The Valkyrath

Ancient Name: "Valthorak Kyrathari"

Founded as the Valthorak Kyrathari eventually shortened to just Valkyrath. These independent city states banded together for mutual protection against threats to their continent.

The Dragonborn language is deeply tied to honor, strength, and tradition, so the original name for this collection of city states reflected their nature as fortified, cooperative bastions of power. When selecting their name they focused on these key themes:

• Fortification (heavily walled)
• Unity and Cooperation (dealing with large threats together)
• City-States (independence but shared heritage)

The compound ancient name:

• Valthorak – "Shielded Citadels" (from "Val" meaning shield and "Thorak" meaning citadel or fort).
• Kyrathari – "The United Scales" (from "Kyr" meaning scale and "Athari" meaning unity or bond).

Together, "Valthorak Kyrathari" means "The Shielded Citadels of the United Scales" – a fitting and proud name for a group of massive, fortified Dragonborn city-states that stand together in strength.

Evolution Over 2,000 Years

Languages evolve over time, and names simplify, shorten, or shift in meaning as cultural and linguistic changes occur. Here’s how the name "Valthorak Kyrathari" evolved:

1. Over time, the two-part name merged for efficiency and ease of speech.
2. Sounds softened or dropped in casual usage.
3. The focus shifted from "shielded citadels" to simply the idea of "The United Cities" or "The Forts."

Modern Name: "Valkyrath"

• This shortened form preserved the essence of the original name while feeling smoother and easier to say.
• "Val" (shield) + "Kyrath" (united scales) merged into a single, powerful word.

Context and Lore

• Why the Name Evolved: Over centuries of peace, war, and cultural exchange, the Dragonborn began using a simplified term out of convenience.
• How it’s Used Today: While scholars or elders may still reference "Valthorak Kyrathari" in formal speeches or rituals, most Dragonborn (and outsiders) simply call them "Valkyrath" when referring to the collective cities.
• Symbolism: The name emphasizes unity (scales bound together) and defense (massive walls acting as shields), aligning perfectly with the cities’ architectural marvels and their cooperative spirit.

Legend, Symbolism, and Lore of Valkyrath

The Legend of the First Shielded Scales

In ancient times, before the Dragonborn cities were mighty and walled, the world was a chaotic and dangerous place. The ancestors of the Dragonborn, scattered and vulnerable, faced constant attacks from marauding warlords, monstrous beasts, and rival civilizations. Each settlement was isolated, struggling to defend itself.

It is said that Valtharax the Wise, a Dragonborn leader of immense vision, first called for unity among the Dragonborn settlements. He saw that no single city could withstand the rising storms of monsters and war, but together, they could forge an unbreakable shield. Valtharax is said to have stood atop a hill—now the central point of the largest city—and proclaimed:

"We are scales of the same body, scattered no longer. Together, we are Kyrathari. A shield of stone and scale, unbroken, unstoppable."

Thus, the "Valthorak Kyrathari"—"Shielded Citadels of the United Scales"—were born. Over the next centuries, the Dragonborn cities constructed walls and fortresses like no others in the known world, rising to become star-shaped marvels of stone and scale. Each city became a bastion, but together, they were a bulwark against all threats.

Symbol of Valkyrath

The collective symbol of the Dragonborn city-states is The Shielded Scale, an elegant yet imposing design that reflects both their fortification and unity.

Description of the Symbol:

• A golden dragon scale sits at the center, representing unity and resilience.
• Surrounding the scale is a star-shaped wall, symbolizing the enormous fortified walls of each city.
• The points of the star form a ten-pointed pattern, representing the ten cities.
• The shield itself is set in bronze and black, ancient colors of Dragonborn honor and tradition.

This sigil is carved into gates, worn on banners, and engraved on ceremonial armor and weapons when the cities act as one force.

Cultural Role and Traditions

1. The Council of Scales:
   Once every five years, delegates from each city gather at the Hall of Unity, located in the first and largest city of the ten. This council discusses matters of defense, trade, and law. If a great external threat arises, they enact the "Thalorak Pact" ("Shield Pact"), pledging warriors, resources, and magic to the collective cause.
2. The Fortification Oath:
   Dragonborn architects, masons, and guild leaders are sworn into their professions by taking the Fortification Oath:

"By stone, scale, and shield, I will craft walls that shall not fall, gates that shall not break, and citadels that shall endure the centuries."

1. Festivals of Unity (Vyrathkar):
   Every city celebrates Vyrathkar, "The Day of Shielding," marking the anniversary of their first pact. Festivals feature:
2. Mock sieges with star-fort obstacles for warriors to test their strength and wit.
3. Stone-carving competitions to honor the cities' walls.
4. The burning of ceremonial effigies symbolizing defeated foes, symbolizing how Valkyrath stands undefeated.

Modern Perception of Valkyrath

To outsiders, Valkyrath is both a marvel and a warning. The sight of its star-shaped fortifications and walls inspires awe, but the united force of its cities—each fiercely independent yet capable of swift cooperation—is a symbol of power. In times of war, Valkyrath's legions march as one, clad in gilded armor with banners bearing the Shielded Scale. Diplomats from distant lands respect and fear the Dragonborn's unified might.

To the Dragonborn, Valkyrath is more than a name: it is a legacy. It is the embodiment of their ideals—strength, unity, and survival. The walls of their cities are not just stone; they are the honor and blood of their ancestors, standing as a testament to their unbroken pact.

Final Notes

• The Dragonborn cities remain individual yet unified, a cultural and military marvel.
• The name Valthorak Kyrathari lives on in formal rituals, while Valkyrath serves as the modern shorthand, spoken with pride by Dragonborn across the land.
• The legend of Valtharax the Wise is a unifying myth, reminding all Dragonborn that strength comes not from isolation but from shared purpose.