While wearing these bracers, you have proficiency with the longbow and shortbow, and you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls on ranged attacks made with such weapons.
The Armguard is one magical item in a set of arms recently discovered in an ancient tomb and excavated by the Dwarven priests of Frosthold Citadel in Vaasa. The tomb was found by the Knights of Silverymoon while hunting trolls in the region. After eliminating the trolls, the Knights discovered the presence of strong and ancient magics, and requested that Frosthold's priests of Dumathoin uncover the secrets of the tomb. During the excavation, many artifacts of significance were found. Among these artifacts was a set of arms buried with the remains of one of the First Elves, a Vyr-Hadn. Following their removal from the tomb, the Dwarves of Frosthold presented these arms to the Knight of Silverymoon.
The Arms of the Vry-Hadn include the following individual pieces:
- The Emerald Gemband of the Vyr-Hadn, a +2 Ring of Protection (requires attunement)
- The Armguard of the Vyr-Hadn, a Bracer of Archery (requires attunement)
- The Mail of the Vyr-Hadn, a suit of +3 Elven Chain (requires attunement)
- The Blade of the Vyr-Hadn, a +3 Longsword with latent abilities (does not require attunement when worn with the above three attuned items)
- The Bow of the Vyr-Hadn, a +3 Longbow with latent abilities (does not require attunement when worn with the above three attuned items)
The Legends of the Vyr-Hadn (pronounced "Veer-Hedane")
From: The Origins of Civilization, by Dynrik Sikar, Archmage of the Wizards of Gatar, Date of Publication unknown. This text was recently discovered in the tomb of the Dracolich Ceriniviax by the Knights of Sonnatar.
Of the origins of the Vyr-Hadn, we can only speculate. Some hold that they were the Children of Rorh himself, while others maintain that they were mortal men who somehow mastered the deepest secrets of Dragonmagic. Whatever the case, we know they built a civilization greater than any before or since, for the proof of it lies all around us. The ruins which still stand throughout Iversee and other parts of Imsharl, as far away as the lands of the Knights of Arinas, are testimony to the magnificence of the culture of the Vyr-Hadn . . .
At its height, the empire of the Vyr-Hadn must have covered the entire length and breadth of Imsharl. The Vyr-Hadn were never a populous people, but their individual skill with arms and Art ensured their mastery of all other races. It is well known that the great Dragons were bent to their will. Men and Elves also called the Vyr-Hadn master. It was they who first instructed the elvenfolk in the Art of Magic. The Astuar, language of the Elvenfolk is descended from the Vyr-Hadn, who also taught the elves the art of speech . . .
Mounted on the backs of their great Dragons, the Vyr-Hadn were Masters of the World. No other race could stand before them; the only enemies the Vyr-Hadn lord knew were his fellows. And they were terrible in War. Commanding great armies of elven and human servant/warriors, that battled each other for mastery of Imsharl. Eventually there were five Vyr-Hadn kingdoms, ruled by the most powerful of that race, and one they chose to reign over all. All others were slain or forced to submit to their overlord . . .
The empire of the Vyr-Hadn was at its height when the Demons issued forth from the foul land of Gorhon. Believing themselves invincible, for the Lords of the Vyr-Hadn were as gods compared to all others, the went forth to meet this new threat. Yet the Lords of Ynax too were powerful. And they were led by the vile Blakar, whom the Sildavians name Kanataal. And the Demons first attacked the northernmost of the kingdoms of the Vyr-Hadn, that of Coros Gyrtag. Coros led his army forth and soon was locked in a great struggle with the Demon host. At length did Coros come face to face with Blakar and engaged him in single combat. But Blakar was too great a foe and smote Coros with his Great Mace. As he prepared to send the soul of the great Vyr-Hadn king to Ynax, Blakar was attacked anew, for Soron Atar, Emperor of the Vyr-Hadn, mounted on his great Dragonsteed Balinastar, took the field. Wielding a ray of Sunlight as his blade, Soron Atar drove Blakar back. He then placed his fallen companion upon the back of Balinastar and carried him from the field of battle. After that time, there was great friendship between the two kings of the Vyr-Hadn, and Coros Gyrtag made an oath that one day his debt to Soron Atar would be repaid . . .
