Thestra for Dummies

Hope for the Lore Challenged

by Aunraye



Not everyone has time to scour the
existing Vanguard: Saga of Heroes lore. That's why we sent Aunraye on a
mission to scoop up some intriguing lore about the continent of Thestra
and boil it down to its bare essence. Are you looking for the Cliff's
Notes version of Thestran Lore? Here are some random bits of lore
goodness for your consumption.

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Places

According to Burgen Bralund’s journal, Falgahorn,
within Targonor, is a city of men two days travel from the foothills of
the mountains and in the northern plains.  Following Burgen’s
journal you discover the Widow’s Veil
Mountains west of the rolling foothills.  



Rindol Field, home of the
Halflings, comes after the northern plains. From there you travel to style="font-weight: bold;">Bordinar’s Cleft, home of the
dwarves. As you approach Bordinar’s Cleft, which is near the peak of
Widow’s Veil, you find a Halfling
watch tower. Heading south for three days from Bordinar’s Cleft,
nearing the dead’s territory, you come across style="font-weight: bold;">Rogg Land, where the kobolds lead
them through the tunnels to find the cobalt.



In the valleys of the Vulmane lands,
Essin Lark trapped animals and was one of the first known victims of
the dead. He lived near one of the only freshwater streams in the area.



Because the dead have over run their land, the Vulmani were allowed to
camp in the valley near Brightwoods,
which is near the elven home of Leth
Nurae, after much bartering with the elves href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=article-illustrations&id=New_Targonor&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="New Targonor"
src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/article-illustrations/New_Targonor.thumb.jpg"
style="border: 0px solid ; width: 150px; height: 113px;" align="left"
hspace="4" vspace="2">and promises to curtail raiding behavior.



Targonor is the fortified city
of the humans near the elven home of Leth
Nurae. It is also the place where the Vulmani run to during
attacks by the dead.



Tursh is a small village
between New Targonor and style="font-weight: bold;">Rindol Field. It is about a day’s
walk West of New Targonor.



The Highlands are about a week
from the coast.

People

Grimbo is the Halfling mayor
of the village discussed in the The Abandoned Soldier. The soldier
discusses how the Halflings open up when given gold but will not
discuss the Fallen Star.



Halp Grimbo is a Halfling in
Rindol Field and is one of the best farmers they have in the village.
He is married to Jensa.



Burgen Bralund is a half giant
on a search for pristine cobalt. He
hires the dwarven brothers, Rungit and
Farnus, to help him search
after
they claim to be skilled miners from Bordinar’s Cleft. They are not as
skilled as the proclaim, however, and proceed to get themselves and
Bralund lost for a time. The party meets style="font-weight: bold;">Granog, who is the king of the
kobolds in Rogg Land.



Dorbin Gamstell is the Mayor of
Rindol Field and sent for help with the troll problem.



Essin Lark is a human trapper
in the Vulmane lands. He is killed by the dead as they march north.



King Horus Targonor-Furth was
King of Targonor until his death in the Battle of Targonor, where he
died alongside Captain Willem,
as witnessed by the scribe Pepran.



Pepran Baldarus is the last
known survivor of Targonor, and was once King Horus’s scribe.



Therdon and style="font-weight: bold;">Colthrun are young mountain
dwarves. Therdon goes with a caravan to mine href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album04&id=shot0005_800&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="Dwarf4"
src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album04/shot0005_800.thumb.jpg"
style="border: 0px solid ; width: 150px; height: 120px;" align="right"
hspace="4" vspace="2"> from Bordinar’s Cleft and is attacked by a
spider.



The dwarven caravan travels from Bordinar’s Cleft to the banks of the
Malvinar River.

Eddon Taggert was one of the
high ranked Red Blades who
were lead by Captain Rastas Willem.



Rendil Wainscott is a young boy
who eavesdrops on the sages Dorrin
Longreat and Vinton Mepson.
He is caught by Sage Golath,
who informs Dorrin and Vinton. Rendil then joins the Sagus Arcanes. style="font-weight: bold;">Sage Hanrick Lantier, Dorrin's
former apprentice, becomes Rendil's master.



Osmal is a Halfling cadet who
helps to fight off the ants attacking Rindol Field. style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Kassey Umbertroe is a female
Halfling Captain who is involved in the fighting of the ants.



Morgan Derek is a ranger of New
Targonor who travels to Rindol Field to help the Halflings with a troll
problem. He is originally from Tursh. His sister style="font-weight: bold;">Gillian remains in Tursh.



Minister Adlus assigns the
duties to the Rangers of New Targonor.



