The World of Valruhn
“The mountains hold us in. The gods stand silent. And the storm marks whom it will.”
Geography Link to heading
Valruhn is a vast, enclosed landmass ringed by the Barrier Mountains — towering peaks that wall the realm off from whatever lies beyond. At the cardinal points stand the Four Corners, colossal mountains that dwarf even the Barrier range, each over fifteen miles high. Between them stretches a varied landscape of forests, plains, deserts, and swamps.
At the heart of Valruhn lies the Silver Sea, an inland body of water that connects the three nations. And at the center of the Silver Sea sits the Island of Titans — a place of myth, danger, and forgotten purpose.
The Three Nations Link to heading
The Silver Dominion Link to heading
The largest and most powerful of Valruhn’s nations, the Silver Dominion occupies roughly sixty percent of the landmass, spanning most of the southern half with holdings extending up the western coast. It is ruled under the spiritual and political authority of the Church of the Silver Lady, whose influence permeates every aspect of civic life.
Vyrmhal Link to heading
A harsh, northern realm under the watchful gaze of the Winter Bride, Keeper of the Rime — one of the Standing Gods. Vyrmhal’s people are hardened by cold and conflict, and their culture prizes endurance above all else.
Rudu Link to heading
An eastern nation whose patron Standing God is the Leviathan, the Graykeeper. Rudu’s lands border the Silver Sea and are marked by deep forests and ancient waterways.
The Four Corners Link to heading
The Four Corners are four immense mountain peaks, each over fifteen miles high, positioned at the cardinal directions of Valruhn. They serve as landmarks visible from nearly anywhere in the realm and are considered sacred by many cultures. Their true purpose, if any, is lost to time.
The Silver Sea Link to heading
The Silver Sea is the vast inland body of water at the heart of Valruhn, connecting the three nations and serving as a vital trade route. Its waters shimmer with a faintly metallic sheen that gives it its name. At its center lies the Island of Titans.
The Standing Gods Link to heading
Scattered across Valruhn stand enormous stone figures — the Standing Gods. They are immense, ancient, and silent. Some are venerated as divine. Others are feared. All are mysterious.
The known Standing Gods include:
- The Silver Lady — Patron of the Silver Dominion, worshipped by the Church that bears her name
- The Winter Bride, Keeper of the Rime — Patron of Vyrmhal
- Leviathan, the Graykeeper — Patron of Rudu
- The Green Warden — Lost somewhere on the Island of Titans
- Monolith, the Lost — Location unknown
The Brandstorm Link to heading
The Brandstorm is a phenomenon unique to Valruhn — a wandering tempest of pale, oscillating lightning that appears without warning. It does not destroy like ordinary storms. Instead, it marks those it touches, searing strange symbols into their flesh. These marks — Brands — grant extraordinary abilities, but they also make the bearer an outcast.
The Branded are feared, reviled, and hunted. The Church of the Silver Lady considers them cursed. Yet the Brands clearly hold power, and whispers persist that the storm is not random — that it is searching for something.
The Gray Link to heading
A creeping corruption that seeps through the deep places of Valruhn. The Gray twists stone and flesh, and it is the eternal enemy of the Deepveil Dwarves who battle it in the caverns below. Its origins are unknown, but it has plagued Valruhn for as long as anyone can remember.