Vahlen Dynasty

The Vahlen Dynasty was the fourth of six dynasties of the Second Age of Calimshan.

Organization
Bakkals, or high priests, led the Vahlen Dynasty, as in the dynasties before them.

Base of Operations
The bakkal's palace was located in the city of Calimport.

Activities
The Vahlens did not greatly expand the extent of the Calishite empire, but they maintained and broadened the territories taken by the earlier Tavihrs.

Like the Erehnir Dynasty before them, the Vahlens included genies among the numerous deities that they worshiped, and the architecture and art that they commissioned reflected this with its frequent genie imagery. Indeed, the two dynasties collectively built over 200 temples and shrines. Many such temples were located in the Calim Desert near some of the battles between humans and genies long ago. It was believed that being at such sites would increase the chances of their prayers being heard. Many of the monuments of the Vahlen Dynasty survived well into the late 14 century DR, though the majority of them were buried under the desert sands.

Included in their many deities was the worship of the sun as the leader of their pantheon. The sun was seen as a god of war, knowledge, the arts, health, and&mdash;not surprisingly&mdash;light. (Some scholars believed that the Vahlens did not actually consider the sun a single deity in his own right but rather used it as a term embodying many separate deities under one name.)

History
This dynasty followed the Erehnir Dynasty and ran from to. Two other dynasties followed it before the Second Age came to an end, but the names of these dynasties are forgotten to history.

Trivia
Vahlen Sabban in Grand Ward of Calimport was named for this dynasty. The sabban was famous for its restaurants, leading to the phrase "dining Vahlen" as a means of implying that someone was experiencing a luxurious life.