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Eberron - Rising From The Last War
Eberron - Rising From The Last War
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CREDITS
Lead Designers: Jeremy Crawford, James Wyatt, Keith Baker Producers: Dan Tovar, Bill Benham
Designers: Ben Petrisor, Bill Benham, Dan Dillon, James lntrocaso, Product Engineer: Cynda Callaway
Adam Lee Imaging Technicians: Sven Bolen, Carmen Cheung, Kevin Yee
Art Administrator: David Gershman
Developers: Jeremy Crawford, Dan Dillon, Mike Mearls, Christopher Prepress Specialist: Jefferson Dunlap
Perkins, Ben Petrisor
Editors: Christopher Perkins, F. Wesley !Schneider, Michele Carter, Franchise & Global Brand Strategy: Nathan Stewart
Kim Mohan, Scott Fitzgerald Gr ay Director of Licensing & Publishing: Liz Schuh
Licensing Manager: Hilary Ross
Art Director: Kate Irwin Marketing & Communications: Bart Carroll, Pelham Greene,
Graphic Designer: Trish Yochum Greg Tito, Anna Vo
Concept Art Director: Richard Whitters Brand Manager: Shelly Mazzanoble
Creative Art Director: Shauna Narciso Game Designers: Ari Levitch, Kate Welch
Art Director: Emi Tanji
Cover Illustrators: Wesley Burt, Vance Kelly Product Marketing Specialist: Chris Lindsay
Interior Illustrators: Dave Allsop, john Avon, Mark Behm, Eric
Belisle, Zoltan Boros, Colin Boyer, Christopher Burdett, Paul The following D&D books provided material and inspiration:
Scott Canavan, Sidharth Chaturvedi, Chippy, Adam Cook, Eric Baker, Keith. Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron. 2018.
Deschamps, Olga Drebas, Jason A. Engle, Caroline Gariba, Baker, Keith, Bill Slavicsek & James Wyatt. Eberron Campaign
Tomas Giorello, Brian Hagan, Leesha Hannigan, Suzanne Setting. 2004.
Helmigh, Fred Hooper, Lake Hurwitz, Miles Johnston, Andrew Baker, Keith & James Wyatt. Sham: City of Towers. 2004.
Jones, Sam Keiser, Julian Kok, Michael Komarek, Ron Lemen, Noonan, David, Frank Brunner & Rich Burlew. Explorer's Handbook.
T itus Lunter, Howard Lyon, Efflam Mercier, Lee Moyer, Ben 2005 .
Oliver, Lucio Parillo, Claudio Pozas, Steve Prescott, Vincent Slavicsek, Bill, David Noonan & Christopher Perkins. Five Nations .
Proce, Jenn Ravenna, Wayne Reynolds, Dan Scott, Craig) 2005.
Spearing, Zack Stella, Matt Stewart, Philip Straub, Matias Tapia, Wyatt, James, Keith Baker, Ari Marmel/, Robert J. Schwalb & Chris
Mark Tedin, Cory Trego-Erdner, Brian Valenzuela, Brian Valeza, Sims. Eberron Campaign Guide. 2009.
Charlie Wen, Shawn Wood, Ben Wootten, Kieran Yanner, Wyatt, James, Wolfgang Baur & Ari Marmell. The Forge of War. 2007.
James Zhang
Concept Illustrators: Richard Whitters, Shawn Wood Many thanks to the hundreds of fans who playtested this book!
Interior Cartographers: Dyson Logos, Lee Moyer
Poster Map Cartographer: Lee Moyer
6 20C7 28 7000001 EN Disclaimer: Published by the brilfiant gnomes of House Sivis, this illustrious volume ex
CE
poses truths you won't believe about the Last War! You might think that's enough to satisfy
ISBN: 978 -0-7869-6692-9 you, dear reader, but there's more! The book also contains dice-fueled rules for reenacting
First Printing: November 2019 thrilling events in the world of Eberron (dice not incfuded). Afso, don't forget to recharge
this book's magic with a dragonshard about once a week. If you don't, the book will turn
back into a potato.
98 7 654321
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master's Guide, all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards
of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is
prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast.
Printed in the USA. ©2019 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057·0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile·Boechat 31, 2800 Delemont, CH.
Represented By· Hasbro De Entree 240 ]JOJ EEAmsterdam NL
CONTENTS
Welcome to Eberron ................................. 4 Demon Wastes..................................... 112 Adventures in Sharn ............................... 239
History of Eberron ...................................... 5 Droaam............................................. ..... 114 Crime in Sharn ........................................245
Life in Khorvaire ......................................... 6 Eldeen Reaches ................................... 115 TheBoromar Clan ..............................246
Pulp Adventure ............................................ 7 Karrnath................................................ 1 17 Daask ..................................................... 249
Nair Intrigue ................................................. 8 Lhazaar Principalities ....................... 119 House Tarkanan ..................................253
A Magical World ........................................ 10 Mror Holds ........................................... 120 The Tyrants ..........................................254
The Last War .............................................. 12 Q'barra................................................... 122 Sharn Watch.........................................256
The Draconic Prophecy ........................... 15 Shadow Marches ................................ 123 Adventure: Forgotten Relics .................260
Talenta Plains ...................................... 125
Ch. 1: Character Creation...................... 17 Ch. S: Treasures ..................................... 275
Thrane ................................................... 126
Races ............................................................ 17 Dragonshards........................................... 275
Thronehold ........................................... 128
Changelings............................................ 17 Magic Items............................................... 275
Valenar................................................... 129
Dragonborn ............................................ 19 Everyday Magic Items ...............:............ 281
Zilargo ................................................... 130
Dwarves .................................................. 19
Ch. 6: Friends and Foes .......................283
Distant Lands ........................................... 132
Elves ....... ........................... . ...................... 20
Bestiary....................... ...............................283
Aerenal ...................... .... ............. ........... 132
Gnomes ................................................... 22
Daelkyr ..................................................283
Argonnessen ......................... ............... 134
Goblinoids............................................... 24
Belashyrra .........................................286
Khyber ................................................... 135
Half-Elves....................... ......................... 26
Dyrrn .... ............................................. 288
North and South Poles ...................... 136
Halflings .................................................. 27
Dinosaurs .......................... ................... 289
Sarlona .................................................. 137
Humans ................................................... 29
Clawfoot.............................................289
Xen'drik ................................................. 138
Kalashtar ................................................ 29
Fastieth ..................................... .........289
Faiths of Khorvaire ................................. 140
Ores and Half-Ores............................... 31
Dolgaunt ................................................290
Sovereign Host .................................... 141
Shifters ...... .............................................. 33
Dolgrim ................................................. 291
Dark Six ................................................ 143
Tieflings.......................................... ......... 35
Dusk Hag ..............................................292
Church of the Silver Flame .............. 144
Warforged ............................................... 35
Homunculi ............................................293
Blood ofVol .......................................... 145
Dragonmarks.............................................. 37
Expeditious Messenger..................293
Cults of the DragonBelow ................ 145
Mark of Detection ................................. 40
Iron Defender ................................... 293
Path of Light... ...................................... 146
Mark of Finding ..................................... 41
Inspired .................................................294
Spirits of the Past ............................... 147
Mark of Handling .................................. 42
Karrnathi Undead Soldier .............. .. 295
Undying Court ....................... ......... ..... 148
Mark of Healing ..................................... 43
Lady Illmarrow ....................................296
Druids of Khorvaire ........................... 149
Mark of Hospitality ............................... 44
Living Spells ..... ...................................298
Mark of Making ..................................... 45 Ch. 3: Sham, City ofTowers ............... 151
LivingBurning Hands....................298
Mark of Passage .................................... 46 The Shape of Sharn ................................ 151
Living Cloudkill ...............................299
Mark of Scribing ................................... 47 Guide to the City ...................................... 152
Living LightningBolt......................299
Mark of Sentinel... ................................. 48 Wards of Sharn ........................................ 159
The Lord ofBlades ............................ 300
Mark of Shadow .................................... 49 Central Plateau ........................................ 165
Mordakhesh ......................................... 301
Mark of Storm........................................ 50 Dura ............................................................ 166
Overlords...............................................302
Mark of Warding ................................... 51 Menthis Plateau....................................... 169
Rak Tulkhesh ................................... 303
Aberrant Dragonmarks............................ 52 Northedge .................................................. 171
Sul Khatesh ..................................... 304
Background: House Agent ...................... 53 Tavick's Landing............. ......................... 172
Quori ......................................................305
Class: Artificer ........................................... 54 Above andBelow ..................................... 175
Hashalaq Quori ................................305
Alchemist ................................................ 58 Dungeons of Sharn ................................. 177
Kalaraq Quori.................................. 306
Artillerist................................................. 59 Criminal Activities .................................. 178
Tsucora Quori...................................307
Battle Smith ........................................... 60 Forces of the Law .................................... 180
Radiant Idol ......................................... 308
Artificer Infusions................................. 61
Ch. 4: Building Eberron Rakshasa, Zakya ................................ 309
Group Patrons ............................................ 64
Adventures ........................................... 183 Undying ................................................. 310
Adventurers' Guild................................ 65
Adventure Themes .................................. 183 Undying Councilor .......................... 311
Crime Syndicate .................................... 68
The Aurum ................................................ 187 Undying Soldier ............................... 311
Dragonmarked House ......................... 72
Cults of the DragonBelow .................... 188 Valenar Animals .................................. 312
Espionage Agency......................... ........ 75
Dragonmarked Houses .......................... 190 Valenar Hawk ................................... 312
Head of State .......................................... 79
Dragons...................................................... 193 Valenar Hound ................................. 312
ImmortalBeing ..................................... 82
The Dreaming Dark................................ 196 Valenar Steed ................................... 313
Inquisitive Agency................................. 85
Droaam ...................................................... 198 Warforged Colossus ........................... 314
Military Force ........................................ 88
Gatekeepers ..............................................202 Warforged Titan .................................. 315
Newspaper ......... ..................................... 92
Goblinoids (Heirs of Dhakaan) ............204 Generic NPCs .......................................... 316
Religious Order ..................................... 95
The Last War ........................................... 206 Bone Knight ......................................... 316
University ................................................ 98
Lord ofBlades .......................................... 211 Changeling............................................ 317
Ch. 2: Khorvaire Gazetteer ................. 103 The Lords of Dust ................................... 215 Kalashtar ....................................... ....... 317
Nations of Khorvaire .............................. 103 The Mournland ...................................... .. 218 Magewright .......................................... 318
Aundair..... ............... .............................. 103 Order of the Emerald Claw ...................225 Shifter .................................................... 319
Breland .................................................. 107 Planes of Existence .................................228 Tarkanan Assassin .............................320
Cyre (The Mournland) ....................... 109 Travel ..........................................................233 Warforged Soldier .............................. 320
Darguun ...................................... .......... 110
NANANCIENT RUIN BENEATH T HE D EMONWASTES, USING TH I S B OOK
I
a band of heroes races to claim the Reaper's
Heart. If the agents of the Emerald Claw reach This book is a gateway to using Eberron as a setting for
it first, they'll reignite the Last War and un your D&D campaign. It guides players and the Dungeon
leash an army of undead. Master through the process of creating characters and
In the city of Sham, a team of spies pulls offan impos adventures set in this world.
sible scheme-breaking into the impenetrable vaults of This introduction presents an overview of the world:
House Kundarak. But instead of gold, they find a secret its history, its calendar, and the themes that drive it.
Chapter 1 details how to create Eberron characters.
that could shatter the fragile peace between the nations.
Aboard an airship, a wizard debates the interpretation It offers race options and a new class, the artificer, that
ofan ancient prophecy with a blood-red dragon. If the reflect the flavor of the world. It also presents group pa
sage loses the argument, the dragon will destroy the air trons, a new concept that adds a shared purpose to your
ship and everyone on it. But if she wins the debate, the party of adventurers. You can use this material in Eber
dragon will take them to distant Argonnessen, and no ron or any other D&D setting.
Chapter 2 provides an overview of the nations of
human has ever seen the land of dragons and returned!
Khorvaire (and beyond) and the religions of Eberron,
The world of Eberron has a rich history built on heroic handy details whether you're a player seeking inspira
deeds, evolving magic, and the wounds of a long, devas tion for your character's backstory or a DM looking for
tating war. Action, adventure, good, evil, and a thousand an intriguing place to set an adventure.
shades of gray paint the landscape in broad strokes. An Chapter 3 focuses on Sham, the City of Towers.
cient mysteries await discovery so they can influence the Sham is one of the wonders of Khorvaire, and a source
world and its people. of endless adventures. This chapter presents a host of
Magic is built into the very fabric of the world. It interesting locations and activities you can explore in
pervades everyday life. It provides comforts and con this towering metropolis.
veniences unknown in either the modern world or any Chapter 4 provides ideas for adventures in Sham
world of medieval fantasy. Great cities where castles and beyond. It introduces sinister forces at work in the
scrape the sky prosper throughout the continent of world, along with the impact of the Last War and the
Khorvaire, and a thriving aristocracy of merchant fam dreadful Day of Mourning. It also includes a short ad
ilies controls much of the world's economy thanks to venture you can use to launch your campaign in Sham.
the edge given them by the mysterious and rare drag Chapter 5 includes magic items and other treasures
onmarks. Its people harness magic as a tool-to build for an Eberron campaign. It also explores the vital role
cities, to sail ships through the skies, and to create both of dragonshards.
wonders and weapons. Chapter 6 presents new monsters and NPCs drawn
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, all classes and from the world of Eberron. From mighty archfiends to
races. They travel the world, battling villains in in helpful homunculi, these creatures add challenges to
stants of over-the-top action. And they unearth fabulous your adventures in Eberron (or any other D&D world).
treasure, and deal with narrow escapes and ominous
mysteries that are as likely to shed light on centuries of SEVEN TH INGS TO KNOW
secrets as they are to threaten the world's safety.
What is Eberron? Here are the key things to know:
Eberron embraces swashbuckling action and pulp
adventure while adding a layer of noir intrigue. Stories 1. The Last War Has Ended-Sort Of. The Last War
don't always end well, and there isn't a perfect answer to plunged the continent of Khorvaire into civil war
every problem. The Last War turned old allies into bitter more than a century ago, shattering the Five Nations
enemies and destroyed an entire nation, leaving behind that made up the kingdom of Galifar.Just two years
terrible scars. Crime and corruption lurk in the great ago, the war ended with the signing of the Treaty of
cities of Khorvaire. Hidden dragons shape the course Thronehold and the establishment of twelve recog
of history, and sinister fiends influence the dreams of nized nations and a tenuous peace. The conflicts, the
the unwary. Yet mortal greed and ambition might prove anger, and the pain of the long war remain, however,
more dangerous than any dragon or fiend. This dark and the new nations seek every advantage as they pre
ness affords opportunities for a group of bold adventur pare for the next war to break out on the continent.
ers to make a difference-for better or for worse.
W ELCOM E TO EB ERRON
2. Dragonmarked Dynasties. The great dragonmarked merged with human hosts, giving them telepathic
families are the barons of industry and commerce abilities. Shifters developed from the mixing of hu
throughout Khorvaire and beyond. Their influence mans and lycanthropes, a union that grants them lim
transcends political boundaries, and they remained ited bestial abilities and feral instincts. The warforged
mostly neutral during the Last War. Not technically are a constructed race created during the Last War,
citizens of any nation, the matriarchs and patriarchs seeking to find its place in a post-war world.
of each house live in splendor within their enclaves 7. Dl9-D with a Twist. Every race, monster, spell, and
and emporiums located throughout Khorvaire. These magic item in the Player's Handbook, Dungeon
dynastic houses of commerce derive their power from Master's Guide, and Monster Manual has a place
dragonmarks-hereditary arcane sigils that manifest somewhere in Eberron, but it might not be the place
on certain individuals within the family, granting you expect. Eberron has a unique spot in the D&D
them limited but useful magical abilities associated multiverse, and many familiar elements of the game
with the trade guilds each family controls. play different roles in the world. In particular, mortal
3. Lands oflntrigue. The war is over, and the nations creatures are products of culture and circumstances,
of Khorvaire now try to build a new age of peace and rather than the direct influence of the gods. As a re
prosperity. Ancient threats linger, however, and the sult, you can't assume that a gold dragon is good or a
world needs heroes to take up the cause. Nations beholder is evil; only in the case of celestials, fiends,
compete on many levels-over economic dominance, and certain other creatures whose identity and world
political influence, territory, magical power, and view are shaped by magic (such as the curse of lycan
more-each looking to maintain or improve its status thropy) is alignment a given.
by any means short of all-out war. Dragonmarked
houses, churches both pure and corrupt, crime lords, H I STORY OF EBERRON
monster gangs, psionic spies, arcane universities,
Every child knows the story of the Progenitor Dragons:
secret societies, sinister masterminds, dragons, and
Siberys, Eberron, and Khyber. In the dawn of time,
a multitude of organizations and factions join the
these three cosmic beings created thirteen planes of
struggle for position and power in the aftermath of
existence, each embodying a concept. Their final work
the Last War.
was the Material Plane, where all ideas would become
4. A Continent of Adventure. From the jungles of
manifest: a realm that could know war and peace, life
Q'barra to the blasted hills and valleys of the Demon
and death, order and chaos. But cruel Khyber sought
Wastes, from the skyscrapers of Sham to the dino
ultimate dominion over this new reality. She struck Sib
saur-filled Talenta Plains, Eberron is a world of ad
erys without warning and tore him apart. Eberron wres
venture. Adventures can draw heroes from one exotic
tled with Khyber and bound the traitor in her coils but
location to another across the continent of Khorvaire.
could not defeat her. So Eberron became a living prison,
The quest for the Mirror of the Seventh Moon might
a world that would forever contain Khyber's evil.
take the heroes from a hidden mountain shrine in
Almost every culture in the world shares this story as
Darguun to a ruined castle in the Shadow Marches
a myth that explains the world. Shattered Siberys be
and finally to a dungeon deep below the Library of
came the ring of golden dragonshards wrapped around
Korranberg. Through the use of magical transporta
the planet, said to be the source of magic. Eberron is
tion, heroes can reach a wide range of environments
the world, the source of all natural life. And Khyber is
over the course of an adventure, and thus deal with a
the Underdark and the source of aberrations and fiends,
diverse assortment of monsters and other challenges.
forever struggling against her bonds and yearning to de
5. A World of Magic. The technology of Eberron has
stroy the world above.
developed not through the advance of science but by
Another tale shared across cultures describes one
the mastery of magic. The widespread use of magic
more conflict that occurred in the first age of the world.
pervades life in the cities and towns. Airships and
Long ago, powerful archfiends known as the Overlords
rail transport make rapid travel across the continent
and their armies of rakshasa and lesser fiends domi
possible. A working class of minor mages, called
nated Eberron. Forces of light-some versions of the
magewrights, uses spells to provide energy and other
story say the nine gods of the Sovereign Host, others
necessities. Advances in magic item creation have led
say an alliance of dragons and celestials-eventually
to everything from self-propelled farming implements
defeated the Overlords. But these fiends couldn't be de
to sentient, free-willed beings created in artificers'
stroyed; instead, their immortal essences were bound in
forges. With the aid of rare crystals called dragon
Khyber. Whatever the true details of this tale, this much
shards, dragonmarks can be made more powerful, el
is true: if the Overlords ever break their bonds, the con
ementals can be controlled and harnessed, and magic
sequences would be catastrophic.
items can be crafted and shaped.
Over the course of millennia, numerous civilizations
6. New Races. In addition to the common player charac
rose only to fall. Giants built mighty kingdoms on the
ter races found in the Player's Handbook, players can
continent of Xen'drik that were devastated by a war
choose to play ore or goblinoid characters in Eberron.
with the dragons of Argonnessen. The goblin empire of
Or they can choose one of four new races: change
Dhakaan ruled Khorvaire until its reign was shattered
lings, kalashtar, shifters, am;! warforged. Changelings
by an invading army of mind flayers, beholders, and the
have minor shapechanging abilities similar to those
foul creatures that created them. Today these civiliza
of doppelgangers. Kalashtar are planar entities
tions are known only through the remnants left behind.
W ELCOME TO EB ERRON
5
TH E F I VE NATIONS With the DM's approval, you can exchange a language
granted by your race for a different language from the
In the modern age, the greatest power was the king
Standard Languages of Eberron table. If your halfling
dom of Galifar, which covered most of the continent was raised in the Mror Holds, you might replace
of Khorvaire. The Five Nations-Aundair, Breland,
Halfling with Dwarvish to reflect that background. The
Karrnath, Thrane, and Cyre-formed the heart of the DM may change the languages assigned to a monster
kingdom. Although each has a unique cultural identity, or NPC. An ogre from Droaam likely speaks Goblin in
they share this unified foundat�on. Families are spread stead of Giant.
across the Five Nations; the rulers of the Five Nations
descend from the Wynarns, the royal bloodline of Gal STA N DA R D LA N G UAG ES O F E B E R R O N
ifar. Despite their differences, an Aundairian has more
in common with a Thrane than with a Zil gnome or a Language Main Speakers Script
Lhazaar pirate. Common The Five N ations, trade Common
A century ago Galifar collapsed into civil war, and the language of Khorvaire
Five Nations became separate countries at odds with Dwarvish M ro r Holds Dwarvish
their neighbors. The Last War came to an end after Cyre Elvish Aerenal, Valenar Elvish
was destroyed in a cataclysm known as the Mourning. Giant I n habitants ofXen'd r i k Giant
The Five Nations remain divided today, sharing Khor Gnomish Z i l a rgo Dwarvish
vaire with the new nations established by the Treaty of Goblin Dargu u n , Droaam, Shadow Goblin
Thronehold. The remaining Five Nations remain the
M a rches, monsters of Khorvaire
largest and most powerful countries in Khorvaire.
H a lfling Talenta Plains Common
THE TREATY OF 'THRONE HOLD Riedran People of Sarlona Common
The Treaty of Thronehold officially ended the Last War.
The treaty recognized the following nations as sover EXOT I C LA N G UAG ES OF E B E R R O N
eign states: Aundair, Breland, Darguun, the Eldeen Language Main Speakers Script
Reaches, Karrnath, the Lhazaar Principalities, the Mror
Celestial Celestials Celestial
Holds, Q'barra, the Talenta Plains, Thrane, Valenar, and
Daelkyr Aberrations, d e n izens of Khyber Daelkyr
Zilargo. These nations abide by a common set of laws
Draconic Dragons, drago n born Draconic
and maintain diplomatic relations. The Demon Wastes
and Shadow Marches regions have no unified govern I n fernal Fiends I nfernal
ment. Droaam has declared itself a nation but has yet to Ore Isolated ore tribes Goblin
be recognized by the treaty nations. Primordial Elementals Primordial
Quori I n sp i red, kalashtar, q uori Quori
LIFE I N KHORVAIRE Sylvan Fey creatures Elvish
W ELCOM E TO EB E RRON
6
CALENDAR A number of other coins remain in circulation, such as
the double crown of Breland (2 cp) and the silver throne
In the common calendar of Khorvaire, days are 24 of Cyre (5 sp). However, all the major nations of Khor
hours long, divided into day and night. Seven days make vaire make use of the four basic coins described above.
up a week, four weeks a month, and twelve months a
year. The months correspond to the twelve moons of
Eberron (see the Eberron Months table), and the prom PULP ADVENTURE
inent moon carries the name of the month in which its Eberron i s a world o f swashbuckling adventure.
orbit brings it closest to the planet. Whether you're a DM developing an adventure in the
The seven days of the week, in order, are Sul, Mo!, world or a player preparing to explore it, consider the
Zol, Wir, Zor, Far, Sar. following elements.
The common calendar of Khorvaire tracks the years
since the founding of the kingdom of Gali far, using EXOTIC LO C ATIONS
the abbreviation YK. The last king of Galifar, Jarot Lightning rails, airships, and other forms o f transporta
ir'Wynarn, died on 1 2 Therendor 894 YK. The Day of tion facilitate travel to exotic locations. Adventures could
Mourning occurred a century later, on 20 Olarune 994 take you to the colossal ruins left behind by the giants
YK. By default, a new Eberron campaign begins on 1 of Xen'drik, the warped landscape of the Mournland, or
Zarantyr 998 YK. the dark demi planes within the underworld of Khyber.
Even if you prefer to stay in a town, you could explore
EBERRON MONTHS the mile-high towers of Sharn or the ancient goblin tun
Month Name nels that lie beneath it.
Zarantyr (mid-winter)
2 Olarune (late winter)
REMARKABLE H E RO E S
3 Therendor (early spring) Eberron i s a world in need of heroes. Lingering ten
4 Eyre (mid-spri ng) sions of war remain. From the fanatics of the Emerald
5 Dravago (late spri ng) Claw and the mad cults of the Dragon Below to the
6 N ymm (early s u m mer) flesh-warping daelkyr and ancient archfiends, Eberron
faces many threats, and few people besides the player
7 Lharvion (mid-summer)
characters are able to stop them. The gods are distant
8 Barrakas (late s u m mer)
and don't directly intervene. The Silver Flame is a divine
9 Rhaan (early autumn)
force of light, but it can act only through mortal cham
10 Sypheros (mid-autumn) pions. The few powerful benevolent NPCs have limita
11 Aryth (late autumn) tions: the Keeper of the Flame loses her powers if she
12 Vult (early wi nter) leaves her citadel. The Great Druid, the spiritual leader
of the Eldeen Reaches, is a tree. Most of the powerful
C U RRENCY people in the world focus on selfish goals. If an angry
dragon attacks Sharn, there's no one else to deal with
Merchants and nobles use letters of credit to handle
the problem: the fate of the city is in your hands.
large transactions, drawing on the reserves of the dwar
Consider a dynamic backstory when developing your
ven banks of the Mror Holds. But most day-to-day trans
character and choosing your background, whether you
actions use coins of precious metal. With the collapse of
take a background from the Player's Handbook or the
the kingdom of Galifar, each of the Five Nations began
house agent background in chapter 1 of this book. If
to mint its own currency, along with the Mror bankers.
you take the soldier background, you might have played
However, while the designs imprinted on these coins
a role in events of the last few years. What did you do
vary based on the source, each of these factions has
during the Last War? What was your greatest triumph
continued to use the same metals, weights, and denom
or defeat? If you're a spy, are you a prized agent or did
inations set forth in the days of Galifar, maintaining a
you disavow your organization after they pushed you too
simple standard for commerce across Khorvaire.
far? Don't think of your character as a set of numbers:
The copper crown (cp) traditionally depicts the crown
even at 1st level, you're remarkable in Eberron.
of Galifar on one face. The crown is the lowest denom
ination of coin minted under the rule of Galifar, which
DM TIP: HIGH STAKES
spawned the saying, "In Galifar, even the beggars
have crowns." What's better than a battle on the deck of an a i rship? A
The silver sovereign (sp) bears the face of a living or battle on the deck of an a i rs h i p that's about to crash ! A
DM should look for ways to raise the stakes of an Eberron
recent ruler. An unskilled laborer can expect to earn a
scene, so players feel that every decision matters. This
sovereign for a day's work.
could be d riven by the consequences of fa i lu re: you r ac
The gold galifar (gp) bears the image of Galifar I, the tions protect you r friends, you r house, or you r nation. It
founder of the old kingdom. could i nvolve time: the alarm's been triggered, and you
The platinum dragon (pp) bears the image of one of only have 6 rounds before security arrives. Such thi ngs can
the dragons of legend. With a value of one hundred sov even be i n cidental. Did you start a fight in a n alley beh i nd
ereigns, these coins are used only by the wealthiest citi a bar? N ow you notice the drunk ogre sleeping in the shad
zens of Khorvaire, and the average peasant might never ows. If she wakes up, this could get ugly.
see such a coin.
W ELC OM E TO EBERRON
7
To create a compelling villain, the DM and players
might develop a villain's backstory together. A DM might
ask a player: When you fought in the Last War, Halas
Martain served in your unit until he betrayed you. What
did he do, exactly? Likewise, when a pulp villain appears
to die, they can devise remarkable escapes from death.
Perhaps Halas had a ring that cast an illusion of his
death while stabilizing him or cast feather fall when he
leapt from that tower in Sham. A DM could engage the
players in determining the answer: It's Halas Martain,
all right. How do you think he survived your last encoun
ter? This collaboration can produce a compelling story
and a sense of investment in the world.
NOI R I N TRIGU E
Eberron draws inspiration from noir and hard-boiled
fiction. It's a world where stories don't always end well,
and where there isn't a perfect solution for every prob
lem. In developing characters or stories in Eberron, con
sider the following concepts.
R E G R ETS
dlO Regret
While you were serving i n the Last War, you were
forced to abandon an injured comrade. You don't
know if they s u rvived.
2 You p laced your faith i n a lover who betrayed you . You
don't know if you can ever trust anyone again.
3 You m u rdered a riva l . You r actions may have been
justified, but their face sti l l haunts you.
4 You made a promise to a child or a lover that you
fai led to keep.
5 You squandered you r fa m i ly's fortune and brought
shame and ruin to you r household.
6 You made a barga i n with an extraplanar entity that
you now regret.
7 You abandoned you r fa m i ly to pursue a l i fe of adven
ture. Your village was destroyed i n the war a n d you
don't know if they su rvived.
8 You engaged in covert operations for a nation as a spy
RE MARKABLE VILLAINS or soldier. While you were serving you r country, you
Eberron i s rich i n villains, from two-bit hoods t o con did u nforgivable things.
tinental masterminds. It might be a long time before 9 Someone put their trust in you a n d you betrayed
you're ready to face the sinister leader behind the them for personal gain. You m ight regret it now, but
Order of the Emerald Claw in battle. But part of the you can never repair the dam age you've done.
flavor of pulp adventure includes recurring villains who 10 You volu nteered for mystical experiments. These may
closely match the heroes-rivals who advance in power
be responsible for you r class abi lities, but you m ight
as you do.
experience side effects.
W ELCOM E TO EB ERRON
8
WHY D o You NEED 200 GOLD PrncEs? PERS ONAL MOTIV E S
A regret helps shape your personality as an element of
Not every conflict involves a fight between light and
your past that plays an ongoing role in your story. But
darkness. The vast majority of people are driven by sim
perhaps you have a problem that needs to be resolved
ple motives: greed, fear, pride, or ambition. One person
right now. Another way to define a character's flaw is to
just wants to get some gold in their pocket. Another
roll on the Debts table.
wants to impress a paramour. A leader guiding their na
Why would you want to take on a debt? The obligation
tion into war is motivated both by fear of their neighbors
adds depth to a character and provides a compelling,
and the sincere belief that Khorvaire would be better off
immediate motive for adventuring-you're not just out to
under their rule.
get rich; you need gold to get that bounty off your head.
Primordial forces strive to change or destroy Eberron.
It's also an opportunity to establish an element that can
But more often, characters encounter misguided patri
be part of a character moving forward. If you're trying
ots, religious extremists, dragonmarked houses looking
to reclaim a magic item from a pawnshop, you declare
to wring a few more pieces of gold out of Khorvaire,
that your character once owned that magic item-an
spies who will do anything to protect their nations, and
heirloom, something you created, or a gift from a men
petty criminals trying to build empires. Eberron holds a
tor-you've just temporarily lost it. If you're trying to
place for selfless heroes and truly vile villains, as well as
raise money to join a secret society, it suggests that
everyone in between.
membership in this organization may be a part of the
story later on.
S H A D E S OF GRAY
Establishing a debt requires collaboration and ap
proval by both player and DM. Work together to develop In Eberron, it's not always easy to separate the heroes
the details: Who's blackmailing you? Which secret so from the villains. Good people can do terrible things,
ciety are you trying to join? What's the story behind the while cruel or heartless people might serve the greater
magic item you've pawned, and what sort of item is it? good. An inquisitor might torture innocents in a quest
You can present ideas, but the DM has final approval. to root out a cult of the Dragon Below; if she's stopped,
the cult will survive and flourish. A group of ores peri
D E BTS odically raids a human settlement because the settlers
built their village on land sacred to the ores and are
dlO Debt
disrupting wards that hold evil at bay. The heroes find a
You committed a cri m e d u ring the Last War, and now powerful magic weapon in a tomb, but the artifact is the
you're being blackmai l ed by someone who has proof. sword of an ancient hobgoblin general, whose descen
You can justify you r actions, but the law won't care. dants want it back. The ways to resolve these problems
2 You've got a gam b l i ng proble m . If you can't repay aren't always simple.
Daask (see chapter 3) , you're goi n g to be playing tag Certain situations demand straightforward decisions.
with a cockatrice. If Emerald Claw cultists are about to detonate a necrotic
3 You own an u ncommon magic ite m , but you had to resonator that will kill half of Sham, they need to be
stopped. But in a good Eberron story, the simplest solu
sell it to a pawn shop. If you can't reclaim it within the
tion may not be the best one.
month, they'll sell it off.
4 You were making a del ivery on behalf of the Boromar S O M ETH I NG TO LOSE
Clan (see chapter 3) and you l ost the merchandise.
In a noir story, things don't necessarily end well. But any
5 Someone knows the whereabouts of a s i b l i ng or loved
adventure carries a risk of death or failure, so what ad
one you thought lost in the M ourning, but that i nfor
ditional factors might be at risk for the characters? They
m ation is goi n g to cost you . should have something to lose beyond hit points, vul
6 You have a degenerative d isease that can't be cu red nerabilities not reflected in game statistics: fear of a tar
by m u ndane means. If you can't get a lesser restoration nished reputation, a threat to a friend or lover, a favorite
soon, you're goi n g to start showing symptoms. business destroyed or taken over. Character relation
7 You r fam ily lost everything in the Last War. You could ships require players to invest in the story and work best
get them a stake in a new far m , inn, o r stagecoach when the DM and player collaborate to develop details
with 200 gp.
(the group patrons in chapter 1 provide a framework for
fleshing out such details).
8 You've got a price on your head. Until you settle
A DM who introduces an old buddy who served with
t h i ngs with House Tharash k , you'd better keep an eye
the player characters during the war could describe the
out for bounty h u nters. person and then ask each player to define a connection
9 You have an opportu nity to join an i nfluential secret to them. Present each player with a prompt: Player
society. B ut you've got only one month to raise the one, how did Smitty save your life? Player two, you and
membership d u es . Smitty were both in a prison camp; how did you escape?
10 R o l l again. I t ' s not your debt: it's you r lover's problem. The answers to these questions provide details to use in
Can you solve the p roblem before they have to face a campaign, and they give the players a personal invest
the consequences? ment, which makes it more significant when the Emer
ald Claw targets Smitty for assassination!
W ELCOME TO E B E RRON
9
A MAGICAL WORLD CO M M U N ICAT I O N A N D SECURITY SERVICES
The Five Nations were built o n a magical foundation. To Service Cost
them, magic is a form of science, which can be studied Arcane lock (House Kundarak) 20 gp
and taught. Nevertheless, few people possess the skill Cou ri e r service (House Orien) 1 sp per m i le
required to become a wizard or an artificer, and high Glyph of warding ( House Kundarak) 350 gp
level magic remains rare. Resurrection and teleporta Illusory script (House Sivis) 15 gp
tion aren't part of everyday life,. but citizens harness Mail service (House Orien) 1 cp per m i le
lesser effects and use them for the common good. Message station ( House Sivis) 2 sp per word
Artisans called magewrights provide much of this Translation (House Sivis) 2 cp per word
magic. Compared to a wizard or an artificer, a mage
wright's knowledge of magic is narrow: a locksmith
might master the arcane lock and knock spells to
C ONVE N I E N C E
supplement the use of physical tools; a magewright In the cities of Khorvaire, magic provides a host of
healer could cast lesser restoration and cure wounds in minor conveniences. Everbright lanterns (described in
addition to using healer's kits and the Medicine skill. A chapter 5) light the streets. A chef heats a pot of stew
magewright's casting is also slow and expensive: they with a whispered incantation, while magic amplifies
typically cast their spells as rituals. They are artisans, a town crier's voice. The various effects produced by
not adventurers, and the prosperity of the Five Nations prestidigitation-heating, cooling, cleaning, and minor
was built on their foundation. illusion-all enhance daily life in the cities.
Game statistics are given for magewrights in chapter
6, including how much it costs them to cast a spell of 1st ENTERTA I N M ENT AND FAS HION
level or higher. In chapter 2, prices are given for mage Theaters employ cantrips t o amplify sound and focus
wright services in the city of Sharn, but those prices can lighting. Grander performances incorporate illusions,
be used elsewhere in the world as well. creating special effects to thrill audiences, and other
spells allow actors to perform amazing stunts. Dream
D RAGONMARKED DYNASTI E S parlors focus on entirely illusory entertainment.
Powerful dynastic guilds dominate and regulate the Those with the inclination to display their wealth wear
magical economy. The dragonmarked houses include glamerweave, clothing imbued with illusion (presented
barons of industry whose influence rivals that of mon in chapter 5). This can involve moving images, such as a
archs. Their power derives from their dragonmarks: cloak lined with glittering stars or a gown with a pattern
magical sigils passed down through their bloodlines. of flames; the wearer might even adjust the intensity of
For example, House Jorasco dominates the medical these flames with a word. Expensive glamerweave can
trade with its Mark of Healing, while only someone with produce more elaborate effects, such as a gown that
House Lyrandar's Mark of Storms can pilot an airship. appears to be made of blooming flowers. Glamerweave
Even independent businesses are typically licensed by can also create abstract effects that slowly shift colors or
a house and conform to the standards it sets. Not every shimmer with a subtle glow.
tavern is run by House Ghallanda, but the Ghallanda
seal in the corner of an inn sign assures customers that MEDICINE
the establishment meets health and safety standards. The dragonmarked House Jorasco maintains houses of
Chapter 1 contains more details about dragonmarks healing across Khorvaire. The simplest service is the
and the dragonmarked houses, along with rules for cre expert application of the Medicine skill. For those with
ating dragonmarked characters. desperate need and gold to pay, most Jorasco outposts
can provide lesser restoration; the best healers can also
C OM M U N IC ATION provide greater restoration. In the finest Jorasco en
The Courier's Guild of House Orien operates a mail ser claves, it's even possible to raise the dead.
vice, carrying messages and packages across Khorvaire The Healing Services table summarizes typical prices
by horse and the house's lightning rail. Sending a letter for the services provided by House Jorasco.
by mail is inexpensive; sending a package or a message
by way of a courier is more secure but more expensive. H EALI N G SERVICES
If security is particularly important, House Sivis can Service Cost
protect written messages using magic, such as the illu
M i nor nonmagical care 3 sp per use of the Medicine skill
sory script spell, and House Kundarak can secure pack
M ajor nonm agical care 1 gp per day
ages with the glyph of warding spell.
The gnomes of House Sivis also maintain a network
Cure wounds 25 gp per level of the spell
Lesser restoration so gp
of speaking stones (described in chapter 5) to facilitate
instantaneous communication across long distances. Remove curse 75 gp
Short messages pass from one stone to another one Greater restoration 1 50 gp
within a network of message stations. Raise dead 750 gp
The Communication and Security Services table
shows typical prices.
WELC OM E TO E B ERRON
IO
TRANSPORTATION TRAVEL SERVI CES
An excellent system of roads connects the central na Service Cost Speed
tions of Khorvaire. Travelers can always make their way Airship (House Lyrandar) 1 gp per mile 20 m p h
by horse or coach, which might employ draft animals Elemental galleon (House Lyrandar) 5 s p per m i l e lO mph
magebred by House Vadalis for speed or endurance. Lightning rail (House Orien) 5 sp p e r m i le 30 m p h
House Vadalis also supplies exotic mounts such as hip M agebred coach (House Orien) 3 sp per m i le 5 mph
pogriffs and griffons. Elemental galleons use bound air Teleportation circle (House O rien) 2, 500 gp I n stant
or water elementals to propel them.
Two main options provide long-distance travel across
WARFARE
land. Major cities in Khorvaire are linked by the light
ning rail of House Orien, which allows you to avoid the After a century of war, magic plays an ever-increasing
perils-and tedium-of the roads. The lightning rail role on the battlefield. Massive magical siege staffs fill
uses bound elementals to pull a train of carriages over a the role of artillery. Semi-sentient warforged titans can
path of magical stones, between which a rail-like stream scatter squads of infantry. Arcane sappers may spread
of lightning arcs. glyphs of warding to deny a region to an enemy. Wands
If speed is an issue, you can book passage on a House and rods haven't replaced the swords or bows, but elite
Lyrandar airship, which uses a bound elemental to hold wandslingers, as military spellcasters are often known,
a ship aloft and propel it through the air. This is almost are becoming ever more common.
the fastest way to travel, but also the most expensive. The nations of Khorvaire all employed different forms
Elemental airships are a recent innovation and are rela of battle magic during the war. Aundair fielded the
tively rare; many cities don't yet have docking towers. greatest number of wizards, while Breland produced
For those with no time to spare and plenty of money floating fortresses and other engines of war. The nation
to spend, House Orien also has teleportation circles in of Karrnath embraced the practice of necromancy and
each of its enclaves in cities across Khorvaire. At signif animated hordes of undead soldiers.
icant cost, a member of the house will transport passen In the final decades of the war, House Cannith created
gers instantaneously from one enclave to another. the warforged: tireless soldiers formed of metal and
The Travel Services table summarizes the cost of trav other materials. The Treaty of Thronehold forbade the
eling by these extraordinary means. creation of new warforged and granted freedom to those
that survived the conflict. Warforged now seek places to
call home across Khorvaire, but these living weapons
struggle to find their place in a world at peace.
WELCOME TO E ll E RRON
II
TH E LAST WAR TH E S C ARS OF WAR
For hundreds of years, the continent of Khorvaire was As of 1 Zarantyr 998 YK, it's been less than four years
united under the kingdom of Galifar. This peace came to since the Mourning and less than two years since the
an end with the death of King J arot in 894 YK, just over Last War came to an end. The Last War spanned the
a century ago. Conflict over the succession spiraled into continent and lasted for over a century. Most people
outright war between the Five Nations. want to move on. But the scars of decades of war can't
The Last War was a bitter struggle that forever be erased so quickly. These are just a few of the ongoing
changed the shape of Khorvaire. It was a century effects of the Last War.
marked by shifting alliances, with years of stalemate in
terspersed with periods of intense battles. This grueling DRAGONMARKED POWER
conflict left deep scars on the land and the people, but The dragonmarked houses remained neutral in the war
there was worse to come. On 20 Olarune 994 YK, the and made considerable profit selling their services to all
nation of Cyre was consumed in a magical cataclysm sides. War drives innovation; House Cannith developed
now known as the Mourning. The cause of the Mourn many new weapons during the war, including the war
ing remains unknown; many fear it was caused by un forged. House Lyrandar perfected its airships in the last
bridled use of war magic. Shock and fear brought the decade of the conflict. Rumors persist of monsters or
nations to the negotiating table, and the Last War came super soldiers developed by House Vadalis or biological
to an end in 996 YK with the Treaty of Thronehold. weapons in the hands of House Jorasco.
