The Iphendi

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Their footsteps shook the earth, not with weight, but with the burden of their oath. Against Asag’s horde, they stood as living pillars, holding aloft the hope of all Yevim.
—Lord IlRath of House AUrendir, from The Ballad of the GReat War

The Iphendi stand as the ultimate embodiment of Yevna’s will—paladins of peerless skill and incorruptible resolve. Clad in Iphendi Steel, an indestructible material derived from the God Tree itself, these warriors are said to be invincible as long as they remain connected to the land. In their prime, they were not only Yevna’s guardians but also symbols of the High People’s divine right to rule.

Legends recount the Iphendi’s role in the Great War, where a mere handful of their number turned the tide against thousands of Asag’s forces. This victory is etched in the collective memory of the Yevim as proof of Yevna’s favor, though it came at a great cost. The Iphendi’s connection to the land, mediated through the God Tree, is both their strength and their vulnerability. When the God Tree was destroyed during The Fall, the Iphendi were forced into hibernation, sealed beneath the Tree’s roots in the Conamura Chaos.

Stories persist that the Iphendi can be awakened should The Queen Who Lives bring the Crown of Elsene to their resting place. Their awakening is a tantalizing prospect for those seeking to restore the Yevim to their former glory, but questions linger about the cost. Without the God Tree, their connection to the land may falter, and some fear that the Iphendi could be corrupted.

Adventure Hook

The Iphendi are the sort of story hook that can drive the goals of an entire campaign. One straightforward option for The Queen Who Lives is to venture to the Iphendi resting place and awaken them. If the remnants of the God Tree exists in the Conamura Chaos, this means a complicated and dangerous journey into the Ocean of Furies to brave a whirlpool of monstrous proportions. Alternatively, the Iphendi can remain a myth, and the existence of artifacts like Iphendi Steel can motivate the party to get to them before the evil sister of The Queen Who Lives does.

A splinter faction of Yevim zealots seeks to awaken the Iphendi not to serve the Queen, but to impose their vision of divine justice on the world. The party must race to stop them, navigating a perilous political landscape where allies and enemies blur. Along the way, they learn of a forgotten Iphendi who remained awake after The Fall, whose knowledge of what happened during Muraius’ final days may be instrumental to the party’s cause.

What special knowledge does the lost Iphendi have that can help the party?
Will they attempt to reason with the zealots, or thwart them through force?
What truths might the lone Iphendi reveal about the cost of their eternal vigilance?

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