Clan Sherendyl

The Hidden Fortress of the Northern Gnarley

Second-largest of the Gnarley’s elven houses, Clan Sherendyl keeps its strength quiet and its blades keen. Centered on the lakeside capital Düalarn, the Hidden Fortress —these wood elves train like soldiers, store like siegemasters, and remember like historians. Their vigilance faces north and west toward Dyvers and the Nyr Dyv, east toward Greyhawk, and south toward Verbobonc; they respect The Gnarley Rangers and Old Faith druids, distrust human ambition, and revere The Seldarine — The Elven Pantheon with special ardor for Corellon Larethian.

Capital & Setting: Düalarn, the Hidden Fortress

A peaceful lake-village that drills like a barracks, Düalarn stands around deep Lake Nuralin, twenty miles north of Shelleton and thirty-one west of Beltander. Granite hillocks ring the water; villas perch on outcrops; many residents prefer stout rock cellars to tree-homes. Subterranean galleries honeycomb the hills—granaries, armories, sanctuaries—joined by tunnels and strengthened with elven magic, encircling the entire lake. Outsiders see a picturesque village; the clan knows it could shelter the whole tribe and hundreds more if war or disaster strikes.

Territory & Roads

Sherendyl heartlands span roughly 3,200 square miles between the Velverdyva River to the north west, the thinning forests near the Nyr Dyv in the north, and the deep woods west of Beltander. Many small tree-villages dot brooks that eventually feed the Serault. Two overland arteries matter:

• A road running from Clan Meldarin lands through Shelleton to Beltander (then south to Tricaster or east to Lord Lockswell), where cautious trade with tried Woodsmen factors occurs.
• The western forest road from Twilight Falls and Namburil past Sobanwych, forking to Terre Vert or north to Caltaren on the Dyvers coast—ground the elves once held and now debate reclaiming after Sobanwych’s decline.

War-era scarring means the west grows oaks, elders, hornwoods, ipps, ashes, willows, yarpicks in abundance, but the truly massive dekla, roans, ipts remain rare there (they thrive in the east).

People & Culture

House size: ~1,800 members—second only among Elves of the Gnarley Forest clans. Five tribes compose the clan; House Sherendyl (eponymous) is the largest. Most folk live in the northern heartland, but Sherendyl families are scattered across the wider forest and return often to trade and visit.

Character: Candid, pragmatic, and proud. Sherendyl elves are trained broadly in armor, shields, varied weapons, tactics, and logistics; where Clan Meldarin are famed for archers, Sherendyl are renowned as the Gnarley’s finest soldiers. Honor, tradition, and direct speech rule their courts and campfires.

Allies among mortals: Strong esteem for The Gnarley Rangers and Old Faith druids; acceptance of Woodsmen who respect the green. Suspicion is reserved for city states that hunger for timber or territory.

History

Sherendyl bloodlines trace to a faerie-elven Principality of Calinárn, which once ruled much of the western Gnarley verge and lands now within Verbobonc. Their position—near the Nyr Dyv and Velverdyva—put them in the path of Ur-Flannae and later Oeridian Oerid and Suloise Suel migrations. They fought at the fore of grey-elf armies, suffering but not breaking; their chronicles record grievances that inform present caution toward Dyvers, Greyhawk, and—less so—Verbobonc.

Centuries of raids and the wars with the Occluded Empire of the Whispered One birthed their doctrine of hiding strength in earth and stone—the Hidden Fortress—and their ongoing expectation that such times will come again.

Government & Titles

Ruler’s Style & Titles

Las’törla / Los’törl (Clan-Lady/Lord). Clan Sherendyl is ruled by a single sovereign from the eponymous tribe. In formal, traditional contexts—especially before Celene’s envoys—the ruler is also styled hrōvacán (an ancient vassal title akin to a human burgrave/count), a reminder of the ruler’s age-old duties as warden of sacred wilds and marshal of border defense. In everyday usage, las’törla/los’törl is preferred.