Although many celebrated the end of the war, others The dragonmarked houses emerged from the war
remain unsatisfied with its outcome. No one won the stronger than ever, with the divided nations dependent
war. Even though people optimistically refer to it as the on their services. Before the Last War, united Galifar
Last War, most believe that it's only a matter of time imposed many restrictions on the houses. Today, no
until conflict begins anew. The mystery of the Mourn monarch can afford to break ties with any of the dragon
ing is the only thing holding the warmongers at bay. If marked houses. What will happen if one of the houses
someone uncovers the secret of the Mourning-if it can goes too far in its pursuit of profit?
be proven that the Mourning can't happen again, or if
NEW NATIONS
its power could be harnessed as a weapon-war could
Before the Last War, Galifar laid claim to all Khorvaire.
erupt again. Until then, the nations remain in a cold war
Several new states emerged over the course of the war.
as each makes preparations and seeks advantages in a
In some cases, this was largely a formality; Galifar
conflict that could lie ahead.
WELC OM E TO E B E RRON
I�
never had a strong grip on the Lhazaar Principalities or REFUGEES AND SHORTAGES
the gnome nation of Zilargo, and they held the Demon Refugees live in every major city, including tens of thou
Wastes in name only. Other states were born in violence: sands of exiles produced by Cyre's destruction. Cyrans
the elves of Valenar and the goblins of Darguun seized are a people without a homeland, seeking shelter and
their realms by force. But Aundair yearns to reclaim the sustenance in the lands of their former enemies. Many
Eldeen Reaches, Breland keeps a wary eye on the mon Cyran refugees are former soldiers who were fighting in
strous kingdom of Droaam, and many mistrust the Vale enemy territory when the Mourning struck, or they were
nar elves. Within the Five Nations, anger remains over farmers and merchants who escaped before their nation
how the final lines were drawn; for example, Thrane re was consumed. Former nobles now have nothing but
tains control of the ancient Aundairian city of Thaliost, rags, and scholars or artists live in alleyways.
seized during the war. Citie.s and towns still suffer from shortages in the
aftermath of the war. Farmlands, workers, and the
PHYSICAL DAMAGE resources devoted to the war were lost. Nations are
The borders between nations demonstrate the impact of recovering, and most essential services and goods are
generations of conflict. Forests and farmlands scorched available in major cities. But there is always the possi
by fire and magic are still recovering. Ruined cities have bility that something you want-a luxury item or a spell
yet to be reclaimed, along with shattered villages and component-simply isn't available or can be acquired
abandoned fortresses. These deserted sites now provide only through the black market.
shelter for brigands or are haunted by the restless spir
its of those who died in anguish. TH E MOU R N I N G
This damage reached far beyond the front lines.
Magic-fueled weapons, aerial cavalry, and guerrilla The nation of Cyre was once the heart of the kingdom of
forces all struck deep within enemy territory, and the Galifar. The Last War took a heavy toll on Cyre and its
cities of Khorvaire suffered. Wherever you go, you might citizens, as the nation became a primary battleground
see the scorch marks of fireballs or wreckage from where the Five Nations crossed swords. But no one was
siege weapons. Every nation is working to repair these prepared for the disaster that struck in 994 YK.
wounds, but the damage could linger for generations. Accounts of the Mourning vary. Some say that a
As you create an Eberron character, consider your blinding light engulfed the battlefield near the Saerun
roots and the impact of the war. Was your hometown Road. Others say that dead-gray mists rose in the capital
destroyed in the war? Is your family thriving, or were its city of Metro! and spread from there. Within the space of
members scattered or slain during the conflict? one day, the nation of Cyre had been engulfed in a wall
W E L C O M E TO E B ERRON
13
of mist, and anything caught within the mists was horrif prefer not to dwell on such things? If you're religious,
ically transformed. Over a million Cyrans were killed on did the shocking tragedy of the Mourning cause you to
the day of Mourning. Those who survived were soldiers question your faith, or did it reinforce it? If you're an
fighting in enemy territory, those living on the borders artificer or a wizard, are you interested in studying its
who were able to flee from the advancing mists, and effects more closely. Might you even hope to unravel its
those few who were able to escape the interior through mysteries yourself? Do you see it solely as a tragedy, or
magical means. On 20 Olarune 994 YK, the nation of do you hope that this awesome power could somehow
Cyre ceased to exist. be harnessed?
The Mourning threw Khorvaire into a state of shock. Perhaps you were caught in the Mourning and sur
Who could unleash such power? Was this a weapon, vived the experience, but its effects remain with you.
and if so, when would those responsible issues their de Consider the following aftereffects of your experience:
mands? Were the borders of the lingering walls of mist • As a barbarian, you could have been a simple peasant
stable, or could they expand at any moment? What was
caught in the Mourning. Everyone else in your com
to be done with the Cyran refugees surging into every
munity was killed, but their spirits were bound to you.
adjacent nation? Fear of the Mourning ended the war.
Your barbarian rage represents you channeling these
But all those questions remain unanswered.
vengeful ghosts. Is there a way to lay these spirits to
Breland opened its borders to refugees, and Prince rest? Do they have unfinished business they want you
Oargev serves as de facto ruler in the area now called to resolve?
New Cyre. Despite its grand name, New Cyre is little • As a sorcerer, your magical powers could be the result
more than a vast refugee camp. Other refugees scat of your exposure to the Mourning. Were you physi
tered across Khorvaire; some are treated with pity, oth cally transformed as well, or are your powers the only
ers with suspicion or anger. And fear of the Mourning manifestation of the Mourning? Are you comfortable
hangs like a shadow across Khorvaire. Could it happen using your abilities, or are you afraid that you might
again? Is this how the world ends? be increasing the power of the Mourning with each
spell you cast?
THE MOURNLAND
• As a warlock, your patron could be interested in the
A wall of dead-gray mist surrounds the remnants of
Mourning and drive you to learn more about it. Your
Cyre. Beyond the mists lies a land twisted by magic, a
patron could even be part of the Mourning-perhaps
wound that will not heal. The blasted land is strangely
a collective of spirits killed on the Day of Mourning,
transformed. In some places, the ground has fused into
or a dark and enigmatic power that might have been
jagged glass. In others, it is cracked and burned. Broken
responsible for this tragedy. If you take the latter ap
bodies of soldiers from various sides litter the land
proach, do you feel that by using your warlock magic
scape-soldiers whose dead bodies refuse to decom
you are serving the Mourning? Or do you believe
pose. The Mournland is a vast open grave.
that you siphon power from it and weaken it with
In that horrific landscape, vile magical effects linger,
your actions?
and monsters mutate into even more foul and horrible
• As a member of an unusual race, you could say that
creatures. Magical effects continue to rain upon the land
you are actually a creation of the Mourning. Perhaps
as storms that never dissipate. Stories speak of living
your dragonborn was an actual dragon transformed
spells-war magic that has taken physical form, sentient
on the day of Mourning. Or maybe your tiefling is
fireballs and vile cloudkills that endlessly search for
touched by the dark power of the Mourning instead of
new victims. And angry ghosts continue to fight their
by an infernal power.
final battles.
The only thing predictable about the Mournland is WHAT CAUSED THE MOURNING?
that nothing is predictable; any sort of monster or horror A DM running an Eberron campaign can decide the
could lurk within its borders. And yet it also holds the cause of the Mourning or leave it as a mystery that will
wealth and treasures of an entire nation, along with the
never be solved. People in Eberron have many theories
secrets of House Cannith and everything else that was about the cause of the Mourning. It's up to the DM to de
left behind. It's dangerous. It's mysterious. But it's also cide if any of them are correct:
a dungeon the size of a nation, with opportunities for
those brave enough to enter the mists. • The Mourning was the result of a century of extensive
use of war magic. If the nations continue to use this
THE MOURNING AND You magic, the Mourning will expand.
In making an Eberron character, think about the impact • The dragonmarked House Cannith made a fortune
the Mourning had on you. If you're from Cyre, did you selling magical weapons to all sides during the Last
lose all your family and friends? Are there heirlooms War. The Mourning was caused by research gone
lost in the mists that you're determined to regain, or horribly awry. The secrets can be found in a Cannith
loved ones you hope to someday see again? Do you feel research facility within the Mournland. If this knowl
loyalty to your nation and hope to see it restored, or have edge could be recovered and refined, it could produce
you burned Cyre out of your heart? a terrifying weapon.
Even if you're not from Cyre, the Mourning may have • The Mourning was triggered by the release of an an
had a profound impact on you. Are you afraid that the cient demon overlord trapped since the dawn of time.
Mourning could consume all of Khorvaire, or do you This mighty fiend is lurking in the Mournland and
building its power, but soon it will be ready to act.
WELC O M E TO E B E RRON
14
A DM should consider whether the mystery of the the Prophecy is a map that shows many possible fu
Mourning can be solved and what the consequences tures, along with the steps that must occur to make that
would be. Right now, fear of the Mourning holds war at future a reality. A fragment of the Prophecy might say,
bay. If it's confirmed that the Mourning is no longer a "If the Bear King is slain by a sorrowful assassin in the
threat-or if one nation manages to harness its power Shadow of the Mourning, the Crown will fall from his
war could begin again. nation." The "Bear King" could refer to King Boranel of
Breland, since the bear is Breland's heraldic beast. The
TH E D RAC ONIC PROPHE C Y "Shadow of the Mourning" could mean that Boranel
must be slain in the Mournland, or it could mean that
There are patterns hidden in the world. Secrets lie in
the assassination must occur on the anniversary of the
the conjunctions of the planes and moons, in strange
Mourning. This passage doesn't say that Boranel will
symbols formed by the flowing lava of a volcanic erup
be assassinated or that the Brelish monarchy will fall; it
tion or the fissures caused by an earthquake. Carved in
suggests that if Boranel is assassinated under these con
the walls of ancient citadels and on primeval megaliths,
ditions, then the monarchy will surely fall. But it could
knot patterns appear to have meaning that only the con
also be fulfilled in different ways, if the terms of the
templative mind can hope to comprehend. To those who
Prophecy are interpreted differently. Other fragments of
can read them, these myriad events and signs form a
the Prophecy might cover what happens if Boranel is as
map of possible futures, a map that can be used to shape
sassinated under other circumstances, or what happens
the course of history.
if he dies of natural causes.
Scholars call this map the Draconic Prophecy, attrib
As an adventurer, you could be hired by a scholar
uting it to the Progenitor Dragons: Eberron, Siberys,
trying to piece together a fragment of the Prophecy
and Khyber. The Prophecy is vast and complex, its signs
and clash with a secret society along the way. Or you
scattered across the world. Few humans or even elves
could discover that your family plays a pivotal role in
have the time or resources to unravel its secrets. The
a fragment of the Prophecy. Will you embrace this or
foremost students of the Prophecy are ancient dragons,
fight your potential destiny? Will you dedicate your life
immortal fiends, and others who have devoted thou
to interpreting the Prophecy or ignore it as just a bunch
sands of years to this work.
of mystical nonsense? And might the Prophecy hold the
What makes the Prophecy especially complex is that
answer to the Mourning itself?
it doesn't define a singular path for the future. Rather,
WELCOME TO EBERRON
15
- 6'
1
CHARACTER CREATION
H E SKYSCRAPERS OF SHARN RISE U P BEFORE YOU, Kalashtar are humanoids bound to spirits from the
the spires glimmering with magical lights. Or plane of dreams, imbued with wisdom and tele
I]
wind rushes through your hair as the airship pathic talent.
you're riding races toward adventure in the Ores, along with their half-ore kin, are a fierce people
jungles of Q'barra. Or you hunt Emerald Claw who have fought world-threatening evils for centuries.
agents on the lightning rail, creeping through one train Shifters draw on their distant lycanthropic heritage to
car after another. Or you chart another adventurous manifest bestial traits for short periods of time.
course on the war-torn continent of Khorvaire. What Warforged are artificial lifeforms built to fight in the
ever path your character takes in Eberron, consider how Last War. Created as tools of battle, they now seek a
the world affects your character. place and purpose beyond war.
Building on the book's introduction, this chapter re
veals how you can create a character shaped by Eberron C HANGE LI NG S
and its war-filled history. The chapter offers you the fol
lowing choices: LONG AGO THERE WAS A WOMAN NAMED JES, AND SHE
Race. Choose one of the playable races detailed in this had one hundred children. Her rivals conspired against her
chapter, or pick a race from the Player's Handbook and swore to kill her children. ]es begged the Sovereignsfor
and learn here how Eberron has affected that species' help, but their only answer was the wind and rain. In the
development.
depths of her despair, a lonely traveler took her hand. "I
Dragonmark. Decide whether your character bears
one of the mystical marks associated with the dragon will protectyour children if they follow my path. Let them
marked houses. wander the world. They may be shunned and feared, but
Background. Choose the house agent background
they will never be destroyed."]es agreed, and the traveler
if your character has devoted themself to serving a
gave her his cloak. When she draped it over her children,
dragonmarked house.
Artificer. You have the option of choosing the artificer their oldfaces melted away and they could be whoever they
as your character's class, becoming an unmatched wanted to be. And so it remains. Though the children are
magical inventor.
shunned by all, the gift of the Traveler protects them still.
Group Patron. Working with the other players in your
-Chance, changeling priest
group, decide which of the great powers in the world
backs your group. This decision can shape your en
tire campaign. Changelings can shift their forms with a thought. Many
changelings use this gift as a form of artistic and emo
RAC E S tional expression. It's also an invaluable tool for grifters,
spies, and others who wish to deceive. This leads many
Humanoids of all kinds have made their mark on the people to treat changelings with suspicion.
continent of Khorvaire. Presented in alphabetical order,
the playable races in this section have especially shaped A H I DDEN P EOPLE
the land's recent history.
Each of the races described in the Player's Handbook Wherever humans live, changelings reside also; the
has a place in Eberron. As you make a character from question is whether their presence is known.
one of these races, this section can help you understand Changelings are born to one of three paths. A few
your character's place in the world. are raised in stable communities where changelings
This section also presents other playable races that are true to their nature and deal openly with the people
have performed important roles in the world's evolution: around them. Some are orphans, raised by other races,
who find their way in the world without ever knowing
Changelings are clever shapechangers who can dis another like themselves. Others are part of nomadic
guise themselves as other people. changeling clans spread across the Five Nations, fam
Goblinoids-bugbears, goblins, and hobgoblins-ruled ilies who keep their true nature hidden from the sin
Khorvaire long ago, before the madness of the daelkyr gle-skins. Some clans maintain safe havens in major
undermined them. After serving as mercenaries in cities and communities, but most prefer to wander the
the Last War, they now seek a place in the world's unpredictable path of the god known as the Traveler.
new order.
C HANGELING NAME S
A changeling might use a different name for each mask
and persona and adopt new names as easily as they
change faces. The true name of a changeling tends to
be simple and monosyllabic; however, there are often
accents to a changeling's name that are expressed
through shapeshifting, something single-skins will
likely miss. So, two changelings might have the name
Jin, but one is]in-with-vivid-blue-eyes and one is]in
with-golden-nails .
Changelings have a fluid relationship with gender, see
ing it as one characteristic to change among many.
Changeling Names: Aunn, Bin, Cas, Dox, Fie, Hars, Jin,
Lam, Mas, Nix, Ot, Paik, Ruz, Sim, Toox, Vil, Yug
C HANGELING TRAITS
Your changeling character has the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in
creases by 2. In addition, one ability score of your choice
increases by 1 .
Age. Changelings mature slightly faster than humans
but share a similar lifespan-typically a century or less.
While a changeling can transform to conceal their age,
the effects of aging affect them similarly to humans.
Alignment. Changelings tend toward pragmatic neu
trality, and few changelings embrace evil.
Size. Your size is Medium. To set your height and
weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:
Size modifier = 2d4
In creating a changeling adventurer, consider the H eight = 5 feet + l i nch + your size modifier i n i nches
character's relationships with people around them. Weight i n pounds = 1 1 5 + (2d4 x you r size modifier)
Does the character conceal their true changeling na
ture? Do they embrace it? Do they have connections to Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Shapechanger. As an action, you can change your ap-
other changelings or are they alone and in search of
companions? pearance and your voice. You determine the specifics of
the changes, including your coloration, hair length, and
MASKS AND P E R SONAS sex. You can also adjust your height and weight, but not
so much that your size changes. You can make yourself
In their true form, changelings are pale, with colorless appear as a member of another race, though none of
eyes and silver-white hair. It is rare to see a changeling your game statistics change. You can't duplicate the ap
in that form, for a typical changeling changes their shape pearance of a creature you've never seen, and you must
the way others might change clothes. A casual shape adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of
one created on the spur of the moment, with no depth or limbs that you have. Your clothing and equipment aren't
history-is called a mask. A mask can be used to express changed by this trait.
a mood or to serve a specific purpose and then might You stay in the new form until you use an action to re
never be used again. However, many changelings develop vert to your true form or until you die.
identities that have more depth. They build an identity Changeling Instincts. You gain proficiency with two
over time, crafting a persona with a history and beliefs. of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight,
This focused identity helps a changeling pinpoint a par Intimidation, and Persuasion.
ticular skill or emotion. A changeling adventurer might Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common
have personas for many situations, including negotiation, and two other languages of your choice.
investigation, and combat.
DWARVES
GOLD I S THE GIFT O F THE MOUNTAJNS, BUT IRON COMES
TA I RN A D A L E L F I N
VUL�O O R I A R M O R
Consider your character's personal and family history. archmage. Was your ancestor a famous blademaster, a
What is your family known for, and how can you prove stealthy hunter, or a war chanter? Were they chivalrous
yourself to be a master of these skills? Do you have an or merciless? Bold or clever? Whatever their path, it
cestors in the Undying Court, and if so, what's your re is your duty to follow their example. Is this something
lationship with them? Do you find it challenging to deal you proudly embrace, or do you resist it? Do you know
with the short-lived races, or are you patient with them? another elf with the same patron ancestor, and what's
your relationship to that character? Do you know an elf
Woon E LVE S : TH E TAI RNADAL whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours?
Tairnadal elves dedicate themselves to the arts of Also consider why you are traveling with a group of
war. The greatest heroes of the Tairnadal's many player characters (who are presumably not also mem
wars-against giants, dragons, and the champions of bers of your war band) instead of serving with the Tair
Dhakaan-live on after death, becoming the patron nadal. Do you experience visions of your patron ances
ancestors of the Tairnadal. Upon reaching adulthood, a tor driving you on a particular course? Are you pursuing
Tairnadal elf forms a bond with one of these ancestors an epic quest that mirrors your ancestor's legendary
and strives to follow in the footsteps of this ancestor, liv deeds? Are you seeking vengeance for the death of a
ing as the patron did. In this way, the champion comes friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your peo
to embody their ancestor, allowing the dead to live on. ple, either by choice or because of the actions of a rival?
The Tairnadal have three distinct lines: the Draleus
D OUBLE-BLADED SCIMITAR
Tairn, the Silaes Tairn, and the Valaes Tairn. All three
The double-bladed scimitar is the signature weapon of
lines roam the northern plains of Aerenal, having left
Valenar elves. A haft of fine wood supports a long, curv
the forest long ago, but the Valaes Tairn now reside
ing blade on either end. Forged with techniques honed
mostly in Valenar, being the Tairnadal most often en
over centuries, these blades are strong, sharp, and
countered in Khorvaire. Despite sharing a homeland
remarkably light. Each scimitar is a masterpiece, and
with the Aereni, the Tairnadal have distinct religious
as a result the double-bladed scimitar is an expensive
traditions, revering their patron ancestors rather than
weapon (100 gp)-few though ever have the opportunity
the Undying Court.
to purchase one. A Valenar blade in the hands of a non
In creating a Tairnadal character, including a Valenar
elf is generally assumed to have been stolen or looted
elf, think about your patron ancestor. Most Tairnadal
from a fallen foe, and a Valenar elf might feel entitled
pursue the same class as their patron, so if your char
to demand its return or challenge the bearer to prove
acter is a wizard, your ancestor was likely a legendary
they're worthy to wield it.
GNO M E S OF Z I LARGO
To say that every Zil gnome is a ruthless schemer would
be a hurtful exaggeration. Intrigue is the favorite pas
time of most Zil, though. Every gnome child of Zilargo
is taught to manipulate and deceive, and by the time
they reach adulthood most have been involved in dozens
of schemes and feuds, some of which persist well into
adulthood. Even a gnome with a good heart and noble
goals-of which there are many-often still prefers to
use trickery and cunning rather than the unreliable
tools of honesty or brute force.
Most Zil gnomes belong to the forest gnome subrace.
Their natural talent for illusion aids them in trickery and
entertaining, and they often use small animals as mes
sengers and guides.
When you're making a Zil gnome character, consider
what kinds of schemes you or your family might be
involved in. The Zil Schemes table offers some sug
gestions, but you should feel free to elaborate on these
schemes, even to absurd extremes.
Z I L SCH E M ES
Additionally, consider your relationship to Zilargo:
dlO Scheme why you have left, and what ties do you still have to it?
Your family is work i n g on a new form of elemental Your scheme could provide a good reason for you to
bi nding, but they need a lot of Khyber d ragonshards. leave. Or you could be a sage gathering information
2 You have an anonymous contact who sends you mis for the Library of Korranberg or an investigator send
sions via the sending spell. When you do as you 're ing stories of your adventures back to the Korranberg
Chronicle. Family is important to the Zil, and you could
asked, you receive handsome rewards.
be pursuing your family's interests. You could even be
3 You've i n herited a plot of land in Q'barra. If you don't
working for the mysterious Trust, the conspiracy behind
visit within a year, you'll lose the c l a i m . the Triumvirate's throne that quietly maintains order
4 Due to an u n usual twist of Tri umvirate law, you share in Zilargo. If you are working for the Trust, you could
the same name with a n u m ber of other Z i l , and you're have a specific mission, but you could also be a sleeper
a l l legally considered to be the same person. agent-gathering information and allies until you're acti
5 You've acq u i red a spe/lshard (described in chapter 5) vated and you are put to your intended use.
that conta i n s a vast amount of text in a strange code. Zil Names. Zil society is divided into major houses,
Male Names: Aruget, Chetiin, Daavn, Dabrak, Dagii, Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Drevduul, Duulan, Fenic, Gudruun, Haluun, Haruuc, Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet
Jhazaal, Kallaad, Krakuul, Krootad, Mazaan, Munta, of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it
Nasaar, Rakari, Reksiit, Tariic, Taruuzh, Thuun, were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only
Vanii, Vanon, Wuudaraj shades of gray.
Female Names: Aaspar, Aguus, Belaluur, Denaal, Long-Limbed. When you make a melee attack on your
Draraar, Duusha, Ekhaas, Eluun, Graal, Gaduul, Ha turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.
shak, Jheluum, Kelaal, Mulaan, Nasree, Raleen, Razu,
Rekseen, Senen, Shedroor, Tajiin, Tuneer, Valii, Wuun
•
HUMANS HUMANS AND D RAGONMARKS
DWARVES ARE STOIC . ELVES ARE WISE. GNOMES ARE Five different dragonmarks appear among humans,
reflecting their dominant status among the races of
cunning. And humans? They can't make up their mind, so
Khorvaire:
they try to be all of these things at once.
• The Mark of Making is found in House Cannith,
-Kessler, bard of Sham which has used it to become one of the most powerful
houses, creating an abundance of both magical and
The first human settlers came to Khorvaire about technological wonders.
3,000 years ago, landing in the area now known as the • The Mark of Passage aids the humans of House Orien
Lhazaar Principalities. From there, they began a slow in operating the lightning rail and trade caravans run
but inexorable spread across the continent, disrupting ning across the continent.
the placid elven empire of Aerenal and leaving further • The Mark of Sentinel makes the bodyguards, mer
ruined remnants of fallen Dhakaani goblin kingdoms cenaries, and Sentinel Marshals of House Deneith
in their wake. During this migration, they founded the widely respected across Khorvaire.
settlements that would grow into the Five Nations. Even • The Mark of Handling appears in House Vada
today humans make up the majority of the population lis, which uses it to breed fine mounts and other
in these countries. Despite their relatively short lifes creatures.
pans-or perhaps because of them-humans are inno Humans also number among House Tharashk and
vative, adaptable, and aggressive, always pushing their manifest the Mark of Finding with their half-ore kin.
limits and pursuing new ideas.
Humans prove extremely diverse; a barbarian from
the Demon Wastes has little in common with a Brelish
KALASHTAR
rogue. When creating a human character, consider I AM KALASHTAR, BORN O F TWO WORLDS. OVER A
where you're from and how that's reflected in your class thousand yea rs ago, my a ncestor bound her bloodline to
and background. Chapter 2 presents an overview of
the spirit Kashtai, and I am a child of that union. Kashtai
the nations of Khorvaire and ideas for characters tied
to those lands. Aundair is a logical place of origin for a moves within me. Her memories come to me in dreams,
wizard character, but your wizard could be a down-and and at times her voice whispers in the silence of my mind.
out arcanist from the alleys of Sham or a Lhazaar pirate As long as at least one of my sisters is alive, Kashtai will sur
with a knack for the mystic arts.
vive-and as long as she lives, she willfight il-Lashtavar.
If you want to jump-start your ideas for a human char
acter's origins, you can roll on the Human Origins table. -Lakashtai, s e rva nt of the light
KALASHTAR NAM E S
A kalashtar name adds a personal prefix to the name of
the quori spirit within the kalashtar. Such names have
no relation to the kalashtar's gender.
Kalashtar orphans are unlikely to know the name of
their spirit and take names from another source.
Quori Names: Ashana, Ashtai, Ishara, Hareth, Khad,
Kosh, Melk, Nari, Tana, Tari, Tash, Ulad, Vakri, Vash
Kalashtar Names: Coratash, Dalavash, Dolishara, Ha
lakosh, Khoratari, Koratana, Lanhareth, Molavakri,
Nevitash, Sorashana, Torashtai, Valakhad, Vishara
KALASHTAR TRAITS
Your kalashtar character has the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases
by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1 .
Age. Kalashtar mature and age at the same rate
as humans.
Alignment. The noble spirit tied to a kalashtar drives
it toward lawful and good behavior. Most kalashtar
combine strong self-discipline with compassion for all
beings, but some kalashtar resist the virtuous influence
of their spirit.
Size. Your size is Medium. To set your height and
weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier:
S i ze modifie r = 2d6
Height = 5 feet + 4 i nches + you r size modifier i n inches
Weight in pounds = 1 1 0 + (ld6 x you r size modifier)
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
30
Dual Mind. You have advantage on all Wisdom sav The Jhorash'tar ores are a perpetual threat in and
ing throws. around the Ironroot Mountains, shaped by their
Mental Discipline. You have resistance to psy resentment of the Mror dwarves who drove them un
chic damage. derground. These ores are isolated from humans, so
Mind Link. You can speak telepathically to any half-ores here are rare.
creature you can see, provided the creature is within a The Shadow Marches holds the largest numbers of
number of feet of you equal to 10 times your level. You ores and the most significant population of half-ores.
don't need to share a language with the creature for it to
understand your telepathic utterances, but the creature 0 R C S OF T H E SHADOW MARC H E S
must be able to understand at least one language. The ore Gatekeepers played a crucial role in defeating
When you're using this trait to speak telepathically to the daelkyr and binding their evil in Khyber, and their
a creature, you can use your action to give that creature descendants continue to maintain the ancient seals and
the ability to speak telepathically with you for 1 hour or fight aberrations spawned by the daelkyr's corruption.
until you end this effect as an action. To use this ability, However, many ores succumbed to that same corruption
the creature must be able to see you and must be within and embraced the madness of the cults of the Dragon
this trait's range. You can give this ability to only one Below. Ores who follow both of these paths continue to
creature at a time; giving it to a creature takes it away live in the Shadow Marches, and centuries of battles be
from another creature who has it. tween them have diminished both sides.
Severed from Dreams. Kalashtar sleep, but they
Humans settled in the Shadow Marches long ago, and
don't connect to the plane of dreams as other creatures the first half-ores helped to cement the bond between
do. Instead, their minds draw from the memories of these outsiders and the native ores. Certain Marcher
their otherworldly spirit while they sleep. As such, you clans contain humans, ores, and half-ores in roughly
are immune to spells and other magical effects that equal numbers.
require you to dream, like dream, but not to spells and When playing an ore or half-ore character from the
other magical effects that put you to sleep, like sleep. Shadow Marches, consider what circumstances brought
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common,
you into the wider world. The Leaving the Shadow
Quori, and one other language of your choice. Marches table offers some inspiration.
LONGTOOTH
Longtooth shifters are fierce and aggressive, but they
form deep bonds with their friends. Many longtooth shift
ers have canine traits that become more pronounced as
they shift, but they might instead draw on tigers, hyenas,
or other predators.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score in
creases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1 .
Fierce. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you can use your
elongated fangs to make an unarmed strike as a bonus
action. If you hit with your fangs, you can deal pierc
ing damage equal to ld6 + your Strength modifier,
instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an un
armed strike.
SWIFTSTRIDE
Swiftstride shifters are graceful and quick. Typically
feline in nature, swiftstride shifters are often aloof and
difficult to pin down physically or socially.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score in
creases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1 .
Graceful. You have proficiency i n the Acrobatics skill.
Shifting Feature. While shifted, your walking speed
increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10
Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and feet as a reaction when a creature ends its turn within
dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet 5 feet of you. This reactive movement doesn't provoke
of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it opportunity attacks.
were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only
WILDHUNT
shades of gray.
Wildhunt shifters are sharp and insightful. Many are
Shifting. As a bonus action, you can assume a more
constantly alert, ever wary for possible threats. Others
bestial appearance. This transformation lasts for 1
focus on their intuition, searching within. Wildhunt
minute, until you die, or until you revert to your normal
shifters are excellent hunters, and they also tend to be
appearance as a bonus action. When you shift, you gain
come the spiritual leaders of shifter communities.
temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitu
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases
tion modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). You
by 2, and your Dexterity increases by 1 .
also gain additional benefits that depend on your shifter
Natural Tracker. You have proficiency i n the Sur
subrace, described below.
vival skill.
Once you shift, you can't do so again until you finish a
Shifting Feature. While shifted, you have advantage
short or long rest.
on Wisdom checks, and no creature within 30 feet of
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common.
you can make an attack roll with advantage against you,
Subrace. The beast within shapes each shifter phys
unless you're incapacitated.
ically and mentally. The four major subraces of shifter
include: beasthide, longtooth, swiftstride, and wildhunt.
Choose a subrace for your shifter.
by accident, " Lakashtai said. "The soul is what matters, not WAR FO R G E D Q U I R K S
the shape of the vessel. " d 8 Quirk
"What makes you think he has a soul?" Gerrion said. You analyze-out loud-the potential threat posed
"What makesyou thinkyou do?" by every creature you meet.
-Keith Baker, The Shattered Land 2 You often m i s read emotional cues.
3 You are fiercely protective of you r friends.
The warforged were built to fight in the Last War. While 4 You try to apply warti me discipline to every situation.
the first warforged were mindless automatons, House 5 You don't know how to filter your feelings and are
Cannith devoted vast resources to improving these steel prone to d ra matic emotional outbursts.
soldiers. An unexpected breakthrough produced sapient
6 You don't u nderstand cloth i n g beyond its util ity and
soldiers, giving rise to what some have only grudgingly
assume it denotes a person's fu nction.
accepted as a new species. Warforged are made from
wood and metal, but they can feel pain and emotion. 7 You are obsessed with you r appearance and con
Built as weapons, they must now find a purpose beyond stantly polish and buff you rself.
war. A warforged can be a steadfast ally, a cold-hearted 8 War is the only thing that makes sense to you, and
killer, or a visionary in search of meaning. you 're always looking for a fight.
DRAGON M A R K S A N D TH E I R H O U S E S
Dragon mark House Race Guild Specialties
Detection Medani H alf-elf Bodyguards, i nvestigation, risk management
Finding Tharashk H u man, half-ore Bou nty h u nting, i nvestigation, prospecting
Handling Vada I i s Human Animal tra i n i n g and breeding
Healing jorasco H alfling Healing
H o s pitality Gh allan 9 a Halfling Food, lodging, u rban information
Making Cannith Human Man ufacturing
Passage O ri en Human Land transportation
Scribing Sivis G nome Com mu n i cation , translation , verification
Sentinel Deneith H um a n Bodyguards, mercenaries
Shadow Phiarlan Elf Entertai nment, espionage
Thu ran n i Elf Entertai n ment, assassination
Storm Lyrandar Half-elf Air and sea tra n s portation
Wardi n g Kun d arak Dwarf Banki ng, storage, p risons
HOUSE M EDAN !
Leader: Baron Trelib d'Medani
Headquarters: Tower of Inquisition (Wroat, Breland)
Represented by the basilisk's eye, the Warning Guild of
House Medani brokers the services of bodyguards and
inquisitives. Medani advisors specialize in risk assess
ment and management, protecting clients from both
physical and social threats. While Medani overlaps with Deductive Intuition. When you make an Intelligence
the inquisitives of House Tharashk and the bodyguards (Investigation) or a Wisdom (Insight) check, you can roll
of House Deneith, the Warning Guild specializes in sub a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.
tle threats and complex mysteries. Baron Trelib man Magical Detection. You can cast the detect magic and
ages the guild's affairs from the Tower of Inquisition in detect poison and disease spells with this trait. Starting
Wroat, where the house also interrogates prisoners for at 3rd level, you can also cast the see invisibility spell
King Boranel of Breland. with it. Once you cast any of these spells with this trait,
The members of House Medani are half-elves with you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish
deep roots in Breland. Medani has little interest in the a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for
power struggles that sometimes break out between these spells, and you don't require material compo
the other dragonmarked houses. Many Medani heirs nents for them.
are more interested in helping their communities Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
than in raw profit, and Medani heirs often work with the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
local law enforcement or help those who can't afford Detection Spells table are added to the spell list of your
their services. spellcasting class.
HOUSE THA RA S H K
Leader: The Triumvirate (Maagrim Torm, Khandar'aas-
hta, and Daric Velderan)
Headquarters: Zarash'ak, Shadow Marches
alignment, size, and speed. the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases Finding Spells table are added to the spell list of your
by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1 . spellcasting class.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet
of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it M A R K O F FI N D I N G S PELLS
were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only Spell Level Spells
shades of gray. l st faerie fire, longstrider
Hunter's Intuition. When you make a Wisdom (Percep
2nd locate animals or plants, locate object
tion) or Wisdom (Survival) check, you can roll a d4 and
3rd clairvoyance, speak with plants
add the number rolled to the ability check.
4th divination, locate creature
Finder's Magic. You can cast the hunter's mark spell
with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast the 5th commune with nature
r
DON ' T GET SENTIMENTAL. A BEAST IS
a tool. Our role is tofind the right tool
for the task and to make sure they're of
the.finest quality. Nature is our king
dom; neverforget that we were born
to rule it.
-Dalin d'Vadalis
HOUSE VADALIS
Leader: Dalin d'Vadalis
Headquarters: Foalswood (near Varna, Eldeen Reaches)
Represented by the hippogriff, House Vadalis plays an
important role in daily life, offering meat, mounts, and Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases
more. Vadalis isn't one of the most powerful houses, but by 2, and one other ability score of your choice in
its barons are generally content; they're more interested creases by 1 .
in discovering new monstrosities than engaging in poli Wild Intuition. When you make a Wisdom (Animal
tics. The current head of the house, Dalin d'Vadalis, dis Handling) or Intelligence (Nature) check, you can roll a
dains the use of a title and has no aspirations to nobility d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.
or greatness for himself or his house. Primal Connection. You can cast the animal friend
House Vadalis breeds and trains beasts for a wide ship and speak with animals spells with this trait,
range of purposes. While the house maintains vast cat requiring no material component. Once you cast either
tle ranches and trains horses and hounds, the Mark of spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again
Handling allows Vadalis to work with more exotic crea until you finish a short or long rest. Wisdom is your
tures as well. Griffons, hippogriffs, and even bulettes spellcasting ability for these spells.
can be bred and trained. Even with the Mark of Han The Bigger They Are. Starting at 3rd level, you can
dling, this is dangerous work; there's a lot of turnover target a beast or monstrosity when you cast animal
at the bulette ranch. But these exotic creatures aren't friendship or speak with animals, provided the creature's
enough to satisfy the most innovative members of the Intelligence score is 3 or lower.
house, leading to the practice of magebreeding. Using Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
dragonshard focus items, Vadalis has found ways to the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
create magical creatures. Typically, this results in a su Handling Spells table are added to the spell list of your
perior version of a creature-an animal that is stronger, spellcasting class.
faster, and smarter. But rumors claim that Vadalis has
crafted monsters of its own. Some rumors even insist M A R K O F H A N D L I N G SPE LLS
that Vadalis is trying to magebreed better humans.
Spell Level Spells
VARIANT HUMA N : l st animalfriendship, speak with animals
2nd beast sense, calm emotions
M A R K OF HANDLING -----
3 rd beacon ofhope, conjure animals
If your human character has the Mark of Handling, the
4th aura oflife, dominate beast
following traits replace the human's Ability Score In
5th awaken
crease trait in the Player's Handbook.
HOUSE ORA S C O
Leader: Ulara d'Jorasco
Headquarters: Vedkyar Enclave (Vedykar, Karrnath)
The Healer's Guild provides a vital service to Khor
vaire, and the Last War ensured there was great need
for healers. The leader of the guild, Baron Ulara d'Jo
rasco, is much beloved in northwestern Khorvaire for
her instrumental role in combating an epidemic in that
region a decade ago, and jorasco medics served in every
nation's army during the war.
The guild runs schools that teach medicine, as well as
houses of healing that provide both mundane and mag
ical services. If it could save a life, it's probably marked Medical Intuition. When you make a Wisdom (Med
by the House ]orasco griffon emblem, and it will come icine) check or an ability check using an herbalism
with a cost. If you have the gold, Jorasco healers can kit, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the
remove a disease instantly with lesser restoration. If you ability check.
can't afford such a service, they will treat you with mun Healing Touch. You can cast the cure wounds spell
dane techniques. House Jorasco is also the source of po with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast
tions of healing. While many criticize Jorasco's demands lesser restoration with it. Once you cast either spell with
for payment, the house maintains that it's not about this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you
greed; it's about ensuring the prosperity of the house, so finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for
they can continue to help future generations. these spells.
While the public face ofJorasco is that of the healer, Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
there are rumors that the house engaged in disturbing the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
experiments during the Last War, working with House Healing Spells table are added to the spell list of your
Vadalis to develop biological weapons and new crea spellcasting class.
tures. A Jorasco heir has to decide if they want to inves
tigate these rumors. M A R K O F H EA LI N G SPE LLS
H ALFLING SUBRAC E : Spell Level Spells
l st cure wounds, healing word
MARK OF H EALING
2nd lesser restoration, prayer of healing
If you're a halfling with the Mark o f Healing, you have
3rd aura of vitality, mass healing word
this subrace, with the following traits.
4th aura ofpurity, aura oflife
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score in
creases by 1 . 5th greater restoration
They may not always have gold, but a halfling with the
Mark of Hospitality is sure to be rich in friends. The
magic of the mark allows the bearer to keep a place
clean, and to heat, chill, and season food. But it also
helps the bearer connect with others.
HOUSE GHALLANDA
Leader: Yoren d'Ghallanda
Headquarters: Gatherhold (Talenta Plains)
The majority of inns, taverns, and restaurants in the
Five Nations are either directly owned by House Gha
llanda or licensed by its Hosteler's Guild. Most people
give little thought to House Ghallanda; when compared HALFLING SuBRAC E :
to the soldiers of House Deneith and the factories of
MARK O F HOSPITALITY
House Cannith, an alliance of innkeepers seems harm
less and inconsequential. But Ghallanda's strength lies If you're a halfling with the Mark of Hospitality, you have
in charm and connections. A Ghallanda innkeeper hears this subrace, with the following traits.
many things-if you want to know what's really going Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in
on in a community, talk to the halfiing bartender. The creases by 1 .
leaders of House Ghallanda don't sell information; they Ever Hospitable. When you make a Charisma (Per
prefer to build friendship and deal in favors. But sho�ld suasion) check or an ability check involving brewer's
a Ghallanda baron ever truly need something, they likely supplies or cook's utensils, you can roll a d4 and add the
have a favor they can call in. number rolled to the ability check.
Ghallanda has a number of "bound businesses"-fran Innkeeper's Magic. You know the prestidigitation can
chises run directly by the house. The Gold Dragon Inn is trip. You can also cast the purify food and drink and un
such a business, with Gold Dragon Inns being found in seen servant spells with this trait. Once you cast either
every major city, each serving a familiar menu and pro spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again
viding similar services. But many Ghallanda heirs take until you finish long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting
pride in creating their own unique businesses. There are ability for these spells. .
also many independent restaurants, inns, and taverns Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spell casting or
licensed by House Ghallanda. The blink dog emblem is the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
an assurance that a locale meets Ghallanda standards of Hospitality Spells table are added to the spell list of your
health and quality-but not every inn is run by a halfting. spellcasting class.
House Ghallanda's mandate extends beyond providing
creature comforts to travelers. Every one of the house's M A R K OF H O S P ITALITY SPE LLS
enclaves-which are more numerous than those of any Spell Level Spells
other dragonmarked house-is a sanctuary beyond the 1 st goodberry, sleep
legal reach of any government or dragonmarked house.
2nd aid, calm emotions
Baron Yoren and his daughter Chervina have greatly ex
3 rd create food and water, Leomund's tiny hut
panded the house's presence even in remote areas such
as the edge of the Demon Wastes, guided by their study 4th aura ofpurity, Mordenkainen's private sanctum
of the Draconic Prophecy. 5th hallow
drive the lightning rail, but it's Cannith who builds the cars
and lays the stones it travels on. Cannith makes the ever
bright lanterns hold the. n ight at bay. Smith, carpenter, al
chemist-the best all carry my seal.
-Baron Merrix d'Cannith
HOUSE CANNITH
Leaders: Cannith East, Zorlan d'Cannith; Cannith
West, Jorlanna d'Cannith; Cannith South, Mer
rix d'Cannith
Headquarters: Cannith East, Korth Enclave (Karrnath);
Cannith West, Aundair Enclave (near Fairhaven, Aun
dair); Cannith South, Cannith Tower (Sham, Breland)
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score in
House Cannith dominates all forms of manufacturing, creases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice
both mystical and mundane. Gorgon-marked Cannith increases by 1 .
forgeholds use streamlined forms of production to Artisan's Intuition. When you make a n Arcana check
quickly produce common goods. Even independent or an ability check involving artisan's tools, you can roll
artisans often learn their trade at Cannith academies a d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.
and adhere to Cannith standards. The House of Making Maker's Gift. You gain proficiency with one type of
builds the tools the other houses rely upon, and it has artisan's tools of your choice.
always been the unspoken leader of the Twelve. Spellsmith. You know the mending cantrip. You can
The Last War was a time of great opportunity for also cast the magic weapon spell with this trait. When
Cannith. Every nation wanted weapons and warforged, you do so, the spell lasts for 1 hour and doesn't require
along with mundane arms and armor. The war raised concentration. Once you cast the spell with this trait,
the house up, and then tore it down. House Cannith was you can't do so again until you finish a long rest. Intelli
based in Cyre, and the Mourning destroyed the house gence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
leadership and key facilities. Now three barons jockey SpeJJs of the Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
to fill the leadership vacuum: the alchemist]orlanna of the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
Fairhaven, weaponsmith Zorlan of Korth, and Merrix Making Spells table are added to the spell list of your
of Sham, innovator of warforged. It remains to be seen spellcasting class.
whether one of these leaders will unite the house, or if it
will shatter under the strain. If you're an heir of House M A R K O F M A K I N G S P E LLS
Cannith, you should decide which of these barons you
serve or if you have other ideas about the house's future.
