Eldvarna

Eldvarna is a term used in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games to denote a class of fire-associated beings or artifacts that function as guardians or conduits of flame.

The name is fictional and varies by setting; etymology is often described within in-world glossaries as a compound from roots meaning fire and ward or preserve in constructed languages, with no connection to real-world languages.

In most depictions, eldvarna appear as two broad forms: living beings—anthropic or sylphlike spirits woven from flame with limited sentience—and inanimate artifacts—reliquaries, brazier relics, or hearth stones—that channel heat, light, or embers. They commonly possess the ability to control fire, resist extreme heat, and cast protective wards or ignition spells; some may siphon heat to heal or empower weapons, while others are vulnerable to water, ice, or dampness.

Cultural role and narrative function vary: they may guard sacred forges, heirs to ancestral flames, or enforcers of oaths; in games they can serve as patrons, adversaries, or quest objectives. Their depiction often reflects themes of warmth, illumination, and peril associated with fire.

See also fire spirit, elemental, forge guardian, hearth spirit.