Shan Pyrial, the Prince of Joy, is the ghaele gnome of Pylas Pyrial, the Gate of Joy, and a member of the Council of the Silver Tree.^[1][2][3][4]

Description

Shan Pyrial can appear as a elf-sized gnome, rather than a small one,^[2] with a soft and pleasant voice.^[3]

During a meeting of the Council of the Silver Tree, the Prince of Joy wore shining robes that shimmered like rainbows, and was adorned with golden jewels, including a necklace with the Stone of Joy, also shimmering.^[3]

Personality

Shan Pyrial is a positive and fun-loving individual who, even in tense and serious situations, doesn't resort to aggression, and remains hopeful and sensible.^[2][3] The archfey loves to inspire and advise others rather than solving their problems with magic.^[2]

Abilities

The Prince of Joy is immune to fear and can banish it from other creatures nearby. The archfey isn't aggressive, and resorts to enchantment spells (such as calm emotions or charm monster) to defuse any combat situation; moreover, a sanctuary aura stops direct attacks targeting the gnome.^[2] The ghaele can strip the joy from someone's soul and, according to legend, use the Stone of Joy to cause the hearts of foes to burst with happiness.^[3]

History

Shan Pyrial became the archfey of Pylas Pyrial and a member of the Council of the Silver Tree at some point before the unification of the Five Nations. The Prince of Joy and the other archfey were aware of the wars taking place on Eberron, but their policy was not to intervene in mortal conflicts.^[5][3]

In the past, Pylas Pyrial appeared in the mortal world only occasionally, following what the local archfey called the "tides of joy".^[2] However, after the Day of Mourning, the Gate of Joy and its inhabitants stayed in Eberron instead of returning to Thelanis, owing to a strange magical effect that affected all the feyspires. Shan Pyrial's subjects, despite the circumstances, adapted somewhat easily to their life in Zilargo (being kin to the gnomish population there); this, however, caused some tensions with the eladrin of Shae Loralyndar, who saw it as treacherous (even though they adapted too, albeit with some difficulty).^[1]

Towards the end of the Last War, Shan Tira, ghaele of Shaelas Tiraleth, was convinced that her harming Drix (a half-elf related to the eladrin of her feyspire) had somehow caused the Day of Mourning, so she tried to save the boy. Seeing the consequences for her own home, swallowed by the mists, and for the rest of the feyspires (exposed and unable to return to Thelanis),^[1] she called the Council of the Silver Tree to find a solution. Shan Pyrial came too to represent the Gate of Joy, and was the one showing less aggression during such a tense meeting. The Prince of Joy provided help when possible, but argued that if necessary, the Pyrial gnomes would find new homes in Eberron without using violence (since they were poets, not warriors like Shan Syraen and his winter fey).^[3]

Relationships

The Prince of Joy represents Pylas Pyrial in the Council of the Silver Tree, but doesn't always follow the story of the ruler of the feyspire.^[3][2] Instead, the active rulers of the Gate of Joy as a settlement are a group of gnomes and eladrin known as the Summer Council.^{[note 2]} If rumors are to be believed, the Trust has infiltrated that council at some point after the feyspire got stuck in the Material Plane.^[1]

The original Shan Pyrial also had a particular bond with the Prince of Frost, being his opposite, but also impressing him to the point of being rewarded by that archfey.^[2]

Appendix

Background

In Chronicles of Eberron, Keith Baker goes into detail to explain the origins of Shan Pyrial and how it affected the story of the archfey, as well as the connection of the Gate of Joy with summer.^[1] It is said that the first incarnation of this figure was a fey gnomish woman during the time in which the Prince of Frost, heartbroken, took the sun from Thelanis declaring that no one would have light if his heart lacked it. Although most fey lords and ladies didn't dare to oppose him, adapting to the moonlit night, the gnome acted. She loved to dance under the sun, so she traveled to the Vale of Long Night, and accessed its palace of frozen tears using song and dance to deal with the obstacles. The Prince of Frost decided to challenge the gnome, asking her to dance for him as he spoke of past and future tragedies, expecting her heart to freeze as his had. However, she kept her hope and inner light, and impressed the archfey so much that he gave her the Summer Sun, and the task of keeping it in the Gate of Joy until all the lords and ladies asked for it to be returned to the Thelanian sky. The Prince of Frost also told the woman (now Shan Pyrial) that should she ever lose the bright joy in her heart, the sun would fade.^[2]

Since then, the Prince of Joy's story focuses on comfort, hope, and support, appearing before people fighting despair in different circumstances and helping them with knowledge and a positive attitude. Since the Summer Council handles Pylas Pyrial, the archfey isn't always present in the feyspire, but when that's the case, the ghaele gnome will stay at the top, near the Summer Sun, going down only if someone really needs inspiration.^[2]

Notes

1. ↑ The first Shan Pyrial was a woman, and she is featured as such in Chronicles of Eberron; however, the archfey featured in The Fading Dream was a man. Given the nature of the rulers of the feyspires, each change in the story can lead to a different incarnation of the archfey, regardless of gender.
2. ↑ This is insinuated in The Fading Dream when Shan Tira explains to Thorn that some of the members of the Council of the Silver Tree consort with the rulers of their domain instead of ruling directly themselves.

Appearances

References