Spell Level Spells
l st identify, Tenser's floating disk
VARIANT HUMAN: MARK OF MAKING 2nd continua/flame, magic weapon
3 rd conjure barrage, elemental weapon
If your human character has the Mark of Making, the
following traits replace the human's Ability Score In 4th fabricate, stone shape
crease trait in the Player's Handbook. 5th creation
HOUSE 0 R I E N
Leader: Kwanti d'Orien
Headquarters: Journey's Home (Passage, Aundair)
The House of Passage manages land transportation.
The lightning rail is the house's most dramatic tool, but
Orien also runs caravans and coaches across the length
of Khorvaire. Dragonshard focus items ensure that
the fastest vehicles are those driven by heirs with the
Mark of Passage, but the house also licenses unmarked
teamsters. The Courier's Guild of House Orien delivers
mail and packages and has a branch that handles more
covert and dangerous deliveries.
Orien has dominated transportation for centuries, Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score in
but now the house is facing challenges. The Mournland creases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice
is a dramatic obstacle for ground transportation, and increases by 1 .
Baron Kwanti d'Orien has had tremendous difficulty se Courier's Speed. Your base walking speed increases
curing funds to rebuild the lightning rail line across the to 35 feet.
blasted landscape. Indeed, he spends most of his time Intuitive Motion. When you make a Dexterity (Acro
away from his headquarters in Aundair, trying to raise batics) check or any ability check to operate or maintain
funds for the project while keeping an eye on house a land vehicle, you can roll a d4 and add the number
operations. He travels across western Khorvaire in his rolled to the ability check.
personal lightning rail coach, the Silver Unicorn-a ref Magical Passage. You can cast the misty step spell
erence to the house's unicorn emblem. once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it
House Orien's problems don't end with the Mourn when you finish a long rest. Dexterity is your spellcast
land, though. The expanding role of Lyrandar airships ing ability for this spell.
threatens the house's business. Baron Kwanti would Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
like to be able to offer more instantaneous transporta the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
tion, but long-distance teleportation is a service only the Passage Spells table are added to the spell list of your
strongest Orien dragonmarks can provide. So the house spellcasting class.
is working with House Cannith in an effort to unlock
and enhance this gift of the Mark of Passage. Orien M A R K O F PASSAG E SPELLS
heirs might be caught up in these experiments or in the Spell Level Spells
rivalry with House Lyrandar.
1 st expeditious retreat.jump
2nd misty step, pass without trace
VARIANT HUMAN : MARK OF PAS SAGE
3 rd blink, phantom steed
If your human character has the Mark of Passage, the
4th dimension door .freedom of movement
following traits replace the human's Ability Score In
5th teleportation circle
crease trait in the Player's Handbook.
HousE Srvrs
Leader: Lysse Lyrriman d'Sivis
Headquarters: The Labyrinth (Korranberg, Zilargo)
Bearing the emblem of the cockatrice, the gnomes of
House Sivis facilitate communication. This is seen most
literally in speaking stones, magic items allowing a Sivis
heir to send a short message to another speaking stone.
House Sivis's message stations employs these items
as the backbone of their long-distance communication
network. The house also trains and licenses scribes, no
taries, interpreters, cartographers, barristers, heralds,
bookbinders, and others who work with words. House
Sivis has an especially close relationship with House
Kundarak, as Kundarak letters of credit must be nota
rized with a Sivis arcane mark.
House Sivis takes great pains to maintain the trust Scribe's Insight. You know the message cantrip. You
of its clients and holds a position of absolute neutrality can also cast comprehend languages once with this
in all disputes, whether between houses or nations. trait, and you regain the ability to cast it when you finish
Sivis gnomes are typically friendly, curious, and engag a short or long rest. Starting at 3rd level, you can cast
ing, but that kindly exterior might conceal a scheming the magic mouth spell with this trait, and you regain the
mind. Gnomes have a natural love of intrigue, and the ability to cast it when you finish a long rest. Intelligence
different families within the house often engage in sub is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
tle schemes and feuds. Doyenne Lyssa Larriman, the Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
leader of the house, takes pains to ensure that these the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
intrigues never threaten the house or its reputation. Scribing Spells table are added to the spell list of your
spellcasting class.
GNOME SUBRAC E : MARK OF S C RI BING
If you're a gnome with the Mark of Scribing, you have M A R K OF SCR I B I N G SPE LLS
this subrace, with the following traits. Spell Level Spells
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in 1 st comprehend languages, illusory script
creases by 1 . 2nd animal messenger, silence
Gifted Scribe. When you make a n Intelligence (His
3 rd sending, tongues
tory) check or an ability check using calligrapher's sup
4th arcane eye, confusion
plies, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the
ability check. 5th dream
HOUSE D E N EITH
Leader: Breven d'Deneith
Headquarters: Sentinel Tower (Karrlakton, Karrnath)
House Deneith was born in Karrnath, and war flows in
its veins. For centuries, the Blademarks Guild of House
Deneith has governed the mercenary trade. While war
riors with the Mark of Sentinel are among its most elite
forces, House Deneith brokers the services of a wide
range of soldiers, including Valenar war bands and the
goblins of Droaam. Beyond the battlefield, the Defend
er's Guild provides exceptional bodyguards for those
who can afford their services. House Deneith is also Sentinel's Intuition. When you make a Wisdom (In
renowned for its Sentinel Marshals, agents who hold sight) or Wisdom (Perception) check, you can roll a d4
the authority to pursue criminals and enforce the law and add the number rolled to the ability check.
across the length of Khorvaire. The Sentinel Marshals Guardian 's Shield. You can cast the shield spell once
hold the honor of the house in their hands. Being a Mar with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it after
shal is a privilege, and it comes with high expectations. you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting abil
Despite its might and the desire of some house mem ity for this spell.
bers to flex their military muscles, House Deneith has Vigilant Guardian. When a creature you can see
always maintained absolute neutrality, selling its ser within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack roll, you can use
vices to all sides of a conflict. Baron Breven d'Deneith your reaction to swap places with that creature, and you
shows no inclination of using the massive, chimera are hit by the attack instead. Once you use this trait, you
marked military forces of his house for his own ends, can't do so again until you finish a long rest.
but he's surrounded by aggressive advisors who would Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
like to see a Deneith ruling all Khorvaire. House De the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
neith is also caught in an escalating rivalry with House Sentinel Spells table are added to the spell list of your
Tharashk, as it edges into the mercenary trade. spellcasting class.
THE HOUSES OF S H A D OW
Leader: House Phiarlan, Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan;
House Thuranni, Elar d'Thuranni
Headquarters: House Phiarlan, the Demesnes (var
ious); House Thuranni, Regalport (Lhazaar Prin
cipalities)
Elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of
years. The mark's bearers left Aerenal after the conflict
that wiped out the Mark of Death and established House
Phiarlan in Khorvaire. These elves are expert entertain
ers, giving them access to all manner of places and se ELF SUBRAC E : MARK OF S H A D OW
crets. Known to few, there has always been an elite force If you're an elf with the Mark of Shadow, you have this
of spies and assassins within House Phiarlan. Only spe subrace, with the following traits.
cial clients-nobles, merchant lords, and the like-have Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in
access to these spies. creases by 1 .
Toward the end of the Last War, a bitter feud broke Cunning Intuition. When you make a Charisma (Per
out between the major families of the house. Known formance) or Dexterity (Stealth) check, you can roll a d4
as the Shadow Schism, it resulted in a split withinin and add the number rolled to the ability check.
.
Phiarlan-and the foundation of House Thuranni. Shape Shadows. You know the minor illusion cantrip.
House Phiarlan continues to offer entertainment and Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the invisibility spell
espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it
Thuranni operates in the eastern lands. As a rule, when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcast
Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents ing ability for these spells.
are superior assassins. Thuranni and Phiarlan main Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
tain a peaceful relationship, but rivalries run deep. the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
Baron Elar d'Thuranni is said to be responsible for Shadow Spells table are added to the spell list of your
the Shadow Schism. Ruling the house from an enclave spellcasting class.
in Regalport, he is always accompanied by a shadowy
pair, rumored to be embodiments of shadow itself. The M A R K O F S H ADOW SPE LLS
displacer beast serves as the young house's emblem.
Spell Level Spells
The lands of House Phiarlan, known as the De
l st disguise self, silent image
mesnes, are the foremost centers of the arts in the Five
Nations, each focusing on a specific artistic tradition: 2nd darkness, pass without trace
the written word, movement arts, music, material arts, 3 rd clairvoyance, major image
and the arts of illusion, puppetry, oratory, and acting. 4th greater invisibility, hallucinatory terrain
Baron Elvinor Elorrenthi leads the house from the last 5th mislead
of those, the Demesne of Shadow, which is located in
Sharn. The hydra serves as House Phiarlan's emblem.
HOUSE LYRANDAR
Leader: Esravash d'Lyrandar
Headquarters: Stormhome (Aundair)
House Lyrandar has long ruled the seas. Their
kraken-marked galleons harness air and water elemen Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
tals and are faster than any mundane vessel. Control of the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
sea and river trade gave Lyrandar considerable power. Storm Spells table are added to the spell list of your
Now they reach out to the skies. Merely a decade old, spellcasting class.
Lyrandar airships have undermined the lightning rail's
domination of overland travel. M A R K O F STO R M SPELLS
House Lyrandar also controls the air in a literal way. Spell Level Spells
The Raincallers' Guild can use the Mark of Storms to 1 st feather fall, fog cloud
control the weather for its clients.
2nd gust of wind, levitate
For many of the house's members, the house is more
3 rd sleet storm, wind wall
than a family or business-its private island enclave,
Stormhome, is the closest thing they have to a home 4th conjure minor elemental, control water
land. Baron Esravash is ambitious and often steers the 5th conjure elemental
house to act in what he sees as the interests of all half
elves. Lyrandar heirs help the Valenar elves run their GUST
young kingdom, and some believe that Valenar could Transmutation cantrip
become a true homeland for the Khoravar. Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 30 feet
VARIANT HALF-ELF: MARK OF STORM Components: V, S
If your half-elf character has the Mark of Storm, the fol Duration: Instantaneous
lowing traits replace the half-elf's Ability Score Increase
You seize the air and compel it to create one of the fol
and Skill Versatility traits in the Player's Handbook.
lowing effects at a point you can see within range:
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in
creases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1 . • One Medium or smaller creature that you choose
Windwright's Intuition. When you make a Dexterity must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be
(Acrobatics) check or any ability check involving naviga pushed up to 5 feet away from you.
tor's tools, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled • You create a small blast of air capable of moving one
to the ability check. object that is neither held nor carried and that weighs
Storm's Boon. You have resistance to lightning damage. no more than 5 pounds. This object is pushed up to 10
Headwinds. You know the gust cantrip. Starting at feet away from you. It isn't pushed with enough force
3rd level, you can cast the gust of wind spell once with to cause damage.
this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it when you • You create a harmless sensory effect using air, such as
finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability causing leaves to rustle, wind to slam shutters closed,
for these spells. or your clothing to billow impressively in a breeze.
HOUSE KUNDARAK
Leader: Morrikan d'Kundarak
Headquarters: Korunda Gate (Mror Holds)
If you want to keep something safe-jewels, secrets,
prisoners-Kundarak is there to help. The Defenders
Guild of House Kundarak trains locksmiths, secu-
rity specialists, and more. It maintains the prison of
Dreadhold, along with a number of smaller prisons. As K u N D A R A K VAULT
useful as these services are, it's the Banking Guild that
truly defines the house. Kundarak's lands in the Mror
Holds include deep veins of precious metals, which
the dwarves used to establish the banking industry of
Khorvaire. Anyone who makes a living from coin-from Warder's Intuition. When you make an Intelligence
bankers to goldsmiths-likely learned their skills at (Investigation) check or an ability check using thieves'
House Kundarak. The security of banks bearing the tools, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the
Kundarak manticore emblem is legendary. The house ability check.
also provides a special service to those who can afford Wards and Seals. You can cast the alarm and mage
it: a system of extradimensional vaults, allowing a client armor spells with this trait. Starting at 3rd level, you can
to store their goods in one location and retrieve them at also cast the arcane lock spell with it. Once you cast any
any other Kundarak enclave. of these spells with this trait, you can't cast that spell
House Kundarak has a close alliance with House with it again until you finish a long rest. Intelligence is
Sivis. Like the House of Scribing, Kundarak has worked your spellcasting ability for these spells, and you don't
to earn the trust of its clients and to establish a reputa need material components for them when you cast them
tion for unshakable integrity. The house has no love of with this trait.
renegade dwarves using their marks to turn a profit, and Spells ofthe Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
such rogues strive to avoid the eye of Kundarak. the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of
As the dwarves of the Mror Holds have come into Warding Spells table are added to the spell list of your
increasing conflict with the daelkyr, Lord Morrikan spellcasting class.
d'Kundarak has instructed house heirs to establish con
nections with the Gatekeeper druids. The druids have M A R K O F WA R D I N G SPELLS
much in common with the house, being the creators of
Spell Level Spells
the wards that protect Eberron from the daelkyr.
1 st alarm, armor ofAgathys
DWARF SUBRAC E : MARK OF WARDING 2nd arcane lock, knock
3 rd glyph of warding, magic circle
If you're a dwarf with the Mark of Warding, you have
this subrace, with the following traits. 4th Leomund's secret chest,
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score in Mordenkainen's faithful hound
creases by 1 . 5th antilife shell
Increase your Constitution score by 1, to a max 4 The skin arou nd the mark is burned, scaly, or withered .
imum of 20. 5 Animals are u neasy arou nd you .
• You learn a cantrip of your choice from the sorcerer 6 You have a mood swi ng any time you use your mark.
spell list. In addition, choose a 1st-level spell from the 7 You r looks change sl ightly whenever you u se the mark.
sorcerer spell list. You learn that spell and can cast it 8 You have horrific n ightmares after you use you r mark.
through your mark. Once you cast it, you must finish a
short or long rest before you can cast it again through
OPTION: GREATER ABERRANT POWERS
the mark. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for
At the DM's option, a character who has the Aberrant
these spells.
Dragonmark feat has a chance of manifesting greater
• When you cast the 1st-level spell through your mark,
power. Upon reaching 10th level, such a character has a
you can expend one of your Hit Dice and roll it. If you
10 percent chance of gaining an epic boon from among
roll an even number, you gain a number of temporary
the options in chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
hit points equal to the number rolled. If you roll an odd
If the character fails to gain a boon, they have a 10 per
number, one random creature within 30 feet of you
cent chance the next time they gain a level.
(not including you) takes force damage equal to the
If the character gains a boon, the DM chooses it or
number rolled. If no other creatures are in range, you
determines it randomly. The character also permanently
take the damage.
loses one of their Hit Dice, and their hit point maximum
You also develop a random fl.aw from the Aberrant is reduced by an amount equal to a roll of that die plus
Dragonmark Flaws table. their Constitution modifier (minimum reduction of 1).
This reduction can't be reversed by any means.
MAGI C A L TI N K E R I NG SPELLCASTING
At 1st level, you learn how to invest a spark of magic You have studied the workings of magic and how to
into mundane objects. To use this ability, you must have channel it through objects. As a result, you have gained
tinker's tools or other artisan's tools in hand. You then the ability to cast spells. To observers, you don't appear
touch a Tiny nonmagical object as an action and give it to be casting spells in a conventional way; you look as if
one of the following magical properties of your choice: you're producing wonders using mundane items or out
landish inventions.
The object sheds bright light in a 5-foot radius and
dim light for an additional 5 feet. TOOLS REQUIRED
• Whenever tapped by a creature, the object emits a re
You produce your artificer spell effects through your
corded message that can be heard up to 10 feet away.
tools. You must have a spellcasting focus-specifically
You utter the message when you bestow this property
thieves' tools or some kind of artisan's tool-in hand
on the object, and the recording can be no more than
when you cast any spell with this Spellcasting feature.
6 seconds long.
You must be proficient with the tool to use it in this way.
• The object continuously emits your choice of an odor
See chapter 5, "Equipment," in the Player's Handbook
or a nonverbal sound (wind, waves, chirping, or the
for descriptions of these tools.
like). The chosen phenomenon is perceivable up to 10
After you gain the Infuse Item feature at 2nd level, you
feet away.
can also use any item bearing one of your infusions as a
• A static visual effect appears on one of the object's sur
spellcasting focus.
faces. This effect can be a picture, up to 25 words of
text, lines and shapes, or a mixture of these elements, CANTRIPS (0 -LEVEL SPELLS)
as you like. At 1st level, you know two cantrips of your choice from
The chosen property lasts indefinitely. As an action, the artificer spell list. At higher levels, you learn addi
you can touch the object and end the property early. tional artificer cantrips of your choice, as shown in the
You can bestow magic on multiple objects, touching Cantrips Known column of the Artificer table.
one object each time you use this feature, though a When you gain a level in this class, you can replace
single object can only bear one property at a time. The one of the artificer cantr_ips you know with another can
maximum number of objects you can affect with this trip from the artificer spell list.
feature at one time is equal to your Intelligence modifier
(minimum of one object). If you try to exceed your max PREPARING AND CASTING SPELLS
imum, the oldest property immediately ends, and then The Artificer table shows how many spell slots you have
the new property applies. to cast your artificer spells. To cast one of your artificer
spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a slot of
INFUSIONS KNOWN
When you gain this feature, pick four artificer infusions
to learn, choosing from the "Artificer Infusions" section
at the end of the class's description. You learn additional
infusions of your choice when you reach certain levels in
this class, as shown in the Infusions Known column of
the Artificer table.
Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can re
place one of the artificer infusions you learned with
a new one.
INFUSING AN ITEM
Whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch a non
ALCHEMIST
magical object and imbue it with one of your artificer in
W I TH
fusions, turning it into a magic item. An infusion works li O M U N C U L U S
on only certain kinds of objects, as specified in the infu SERVANT
sion's description. If the item requires attunement, you
can attune yourself to it the instant you infuse the item.
If you decide to attune to the item later, you must do so
using the normal process for attunement (see "Attune
ment" in chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master's Guide).
Your infusion remains in an item indefinitely, but
when you die, the infusion vanishes after a number of ABILITY S C ORE I M PROV E M E N T
days have passed equal to your Intelligence modifier When you reach 4th, 8th, 1 2th, 16th, and 19th level, you
(minimum of 1 day). The infusion also vanishes if you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or
give up your knowledge of the infusion for another one. you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1 .
You can infuse more than one nonmagical object at As normal, you can't increase a n ability score above 20
the end of a long rest; the maximum number of objects using this feature.
appears in the Infused Items column of the Artificer ta
ble. You must touch each of the objects, and each of your TO OL EXPERTI S E
infusions can be in only one object at a time. Moreover,
no object can bear more than one of your infusions at a Starting at 6th level, your proficiency bonus i s doubled
time. If you try to exceed your maximum number of in for any ability check you make that uses your proficiency
fusions, the oldest infusion immediately ends, and then with a tool.
the new infusion applies.
FLASH OF GENIUS
ART I F I C E R S PE C I AL I ST Starting at 7th level, you gain the ability t o come u p with
At 3rd level, you choose the type of specialist you are: solutions under pressure. When you or another creature
Alchemist, Artillerist, or Battle Smith, each of which is you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check
detailed at the end of the class's description. Your choice or a saving throw, you can use your reaction to add your
grants you features at 5th level and again at 9th and Intelligence modifier to the roll.
1 5th level. You can use this feature a number of times equal to
your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You re
THE R I GHT TO OL FOR THE OB gain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
At 3rd level, you learn how t o produce exactly the tool MAGIC ITE M ADEPT
you need: with tinker's tools in hand, you can magically
create one set of artisan's tools in an unoccupied space When you reach 10th level, you achieve a profound un
within 5 feet of you. This creation requires 1 hour of derstanding of how to use and make magic items:
uninterrupted work, which can coincide with a short • You can attune to up to four magic items at once.
or long rest. Though the product of magic, the tools • If you craft a magic item with a rarity of common or
are nonmagical, and they vanish when you use this fea uncommon, it takes you a quarter of the normal time,
ture again. and it costs you half as much of the usual gold.
When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain Force Bal lista M a ke a ranged spell attack, origin ating
proficiency with woodcarver's tools. If you already have from the cannon, at one creature o r object
this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type within 1 20 feet of it. On a h it, the target
of artisan's tools of your choice. takes 2d8 force damage, and if the target
is a creature, it is pushed up to 5 feet away
ARTILLERIST SPELLS from the cannon.
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells pre
Protector The cannon emits a burst of positive en
pared after you reach particular levels in this class, as
ergy that grants itself and each creature of
shown in the Artillerist Spells table. These spells count
as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against you r choice with i n 1 0 feet of it a n u mber of
the number of artificer spells you prepare. temporary hit poi nts equal to l d 8 + you r
I ntelligence modifier ( m i n i m u m o f +l ) .
ARTI L L E R I S T S P E L L S
Artificer Level Spell ARCANE FIREARM
3 rd shield, thunderwave At 5th level, you know how to turn a wand, staff, or rod
5th scorching ray, shatter into an arcane firearm, a conduit for your destructive
spells. When you finish a long rest, you can use wood
9th fireball, wind wall
carver's tools to carve special sigils into a wand, staff,
1 3th ice storm, wall offire or rod and thereby turn it into your arcane firearm. The
1 7th cone ofcold, wall offorce sigils disappear from the object if you later carve them
on a different item. The sigils otherwise last indefinitely.
BATTLE S M I T H W I T H
STEEL D E F E N D E R
J
,,,,.-
...
ARTILLERIST
STEE L DEFENDER Might ofthe Master. The following num bers i ncrease by 1 when
By 3rd level, your tinkering has borne you a faithful you r proficiency bonus i ncreases by 1 : the defender's s k i l l and
companion, a steel defender. It is friendly to you and saving throw bonuses (above), the bonuses to hit and damage
your companions, and it obeys your commands. See of its rend attack, and the n u m ber of hit poi nts restored by its
this creature's game statistics in the steel defender stat Repair action (below).
block. You determine the creature's appearance and
Vigilant. The defender can 't be s u rprised.
whether it has two legs or four; your choice has no effect
on its game statistics. ACTI O N S (REQ U I R E S YO U R BON U S ACT I O N)
In combat, the steel defender shares your initiative
Force-Empowered Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to h it, reach
count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It
5 ft., one target you can see. Hit: l d8 + 2 force damage.
can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only
action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you Repair (3/Day). The magical mechanisms inside the defender
take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take restore 2d8 + 2 hit poi nts to itself or to one construct or object
one of the actions in its stat block or the Dash, Disen within 5 feet of it.
gage, Help, Hide, or Search action.
If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit R EACT I O N
points. If it has died within the last hour, you can use De.fleet Attack. The defender i mposes disadvantage o n the
your smith's tools as an action to revive it, provided you attack rol l of one creature it can see that is within 5 feet of
are within 5 feet of it and you expend a spell slot of 1st it, provided the attack rol l is against a creature other than
level or higher. The steel defender returns to life after 1 the defender.
minute with all its hit points restored.
At the end of a long rest, you can create a new steel IMPROVED DEFENDER
defender if you have your smith's tools with you. If you
At 1 5th level, your Arcane jolt and steel defender be
already have a steel defender from this feature, the first
come more powerful:
one immediately perishes.
• The extra damage and the healing of your Arcane jolt
EXTRA ATTACK both increase to 4d6.
Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, rather than • Your steel defender gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class.
once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. • Whenever your steel defender uses its Deflect Attack,
the attacker takes force damage equal to 1d4 + your
ARCANE JOLT Intelligence modifier.
At 9th level, you learn new ways to channel arcane en
ergy to harm or heal. When either you hit a target with a
magic weapon attack or your steel defender hits a target,
ARTIFICER I N FUSIONS
you can channel magical energy through the strike to Artificers have invented numerous magical infusions,
create one of the following effects: extraordinary processes that rapidly create magic items.
To many, artificers seem like wonderworkers, accom
• The target takes an extra 2d6 force damage. plishing in hours what others need weeks to complete.
Choose one creature or object you can see within 30 The description of each of the following infusions
feet of the target. Healing energy flows into the chosen details the type of item that can receive it, along with
recipient, restoring 2d6 hit points to it. whether the resulting magic item requires attunement.
You can use this energy a number of times equal to Some infusions specify a minimum artificer level.
your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), but you You can't learn such an infusion until you are at least
can do so no more than once on a turn. You regain all that level.
expended uses when you finish a long rest. Unless an infusion's description says otherwise, you
can't learn an infusion more than once.
WATCH
tradimensional space. In the worst case, an item can
be hidden in a guildhall's basement for a time.
CO M MAN D E R O R
BUILD YOUR GROUP
Membership in an adventurers' guild doesn't affect the
composition of your party in any way, though it may
CRI M E LO R D?
provide added reasons for why a party features a diverse
array of characters with varied fields of expertise.
Without a patron directing your assignments, your 8 Gathering News. You're called on to act as freelance
group is free to pursue its own goals, whether you're reporters (see "Newspaper").
seeking wealth, struggling against evil, pursuing a per 9 Religious Work. The job involves the work of faith (see
sonal vendetta, or simply reacting to disastrous events "Religious Order").
around you. The Guild Adventures table refers to the de
10 Field Research. The job involves research or relic-hunt·
scriptions of other patrons in this section; your DM can
ing (see "University").
use the adventure ideas in those descriptions to flesh
out job opportunities available through your guild.
In any of these cases, the potential employer might
represent an established organization (a crime syndi
GUILD ADVENTURES
cate or university, for example) or might be independent
dlO Adventures
like your party. In the latter case, there's always the
Crime. You have to break the law to administer justice possibility that you could end up competing with an or
or thwart a criminal act (see "Crime Syndicate"). ganization-running up against a crime syndicate while
2 Dragonmarked Affairs. The job involves some dragon· pursuing a criminal job, perhaps, or competing with uni
marked house concern (see "Dragonmarked House"). versity researchers to plunder a ruin. This competition
might turn into a rivalry, or it could evolve into employ
3 Espionage. Someone requires some spying or sabotage
ment, with the crime syndicate or university recognizing
(see "Espionage Agency").
your talent and becoming your patron.
4 Statecraft. You're involved in national or international
affairs (see "Head of State").
SAVAG E RY
curity and avoid serious reprisals for a range of violent
thefts and sabotages. Agents of Daask go out of their
way to harm up-and-coming Boromar agents.
I N STYLE AT
Sharn Council. Despite four friends on the city council,
the Boromar Clan has several enemies as well. At
least three councilors oppose the Boromars because
TAI N GALA
of genuine concern for their constituents; two more
oppose the syndicate because they're part of rival
organizations (the Aurum and the Tyrants). Because
of their influence, the council has so far refused to
The annual Tain Gala, as everyone knows, brings the
devote any resources to combating the rise of Daask, wealthiest and most prominent citizens of Sham together
hoping the monstrous guild will bring down the Boro in a grand display of opulence and power. But last night,
mars. Individual members of the Boromar Clan can it also provided a shocking display of violence, as Saidan
be sure that these councilors will oppose any petition Boromar-head of the Boromar family, which is allegedly
they might bring to the council. tied to all manner of criminal activities throughout the
city-was confronted by a would-be assassin (whose
PATRON BENEFITS name will not be made public until her next of kin have
With a crime syndicate as your group's patron, you gain been identified and notified) . Boromar and his wife, Mala
the following benefits: Boromar d'Jorasco, escaped unharmed thanks to the
timely intervention of their bodyguard, a recent immi
Assignments. The Boromar Clan doesn't pay you, but it grant from the Talenta Plains whose fascinating culture
might assign you to particular tasks. Sometimes these and fierce demeanor were both in plain view last night. A
are tasks someone has hired the syndicate to perform Boromar spokesperson identified the bodyguard as Halak
(such as an assassination), in which case the syndicate Boromar, head of the Clawfoots-the Boromar family's
passes 85 percent of the fee on to your group. Other personal guard, named for the dinosaurs ridden by half
times, your aim is to enrich the syndicate (such as by lings in the Talenta Plains.
pulling off a heist), in which case you have the priv
ilege of keeping 85 percent of what you steal. Other
syndicates might take more or less than a 15 percent BUILD YOUR GROUP
share, at the DM's discretion. Naturally, a large portion of the Boromar Clan's mem
Contraband. You have access to your syndicate's "busi bers come from a criminal background. There's no rea
ness" of dealing with contraband, such as poisons or son characters with other backgrounds can't be part of
narcotics. You don't receive a discount on these goods, the syndicate, though. The Boromars recruit ex-soldiers
but you can always find someplace to purchase them. as muscle, trained sages for research, sailors to crew
Fences. Members or associates of your syndicate are smuggling vessels, and charlatans and urchins for their
skilled at disposing of stolen goods, and you have unique talents. Consider some or all of these roles for
access to this service as well. Fences are useful for characters in your party:
selling not just illicit goods but also expensive items Bruiser. Sometimes subtlety means breaking just one
such as works of art and even magic items. In the case of a snitch's kneecaps. The Bruiser uses force and the
of magic items, this allows you to delegate the work of threat of force to make sure that the crime syndicate
finding a buyer (a downtime activity described in the gets what it wants. Strength is a natural prerequisite
Dungeon Master's Guide and Xanathar's Guide to Ev for the role, but Charisma can also be useful, espe
erything) to the fence. The drawback is that you don't cially when combined with proficiency in Intimidation
get to choose whether to accept the offer you might to reinforce the danger inherent in the Bruiser's pres
receive-the fence makes that call for you. ence. Plenty of Bruisers have a criminal past, but for
Immunity. As a member of the Boromar Clan, you are
mer soldiers are often recruited into this role as well.
protected from other members of the clan. No one in Fighters and rogues make natural Bruisers.
your syndicate targets you for their own criminal op Burglar. Agile and nimble, the Burglar relies on Dexter
erations. (Of course, the same is expected of you.) On ity and proficiency in skills such as Acrobatics, Sleight
the other hand, if you have rivals within the clan, they of Hand, and Stealth to get in to a target location, take
might find other ways to interfere with your activities. valuables, and get out \\'.ithout being noticed. Some
Syndicate-Owned Businesses. The Boromar Clan
Burglars specialize in certain types of theft, such as
owns several businesses, primarily as fronts for laun housebreaking or picking pockets. Besides characters
dering money. When you buy from one of these busi with the criminal background, young urchins often
nesses, you get a 5 percent discount. The DM decides find a place in criminal syndicates by filling this role.
what goods and services are available. Rogues are natural Burglars, but anyone else with the
right combination of skills and abilities can do the job.
2 Heists. You plan and execute elaborate robberies that 2 Gang War. Some mem bers of a rival synd icate (such as
req u i re the s k i l l s of everyone on you r team . Daask, House Tarkanan, or the Tyrants} hate you , prob
3 Gang Warfare. Your prim ary job is to ensure that no ably for good reason .
other crime syndicate (such as Daask or House Tar 3 The Press. You r group's adventures make for great
kanan) gai ns a significant foothold i n you r territory. head lines. You r every move is reported in the broad
4 Internal Affairs. You r tas k is to keep all the corrupt, sheets and you r steps are dogged by journal ists.
headstrong, and avaricious mem bers of you r syndicate 4 Infighting. Another gro u p within the Boromar Clan i s
i n line with the goals and rules of the group. jealous of y o u r success or a ngry about a past wrong.
S Assassination. You r work i nvolves k i l l i ng prominent They do everyt h i n g they can to undercut you .
people-the sort who have n u m erous bodyguards and 5 Vigilante. A citizen you wronged has sworn vengeance.
elaborate security systems to c i rcu mvent. Aro u n d any corner, you m ight find yourself facing a vig
6 Topple the Powerful. Your syndicate m ight be criminal i lante or a posse of angry citizens out for you r blood.
and you r methods il lega l , but you r goals are righteous. 6 The Bosses. The ha/fl i n g family i n control of the syndi
You help people who are powerless to defend them cate has its eye on you , taking pains to keep you i n line
selves against exploitation by the rich a n d powerfu l . and make s u re you stay loya l .
B LOOD AD D I CTS'
Independence. Each member of your group is issued
papers that identifies you as agents of your patron
house. Because the dragonmarked houses are bound
D RAG O N D RUG
to political neutrality by the terms of the ancient Korth
Edicts, these papers guarantee you the right to travel
freely across national borders on the business of your
patron house. (If you assert that you are on the busi
Imagine it: a long-lasting state of euphoria, a feeling
ness of the house, even if you aren't, border agents are
of power and energy, a measurable impact on certain
magical powers, and the risk of addiction and deadly
unlikely to challenge you.)
overdose with every use. That's the thrill of the drug
called dragon's blood, which currently enjoys skyrock
BUILD YOUR GROUP
eting popularity in Sham. Every day the death toll from Dragonmarked houses employ adventurers who suit
this mysterious substance rises among "blood addicts. " their needs. The roles characters play in a group with a
And n o wonder, a s it's produced i n Droaam and sold i n dragonmarked house patron often have more to do with
drams o r "veins" b y the monstrous thugs o f Daask, who their relationship to the house than with the specific
surely seek nothing less than to destroy the prosperity of roles in the party. Consider some or all of these roles for
Sham but targeting its most precious resource: its sober, your characters:
hardworking people. Remember friends, "Stay on the
wagon. Say NO to dragon! " Adventurer. Some characters are associated with your
patron house because of their connection to its ruling
family or its businesses. The Adventurer, though, is
Running Your Own. Rather than join a n existing hired by the house for more traditional adventuring
syndicate, you can start your own. You need to establish skills-usually capabilities that the house's other
your own headquarters and direct the activities of the agents lack. The Adventurer might have a wide range
3d6 criminals who work for you. By claiming a 15 per of abilities, particular to whatever needs the House
cent share of their take, you can rely on an income that has at the time. Many with peculiar skills or highly
will sustain you at a modest lifestyle, plus an additional specific fields of expertise find themselves in the em
ld6 gp in profit per week. You can access contraband ploy of dragonmarked houses or house members with
and fences as described earlier in this section, but you eccentric interests and deep pockets.
don't get a discount at syndicate-owned businesses un Guilder. Every dragonmarked house is more than a sin
less you acquire some businesses of your own. You can gle family. Each house encompasses at least one guild
also use the Running a Business downtime activity to that operates just like a traditional craft or trade guild,
direct the activities of your syndicate. and hundreds of people associate with these guilds
while having no other relationship to the houses that
D RAGON MARKED HOUSE oversee them. The Guilder is among these, perhaps
Your group works for one of the most influential or being a skilled physician or cleric in Housejorasco's
ganizations in Khorvaire: the dragonmarked houses. Healers Guild, for example, or an inquisitive associ
Whether or not any member of your group carries a ated with House Tharashk's Finders Guild. The Guil
dragonmark or is even related to one of the houses by der might have the guild artisan background or some
blood, you act on behalf of a house to advance its inter other set of skills suited to the specialties of your pa
ests. You might function openly as representatives of the tron house's guilds.
Heir. The Heir is a member of your dragonmarked
house, wearing its badge and exerting its authority, or
you could be covert or unacknowledged agents. house patron, related by blood and carrying the house
The thirteen dragonmarked houses are described in name. This character most likely chooses the race that
detail earlier in this chapter. matches the bloodline of the house. The Heir can be
dragonmarked (with the appropriate marked subrace
PATRON BENEFITS or racial variant) or unmarked. The house agent back
With a dragonmarked house as your group's patron, you ground (described in this chapter) proves particularly
gain the following benefits: appropriate for this character.
Compensation. Your patron house pays you for the HOUSE MISSIONS
work you do on its behalf. On average, the house pays Your group and your DM should decide together which
each member of your group an amount equal to 10 house employs you. The nature of the missions you un
gp x the average level of your characters per day you dertake depends in part on the house or guild you work
spend on the mission. for, but there are general categories of work that every
house needs agents to perform on its behalf. The House
HOUSE M ISSIONS
dl2 House Mission l Mission 2 Mission 3
l Cannith Escort a valuable shipment of Track down rare materials Advance the cause of one branch
goods of the fa m i ly at the expense of the
other two
2 Deneith Act as bodyguards for a p ro m i nent Serve as mercenaries in a l i ngering Enforce the law across national
or wealthy person border confl ict borders as Sentinel M arshals
3 G h a l landa Establish useful diplomatic Acq u i re rare i ngred ients or recipes Defend a Golden D ragon Inn that
contacts is under attack
4 J o rasco Provide healing for a caravan Seek out the sou rce of a Find a cure for an exotic curse
or m i litary unit on a dangerous mysterious new il lness afflicting a wealthy patient
m ission
5 Kundarak Safeguard something valuable u ntil Recover something stolen from Find an abandoned vau lt in the
it i s locked in a vau lt you r house M ou rnland
6 Lyrandar H unt down pirates in the Lhazaar Salvage a prototype a i rship lost in Accompany a new airship on its
Sea the M ournland fi rst voyage
7 M edani Protect a powerful figure from Track down the source of ru mors Find the v i l l a i n behind a series of
kidnapping or assassination pointing to an i m m i nent t h reat apparently u n re lated cri mes
8 Ori en Carry a sensitive message to its Retrieve an i mportant package I nvestigate a problem on a
desti nation stolen from another courier l i ghtning rail line
9 Phiarlan and Sneak into a secret area to serve as Steal plans for a powerful new Carry out an assassi nation
Thuranni the target of a scrying spell weapon
10 Sivis M ed iate a tense negotiation Assu re that two parties keep to the B reak a code used d u ring the Last
terms of their agreement War
11 Tharash k Track down fugitives Locate a supply of d ragonshards Find the bandits who have been
preying on house prospectors
12 Vadalis Capture wild animals and tame Prevent magebred specimens from Handle the animals d rawing
them upsetti ng a delicate ecosystem a massive caravan across the
continent
<CM �ON � <C ll agreements that ended the War of the Mark, the houses
agreed to create an institute for the application of mag
ic-a foundation that would study dragonmarks, along
FEU D WITH I N
with more traditional forms of magic. Over the centu
ries, the Twelve has been responsible for many magical
advances, including the airships operated by House Ly
TH E TWE LVE?
randar and the message stations of House Sivis
As an arm of the dragonmarked houses, the Twelve
attempted to remain neutral during the Last War, but
many of its wizards and artificers had national loyalties
Reports emerged this week of bitter disputes within the
that were stronger than their ties to the institute. Now
Twelve, the arcane institution that supposedly embodies
the spirit of cooperation among the houses. According
that the Twelve has resumed normal operations, it seeks
to a source that wished to remain anonymous, a special to replace its lost members and make sure that each
meeting of the Committee of Twelve was called last house is represented.
week to address accusations that researchers connected While the Twelve provides a way for your group to
to House Kundarak had been diverting funds from the work for multiple dragonmarked houses, its goals and
institute's budget to fund their own private projects, benefits are similar to those of an individual house. Con
then concealing the results of those projects from their sider using the following details as a template if there's a
colleagues. Kundarak's representative, according to our particular dragonmarked house you wish to serve.
source, denied the accusations, saying that the research
Patronage. As a patron, the Twelve is functionally
ers are operating within their allotted budget and keep
similar to a dragonmarked house. Rather than advanc
ing their results secret only temporarily, as a matter of
ing one house's interests, though, the Twelve seeks to
house security.
This matter is far from resolved, as the council meet advance magical developments that have practical value
ing devolved into shouted arguments before disbanding. to society as well as potential for profit. All the houses
Representatives of House Medani and House Tharashk contribute to the operating budget of the institute, and in
were particularly vocal in denouncing Kundarak, leaving theory they all benefit from the results of its research.
this reporter to wonder whether a schism within the As agents of the Twelve, you might undertake mis
Council of Twelve might be imminent-and what that sions intended to help one house at a time or all of them
might mean for peaceful relations among the dragon at once, typically with a focus on magical research or
marked houses themselves.
problem-solving. Members of your group might have dif
ferent status within their houses, but within the Twelve
you're held as equals. The Twelve pay you (see "Patron
H O U S E CO N TACTS Benefits"), and as their agents, you receive a 5 percent
d8 Contact discount on services from all the dragonmarked houses
A lesser guild functionary who is cowed by you r group (rather than a 10 percent discount from one house).
Leadership. The Committee of Twelve oversees the
(especially if it incl udes a dragon marked character)
institute. It currently has fifteen members, though its
and apologetic about giving you assignments
membership is a matter of significant disagreement
2 The stern and demanding parent of one (or more) of within the council. There are of course only twelve drag
the characters in your gro u p onmarks, but the Mark of Shadow is represented by two
3 The lovingly i n d ulgent parent of a character in your different houses, and House Cannith is currently frag
gro u p mented into three branches, each of which has claimed
4 The s m u gly superior d ragon marked sibling of an u n a seat on the council.
marked membe r of the family i n you r group The Twelve is headquartered in a many-spired keep
that floats in the air above the city of Korth in Karrnath.
5 The money-minded busi ness manager of a guild withi n
Most researchers funded by the Twelve operate within
y o u r patron house
this structure, but the institute occasionally pays grants
6 A retired adventurer with in the fam i ly who wou l d rather to researchers whose promising work can't easily (or
join you on you r adventures than assign them to you safely) be relocated inside the keep.
7 The proud leader of a regional branch of the d ragon Allies. With a long record of providing benefit to so
ma rked fa m ily ciety at large, the Twelve is widely respected. Some of
8 The patriarch or matriarch of the patron house their closest allies include the following groups:
Dragonmarked Houses. Above all, the Twelve has
THE TWELVE the almost universal support of the dragonmarked
Rather than working for one single house, your group houses, which provide the funding to support its con
could work for an organization that serves them all: the tinued operation. One of the few things that all the
Twelve. This is a good option if you want to be involved houses agree on is that the Twelve should be allowed
in the intrigue among the dragonmarked houses while to do its work in peace. Agents of the Twelve can count
playing characters who come from different houses. on at least a minimal level of assistance from the
houses in case of dire need.
E SPIONAGE AGENCY
Secret agents, spies, undercover operatives-your group
is part of an organization engaged in espionage. Most
such agencies are attached to governments or dragon
marked houses, gathering information on the activities
and plans of rival nations, houses, and businesses.
Naturally, your affiliation with an espionage agency is
a secret; you can't advertise that connection, and if you
get in trouble with law enforcement forces (especially in
foreign nations), your home nation will disavow you and
deny any knowledge of your activities.
