Ianalia lived long before humans came to Khorvaire. She fought and died against the goblins over the Blade Desert and now she guides Vianolais as he fights for present Valenar. Like her, Vianolais is a skilled warrior, lightning quick and just as deadly. He is on his way to becoming a master of the double scimitar and like all of the Valais Tairn, he is a competent rider. However, just like his guardian ancestor, Vianolais fails to see the true value of the majestic Valenar steeds. Ianalia met her fate when she rode her mount into a goblin ambush. She knew the goblins were there, but she expected charging in would only result in the loss of yet another horse, while she would use it’s momentum to gain the advantage. Her plan went as expected, and many goblin spears impaled her horse, and most of those goblins fell to her double blades as she leaped from the dying beast. But then the flailing horse kicked her in the back of the head and rolled on top of her. She lay there, pinned beneath one of the beautiful animals that her people revered, and one bloodied goblin strode up to her, its spear raised high.
During the Last War, Vianolais was one of many elven mercenaries that fought for Cyre, and afterwards he continued to ride with his warband. More than a few Karnaathi soldiers have fallen before Vianolais. However, it was after his second horse fell, that Vianolais decided to leave Valenar. His warband had been tracking a group of hobgoblins across the plains for just over a day and were drawing close to their quarry. They were so intent on their goal that they never noticed they were being followed. The elves caught up to and clashed with the hobgoblins at the edge of a forest. The hobgoblins had hoped to make it to the trees where the cavalry would be less effective; they didn’t make it. The hobgoblins outnumbered the elves and fought bravely, but the elves held a clear advantage. Only two of the ten elves had fallen, and it looked as if the three remaining hobgoblins would surrender when the ground began to shake. Three enormous insects (later identified as ankhegs) burrowed up from the ground behind the ring of mounted warriors. One erupted right behind Vianolais.
Without a care for his mount, Vianolais was out of saddle. He knew he would gain more time by sacrificing the animal, and he took it without a backwards glance. He felled a hobgoblin mid-charge as his horse neighed in pain. A stab from another hobgoblin brought a haze of rage, and sheer anger carried him through the rest of the fight. As the second hobgoblin fell and Vianolais stood there gasping for breath. He turned to see what had become of his compatriots. Only one more elf had fallen, in addition to Vianolais’ horse, and the ankhegs were dead. All of the elves were wounded to some degree, most in attempts to save their horses; the fallen elf’s horse was being reigned in by a comrade. The battle was a victory, but for Vianolais it didn’t sit right.
Vianolais walked for the duration of the return journey. He couldn’t come to terms with the animals being anything more than tools; useful, just like a finely crafted weapon, but nothing more. Inward meditation and guidance from his guardian ancestor led Vianolais to leave. He needed to find an appreciation for himself, and then he might be able to appreciate the animals. Perhaps once he feels he doesn’t need to prove himself, Vianolais can stop seeing everything else as just a tool to prove himself with.
Vianolais is brave to the point of foolhardy. He’s not stupid, but feels that not facing a challenge is cowardly. He’s grown up in a society based on combat and that is how he solves problems. He’s friendly and slow to anger, but very in tune with his own emotions. If something riles him up, he’s most likely to ride out those feelings and analyze them afterwards. He sees his carelessness with the horses as a sign that he’s missing something in his life, and he has left his land in search of it. Currently he believes that heroic deeds will make him feel complete. His ancestral spirit lived with the same flaws as Vianolais, and guides him in his quest.
The Valaes Tairn train their people to be warriors from a young age. The elves strive to live up to the legacies set by their ancestors in Xen’Drik. Vianolais is no different. He’s a warrior first and foremost, but in becoming so, he has also become an excellent hunter and tracker and quite skilled in woodcraft.
The horse that died underneath you was actually not your horse. It was your cousin's (give me a name), who is a great hero of the Valenar. It was gifted to you, even though you have never met him. He disappeared after the signing of the traty of Thronehold.
When the horse died several days ago, you wanted to gete it resurrected, but had no capitol to do so. You know of an information broker in New Cyre, in the country of Breland, that may be able to find someone to help you tit for tat, exchanging services rather than currency. So you have headed there with all haste. (yes, you are loaning a horse and cart with a dead magnificent Valenar warhorse in the back) What's the horses name?
Cousin - Belsean
Dead Horse - Lafethil (Moonwing in common) |