Succession — The Feudal Election

Heir Apparent & Justification. When succession nears, the heir apparent must publicly justify their claim before a feudal council composed of senior Sherendyl kin and the chiefs of the four lesser tribes.
The Vote. All eligible chiefs vote. The heir may vote for themselves, though it is considered poor form. If the heir fails to convince the council, other Sherendyl nobles may stand forth and present claims.
Advisory College. Once elevated, the ruler is advised by:

• the five tribal heads (including the ruler’s own eponymous tribe),
• elected elders and notable members of House Sherendyl.

Term & Abdication Tradition

In antiquity, rulers served until death or departure to Arvandor. In the last centuries, a custom has arisen: Sherendyl rulers abdicate when the burden grows too heavy. The last four rulers have followed this practice—keeping the office vital and preventing drift into complacency.

The Ancient Hrōvacán

Once, the hrōvacán was a feudal vassal of the Prince of Calinárn, tasked to rally all Gnarley tribes in defense of the southern grey and sylvan heartlands. The title’s practical authority faded after the wars against the Occluded Empire of the Whispered One over a millennium ago. Today, it is chiefly honorific, retained out of respect by traditional vassals and by Celene’s envoys.

Current ruler (579 CY)

Las’törla Aerith Sherendyl, wood-elf fighter 13, elected soon after The Hateful Wars; favors renewed formal fealty to Celene, Faerie Kingdom of, opposes Dyvers’ timber hunger, and works closely with The Gnarley Rangers and Old Faith circles.

Faith & Temples

Sherendyl piety concentrates on Corellon Larethian; Ehlenestra (Ehlonna) and Rillifane Rallathil are also strongly honored; the rest of the The Seldarine — The Elven Pantheon stand a respectful third. High Priest Sulian of Corellon (cleric 12) presides at Düalarn’s grand oak-hall, whose cellars hide a fortified granary and armory sufficient to equip the Gnarley elves in war. Sulian’s private counsel: prepare—the north grows dark, banditry and cults rise nearby.

External Relationships

• Celene (Enstad): Deep cultural loyalty; service in the Companion Guard is a mark of honor; Aerith advocates formal realignment.
• Verbobonc, Viscounty (City & Viscounty): Pragmatic partner; elements within the clan (Azaethus) prefer tighter ties and practical compacts.
• Dyvers, Free Lands of: The clan “takes a very dim view” of Dyvers’ ship-timber appetites and keeps a wary watch on northern roads.
• Greyhawk: Historic unease rooted in old wars and migrations; monitored through Shelleton trade.
• The Gnarley Rangers & Old Faith Druids: Regular councils and shared patrol calendars; annual Ranger-Knight meetings with elders.

Politics within the Four Clans (DM facing)

• Clan Meldarin: Sherendyl respect Meldarin archery and endurance; they remember Meldarin losses to the Whispered One and offered refuge when Alaeduri suffered. Strategic alignment is strong, though Sherendyl push for sterner readiness.
• Sevensong / Sathlîrwyn (Meldarin tribe) & others: Sherendyl cooperate in signals and patrols but argue hard lines on road rights and logging.
• Sherendyl Stance: Soldiers first; law must be enforceable at spear-length.

Law & Readiness

Düalarn drills regularly in armor and formations; archery ranges are busy every dusk. The Hidden Fortress tunnels hold generational supplies; if war returns, Sherendyl intend to stand while others fall back. “Storage only, for centuries”—but nothing is allowed to dull.

Adventure Seeds

1. The Vault Below Nuralin: A tunnel breach floods a store-cellar; inside—old Calinárn regalia and a sealed war-ledger naming human houses that once betrayed the elves. Who wants it suppressed?
2. Forest Road Reprise: Ruael urges the party to audit Woodsmen claims along the road to Caltaren; poachers wear Dyvers badges and “tax” caravans. Choose sides before the first arrow flies.
3. Shelleton’s Balance: Grey-elf magistrates demand stricter oaths; Azaethus seeks Verbobonc-style writs instead. PCs mediate between Celene etiquette and human logistics.
4. The War-Store Bell: A hidden alarm in Sulian’s temple rings for the first time in centuries; bandit levies mass near Sobanwych with slaver coin. Equip, muster, march.
5. Lon’törl Summons: A border lon’törl calls the PCs to put down a raid but demands minimal forest damage—tactics must match Sherendyl doctrine.