon Island rests within the Thon-Thalas River. It is approximately sixteen miles from east to west and fifty miles from north to south. The fallon forest covers the south of the island and Silvanost is in the northern third.
The Forest of Silvanesti has been shaped by the sylvan woodshapers for centuries into the breathtaking forest it was. It is now known as the Bleeding Wood. Its trees are twisted and bent, with their gnarled roots exposed. Their trunks run with blood as the nightmare has corrupted it. The Thon-Thalas River, also known as the Lord’s River, meanders from the Khalkist mountains, through the forest and out into the Courrain Ocean. It is normally heavily traveled by elves, but stands toxic in this nightmare. Finally, the Tower Shalost, also known as Waylorn’s Tower, is a magical monument, which preserved the body of Waylorn Wyvernsbane. It features a stack of complicated locks and puzzles in its timeless grove.
While this tortured woods will ultimately be liberated from Lorac’s Nightmare, it will take years before the elves return, and the n only a matter of decades before it is taken from them again, this time by the Minotaur Nation.
Outro
But that is all I have to say about Silvanesti in the War of the Lance Era. What do you think of the Bleeding Woods? Do you blame Lorac for the nightmare? And finally, would you go adventuring within its borders? Leave a comment below.
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