Jorrit - This is pretty long right now; might be a bit overwhelming like this. Maybe add a tab for the older lore and the catacombs?
Location: Southeastern coast of Kildar
Owners: The Valenwood Family
Nearby Features: White sandy beaches, forests, luxurious housing, and a port with leisure ships
Main Attractions: High-end resort, casinos, Valenwood Castle, and upscale nature experiences
Overview
Vaelor’s Refuge is a luxurious resort and castle nestled along the southeastern coast of Kildar. A secluded escape for Kildar’s elite, it is renowned for its sprawling white beaches, opulent casinos, exclusive parties, and picturesque wedding venues. Designed as a retreat from the mundane, Vaelor’s Refuge caters to the upper echelon of society with its lavish amenities, while maintaining an aura of refinement and exclusivity.
Accommodations and Amenities
Vaelor’s Refuge offers high-end rooms and suites, private villas, a renowned dining hall, and a casino for its wealthy patrons. To enhance the experience, the resort features unique "Nature Immersion Packages," crafted in partnership with the nearby Druid Cove. These packages allow guests to explore Kildar’s wild beauty under the guidance of druids, including experiences such as:
Guided forest treks
Natural wellness rituals
Herbal and mystical experiences
This development is part of a recent peace accord between the Valenwoods and the local druid enclave, the Cove of the Blue Circle.
Overview: Vaelor’s Refuge has transformed over the decades, evolving from a secluded luxury resort to a sprawling, high-society oasis known across Kildar. The city around the resort has grown to accommodate its affluent visitors, bringing with it new infrastructure, expanded amenities, and a legacy passed down through generations. Despite the opulence, a constant threat of piracy from the southern seas restricts the resort's ventures into sea-based activities, fostering an ever-present sense of adventure (and danger) for those who frequent it.
Setting and Layout:
Central Resort Grounds: The original Vaelor’s Refuge resort has expanded into an even more lavish, self-contained paradise. Filled with lush gardens, fountains, and marble-clad pavilions, this area is still exclusive to the wealthy elite. Only the most esteemed guests and members have access to the highest levels, with suites that have sweeping views of the coast and dedicated service staff.
Expansion of Nature Preserves: Following the agreement with the druids decades ago, the resort offers "Nature Retreats" where the elite can enjoy guided excursions in nature without venturing too far. The druids of the Cove of the Blue Circle, now officially partnered with Vaelor’s Refuge, lead these retreats. Their presence is a visible reminder of the once-tense, now harmonious relationship between nature and luxury.
Coastal Developments: The expansion of the resort's waterfront facilities has been limited by piracy in the southern seas. Attempts to create leisure areas for private yachts, seaports, and ocean excursions were stymied by attacks, leading to more focus on inland experiences. Nonetheless, the coastal views and private beaches remain a prime attraction.
Historical Summary: The town surrounding Vaelor’s Refuge has grown substantially in both population and wealth. Decades ago, a substantial payout from Lord Valenwood's life insurance secured the Valenwood family's financial stability, helping the estate avoid ruin and allowing the resort to grow in popularity. The agreement with the druids further cemented the refuge’s unique “wild and free” luxury appeal. Periodically, issues with pirate attacks arise, limiting the resort’s growth into certain maritime experiences and keeping sea travel to and from Vaelor’s Refuge risky.
Notable NPCs:
Valenwood Family: The Valenwood family remains tied to Vaelor’s Refuge, with Valeria Valenwood’s grandchildren now managing the resort. Their leadership focuses on maintaining the exclusivity of the refuge and protecting it from both political threats and piracy. Rumors about their legitimacy as true heirs occasionally resurface, particularly among the region's elite.
Elara Wavecaller successor to Corellion: Now a seasoned druid, Elara has assumed leadership of the Cove of the Blue Circle. She balances her duties as archdruid with her loyalty to the ancient peace treaty. Her influence ensures that Vaelor’s Refuge continues to respect the natural world, often at odds with the resort’s expansionist ambitions.
Descendants of Reginald Roundshield: Reginald’s lineage continues his legacy as heads of security at the resort. This elite family of guards has retained power, and some even possess his distinctive “charming” features. They maintain a strict, vigilant watch against the pirates to the south.
Pirate Threats to the South: Led by various self-proclaimed "sea lords," the pirate coalition has grown bolder over the years, sensing the wealth that flows to Vaelor's Refuge. Their interference has hindered the resort’s planned expansions into sea-bound leisure activities, and their attacks remain a constant worry for wealthy travelers.
The New Entertainment Guild: In response to demand for luxurious and safe inland entertainment, a newly established Entertainment Guild now offers everything from bardic performances to extravagant festivals. Byron Balladon’s descendants are among the top-ranking entertainers, and the tradition of exclusivity in entertainment has evolved into a multi-tiered membership.
Legacy and Current Tensions: The resort stands as a testament to decades of peace and wealth but carries the burden of its hidden histories and political tensions. The pirate threats hinder its potential, and murmurs of old, buried secrets about the Valenwood family’s legitimacy stir periodically among the aristocratic circles.
