AshenVale
"From Ashes, We Rise"
History
Ashenvale, a small but sacred city in the northern reaches, has long served as a pilgrimage site for those who revere the dead. Even before the birth of Raiar, God of Rebirth, Ashenvale was known for its solemn priests, towering pointed churches, and the profound respect its people held for the passage of souls. Every solstice, residents would gather ashes of loved ones to spread across the holy fields, marking the occasion with grand festivals, pyres, and feasts.
When Raiar was born, he was naturally drawn to Ashenvale, whose people already embraced his ideals. In his wisdom, Raiar blessed the city with the gift of the Graveborne, allowing lost souls to be transfigured and renewed. During the Mourning Festival each solstice, Raiar’s presence is believed to create new graveborne from these sacred ashes, a cycle of rebirth that keeps lost spirits from fading into oblivion, or even worse, spiraling into torment.
But, in a dark twist of irony, the Sundering brought Ashenvale more ashes than it ever wanted. Their sister city was destroyed by the Red Drake, and unsatisfied with only one city the blasted wyrm proceeded to Ashenvale. Only through the valiant efforts of the graveborne was the city spared from the same fate. Today, the remains of the sister city are haunted by ashen zombies, so called 'cinders', who still wander the ruins.
Now
Nowadays, Ashenvale is a small, solemn city nestled between mountains in a natural harbor, with a small river winding through its center. Modest wooden houses with thatched roofs cluster together, while the city’s towering churches, topped with pointed black roofs, stand as a testament to its enduring reverence for the dead. Filled with craftspeople skilled in glasswork, woodworking, stone carving, and bonecraft, the city still honors its dead and maintains their ancient rituals.
Ashenvale’s currency, known as ashglint, are glass coins infused with holy ash collected from sacred pyres or sanctified incense, rather than ashes of the deceased. These coins come in various values, with larger coins bearing intricate ash patterns that signify their worth.
Although the city’s people have little direct interaction with the Khanate, an agreement allows the Khanate access to food and shelter in exchange for respecting Ashenvale’s autonomy and customs. The Khanate views Ashenvale’s reverence for the dead as an honorable counterpart to their own warrior culture, admiring the ashwalkers who care for and protect souls.
The air in the city issomber, with cursed spirits more common and the graveborne diminishing in number. Despite hardships, the people of Ashenvale persist. Still, Ashenvale perseveres, for surely Raiar, the god of rebirth, will one day be reborn himself.
500 Graveborne
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