[ Eladrin ] [ Aestetica | Paragons | Court of Stars ]
Valani
Fireshaker; the Father of Islands; Chain-Breaker (planar brijidine eladrin empyreal lord [he/him] / CG)
Portfolio: Change, growth, primal forces, volcanic islands
Realm: Arborea / Ossa / The Bright-Burning Volcano
Some cutters think ‘goodness’ is all about being nice to berks and molly-coddling them. Well, you just need to hear about Valani (wah-LAH-nee) to realise that’s all screed. He has the temper of a hurricane and all the etiquette of an earthquake—but for all the destruction he brings, his heart’s in the right place.
If you’ve ever watched an island rise from the sea or seen a forest regrow after a wildfire, you’ve glimpsed the mysterious hand of Valani. They call him the Fireshaker, and the Father of Islands, and he’s living proof that destruction and chaos doesn’t always mean always ruin. See, it can also be a vital the engine of growth, the spark that turns stale endings into fresh beginnings. Among the eladrin empyreal lords, Valani’s definitely one of the wild ones: the blood’s all muscle, thunder, and obtuse wisdom—coupled with a laugh that’ll shake the coconuts from the trees, and a temper that can split the land itself.
To the locals on Ossa, he’s simply “Papa Valani”—the big spirit who brings storms that’ll test your mettle, and bounteous gifts afterwards.
Philosophy
Valani’s philosophy is simple: embrace change, respect the elements, and grow stronger from every trial. He teaches that good isn’t about preserving what is in, but about being brave enough to make the space for what could be. He loves anyone who encourages rebirth, respects the wild, and strives for personal growth. He despises those who refuse to accept change in themselves or others, who repress their own anger or laughter, or who use nature’s power for senseless destruction. In his eyes, destruction is only evil if it’s wanton or cruel—if it clears the way for new life, it’s part of the multiverse’s endless dance.
Valani embodies the living storm, the eruption, and the tidal wave. He teaches that nothing in the planes is permanent—not land, not love, and not even pain. Change is the only constant, and resisting it is like trying to cage the wind. His followers are wanderers, explorers, and cutters who thrive on the excitement of the new and the unknown.
While he’s certainly a destroyer, from the ashes of ruin, Valani brings new life. He’s the lord of fertile soil, of seeds that vigorously sprout in the volcanic ash, and of coral reefs that grow after storms. Growth, to Valani, is never a gentle process—it’s wild, relentless, and often comes at the cost of what came before. His blessing then is the promise that after every ending, something new and even better will take root.
Valani embodies the raw, untamed powers of nature: volcanoes, storms, earthquakes, and the deep churning ocean. He’s both the shelter from the storm—and the storm itself. His followers respect the elements, never taking their gifts for granted, for they know that the same fire that cooks your meal can also raze your home.
Appearance and Demeanour
Valani is a massive, ten-foot-tall cutter with the thick, powerful limbs of a great ape and the head of a wild boar. His skin is a ruddy dark brown, and seems to glow from within, as if he’s lit by an inner fire. His hair is long and wild, usually crowned with spiked grass and purple flowers, and his armour is a patchwork of obsidian and shell, altogether as tough as adamantine.
His face, though boarish, is expressive: Valani is quick to laughter, and quicker to rage. When he’s pleased you’ll know it, for his booming laugh can make trees sway and fruit fall. When angered, his roar can split the ground and call forth volcanic fires. He carries a massive driftwood club and a net woven from seaweed, which he uses to trawl the oceans for monsters—or to haul up new land from the depths. They call him the Father of Islands for a reason, see.
Valani’s appearance is unusual for an eladrin, and the chant goes he was cursed by a night hag. But instead of seeking to lift the curse, he embraced it, showing that change—even when it’s unwanted—is a source of power.
The Fireshaker is mercurial as the sea—one moment a jolly father-figure, the next a force of nature. He’s proud, wise, and deeply protective of those he calls his children (which includes just about every island tribe and coastal wanderer in the multiverse). He expects his followers to face change with courage and to grow from every hardship. He’s got little patience for berks who cling to the past or refuse to adapt. “Stagnation is death,” he’ll rumble, “and death is just the start of something new.” But he’s also quick to forgive, and his anger, though fierce, blows over quickly.
Place in Eladrin Society
Other eladrin see Valani as their wild uncle—he’s part respected and part feared. The tulani and brijidine admire his wisdom and mastery of primal forces respectively, though some of the more vain eladrin whisper behind his back about his monstrous visage. He’s closest to those who live on the fringes of society—coure, ghaele, and especially the wildest amori—who see in him the beauty of transformation.
His followers have no temples, only bonfires on the beach. They gather around them at night to dance, sing, and celebrate the gifts—and losses—of the day. When you’re next facing upheaval, if you’re ready to let go and grow, call on the Fireshaker. He’ll test you, break you, and build you up again—stronger, wiser, and ready for whatever the next wave brings.
The Bright-Burning Volcano
Valani’s realm is called is the Bright-Burning Volcano. It’s a living island-mountain in Ossa that continuously smokes, and rumbles with his moods. The volcano births new land into the sea, and its slopes are covered in lush jungles, which teem with life.
At the volcano’s heart lies Valani’s hall—a cavern of obsidian and coral, lit by rivers of magma and cooled by ocean breezes. Here, Valani holds court with his many children, sharing wisdom, laughter, and flying into the occasional thunderous rage.
Sources: Chronicle of the Righteous [PF1e] p26; Divine Mysteries [PF2e] p198,310-311; Faiths of Purity [PF1e] p21; Inner Sea World Guide [PF1e] p234; Jon Winter-Holt