It's said the Last War was fought as much by spies as
by armies. Espionage agencies in every nation sought
secrets to bring military supremacy to their own lands
and provide dominance over their neighbors. In the
years since the end of the war, a clandestine struggle
among these agencies (which the Korranberg Chronicle
dubbed the Shadow War) has continued unabated, just
outside of the public eye.
fi E ADQUA R T E R S O F
T H E TW ELVE
KING'S DARK LANTERNS Some Dark Lanterns might think themselves superior
The King's Dark Lanterns is the intelligence division to members of the other branches, but even so they
of the King's Citadel, an organization sworn to defend recognize other Citadel agents as players on the same
Breland from its enemies and dispense justice in the team. When your group needs a little extra help, the
name of King Boranel. As the secret servants of the other branches of the Citadel are there for you.
crown, members of the organization are granted the Enemies. Rare is the espionage agency that is loved.
authority to conduct intelligence operations on foreign Even within Breland, the populace views the Dark Lan
soil, execute covert missions aqoss the globe, and pre terns with suspicion, and powerful people outside the
vent national secrets from falling into the hands of rival royal family harbor resentment at the influence of the
intelligence agencies. The Dark Lanterns also have an Citadel. Many people and institutions outside Breland
unwritten license to eliminate any creature that threat view the Dark Lanterns as a hostile force. As a result,
ens their nation, its sovereign, or its citizens. the following groups account for just a few enemies of
Headquarters. The King's Citadel is based in Bre the Dark Lanterns:
land's capital city of Wroat, under the command of
the king's brother, Lord Kor ir'Wynarn. A changeling Brelish Populists. As much as King Boranel is loved
named Captain Vron serves as the leader of the Dark in his country, many Brelish voices argue that the era
Lanterns, with four subordinate knights marshal lead of monarchy is at an end, and the throne of Breland
ing branch offices across Breland, in Sharn, Starilaskur, should be replaced by a government democratically
and Xandrar. A much smaller branch office keeps an elected by the citizenry. When these forces grow rest
eye on Brelish interests in the city of Stormreach, in less enough to plot and riot, the Citadel-and often the
Xen'drik. Small, temporary field offices are sometimes Dark Lanterns-work to bring them to heel. As a re
established to coordinate missions outside Breland; sult, those who question the authority of the king are
these offices double as safe houses for agents in trouble, the most likely Brelish citizens to mistrust the Dark
and they are designed to be wiped clean at a moment's Lanterns or view them with open hostility. According
notice if discovered by local authorities.
The Sharn office of the King's Citadel is in Andith
Tower in the Ambassador Towers district. Though a
knight marshal commands the office, most of the King's
Citadel members in Sharn are Dark Lanterns, and thus
under the authority of a scheming and ruthless gnome
named Talleon Haliar Tonan.
Agents. The King's Dark Lanterns includes more
than 500 agents operating within Breland's borders and
roughly one-fifth that number stationed abroad. They of
ten work in teams, and also work closely with the other
divisions of the Citadel. Sometimes they recruit local
talent, often under false pretenses, to help them accom
plish their missions in foreign lands.
Allies. By their nature, espionage agencies must be
'
cautious in choosing their allies, and the King's Dark
Lanterns is no exception. Its most trustworthy allies in
clude the following facets of the Brelish government:
King Boranel. The King's Dark Lanterns, as one would
expect, serve the king of Breland, and he is their
greatest advocate and ally. The king views loyalty
as mutual: as long as an agent's loyalty is irre
proachable, Boranel is willing to exercise his
considerable power on that agent's behalf.
The King's Citadel. The Citadel has three
branches besides the Dark Lanterns. The
King's Swords are elite special combat
forces. The King's Shields protect
the king and his closest family
members and associates. The
King's Wands provide magical
support to the other branches
of the Citadel as well as
other Brelish forces.
LI ES O N TRIAL!
sesses, and how it might make life complicated for you.
SECR ETS
FACES J USTI CE
i n g secret concerni n g a n i m portant figure.
2 Hidden Agenda. You are party to a conspi racy that
seeks to infl u ence events to better suit your desires.
In a courthouse surrounded by agents of the King's Cit 3 Careful Balance. You have damning information on
adel and thronged by reporters, judge Haliss ir'Cronn you r patron agency, but it has carefully collected
took her seat for the first session in what some are call equally damaging secrets on a l l of you.
ing the "trial of the century."
Barath Drinn, a Karrn who has been living in Wroat
4 Conspiracy. A local organ ization, such as a guild, gov
since the end of the Last War, stands accused of stealing ernment, or d ragon marked house, is engaged in d irty
state secrets, sabotage, and one count of murder deeds, and you have i n side i n formation on them.
though an anonymous source suggests that he is guilty 5 Deep Cover. You know the secret identity of a seem
of many more killings. i ngly i n n ocent but powerful person who wou l d rather
A spokesperson for the King's Citadel vehemently de
remain anonymous.
nied reports that Drinn is employed by the Citadel.
6 Empty Threats. Rumors say you collect damaging se
crets on anyone, and people tread carefully arou nd you
Saboteur. The Saboteur interferes with the functioning as a res u lt. The truth i s that your reputation i s over
of enemy assets. More than a reckless bomber, they blown, so you have you r own secret to keep safe.
combine a willingness to destroy with a knack for in
filtration. Proficiency with thieves' tools and in skills MEMORABLE MISSION
such as Deception, Investigation, and Stealth often
You engaged in a mission that still overshadows your
serve the work of sabotage. The Saboteur benefits
work. Was it the perfect operation, or do you still carry
from an understanding of craft and magic items, mak
scars from a mission gone horribly wrong? Consult the
ing artificers particularly skilled in this role. Guild ar
Memorable Mission table to determine the details of
tisans might also disguise tools of destruction as mun
your career-defining exploit.
dane objects or works of art. Many Saboteurs come
from backgrounds such as charlatans or soldiers.
M E M O RABLE M I S S I O N
TYPES OF ESPIONAGE d4 Mission
Espionage activities can be classified in three broad Betrayal. A former associate turned agai nst you . You
categories: counterintelligence, covert action, and in escaped, and want revenge.
telligence gathering. Your party might focus on one of 2 Left in the Cold. Things went wrong, and you had to
those areas, or perhaps you're the team that handles sit
make the terrible decision to abandon an al ly. They
uations that other teams bungle. As a group, work with
m ight be dead, or they m ight be looking for reven ge.
your DM and consult the Espionage Missions table to
decide what kinds of missions you might undertake. 3 The Perfect Operation. You r actions made headli nes
across Khorvai re, shaping h istory for the next decade.
E S P I O N AG E M I S S I O N S N obody knows you were i nvolved, and sometimes you
wish you could have a l ittle credit for you r work.
d 6 Mission
Information Gathering. If i nformation is out there, you 4 The Standoff. You met your match during a tense
operation. N either side got everyth i n g they wanted.
can find it and hand it over to you r patron.
You hate to admit it, but the team you went u p against
2 Counterintelligence. You r work focuses on finding, op
proved you r match. Maybe you ' l l cross paths again.
posing, and e l i m i n ating enemy i ntel l i gence agents.
3 Misinformation. You are experts at creating false sto ESPIONAGE AGENCY CONTACTS
ries and bogus i n formation to fo i l enemy spies.
Your assignments come from a superior in the agency
4 Covert Elimination. When you disappear someone you who typically works at a desk rather than in the field
leave behind no evidence. compiling intelligence into reports for their superiors
5 Disruption. You excel at i n filtration and wreaking havoc and coordinating the activities of multiple groups. Use
via blackmai l , misinformation, and s u bversion . the Agency Contacts table to determine the character
6 Sabotage. You s l i p into places, lay the seeds for their of your superior, which can shape the kinds of missions
destruction, and escape without detection. you undertake and the degree of support you receive.
BARO NY and issuing ultimatums are tasks that fall within the
purview of the Diplomat, who typically puts their high
Charisma to work in the service of the state. These
Prince Oargev, the exiled Cyran royal who governs the characters often come from a noble background and
town of New Cyre by the sufferance of King Boranel, is bring proficiency in skills such as Intimidation and
planning a brazen act of secession, hoping to transform Persuasion to their work. Bards are natural fits in this
all of eastern Breland into a new Cyran realm, sources role, as are paladins-as long as they aren't asked to
say. According to a group of adventurers recently em do things that violate the tenets of their oaths.
ployed by Oargev, the prince sent them into the Mourn Marshal. Combat is the specialty of the Marshal, who
land to recover weapons of war so they could be wielded
focuses on enforcing the law of the land and bring-
against the Brelish military during the secession. How
ing fugitives to justice. Fighters and paladins make
will King Boranel respond to this treachery? Will the na
tions come to the defense of the displaced prince? Will
natural Marshals, many being former soldiers who
Oargev's scheming result in all of eastern Breland being continue fighting the Last War in different venues.
swathed in the same gray mist that consumed Cyre? They often have reasonable Intelligence scores or pro
ficiency in Investigation.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Sometimes there's a fine line between the missions
assigned by a head of state and those of an espionage
agency or a military force, but your team's central fo
cus is politics. As a group, consult the Cyran Affairs
table and work with your DM to decide what kinds of
adventures you undertake on behalf of Prince Oargev.
The Heads of State table at the end of the section offers
additional options for leaders who might make appeal
ing patrons.
CYR A N AFFA I R S
d 6 Mission
Convince nations to recognize Oa rgev as a sovereign
2 Work diplomatically to secu re land for a Cyran nation
P R I N C E 0 1\ R G E V t R' WV N ll R N
3 Track down agents and infiltrators from other nations
who are acting against N ew Cyre's interests
4 Venture into the Mourn land to salvage Cyran treasures H EAD OF STATE CONTACTS
Often, your connection to your patron is quite direct •
5 Aid Cyran refugees in Breland and elsewhere
the head of state summons you, grants you an audience,
6 M a ke i ncrim i nating or e m barrassi n g evidence about
and gives you an assignment or hears your report.
the prince q u ietly disappear Heads of state are busy people, though, and if your
business isn't pressing, you might be handled by a func
OFFICIAL STATUS tionary of the court. The State Contacts table provides
Heads of state employ a variety of agents. Some are offi several options for what functionaries your group might
cially recognized, but others are expected to operate on work with when the head of state is indisposed.
the borders of legality. Consult the State Status table to
determine the nature of your group's work STATE CONTACTS
d8 Contact
STATE STATUS
A disapproving courtier who finds you r extrajudicial
d6 Status work h ighly d istasteful
1 -3 Official. You hold an official position and are recog
2 A fawn i n g sycophant who figures you are the best path
nized as attached to your patron. You can expect the
to the head of state's good graces
head of state's support, but you must also ensure
3 A wide-eyed b u reaucrat who d reams of l iving a life as
your actions avoid staining you r patron's reputation.
exciting and dangerous as you rs
4-5 Shadow. You can expect no official, public recognition
4 A scheming relative of the head of state who sees you
of you r work, but the head of state you work for does
as a path toward seizing power
acknowledge you in private and provide help.
5 A bored chancellor who is constantly i rritated at the
6 Double. You r al legiance l ies with an official or govern
amount of money you spend
ment other than the one you overtly serve. You may
6 A grumpy ex·adventure r who was "promoted" from
receive support from the head of state you openly an
doing you r job to supervising you
swer fol low, as well as the official you secretly report
to, but must rem a i n on constant guard against having
7 A worried parental figure who is s u re that every mis
sion will be you r last
you r true loyalties revealed.
8 The ghost of the previous head of state
CM �ON � CLl
Your party works for an agency offering investigative
services, or you might run your own firm as a group.
Inquisitives put their keen minds and dogged determi
nation to use unraveling mysteries. Inquisitive agencies
PRO PH ECY
have a reputation for discretion and cunning. Members
of that house operate the Finders Guild, a loose collec
tion of independent inquisitive agendes. Dragonmarked
heirs of House Tharashk own and operate some of these
"In the darkest night of the Dragon Below, storm and agencies, but each employs unmarked inquisitives as
dragon are reunited, and they break together upon the
well, leaving the heirs free to take on the most difficult
legions of the Blasphemer." According to Thausil Ken
cases. A connection with the Finders Guild is viewed
nar, a noted scholar at the Library of Korranberg, these
as a mark of high quality, a guarantee that a particular
words, translated from an ancient prophecy, foretell the
course of recent events in the Eldeen Reaches, where an agency numbers among the best in the business.
upstart warlord led a barbarian army from the Demon In the city of Sharn alone, four inquisitives with the
Wastes on a mission of plunder. Mark of Finding lead agencies in different parts of the
For all your news needs, be they ageless riddles or city: Kurt Karr'Aashta's Investigations in the neigh
breaking modern developments, keep reading the borhood of Deathsgate, Information Acquisition in
Korranberg Chronicle! Underlook, Thuranne Velderan's Investigative Services
in Warden Towers, and Globe Information Agency in
Dragon Towers. Your party might be associated with
OTHER IMMORTAL BEINGS any of these groups, or you might operate your own affil
Various immortal beings exert their will upon the peo iated agency. In any case, your connection to the Finders
ple and nations of Eberron. Many are villainous forces Guild means you have a sterling reputation to uphold.
that adventurers might find themselves resisting, such AJlies. While the Finders' Guild's greatest strength
as the fiends of the Lords of Dust or the Quori and the is its internal connections, it lacks many strong allies
Dreaming Dark. Even those without evil motives are beyond House Tharashk's holdings. That said, the fol
often inscrutable-the agendas of immortal beings span lowing groups have had numerous interactions with the
ning millennia. What role you might play in an immor guild and generally view inquisitives in a positive light:
tal's schemes and what sorts of deeds you'll be called on Droaam. Since the rise of the Daughters of Sora Kell in
to perform varies from patron to patron. Consider the Droaam, members of House Tharashk have served as
following options when determining what immortal pa intermediaries between the realm of monsters and the
tron your party might serve: east, bartering the services of monstrous mercenaries
Flamewind. A gynosphinx with oracular powers came across Khorvaire. The house takes great pride in hav
back to Morgrave University with a Xen'drik expedi ing forced mainstream Khorvaire to recognize that
tion two years ago, and took up residence there. In ores and half-ores are worthy of the same courtesies
addition to her first-hand knowledge of Xen'drik, she and opportunities as races long established in society,
is one of the few nondragons to have made extensive and house members are now using their status to do
study of the Draconic Prophecy. She sometimes the same for various other races from Droaam. As a
sends adventurers on missions by uttering a cryptic result, members of the Finders' Guild can expect at
prophecy. "It is time for the Globe of Seven Lights to least a modicum of respect while traveling in Droaam
be brought out of Xen'drik," she might say. She never Gatekeepers. House Tharashk and the druidic sect of
explains her proclamations, and never provides infor the Gatekeepers share common origins in the Shadow
mation on mundane affairs. Marches, and the druids remain friendly with the
Faerie Court. Somewhere deep in the western forest of house and its Finders' Guild. In the Marches, the guild
the Eldeen Reaches lies the Twilight Demesne, where often helps the druids locate stray aberrations and
powerful archfey hold court over an ongoing revelry. open portals between planes of existence. For their
It often appears as if nothing more than mischief and part, the Gatekeepers offer the support of their magic
caprice governs the actions of the archfey, but they to aid guild members in whatever ways they can.
have ancient interests in the mortal world-as well as Enemies. The work of inquisitives naturally creates
extensive rivalries among themselves. enemies, mostly on a local scale: con artists, gangs, and
Undying Court. The honored, undead ancestors of Ae
others who have had their unsavory deeds uncovered.
renal rule the elven nation and shape their people's Such groups are inclined to hold grudges against the
destiny. These undead-known as deathless-despise guild as a whole. The guild's enemies on a larger scale
evil undead, nurture an ancient grudge against drag are few, but include the following groups.
ons, and pursue the fulfillment of ancient prophecies.
AU N �A� R �AN SCRO ll helpful allies not only in cities throughout the Five
Nations, but even in remote corners of the wilderness
where trackers and prospectors ply their trade. At the
G E N I US
DM's discretion, your contacts might direct you to new
cases, offer you leads in the case you're working on,
put you in touch with their own network of contacts,
I N QU ISITIVE
or show up suddenly to pull you out of the fire. You
can call in a favor from your agency to draw on the
resources of any of your contacts. At the start of the
CO N TACTS
In yet another embarrassing blow to the Fairhaven dl2 Contact
Watch, renowned inquisitive "Feather" Fallester has
apparently solved yet another case she randomly pulled A friendly law-enforcement officer sends clients you r
from the watch's files of unsolved mysteries. The way a n d gives you inside i nformation about t h e work
case-the theft of a bej eweled statuette on display in the i ngs of the watch.
University of Wynarn Museum of Antiquities-baffled 2 A satisfied former client with a m i nor position i n local
watch officers seven years ago, but in a matter of five
government can pull strings for you .
days, Fallester managed to pin the crime on a changeling
thief called Spaut, who has confessed. 3 A lieutenant in a crime gang knows the u nderworld
and will help you so long as you don't interfere in that
gang's affa i rs .
Daask. The Finders Guild has a difficult relationship 4 A bitter, more experienced i n q uisitive spends a lot of
with the criminal organization called Daask. On the
time tel l i n g you who you cou l d have talked to ten years
one hand, Daask is a violent criminal gang whose
ago-if that person hadn't d ied-but stil l knows a lot
members are often targeted by Finders Guild inquisi
about the city's inner workings.
tives. On the other hand, Daask is a gang of monsters,
many of whom actually left Droaam under the aus S The owner of a tavern or other business that attracts
pices of House Tharashk. Finders Guild inquisitives clientele from the seedy parts of society has an ear to
who pry too deeply into Daask business often feel the ground and often feeds you leads to more work.
pressure to back away coming from higher in House 6 A wealthy former client can get you i nto h i gh-society
Tharashk. Those who ignore that pressure tend to end parties and put you in touch with other rich people.
up the targets of Daask assassins. 7 A nosy journal ist always wants to write stories about
House Deneith. For centuries, House Deneith cornered
you r cases, but also helps lead you to new work and
the market on mercenary forces in Khorvaire. It was
key contacts.
an unpleasant surprise for them when House Tha
rashk entered the mercenary market in the later days 8 A local priest appreciates the work you do and provides
of the war, bringing monsters from Droaam to bolster you with m i nor magical assistance.
Five Nations armies. House Deneith still resents 9 A tough-as- n a i l s street u rchin wi l l carry messages for
House Tharashk for this, and the animosity between you, lead you anywhere in the city, and sq ueeze into
the houses only increases when Finders' Guild inquis tight spaces fo r a meager reward.
itives stick their noses into Sentinel Marshal business. 10 A broodi n g warforged c a n con nect you to a n extensive
network of fo rmer sold iers .
PATRON BENEFITS
11 A kalashtar seer might be a frau d , b u t a l s o occasionally
With an inquisitive agency as your group's patron, you
gain the following benefits: provides you with valuable leads.
12 A curious changel i n g always seem s to show u p when
Compensation. Yoti can collect fees from your clients
you least expect it.
when you undertake investigations on their behalf.
You can set those fees, and clients will often pay
higher fees as your reputation and prestige increase. BUILD YOUR GROUP
A fee of 5 sp to 10 sp per inquisitive per day, plus ex A wide variety of talents can be useful in the work of an
penses incurred as part of the investigation, is a rea inquisitive, leading the Finders' Guild to employ special
sonable starting rate. ists with diverse skill sets. Many inquisitives come from
Contacts. Through the Finders' Guild, each associated
backgrounds such as criminal, sage, soldier, or urchin,
inquisitive agency can benefit from the knowledge regardless of the role they play in a group. Consider
and experience of not only other inquisitives, but also some or all of these roles for characters in your party:
bounty hunters, explorers, dragonshard prospectors,
TH I RTE E N D EAD
ant than their current role. No particular set of talents
is common to all soldiers, but military units often
strive to avoid duplication of skills.
I N B LACKSCALE
Warforged. Literally made for war, most warforged
characters have spent the years since the end of the
Last War trying to find a new way of life. For some
NEM ESIS
OTHER MILITARY FORCES
d 6 Nemesis Every nation in Khorvaire has its military forces. In
Necromancer. You lost a lot of friends in battle, but addition to the Redcloak Battalion, the following groups
what made it worse was watching that cackling wizard number among the forces most likely to make use of a
raise them as zombies and turn them agai nst you . team of adventurers:
2 Camp Commandant. As prisoners of war, you were Blademarks Guild. House Deneith manages mercenary
captured and su bjected to brutal conditions in a pris activities across Khorvaire through its Blademarks
oner camp. The com mandant delighted in your pain. Guild, with house members serving as officers, train
3 Inept Commander. You r friends wou l d sti l l be a live if ers, and strategists. The rank-and-file soldiers of the
one i n competent officer with political power and i nflu guild are largely human mercenaries but also includes
ential a l lies hadn't sent you on a d i sastrous mission. significant numbers of hobgoblins from Darguun,
elves from Valenar, and Cyran soldiers who no longer
4 Colossus. You were among those who su rvived a n
have a nation to fight for.
encounter with a warforged colossus. Cyre or House
Maruk Ghaash'kala. Among the ore tribes of the
Cannith-whoever was res ponsible for such a night
Demon Wastes, the Maruk tribe inhabits the deadly
mare-deserves whatever evil fate comes their way. Labyrinth that lies between the wastes and the Eldeen
5 Mercenaries. A band of traitorous mercenaries who Reaches. In its sacred dedication to containing the
switched sides, turning the battle again st you. threat of the Lords of Dust, it draws significant num
6 Champion. One mighty hero fought on the enemy side, bers of ore barbarians from the Shadow Marches, hu
wield i n g powerfu l magic a n d cruel strategies against man scouts from the Eldeen Reaches, and even youths
the ran k-and-file soldiers on you r side. from the Carrion Tribes that live deeper in the wastes.
Q'barra. The frontier nation of Q'barra has significant
KO R RAN B E RG 2 Muckraking. You look for scandalous and titil lating se
crets that famous people wou l d rather h ide.
CH RO N I CLE
3 Local News. You care about the local com m u n ity and
report on local events and governm e nt.
4 International Affairs. You report on the activities of na
EXPOS E D ! 5
tional govern ments and their relationships.
Crime. You work with police and i n q u isitives-or do
some inqu i sitive work yourselves-to report on crim
Who really pulls the strings behind the ostensibly un
inal activity.
biased news coverage of the Korranberg Chronicle? The
Chronicle's publisher, a wily Zil gnome named Cassia Lor 6 Cultural Reporting. You write about arts, fashion, and
ridan Claddik, is the most public face of its leadership, similar events and trends.
and her connection to Korranberg's ruling Council of 7 Science and Magic. You r job is to i nvestigate scientific
Nine is well known. But she is not the ultimate author and magical advances and explain them in jargon-free
ity determining what gets printed and what does not.
language anyone can understand.
No, that honor goes to the shadowy board of the Chroni
cle's owners. 8 Personal Interest. You seek out stories of personal tri
Voice reporters have uncovered the names and posi umph over adversity, such as how people are reb u i l d
tions of several members of this board, and the results ing and working together i n t h e wake o f the Last War.
are nothing less than shocking. The Trust-the shadowy
9 Travel. You travel extensively and write about the best
secret police who maintain order in Zilargo-is well
represented on this board, raising questions about the
way for others to enjoy such jou rneys.
extent to which the Chronicle is a propaganda engine for 10 Adventure Logs. Your j o b is t o entertain the public
Zilargo. Worse still, several of the wealthiest and most with exciting stories about you r l i fe as an adventu rer.
influential members of the board are associated with the
Aurum, a shadowy cabal whose primary interest seems
FAMOUS STORY
to be increasing its members' wealth and influence.
Whose interest, then, does the Chronicle serve?
Is there one story that hangs over your group's head,
All the more reason, loyal readers, to rely on the Voice for good or ill? Maybe it sets a high bar you might never
ofBreland for unbiased news you can use. reach again, or ensures you'll never write a story of a
different kind. Consult the Famous Story table to deter
mine what reporting has most colored your career.
Networker. The Networker knows exactly who can get
the party what they need. This character makes exten FAM O U S STORY
sive use of contacts and friends to facilitate the party's d6 Famous Story
work. A character with the criminal background likely
Fear Monger. You spiced up a story by stretching a
has underworld contacts, while an urchin could be
few facts, i n stigating a wave of misi nformation that
familiar with the ins and outs of the city. Interper
plagues public d isco u rse to this day.
sonal connections are typically more important than
any particular skills or abilities for this character, al 2 Hit Piece. You have revealed secrets that many famous
though many Networkers have high Charisma scores. people wanted kept u nder wraps. You try to keep a low
Snoop. A Snoop pries into secrets and pieces together profile when dealing with the rich and powerfu l .
the clues behind a sensational story. High Intelligence 3 Unheeded Warning. You 've been tracking a sign ificant
and proficiency in Investigation often aids the core story and have published d a m n i ng articles. U n fo rtu
work of the Snoop, and knowledge of Arcana, History, nately, those who keep the truth h idden work to m ake
or Religion can be helpful for background research. even your most ironclad proof look shaky.
Divination magic can also prove useful (perhaps in the
4 Scandal. You reported on a massive scandal that com
hands of a wizard or a cleric), while a character with
pletely u pended the local political scene.
the sage background might have a knack for research.
5 Buried Headline. You al most broke a story, but then
TYPES OF REPORTING received a threat or bribe so significant that you put it
Decide as a group, in consultation with your DM, what o n ice.
kind of reporting you do for the newspaper. It's possible 6 Double Cross. You thought you had the scoop of a l ife
that different members of your group have different spe time, but you were fed false i nfo rmation and publ ished
cialties, or that only some members actually write sto a story that was pure fi ction.
ries while the rest aid the reporters. Choose an option
or roll on the Journalistic Focus table to determine what
sort of reporting you specialize in.
to exterminate supernatural evil, such creatures are bear in the religious order's work, often in the form
always hostile when they recognize a knight templar. of proficiency in History and Religion. This character
The following groups and creatures viciously oppose the might be an expert on ancient ruins or know all the
templars of the Silver Flame: weaknesses of the demons they are hunting. Charac
ters with access to divination magic (including clerics
Fiends and Undead. Unnatural beings loathe templars, with the Knowledge domains as well as wizards)
as they represent everything these foul creatures might excel at this role. Many Scholars come from the
despise-light, life, hope, and good. These menaces sage background. Unlike the Prophet and Zealot, the
sometimes go to great lengths to trap and destroy tem Scholar isn't necessarily devout, just knowledgeable.
plars, and fiends take particular pleasure in corrupt Teacher. Those in this role spread the teachings of the
ing the faithful to evil. faith. This isn't usually an effort to win converts
Lycanthropes. All types and alignments of lycan though it can be, especially in the case of the Church
thropes have a particular hatred for the Church of the of the Silver Flame-but rather the task of encour
Silver Flame, thanks to the crusade that nearly exter aging people to live according to the highest ideals
minated their kind over a century ago. Shifters are of faith. Proficiency in skills such as Persuasion (or
uncomfortable with the templars for the same reason. sometimes Intimidation) and Religion can be useful
The Order of the Emerald Claw. Tied as it is to the for this character. Many clerics fill this role, but devout
Blood of Vol and the worship of the undead, the Order bards can also be effective Teachers. Some Teachers
of the Emerald Claw opposes the Church of the Silver bring skills from the entertainer background into the
Flame and its agents in the world. service of their faith.
HIERARCHY
Some religious orders are viewed with suspicion by the
priestly hierarchies of their faiths; others are viewed
as champions who act as the gods' hands in the world.
Within a religious order, some members are highly
respected while others are seen as dangerous for one
reason or another. What is your relationship to the hier
archy you're a part of? Is your entire order held in par
ticularly high or low esteem? Or does your adventuring
party stand out from the larger order for some reason?
Is your behavior in line with the expectations of your
religion, or is it unorthodox in some way? Reference the
Order Reputation table to determine how you're viewed
by your larger religious institution.
O R D E R R E PUTAT I O N
d 6 Reputation
Faithful Few. You are seen as righteous crusaders, up
holding the h ighest i deals of your faith and doing the
gods' work i n the world. Your deeds and methods are
rarely, if ever, questioned.
2 Respectable. You r behavior and beliefs are in line with
the hierarchy's expectations. As long as you stay in
l ine, no one gives you trouble.
3 Troublemakers. You attract unwanted attention to your
order or h ierarchy from outside, so you are under a
great deal of pressure to keep a low profile.
4 Rebels. You flout the dictates of your hierarchy-even
if it's for just reasons. Your superiors constantly try to
rei n you in.
lM �AN l
other groups might sponsor your party, such as the fol
lowing organizations:
The Deathguard. This elite order of elven priests
CRISIS OF. FAITH ! gical councils that serve a mostly administrative role
for the priests of the Sovereign Host, the Devout man
age a large portion of the city of Sham.
The Templars of the Silver Flame are supposed to repre The Gatekeepers. This ancient druid sect seeks to de
sent the Church and the nation in pursuit of the highest fend nature against aberrations, fiends, and undead.
ideals of the faith, as they crusade against the forces of
evil across Khorvaire. But are they fulfilling that high UN IVERSITY
calling? Or are they just as mired in politics as the Brelish
bureaucracy? An institution of higher education sponsors your group.
High Cardinal Baerdren ir'Davik, who also holds the You might be researchers, bodyguards for scholars, or
rank of grand master of the templars, appears to be an glorified treasure hunters searching for ancient arti
exemplary templar, utterly dedicated to the mission of facts. The university might regularly employ you or you
the order. Yet it is widely known that he chafes at the might have a contact at the university who pays you any
political and bureaucratic responsibilities that his posi time you bring back something useful from your adven
tion on the Council of Cardinals demands of him. This
tures. You could be a team of academics, or you could be
reporter has learned that Sir Baerdren would readily
employed to provide some (physical and magical) mus
surrender his position, were it not for his distrust of his
cle that the university otherwise lacks.
seneschal, Ofejjaia of Korth.
Lady Ofejjaia, it seems, has other issues on her per
sonal agenda besides advancing the cause of the knights
MORGRAVE UNIVERSITY
templar, and one wonders if those issues are tied to her At the heart of Sham's Morgrave University is a sharp
Karrnathi origin. Though her wisdom and sound judg dichotomy: On the one hand, it is known as a nexus for
ment are not in dispute, it seems that Sir Baerdren fears scholars wishing to study Xen'drik, thanks in large part
that she would drive the order into obsolescence or even to Sham's proximity to the secret continent. Its col
banishment if she were in charge. lections of artifacts and scholarly works about ancient
Does Lady Ofejjaia hold her lofty position because of Xen'drik and the Dhakaan Empire are unparalleled.
her loyalty, her piety, and her qualifications? Or is she In many ways, it lives up to the shining vision of its
there simply so that Sir Baerdren can keep his eye on
founder, Lord Lareth ir'Morgrave, to be "a beacon of
her and ensure that she doesn't sabotage the templars
knowledge shining from the tallest towers of the city."
from within?
On the other hand, the university's reputation is
tainted by allegations of smuggling, treasure hunting,
and profiteering. Many priceless relics recovered from
O R D E R CO NTACT
Xen'drik or Dhakaani ruins have disappeared from the
d8 Contact university vaults and found their way to the black market
A cloistered priest with little worldly experience who or into the hands of the Aurum. It's an open secret that
doesn't really understand what you do but seem s to some scholars, professors, and even students at the
approve of it anyway university have ties to smugglers and thieves. All these
2 A cynical priest who thinks nothing you do makes any allegations, too, have ties to the university's founding:
difference i n the grand scheme of thi ngs Lord Morgrave himself is said to have made his fortune
selling Dhakaani artifacts on the black market, and
3 A zealous priest who is constantly u rging you to do
some have claimed that the true purpose of the uni
more a n d do it better
versity was to help him build his fortune through such
4 An am bitious priest who views you as a ticket to ad questionable means.
vancement i n the h ierarchy Allies. The academic world is relatively small, and
5 A retired adventurer who would rather do you r work people at any one university tend to have connections
than d i rect you i n it at others. You might parlay such relationships into as
6 A pious priest who sees the hands of the d ivine in ev sistance from academies and institutions, such as the
ery event, even the actions of unbelievers following organizations:
7 A devout lay person who envies the magic and power Flamewind. The sphinx Flamewind (described in the
your group wields "Immortal Being" section) isn't officially affiliated
8 A practical fu nctionary who tries to keep you r work iso with the university, but she lives there and spends
lated from the knowledge and i n fl u e nce of the priests much of her time in its libraries and museums. As a
scholar of the Draconic Prophecy, Flamewind often
poses strange questions and sends adventurers on
obscure missions.
SCHOLARLY MISSIONS
Decide as a group, in consultation with your DM, what
kind of work your group does for the university. Consult
the Scholarly Missions table to determine what sort of
adventures you undertake.
SC H O LA R LY M I S S I O N S
d6 Mission
Adventurous Archeology. Your focus i s on fi n d i n g an
cient artifacts and bringing back what you can.
2 Arcane Research. You r team focuses on acq u i r i n g
magical knowledge that can only be fou nd outside
the u niversity walls.
3 Investigative Ecology. None can say how many a maz
ing creatures make their homes in the world's wildest
reaches, but you're dedicated to finding out.
4 Historical Research. You r team 's work involves learn
ing more about Eberron's long h i story.
5 Radical Engineering. The birth of a new race was n 't
the peak of magical and mechanical engi neering, it
was just the begi n n i ng of new scientific fields you
now explore.
6 Exploration. Khorvaire is a vast continent, a n d areas
beyond the heartland of the Five N ations are poorly
charted. Your focus is on u nderstanding the wilder
places of the world, as wel l as d i stant cultures.
SCHOLARLY STANDING
Academics live and die by their reputation. Some stand
as embodiments of their fields of expertise, others
might be considered con artists who stigmatize whole
academic fields. Roll on or choose an option from the
Scholarly Standing table to determine what other peo
ple think about your research.
MoRGRAvE
U N IV E R S I T Y
SCH O L A R LY STA N D I N G
THE --
d6 Standing
SM��w � WQU �S�l�\f(
--
2
ceived with acclaim.
Respected. You r work is considered noteworthy, PRO FITS TRU M P
PRO M ISES AT
though not revolutionary. Scholars in you r field fol low
you r writing and efforts with interest.
3 Anonymous. Try as you m i ght, you can't earn positive
or n egative attention. Even worse, after you've p u b
l ished you r fi n d i ngs, more prom i nent scholars have B LACK MARKET
U N IVE RSITY
made similar statements to much acclaim.
4 Misguided. Your theories chal lenge scholarly consen
sus and are d iscounted. A p romi nent scholar argues
against you r conclusions, and their voice carries the In response to last week's exclusive report detailing a
day ... for now. scheme to remove precious antiquities from storage at
5 Fringe. You work on the edges of your field, advocat· Morgrave University and sell them on the black market,
Master Larrian ir'Morgrave has issued a statement full of
i n g bizarre theories that chal lenge scholarly consen
the usual platitudes and empty promises we have grown
sus and seem patently outrageous, even scandalous. accustomed to hearing from the Office of the University
6 Fraud. For right or wrong, many in the academic com Master. In it, ir'Morgrave vows to put an end to the crim
m u n ity believe you have invented at least some of inal activities occurring within the university and bolster
you r " fi ndings" to earn attention. the school's academic reputation. As regular readers of
this paper know, he makes such promises frequently, but
we have yet to see him take any substantive action to
UNIVERSITY CONTACTS back up his promises.
With a university as your patron, you are part of a
sprawling bureaucracy-maybe deep in the tangles of it
or, more likely, lingering at the edges. Wherever you sit OTHER UNIVERSITIES
in the network of colleges, administrators, and faculty, Numerous universities exist across Khorvaire. Mor
a single person serves as your primary point of contact, grave University is the one most often connected to ad
someone who has a significant impact on the nature of venturous exploits, but the following institutes number
your relationship with the university. Reference the Uni among Khorvaire's other prominent academic bodies:
versity Contact table to help determine who manages
Arcanix. Housed in elegant towers that float above
the relationship between you and the university.
southern Aundair, Arcanix is a place of arcane learn
U N I V E R S ITY CO NTACT ing, where the next generation of spellcasters studies
the intricacies of magic. The mentors at Arcanix com
d8 Contact prise the Arcane Congress, a council of spellcasters
An overworked department head who does n 't q u ite who explore the limits of the arcane arts under a man
know what to make of you but gives you work to keep date instituted by King Galifar I .
you busy Rekkenmark. The Military Academy o f Rekkenmark
2 A career bureaucrat who i n s i sts you file paperwork i n has trained Galifar officers for hundreds of years and
m u ltiple offices i n order t o get anyth ing done continues to excel as the premier combat training
3 A j u n ior professor who might be more interested i n facility in all of Khorvaire. Nobles from every nation
used to send their children to Rekkenmark for at least
s e l l i n g plundered artifacts t h a n in actual research
part of their education, but the Last War put an end to
4 A department secretary who thinks you're a great deal
that practice. Now that the war is over, the academy
more interesting than any of the regular facu lty hopes to welcome students from other nations once
5 An erudite dean who believes you have tremendous again, but so far only a handful of students from out
potential and u rges you on to greater endeavors side Galifar have come to Rekkenmark.
6 An energetic l i b rarian or museum curator who ad Library of Korranberg. Zilargo's Library of Korran
d resses every q uestion, assignment, or acq u isition berg is the greatest repository of general knowledge
with d i sproportionate enth usiasm in Khorvaire. More than just a library, it hosts eight
7 A tired senior professor whose only joy i n academia is
attached colleges dedicated to different fields of study,
drawing gentry from across Khorvaire who come to
seei ng what you bring back from you r adventures
study there. In addition to serving as a resource for
8 An eager researcher who wants to come with you on
scholars and explorers, the library often funds expedi
every adventure because second-hand reports are al tions to study ancient cultures or unexplored lands.
ways i ncomplete and u nsatisfying
I NT E R E STING TH INGS
NATION S OF ABOUT AUNDA I R
KHORVAIRE • Arcanix is the most prestigious academy of magic in
The following sections focus on what you need to know Khorvaire. Most of its sages specialize in ritual magic
to create characters and NPCs from Khorvaire. For and abstract theory, and don't have the full powers
general information about the Kingdom of Galifar, the of wizards.
Five Nations that arose from the kingdom's ashes, and • Magic permeates many aspects of Aundairian life
the Treaty of Thronehold that helps keeps the peace more so than other nations. A cleansing stone (see
between the nations of Khorvaire, see the introduction chapter 5) graces every village, and you might encoun
of this book. ter animated farming equipment in the fields. The
An excellent system of roads connects the central na Knights Arcane are an elite unit of eldritch knights,
tions of Khorvaire, and travelers can always make their and the spies of the Royal Eyes of Aundair specialize
way by horse or coach. Major cities are linked by the in divination magic.
lightning rail of House Orien, which allows one to avoid • Some Aundairian nobles are bound by arcane pacts
the perils-and tedium-of the roads. If speed is an is handed down through generations. Only remarkable
sue, one can book passage on a House Lyrandar airship. heirs-such as player characters-develop into war
This is the fastest way to travel, but also the most ex locks. Most such lines have an Archfey patron.
pensive. This book's introduction has more information
about these and other travel options. AUNDA I R I A N C HA RACTERS �������
ARCANIX?
ABOUT BRELAND
Sham is the largest city i n Khorvaire. Almost a nation
in its own right, the City of Towers is a hub for com
Before the war, the Arcane Congress served all Galifar. merce and intrigue. Chapter 3 provides more informa
The most promising students from across Khorvaire tion on Sham.
came to study at Arcanix, and students from Khorvaire, • The Boromar Clan is the oldest and most powerful
Cyre, and Aundair worked together to win honor in the criminal organization in Breland. The Boromar
Trials of the Ninefold Path. Known to students simply halfling leadership maintains ties to the Talenta
as the Nine, this contest pits students of the eight tra Plains. Other notable criminal organizations include
ditions against one another in a series of arcane chal the monsters of Daask and House Tarkanan, an
lenges, along with a ninth bracket for those who have
alliance of assassins and thieves with aberrant drag
yet to select a tradition. Teamwork, independence, mem
orization, innovation-the Nine challenges competitors onmarks (see chapter 4 for more about these crime
on many levels, and the finest wizards of Galifar were syndicates).
invariably champions of the Nine. Breland's major cities are highly cosmopolitan. Due
Thanks to the Treaty of Thronehold, students of all na to its proximity to Droaam, Breland's cities include
tions once again study side by side in the towers of Arca more monsters-ogres, ores, goblins, and even sa
nix. But no treaty or ritual can easily dispel the tensions huagin, harpies, and gargoyles-than elsewhere in the
of a century ofwar. Over the last year we've reported on Five Nations.
a number of hate crimes in the towers fueled by national
ist passions. Optimistic teachers hope that the Nine will BRELISH C HARACTERS
showcase the diversity that has evolved over the course
of the past century-highlighting Karrnathi advances in A s you develop a Brelish character o r NPC, consider the
necromancy and evocation, Cyran illusions, and more. following qualities:
But privately, professors fear that the competitive aspect
Slightly Shady. Many Brelish have a loose relationship
of the Nine will inflame nationalist tension. Some even
believe that the lives of foreign students could be endan with the law. Even if you're a hero, you might have
gered should they defeat Aundairian champions. questionable connections or friends in low places.
Only time will tell if the Nine can bring us together as Backgrounds such as criminal, spy, or charlatan can
it once did, or if it will drive us further apart. reflect this tendency, regardless of your class. You
could also be a folk hero who challenges the laws to
protect the innocent, or an entertainer who plays in
every dive in Sham.
Innovative and Independent. Find your own path in the
world; don't simply follow established traditions. As
SM/4�� � �Q� � S �l�V� Previous Hallmarks: Art, artifice, jewelry, music, ora-
tory, philosophy
Current Hallmarks: Destruction, ruins
WINTE R PALACE Destroyed at the end of the Last War, Cyre now exists
only in the hearts of the refugees scattered across
UND E R S I EG E
Khorvaire.
Before the war, Cyre was the seat of the kings and
queens of Galifar. The wealth of the kingdom flowed
through Cyre, and it was a nexus for commerce and
Although untouched by a century of war, the Winter
culture. By tradition, Cyre's Princess Mishann had the
Palace suffered an attack from an unexpected quarter: the
rightful claim to the throne of Galifar. Cyrans take pride
people of Breland. The so-called Swords of Liberty have
taken credit for a daring raid that left the east wing of the that they alone were in the right in the Last War, but
palace in flames. No members of the Brelish royal family they unquestionably lost more to the war than any other
were in attendance during the attack. nation. As a Cyran, you stand on the moral high ground,
The Swords of Liberty call for the violent overthrow but that may offer little comfort.
of the Wynarn monarchy, demanding that all power be Cyrans like to say that their culture represented the
invested in the Brelish parliament. Their manifesto draws best that Galifar had to offer, which is to say a little bit of
on the speeches of Lord Ruken ir'Clarn, but Lord Ruken everything. Cyrans value diversity and versatility, both
has condemned their action. "No victory is possible when in talents and thought. Cyre couldn't match Karrnath in
Brelish fight Brelish," he said in Wroat. "But I hope King
martial discipline or Aundair in the arcane arts, but the
Boranel can see that the time for change is upon us and
flexibility of its forces reflected the nation's ideals.
help us navigate a peaceful transition of power before any
more innocents are hurt." Although the Sovereign Host was the dominant faith
of Cyre, the Silver Flame had a significant following.
Many survivors question their faith in the wake of the
pearances. The King's Dark Lanterns are ever vigilant Mourning, but some believe that their anguish at the
here, and newcomers who aim to misbehave tend to dis loss of their homeland is a divine trial, prompting them
appear quickly and without so much as a whisper. to cling to their faith more than ever.
