Overview
Varentis is the capital of Keldara, a fortress-city carved into the cliffs of the Steel Ravine. It stands in northeastern Xalmyrra as Keldara's command seat, home to Supreme Commander Feryon and General Durvek.
The city holds Keldara's military command and mountain defenses, and it guards the northern route toward Thundermarch. Khoradyn leads Keldara from Varentis before his absence, Rhalyn returns there after crossing from Thundermarch, Brynor begins his Keldaran life outside the city, and Silas lives there before entering Aldar's service.
Geography and Cityscape
Varentis lies amid Keldara's frozen mountain country, near snowfields, cliffs, pine forests, icy valleys, and the eastern Xalmyrran mountains. Its northern border gives way to rugged wilderness, and the route beyond the last houses leads deeper into the Keldaran mountains toward the cave passage to Thundermarch.
Its walls are built directly into the mountain. The Steel Ravine's ancient stone cliffs gather snow and streaks of ice around the fortress. The city has wide, orderly streets, dark and gray stonework, snow-dusted buildings, towering defenses, and banners marked with Keldara's crimson fist.
Keldaran Command
Mages serve inside Varentis. Keldarans live in and defend the fortress-city amid the harsh northern landscape.
Khoradyn was Keldara's supreme commander before his long absence. Feryon later holds the title in Varentis with Durvek, receives visitors there, and calls for reinforcements, a road, and a wall when the northern route becomes dangerous.
History
After the Atraxi arrive in Xalmyrra, atraxi communities settle in Varentis, Irrathis, and Valcirae. Their language spreads through trade and cultural exchange until it becomes Xalmyrran.
Around Varentis, Belanor speaks with Kaldramir Kaldaros before the War of Scars, later travels north of the city through the cave under Xelthys's guidance, and returns with fractured memories. Khoradyn encounters him outside Varentis, gives him the name Brynor, and remains a loyal friend as Brynor settles in Keldara.
Rhalyn returns to Varentis after traveling from Thundermarch with Jin Leiyun, her memories damaged by the passage into Xalmyrra. She later becomes a divine magic teacher in the city.
Under Zal'therak's guidance, Malcairn reaches Varentis through the Thundermarch route. In the city, he meets Rhalyn and Durvek, learns Keldaran language and customs, spars with Feryon, creates the black orbs, and takes the name Silas of Keldara before entering Aldar Rehn's service.
During the cataclysm, Varentis is struck by black rain, flooding, lava-lit eruptions, and falling spikes. Rhalyn protects civilians with divine barriers, Silas raises a massive cosmic shield over the city, and Khoradyn adds earth and ice defenses. The city survives with lasting scars.
Renneth and Maric later come to Varentis to investigate the route north of the city. With Rhalyn, Feryon, and Durvek, they travel into the Keldaran wilderness, reach the cave, encounter beings from the other side, and bring Krexyn back toward the Xalmyrran Council. Feryon responds by calling for reinforcements, a road, and a wall near the route.