Ongoing Storylines:
Pirate Sabotage and Retaliation: The resort offers quests for skilled adventurers to clear pirate threats to the south, promising handsome rewards.
Mysteries of the Valenwood Lineage: With rumors of affairs and hidden ancestry, the Valenwood family’s legitimacy remains a popular (though dangerous) subject of speculation.
Druidic Power and the Cove of the Blue Circle: The druids’ influence over the resort's expansion suggests potential new alliances or conflicts, especially with younger druids advocating for a more traditional, nature-first approach.
80 Years ago:
History and Family Legacy
Vaelor's Refuge was originally established as a retreat by the Valenwood family, who have owned the surrounding lands for centuries. The estate has a long-standing reputation for wealth and sophistication, though its current fortunes have fluctuated. Financial strains led to controversial decisions, including allowing extensive mining operations and the extraction of natural resources, creating tension with the local Druid Cove.
The Valenwood Family
The Valenwoods are a prestigious family with a complex history. Notable members include:
Lady Victoria Valenwood (Matriarch): An elder with a sharp mind and a revered mentor figure to her grandchildren.
Virgil Valenwood (Father, deceased): Known for his indulgent lifestyle, he delegated many responsibilities to his ambitious wife.
Valeria Valenwood (Mother): A shrewd, driven woman who managed family finances and dealt with scandalous rumors, including an affair with the family guard, Reginald Roundshield.
Viana Valenwood (Daughter): Charming yet cunning, she is skilled in navigating social circles.
Valentine Valenwood (Son): A poetic soul who secretly harbors a romantic relationship with Elara, a young druid in training.
In a dramatic turn of events, Virgil Valenwood and Ser Richard, a paladin from the Messenger Guild, perished during an attempted kidnapping of the Archdruid Corellion. Corellion escaped his captors by shapeshifting into a kraken, resulting in the tragic deaths of Virgil and Ser Richard. Following this, the Valenwood estate was saved from financial ruin by a substantial life insurance payout and a strategic partnership with the druids.
Relations with the Druid Cove
The Valenwoods’ history with the Cove of the Blue Circle has been fraught with tension. The Cove, led by the powerful Archdruid Corellion, opposed the resort's expansion plans, which threatened the local forests. Following Virgil's death and the players’ involvement in brokering peace, the two parties reached an agreement. The resort's expansion shifted focus from development to preservation, offering “nature experiences” under druid guidance rather than destroying natural habitats. Corellion himself, known to travel in the form of a robin or, at times, a kraken, symbolically approved this accord.
The druids maintain a fragile peace, though underlying tensions remain. Eco-terrorism was once considered by the Cove, but with Valentine and Elara’s relationship strengthening the bond between the factions, they now see hope for mutual respect.
The Catacombs and Seven Trials
Beneath Vaelor’s Refuge lie ancient catacombs filled with trials themed around the Seven Deadly Sins, designed to challenge adventurers morally and mentally. Each trial is a puzzle, rewarding characters who resist the temptation of each sin while punishing those who give in. The trials are as follows:
Wrath - Trial of Patience
Envy - Trial of Kindness and Love
Sloth - Trial of Diligence and Zeal
Pride - Trial of Humility and Cooperation
Gluttony - Trial of Moderation
Lust - Trial of Self-Control
Greed - Trial of Generosity
These trials are said to offer peculiar rewards, including enchanted items such as the Socks of Sliding, Hat of Featherfall, and Potion of Liquidity. A notorious goblin faction, the Moonhowlers, also inhabits these catacombs, often causing mischief for those brave enough to explore the crypts.
The catacombs hold another dark secret: necromantic forces periodically awaken the skeletal ancestors of the Valenwoods, including Lord Vaelor himself, who poses a formidable challenge to adventurers. Recent adventurers reportedly looted powerful necrotic weapons like Vaelor’s Bane and Vaelor’s Vengeance during a mission to clear out these undead.
Significant NPCs
Reginald Roundshield
Head Guard, rumored lover of Valeria Valenwood, father of Viana and Valentine.
Elijah Enstein
Eccentric necromancer interested in ancient artifacts.
Corellion the Wise
Archdruid of the Cove of the Blue Circle, fiercely protective of nature.
Cupra
A loud, arrogant gnome mage with an eccentric style, invited to perform at the resort.
Recent Events
The Investigation
The mysterious deaths of Virgil Valenwood and Ser Richard led to an official investigation by the Fharlanghn Messenger Guild. Players discovered that Corellion’s escape from captivity triggered the deaths but helped keep the peace by presenting the deaths as natural. The Valenwoods received compensation, including a hefty life insurance payout that saved the family estate and funded an eco-friendly expansion of the resort.
The Peace Accord
Players’ actions brokered a deal between the Valenwoods and the Blue Circle druids. The resort agreed to expand through nature-based activities rather than infrastructure, integrating druid-led “natural experiences” into their offerings. Valentine Valenwood and Elara’s secret relationship played a pivotal role in maintaining this peace