Queen Dannel ir'Wynarn was in Metro! on the Day
AFTERMATH OF THE LAST WAR of Mourning and is presumed dead. Her son, Prince
Oargev ir'Wynarn, holds court in New Cyre, a massive
For Breland, the Last War was an ever-shifting tangle
refugee camp set up in Breland. Some refugees support
of enemies and alliances. Breland fought Aundair, Cyre,
Oargev and the dream of a restored Cyre, while others
Karrnath, and Thrane at various points of the war, as
prefer to focus on the future instead of trying to reclaim
well as clashing with Darguun and Droaam. These con
the past. As a Cyran, you should decide whether you
flicts caused many Brelish to embrace a cynical view of
hold tight to your national identity, or instead consider
the world, a sense that no one can be fully trusted and
yourself to be an expatriate without a nation.
that people need to look out for themselves. As a Brelish
character, you could have an axe to grind against any I NTERESTING THINGS ABOUT CYRE
of the other nations. This is balanced against a strong
belief in humanoid rights and dignity, convictions that (THE MOURNLAND)
------
motivated the Brelish to shelter more Cyran refugees • Cyre was the ancestral seat of the dragonmarked
than any other nation. House Cannith, the house of Making. The house main
The major cities of Breland host significant popula tained arcane workshops across Cyre. Who knows
tions of refugees, both Cyrans and Brelish from villages what treasures wait in Cannith vaults for those who
lost in the war. This has increased the overall level of brave the dangers of the Mournland?
poverty and desperation and contributed to an increase • While not as flamboyant as Aundairians, Cyran
in crime. The southern cities-including Wroat and fashions involved bright colors and glamerweave
Sham-suffered relatively little damage in the war, but (see chapter 5). Some Cyrans have made a point of
northern Breland was hard hit. The city of Vathirond continuing this custom. Others wear clothing cut in
is still repairing the damage from Thrane attacks, and the Cyran style, but entirely in black; this has become
many northern villages are either recovering or have known as Mourning wear.
simply been abandoned. • Stories say communities of warforged live in the
Despite these struggles, the Brelish maintain a pos Mournland, including the insurgent called the Lord
itive view of their future. The heart of Breland is as of Blades.
strong as it ever was, and the citizens believe that had
the war continued, Breland would have triumphed. CYRAN C HARACTERS
When creating a character from Cyre, consider the fol
lowing questions:
E STON DARGUUN
Once the seat of House Cannith, this was a place of Capital: Rhukaan Draa!
wonders-a city where "magic comes to life." Marvels Hallmarks: Dungeons, goblinoid mercenaries, ruins
of the city included the Clockwork Menagerie, showcas
ing the golems and homunculi made by generations of Goblins and their kin have always been part of Khor
artificers; production facilities that housed three cre vaire. Their ancient empire spread across the lands now
ation forges (see chapter 5), and the miraculous Steel held by other nations, and goblin foundations still stand
Gardens, an early breakthrough that paved the way for underneath many human cities. This empire collapsed
the living warforged. If you're an artificer or have ties to into savagery, and when humans arrived from Sarlona,
House Cannith, you might have roots in Eston. they drove the goblins from their ancestral lands. Thus,
goblins have long been a disenfranchised people, liv-
METROL ing in the shadows of newer nations or in wild lands
Once the capital of Galifar, Metro! was known as the shunned by humans.
Rising City, for many of its buildings stood atop soar The land now called Darguun was once part of Cyre.
ing columns of rock that dared to scrape the heavens. The hobgoblin clans known as the Ghaal'dar were based
The Cathedral of the Sovereign Host was the center in the Seawall Mountains, but during the war, the de
for followers of that faith. The Vault served as the mint mand for mercenaries drew an ever-increasing number
and treasury of Galifar, containing cultural treasures of goblins out of the mountains to fight for Cyre and Bre
deemed too valuable to be displayed; salvagers dream land. Late in the war, a brilliant hobgoblin named Lhesh
of finding this "golden palace." Floating gardens orbited Haruuc Sharaat'kor recognized that the goblins had be
the towering Royal Vermishard. Now lost, the beauty of come the dominant military power in the region. Uniting
Metro! lives only in Cyran memory. the Ghaal'dar under his banner, Haruuc seized the terri
tory he was supposed to protect. The Five Nations were
SEASIDE unprepared, and Breland quickly negotiated an alliance
A coastal town in southern Cyre, Seaside was a pop with Haruuc to secure the border. Cyre fought the gob
ular vacation spot even during the war. While not as lins until the Day of Mourning, but the majority of dele
celebrated a destination as Stormhome in Aundair, gates involved in forging the Treaty of Thronehold chose
the memory of Seaside has become an iconic image of to recognize the new nation of Darguun to ensure peace.
peace and tranquility for the people of Cyre. Darguun is a young and volatile nation, ruled by Lhesh
Haruuc Sharaat'kor. Haruuc remains a brilliant strat
AFTERMATH OF THE LAST WAR egist and tactician, but many wonder whether he can
No nation won the Last War, but Cyre unquestionably maintain the web of alliances that hold the Ghaal'dar to
lost it. Other nations are recovering from the conflict, gether, and whether he and his people will be content to
DHAKAANI RUINS I N T H E
SEAWALL M OUNTA I N S
\
./
CARRION TRIBES
The Carrion Tribes descend from explorers and refu
gees twisted by the evil in this realm. Explorers usually
encounter these savage folk as enemies, but occasion
ally a hero emerges from the shadows. When creating
a character from the Carrion Tribes, consider the
following:
Sworn to an Overlord. Your tribe is devoted to an arch
fiend. This can serve as the roots of a warlock's pact
or the inspiration for a barbarian's rage. Are you still
loyal to your dark lord, or did you break free from its
influence? Either way, work with the DM to develop
the details of your overlord.
Child of a Savage Land. You were born into a lawless
realm where violence was the only constant. How
have you adapted to life on the other side of the Laby
rinth? Are you superstitious, refusing to adapt to this
new world, or are you doing your best to learn the
ways of this strange realm?
Why Did You Leave? You began your life as a servant
of darkness. Have you embraced the light? Are you
fighting the servants of your former master? Or are
you a pawn in a conflict between overlords? You might
serve an evil force, but the cultists you fight serve even
darker powers.
ASHTAKALA
Legends say that a single city of fiends remains intact.
Stories describe Ashtakala as a city of basalt and brass,
filled with rakshasas and demons. If it exists, it is
shielded by powerful wards. Who knows what ancient
artifacts and treasures it might contain?
BLOOD C RESCENT
House Tharashk established this tiny port at the end
of the Last War. The house hopes to gain access to the
dragonshard deposits buried in the Wastes. To date, it
has survived the Carrion Tribes and the malefic horrors
of the Wastes, but few believe it will last.
DESOLATE
Known at various times as Greenholt, Newholt, or
Kymar's Folly, this outpost has served as an Aundair
ian settlement, a Thrane hermitage, and an outpost
of House Lyrandar. It's fallen three times, and no one
knows exactly how. Each time, its inhabitants have
vanished in a single night, leaving all their possessions
behind. Today it's known as Desolate, and it awaits the
next band of settlers willing to stake their claim.
DROAAM What Are Your Ambitions? Citizens of Droaam are
proud of their nation. You know that the rest of Khor
Capital: The Great Crag vaire considers you a monster. Do you intend to prove
Hallmarks: Byeshk ore, monstrous mercenaries that you and your kind are capable of deeds humanity
Droaam is a nation of monsters ruled by the Daughters can't imagine? Or are you driven solely by your per
of Sora Kell. Each of these three hags is a legend in her sonal desires, or the goals of your family or warlord?
own right, the subjects of tales used to frighten children. How Does Your Background Shape You? The diverse
Eleven years ago, they seized the lands west of the Gray creatures of Droaam could include a kobold city-savvy
wall Mountains and founded the nation of Droaam. rogue urchin, an ore outlander barbarian with little
Although Breland laid claim to these barren lands, knowledge of the outside world, or a tiefling warlock
Galifar had never tamed this wild region. Gnolls, ores, sage versed in Arcana and History.
and goblins commonly sought haven here, as well as
ogres, trolls, harpies, minotaurs, medusas, tieflings, CITIES AND SITES
changelings, lycanthropes, and other races unwelcome I n the past, particular creatures dominated the commu
in civilized lands. In the past, these creatures fought one nities of Droaam. The harpy flights lived in mountain
another more often than they raided human settlements. peaks, while the medusas remained isolated in the cita
Under the leadership of the Daughters of Sora Kell, they del of Cazhaak Draa!. Under the rule of the Daughters of
have new purpose. The Daughters use an army of ogres Sora Kell, the Droaamites are creating cities where all
and war trolls to maintain order. manner of creatures live and work together.
To date, the other nations of Khorvaire have refused
to recognize Droaam, and the region was not acknowl GRAYWALL
edged in the Treaty of Thronehold. Most people believe Known as the Gateway to Droaam, this city sits on the
that the monstrous nation can't last-that even the border to Breland. Though dominated by monsters
Daughters can't hold the disparate alliance together and ruled by a mind flayer, Graywall is both a center
but Droaam is currently thriving and stronger than ever. for trade and a haven for deserters and fugitives. The
Droaam works closely with House Tharashk, selling dragonmarked houses maintain outposts in Graywall,
the services of monstrous soldiers and laborers and and House Tharashk governs the Calabas, the foreign
byeshk ore, a form of metal with magical properties. quarter inhabited by humans and other people from
Beyond that, it's a still-expanding frontier nation. The elsewhere in Khorvaire.
cities of Graywall and Great Crag grow larger and more
organized every day, and the rest of Khorvaire is uneasy THE GREAT CRAG
with the potential power of a fully realized Droaam. Built atop ancient goblin ruins, the Crag is the seat of
The monsters that inhabit Droaam retain their racial the Daughters of Sora Kell. Few outsiders have seen
subcultures. Most worship the Dark Six, but other reli this thriving city of monsters. Of the dragonmarked
gious traditions flourish as well. houses, only House Tharashk has a presence in the city.
D ESCE NT I NTO
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THE
ELDEEN REAC HES
DROAAM: MY
• The Towering Wood is vast and untamed. The
Wardens of the Wood seek to protect travelers, but
swathes of forest remain entirely untouched by human
TRAI L TO TERROR or shifter. Such areas could hold giant beasts never
seen in the outside world, or relics from a previous
age-artifacts or ruins created by demons or the terri
We're all going to die. That thought echoed through my
fying daelkyr.
mind as the wagon carried us toward the Great Crag. • The fey have a strong presence in the Towering Wood.
The diplomats around me intended to speak with the Even outside the fey stronghold of the Twilight De
Daughters of Sora Kell. All I could think about was the mesne, manifest zones tied to Thelanis (see chapter 4)
stories my grandmother used to tell me. Sora Maenya can allow passage between worlds. The Eldeen Reaches
crush a giant with her bare hands. She can eat the whole creature are a logical origin for a character with ties to the fey.
and still be hungry. If you're bad, she'll come in the night and • Druidic magic is a vital tool in the Eldeen Reaches.
carry you away. She'll make a lantern of your skull and torment Residents use animal messengers to carry commu
you until the end of time. And she's the least frightening
nications between villages, and beasts perform vital
member of the Daughters of Sora Kell!
services. Goodberry wine takes the place of House
When I could set aside my sheer terror, I was learning
a great deal about this strange nation. The Daughters in Vadalis healing. Communities include awakened ani
vested power in warlords, each of whom rules a territory mals and plants as members.
in their name. It's sort of like Karmath, except each of
the warlords of Droaam is a horrifying monster. We were ELDEEN CHARACTERS
traveling through the territory of the Prince of Bones, When creating a n Eldeen character o r NPC, consider
an ancient troll said to be too evil to die. We'd already
the following:
passed through the domain of Queen Sheska the me
dusa, where even the trees are turning to stone. Harpies. Farm or Forest? Did you grow up on one of the farms of
Gargoyles. There's even a king of the kobolds. Our car the eastern Reaches, or did you spend your childhood
avan was being protected by gnolls. Not protected from in the Towering Wood? Are you comfortable in build
gnolls, protected by gnolls. I thought things couldn't get ings, or do you prefer the open air? As a child of the
any stranger. I couldn't have been more wrong . . . . forest, you might take the outlander background, or
perhaps you became a folk hero by defending farmers
from bandits and beasts.
ELDEEN REACHES Natural Magic. Druidic traditions play an important
Capital: Greenheart
role in Eldeen society. If you're a druid or ranger, are
Hallmarks: Agriculture, animal husbandry, you a stoic Warden of the Wood or a grim Child of
druidic magic Winter? Even if you're not a spellcaster, the Magic Ini
tiate feat can provide you with a few spells to reflect a
A stretch of fertile farmlands borders a vast, untamed basic initiation into the druidic mysteries.
forest. Farmers tend the fields, while tribes of shifters A Land with No Lords. The Reachers are fiercely inde
and circles of druids and rangers roam through the pendent. They broke with Aundair, and they bow to
woods. These are the Eldeen Reaches. no monarch. The folk of the Reaches value talent over
Druids and shifters dwelled in the Towering Wood titles. The Eldeen people respect the guidance of the
for thousands of years, but the eastern farmlands of the druids, but they all work together to solve their prob
Reaches were part of Aundair until the Last War. The lems; no one gives orders to a Reacher.
lords of Aundair focused their resources on the war ef
fort, ignoring banditry and other problems faced by the
farmers of the east. The Wardens of the Wood-largest
of the druid sects-came to the aid of these farmers.
Fifty years ago, the people of eastern Aundair seceded
and formed the Eldeen Reaches. The Treaty of Throne
hold recognized the Reaches as a nation, but its citizens
fear Aundair will try to reclaim the region.
Druidic magic is central to life in the Eldeen Reaches.
Its people seek to live in harmony with the natural
world, and each community has a druidic advisor
who helps with planning and planting. The Towering
Wood is also home to tribes of shifters, who maintain
PLANAR O B S E RVATORY I N
T H E ELDEEN REACHES
KARRNATH THE KORRANBERG
CM �ON �Cll
Capital: Korth
Hallmarks: Ale, dairy, glass, livestock, lumber, martial
discipline, paper, textiles, undead
In a nation of storms and long winters, the grim and
stoic Karrns are accustomed to enduring hardship with
out complaint.
IN TH E TH RALL
First and foremost, Karrnath is known for its military
tradition. Strength, strategy, and discipline are the core OF TH E
values of Karrnath. Karrnath's soldiers might be the
finest in Khorvaire, but they lack the magical support
of Aundair or Thrane, which evened the odds during VAM PI RE KING
the Last War. Nonetheless, Karrns are proud of their
martial history, and most are convinced that they would Kaius ir'Wynarn III emerged from the shadows like a
have eventually won the Last War. villain in one of Kessler's plays. His guardians kept him
Karrnath suffered a series of severe food shortages hidden during his youth while his aunt Moranna served
and plagues early in the Last War. As a result, the king as the regent of Karrnath. So it was a surprise to many
when he burst forth to claim his crown and his power,
embraced the Blood of Vol as the national religion. The
all the more so because of his uncanny resemblance
priests of this faith bolstered Karrnath's forces with un to Kaius I, the ruler who plunged Karrnath into the
dead. The current king, Kaius ir'Wynarn III, broke ties Last War and instituted the brutal system of laws that
with the Blood of Vol and has stopped creating new un bears his name.
dead, but Karrnath still has a significant number of skel Given the circumstances of Kaius Ill's ascension, it's
etons and zombies in service. Many Karrns still believe hardly surprising that the new king would face chal
in the Blood of Vol and approve of the use of undead, but lenges from the proud warlords of Karrnath. Some ques
just as many feel that this practice disgraces Karrnath's tioned his lineage and his ability to command. But the
proud military history and that the necromancers might most unusual challenge came from the warlord Drago
have been responsible for the famines and plagues. Thul: was Kaius III actually alive? Kaius I had elevated
the Blood of Vol in Karrnath and instituted the use of
undead as weapons of war. Drago Thul asserted that
INTERESTING THI NGS Kaius III was actually Kaius I, a vampiric monster "seek
ABOUT KARRNATH ing to drain the lifeblood of Karrnath itself." This was a
serious accusation; the undead have no rights under the
Rekkenmark Academy is the premier military insti Code of Galifar and cannot inherit titles or lands. Thul's
tute in Khorvaire; prior to the Last War, all of Galifar's challenge spread like wildfire, only to be crushed when
officers trained at Rekkenmark. Kaius III met the warlords under the midday sun and cut
The Sovereign Host has regained its place as the his palm to show his freely flowing blood.
dominant religion of Karrnath, but the Blood of Vol This should have been the end of it, but the tale of the
retains a strong following. Communities that practice Vampire King has proven surprisingly resilient. Some say
the faith still use skeletons and zombies as guards that the king developed special enchantments to avoid
or laborers. the effects of sunlight; others say that he has relies on
• The laws of Karrnath are harsher than those in other changeling impersonators to take his place in the day
light. As for Drago Thul, he refused to stand down when
treaty nations, approaching a state of martial law.
Kaius III pushed for peace and the Treaty of Thronehold.
He fled to the city of Stormreach in Xen'drik with a
KARRNATHI C HARACTERS small band of followers, and he continues to rally sup
Karrns are somber folk and disapprove o f extravagance port against "the monster that sits on our throne."
or excessive shows of emotion. As you develop a Karr
nathi character or NPC, consider the following:
undead? Are you a follower of the Blood of Vol who
Military Service. Karrns have a strong tradition of considers the undead to be a practical tool? Do you
military service, making soldier or sailor appropriate have a relative or friend currently serving? Or do you
backgrounds for any character. Criminals and char despise the Blood of Vol and the use of necromancy?
latans have a difficult time evading the harsh laws of
Karrnath. The Martial Adept feat can give a character CITIES AND SITES
a strong sense of military experience.
Martial Tradition. Karrnathi tradition emphasizes Sturdy walls surround Karrnathi communities, and
teamwork, focus, and force, and melee warriors even the smallest village maintains a capable militia.
prefer heavy armor and weapons. Fighters favor the ATUR
Champion and Battle Master martial archetypes, and
Known as the City of Night, Atur is the stronghold of the
Karrnathi wizards choose the School of Evocation or
Blood of Vol in Karrnath. During the war, this was the
Necromancy as their arcane tradition.
center for the production of undead, and massive cata
T he Dead. Undead soldiers have served in Karrnath's
combs below the city hold legions of Karrnath's undead
armies for decades. How do you feel about the
soldiers in case they are needed again.
line of Khorvaire and the many mist-shrouded islands Among the myriad ports and pirate redoubts of the
scattered across it. Recognized as a single allied nation Lhazaar Principalities are ancient ruins from forgotten
under the Treaty of Thronehold, the principalities are civilizations that predate even the Dhakaani Empire, as
more of a loose alliance. Each island domain has its well as tombs built by wealthy pirates and sea lords to
own values, goals, and feuds with other domains. house their treasures and earthly remains.
The Lhazaar are the finest sailors in Khorvaire. During Presented below are a handful of the most widely
the Last War, they served all nations as privateers and known-if hard to find-places in the principalities.
engaged in piracy on the side. When the war ended, they
returned to the merchant trade, but pirates still hunt on D READHOLD
the open seas. This island prison is said to be inescapable. Maintained
The Lhazaar value their independence. Here, anyone by House Kundarak, Dreadhold houses a host of infa
can rise to captain a ship or even seize a principality. mous criminals and political prisoners. Its vaults also
Leadership is earned, not given. Nevertheless, High hold some of the greatest treasures of House Kundarak.
Prince Ryger ir'Wynarn of Regalport seeks to forge the
principalities into a unified force. He has the finest fleet, PORT VERGE
and his efforts ensured that the principalities gained rec Port Verge is the royal port of the Direshark Princi
ognition at Thronehold, after which he awarded himself pality. Prince Kolberkon yearns to expand Verge and
the title of High Prince. So far, the other princes have overshadow Regalport, and he is always looking for
rejected his proposals for a stronger union. capable adventurers and allies. The Blood of Vol has a
Some principalities are devoted to the Blood of Vol strong presence in Port Verge, and Kolberkon recently
and a few favor the Sovereign Host. Beyond these, the allowed House Lyrandar to establish an enclave there.
Lhazaar show little enthusiasm for religion, though But Kolberkon's thirst for glory may lead him to fool
many curse the Devourer when a storm comes. ish bargains.
•
Hermit and outlander are natural backgrounds, but
you could be an acolyte or a sage who consults spirits
TH RANE
instead of books. Warriors and shamans both wear Capital: Flamekeep
masks to present a particular face to the spirit world. Hallmarks: Divine magic, fine crafts, fruit, livestock,
Dinosaurs. Talenta halflings have a close bond to their the Silver Flame, textiles, wool
dinosaur companions. If you don't begin the campaign The modern Church of the Silver Flame was founded in
with a dinosaur mount or companion, you might ac Thrane, and most of the people of the nation follow this
quire one over the course of your adventures. You can faith. During the Last War, the people of Thrane chose
also consider whether a fallen dinosaur is part of your to set aside the rule of the monarchy and to embrace
backstory; perhaps you lost your faithful mount in the the leadership of the church. For the last seventy years,
Last War, but you believe its spirit is still with you. Thrane has been a theocracy. The head of the state is
1 1-year-oldjaela Daran, the divinely selected Keeper of
CITIES AND SITES the Flame. ]aela depends on the Council of Cardinals to
The Talenta Plains have been described a s a n ocean of perform the practical work of running the nation.
grasslands. The nomadic halfiings have little interest The primary purpose of the Silver Flame is to defend
in building towns; most shelter in the Talenta Plains is the innocent from supernatural evil. The church has
temporary. Halfiings shun the ruins scattered across the always had a militant aspect, with battalions of templars
Plains, believing them to be haunted by fiends. and peasant militias prepared to face undead, lycan
thropes, or other monstrous threats. But compassion
GATHERHOLD and charity are core values of the church, and the tem
All the halfiing tribes come to Gatherhold to trade, hold plars are tasked to defend all innocents. Even during the
councils, and settle disputes. House Ghallanda main Last War, if a fiendish threat arose in a Brelish village,
tains the town, but Gatherhold belongs to the people, Thrane templars would ally with the locals to bring an
not the houses. Other dragonmarked houses offer their end to the threat. Not all Thranes rise to this ideal. Zeal
services here as well. The town is on the shore of Lake ous Thranes believe the church is destined to reunite
Cyre, and once people came by boat through Cyre; now Galifar under the Silver Flame, and corrupt priests are
the Mourning has cut off that passage. interested only in power and wealth.
Not all priests are clerics, and the typical templar is a
THE WANDERING INN mundane warrior. However, due to the deep faith of its
This caravan maintained by members of House Gha people, Thrane produces more clerics and paladins than
llanda is a traveling fair, providing entertainment and any other nation in Khorvaire.
shelter to any fortunate enough to cross its path. When
times are dark and travelers are weary, one can always
hope that the Wandering Inn is just beyond the horizon.
-- THE --
AFTERMATH OF THE LAST WAR
The halfling tribes joined together to defend themselves SM�� n 1 nQU I SlllW�
from outsiders, and the Talenta Plains were recognized
TAER VALAESTAS
High King Shaeras Vadallia maintains his seat in Taer
Valaestas. Located in the center of the kingdom, the
city is built for war and surrounded by a living wall of
bronzewood thorns. In addition to the royal palace,
outposts of most dragonmarked houses, and a market
where foreigners sell their wares, Taer Valaestas hosts
the primary temple of the Keepers of the Past and a vast
arena used for horse training, races, and other displays
of equestrian skill.
ZILARGO
Capital: Trolanport
Hallmarks: Alchemy, education, elemental binding,
entertainment, gnomes, precious stones
At first glance, the homeland of the gnomes appears
to be a paradise. City streets are bright and clean, the
universities and libraries are the finest in Khorvaire,
everyone seems happy and helpful, and crime is all but
unheard of. But Zil society teems with layers of intrigue
and blackmail invisible to human eyes. The Trust,
a ruthless secret police force, eliminates any threat
to society.
Zilargo isn't a tyranny. Each major city has a demo
cratically elected ruling council and a seat on the Tri
umvirate that governs the nation; the Trust reports to
the Triumvirate. The Zil gnomes built this system, and
they are quite happy with it. Their streets are safe, and
as long as you play by the rules of the game, the Trust
ignores you. Outsiders find this casual acceptance of
preemptive assassination to be terrifying, but the Zil
genuinely trust the Trust.
Zil gnomes live within a web of intrigues. The Trust agent, the agency recruits characters of every class
condones their actions, as long as they break no laws and background. Your class abilities reflect special
and don't threaten the state or the status quo. A gnome ized training and granted abilities-the magical equiv
charlatan can connive to steal a jewel mine from an alent of spy gadgets!
other gnome-as long as the charlatan accomplishes the
deed through cunning, negotiation, or deception rather C ITIES AND SITES
than violence or outright theft, and as long as the mine The gnomes o f Zilargo place a high value o n appear
stays in Zil hands. The same applies to adventurers ances. They design beauty into their architecture,
planning schemes in Zilargo. Violence draws attention featuring delicate carvings, elaborate railings and bal
and deadly consequences from the Trust, but intrigue is conies, and lavish gardens. Every community contains
perfectly acceptable. murals and statues scattered throughout. Most fixtures
The Trust is a network of spies and assassins. Most and buildings are designed for those of small stature,
agents of the Trust simply pass information through but buildings constructed for taller folk also exist. The
dead drops; some estimate that a third of the nation Zil have a talent for illusion and for binding elementals,
works for the Trust in this capacity. When the Trust and they incorporate both of these forms of magic into
identifies a threat, it acts preemptively. Trust agents everyday life.
prefer to solve a problem without violence-by sharing a
piece of information or a whispered warning sent via a KORRANBERG
mes sage spell. But the Trust won't hesitate to eliminate Nestled against the base of the Seawall Mountains, Kor
a threat, whether with poison, spell, or blade. Typically, ranberg is the oldest city in Zilargo. Many aristocrats of
a target never sees the agent of their demise. other nations come to study in the famous library and
the gnome colleges of Korranberg. The ancestral cita
INTERESTING THINGS del of House Sivis is located here, as well as a host of
ABOUT ZILARGO ----
temples including the Codex Vault, Khorvaire's largest
shrine to Aureon.
• Most consider the Library of Korranberg the finest
repository of knowledge in Khorvaire. ThURIMBAR
The Korranberg Chronicle is the leading source of This port city draws musicians and artists from across
news in Khorvaire. Gnome chroniclers travel across Khorvaire. It addition to its legendary clubs and schools
Khorvaire in search of stories. of music, Thurimbar is on the cutting edge of arcane
• The major cities of Zilargo maintain temples and sound-the use of illusion magic to generate music. En
shrines dedicated to every religion. Most Zil explore a tertainers flock to Thurimbar to share their music and
few faiths before settling on one; others practice mul immerse themselves in its rich musical culture.
tiple religions.
TR.OLAN PORT
ZIL CHARACTERS With its crisscrossing canals and flooded streets, the
A s you develop a Zil character, consider the follow capital of Zilargo serves as the center of the gnome ship
ing factors: building industry and a nexus for trade. Scores of ships
make port here daily. Among the many beautiful things
Family Ties. In a nation shaped by intrigue, you need
the city is known for are its spectacular coastal thun
someone you can rely on. For the Zil, that's family.
derstorms. Crowds gather on balconies and verandas to
Unless you're an orphan, discuss your family with
watch these awesome displays.
your DM. What's their business? Who's your favorite
The Tower of the Triumvirate rises over the central
relative? Are you currently involved in any family
portion of the city. House Kundarak, House Sivis, and
schemes? Family members might call on you for help
House Cannith maintain outposts in the city, and the
over the course of your adventurers, but they can also
other dragonmarked houses station agents here as well.
be a resource for you.
Knowledge and Power. The Zil prize knowledge above ZOLANBERG
all else. Sage is a suitable background for any Zil; Hidden high in the Seawall Mountains, Zolanberg lies
charlatan and spy are also appropriate, reflecting at the heart of a network of jewel mines. These mines
their love of intrigue. Classes that specialize in melee face attacks by kobolds living in the mountains, as well
combat are rare among the Zil. The soldiers of Zilargo as goblin raiders from Darguun. Gnomes and dwarves
include rogues, bards, wizards, and artificers. inhabit the city. House Kundarak maintains a great vault
T he Trust. In creating a Zil character, consider whether here while House Tharashk has completed construction
you have any ties to the Trust. A vast number of of a large hall for the Prospectors Guild.
gnomes serve as the eyes and ears of the Trust, re
porting interesting information to a Trust handler. AFTERMATH OF THE LAST WAR
As an active agent, you could receive missions tied to
your current adventures. If you and your companions Walking the streets of Korranberg, one might never
are fighting the Emerald Claw, you might have a sec know that the war occurred. Zilargo avoided most of
ondary assignment to eliminate a specific Claw agent the violence of the Last War, and cosmetic magic and
or acquire a particular object from their base. While illusions were employed to repair the few cities that
the spy background is a logical choice for a Trust suffered damage. Many Zil prefer to ignore the war
D I STANT LAN D S Endless Night, but that planar resonance also enables
the elves to perform feats of necromancy unmatched
This section of the gazetteer provides a glimpse of the elsewhere in Eberron. Among the Aereni elves, the
wonder and adventure found in the lands beyond Khor honored dead walk among the living. Heroes who died
vaire's horizon. Use these entries to inspire adventures in glorious battle return to serve the Sibling Kings. And
that take place in these distant lands, and to introduce in the depths of Shae Mordai, the deathless lords of the
trinkets or relics from foreign realms into Khorvaire. Undying Court study the shifting balance of the planes
and the path of the Draconic Prophecy.
M11P 2 . 2 : l s L ll N D S OF A E R E N ll L
Necromancy is a pillar of Aereni society, distinct from marked houses have outposts here, and it includes vast
the sinister power most adventurers encounter. Positive markets, warehouses, and lumber yards.
energy sustains the deathless undead of Aerenal-both
the light of Irian and the devotion freely given by their SHAE CAIRDAL
descendants. The elves of Aerenal despise necromancy This city is the capital of Aerenal, the seat of the Sibling
that draws on the negative energy of Ma bar, and agents Kings, and the center for commerce and diplomacy be
of the Undying Court embrace their mandate to seek out tween the elven families, who otherwise remain isolated
and destroy vampires, liches, and other such undead. in their .own city-states. Foreigners are encouraged to
Aereni civilization is over twenty thousand years old. conduct business in Pylas Talaear.
Secure in their island sanctuary, the elves watched na
tions of goblins and humans rise and fall. The Aereni SHAE MORDA!
possess secrets and powers the rest of Khorvaire has This ancient citadel houses the Undying Court, the
yet to discover, but they are more interested in perfect deathless ancestors who shape the destiny of Aerenal. It
ing their ancient traditions than in innovation and dis is built atop a rift to the Plane of Irian and suffused with
covery. An Aereni wizard might spend a decade refining positive energy. Almost no commerce takes place here.
the pronunciation of a single spell's incantation. For This center for arcane study also serves as a memorial
now, humanity can't match the power of the elves. If that to all the heroes of the elves, both the deathless and
balance changes, will Aerenal take action? those lost in the distant past. The Citadel of the Court
is said to be far larger than it appears and to hold the
NOTABLE LOCATIONS greatest treasures of the elves.
Aerenal taunts visitors with its ancient secrets and THE NORTH
trackless jungles. The northern steppes of Aerenal are the domain of
the Tairnadal, the warrior elves who seized control of
PYLAS TALAEAR Valenar. Although much of their population now resides
The gateway to Aerenal, this port city is the primary in Valenar, many Tairnadal noncombatants-children,
point of contact between Aerenal and the outside world. artisans, and the druids who raise their remarkable
In this city driven by commerce, almost all the dragon-
beasts-remain in Aerenal.
SM/4�� � �Q� �S �l�W( Court could wear a suit of elaborated engraved bronze
wood plate armor. Bronzewood leaves are remarkably
tough, and the Aereni craft "leaf weave" armor function
NIG HTLI FE OF TH E
ally equivalent to leather, studded leather, or chain mail.
Bronzewood can also be crafted into weapons, and Aer
eni warriors use spears or swords made from a single
TRI N K ETS F R O M A E R E N A L
The port city of Pylas Talaear is a place of wonders. Stand d8 Trinket
on the steps of the Grand Temple and look down upon A bronzewood ring inscri bed with the E lvish word for
the High Street and you'll see fountains of light cast- " hope"
ing shadows across buildings that have stood for over
2 A dried flower; if it's placed in water, it blooms
ten thousand years. Brilliant motes dance through the
air-spectral messengers carrying words across the city. 3 An ebony locket; when it's opened, an elven voice
But the most remarkable feature of Pylas Talaear is the whispers "Always"
dead. If you know anything about Aerenal, you've surely 4 A tiny skull carved from dark wood
heard of the Undying Court, the deathless cabinet that
5 A finger bone i nscribed with an u nknown sigil
guides the nation. Only the grandest members of society
win elevation to the Undying Court, but there are many 6 An ivory fl ute which produces no sound
forms of preservation. Go to the Dalaen Forge and you'll 7 A s m a l l journal made from preserved l eaves
see the ghost of Old Dalaen advising his descendants as 8 A book of poetry written by undead elves
they work wood and steel. Visit the Eidolon Tavern and
you'll see poltergeists mixing drinks, and you can get
advice from a spectral bartender with thousands of years ARGONNE SSEN
of wisdom to share. Visit Maer Crossing at midnight and
I n Argonnessen, you could ...
you'll see the spirit of Lady Jhaelian dance with a grace
unmatched by any living elf. • Clash with tribes of dragon-worshiping barbarians.
Wondrous as it is, as a human visitor, I found it more • Explore an ancient city of dragons.
than a little unnerving. There's no escaping the past in • Discover mighty artifacts and long-lost spells.
Aerenal; it lingers all around you, whispering advice or
warning you to avoid transgression. You never know Argonnessen is home to the oldest civilization on Eber
when you'll feel the tingle of spectral fingers against your ron. The dragons wield ancient magic, and they have
skin or hear the whisper of an elf who's older than hu shielded their homeland against divination and telepor
man civilization. There are many wonders in Aerenal . . . tation. Tribes of barbarians roam the Seren Islands and
just don't get buried in the past. the coastlines of Argonnessen; these include members
of almost every humanoid race, perhaps collected by
dragons in ages past. The Seren barbarians worship the
AERENA�S INFLUENC E I N dragons and protect the coasts from invaders. To date,
no one from Khorvaire has ventured into the interior of
KHORVAIRE the continent and returned to speak of it.
In Khorvaire, you might ... No one knows how many dragons live in Argonnes
• Team up with an agent of the Undying Court to bring sen, but stories tell of vast cavern complexes filled with
down a powerful vampire. the treasures of fallen civilizations, of prisons holding
• Be summoned by a deathless sage who needs your bound demons, of cities made from adamantine.
help to fulfill an ancient prophecy. To those of Khorvaire, Argonnessen is a mystery
• Bargain with a merchant offering rare magic items. space on the map. Only the most powerful characters
might visit Argonnessen and return to tell the tale.
Few Aereni elves are interested in the world beyond
their island. The Aereni see Khorvaire as a primitive ARGONNESSEN'S I NFLUENCE I N
backwater, and humans as dangerously impulsive. Aer
eni who travel to Khorvaire have a concrete purpose for KHORVAIRE
the journey, which could drive an adventure. In Khorvaire, you might ...
The magewrights and artificers of Aerenal are more
• Prevent a villain from acquiring a powerful artifact
advanced than those of Khorvaire. Aereni artisans
smuggled out of Argonnessen.
fashion rods, staffs, and wands, and other rare or even
• Encounter a dragonborn barbarian born on the Seren
legendary items may come from Aerenal. However, the
islands, who shares tales of mighty wyrms.
nation is less industrialized than Khorvaire. Legend
• Battle a dragon who guards a hidden vault.
ary items aren't mass produced; some are personally
crafted by members of the Undying Court. Some say the mysterious dragons of Argonnessen
Aereni goods make use of exotic plants and woods. hide in plain sight, that shapechanged dragons scat
Bronzewood has the density and even some of the tered across Khorvaire pull the strings of civilization.
• Discover an ancient civilization hidden be- 2 A rusted i ron coin, depicting a dwarf lord and the
neath the ice. worlds " Five Rex U ndra"
• Search for the survivors of a lost expedition. 3 A pair of eight-sided d i ce carved from ice that doesn't
• Find the source of a mysterious mystical signal. melt
It's common knowledge that Everice is the domain of 4 A swatch of s ilvery fur that's cold to the touch, possibly
the Queen of Winter, an archfey who commands a host from a wi nter wolf
of winter wolves and knights carved from living ice. The 5 A snowball; it doesn't melt and can't be compressed
queen lives in a glacial palace, and those who overcome i nto ice
her guards and the deadly weather to earn her favor can 6 A tiny wh ite d ragon sculpted from ice that doesn't melt
gain powerful boons. 7 A key carved from ice that doesn't melt
8 A si ngle scale from a white d ragon
B E N EATH 2
fi s t , a telepathic voice recites a story in you r m i nd
A teardrop pendant made from pol ished shell; when
you hold it, you see the i mage of a young Riedran man
TH E BASALT A six-sided crystal d ie; when you rol l it, you fee l a
surge of emotion for six seconds
Sovereigns, and in gratitude Aureon granted them do This story bears at least some truth. The elves were
minion over the continent of Xen'drik. Aureon taught once slaves of the ancient giants, and the dragons did
giants the secrets of wizardry, and they grew powerful. eradicate the civilizations of Xen'drik. Great magic has
The giants built towers that touched the sky and seem warped the land. The environments of Xen'drik are ex
ingly endless cities. treme and unpredictable, and travelers might find a gla
The mightiest among the giants was the titan Cul'sir. cial expanse in the midst of a vast desert. Tens of thou
His power was so great that he pulled the thirteenth sands of years have passed, yet no civilization has risen
moon from the sky and crushed it in a fit of anger. The to the heights of the fallen giants; some believe that
giants ruled many lesser races, and eventually the elves Aureon's and Boldrei's curses ensure that any city that
rose up against them. Cul'sir unleashed plagues upon grows too large collapses into madness. The Traveler's
the rebellious elves. He made assassins of elven shad Curse twists space, and explorers might follow the same
ows and turned them back against their owners. Still path twice only to end up in entirely different locations.
the rebels persisted. In his anger, Cul'sir prepared to Xen'drik is a continent that defies control. Expeditions
pull down the rest of the moons to hurl them at his ene have unearthed artifacts of immense power, as well as
mies, even though he'd destroy the world in doing it. But fields of Siberys dragonshards (see chapter 5), but once
the giants had gone too far, and Aureon set the dragons you leave a site, you might never find it again.
of Argonnessen upon them. The dragons destroyed the Giants still roam Xen'drik, but these creatures have
vast cities and leveled the towers. Cul'sir was slain and never regained the glory of their ancestors. Tribes of
his people scattered. drow-said to be the shadow-assassins created by the
The Sovereigns and Six each laid a curse upon the Emperor Cul'sir-linger in the darkness. These repre
land. Aureon decreed that the creatures of Xen'drik sent just a few of the threats in this vast land.
would have no knowledge of law, and Boldrei pro
claimed that no city would stand. The Traveler distorted NOTABLE LOCATIONS
the land so that no path followed twice. The Devourer Many ports dot the coast of Xen'drik. In addition to the
unleashed fire and storm. And so Xen'drik remains a treasures of the giants, Xen'drik is a source of Siberys
land of mystery, a realm that cannot be mapped, a place dragonshards and other exotic resources. Scholars and
that holds secrets that could shatter the world. merchants come to Xen'drik on business, smugglers
TR I N K E T S F R O M X E N 1 D R I K R EJ ECTI O N O F FAI T H
d8 Trinket d 6 Rejection
You believe that the magic of clerics and paladins
A punched ticket for a voyage from Sharn to
doesn't come from deities, but from the caster's i n ner
Storm reach
power or belief.
2 A scorpion's barb engraved with a si ngle Elvish letter
2 You come from an agnostic com m u n ity and give little
3 A copper coin so big you could use it as a d i nner plate
thought to spiritual matters.
4 An i mage of an elf warrior engraved on a giant's tooth
3 You were once deeply devout, but a tragedy during the
5 A single page from a giant wizard's spell book, bearing
Last War caused you to question you r faith.
an incomplete spell
4 A personal loss or betrayal shook you r faith.
6 A scrap of parchment, part of a map of Stormreach
5 You were spiritually scarred by an encou nter with a
7 A small book titled Feersome Beests ofZendrik
fiend or aberration.
8 A scri mshaw carving of a sahuagin
6 You've created your own personal rel i gion and bel ieve
that all the established faiths are flawed.
DEITIES OF EBERRON
The Sovereign Host Province Suggested Cleric Domains Common Symbol
Arawai Life, love Life, Nature Sheaf of wheat tied with green ribbon or
bronze d ragon
Aureon Knowledge, law Knowledge, Order'' Open tome or blue d ragon
Bali nor Beasts, the hunt N ature, War Pair of antlers or green dragon
Bold rei Commu nity, home Life Fire in a stone hearth or copper d ragon
Doi Arrah H onor, sunlight Light, War Rising s u n or red dragon
Doi Dorn Strength at arms War Longsword crossed over a shield or s i lver
d ragon
Kol Korran Trade, travel Trickery N i n e-sided gol d coi n or wh ite d ragon
Olladra Good fortu ne Life, Trickery Domino or black d ragon
Onatar Artifice, the forge Forge,*'' Knowledge Crossed hammer and tongs or brass dragon
The suggested cleric domains are from the Player's Handbook, u nless fol lowed by a n asterisk:
*Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
**Xanathar's Guide to Everything
T H E B Lo o D O F V o L THE U N D Y I N G C O U R T
C U LTS O F KHYBER
T H E S I LVER F L A M E T H E PATH OF L I G H T
ARE YOU A
the Sovereigns govern positive forces, the Dark Six are
the source of fears. Arawai and Balinor reflect the posi
tive aspects of nature. The devastating storm, the earth
quake, the wildfire? These are the work of the Devourer.
The Dark Six and the Sovereign Host are opposite
sides of the same coin. If you believe in one, you ac
S IX FANATI C?
knowledge the existence of the other. The only question The Vassals of the Sovereign Host have long condemned
is whether you fear the Six or revere them. Those who the Dark Six as forces of evil. Yet correspondents at the
choose to follow these sinister deities embrace dark Voice of Thrane have uncovered a shocking phenomenon:
ness. A barbarian may thank the Fury for the gift of long-standing cults that worship members of the Dark
rage. An assassin walks the path of the Mockery, while a Six alongside the Sovereign Host.
warlock's pact may be a gift of the Shadow. Most of you know of the Restful Watch, the priests
The Dark Six inspire worship in different ways among who tend Vassal cemeteries. What you may not know
diverse cultures. Temples to the Dark Six appear in is that the priests of the Watch honor both Aureon and
Droaam, along with wild revels driven by the Fury. The the Keeper! They say that the Keeper snatches the souls
of heroes so they can be preserved from Dolurrh and re
Dark Six aren't worshiped openly elsewhere in Khor
turned when they are needed once more.
vaire; the gods' shrines are hidden, and it's more com Worse still is the Three Faces of War, a cult that wor
mon to find a cult devoted to a single member of the Six ships the Sovereigns of War-including the Mockery,
than a temple dedicated to the entire pantheon. whom they call Doi Azur. Followers of this foul faith say
that the battlefield holds a place for all of these gods, ex
T:aE Srx plicitly embracing a deity they acknowledge as the patron
of treachery and terror! This cult apparently began in the
These common names and attributes describe the Dark
Karrnathi military but spread across the Five Nations
Six as they are known in Khorvaire:
during the Last War. So next time you're talking to a
The Devourer governs the destructive power of nature, Brelish soldier, remember that they might be a devotee of
both pure elemental force and savagery in beasts. the Mockery!
