| Type | City |
|---|---|
| Located in | Tyrrendor Province, Navarre |
| Head | Fen Riorson † (former Duke); Xaden Riorson (Duke of Tyrrendor); Violet Sorrengail (Duchess of Tyrrendor) |
| Appears in | Iron Flame (2023), Onyx Storm (2025) |
Contents
Location
Aretia is located in the east of Tyrrendor, around an eighteen-hour dragon flight from the Basgiath War College and just a few hours from the Cliffs of Dralor. Built in a valley surrounded by hills and caves, the area is notable for its thermal valley, where natural heat and lingering magic prevent snow accumulation and keep the ground warm year-round.
Culture
Aretia embodies Tyrrish resilience. Despite being destroyed, its people and traditions endure. The Revolution has turned it into a sanctuary, combining old Tyrrish customs, such as rune-adorned temples, with new initiatives to establish a society that is independent of Navarrian control.
The Thermal Valley holds deep cultural significance as the ancestral hatching ground of the Dubhmadinn line of black dragons. Following the events of Iron Flame, it has resumed this role, restoring the region’s magical pulse.
Relevance
Aretia was once the capital of Tyrrendor and the seat of House Riorson, until the city was destroyed during the Tyrrish Rebellion when Navarre’s forces burned it to the ground in accordance with the Treaty of Aretia. Though it lay in ruins for decades, Aretia has since become the centre of the Tyrrish Revolution. It is now home to the Assembly and a stronghold for riders and gryphon fliers alike, following the fall of Cliffsbane Flight Academy.
In the wake of the Iron Flame and Onyx Storm, Aretia is being rebuilt as a thriving town complete with green-roofed houses, a forge, a printing press, and new facilities to accommodate the influx of rider cadets, dragons, and griffin riders. Its revival establishes it as a symbol of resistance, resilience and Tyrrish identity. As the ancestral seat of the Riorson line, it is also the home of Xaden Riorson. Through his marriage to Violet Sorrengail, she becomes Duchess of Tyrrendor.
Notable Locations
| Riorson House | Also called the Fortress of Aretia, Riorson House is the ancestral home of the Riorson family and one of the first structures rebuilt after the rebellion. Its northwest wing includes a reconstructed theater, while its rooftop and defensive turret offer wide views of the city. As both fortress and residence, it anchors the Revolution’s presence in Aretia. |
|---|---|
| Thermal Valley | A valley above Aretia used as resting grounds for dragons and gryphons allied with the Revolution. Once the ancestral hatching ground of the Dubhmadinn line, it regains this role after hatchlings emerge during Iron Flame. It is also used for cadet training, rune-weaving lessons, and military exercises. |
| Temple of Amari | A temple dedicated to Amari, Queen of the Gods, identified by columns adorned with Tyrrish runes. It is considered one of Aretia’s most important landmarks, alongside its library. |
| Wardstone | The wardstone of Aretia was dormant until the events of Iron Flame. A trail behind Riorson House leads to it, climbing the ridgeline before narrowing into a canyon. The path opens into a circular chamber hidden by ancient masking runes that shield it from view overhead. At the center stands a black pillar, twice Xaden Riorson’s height and wide enough for nine people to encircle. Concentric circles and runes are carved into its surface, resembling patterns in Warrick’s journal. When inactive, the stone is cold and lifeless. |
