The Silken Squall is a traveling floating city, and the seat of power of the prestigious Wyvernwind family.
Description[]
The Silken Squall is made up primarily of non-stationary tents and "walls" of some sort, and while the city as a whole is strong enough to hold together and allow people to live there, it is light and travels with the wind across the skies. The Wyvernwind brothers described it as very beautiful, but really boring after a while.[2][3][4]
Society[]
The people who live in the Silken Squall, as well as most of its visitors, are air genasi. Those who are not of air elemental ancestry are allowed, but tend to visit only when properly invited and guarded (such as diplomats and ambassadors), although if they're trusted by the Wyvernwinds they don't have any problem.[5]
According to a local, Zunado, for the people of the Silken Squall it was important to be more worldly, and it wasn't uncommon for air genasi in and before their mid-twenties to leave the city in order to travel independently. However, under the current Wyvernwind rulers this practice has been somewhat lost, supposedly because Zeru Wyvernwind and his wife did not have a good experience during their own "treks", and tried to keep their children on the Silken Squall as much as possible.[6]
Notable people[]
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wyvernwind family | NPC | The rulers of the city, currently led by a married couple. |
| Zunado | NPC | A friend of Cyrus Wyvernwind.[7] |
| Zeru Wyvernwind | NPC | Father of Cyrus Wyvernwind and Dorian Storm.[8] |
| Nephele Wyvernwind | NPC | Mother of Cyrus Wyvernwind and Dorian Storm. |
History[]
Fan art of Coriolis flying over the Silken Squall, by Odd.[art 2]
At some point in the distant past the air genasi community in Exandria got fractured and scattered across the world. However, the Wyvernwind family, despite not holding any formal title, became a source of unity and wisdom among them, leading many air genasi to travel seeking the Silken Squall, in order to ask its rulers for advice, and for them to hold court in the outskirts of cities whenever the Squall was in the area.[9][10] At some point during or after the foundation of the Silken Squall, an ancient wind spirit voluntarily gave themselves to enchant a weapon with which to defend the inhabitants of this settlement: Gambolcleft, the Vortex Blade.[11]
The Silken Squall had traveled the world for generations, but it has been flying over Marquet for at least a couple of decades,[12] and in Cuersaar 842 PD the city was near Aeshanadoor.[13] By then, it had been months since the youngest son of the rulers, Brontë, had left the Silken Squall in secret, taking a new name as "Dorian Storm".[14] By 843 PD, his older brother, Cyrus, had left too, feeling the pressure as his parents' heir and learning that air genasi were actually supposed to travel by themselves.[15]
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Fan art of the son of the Silken Squall, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord).[art 3]
After the apogee solstice of 843 PD, Cyrus Wyvernwind was murdered by the forces of the Spider Queen,[16] leaving his younger brother Dorian as the heir of the Silken Squall. Around the same period of time, Dorian's parents learned of the passing of their firstborn son. They were invited by the Air Ashari to attend the meeting of the Exandrian Accord in Vasselheim and Zeru agreed to go, leaving his wife in their city to take care of their people who were currently concerned and scared after the Red Solstice.[17] The Silken Squall was near the Dawn City at the very end of the Era of Reclamation.[18]
Behind the scenes[]
Robbie Daymond revealed that the Silken Squall and its nature as a flying settlement was created so that Dorian would have an isolated childhood (thus allowing him to be unaware of many historical events that had happened in some parts of Exandria), but at the same time it would make him someone who has seen (albeit from a distance) a lot of the world.[19]
Trivia[]
- While it is mostly described as a city, Dorian at one point said the Silken Squall was a village.[20]
- Despite being a flying settlement, the Silken Squall isn't counted as a floating city like the ones that soared during the Age of Arcanum, since all of those landed or were destroyed during or soon after the Calamity.
- In the Silken Squall men and women have equal rights and voices, even within a marriage. In fact, the ruling family themselves respect this, and in their seat of power they have two comfortable chairs, since it is expected that the Wyvernwind leader and their consort rule together.[21] Zeru described his last living son as an heir to "their golden seat".[22]
- At some point during his adventures with the Crown Keepers Dorian mentioned an ancient time before his people "fell",[23] without explanation.
- According to Zeru the Silken Squall has historical ties with the Air Ashari.[24]
References[]
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:45:43. When the group made History checks on the Wyvernwind family, Matt remarked that Chetney would not know anyway as he is not from Marquet.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:39:16.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:46:06. Dorian describes his family as nomadic.
- ↑ See "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93) at 3:14:53. It is mentioned that back in Dorian's home there are tents that aren't stationary.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:47:39.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:39:37.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:39:37.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 1:54:42.
- ↑ See "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06) from 0:22:27 through 0:23:40.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) from 1:39:11 through 1:46:06.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 2:22:42.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:46:20.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:46:54. Seven months before this episode, set in Brussendar 843 PD.
- ↑ See "The Gift Among the Green" (E1x06) at 1:06:56.
- ↑ See "Growing Bonds and Teasing Threads" (3x06) from 3:49:17 through 3:50:57.
- ↑ See "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93) at 1:46:17.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 2:12:29.
- ↑ See "A New Age Begins" (3x121) at 6:13:50.
- ↑
Fireside Chat LIVE with Robbie Daymond at 8:01 (subscription required).
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 2:18:10.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 2:17:25.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 2:16:19.
- ↑ See "The Oh No Plateau" (E1x02) at 1:08:05.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 2:13:24.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of the Wyvernwind brothers and the Silken Squall, by Linda Lithén (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Coriolis flying over the Silken Squall, by Odd (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the son of the Silken Squall, by Rachel F. (TheWhaleLord) (source). Used with permission.