Of the end of the empire of the Vyr-Hadn, we know no more than of its origins. It is most likely that they were diminished through long attrition in the Demon Wars. The Vyr-Hadn were never many, yet they fought for uncounted years. It is suspected that Soron-Atar, the great Emperor of the Vyr-Hadn, realizing that the time of his people was at an end, gathered his remaining Lords and with their Dragon mounts made a final assault on Gorhon itself. There, the Vyr-Hadn must have sent many demons back to Ynax. Soron-Atar himself won through to Blakar's Gate itself and expending his final energy, incanted a spell that destroyed the Portal. Of Soron-Atar's fate, and that of his mount Balinastar, there is much speculation. Some in the west hold that they were rescued by Rorh himself and brought into the Celestial Court. This may in fact be true, for the evidence suggests that the power of the Vyr-Hadn was nigh unto that of the gods themselves, and Soron-Atar was the greatest of the Vyr-Hadn.
When the last of the Vyr-Hadn were gone, Elves and Men, now masterless, wandered into the west seeking refuge from the Demon Wars. Of Men, we know little, for it would be many years until the rise of Sildavia and Ivel. Of the Elves, who were favored by all Vyr-Hadn lords except Soron-Atar, we know more. They had mastered the Arts taught them by the Vyr-Hadn and used them to found new kingdoms, which, while splendid indeed, were mere shadows of the realms of the Vyr-Hadn. The history of the greatest of these Elfkingdoms, Erenion, is well known and need not be recounted here . . .
From: The Socio-political Context of Early Elven Civilization, by Aradhil Ossilian, Sage of the Crystal Tower, Crislin-Dannor, 7264.
There can be little doubt that the Vyr-Hadn used their superior knowledge of the Arcane Arts to subjugate the Elven peoples. Their mastery of Magic is undisputed. Their moral character, however, must certainly be the subject of close scrutiny . . .
Human scholars in the East have speculated that the Vyr-Hadn were alien creatures possessed of Godlike powers, who, while claiming overlordship of both Men and Elves, did much to improve the standing of both races. While it seems that the Elvenfolk did indeed learn the Art from the Vyr-Hadn (and then in turn, in this scholar's opinion, taught it to Men), there can be little doubt that the art of speech was already well known among Elves before the conquests of the Vyr-Hadn. As for the origins of the Vyr-Hadn, there is no concrete evidence to support the theory that they were a separate race; only that they had unusual powers. It is entirely possible that they were in fact Elves who somehow managed to learn the secrets of the Elder Dragons, and in doing became powerful enough to master the Dragons . . .
As with all peoples, the "Vyr-Hadn" were individuals. Some, such as "Soron-Atar" (if the tales be true) were no doubt benevolent overlords. Others, such as "Tarthan-Kavar" and "Garam Vintir" were said to be cruel and full of avarice. They delighted in nothing more than war, and sent many Elves and Men to their deaths against the Demonic hordes . . .
There can be little doubt that, all thing considered, the fall of the "Vyr-Hadn" empire was a great boon to both Elves and Men. After a long period of servitude, they were free to live again as they had before the rise of the Dragonlords. Still, some benefits were gained under the Vyr-Hadn. The Elves mastered Magic, and used it to great effect in building their own great kingdom, Erenion. Here, Elven civilization reached its "Golden Age" and after several millennia, the sufferings inflicted under the Vyr-Hadn were forgotten . . .
Notes: Proficiency: Longbow, Proficiency: Shortbow, Damage: Shortbow, Damage: Longbow, Damage, Buff, Combat, Wristwear
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