T he Keeper snatches souls before they can reach
Dolurrh and hoards them along with his vast wealth. chooses a unique symbol based on the nature of their
Those driven by greed call him their patron, and his god. Followers of the Devourer might carry a shark's
priests often act as criminal fixers. tooth or a piece of wood scorched in a wildfire. A Keeper
The Fury governs both passion and revenge, rage and cult might use the nine-sided coin of Kol Korran with
despair. She offers revenge to those who have been the face disfigured. A particular sect uses these symbols
wronged, but her vengeance often leads to suffering. consistently, if not obviously.
T he Mockery is the patron of treachery and of ter
ror in battle. He guides those who seek victory RITES
through guile, both warriors and assassins. He was
once the brother of Doi Dorn and Doi Arrah, but The Dark Six are a mirror o f the Sovereign Host and
he was stripped of his skin and his name after be their worship uses similar rituals, including formal ritu
traying them. als conducted in song.
T he Shadow is the dark side of knowledge and ambi Each of the Six has their own rites. Followers of
tion. It's said to be Aureon's shadow, given malign the Fury engage in wild revels. Cults of the Devourer
life when Aureon mastered magic. The Shadow is gather around enormous bonfires. Cults of the Mock
the maker of monsters and the keeper of forbidden ery conduct ritual combats or gather to torture cap
secrets, and it offers malevolent spells to warlocks tured enemies.
and wizards.
The Traveler asserts that chaos drives evolution and
TEM PLE S
that change makes us stronger. The Traveler is a Temples and shrines of the Dark Six hide behind dis
trickster and the giver of dangerous gifts. Some ar guises. A cult of the Mockery might gather in a slaugh
tificers worship the Traveler, seeing it as the lord of terhouse, while a shrine to the Shadow remains con
innovation, but the gifts of the Traveler always have cealed in the deep stacks of a library. Dedicated temples
unexpected consequences. are built from dark stone, with six doors and the Hexa
gram engraved in the fl�or.
SYMBOL
The Hexagram represents the entire pantheon o f the
Dark Six. The Deities of Eberron table lists the common
symbols of the individual gods. However, since the Six
aren't worshiped openly in most of Khorvaire, each sect
CM �ON �Cl( suspicion, but the faith holds that people of all races
should stand together.
SI LVE R FLAM E
A silver arrowhead etched with the symbol serves as a
common token, worn as a necklace.
TOP TYKE
RITES
The Silver Flame has no need of prayers or offerings;
instead, services focus on the parishioners, encouraging
The nation of Thrane shocked the world in 993 YK when virtuous behavior. Church hierarchy is strictly observed,
it appointed a six-year-old child as Keeper of the Silver and only ordained priests can perform services.
Flame, the supreme leadership position of the Church. Archery is a devotional practice of the Silver Flame,
Now eleven years old, Jaela Daran continues to astound used both as a means of meditation and a martial art.
all who encounter her. She possesses poise and wisdom
Communities devoted to the Flame engage in archery
beyond her years, and she displays the blend of courage
and compassion that is the cornerstone of the faith. training, and villages have militias of peasant archers.
As Keeper of the Flame, she wields tremendous divine
power; she has summoned angels to her side and resur TEM PLES
rected Cardinal Halidor after his assassination. Fortresses o f the Silver Flame are designed to serve as
But some claim that these stories are fabrications templar garrisons and to provide sanctuary against su
and that Jaela is merely a figurehead for High Cardinal
pernatural threats. Churches feature enormous arches
Krozen. The reclusive Krozen is a brilliant strategist and
and open spaces. The sanctuary of a Flamic church has
ruthless leader. Many believe that Krozen was behind the
death of Keeper Tagor in 992 YK, suggesting that he sup a mosaic floor with a flame burning at its center.
ported the child Keeper to solidify his own influence. Is The seat of the religion is the Grand Cathedral in
Krozen the true power behind the Flame? Flamekeep. Built around the site of Tira's sacrifice, this
fortified temple is the size of a small city.
THE VOICE OF
BLOOD OF VOL
Everyone has a spark of divinity. Find that
power within.
� �(LAN �
• Death is the end, Dolurrh is oblivion, and if the gods
exist, they are cruel. Stand with those you care for; all
we have is this life and each other. CORPS E CLE R I C
CONDE MNS CLAW
What just god would allow death and suffering? The
Blood of Vol teaches that we all have the potential to
become divine beings-and that death is a curse, de
signed to kill you before you can unlock the divinity
within you. Last month, the Emerald Claw took credit for the ghoul
outbreak in Wroat. This terrorist organization has a new
The Blood of Vol is a grim faith, founded by Erandis
and unusual critic: Hask Malevanor, an "abactor" of the
d'Vol, an elf from Aerenal. It asserts that death is obliv
Blood of Vol and high priest of the Crimson Monastery,
ion, that the universe is uncaring, and that if the Sover a temple in the city of Atur in Karrnath. Something else
eigns exist, they are cruel. Its followers study the secrets you should know about Abactor Malevanor: he's been
of blood and life, and because they believe that death is dead for over fifty years! This putrid priest says that
the end, they see nothing wrong with using the bodies there's nothing unholy about his condition, swearing
of the fallen to serve the living. Seekers of the Divinity that his people revere all life. Despite the fact that the
Within (as the faithful call themselves) are glad to be terrorists included priests from his church, Malevanor
reanimated after death; at least they can do some good. insists that his parishioners despise the Emerald Claw
Because of this association with necromancy, many and harbor no hostility toward Breland.
While we'd like to take the abactor at his word, our
believe the Blood of Vol embraces death and its follow
research shows that Malevanor was personally involved
ers want to become undead. Both ideas are false. The in the program that produced the infamous Karrnathi
Blood of Vol sees death as the ultimate evil. Seekers undead soldiers. After decades of driving the Karrnathi
don't want to become undead; they want to become war effort, this foul creature expects us to believe that he
divine beings. The faith teaches that divinity is tied to has nothing to do with the necromantic attacks on our
blood and soul, and the undead can never fully harness people? Here at the Voice of Breland, we think something
that power. The mummies and vampires of the Blood of about this smells rotten, and it's not just the mummy.
Vol have sacrificed their chance at divinity to guide the
living. They're martyrs, not something to envy.
In addition to a general revulsion toward the undead, TEMPLES
the public opinion of the Blood of Vol is colored by the A shrine devoted t o the Blood o f Vol requires only a n al
actions of the Order of the Emerald Claw. This extrem tar and a means for collecting ritually spilled blood.
ist sect serves a lich known as the Queen of Death, and Temples of the Blood of Vol are fortified structures,
it employs necromantic magic in acts of terror. However, built to serve as sanctuaries. In contrast to the Silver
most Seekers don't support the Emerald Claw. Flame, such temples are stark and functional. Temples
The Blood of Vol has its strongest following in Karr include vaults or catacombs, designed to hold undead or
nath and the Lhazaar Principalities. For a time, it was to store corpses.
the national religion of Karrnath. Though fallen from
favor, the faith is still practiced openly in that nation.
CULTS OF THE
SYMBOL DRAGON BELOW
The power o f a cleric o f the Blood o f Vol comes from • A paradise exists within the world, a vale bathed in
within them. As such, every cleric chooses a unique the light of the Inner Sun. Earn your passage with the
holy symbol-an object that resonates with them. More blood of worthy foes.
generally, the faith is represented by a tear-shaped red • Our existence is a chrysalis state, preparing us for
gemstone or shard of glass. Priests of the Blood of Vol transcendent immortality within the bowels of the gib
wear robes of red and black. bering mouther.
• The Lord of Eyes sees all secrets. Its gaze elevates
RITES the worthy and slays the unbeliever. Drive doubt from
The services o f the Blood o f Vol focus o n drawing the your heart, and you will see reality through new eyes.
faithful together as a community and encouraging peo The Cults of the Dragon Below are wildly diverse. The
ple to find power within themselves. The most import tenets above describe the beliefs of three different
ant ritual of the faith is the Sacrament of Blood. After a cults. Warlocks draw power from demon overlords, and
sermon, each member of the congregation sheds a small daelkyr cultists serve mind flayers and beholders. Oth
amount of blood into a basin. This is a symbol of unity, ers embrace deep convictions that others see as mad
and a message that members of the community would ness. Outsiders use the term "Cult of the Dragon Below"
shed their blood to defend one another. In some temples, as a blanket term to describe these disparate beliefs,
this blood is donated to vampire champions of the faith. but the cultists don't use this name or see themselves as
part of a greater whole.
RAI D REVEALS
communion to aberrations. They perform rituals in
Undercommon, though most cultists don't have a full
understanding of the language.
CU LT CHAOS TEMPLES
Cults meet underground, whether i n caverns o r sewers.
The people of Fairhaven were shocked by the revelation Rural cults seek out places twisted by the powers of the
of bizarre cult activity in the center of one of that city's plane of Xoriat (described in chapter 4) or Khyber.
most trusted institutions. Acting on a tip from the Royal
Eyes of Aundair, elite forces raided a House Vadalis
facility and discovered a nightmare. Captain Allis says PATH OF LIGHT
that her soldiers discovered a beating heart that filled an • We live i n a n age o f darkness. We must find the path
entire room, pumping blood through veins in the walls that leads to the light.
of the building. According to Allis, the staff claimed to • Act with compassion and courage. Each noble act is a
be "creating the heart of Galifar," apparently believing step on the path.
that if completed, this monstrosity could reunite the
• Hone your body and your mind. You are the tool you
shattered kingdom.
When pressed to comment, Patriarch Dalin d'Vadalis will use to change reality.
denied any connections to this cult. "These are difficult Practiced by many kalashtar, the Path of Light seeks
times for all of us. I assure you that House Vadalis will to change reality by first bringing change within, using
conduct a full investigation of this incident and work to meditation to focus the mind and athletic discipline to
regain the trust of the good people of Fairhaven." improve the body. The next step brings light into the
world, using courage and compassion to banish the
Cults of the Dragon Below are based on madness or darkness in the people around you. Mediate disputes.
power. A cult that seeks power chooses to serve a dark Extinguish hatred by guiding people out of darkness.
force because of the gifts they receive from it. A cabal of Inspire people to be better than they are. Even the
scholars might serve the demon overlord Sul Khatesh smallest change is a victory, yet lightbringers-the fol
in exchange for secrets of magic. In the Mror Holds, lowers of this path-hope that this is merely a step on a
dwarf clans bargain with Dyrrn the Corrupter to gain greater journey.
symbionts and sinister gifts. The Shadow Marches con The Path of Light teaches that this age is dominated
tain cults devoted to the daelkyr Belashyrra and Kyrzin. by il-Lashtavar, "the great darkness that dreams." This
Membership in such a cult is voluntary, and spellcasters force poisons the world and promotes darkness. But all
are more likely to be warlocks or wizards than clerics; things change. If enough light can enter the world, it will
their power comes from bargaining, not from faith. lead to a tidal shift: the age of il-Lashtavar will end and
Cults driven by madness have a warped view of re usher in the time of il-Yannah, the great light.
ality. A cultist might believe aberrations are a higher Some followers of this faith believe that meditation
form of life and that the daelkyr will elevate mortals. alone is sufficient to change the path of the world, that
Other cultists may not recognize the true nature of the merely contemplating the light is sufficient to bring
beings they serve. A cult of Rak Tulkhesh might truly about the change. Most believe that it is necessary to
believe their lord will bring peace to the world, even if take action, but that darkness must fought with light.
that peace must begin with bloody war. Joining such Violence is never the answer, and the only way to defeat
a cult isn't a choice, it's something you fall into due to evil is to redeem it. Lightbringers seek to inspire those
madness. New cults can spring up anywhere, as seeds who live in fear and enlighten those whose evil is driven
of madness take root and spread. by ignorance. The faith has followed this path for over
Cults of the Dragon Below often appear as antago a thousand years, but now a splinter sect advocates
nists. However, your character could be a member of a greater action. These shadow watchers believe that evil
relatively benign cult. You might have been raised in a must be fought, that sources of darkness that poison
cult but broke free from its influence. If your character communities can and should be ruthlessly eliminated.
was or is part of a cult, work with your DM to develop The Path of Light is taught to the kalashtar by the
the details of your sect. spirits bound to their bloodlines. It is widespread in the
nation of Adar in distant Sarlona, but in Khorvaire, it is
SYMBOL largely unknown outside kalashtar communities. The
shadow watchers champion a sect born in Khorvaire,
Many cultists carry pieces of volcanic glass or small
and the elders of Adar have condemned its methods.
Khyber dragonshards (see chapter 5), but the cults have
If you follow the Path of Light, you must choose your
no unified symbol. Individual cults develop a symbol
side. As a lightbringer, you seek to spread hope and
based on their fiendish patron or mad visions. Eyes, ten
goodwill. As a shadow watcher, you hunt down and elim
tacles, and broken weapons are all common themes.
inate sources of darkness. Which path will you follow?
TH E KALASHTAR
priest must place one hand on it to use it as a focus. The
formal garb of a priest includes a headdress with curv
ing horns and points made from a Sarlonan shell-like
material called sentira.
RITES
PROPH ECY YOU
Physical and mental discipline are important virtues of
the Path of Light. Martial arts and guided meditation be
CAN 'T IG N ORE !
come a form of devotion and prayer. A kalashtar priest
conducts services telepathically, using shrines designed Many of the people of Khorvaire have never met a ka
to amplify psychic abilities and allowing them to share lashtar. Some say these people are in contact with celes
thoughts and images directly with the congregation. To tial spirits; here at the Voice of Breland, we say they're a
rare type of lunatic we've imported from Sarlona. So it
an outsider, a service can appear silent and tranquil de
was a special treat for tourists when one of the spiritual
spite being an ecstatic experience for the faithful. leaders of the kalashtar of Sharn made an unexpected ap
pearance in the grand plaza of Hope's Peak. The enlight
TEM PLES ened Havakhad-that's what he calls himself-issued
The nation o f Adar i n Sarlona i s home to vast fortress a warning that "darkness was gathering" and that "a
monasteries devoted to the Path of Light. In Khorvaire, terrible time lies just ahead." He beseeched the assem
bled crowds to show kindness to neighbor and stranger
a mere handful of shrines appear in cities with large
alike, and not to let "fear cause strife in the hard days to
kalashtar communities. These shrines are calm and come." Apparently Havakhad hasn't heard the news that
peaceful, the air scented with Sarlonan incense. The we're winning the war. But if the world does end tomor
chambers are open, providing space for martial arts. row, you read it here first!
Labyrinthine patterns engraved on the floors serve as
an aid to meditation, while the walls hold crystals that
focus and amplify the psychic abilities of the priests. you follow the path, the more guidance they provide,
helping you create new legends.
The folk of Khorvaire see your people as mercenar
SPIRITS OF THE PAST ies and conquerors. But you don't care about gold or
• We are the spiritual anchors of the greatest champi personal glory. All you want is to let your ancestors
ons of our people. Through our faith, we keep their live again, and that means you need to perform deeds
spirits from being lost to oblivion. worthy of champions. That drives you now: seeking out
• You have been chosen by a hero. Live your life as they adventures that will add to the legends of your patron.
lived theirs, letting their instincts guide you. You and your DM should develop the identity of your
• Treasure our past and the stories of our people. You ancestor. How did they fight? What were some of their
are the vessel through which new legends will arise. legendary deeds? Did they have a distinctive weapon
As a Tairnadal elf of Valenar, you were raised on the leg or favor a particular kind of magic? Equally important
ends of your people, on tales of champions who battled is your relationship with the ancestor. Are you proud of
mighty dragons and armies of giants. When you came your ancestor and excited to live as they did, or is your
of age, the Keepers of the Past read the signs to deter duty a burden?
mine which of these ancestors chose you to be their Since the rise of Valenar, half-elves and even some
vessel. Since that day, it has been your duty to emulate humans have sought to be inducted into the faith. But so
your patron ancestor. If you're a wizard, you've studied far the Keepers of the Past have declared that only elves
the spells created by your ancestor. If you're a warrior, can be revenants. Beyond the blood connection to the
you've practiced their specific martial techniques. When ancestor, an elf communes with their ancestor during
you trance, you relive their greatest battles. But these trance, and half-elves can't enter this state. The Keep
studies are just preparation. Now it's your sacred duty ers say it can't be done, but perhaps you'll be the one to
to be a revenant of your ancestor: to live your life as they prove them wrong.
did and allow the champion to walk the world again
through you. (This title of revenant carried by Speakers SYMBOL
of the Past is not to be confused with the undead reve The primary symbol o f the faith i s the zaelshin, a n amu
nants described in the Mon ster Manual.) let that bears the seal of your patron ancestor and worn
The bond between ancestor and living elf is holy. Your either as a brooch or embedded in the forehead of a
ancestor doesn't speak to you or control your actions. helmet. A devotee of the faith typically wears a veil-the
But as a Tairnadal, you believe that they are with you zaelta, or "spirit mask"-over their lower face while in
that your instincts and your reflexes are the ancestor battle or performing rituals, so an opponent sees the
moving through you, telling you what to do. The closer zaelshin rather than the living elf.
The zaelshin is the symbol of the faith, but the holy The elves of Aerenal refuse to let their greatest souls be
symbol used by a cleric is an object associated with their lost to the oblivion that is Dolurrh. The wisest and most
personal ancestor. accomplished elves are preserved after death, becoming
members of the Undying Court. The devotion of the
RITES living elves sustains the Undying Court, and the Court
Services revolve around the stories o f the ancestors, generates a well of mystic energy that empowers their
commemorating their glorious deeds, as well as ritual clerics. As an Aereni cleric, your spells aren't personally
exercises and trance meditation. While resting, an elf granted to you by a specific Undying Councilor. Your
spends four hours in trance. The faithful spend this time powers flow from the Court itself, allowing you to serve
in communion with their ancestor, experiencing their its will and to protect your people.
memories and contemplating their deeds. Of all the religions of Eberron, the Undying Court is
most grounded in the world. The Court stands in the
TEMPLES city of Shae Mordai, and as an Aerenal elf, you could
seek an audience with one of your deathless ancestors.
The nomadic Tairnadal elves don't raise permanent tem As a devotee of the Undying Court, you recognize it as
ples. A Keeper of the Past marks a circle on the ground the power that sustains your civilization and as an as
with their blade, and the space within becomes sancti sembly of your greatest sages and leaders. Should you
fied for the service. accomplish great achievements in your life, you can as
pire to join the Court.
UNDYING C OURT As a cleric or paladin of the Undying Court, you have
• Our greatest champions and sages will never be lost a concrete relationship with your deity. In creating your
to us. Their wisdom guides us, and their power pro character, consider why you've traveled so far from
tects us all. home. Are you on a specific mission? Are you serving
• Honor our past. Respect our traditions. Perfect the Court as a whole, or are you acting as an agent of a
your skills and you may earn your place among the specific councilor-perhaps your own ancestor? The Un
Deathless. dying Court despises undead creatures that prey on the
• Destroy those foul creatures that channel the power of living, so if you don't have a concrete mission, you can
Mahar, for they consume the essence of our world. always hunt down undead and evil necromancers.
RITES IT HAPPENE D IN
TH E FO REST: TRE E
The most sacred rite o f the Undying Court i s trance
communion. While in trance, an Aereni elf engages in
meditation that connects them to the gestalt conscious
ness of the Court. This experience affirms the place of
the individual as part of the greater whole.
Since trance communion is a personal experience,
H UGG E R TE LL-ALL!
the role of the priest is to provide spiritual and practical
The alliance of rebel farmers in western Aundair has
guidance to their congregation. A masked priest serves
declared an alliance with the Great Druid Oalian of the
as the face of the Court, and any elf can approach them Towering Wood, asserting that the farmlands that border
seeking an ease to their burdens. these woods are now part of the Eldeen Reaches. The
Great Druid is a figure of legend, a powerful mystic who
TEMPLES serves as the spiritual leader of a diverse range of druids
I n Aerenal, the temples o f the Undying Court are step spread across the region. Another interesting fact about
Oalian? He's a tree! Some say he's a child of Eberron her
pyramids built from stone. In Khorvaire, shrines to the
self, while others assert that he's the spirit of an ancient
Court use imported Aereni densewood, a particularly druid trapped in tree form. Whatever the truth, the Great
tough lumber that grows only on the island. Regardless Druid Oalian appears as a massive greatpine in a grove
of form, the walls are engraved with stories about the called Greenheart, deep in the Towering Wood.
Undying Councilors that serve as the particular patrons
of the temple, usually those related to the local priests.
C HILDREN OF WINTER
DRUIDS OF KHORVAIRE The Children o f Winter believe that death and decay are
• We, the Ashbound, are the champions of the natural vital aspects of the natural cycle of life. They believe that
world. We defend it from anything and anyone who if the cycle falls out of balance, it will trigger a devastat
threatens it. ing cataclysm as the world resets this balance. They bat
• We, the Children of Winter, preserve the natural cycle tle undead, but they also engage in actions that cull the
of life and death. Disease and decay cull the weak and weak. Extremists have been known to spread plagues in
strengthen the whole. We must destroy undead and cities. The Children of Winter are particularly interested
ensure that the cycle continues. in unraveling the mystery of the Mourning, as some of
• We, the Gatekeepers, protect the natural world from them believe it is a sign of the apocalypse they fear.
the forces that come from outside it, from those be
ings that slither in from the darkness beyond. GATEKEEPERS
We, the Greensingers, celebrate the magic in the nat The Gatekeepers are one o f the oldest sects, primarily
ural world, as well as the fey that embody that magic. found among the ores of the Shadow Marches. They act
We serve as ambassadors between the fey and mor to protect Eberron from aberrations and other unnatural
tals, protecting each from the other. creatures and seek to prevent extraplanar incursions
• We, the Wardens of the Wood, protect all the children and attacks. The Gatekeepers maintain ancient seals
of Eberron, from the beasts of the wild to the people that hold long-forgotten evils at bay.
of the cities. We preserve the balance between nature
and civilization and help each understand the other. GREENSINGERS
All druids look after the natural world, but they act in The Greensingers are devoted to the fey, and serve as
different ways. Five well-established paths define most mediators between the fey and mortals. The ranks of
of Khorvaire's druids. In creating a druid character, the Greensingers include bards as well as warlocks with
consider whether you have ties to one of these tradi Archfey patrons; a druid or ranger might also serve a
tions, and what led you to leave your order. Are you on specific archfey.
a mission? Are you exploring the world? Have you been
banished, with good reason or otherwise? WARDENS OF THE Woon
ASHBOUND The Wardens of the Wood believe that civilization has
a place in the world. As a warden, you help others un
The Ashbound defend the natural world from anything derstand nature, ensuring that they don't cause uninten
that threatens it. Some Ashbound consider civilization tional harm or stumble into danger. Wardens serve as
to be a threat and strike at any settlement that en militia and mediators in the Eldeen Reaches. This is the
croaches on the wild. Others focus their wrath on the largest of the druidic sects and the most recognized.
dragonmarked houses or seek to free bound elementals.
I
not to feel overwhelmed by the city. The towers tributary, the Hilt. It's an important port for anyone deal
ing with Aerenal, Xen'drik, or Sarlona. Mountains line
rise up until they disappear into the clouds. Lights
the shores of the Dagger, and Sham can't spread out. So
gleam in a thousand windows. Slrycoaches work instead it has grown ever upward.
their way through the maze of bridges connecting the tow The city is primarily made up of these quarters:
ers, and up above I can see the burning ring of an elemen • Central Plateau
tal airship. • Dura
Menthis Plateau
Distracted by the sights in the slry, I nearry walk into a
• Northedge
warforged as it brushes past me. It's my first time seeing • Tavick's Landing
one, but then there are so many things I've never seen in
At the hub of each of these quarters is a cluster of
this place. Over there, a tattooed elf haggles with a masked enormous core towers. A web of bridges and platforms
ha I.fling, arguing about the price of lizard meat. Beyond connects many of these vast spires, and smaller turrets
sprout from the edges of the core towers. The district of
them, a gargoyle watchesfrom a high perch. I gather my
Skyway floats above the highest towers, while the tun
senses and keep moving. nels of the Cogs stretch out below the lower city.
It's not until I reach the lift that I realize the warforged In between those extremes, each of the quarters is
stole rrry purse. divided into an upper ward, a middle ward, and a lower
ward. Each ward is made up of a number of districts, so
-A newcomer to the big city
that the location of a place in Sham can be expressed
with a combination of a ward name and a district name.
All the major themes of Eberron are manifest in the More information about each of the wards and the dis
great city of Sham. It's a place of magic, with sky tricts in them appears later in this chapter.
coaches circling mile-high towers and mystic forges toil
ing endlessly in the bowels. It's a place of adventure and AFTERMATH OF WAR
intrigue. A fallen angel is gathering minions in the ruins
Far from the front lines, Sham never fell under siege
below the city. A gang war is gaining strength in Calles
during the Last War. Regardless, the war's impacts af
tan. The corpse of a murdered aristocrat has just been
fected the city's citizens and continue to even today.
discovered in a floating mansion. A Cannith artificer is
experimenting with a planar gateway-and something is PHYSICAL DAMAGE
about to go terribly wrong. All of these adventures and a
Although Sham was never subjected to a sustained
hundred more are waiting in the City of Towers.
assault, it didn't avoid damage. On many occasions,
This chapter details the city for players and DMs alike.
commandos and saboteurs launched significant attacks
The DM can find additional information about the city in
inside Sham. The most infamous of these was the
chapter 4.
Aundairian attack that brought down the floating Glass
Tower, devastating the district now known as Fallen. In
THE SHAPE OF SHARN any of the lower or middle wards, you might encounter
Sham i s the largest city i n Khorvaire, with a population evidence of the conflict in the form of a shattered bridge,
of half a million people. Humans make up about a third a building collapsed by an arcane explosion, or an area
of that number, and dwarves are a sixth of it; the rest is some say is haunted because of the large number of peo
a blend of every race found across Khorvaire. Halflings, ple killed there during the war.
elves, and gnomes all have a significant presence in the
city, but even kalashtar and changelings have communi PSYCHOLOGICAL SCARS
ties in Sham. Beyond the permanent population, tens of There are places in the city that house people who suf
thousands of people pass through Sham every day. Ref fered because of the actions of other nations. For exam
ugees from the war still find their way to the city, along ple, many of the residents of Dura hold all Aundairians
with tourists, spies, merchants, and folk hoping to find responsible for the destruction of Fallen. In another
their fortune in the grandest city in Eberron. district, folk could hate the Karrns for an undead attack
that occurred during the war, and a different group
SHORTAGES
WATC H YOUR STEP!
Because the ink is barely dry on the Treaty of Throne As befits the City of Towers, Sharn i s also a city of
hold and relationships between the signatories are bridges and balconies. These thoroughfares and out
still being normalized, Sharn doesn't currently benefit croppings can be extremely narrow or comfortably wide.
from a lot of commerce with other nations. Problems Although most of them are bounded by walls or railings,
could arise from a short supply of any imported goods, there's always a chance that during your time in Sharn,
whether this manifests as inflated prices, the need for you or someone you know will go over the edge. So, how
rationing, or certain items being simply unavailable. The do residents cope with this risk?
factors of supply and demand also play into smuggling Those who can afford it usually carry a feather to-
and the black market; some desirable goods might be ken as insurance. No token? Don't panic! Because of
available only through the Boromar Clan. the maze of bridges and spans connecting the towers,
there's an excellent chance that you won't fall more
REFUGEES AND VICTIMS than a hundred feet before impacting on a lower bridge.
Cyran refugees have filled the district of High Walls in Though this alone might seem like small comfort, it's
Lower Tavick's Landing beyond capacity, and Sharn is also true that the major bridges in the upper and middle
also home to a significant number of refugees from else wards are enchanted with feather fall effects that trigger
where in Breland-people whose homes and villages automatically, keeping you from crushing an innocent
were destroyed during the war, and who have come to passerby in your descent.
Sharn in search of new lives. The city also has its share Many different outcomes could follow a lengthy fall.
of other people harmed during the war, soldiers and ci The Falling in Sharn table presents a few possibilities.
vilians with severe physical or psychological injuries. All
these folk are most likely to be found in the lower wards. FA L LI N G I N S H A R N
They aren't just poor; they're suffering-and they might d8 Result
seek vengeance against those they blame for their pain.
You fal l h u n d reds of feet before stri king the ground at
the base of the towers.
GUIDE TO THE CITY 2 You fal l 3d6 x 10 feet before stri king a bridge. A major
WHEN YOU LIVE ON THE INSIDE LOW, YOU NEVER SEE bridge i n a n upper or a m i d d le ward will h ave a feather
the sun. People hear "towers, " they think ofgraceful little fall enchantment; otherwise, it's going to be a hard
l a n d ing.
spires, the sort of thingyou see poking up in the corner of
3 You fal l 2d4 x 10 feet and land in a passing skycoach,
your lord's keep. We've got those, and lots of 'em. But the
possibly i njuring a passenger.
foundation of the city is the core towers. The walls of these You fa l l 4d4 x 5 feet and strike an outcroppi ng, flag
4
towers are so thickyou could fit your lord's castle in one. pole, or projecting statue. If you survive, you're still
You've gotyour outside districts where you get the open precariously perched on the edge of a tower or bridge.
air, built on the bridges and platforms that connect the 5 You fal l past a hippogriff- m a ke a successful DC 1 5
core towers together. You 've got the little turrets, built Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to catch its leg!
6 A gargoyle or giant owl catches you-then threatens
on the core tower walls and the bridges between. You 've
to d rop you if it doesn't get a reward.
got thefolk in the middle, who live and work in the walls
7 You can fly! Actual ly, a nearby wizard or artificer casts
themselves. And then you 've got those of us on the in featherfall to save you , but for a moment it felt l i ke
side, our districts entirely contained in the hollow well you can fly. And now the spel lcaster wants payment.
of a great tower. Whenyou look up in Callestan,you see 8 You strike a small a i r elemental that was d rawn to the
twinkling lights, to be sure. But those aren't stars, and that city. Doing this cush ions your fall, but now you're on
isn't the sky. You 're looking up through a mile of bridges top of an air elemental.
SPELLCASTI NG SERVICES
Magewrights and adepts can b e found i n every district
of Sharn, selling their services. Standard prices are
summarized on the Magewright Casting Fees table.
M A G E WR I G HT CASTI N G F E E S
Spell Level Price
1 st 25 gp
2nd so gp
3rd 1 00 gp
TH E RACE OF EIGHT
with a grand contest of champions in the Cornerstone
district in Middle Tavick's Landing.
WI N DS BEG I NS!
THE RACE OF EIGHT WINDS (23 LHARVION)
This event is an aerial race that takes place around
Dura Quarter.
THE HUNT (4 BARRAKAS) Banners are flying across Dura today, and the streets are
In honor of the Sovereign Balinor, a fierce beast is full of color. Walk through Oldkeep wearing brown and
brought to the city and released on this day into an iso red, and you'll be invited to raise a glass to the Griffon; if
lated section of Old Sham. Anyone can participate in the you're dressed in white and gold, the colors of the Hip
Hunt by making a donation of 5 gp; the hunter (or group) pogriff, you'd best be prepared to defend yourself.
who brings down the beast wins a purse of 500 gp and If you're new to Sharn, you might think our city's gone
the blessing of Balinor. The motif of the Hunt can vary; mad. And in some ways it has, but it's a madness that
reaches its peak every summer with the Race of Eight
in some years, multiple beasts are released, and the
Winds. Long ago, King Galifar used Dura as a proving
hunter who catches the most of them is the victor. In any ground for aerial calvary. What's more important, quick
case, it often turns out that the other competitors are a ness or strength? Our modern race is a test of speed and
greater threat to hunters than the beasts they stalk. skill through a course that weaves around and through
the spires of Dura. There are eight competitors, and
FATHEN'S FALL (25 BARRAKAS) each of these brave jockeys rides a different flying crea
This celebration commemorates a priest of the Silver ture-except for the gargoyle Carralag, who relies on his
Flame who was martyred while exposing lycanthropes own wings!
in Sharn. The day's activities often cause tension with Speed is important, but merely surviving the race can
the shifter community. be a challenge. The spilling of blood isn't prohibited,
but the only weapon a rider can carry is a light sporting
BOLDREI'S FEAST (9 RHAAN) crossbow; the steeds can use their talons and beaks,
Gatherings across the city mark this celebration of which is what makes the Griffon such a fierce contender.
community. The wealthy compete to throw the grandest Poison, magic, or anything else that would directly in
terfere with beast or rider is strictly forbidden-though
parties, and the most generous among them will be re
over the years we've certainly seen imaginative attempts
membered throughout the year for their largesse. to stretch the rules!
Dura is divided into eight regions for the race, each of
THE ASCENSION (1 SYPHEROS) which is represented by a different creature. If you're go
The sacrifice of Tira Miron, who gave her life to serve ing to spend time in Dura, it's best that you know your
as the Voice of the Silver Flame, is honored on this day. mounts! The beasts of Upper Dura are the fastest in
The holiday is marked by services at all Silver Flame the race, and overall have the best record. The reigning
churches and shrines, and the faithful are encouraged champion is the Pegasus of Highwater, whose supporters
to find some way to help their communities. wear white and silver. The Hippogriff is tied to Over
look and Daggerwatch in Upper Dura, and its colors
WILDNIGHT (18-19 SYPHEROS) are white and gold. Detractors often say that the Sharn
Supposedly the Fury, the god of Passion and Revenge, Watch favors the Hippogriff and that House Vadalis
reaches the height of her power on this night. Emotions helps the Pegasus, but the referees always insist that the
race is fair.
run high, and impulse control runs low. Shy and super
The beasts of Middle Dura are versatile. The Eagle
stitious folk stay indoors, while others see it as a time to represents Broken Arch and Stormhold in Middle Dura,
cast aside inhibitions. The streets fill with revelry that and its supporters wear brown and gold. The clever Owl
lasts well into the night. flies for Rattlestone and the Bazaar, and its colors are
brown and gray. The Hawk represents Tumbledown and
THRONEHOLD (11 ARYTH) Underlook in Middle Dura, and wearing its blend of tan
This observance marks the day that the Treaty of and brown can usually get you a good price at an inn.
Thronehold was signed, officially ending the Last War. The beasts of Lower Dura are more infamous than re
This year (998 YK) is only the second time the event has liable. The Griffon flies for Precarious and Oldkeep, and
been commemorated, and the Lord Mayor of Sharn has its colors are brown and red. It has never won the race,
promised a truly epic festival. but there's gold to be made betting on which opponent
it will bring down. The Glidewing represents Gate of
LONG SHADOWS (26-28 VULT) Gold and The Stores, and'its supporters wear green and
It's said that the power of the Shadow, the sinister de gray; many believe that the Boromar Clan pays for the
upkeep of the mount and its rider. Malleon's Gate used
ity of the Dark Six, is at its height during these three
to be represented by the Bat, but twelve years ago they
nights. Careful people spend this time indoors with exchanged that mascot for the Gargoyle, whose colors
friends, but those who relish the darkness might decide are black and gray. The current Gargoyle is a stone-faced
to take to the streets to prey on the weak and foolish. fellow named Carralag, and his supporters are quite pas
sionate about their winged champion.
155
SPORTS AND GAMES of the players have been turned to stone, at which point
the survivor is awarded all the stakes (except for a share
As befits a metropolis that boasts people o f all cultures, set aside for the organizers). A medusa handler moni
Sham hosts a wide variety of sports and athletic events. tors the competition to ensure that rules are followed.
The Race of Eight Winds occurs once a year. Other Contestants carry no arms or armor, and no magic or
events take place on a daily, weekly, or monthly sched supernatural abilities may be used. Additionally, no one
ule. For instance, shifters hold informal hrazhak compe is allowed to attack the cockatrice. The challenge lies
titions every night in Lower Nor.thedge. The ogres of the in outlasting the other contestants and luring them or
Cogs are fond of tugs-of-war, arm wrestling, and sim pushing them into the path of the cockatrice. The bat
ilarly simple tests of strength. People who want to bet tleground might be barren or littered with rubble and
on sports can usually find a gambler willing to set odds cover; it might be lit, or it could be be pitch black.
in the Firelight district in Lower Menthis, Callestan in Six stones matches are staged by the criminal organi
Lower Dura, Cornerstone in Middle Tavick's Landing, zation Daask (see the "Criminal Activities" section later
or Hareth's Folly in Middle Dura. Three exotic sports in this chapter). The sport is illegal, but the games go on
practiced in the city are described below. because the matches are confined to Lower Dura and
the Cogs and well hidden from the eyes of the Watch.
HRAZHAK
A match usually occurs only once every few months.
Two teams of seven shifters play hrazhak on a field
Sometimes participants voluntarily enter the compe
with a goal at each end. Each team starts out carrying a
tition, but most are debtors who have been offered a
wooden idol. To score, a team must steal its opponent's
chance to pay off their loans by winning the match.
idol and place both idols in its own goal. Obstacles such
Daask takes bets on the outcome, and usually earns a
as trees, streams, and piles of rubble can be present on
tidy sum as its share of the proceeds.
a hrazhak field, requiring the competitors to make full
use of their jumping and climbing abilities. Idols can be
thrown or carried, and there are no limits on contact
CITY GOVERNMENT
between participants, although only natural weapons Sham has many people in positions of power: beadles,
are allowed. Typically, a low-level druid or adept is on ministers, bailiffs, and all manner of minor functionar
hand to provide healing if needed-but any competitor ies and officials. But ultimate power rests in the hands
who receives aid is removed from play for the remainder of the City Council. That body has seventeen members:
of the match. Competitors aren't allowed to use spells or one for each ward in the city, plus representatives from
similar abilities. Skyway and the Cogs. Each ward has its own process
The only formal hrazhak arena in Sham is located in for selecting a councilor, and there are no legal restric
the Stone Trees, part of the Cornerstone district, where tions on who can govern; if you build up a strong base of
the matches serve as both a spectator sport and a rea support in a ward, you could hold the position yourself!
son for gambling. Shifters created temporary hrazhak The members of the City Council are quite diverse.
fields in the slums and warehouse districts of the city Some are crooked, others are idealists, and one of them
from time to time, and shifter youths often play im appears to be an owl. All of them are well known in their
promptu games in the parks. home wards, and any of them could have use for a team
of adventurers. The Sham Councilors table describes
SKYBLADES a few of the city leaders you might bump into in Upper
Common jousting is popular enough throughout Bre Central or at the Tain Gala. If your character has the no
land, but in Sham, the sport has taken to the air. In a ble background, you might already know one of them.
formal skyblades match, the goal is to knock an oppos
ing rider from the saddle-attacks against mounts are S H A R N CO U N C I LORS
forbidden, along with the use of magic or other super d12 Councilor
natural abilities. Formal matches take place in one of
Sorik Sensos (human) represents M iddle Central. An
Sharn's two aerial arenas, in Cornerstone and Hareth's
elder statesman and a brilliant orator, he is rumored
Folly. Skyblades jousters typically ride hippogriffs and
carry blunted lances that deal nonlethal damage. to be i nvolved in a web of bribery and graft.
Informal matches, which don't always use the same 2 Sava Kharisa (human) is the outspoken cou ncilor
rules, occur from time to time in Lower and Middle from Lower Central. Si nce taking her seat, she has
Dura, Tavick's Landing, and Menthis Plateau. An infor fo ught to i m p rove cond itions for the lower classes of
mal match might be played out across an entire district, Sharn, and she has made many enem ies on the coun·
with competitors weaving between towers and around cil and beyond .
bridges. The rules for an informal match are set before 3 Thurik Davandi (gnome) represents Upper M enthis.
the start, establishing (among other things) whether He is known to have ties to Zilargo and the Boromar
magic can be used and mounts can be targeted.
Clan, a n d reportedly loves intrigues a n d blackmail.
SIX STONES 4 Savia Potellas (hu man) has her hand in the entertai n
A Droaam tradition brought to Sham by immigrants, m e n t i n d u stry o f Lower M enthis. She hopes t o red uce
six stones is a game for seven competitors, who each the influence of organ ized crime in her d i strict, but
pay a base stake. The seven are then sealed in a large it's a dangerous game.
chamber with a cockatrice. The match ends when six
THE D R U N K E N DRAGON
I N U P PER D U R A
D U R A QUARTER: N OTEWO RTHY LOC AT I O N S
Location Description District
The Citadel of the A temple devoted to Doi Arrah , noteworthy for the three blessed griffons that reside H ope's Peak,
Sun there. Upper Dura
The Clifftop An i nstitution that provides adventu rers with camaraderie and p rofitable work. Clifftop, U pper
Adventurer's G u i ld Dura
The Drunken Dragon A tavern frequented by members of the Clifftop Adventurer's G u ild. The food is modest, Clifftop, Upper
but it has the widest selection of exotic alcohol in S harn. D u ra
The Esoteric Order The guildhall ofone of Sham's most prestigious arcane orders. A reliable source for ar Clifftop, U pper
of Aureon cane spellcasting services. Dura
The Gold & Wh ite This tavern offers fare of comfortable q u a lity at modest prices. It caters to mem bers of Daggerwatch,
the Sharn Watch and B relish veterans, but others will receive a cold welcome. Upper D u ra
M oraggan's A posh tavern specializing in strong M ror spirits. Food and drink are wealthy in quality H i ghhold, U pper
and cost. Dura
The Mystic M arket A collection of shops specializing in different categories of magic items. M ost merchan- Clifftop, U pper
dise is common or u ncommon, but rare items are occasionally avai lable. Dura
Pegasus S p i re The seat of H ouse Vadal i s in Sharn is one of the few enclaves where pegasi are raised and H ighwater,
trained. N ative to Syran ia, these celestial beasts can become stranded in Sham; Vadalis Upper D u ra
heirs care for them and match them with virtuous compan ions.
G hallanda H a l l This proud G hallanda enclave contin ues to operate a m id the fading squalor of M i ddle U nderlook,
Dura, and has become a tou rist attraction. It offers a range of services, with food and Middle D u ra
lodging of poor to comfortable quality.
The Hol low Tower A vertically oriented arena used for aerial jousting and other unusual sporting events. Hareth's Folly,
M iddle D u ra
The King of Fire A comfortable tavern and gamb l i n g hall, known as one ofthe safest places to bet on the H areth's Fol ly,
Race of Eight Winds and the events at the Hol low Tower. M iddle Dura
The Anvil This fading Ghallanda inn struggles to maintain its poor to modest quality. It's known to Callestan, Lower
be u nder the protection of the Boromar Clan, which makes it one of the safest establish D u ra
ments i n Lower Dura.
The Broken M i rror A curious tavern owned by a fam i ly of changeli ngs, the Broken M i rror changes its appear Callestan, Lower
ance and theme every week. It's rumored to be connected to the Tyrants. Dura
The Silvermist A remnant of Cal lestan's glory days, this place is a shadow of the grand establ i s h ment Callestan, Lower
Theater it once was. The current owners are known fo r staging bizarre events at the S ilvermist. D u ra
Since the Sham Watch stays out of Callestan, anyth ing can happen here.
of Fire is a grand tavern that hosts a broad range of gam tions or by virtue of having nothing worth stealing, but
bling and bookmaking activities, legal and otherwise. adventurers ought to tread lightly here, especially those
Many people make their homes in Middle Dura, who display the trappings of a wealthy lifestyle.
even if their jobs take them elsewhere. Rattlestone and There was a time when Lower Dura was the heart
Tumbledown are mostly poor tenements. Stormhold of Sharn, and remnants of this glory remain. The Sil
contains crumbling manors still occupied by some of vermist Theater in Callestan was built to entertain no
Sharn's oldest families, while many that have prospered bles. The ward boasted manors, temples, and a garrison
have moved on to more prestigious districts. for the watch. But all of these edifices were abandoned
long ago, and now most are home to nothing but squat
LOWER DURA ters and vermin.
