According to the Dremoa, faithful followers of the Star Mother, Tirvalleis was once the Traveler who came upon their goddess Teshdremor in the vast, dark expanse of Iaara. He wooed the dragoness and quickly became her instructor and consort, his teachings helping in the creation of the world of Tera’vall and the races of tyrvamen and drakadremaar. Before continuing on his journey, the Traveler presented the Star Mother with two gifts: one, the many twinkling stars of the night sky crafted from her glossy scales, and two, a gemstone that would serve as both the sun and moon and provide true nurturing light to Tera’vall.

Teshdremor's Encounter
Art by Jason Chan

Tirvalleis returned many years later in Tera’vall’s Third Era, this time not as a man but instead a dragon counterpart to Teshdremor. His lengthy absence had turned her bitter and his homecoming was too late; her heart had gone cold with love lost many millennia earlier. Although they acknowledge his continued existence, the Dremoa do not worship or officially recognize Tirvalleis.

The Triad Church has a different viewpoint on the Tirvalleis legend. Through careful research, they have surmised that Tirvalleis is in fact an ancient iyudrakal from the First Era of Terrin. Having advanced past his feral bloodlust, Tirvalleis studied the arcane arts and mastered magic, or what is today called Wei – something considered virtually impossible by the frailer Eynamen of the day. Tirvalleis’ draconic stamina allowed for him to resist the corruptive energies of the Wei while expanding his thoughts into true sentience and intellect.

Manipulating Eylin to her own ends, Yveren had designed the bestial iyudrakal dragons to keep the rapidly developing Eynamen in check and had relied upon their untamed ferocity for this purpose; her children, the drakadremaar, were proving insufficient to instill true fear into mankind. Come his release from Yveren’s spell, Eylin recognized the sudden evolution of Tirvalleis as a remarkable happening and promoted him to godhood shortly thereafter. Working with Eylin, Tirvalleis then brought many of his iyudrakal brethren out of their primitive existence and into a respectful station as watchers over the race of man. This legend is largely believed to be the foundation of Third Era Tirvalleism.

“Many think us more powerful than the gods, so why would we pray to them? The iyudrakal are born from an ancient power, true, but we are not immortal. We are not the iyadar of old. We need guidance, especially now. Tirvalleis is it.” - Demytadram of the Glittering Wing

Other stories and tall tales persist, including speculation that Tirvalleis is the mortal iyudrakal avatar of the Swordbringer, Eylin. Some even say he is Haradrien, last of the ancient Iyadar, father to all dragons and former servant of the Old Gods. Without concrete tenets of faith, these stories float freely through Tera’vall’s population and have been adapted to different cultures and races. What is largely consistent is Tirvalleis’ apparent penchant for the race of man, a sworn duty to protect and guide them, and his appearance as a massive male dragon with lustrous, golden scales.

oday, Tirvalleis is an even more powerful force in the lives of his believers than ever before. Those loyal to him are taking steps to convert others to their “faith” as it were, a sign that the worship of Tirvalleis is becoming more structured. The Triad Church has always considered Tirvalleis a member of the Gathered Gods and is now re-evaluating their stance towards him, considering a more prominent inclusion of him in their rituals and doctrines.

The Draekaverist Church sees him as a threat to their growing dominion over dragons and dragonkin and react accordingly, emphasizing Tirvalleis’ apparent lack of concern for his iyudrakal kin and greater affinity for the race of man. Through influence from the Draekaverists and Teshdremor’s Dremoa, drakadremaar overall have come to disregard Tirvalleis as a deity.

The majority of true dragons sees him as a fictitious concoction of lesser races and do not hold Tirvalleis in any regard, favorable or not; others cling to Tirvalleism and look to the Iyudrakiire for guidance in these tumultuous times. Dragons allied with the Glittering Wing are noteworthy followers of Tirvalleism.

Aside from encouraging honor and fairness, Tirvalleis’ most significant contributions to the mortal world are his Ayiir Defenders. These Eynamen are warriors chosen by Tirvalleis to teach others a code of honor and see that the right and just laws of the gods are upheld in all the realms. A copy of these laws can be seen in the Rck’tienn, the only known religious writing of Tirvalleis. His guidelines closely mirror Eylin’s Seven Laws of Man, further strengthening the obvious connection between the Iyudrakiire and the Swordbringer.

"Defenders, may you live with honor and truth. Know righteousness and bring order to the lawless. Know virtue and be bound by your oath. The innocents look to you for salvation – guide them, defend them. Your shield is their shelter. The wicked fear your righteousness – combat them, destroy them. Your wrath is their ruin.” - Tirvalleis

Tirvalleis’ constellation is the Dragon. It is most visible in the Firewind months. Its brightest star is Horn and is located at the tip of the dragon shape’s right horn. Those born between the 2nd and 17th days of the month of Jerelt are believed blessed by this sign and are more likely to be chosen as Defenders later in life. The Dragon was also an influence for Tirvalleis’ holy symbol.

irvalleis rarely makes individual appearances. More often, he will exert his influence by flying over massive population centers such as large cities to garner the attention of the people below. Those who fall into his shadow are instantly made aware of his omnipresence and power, the unlawful feeling strangely compelled to be more respectful and honorable and change their wicked ways. Many thieves, murderers and brigands have reconsidered their lives of crime when faced with the possibility of retribution at the claws of Tirvalleis.

ore purposefully, Tirvalleis will appear in a dream to one he has selected to be a Defender. He will direct them to a certain place at a specific time where they are to meet with him and begin their training. From there, Tirvalleis will whisk his initiate away to the Isle of Orulban, an extra-planar place where he undergoes months of rigorous physical and mental trials designed to hone his skills and prove his worth as one of Tirvalleis’ paladins. When he is returned to Terrin, a Defender is then turned loose to right the wrongs he comes across. Defenders act independently with little guidance from Tirvalleis from this point on, the Iyudrakiire guiding them only in times of great need or when he feels a Defender has lost his way.

Upon receiving the title of Defender, the chosen mortal is granted by Tirvalleis two enchanted items: a suit of armor and a sturdy weapon, the characteristics of each item matching the receiver’s body type and martial preferences. Some Defenders are seen as burly men in thick plate armor wielding massive two-handed swords, others as smaller, more agile individuals wearing flexible leather and carrying a polearm. Whatever the overall style, these items all incorporate some degree of consistent draconic design elements to ensure their link to the Iyudrakiire who crafted them. Tirvalleis’ holy symbol is also featured prominently and displayed proudly by the bearer.

A Defender may also carry a Rck’tienn with him. This collection of teachings is generally compiled as Defenders receive instructions from Tirvalleis throughout their service to him. A Rck’tienn may also include lessons taught during their training on the Isle of Orulban or the Defender’s own stories and poetry. This text is only available in Iyuarrt, the ancient language of the dragonkin, though some copies taken from fallen Defenders have been translated to Quexdolith, Drakaart and the Eynamen Tradespeak.