Zanadar and style="font-weight: bold;">Elandar, a wizard, go with style="font-weight: bold;">Morgan Derek to Rindol Field to face
the trolls, getting Morgan into trouble on the way. style="font-weight: bold;">Renna is the Ranger stable girl who
seems to have a crush on Morgan Derek and ends up traveling with him to
Rindol Field.



Aldric Mason is a new recruit
into the army of New Targonor.



Hardigan McCrane is a fur
trader who finds gnolls scavenging a ship.



Darion Furth is a mage and
distant relative to the Prince of New Targonor.



Jeric Targonor is the heir to
the aging king, though not his son, and Prince of New Targonor, also
rumored to be a former Sage.



Master Horadus is the head of
Sagus Arcane and despises the prince.



The Shield Bearer is from New
Targonor and searching for information on his forefathers.  
 

Events

Halp discovers the first ant raiding the farms in Rindol Field. Ants
become a major problem for Rindol Field. However trolls become the
problem they send to New Targonor for help about, when Morgan Derek and
company arrive.



Essin Lark becomes one of the first victims of the dead. He joins them
and is discovered by a href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album04&id=soulslasher_800&op=modload&name=Gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php"> alt="Scary and dead"
src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/album04/soulslasher_800.thumb.jpg"
style="border: 0px solid ; width: 150px; height: 120px;" align="left"
hspace="4" vspace="2"> Vulmani scout, who races home to share the
news as the dead begin their journey north and eventually take over
Southwatch, Beranid Hills, the Vulmani lands, and Targonor.



King Horus allows the Vulmani to seek refuge in the Northern Plains as
they flee the dead.



Therdon is killed by venom from a spider, while traveling with a
caravan, and becomes one of the walking dead.



Red Blades lead by Captain Rastus Willem die in the battle of Targonor
with King Horus as they buy time for the citizens of Targonor to flee.
They manage to stall the dead for a week with their stand. Prince Garus
Targonor-Furth becomes King of Targonor.



The march of the dead moves forward taking over the Plains and Targonor
and seem to be undefeatable.



Many of the Sagus Arcane are lost in the fights against the dead.
Rendil joins the Sages through Dorrin’s influence after having been
caught listening to them discuss necromancy, of which he later informs
Hanrick.  



Jeric confronts Horadus with Dorien who is later sent on a mission by
the Sage’s as part of a larger plot.



Hardigan discovers a coin, scavenged by gnolls, depicting an empire
over the sun. He travels to New Targonor to find out more about it.



The Shield Bearer discovers a new language they call Alefbasah and has
dreams about Menjammel and Betkammis.

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More Fan-Submitted Thestra Lore

submitted by belthize





Random People



Not clear whether Aldric Mason
is from Tursh or Bennan's Stead.

I assumed Brennan's.



Zeke (Mason?) is Aldric Mason's
uncle. Aldric hopes Zeke won't

eat his pig.



Marcus Wyndsom, merchant in New
Targonor.



Citizens
of Tursh



Mabel Swingarn, farmer's wife in Tursh, sold wool to style="font-weight: bold;">Marcus Wyndsom

Tahum Morgan, farmer in Tursh,
sold game hens to Marcus

Dorna Agen, farmer's wife in
Tursh, bought rake and shovel from Marcus

Philip Agen, farmer in Tursh,
bought Wheelbarrow wheel from Marcus

Harric Sleed, commander of Tursh

Gilian Derek, barmaid in Tursh
Tavern, Morgan Derek's sister...I think.

Viona Marsei, mother of style="font-weight: bold;">Guillame Marsei

Guillame Marsei, apprentice
tailor

Matteus Jorgen, tailor



Denizens
of Brennan's Stead



Brennan McClure, Mayor or chief of Brennan's Stead

Khardun Dugbarg, Dwarven
defensive warrior trainer in Brennan's Stead



Others ...



Shandler Lokus, Shipwright,
needs better wood for his boat, price is higher but better wood. Tailor
is slow making sails as well.



Tanner Wylan, tanner in New
Targonor



Other Random Items of Interest:



Loric Targonor, statue in
Tursh, first king of Thestra



Weatherfall River, river near
Tursh



Meyaniam, month of May,
planting time

An, month of April



Iasern, god of merchants deal
making

Kaerellun, goddess of lies

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Map of Thestra

Submitted by Starsailor



This map of the continent of Thestra
was created by Starsailor. style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Please note that
this map is based on lore and speculation, and not an actual
representation of any in-game map.



Click the thumbnail to see the full-size image.



src="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/files/gallery/albums/article-illustrations/Thestra.thumb.jpg"
style="width: 150px; height: 120px;" hspace="4" vspace="2">

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