The aptly named Precarious district i n Lower Dura The district of Callestan is a nexus of sorts, where all
leans out over the edge of the cliffs, and the Sky the major criminal powers of Sharn have a stake. Those
docks-a system using gigantic arcane cranes and levi groups are described in more detail later in this chapter.
tation-carry material up from Cliffside and the docks. The district of Fallen is a haunted ruin; this temple
Precarious is also filled with warehouses that hold district was abandoned after it was struck by a falling
these goods. Because Precarious plays an important tower. It's covered in more detail later in this chapter.
role in the economy of the city, it's the only district in Malleon's Gate is home to the goblins of Sharn, along
Lower Dura where the Sharn Watch maintains a signifi with other monstrous immigrants from Droaam and
cant presence. Darguun. The district can be an especially dangerous
The rest of Lower Dura, in stark contrast, has been place for halflings or anyone tied to the Boromar Clan.
left to.rot. Ignored by the Watch, it is the domain of O!dkeep and Gate of Gold are wretched tenement
gangs'"and crime lords. The inhabitants of the ward are districts. A significant halfling community lives in the
often protected from violence by their criminal connec- district known as The Stores, which is also a stronghold
for the Boromar Clan.
C HAPTER 3 I SHARN, CITY OF TOWERS
168
THINGS TO Do IN DURA MENTHIS PLATEAU
Dura is a quarter of extremes, from the nearly idyllic at The hub of Sharn's entertainment industry and home
mosphere of Upper Dura, down to the danger of Lower to Breland's largest university, Menthis Plateau is· one
Dura. Among its attractions and diversions are these: of the most diverse quarters in Sharn. Whether you're
Gamble. Legal gambling is heavily taxed in the city and looking for classical theater, a fine bookstore, or an ille
limited in its scope. Dura is the place to find a wide gal fighting ring, Menthis has something to offer.
range of shadier and more profitable games.
G o shopping. The Bazaar o f Middle Dura i s a n ex UPPER MENTHIS
cellent source for exotic goods, legal or otherwise. Elegant and civilized, Upper Menthis is home to four of
Clifftop, in Upper Dura, caters to adventurers and has the finest theaters in Breland: the cutting-edge Art Tem
a reasonable selection of magical goods. ple, the colorful Khavish Theater, the traditional Grand
Bend the law. Looking for a fence or need to hire an Stage, and the open-air Stargazer Theater, as well as
assassin? Lower Dura is the nexus for criminal activi the Kavarrah Concert Hall.
ties in Sharn. The shops in Upper Menthis deal mainly in fine food,
Talk about the race. The inhabitants of Dura are de fashion, and exotic goods. For instance, in the Seventh
voted to the Race of Eight Winds and are always will Tower district, Window on Yesterday, Echoes of the
ing to discuss the latest news. Past, the Mekdall Gallery, and Cloud Antiquities all
Suffer a terrible accident. The Sharn Watch ignores buy and sell interesting antiques and trinkets from dis
much of Lower Dura. Stories circulate continuously tant lands.
about dragonmarked houses and mad wizards con The district of Den'iyas is a gnome neighborhood
ducting dangerous experiments in Lower Dura with that provides a glimpse into the culture of Zilargo. Da
out interference from the law. vandi Fine Tailoring is the source of some of the finest
glamerweave clothing in Khorvaire, and the district also
lio u s E J O R ASCO's
li o u s e O F liEAL I N G IN
M I D D L E TAv 1 cK's L A N D I N G
I
I
173
aerial jousting. The Deathsgate district caters to adven aggression and a place where followers of the Blood of
turers, much as the Clifftop district of Upper Dura does. Vol can practice their faith.
Like Clifftop, the district has an adventurer's guild Tavick's Market is one of Sharn's major market dis
though the Deathsgate Guild has a dark reputation, and tricts; located directly above the Terminus lightning rail
its members often pick fights with Clifftop adventurers. station, it's filled with stands selling produce and goods
(See the "Adventurer's Guilds" section for more informa brought in by local farmers.
tion.) House Jorasco has a large house of healing in the
ward, and House Deneith maintains a recruiting station LOWER TAVICK'S LANDING
for would-be mercenaries. Two land routes t o Sharn both end at Lower Tavick's
The Graystone district has deep roots in Karrnathi Landing. The Orien lightning rail deposits passengers
culture that predate the Last War; Slogar's and the in the district of Terminus, while those who travel to
Bloody Mug are places where homesick Karrns can Sharn on the Old Road arrive at Wroann's Gate. Getting
enjoy blood sausage and Nightwood ale. The district is a to the better parts of Sharn from here means passing
haven for Karrnathi soldiers who want to avoid Brelish through Black Arch, a heavily fortified garrison district
m �'lAN �
might find yourself here for one of a few specific rea
sons, such as:
Take a chance. The Dragoneyes district is filled with
ways to lose your wages, both in established gambling
halls and on street corners. If you you're looking for
something a little more exotic, see if you can find
IS YOUR NEIGHBOR
Chance. This is the name both of a secret, roaming
gambling den and of the changeling who runs it. In
addition to offering all manner of mundane games and
A CYRAN INVADER?
bets, Chance is said to be able to arrange and cover In the wake of the Mourning, our king welcomed the
nearly any sort of wager or duel. Are you ready to survivors of that tragedy into our cities. In Sham, High
gamble with a fiend? Would you wager a year of your Walls alone holds more Cyran refugees than Karrnath
life for a moment of good fortune when you need it the has allowed across its borders. If you read the Sham In
most? If any of the rumors are true, these are exam quisitive or the Korranberg Chronicle, you've heard the end
ples of what's possible at Chance. less litany of how difficult life is, tales of overcrowding,
Find refuge. Though most of the refugees in High Walls starvation, and disease. Although we at the Voice ofBre
land sympathize with all who suffer, we refuse to ignore
come from Cyre, the district is a haven for anyone
the deadly threat in our midst. The maj ority of Cyrans
displaced in the war, including Brelish. The place is who survived the Mourning did so because they were
overcrowded, however, and resources are stretched beyond the borders of their nation. And why is that? Be
thin. Tensions are high, and feuds and power strug cause they were soldiers.
gles among the refugees take place regularly. If you're The Sham Inquisitive talks about starving children and
from Cyre, you might be able to find a cot in High ailing peasants, but it doesn't mention the Cyran spe
Walls, especially if you already have friends or family cial forces and elite war mages who now reside in High
living there. Walls. As Brelish, we all want to show compassion to
Bond over blood. The Graystone district in Middle the truly innocent, but let us never forget that these
Tavick's Landing is one of the few places in Breland people were once our enemy and could be again. And
let us also remember that the cause of the Mourning
where the Blood of Vol religion is practiced openly.
remains a mystery. Was it divine punishment for Cyran
Residents are circumspect about their activities, and
sins that have yet to be washed clean? Or could it have
undead servants are largely kept off the streets. But if been a premature activation of an arcane weapon-and
you're a follower of the faith, it's a place where you can if so, could Cyran artificers already be working on an im
participate in the Sacrament of the Blood or consult proved version in the heart of our greatest city?
with a priest. It's also the best place to find a skilled Remain alert, people of Breland! Don't let the current
necromancer, or to hear rumors about the latest plight of these unfortunates blind you to the danger!
schemes of the Order of the Emerald Claw.
CLIFFSIDE
Cliffside encompasses the docks and waterfront of
Sham, running along the edge of the Dagger River and
up the cliff above it. Massive lifts levitate goods up to the
skydocks in the district of Precarious. The area's rough
and poor, filled with sailors and dockworkers. Many of
these boisterous folk love the life in Cliffside; as a com
mon saying goes, "Better a tankard of ale in Cliffside
than a barrel of Central wine."
Plenty of legitimate services can be found here-ships
need supplies and repairs, goods need to be stored,
captains need to hire crew, and sailors need a dry bed to
sleep in once in a while-but other businesses meet dif
ferent kinds of demands. These services include bordel
los, taverns, gaming dens, and shadier entertainments
for sailors to spend their off duty hours and wages on.
Even though the Sham Watch has a token presence
here, Cliffside remains one of the most crime-ridden
districts in the city. This situation is exacerbated by the
presence of sahuagin, who sell their services as guides
to help ships traveling to Xen'drik. In fact, the sahuagin
rarely initiate violence, but there have been clashes be
tween them and aggressive, drunken sailors.
THE C oos
--- -----
Blackbones has a number of remarkable locations. Few people reside in this area. Among its major fea
For example, the Pool of Onatar's Tears is sacred to the tures are Aureon's Holt, a temple of the Restful Watch,
Sovereign of the Forge. The current caretaker is a war where Sovereign priests conduct funerals and serve
forged priest named Smith, who believes that Onatar as the caretakers of the tombs. Warden Tower is an
has plans for the warforged, and that the warforged and outpost of the Church of the Silver Flame, staffed by a
creatures of flesh are meant to live together. single hermit tasked to watch for supernatural threats.
Most of the citizens of Sharn have never been to the Though the City of the Dead is largely peaceful, sto
Cogs. The area does house the bulk of the city's war ries circulate about dark powers lurking there. Some
forged population, and if you're looking for a particular parents warn their children of the Lich-Priest Gath, who
warforged, it's the best place to start. Industrial espio steals disobedient children and forces them to work in
nage and labor struggles can add drama to adventures his kingdom of the dead, polishing the bones of his skel
in the great foundries, not to mention the possibility of etal subjects.
artificers with secret forges hidden in the Cogs.
OLD SHARN
DUNGEONS OF SHARN Sharn was built o n the foundations o f a n older city,
Sharn boasts countless opportunities for adventurers. which was itself built atop goblin ruins. This old city was
You can get caught up in espionage in Upper Central or destroyed by dark magic, courtesy of the elemental pow
drawn into a crime war in Lower Dura. Aside from the ers of the infamous Halas Tarkanan and his consort, the
intrigues and politics of the city, Sharn has a wide range Lady of the Plague. It is said that vile powers still linger
of cursed ruins, haunted slums, shunned catacombs, in these ruins, and for this reason King Galifar I had all
and other dangerous places. Wise folk avoid these ar the passages to this undercity sealed with gates of metal
eas, but those whose hunger for adventure outweighs and magic. These portals remain sealed today, and it's
their good sense might do the opposite. illegal to tamper with them. But it's generally assumed
that many treasures are hidden in the ruins of Old
THE C ITY OF THE DEAD Sharn, along with untold secrets of the past.
No one knows exactly; what lurks in Old Sharn. The
Look t o the cliffs to the north o f Sharn, and you'll see
ruins could contain ghosts or other undead, the vengeful
a collection of crypts embedded into the cliff face. This
spirits of the aberrant-marked people who took refuge
is the City of the Dead, the final resting place of the
in the fallen city. In olden times, the Lady of the Plague
wealthiest citizens of Sharn. Common folk are cremated
had power over vermin and disease, and a fanciful
after death, but members of the Sixty Families and oth
tale says that even today the undercity is inhabited by
ers with sufficient wealth have their remains interred in
swarms of sentient rats and beetles.
the tombs and tunnels of this necropolis.
AN A RT I F I CER, W I T H Two E L O R I T C H
C A N N O N S , S P I ES O N A M E M B E R O F T H E
5 H A R N WATCH
THE KING'S CITADEL a strong rivalry between the Redcloaks and the King's
Swords of the Citadel, who generally have less military
The members of the King's Citadel are the direct agents experience even though they enjoy far greater authority
of the Brelish Crown. As such, the King's Citadel stands and prestige.
above the Sharn Watch. Its members have the authority As veterans and heroes of the Last War, many of the
to take control of any investigation and to command the Redcloaks are unfriendly toward travelers from other
service of any guard or sentinel. Typically the Citadel nations. As far as the Redcloaks are concerned, the
leaves the daily chores of law enforcement (including Treaty of Thronehold is merely an intermission, and
the conflicts between the criminal organizations of the soon King Boranel will come to his senses and finish
lower towers) in the hands of the Sharn Watch. The the job that Wroann ir'Wynarn began.
Citadel is concerned with forces that threaten the entire
city, or even the kingdom. Foreign spies, mad necroman CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS
cers, and ancient fiends-these are the foes of the King's
Citadel, rather than pickpockets and burglars. Officers of the watch can levy fines on the spot when
Of course, many of these greater threats might be be they catch culprits, which is the typical way that minor
yond the capabilities of the typical Citadel agents. Much crimes are dealt with. For a serious offense, the perpe
as the Blackened Book does, the Citadel keeps a close trator is taken to a garrison and held until a trial can be
eye on unusual and talented individuals, and a party of arranged. A criminal who is considered to be a serious
adventurers might be called upon to assist the Citadel in flight risk will be taken to the most secure facility in
a dangerous mission. Sharn-the King's Citadel headquarters.
Unlike the Sharn Watch, the Citadel doesn't ask for Typically, a prisoner's case comes to the attention
help: it demands it. The knights of the Citadel are the of a local magistrate within ld4 days. The magistrate
representatives of the King of Breland, and any Brelish reviews the facts of the case and asks the victim to
citizen who refuses to help them is committing an act of confirm or deny their role in the crime while under the
treason. The Citadel isn't required to provide compen influence of a zone of truth spell. The magistrate will
sation for the services it demands, but an adventurer then propose a punishment to the accused; if the offer is
who wins the respect of the Citadel can certainly benefit refused, the case goes to trial.
from the relationship. Punishment for convicted criminals varies, but long
The Citadel is made up of these four divisions: term imprisonment is quite rare. Prisoners who deemed
to be too dangerous to be allowed to roam free are more
T he King's Dark Lanterns gather intelligence and en likely to be executed than imprisoned. Typically, a long
gage in covert operations. prison sentence is used only for criminals who can't be
T he King's Shields protect the royal family and its clos allowed to go free, but whose deaths would have nega
est associates. tive diplomatic repercussions.
T he King's Swords are elite soldiers used in the most Fines are the typical form of punishment. The amount
dangerous military operations. of a fine is generally based on the nature of the crime,
T he King's Wands are wizards and sorcerers, serving but a magistrate has the right to increase a fine to en
the crown in all arcane matters. sure that it is an effective punishment. For example,
The headquarters of the Citadel is in the Ambassador a fine of 10 gp is crippling to a commoner but can be
Towers district of Middle Central, in Andith Tower. That inconsequential to an adventurer or a member of the
structure also serves as the city jail. Aurum, and in such cases it will be increased. Also, the
court can confiscate possessions in lieu of receiving
THE REDCLOAK BATTALION payments in gold; you might not care about having to
pay a fine of 100 gp, but having your grandfather's magic
The soldiers of the Redcloak Battalion are among the
sword confiscated instead might sting. If a criminal
deadliest warriors in Sharn. When a situation calls for
can't afford to pay a fine, the sentence might be changed
extreme military force, both the Sharn Watch and the
to hard labor-or, in the case of adventurers, performing
King's Citadel turn to the Redcloak Battalion. This elite
special services on behalf of the city or the Crown.
unit fought in the forefront of the Last War, and the
Other kinds of punishment include branding (gener
bards in Menthis today sing of the exploits of Khandan
ally in a visible location, warning others of your criminal
the Hammer and Meira the Huntress. At the end of the
actions), exile, or several magical measures: an ongoing
war, the battalion was split up, and one unit was as
curse, a period of induced blindness, and so on. A repeat
signed to Sharn. Its headquarters is located in the Dag
offender might be declared an outlaw, which status is
gerwatch district of Upper Dura.
often indicated by a brand. An outlaw is stripped of the
Many of the members of the Redcloak Battalion resent
protection of the law, and anyone can take any action
being relegated to mere law enforcement, and there is
against them without fear of legal retribution.
a
BUI LDING EBERRON ADVENTURE S
ET YOUR OWN EBERRON ADVENTURES UP AND is shaped by modern ideas and aesthetics, and that is
C
running using the inspiration in this chap set apart from the rest of the D&D multiverse by a magi
ter. Eberron is filled with political intrigue, cal barrier.
extraplanar threats, magical mysteries, and This section is an introduction to those themes, de
back-alley detective work-all in the context signed to help you tell stories that fit well in Eberron. It
of a world emerging from the turmoil of war. explores techniques for making compelling recurring
The tables and advice in this chapter expand on the villains, and for keeping the action moving over the
material in chapter 3 of the Dungeon Ma ster's Guide. course of an adventure. It discusses how to use the Last
Think of this chapter as an extensive library of ideas War as a theme and a setting for adventures, and details
villainous schemes, interesting locations, adventure the Mournland as an adventure location. It goes on to
hooks, encounters, and more-to help you flesh out an describe adventures and encounters that can occur in
adventure you create for your Eberron campaign. transit-on airships, on lightning rails, and at resting
This chapter begins with a look at three key themes spots along the way. Finally, this section discusses the
that pervade many Eberron adventures: recurring role that creatures typically defined as "monsters" play
villains, action, and intrigue. Following that overview in Khorvaire, and explores Eberron's cosmology.
is an in-depth look at various organizations and other
elements you can use to drive the adventures you create. RECURRING VILLAINS ������
BACK F RO M
grow to loathe the sight of their claw-shaped symbol
and green cloaks. As they attain higher levels, the
characters will face increasingly more powerful mem
TH E D EAD?
bers of the order.
SHADES OF EVIL
Moral ambiguity is a feature of the noir genre that can
It was too good to be true.
add richness and complexity to an Eberron adventure.
A year ago, the nefarious Alais ir'Rannan was pre
sumed dead when she fell from an airship into the mid In a world where a red dragon isn't necessarily evil (and
dle of Lake Galifar. Her scheme to bring the towers of a bronze one isn't necessarily good), it's impossible
Arcanix to the ground likewise seemed ended. to know who you can trust, and even the actions of a
But yesterday, according to eyewitness reports, ir'Ran so-called villain might not fit neatly into clear-cut defini
nan was seen in the common room of Passage's own tions of good and evil. Even adventure villains are more
King's Star Inn, talking with two other unsavory-looking often driven by human motives than by cosmic concepts
characters who could not be identified. of good and evil. People sometimes do evil things for
goo d reasons.
Exercise some caution when exploring these noir
Have an Escape Plan. Secret passages, spells of invis themes in the stories you develop. It can be fun for some
ibility or teleportation, flying mounts, and throngs of people to wrestle with moral quandaries in adventures,
minions can help a villain escape when a confronta but it doesn't work for all play groups. In particular, if
tion with the adventurers goes badly. Any villain likely there's no good solution to the quandary-if the charac
has at least one fallback plan. ters have no choice but to follow a course of action they
Take Hostages. Most adventurers wouldn't be willing to abhor-some players might end up unhappy.
attack the villain if they fear that the villains' lackeys The Morally Ambiguous Villains table offers some
are about to slaughter innocent captives the moment twists you can add to the villains in this chapter, giv
they draw their swords. ing them more or less good reasons to perform their
Returning from Death. Of course, death is not a final evil deeds.
fate for player characters, and it doesn't need to be for
villains either. After the adventurers kill their nemesis, M O RA L LY A M B I G UO U S VI L L A I N S
they might next encounter the villain raised from the
d4 Villain
dead or as an undead. It's conceivable that dying could
make a villain more powerful and more angry at the The villain is targeting people with aberrant d ragon
meddling adventurers. Alternatively, the characters marks i n the desperate hope of preventing another
might assume a villain is dead-after falling over a wa War of the M ark.
terfall, being trapped in a burning building, or getting 2 The villain is suffering under a terrible cu rse, and their
swallowed by a purple worm-only to discover later increasingly serious cri mes are an effort to fight off
that the villain survived and is hungry for revenge. the curse.
3 The villain is rising to power through entirely legal
IMPROVING VILLAINS
means, winning popu lar su pport (through generous
Adventurers get more powerful over time, so if a villain
is going to remain a relevant threat, the villain needs to campaign promises) and working within the system.
get more powerful as well. There are three ways you can 4 The villain's schemes are di rected at preventing the
approach this issue: release of a demonic overlord.
CU LT N PCs CU LT ADV E N T U R E H OO K S
d8 N PC d8 Adventure Hook
A monstrous a berration (such as a beholder, a mind Chi ldren throughout town begin reciting the same
n u rsery rhyme, adding increasi ngly d isturbing de
flayer, or a gibbering mouther) lairs beneath a popular
scriptions as the verses progress. No one knows
inn, from where it twists the thoughts and dreams of
where they learned the rhyme.
those sleeping above.
2 The headmaster of an exc l usive magic academy i s ac·
2 Shadows around the old asyl u m take on a deep, inky
cast, and thi ngs move j ust outside the light. Then the
tually a cult leader who is indoctri nating the students
whispered laughs begi n.
into a cult of Sul Khatesh.
3 A seem ingly healthy noble dies of heart fai l ure
3 A wizard found mad scrawlings hidden i n a li brary
brought on by extreme terror, but with no clear
book, used the writing to make contact with a dael kyr,
source. The noble recently had an exq u isite portrait
and began creating aberration servants.
painted. Every other person portrayed by the same
4 A mind flayer serving Dyrrn dominates a magistrate
artist has also died i n a s i m i l a r fashion.
and takes control of the city watch using intel lect
4 In a remote village, the local herbalist is condem ned
devourers.
for practicing dark magic against the villagers. They
5 An assassin mixes m i nd-altering poisons laced with
swear their in nocence to the characters and beg to be
the whispers of a dark entity.
exonerated before their sched u led execution.
6 A dragonmarked heir whose fortunes were rui ned i n
5 M agic items begin exhibiting strange side effects,
t h e Last War fo u n d s a c u l t withi n t h e i r house.
causing m i nor warping of their users' flesh, or fraying
7 The local thieves' guild turns from m u ndane orga
their users' sanity.
nized crime activities to bizarre m u rders and acts of
6 Strange bou nty hu nters sta l k the characters, seem
chaos.
ingly aware of all their secrets and loved ones. Odd
8 A respected noble behaves more erratically as time
l u m ps writhe beneath the h u nters' cloaks.
goes on, treating their servants and fam ily with ran
7 A crazed hermit wanders into town and comm its
dom and escalating cruelty.
suicide in a grisly fashion. All the food in the village
spoils instantly, and aberrant creatures attack every
m idnight thereafte r.
,
8 Several caravans have gone missing over the course
of months. The authorities hire mercenary help after
an aberration attacks while wearing the signet ring of
a m issing caravan master.
I : View
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& Dungeons
MAP 4.5: FO R T I F I ED O U T P O S T
Perhaps the most outlandish idea is that the Lord of for the warforged who maintain it. Other ossuaries exist
Blades is not a true warforged at all. The first warforged in a variety of locations. The basic functions of these
were created by an artificer named Aaren d'Cannith, places remain the same, regardless of the original pur
who became furious when the house used his invention pose of the structure. The Lord of Blades' warforged
to create weapons of war. Based on that knowledge, troops defend these sites with their lives.
some believe Aaren transferred his consciousness into
a warforged body so that he could personally seek ven WARFORGED O ssuARY ADVENTURES
geance for the wrongs done to his children. The Warforged Ossuary Adventures table offers some
In the years following the war, the Lord of Blades is reasons why characters might seek out such a place.
a force to be reckoned with. The warforged are some
of the few beings able to thrive in the desolation of the WAR FO R G E D 0SSUARY ADV E N T U R E S
Mournland, so the followers of the Lord of Blades are d6 Adventure Goal
building a nation of their own amid the devastation. Rescue an artificer who i s being forced to graft war
They search out and scour sites that were devastated in
forged com ponents onto the Lord of Blades' warriors.
the Mourning to gather lost weapons and magic, all part
2 Locate a docent (see chapter 5) carried by a warforged
of their preparations for full-scale war against the crea
wizard who has joi ned up with the Lord of B lades.
tures of flesh.
3 Capture a warforged artificer thought to be an advisor
WARFORGED 0 SSUARY to the Lord of Blades, who i s touring a series of ossu
aries and inspecti ng t h e remains.
A warforged ossuary is a former temple, crypt, or
warehouse deep in the Mournland that now houses the 4 Steal a House Cann ith spell book and workshop log
remains of slain warforged. It is a place of honor and re from before the Day of Mou rning that i s being held in
flection for the Lord of Blades and his followers. the ossua ry's vault.
5 Extract a warforged spy from within the Lord of
WARFORGED 0SSUARY FEATURES Blades' followers who is close to being d iscovered.
The ossuary depicted in map 4.6 was once a temple,
6 Retrieve a Cannith schema su pposedly held within the �
which has been refitted into a resting place for the Lord
ossuary that tells of a process for transferring a war �
of Blades' followers. Equal parts crypt, monument,
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TH E WAR IS OVER? straightforward foe, it's also possible to add more depth
to the conflict. Perhaps a squad of warforged attacks a
foundry in Sham. After repelling the attack, the adven
Against all logic and reason, people in Breland continue turers realize that the owners are mistreating the war
to argue that the warforged-creations of House forged who work the forges. What do they do?
Cannith, lest we forget-are living people with souls, Another way to explore the facets of this issue is to
deserving of the same rights as the rest of us. And yet, introduce a warforged supporter of the Lord of Blades
while p h ilosop h ical debates rage and street protests who doesn't engage in violence personally, such as a
grow heated, warforged who inhabit the dead land
bard who moves among the warforged of a major city
of Cyre continue to fight as if the war had not ended,
launching raids out of the "dead-gray mist" to the neigh while speaking about the many abuses leveled against
boring lands-including, of course, Thrane. Proclaiming warforged. Especially if one of them is a warforged, how
allegiance to something called the "Lord of Blades," would the characters react to this individual?
these warforged don't seem to recognize the people The Lord of Blades can serve as a long-term op
of Thrane as living people with souls, so it's hard to ponent, as he continue to escalate his attacks over
appreciate why we should treat them that way. the course of the campaign. While he builds up his
stronghold in the Mournland, he is also gathering the
components to construct eldritch machines and other
LORD OF BLADES NPCs weapons. What would happen if the Lord of Blades were
to discover the power that caused the Mourning and un
The Lord o f Blades highlights the issues surrounding
leashed that power across Khorvaire?
the creation of the warforged. He and his followers are
ready antagonists, employing deadly methods in pursuit LORD OF BLADE S
of their aims, but their ire isn't born from evil. The Lord
of Blades' greatest desire is to ensure that his people ADVENTURE HOOKS
have a future, but his methods are colored by his anger The Lord o f Blades Adventure Hooks table sets out
at the injustices the warforged have suffered, and in some reasons how the characters could come in contact
some cases are still being subjected to. Examples of vil with the Lord of Blades.
lains linked to the Lord of Blades appear in the Lord of
Blades NPCs table. LOR D O F B L A D E S ADV E N T U R E H O O K S
d 6 Adventure Hook
LO R D O F B L A D E S N PCs
A newly awakened docent (see chapter 5) tells its new
d6 N PC owner that the Lord of Blades is the only hope for
A House Can n ith apprentice warforged becomes ob averting a coming catastrophe.
sessed with the Lord of Blades' message, disrupting
2 A m i l itary officer h i res the characters to retrace the
house operations i n the hope of beco m i ng a warrior steps of a lost scouting party i nto the Mourn land and
in the M ou rn land. rescue the commander, who i s the officer's son.
2 A warforged druid devises d iseases and poisons that 3 Warforged go m issing over the course of several
have no effect on warforged, and starts to un leash weeks; then one resu rfaces, badly damaged and
them on the general populace. raving about the Lord of Blades.
3 A warforged ranger relentlessly h u nts creatures of 4 Characters strike out into a ruin held by the Lord of
flesh in the wilderness near the Mournland. Blades and recover a lost relic that has resu rfaced i n
4 A warforged assassin poses as a simple workshop the possession o f warforged soldiers.
assistant while exterminating those who s peak out 5 A warforged accused of m u rdering several mem bers
against the rights of the warforged. of their mercenary com pany claims to have no mem
5 A mad artificer i s trying to reactivate a destroyed war ory of the n ight i n q uestion.
forged colossus. 6 The characters are met by a warforged who del ivers a
6 A band of warforged attacks a lightning rai l , i ntent o n written s u m mons from the Lord of Blades h i mself.
stealing something in one of t h e cargo carriages.
that would free another. Most of the Lords of Dust are rakshasas, but any sort of
Accomplished shapeshifters, the Lords of Dust have fiend-devil, demon, or otherwise-could be part of this
agents spread across Khorvaire. Some might wonder organization. Such fiends are spawned in Khyber and
why, with all their talents, they haven't tried to conquer aren't actually from the Outer Planes. These fiends gen
the world already. The reason is that they have no in erally work through a wide network of duped pawns and
terest in ruling this world; they want to return it to the indebted servitors.
state of unnatural glory that existed before. Their only Each overlord has a chief servant, and these leaders
interest in humanoids races is in directing them and meet in the ruins of Ashtakala in the Demon Wastes.
their affairs down the paths necessary to release their Chapter 6 contains statistics for the overlord Rak Tulk
overlords; aside from that, dealing with mortals is a te hesh and his speaker, Mordakhesh the Shadowsword.
dious chore. The overlord Sul Khatesh is served by the rakshasa
Hektula, also known as the First Scribe. Durastoran the
THE LORDS OF DUST AND THE WAR Wyrmbreaker is the speaker of Bel Shalor, the overlord
The Lords of Dust took part in the events of the Last said to be bound in Flamekeep.
War whenever they saw opportunities to further their The Lords of Dust NPCs table describes some possi
dark version of the Prophecy. It remains difficult to ble antagonists who might cross paths with adventurers.
identify what events might have been manipulated by
one of these fiends, because their schemes take so long LO R D S OF D U ST N PCs
to play out. Far in the future, it might become apparent d6 N PC
that a seeming victory for the forces of good, or a battle
A virtuous palad in is h unting and destroying those
averted that spared hundreds from death was ultimately
who m ight one day thwart the Lords of Dust.
the first step in an overlord's release. (For instance, a
soldier who was otherwise fated to die in the battle that 2 A possessed lord or lady spreads corruption through
was avoided goes on to tempt a good-hearted priest into out the noble house.
becoming corrupted.) 3 A wizard who sought to accelerate their own power
In the years since the Thronehold Accords, the Lords by making a dark bargain m u st now pay the price de
of Dust continue on as they ever have, advancing one manded by their sinister patron.
small step at a time. 4 A powerfu l demon has corrupted the local ruler in the
name of its overlord.
DEMON RUI N 5 A succubus or incubus tempts a mercenary warlord to
The Lords of Dust maintain a variety of safe houses and engage in greater and greater battles.
sanctums across Eberron, but their most tightly bound
6 One of the characters' most trusted al lies or servants
locations are the ruins left behind from the Age of De
turns out to be a rakshasa in disguise.
mons, scattered across the Demon Wastes.
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ers to realize that an apparently unconnected series of suddenly acts as if they've never seen the characters
encounters early in a campaign are actually all part of before.
the complex schemes of the Lords of Dust. These fiends 5 I ncreasi ngly vicious fiends attack the camp every few
are so devious that it is often impossible to discern a nights.
pattern to their actions until their plans have come to 6 Agents of a Lord of Dust apologetically kidnap a char
fruition and the connections have finally been made acter's loved one, politely req uesti ng that the charac
clear. (You could retroactively decide that what you in ter perform a series of favors to secure the hostage's
tended as unconnected encounters were all part of the release.
plan from the beginning!)
clear that the border had stabilized. Over the last four
THE MOURNLAND years, people have ventured into the mist for many rea
Once, Cyre shone more brightly than any o f its sibling sons. Some sought to plunder the abandoned treasures
nations in the kingdom of Galifar. It was the center of of the richest nation in Galifar. Others hoped to find lost
the kingdom's wealth, a monument to its artistic and ar loved ones, or some explanation for the disaster. Few of
cane achievements, and the site of great centers of learn these explorers have returned, and those survivors all
ing where preeminent masters of magic, architecture, tell tales of a land twisted in unpredictable and inexpli
and artifice taught at the forefront of their craft. It was cable ways.
also the home of House Cannith and its massive found
ries: some of them built on mountains or in mountains, MOURNLAND ENVIRONMENT
some gracefully spanning canyons, and others erected
The arcane energies that caused the Day of Mourning
in vast labyrinths deep underground.
and that linger in the remains of Cyre are mysterious
Today, this region is a festering wound across Khor
and unpredictable, so they can be the cause of any
vaire. A wall of mist surrounds a land twisted into
bizarre magical effect you want to bring to bear in
strange and terrible shapes. Cyre was once called the
your game.
Jewel of Galifar. Now it is the Mournland.
Maps of Cyre from before the Day of Mourning are of
limited use nowadays. The land beyond the gray mist
THE MOURNING has been twisted and warped, and distances seem to
No one knows the reason for what happened on 20 expand and shrink even as one treks across the wastes.
Olarune 994 YK. Though it had been battered, Cyre As a result, any Wisdom (Survival) check or any check
stood defiant; Cyran soldiers had recently driven deep using navigator's tools made to negotiate the Mournland
into Karrnathi territory and were holding their lines is made with disadvantage.
against the combined forces of Breland and Thrane. As if the difficulties of navigation weren't bad enough,
And then it all came to an end. explorers must bring their own provisions into the
Some say that the dead-gray mist began in Metro!, Mournland, unless they want to risk the danger of in
initially flowing out of the royal palaces of Vermishard. gesting tainted food and water.
Others swear that the disaster began in the Cannith
stronghold of Making. All that is known is that the mist TERRAIN FEATURES
swiftly spread across the kingdom, transforming the The Day of Mourning redefined the geography of Cyre.
lands and creatures caught within it. Over a million The cataclysm raised land, swallowed lakes, and moved
people died in the Mourning, including nearly all of the whole cities. In some areas, the earth has been torn and
inhabitants of central Cyre. The mist slowed its advance gouged as if by some colossal beast. In others, it has be
as it spread, and some of those in the borderlands heard come iridescent glass or semiliquid sludge. Trees in one
of the disaster in time to flee. Others survived because place turned to crystalline onyx; the flowers in another
they were already beyond the borders of Cyre; the mist place begin eerily buzzing when touched by a breeze.
stopped mere feet away from the camps of Cyran sol Nothing in the Mournland is as it was; the entire land is
diers holding sections of the Brelish front. And though a scar left by the catastrophe of the Mourning.
the vast majority of people caught in the Mourning died, Mist Wa/J. The borders of the Mournland are defined
thousands did survive. Most have no clear memory of by a wall of thick, gray mist that rises thousands of feet
the event, and there's no explanation for why they were into the air and forms a canopy that hides the ruined
spared. The superstitious say that these people are realm even from above.
cursed, that anyone touched by the Mourning is now The area covered by the mist is a shadowy, muffled re
an agent of darkness. (See the book's introduction for gion devoid of life, sunlight, and sound. The wall of mist
further details on how the Mourning might have affected ranges in thickness from a few hundred feet to as much
characters.) as five miles. Travelers who linger in the mist suffer a
In the days immediately following the Mourning, growing sense of claustrophobia and despair. It's easy
many assumed that the mist would continue to spread. to get lost in the impenetrable fog, and some travelers
Intense panic slowly turned to curiosity as it became
M u TATEo WoRGS I N
T H E MouRNLAND
have wandered in circles, unable to find their way either
through the mist or back outside it, until their food or THE KORRANBERG
Shoulder
Level
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(Side View)
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2 A cleric tries to convince her enemies to embrace the 7 While searching for a magic item in Dhakaani ruins
order, promising eternal life through u n death. across southern Khorvaire, the characters d iscover
that Emerald Claw agents are looking for the same
3 A noble with sym pathies toward the order h ides a
thing and seem to have access to i nformation the ad
cell's l i brary vault within the grounds of their estate.
ventu rers lack.
4 A suave vampire would rather charm its enemies than
crush them in battle.
8 A large force of Emerald Claw knights offers the char
acters a choice: join the order, or submit themselves
5 An artificer is obsessed with infusing necromantic
to death and an eternity of servitude from beyond the
curses i nto their construct creations.
grave.
6 A changeling necromancer often poses as a vam p i re
or a m u m my, even though it's sti l l alive.
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M A P 4 . 1 '·. S H A R N Ii E I GHTS
C R I M I N A L ORGA N I ZAT I O N S I N S H A R N
Organization Description
The Boromar Clan I nfl uential cri minal synd icate founded
by Talenta halfl i ngs, with blood ties to
H ouse jorasco
Daask Violent monsters and thugs loyal to
Droaam and answerable to Sora Katra
House Tarkanan Enemies of the dragon marked houses
dedicated to protecting and training
ind ividuals with aberrant d ragonmarks
The Tyrants Evil - m i nded changel i ngs i nterested in
gathering secrets and using them for all
sorts of nefarious pu rposes
BOROMAR OPERATIONS
The Boromar Clan has a hand in all types of crime in
Sharn. Most Boromar leaders despise unnecessary
violence, but the clan has a host of enforcers and a hand
ful of capable assassins. The clan's web of extortion is
so thoroughly woven into society that many residents
simply consider it another form of tax. Boromar spe
cializes in three fields of activity: gambling, smuggling,
and thievery.
Gambling isn't illegal in Sham, but all legal games are
taxed by the Brelish crown and are required to follow
regulations that spoil the experience for many. Boro
mar's operations are cheaper to participate in and offer
the lure of greater profits.
Smuggling has become an increasingly important
business since the Last War disrupted many traditional
lines of trade. The clan's primary import is the narcotic
called dreamlily. But the Boromars traffic in a wide
THE BOROMAR CLAN range of goods, from arcane and alchemical weapons to
The most powerful criminal organization i n Sham foreign luxury items that have been made scarce by em
started as a family of halfling immigrants from the Tal bargoes and sanctions. Under Boranel's law, it's forbid
enta Plains. Operating out of its headquarters and key den to sell Aundairian wine in Breland, so if you want
holdings in the Little Plains district of Middle Menthis, the good stuff, you'll need to work with the Boromars.
the Boromar Clan controls gambling, smuggling, and Boromar-sanctioned acts of thievery include the ac
theft in Sham. Most of the city's burglars, pickpockets, tivities of the ubiquitous pickpockets that can be found
and fences either work for or pay tithes to the organiza across the city as well as the well-planned jobs of profes
tion. The Boromar Clan's network of extortion, bribery, sional burglars. As mentioned earlier, Boromar thieves
and blackmail extends from Lower Dura to Skyway. focus their attention on visitors to Sham, thus avoiding
The Boromars' influence extends beyond criminal friction with local law enforcement. When appropriate,
enterprises into many legitimate circles of power. Ilyra stolen goods are transported out of the city by the fences
Boromar sits on the city council, and a number of and porters that drive the clan's smuggling operations.
other councilors are close allies of the clan. The family
has ties by marriage to House Jorasco. A Boromar at BoROMAR CLAN NPCs
tends every Skyway party. The family owns tenements The Boromar Clan employs people o f all races, but most
throughout Sham and invests in shipping, storing both of the organization and nearly all of its inner circle are
legal goods and contraband in many of the warehouses made up of halflings. Some of the organization's most
in Precarious and Cogsgate. In many districts, local offi important people are these:
cials and Sham Watch officers have been taking bribes
from the Boromars for generations. • Saidan Boromar is the current patriarch of the family.
The criminal nature of the Boromar Clan is an open He grew up in Lower Dura and worked as a thief and
secret, and in some districts the Boromars are seen as assassin there before taking over the organization.
hometown heroes. They are immigrants who've made • Mala Boromar d'Jorasco is an heir of House Jorasco
good, common people who've risen to rival the barons and the Boromar family matriarch. Her position in
and kings. They give the people what they want, whether the family ensures that important members of the
it's untaxed gambling, cheap spirits, or dreamlily. The Boromar Clan receive Jorasco healing services at no
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additional adventures themed around Daask.
DAAS K A DV E N T U R E H O O K S
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First and foremost, the Tyrants deal in information.
They hoard secrets, and for the right price they can be
persuaded to share what they know. Occasionally a Ty
rant approaches someone with an offer of information in
TYRANTS NPC s
TH E LOOS E ! Members of the Tyrants have a loose definition of iden
tity. The majority of the members are changelings. They
often maintain multiple identities, and a particular
It is common knowledge that those with aberrant marks identity might be shared among a group of changelings.
can't be trusted. It's not their fault; they're touched by A captain in the Sharn Watch who is actually an agent
Khyber, and the Dragon Below twists their minds. All of the Tyrants might be portrayed by a member of the
aberrants will eventually become killers. And though I Tyrants' inner circle in the morning, when he has to in
can see the appeal in using these creatures as weapons
teract with a wide range of people. But when he goes off
against our enemies, how could we bring such vipers
into our midst? duty in the evening and keeping up the identity is an eas
According to a high-ranking source in the King's Cit ier task, the role might be taken over by a young recruit.
adel, this secret operation predictably ended in disaster. The following individuals are some of the Tyrant's
After a few missions, the strike force slew their handlers most important identities:
and deserted, disappearing into the criminal underworld.
• Ek, often called Tyrant One, guides the inner circle of
They could be anywhere. There can be no clearer sign
that it's time to bring down the monarchy and institute changelings that leads the organization.
a government that is chosen by and answerable to the • Kilk is the city councilor for Lower Tavick's Landing
common people! and is a fictional persona created by the Tyrants,
played by a variety of changelings at different times.
3 identity.
A changel i n g assassin m u rders mem bers of the Boro
mar Clan, Daask, and House Tarkanan, then takes on 3 Act as bodyguards fo r a member of the Tyrants who is
the identities of its victims. pretending to be an i mportant figure.
4 A changeling bard gathers i ncri m i n ating i nformation 4 Assume new identities to i n filtrate the Sharn Watch
about mem bers of the King's Dark Lanterns, then and steal criminal records.
blackmails them. 5 U se incri m i nating i nformation to blackmail a mem ber
5 A Brelish changeling veteran of the Last War of the city cou ncil.
was distrusted by fellow sold iers because of the 6 Find evidence that can be used to b lackmail a mem
shapechanger's heritage. The veteran now exposes ber of a dragon marked house.
those soldiers' darkest secrets to their friends,
fam i lies, and employers. TYRANTS ADVENTURE HOOKS
6 A changel i n g mage masquerades as a priest of the The Tyrants Adventure Hooks table presents ideas for
S ilver Flame and uses spells to send the rel igion's additional adventures themed around the Tyrants.
fa ithful "signs" from Tira M i ron that encourage them
to spy, steal, and kill for the Tyrants. TYR A N TS ADV E N T U R E H O O K S
d6 Adventure Hook
TYRANTS CAMPAIGN THEMES A friendly N PC d ies in combat. The corpse reveals its
The primary theme of the Tyrants is mystery. I n dealing true form to be that of a changeli ng.
with the Tyrants, there is always a question of what is 2 A l ist of Tyrants agents and their identities exists
real and what the true objective actually is. With the Ty somewhere i n Sharn. Every legitimate and crim i n a l
rants, anything could be a long con, and both allies and organization i n the c i t y competes t o find it.
enemies may not be who they appear to be. 3 The Shorn Inquisitive publishes an anonymous article
The Tyrants have three objectives: acquiring gold, accusing several members of the Sharn Watch, the
gathering secrets, and protecting the changelings of city council, and the dragonmarked houses of being
Sham. In working the Tyrants into a campaign, the first
changeling members of the Tyrants. The accused indi
question is which of these objectives will take prece
viduals vehemently deny the claims.
dence. Are they primarily grifters, trying to squeeze as
much profit as possible out of the situation? Are they 4 A shamed Brelish general of the Last War goes on a
mainly working to gather secrets, and to use those se k i l l i ng spree against changelings, claiming the Tyrants
crets to manipulate others? Or are they most concerned ru i ned his life by exposing his extramarital affair.
with helping other changelings, who are often with the 5 A Sharn Watch captain being b lackmailed by the Ty
objects of fear and suspicion? rants has had enough. He publicly exposes h i s incrim
The Tyrants offer an easy way to provide adventurers i nating secrets, then offers a reward for i nformation
with information. The Spider can be a strong ally for concerning the organ ization.
adventurers, and you can always arrange for an agent of
6 Roll on another organ ization's Adventure H ooks ta
the Tyrants to step out of the shadows with and offer to
ble; the Tyrants are secretly i nvolved in the situation.
sell a secret.
ter the room. Warforged can enter the building for free, Coal sprints 60 feet away from the characters into High
but other humanoids must pay 5 cp each. Wall's streets, intent on escape. The warforged has no
When the characters enter the Cog Carnival, read or particular destination in mind. She simply wants to get
paraphrase the following boxed text to the players: away from the characters, whom she believes set her up
to be assassinated. This chase takes place in the "the
Smoky, low fla mes i n a fi replace barely i l l u m i n ate the ater of the mind," and there is no map for it.
If Coal runs away and the characters pursue her, use
cracked stone walls a n d fi lthy floor of this establishment.
the chase rules and Urban Chase Complications table
The single-room space i s crowded with warforged with
in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master's Guide to resolve
severed digits or l i mbs, scars, b u rn s , and other wou nds. the scene. The chase ends when the characters catch up
Other warforged i n the area are gathered aro u n d tra to Coal or after three rounds, when a Daask hit squad
d itional d ice, card, dart, and board games as well as intercepts Coal as she runs through an alley.
carnival competitions such as throwing metal rings
DAASK H IT SQUAD
onto posts, tossing a ball at a tower of weighted i ron If they fail to catch up to Coal before the Daask hit squad
cups hard enough to make them fall dow n , and striking attacks, the characters hear the warforged scream for
a homemade machine hard enough with a hammer to help in a nearby alley. If the characters rush to help her,
m a ke it ring a bell. they find the warforged unconscious on the ground,
but stable, surrounded by the Daask criminals. If the
A small bar i n the corner serves cheap ale. Behind this
characters resolve the chase by catching up to Coal, the
bar, a warforged bartender shouts jeers at patrons los
Daask criminals attack as soon as the chase ends, and
ing gam es. the warforged aids the characters in battle.
The Daask force consists of Hound, a chaotic evil
female shifter (see chapter 6), leading three cranky
T6
,.
I �
AREAS OF TERMINUS T4b. Garra 's Living Area. When the characters enter
this area, read or paraphrase the following boxed text to
The following encounter locations are keyed to map the players:
4. 14. This map does not depict the entire district of Ter
minus, but it shows the most likely places the characters
explore in this adventure. Cabi nets hang on the north wall of this l a rge roo m , which
is hazy with the smell of tobacco. N ear the east wal l
Tl . SKYCOACH PLATFORM
stands an overstuffed couch. An rectangular table tu rned
on its side blocks a closed door on the south wall.
A large platform at the top of a tower i s crowded with a
d iverse crew of h u m a noids. A pro m i nent dock j uts out __/
Four kenku cutpurses working for Daask hide in two
from the tower, overlooking the crowded bridges and
groups of two: one group behind the couch, the other
streets below. An u n occupied skycoach with a d ragon behind the table. A character with a passive Wisdom
shaped prow is chained to the south platform. (Perception) score of 13 or higher is not surprised by the
kenku, which prefer to attack from behind the furniture.
When using the couch and table for protection, a crea
A crowd of 2d8 commoners and ld4 nobles is gathered ture gains half cover. The cabinets are empty.
on the platform waiting to hire skycoaches. T4c. Garra 's Bedroom. When the characters enter
The docked skycoach belongs to an off-duty profes this area, read the following boxed text to the players:
sional driver named Belga Twillo. The chain anchoring
the skycoach to the dock has AC 19, 10 hit points, and
immunity to poison and psychic damage. A character A frantic gnoll is picking up papers from the floor to
who makes a successful DC 17 Dexterity check with th row i nto a b u rn i n g brazier at the center of the room.
thieves' tools picks the chain's lock. A bystander who Beyond the brazier, Sergeant V i l roy is bound at the hands
catches a character trying to steal the skycoach shouts
and feet with rope, lying bloodied a n d u nconscious on a
for the Sharn Watch (see "Sharn Watch Personali
large mattress.
ties," page 258).
T 2 . C OMMERC E STAIR
Nur, a Daask gnoll, is burning Garra's documents as or
This 10-foot-wide outdoor spiral staircase wraps around
dered by the half-ogre. Of the documents that remain on
a tower containing several taverns and shops that sell
the floor, two are of interest. One is a receipt for a light
souvenirs and gifts for the city's visitors to bring home
ning rail ticket, indicating the time, date, and journey of
to loved ones. The stair leads from the skycoach plat
Garra's lightning rail trip to Wroat. The other document
form (area Tl) to the roof of the tenement tower.
contains a list of the names and addresses of the war
T3. TENEMENT TOWER STAIRS forged hired to work in the ruins of Old Sharn. You can
This interior staircase connects the tenement tower roof add other documents that could act as story hooks for
to areas T4, TS, and T6. future adventures.
Sergeant Germaine Vilroy (neutral female Brelish
T4. ToP-LEVEL APARTMENTs human veteran) is restrained and unconscious and
The doors to both apartments on this level are locked. currently has 5 hit points remaining. After getting the
T4a. Martisha's Apartment. Martisha Kullandra information she needed from Germaine, Garra knocked
(neutral female Brelish human magewright; see chapter her out using oil of taggit (see "Caden d'Orien" earlier in
6) lives in this modestly furnished studio apartment. If this adventure). A character can remove the ropes bind
the characters break into the 80-year-old's apartment, ing the sergeant as an action. If the characters wake up
Martisha flees, fighting for her life if she must. If the Germaine, she tells the characters to continue pursuing
characters knock on her door, Martisha shouts to them Garra and that she can get help for herself.
through the door to go away.
A character who succeeds on DC 1 2 Charisma (Per
T5. LOWER-LEVEL APARTMENTS
suasion) check convinces Martisha to talk to the charac The lower-level apartments have similar layouts to the
ters. If asked about Garra, Martisha gives the characters ones in area T4 but house different creatures. The door
the following information: to every apartment is locked. If you need occupants for
an apartment, use the Apartment Occupants table to
generate them. There is a 10 percent chance that an
I
This stone hall is covered i n graffiti. Crude paintings and
p h rases such as "TYRANTS R U L E ! " and "CYRANS GO TlO. TERMINUS STATION LIFT
This lift connects Terminus Station with the higher lev
H O M E!" adorn the walls and cei li ng.
els of the Terminus district.
I
This room reeks of urine and body odor. The floor is cov
This store sells is run by Gurty, an elderly kenku. If the
ered in em pty l i q u o r bottles, food waste, and old copies characters ask Gurty about Garra, the kenku mimics
of the Sharn Inquisitive. the half-ogre's voice, saying, "My coach is leaving soon.
Hurry it up, or I'll pluck ya, stupid bird."
I
A groan i n g halfl i ng is tied to a wood chair i n the center
Tl3. BATHROOM
of this roo m , his s h i rt stained with blood and sweat, and
The bathroom contains six stalls, each with a toilet,
h i s head covered i n a canvas bag. and a 3-foot-high pillar at the center of the room with a
cleansing stone (see chapter 5) embedded in its top.
II
' ,
Tl4. STATION PLATFORM this conductor sends word throughout the train to the
other conductors to keep an eye on the character.
If the characters move outside the coach, they must ei
The sound of l ightn ing rail trains stopping and starting ther move along the roof or cling to the sides of the train
el sewhere i n Ter m i n u s Station echoes throughout the cars to find Garra.
platform. A crowd of people is gathered near a l ightning Walking on Rooftops. A creature moving across the
rai l train crackling with arcs of blue energy. "If you ' re train car roofs must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity (Ac
robatics) check to keep its balance. A creature that fails
headed to Wroat, you'll have to catch the next one!" c ries
this check by 4 or less slips and falls prone on the roof.
a conductor in the l ivery of House O rien as the train be·
A creature that fails this check by 5 or more falls off the
gins moving out of the station. train and takes 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
Climbing the Sides. A creature climbing along the
sides of the cars must succeed on a DC 10 Strength
A crowd of 2d10 commoners and 2d4 nobles gathers
(Athletics) check to hang on. A creature that fails this
on the platform along with six hostile human bandits
check almost loses its grip and makes no progress. A
who belong to Daask. The bandits are here to cover Gar
creature that fails this check by 5 or more falls off the
ra's escape and attack characters who try to board the
train and takes 7 (2d6) bludgeoning damage.
departing train.
To catch Garra, the characters need to board the light CONFRONTING GARRA
ning rail train leaving the station. The coach has ten
cars: a helm car (at the front), a first-class car, a galley When the characters peer into the foremost cabin of the
car, a dining car, two standard cars, two sleeper cars, a first-class car, read or paraphrase the following:
steerage car, and a cargo car (at the rear).
The characters have 30 seconds (5 rounds) to catch An eight-foot-ta l l m u scular woman with a tusked , pro
the coach before it leaves Terminus Station. A character
truding j aw l o u n ges o n a couch in a l uxury passenger
can jump onto a lightning rail car by making a success
ful DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check. A character who car. She reads the Sham Inquisitive and keeps a battleaxe
fails this check takes 3 (ld6) bludgeoning damage and with i n arm's reach. A wooden chest rests by her feet, and
falls prone on the platform. At the start of round six, the a table l i ned with fi n e foods and bottles of spirits stands
coach moves 20 feet per round for three rounds before close by.
accelerating to top speed.
Left at the Station. If none of the characters board
the lightning rail train, Garra gets away with the books Garra paid for the privilege of a private car. She is a cha
and schemas found in Old Sham's ruins. A more likely otic evil half-ogre with Intelligence and Wisdom scores
scenario is that one or more characters are left behind of 14 (+2). Her passive Wisdom (Perception) score is 1 2 .
as the others board the train. In this case, keep the ini Rot, a chaotic evil male sprite that works fo r Daask, is
tiative order and alternate between the characters stuck also in the car and invisible when the characters enter.
on the platform with the Daask bandits and the charac The sprite is Garra's servant-a gift from Niho Koi. If
ters exploring the train. The characters who remain at the characters attack Garra, Rot shoots at them with his
the station can seek out an adventurous skycoach driver bow; if Garra falls, the sprite flees. Rot's mind has been
and bribe them to fly after the train before making a DC warped by Niho Koi's magic, and he can't provide any
13 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check to leap onto the roof of a useful information to the characters if captured.
train car safely. Characters who fail the check take fall If Garra feels outnumbered, she smashes the closest
prone on the roof of the car and take bludgeoning dam window and climbs onto the roof, where she can more
age based on the distance fallen (ld6 per 10 feet). easily shove enemies off the train.
ROLEPLAYING GARRA
LIGHTNING RAIL TO WROAT Garra has no remorse when it comes to her crimes and
After making it onto the lightning rail train, the charac can always rationalize her behavior. When she notices
ters must explore it to find Garra. the characters, Garra puts up her hands to indicate she
means them no harm. She is impressed that the charac
EXPLORING THE COACH ters managed to catch up with her. The half-ogre offers
Each car has a human conductor (commoner) wearing a 100 gp bribe to the group for the characters to tell the
the livery of House Orien. When a character enters a Sham Watch she escaped and have that be the end of
car, the conductor asks to see the character's ticket. If it. If the characters express interest in joining Daask,
the character doesn't have a ticket, the conductor de she chuckles asks why they'd do such a thing, and if
mands the character pay 15 gp (the price of the ticket she's satisfied with the answer, obliges. Garra pays new
plus a modest fine) or face armed guards who attempt recruits 100 gp each, promises there is more reward to
to arrest the character at the next stop. A character who come, and says the characters' first task is to help her
makes a successful DC 14 Charisma (Intimidation or transport the chest to Droaam from Wroat. If the char
Persuasion) check convinces the conductor to stand acters refuse, Garra attacks. Garra is willing to die for
down without the character paying. If the character can't Daask and fights accordingly.
pay and fails to convince the conductor to stand down,
C ONCLUSION
I f the characters fail to stop Garra, she gets away and
brings the books and schemas to Niho Koi in Droaam.
The information contained in these documents is up to
you, but it might be dangerous information the Daugh
ters of Sora Kell could weaponize. The characters could
face the rising threat of Droaam in future adventures.
See the "Droaam" section earlier in this chapter for
more adventure ideas.
a
TREASURE S
AGIC PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY
life of Khorvaire. Common magic items
MAGIC ITEMS
are widespread, and the crystals known The world of Eberron thrums with the power of magic.
as dragonshards serve as the fuel of the Artificers, magewrights, wizards, and other spellcast
magical economy and are used in items that ers produce an abundance of magic items, particularly
amplify the powers of dragonmarks. those with the common rarity.
2 75
ARCANE PROPULSION ARM CLEANSING STONE
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement by a Wondrous item, common
creature missing a hand or an arm) A cleansing stone is a sphere 1 foot in diameter, en
This prosthetic appendage was developed by artificers graved with mystic sigils. When touching the stone,
of House Cannith. To attune to this item, you must at you can use an action to activate it and remove dirt and
tach it to your arm at the wrist, elbow, or shoulder, at grime from your garments and your person.
which point the prosthetic magically forms a copy of the Such stones are often embedded in pedestals in public
appendage it's replacing. squares in Aundair or in high-end Ghallanda inns.
While attached, the prosthetic provides these benefits:
DOCENT
• The prosthetic is a fully capable part of your body.
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement by a war
• You can take an action to remove the prosthetic, and it
forged)
removes itself if your attunement to it ends. It can't be
removed against your will. A docent is a small metal sphere, about 2 inches across,
• The prosthetic is a magic melee weapon with which studded with dragonshards. To attune to a docent, you
you're proficient. It deals ld8 force damage on a hit must embed the item somewhere on your body, such as
and has the thrown property, with a normal range of your chest or your eye socket.
20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. When thrown, the Sentience. A docent is a sentient item of any align
prosthetic detaches and flies at the target of the attack, ment with an Intelligence of 16, a Wisdom of 14, and
then immediately returns to you and reattaches. a Charisma of 14. It perceives the world through your
senses. It communicates telepathically with you and can
ARM BLADE speak, read, and understand any language it knows (see
Weapon (any one-handed melee weapon), common (re "Random Properties" below).
quires attunement by a warforged) Life Support. Whenever you end your turn with 0 hit
points, the docent can make a Wisdom (Medicine) check
An armblade is a magic weapon that attaches to your
with a +6 bonus. If this check succeeds, the docent sta
arm, becoming inseparable from you as long as you're
bilizes you.
attuned to it. To attune to this item, you must hold it
Random Properties. A docent has the following
against your forearm for the entire attunement period.
properties:
As a bonus action, you can retract the armblade into
your forearm or extend it from there. While it is ex Languages. The docent knows Common, Giant, and
tended, you can use the weapon as if you were holding ld4 additional languages chosen by the DM. If a
it, and you can't use that hand for other purposes. docent knows fewer than six languages, it can learn
a new language after it hears or reads the language
BELASHYRRA'S BEHOLDER C ROWN through your senses.
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement) Skills. The docent has a +7 bonus to one of the follow
This symbiotic crown is carved from dark purple and ing skills (roll a d4): (1) Arcana, (2) History, (3) Investi
mauve stone, with ten points like stalks set with gem gation, or (4) Nature.
stones resembling the eyestalks of a beholder. To attune Spells. The docent knows one of the following spells
to this item, you must wear it on your head for the entire and can cast it at will, requiring no components (roll
attunement period, during which the crown's hidden a d6): (1-2) detect evil and good or (3-6) detect magic.
tendrils burrow into your scalp to bond with your skull. The docent decides when to cast the spell.
While wearing the crown, you can see normally in Personality. A docent is designed to advise and assist
darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance the warforged it's attached to. One of the simple func
of 1 20 feet. tions of a docent is to serve as a translator. The docent's
Spe/Js. The crown has 10 charges. While wearing it, properties are under its control, and if you have a bad re
you can use an action to expend some of its charges to lationship with your docent, it might refuse to assist you.
cast one of the following spells from it (spell save DC
16): charm person (1 charge), disintegrate (6 charges), DYRRN'S TENTACLE WHI P
fear (3 charges), finger ofdeath (7 charges), flesh to Weapon (whip), very rare (requires attunement)
stone (6 charges), hold person (2 charges), ray of enfee
This long, whip-like strand of tough muscle bears a
blement (2 charges), sleep (1 charge), slow (3 charges),
sharp stinger at one end. To attune to this symbiotic
telekinesis (5 charges). weapon, you wrap the whip around your wrist for the
The crown regains ld6 + 3 expended charges entire attunement period, during which time the whip
daily at dawn. painfully embeds its tendrils into your arm.
Symbiotic Nature. The crown can't be removed from
You gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
you while you're attuned to it, and you can't voluntarily with this magic whip, but attack rolls made against aber
end your attunement to it. If you're targeted by a spell rations with this weapon have disadvantage. A creature
that ends a curse, your attunement to the crown ends, hit by this weapon takes an extra ld6 psychic damage.
and it detaches from you. When you roll a 20 on the d20 for an attack roll with
The daelkyr Belashyrra made these crowns. While on this weapon, the target is stunned until the end of its
the same plane of existence as the crown, Belashyrra next turn.
can see through its eyestalks.
C HAPTER 5 I TREASURES
As a bonus action, you can sheathe the whip by caus and can immediately use the goggles to cast locate
ing it to retract into your arm, or draw the whip out of creature to find that creature. This property can't be
your arm again. used again until the next dawn.
Symbiotic Nature. The whip can't be removed from
you while you're attuned to it, and you can't voluntarily GLAMERWEAVE
end your attunement to it. If you're targeted by a spell Wondrous item, common or uncommon
that ends a curse, your attunement to the whip ends, Glamerweave is clothing imbued with harmless illusory
and it detaches from you. magic. While wearing the common version of these
clothes, you can use a bonus action to create a moving
EARWORM illusory pattern within the cloth.
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement) Uncommon glamerweave can have the pattern rise
To attune to this symbiont, you must hold it against the from the cloth. For example, a glamerweave gown might
skin behind your ear for the entire attunement period, be wreathed in harmless, illusory flames, while a glam
whereupon it burrows into your head and bonds to your erweave hat might have illusory butterflies fluttering
skull. While the earworm is inside you, you can speak, around it.
read, and write Deep Speech. When you make a Charisma (Performance) or Cha
Spells. The earworm has 4 charges. You can cast risma (Persuasion) check while wearing the uncommon
the following spells from it, expending the necessary version of glamerweave, you can roll a d4 and add the
number of charges (spell save DC 15): detect thoughts number rolled to the check. Once you use this property,
(2 charges) or dissonant whispers (1 charge). Each time it can't be used again until the next dawn.
you use the earworm to cast the detect thoughts spell, it
sends the information gleaned to the nearest daelkyr, or IMBUED Woon Focus
to the next nearest earworm until it reaches a daelkyr. Wondrous item, common (requires attunement)
The earworm regains ld4 expended charges An imbued wood focus is a rod, staff, or wand cut from
daily at dawn. a tree infused with extraplanar energy. If you're a spell
Symbiotic Nature. The earworm can't be removed caster, you can use this orb as a spellcasting focus.
from you while you're attuned to it, and you can't volun When you cast a damage-dealing spell using this item
tarily end your attunement to it. If you're targeted by a as your spellcasting focus, you gain a +1 bonus to one
spell that ends a curse, your attunement to the earworm damage roll of the spell, provided the damage is of the
ends, and it exits your body. type associated with the item's wood. The types of wood
and their associated damage types are listed in the Im
EVERBRIGHT LANTERN bued Wood Focus table.
Wondrous item, common
This bullseye lantern contains an Eberron dragonshard I M B U E D Woo o Focu s
that sheds light comparable to that produced by a con Wood Damage Type
tinual flame spell. An everbright lantern sheds light in a
Fern ian Ash Fire
120-foot cone; the closest 60 feet is bright light, and the
l rian Rosewood Radiant
farthest 60 feet is dim light.
Kythrian Manchineel Acid or poison
FEATHER TOKEN Lamannian Oak Lightn ing or thunder
Wondrous item, common M abaran Ebony N ecrotic
This small metal disk is inscribed with the image of a Risian Pine Cold
feather. When you fall at least 20 feet while the token Shavarran Birch Force
is on your person, you descend 60 feet per round and Xorian Wenge Psychic
take no damage from falling. The token's magic is ex
pended after you land, whereupon the disk becomes KEYCHARM
nonmagical. Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by a
creature with the Mark of Warding)
FINDER'S GOGGLES
This small stylized key plays a vital role in the work of
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement by a
House Kundarak. If you cast the alarm, arcane lock, or
creature with the Mark ofFinding)
glyph of warding spell, you can tie the effect to the key
The lenses of these garish goggles are carved from Si charm so that whoever holds it receives the notification
berys dragonshards. While wearing these lenses, you from the alarm spell, bypasses the lock of the arcane
gain the following benefits: Jock spell, or avoids triggering the glyph placed by the
When you make a Wisdom (Insight) check, you can glyph of warding spell. In addition, the holder (who
roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the check. needn't be attuned to the item) can take an action to end
As an action, you can use the goggles to examine an any one spell tied to it, provided the holder knows the
object to identify the aura of the last creature that command word you set for ending the tied spells. The
touched it. Make a Wisdom (Insight) check against a keycharm can have up to three tied spells at one time.
DC of 1 3 + the number of days since the last contact
occurred. On a success, you learn the creature's type
CHAPTER 5 I TREASURES
277
KYRZIN'S OOZE While attuned to these gloves, you gain one of the
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement) following proficiencies (your choice when you attune to
the gloves):
This opalescent, symbiotic goo comes sealed in a jar
and slowly shifts and moves, as if endlessly exploring • Sleight of Hand
the jar's interior. To attune to this item, you must first • Thieves' tools
drink the contents of the jar, unlocking the following • One kind of artisan's tools of your choice
properties. • One kind of musical instrument of your choice
Resistant. While attuned to Kyrzin's ooze, you have
When you make an ability check using the chosen pro
resistance to poison and acid damage, and you're im ficiency, you add double your proficiency bonus to the
mune to the poisoned condition. check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Amorphous. As an action, you can speak a command
Symbiotic Nature. The gloves can't be removed from
word and cause your body to assume the amorphous you while you're attuned to them, and you can't volun
qualities of an ooze. For the next minute, you (along tarily end your attunement to them. If you're targeted by
with any equipment you're wearing or carrying) can a spell that ends a curse, your attunement to the gloves
move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without ends, and they can be removed.
squeezing. Once you use this property, it can't be used
again until the next dawn. ORB OF SHIELDING
Acid Breath. As an action, you can exhale acid in a Wondrous item, common (requires attunement)
30-foot line that is 5 feet wide. Each creature in that line
An orb ofshielding is a polished, spherical chunk of
must make a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 36
crystal or stone aligned to one of the planes of existence.
(8d8) acid damage on a failed save, or half as much dam
If you're a spellcaster, you can use this orb as a spell
age on a successful one. Once you use this property, it
casting focus.
can't be used again until the next dawn.
If you're holding the orb when you take damage of the
Symbiotic Nature. The ooze can't be removed from
type associated with the orb's material, you can use your
you while you're attuned to it, and you can't voluntarily
reaction to reduce the damage by ld4 (to a minimum of
end your attunement to it. If you're targeted by a spell
0). The materials and their associated damage types are
that ends a curse, your attunement to the ooze ends, as
listed in the Orb of Shielding table.
it seeps out of you.
If you die while the ooze is inside you, it bursts out
O R B OF S H I E L D I N G
and engulfs you, turning your corpse into a black pud
ding allied with the daelkyr (see the Monster Manual for Planar Material Damage Type
the black pudding's stat block). Fernian basalt Fire
I rian q uartz Radiant
LIVING ARMOR Kythrian skarn Acid and poison
Armor (any), very rare (requires attunement) Laman nian fl int Lightning and thu nder
This hideous armor is formed from black chitin, beneath Mabaran obsidian Necrotic
which veins pulse and red sinews glisten. To attune Risian shale Cold
to this item, you must wear it for the entire attune- Shavarran chert Force
ment period, during which tendrils on the inside bur
Xorian marble Psychic
row into you.
While wearing this armor, you have a +l bonus to
PROSTHETIC LIMB
Armor Class, and you have resistance to the following
Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by a
damage types: necrotic, poison, and psychic.
creature missing some or all ofa limb)
Symbiotic Nature. The armor can't be removed from
you while you're attuned to it, and you can't voluntarily This artificial limb replaces a hand, arm, foot, leg, or
end your attunement to it. If you're targeted by a spell similar appendage that was lost or removed. While the
that ends a curse, your attunement to the armor ends, prosthetic is attached and attuned to you, it functions
and it detaches from you. identically to the body part it is replacing. You can de
The armor requires fresh blood be fed to it. Immedi tach or reattach it as an action, and it can't be removed
ately after you finish any long rest, you must either feed by anyone else.
half of your remaining Hit Dice to the armor (round up) If you have multiple prosthetic limbs, they count as a
or take 1 level of exhaustion. single magic item with regard to the number of magic
items you can attune to.
LIVING GLOVES
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement) SCRIBE'S PEN
Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by a
These symbiotic gloves-made of thin chitin and
creature with the Mark of Scribing)
sinew-pulse with a life of their own. To attune to them,
you must wear them for the entire attunement period, You can use this pen to write on any surface. You decide
during which the gloves bond with your skin. whether the writing is visible or invisible, but the writing
is always visible to a person with the Mark of Scribing.
C HAPTER 5 I TREASURES
Any creature with the Mark of Scribing can use an ac SPELLSHARD
tion to touch the invisible writing, making it visible to all. Wondrous item, common
If you use the pen to write on a creature that isn't a
This polished Eberron dragonshard fits in the hand and
construct, the writing fades after 7 days.
stores information similar to a book. The shard can
SHIFTWEAVE hold the equivalent of one book that's no more than 320
Wondrous item, common pages long. A shard can be created blank or already
filled with information. When the shard is created, the
When a suit of shiftweave is created, up to five different creator can set a passphrase that must be spoken to ac
outfits can be embedded into the cloth. While wearing cess the information stored within.
the clothing, you can speak its command word as a bo While holding the shard, you can use an action to
nus action to transform your outfit into your choice of open your mind to the shard, seeing its content in your
one of the other designs contained within it. Regardless mind. On subsequent rounds, reading the text or scrib
of its appearance, the outfit can't be anything but cloth ing new text on blank "pages" in the shard requires
ing. Although it can duplicate the look of other magical concentration (as if concentrating on a spell) and takes
clothing, it doesn't gain their magical properties. the same amount of time it takes you to read and write
normally. Thinking of a particular phrase or topic draws
SPEAKING STONE
you to the first section in the shard that addresses it.
Wondrous item, very rare
A wizard can use a spellshard as a spellbook, with
The key to long-distance, virtually instantaneous com the usual cost in gold and time to "scribe" a spell into
munication across Khorvaire is House Sivis's network the shard.
of message stations. Each station contains at least one
speaking stone, which is carved from a Siberys dragon VENTILATING LUNGS
shard and inscribed with arcane symbols that uniquely Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
identify it. If you're a gnome with the Mark of Scribing, These metallic nodules were created in response to the
you can touch the stone and use an action to cast the poisonous gases used on the battlefields of the Last War.
sending spell from it. The target is any other speaking When you attune to these lungs, they replace the lungs
stone whose location or unique sequence of symbols in your chest, which disappear. The lungs allow you to
you know. A creature within 5 feet of the stone hears the breathe normally, even in an antimagic field, and their
message as if they were the target. breathing function can't be suppressed by magic.
In a Sivis message station, a gnome is always on duty Outside an antimagic field or any other effect that
by the speaking stone, listening for messages that might suppresses magic, these lungs allow you to breathe
come in and transcribing them for delivery to their in normally in any environment (including a vacuum), and
tended recipients. you have advantage on saving throws against harm-
ful gases such as those created by a cloudkill spell,
a stinking cloud spell, inhaled poisons, and gaseous
•
breath weapons .
As an action, you can use these lungs to exhale a gust
of wind, as if you had cast the gust of wind spell (spell
save DC 1 5) with no components. This property of the
lungs can't be used again until the next dawn.
If your attunement to the lungs ends, your original
lungs reappear.
WAND SHEATH
Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by a war
forged)
A wand sheath clamps onto your arm and imparts the
following benefits:
The wand sheath can't be removed from you while
you're attuned to it.
• You can insert a wand into the sheath as an action.
The sheath can hold only one wand at a time .
• You can retract or extend a wand from the sheath as a
bonus action. While the wand is extended, you can use
it as if you were holding it, but your hand remains free.
If a sheathed wand requires attunement, you must
attune to the wand before you can use it. However, the
wand sheath and the attached wand count as a single
magic item with regard to the number of magic items
you can attune to. If you remove the wand from the
sheath, your attunement to the wand ends.
C HAPTER 5 I TREASURES
2 79
WHEEL OF WIND AND WATER
Wondrous item, uncommon
When mounted at the helm of an elemental galleon or
airship, this wheel allows a creature that possesses the
Mark of Storm to telepathically control the elemental
bound inside the vessel.
If a wheel of wind and water is mounted on a mun
dane sailing ship, a creature with the Mark of Storm
who is using the wheel can create an area of ideal
conditions around the vessel, increasing its speed by 5
miles per hour.
ELDRITC H MACHINES
I n a Cannith enclave, a team of artificers maintain a
creation forge that produces warforged. In the Shadow
Marches, druids guard the seals that hold the daelkyr
at bay. In the sewers below Sham, a mad necromancer
puts the final touches on a device that will turn the
city's residents into undead. Such contraptions are
categorized as eldritch machines-magical devices of
immense power that are too large to be moved easily. El
dritch machines are marvels of magic and engineering
that require special components and conditions to func
tion. For example, a particular eldritch machine might
function only in a manifest zone where two or more
planes are coterminous.
Ultimately, eldritch machines are plot devices that can
represent the culmination of a villain's master plan or a
last defense against evil.
CREATION FORGE
A creation forge is a spherical chamber that contains a
floating obelisk. This obelisk creates warforged souls
and places them in newly constructed warforged bodies.
Only dragonmarked members of House Cannith can
create and maintain such devices, and though the Treaty
of Thronehold mandated the destruction of all creation
forges in Khorvaire after the Last War, at least one cre
ation forge is rumored to exist in the bowels of Sham.
DIMENSIONAL SEAL
A dimensional seal is a massive stone slab covered with
a complex pattern of runes and sigils. The seal projects
an invisible field in a 2-mile radius. This field blocks
all forms of conjuration magic and any other effect that
involves teleportation or planar travel. Dimensional
seals are usually found in the Eldeen Reaches and the
Shadow Marches-reminders of the conflict between
the Gatekeepers and the daelkyr. The techniques used
to create these seals have been long lost. It's said that as
a whole, the dimensional seals keep the daelkyr bound
in Khyber and prevent Xoriat from becoming cotermi
nous with Eberron. If enough of these seals are de
stroyed, there could be dire consequences for the world.
MABARAN RESONATOR CREATING COMMON MAGIC ITEMS
This dread device draws on the power of Mabar, in
Normally, a magic item i n Eberron i s created using the
fusing the dead with the malign energy of the Endless
crafting rules in the Dungeon Master's Guide or Xana
Night. While it is active, any humanoid that dies within
thar's Guide to Everything. But if you have a dragon
2 miles of the resonator reanimates 1 minute later as a
shard, you can more easily create a common magic item.
zombie (see the Monster Manual for its stat block) under
To create such an item with a dragonshard, a charac
the control of the creature controlling the device.
ter must have proficiency in the tools used to create a
MASTER'S CALL nonmagical version of the item or proficiency in the Ar
While this looks like a scrap heap assembled from cana skill. For example, a potion ofhealing can be cre
shattered constructs, this eldritch machine possesses ated by a character who has proficiency with the herbal
great power. A creature in control of it can sense the ism kit. A spellcaster can scribe a spell scroll of a spell
presence and location of all warforged within 10 miles they know if they have proficiency in the Arcana skill,
of the device and can, as an action, send a telepathic and they must provide all material components required
message to them laced with enchantment magic. Such a for the spell. A cantrip scribed onto a scroll works as if
message can be sent no more than once every 24 hours. the caster were 1 st level.
A warforged who receives the message is compelled The Creating Common Magic Items table states how
to follow one command contained within it, unless the much time and money you must spend to craft a com
warforged succeeds on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw. mon magic item with a dragonshard, which is expended
The affected warforged breaks free of the command in the creation process. The hours of creation can be
after 24 hours. spread over multiple days, which needn't be consecutive.
C HAPTER 5 I TREASURES
0
BELASHYRRAS LAIR
Belashyrra makes its lair in the Citadel of Lidless Eyes within reach. If there are no creatures within reach,
deep in Khyber, a site that appears to have been molded the charmed creature can act normally for that turn. A
from molten stone, chitin, and flesh. Across its warped charmed creature can repeat the saving throw at the
and liquid expanses, thousands of eyes of every size and end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on
shape peer into the endless darkness. Beholders, dol a success.
grims, and stranger aberrations dwell within the halls Belashyrra taps into the eyesight of creatures in its
of the citadel, which is one of the few places where such lair and alters their perception. Each creature of
creatures are willing to live side by side. Belashyrra's choice in the lair must make a DC 22
Some beholderkin serve Belashyrra as guards and Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the affected crea
agents, while others spend their lives in deep medita ture perceives objects and creatures a short distance
tion, pursuing inner visions known only to the Lord of from their actual locations, imposing disadvantage on
Eyes. It's rumored that anyone who sits on the citadel's the creature's attack rolls against those targets. An
throne can see through the eyes of any sentient creature affected creature can repeat the saving throw at the
on Eberron or in Khyber. If encountered in its lair, Be end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on
lashyrra has a challenge rating of 23 (50,000 XP). a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful
Lair Actions. While within the Citadel of Lidless
or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to this
Eyes, Belashyrra can invoke the ambient magic to take lair action for the next 24 hours.
lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative Regional Effects. Belashyrra's lair is known to touch
ties), Belashyrra can take a lair action to cause one of remote areas of the Shadow Marches and caverns
the following effects; it can't use the same effect two below Xen'drik. A region containing a passage to Belas
rounds in a row: hyrra's lair is warped by its magic, which creates one or
• An eye opens on a solid surface within 60 feet of Be more of the following effects:
lashyrra. One random eye ray of Belashyrra's shoots • Creatures within 1 mile of the passage sometimes feel
from that eye at a target of Belashyrra's choice that it as if they're being watched.
can see. The eye then closes and disappears. Beasts that live within 5 miles of the passage undergo
• Belashyrra creates a wave of madness. Each creature magical transmutation", growing eyes or eyestalks that
it can see within its lair must succeed on a DC 22 Wis Belashyrra can see through.
dom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute. While A humanoid who spends at least 1 hour within 1 mile
charmed in this way, a creature must use its action of the passage must succeed on a DC 21 Wisdom
at the start of its turn before moving to make a melee saving throw or descend into a type of madness (see
attack against another creature of Belashyrra's choice "Madness of Belashyrra" below). A creature that
Eye Ray. Belashyrra shoots one of the fol lowin g magical eye
BELASHYRRA rays of its choice, targeting one creature it can see within 1 20
Medium aberration, chaotic evil
feet of it:
Armor Class 19 (natural armor) 7. Psyche-Reconstruction Ray. The target must make a D C 22
Hit Points 304 (32d8 + 1 60) Wisdom saving th row, taking 49 (9dl 0) psychic damage on
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover) a fai led save, o r half as m uch damage on a successful o ne.
If this damage reduces a creature to 0 h it points, it d ies and
STR DEX CON I NT WIS CHA transforms into a spectator (see its entry i n the Monster
24 (+7) 21 (+ 5) 20 {+5) 25 {+7) 22 (+6) 23 (+6) Manual) under Belashyrra's control and acts i m mediately
after Belashyrra i n the i nitiative order. The target can't be re
Saving Throws I nt +14, Wis +1 3 , Cha +1 3 tu rned to its original form by any means short of a wish spe l l .
Skills Arcana +1 4, Perception +1 3 2 . Domination Ray. T h e target m u st succeed on a DC 22 Wis
Damage Resistances poison, psychic dom saving throw o r be charmed by Belashyrra for l min
Condition Immunities b l i nded, charmed, exhaustion , ute o r u ntil the target takes damage. Belashyrra can issue
frightened, poisoned, prone telepathic commands to the charmed creature (no action
Senses truesight 1 20 ft., passive perception 23 req u i red), which it does its best to obey.
Languages Deep Speech, telepathy 1 20 ft. 3. Mind-Weakening Ray. The target m ust succeed on a DC 22
Challenge 22 (41,000 XP) I ntelligence saving throw or take 36 (8d8) psychic damage
and be unable to cast spells or activate magic items for l
m i n ute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of
Alien Mind. If a creature tries to read Belashyrra's thoughts or each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
deals psychic damage to it, that creature m u st succeed on a 4. B linding Ray. The target and each creature withi n 10 feet of it
DC 22 I ntel l igence savi ng th row or be stu nned for l m i n ute. must succeed on a DC 22 Constitution saving th row o r take
The stu nned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of 19 (3d 1 2) radiant damage and be bli nded for 1 m i n ute. Until
each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. this blind ness ends, Belyshyrra can see through the bl inded
creature's eyes. The bl i nded creature can repeat the saving
Eye Thief Belashyrra can see through the eyes of a l l creatures
throw at the end o f each of its turns, ending the effect on
with i n 1 20 feet of it. It can use its Eye Ray through any creature
itself on a success.
with i n 1 20 feet of it, as though it were in that creature's space.
Alien Mind. If a creature tries to read Dyrrn's thoughts o r deals Extract Brain. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
psychic damage to it, that creature m ust s ucceed on a DC incapacitated creature grappled by Dyrrn. Hit: 55 ( l Od l O) pierc
23 I ntelligence savi ng throw or be stunned for l m i nute. The i n g damage. If this damage reduces the target to 0 hit points,
stunned creature can repeat the savi ng throw at the end of each Dyrrn kills the target by extracting and devouring its bra i n .
of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
LEG E N DARY ACT I O N S
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). I f Dyrrn fai l s a savi ng throw, it Dyrrn can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options
can choose to succeed i n stead. below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time
Magic Resistance. Dyrrn has advantage on saving th rows and only at the end of another creature's turn. Dyrrn regai n s
against spells and other magical effects. spent legendary actions a t t h e start of i t s turn.
Regeneration. Dyrrn regains 20 h it points at the start of its Tentacle Whip. Dyrrn makes one attack with its Tentacle Whip.
turn. If Dyrrn takes radiant damage, this trait doesn't fu nction Spawn Aberration (Costs 2 Actions). Dyrrn regurgitates an in-
tellect devourer (see its entry in the Monster Manual) i n an
at the start of its next turn. Dyrrn dies only if it starts its turn
u noccu pied space within 5 feet of it. The intellect devo u rer i s
with 0 hit points and doesn't regenerate.
u nder Dyrrn's control and acts immediately after Dyrrn in the
Teleport. As a bonus action, Dyrrn can teleport up to 30 feet to i n itiative order.
an u noccupied space it can see. Mind Blast (Costs 3 Actions). Dyrrn magically emits psychic
energy i n a 60-foot cone. Each creature i n that area m ust
ACTI O N S succeed on a DC 23 I ntel l igence saving throw o r take 30 (5d8
+ 8) psych ic damage and be stu nned for l m i n ute. A creature
Multiattack. Dyrrn makes one Tentacle Whip attack and u ses
can repeat the savi ng throw at the end of each of its turns,
its Corruption once. Dyrrn can replace its Tentacle Whip attack
ending the effect on itself on a success.
with Extract Brain if it has a creature gra ppled.
DINO SAURS
Dinosaurs are widespread on Eberron, particularly
in Q'barra, the Talenta Plains, Xen'drik, and Argon
nessen. Smaller dinosaurs are the rule in Q'barra
and the Talenta Plains, including varieties commonly
used by Talenta halflings as mounts.
CLAWFOOT
Clawfoot dinosaurs are two-legged saurians with sharp
teeth and toe claws that resemble deadly sickles. They
are imposing creatures, about the size of a tall human,
and are fierce enough to take down even larger prey.
In the wild, an untrained clawfoot can easily hold its
own in combat, but they are even fiercer when hunting
in packs. Their instinct for pack structure has made
these dinosaurs a traditional war mount for the hal
flings of the Talenta Plains, with clawfoots quickly and
eagerly responding to training and control.
FASTIETH
Fastieth are human-sized, two-legged saurians with
CLAWFOOT large eyes, brightly colored and patterned scales, and
Medium beast, unaligned strong legs. They are the most common mounts of the
halflings of the Talenta Plains, bred for speed. Although
Armor Class 1 3
too small to bear larger riders, a fastieth can carry a hal
Hit Points 1 9 (3d8 + 6)
Speed 40 ft. fling with light gear easily and at a good pace. Fastieths
are typically stubborn creatures, so specimens with an
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA even temperament are prized among the Talenta tribes.
1 2 (+1) 1 6 (+3) 14 (+2) 4 (-3) 12 (+1) 6 (-2) Being herbivores, fastieths prefer to flee rather than
fight. However, even though not trained for battle, they
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +S can deliver a vicious bite if pressed.
Senses passive Perception 1 3
Languages -
Challenge 1 (200 XP) FASTIETH
Medium beast, unaligned
Pack Tactics. The clawfoot has advantage on an attack rol l
Armor Class 1 4
against a creature if a t least o n e o ft h e clawfoot's a l l ies is with in
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
S feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.
Speed SO ft.
Pounce. If the clawfoot moves at least 20 feet straight toward
a creature and then h its it with a claw attack on the same turn, STR DEX CON I NT WIS CHA
that target m ust succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw or 1 2 (+1) 18 (+4) 10 (+O) 4 (-3) 1 1 (+O) 4 (-3)
be knocked prone. I f the target is prone, the clawfoot can make
one bite attack agai nst it as a bonus action. Senses passive Perception 1 0
Languages -
ACT I O N S Challenge 1 /4 (SO XP)
Multiattack. The clawfoot makes two attacks: one with its bite
and one with its claws. Quickness (Recharge 5-6). The fastieth can take the Dodge ac
tion as a bonus action.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to h it, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 7 ( l d 8 + 3) piercing damage. ACT I O N S
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to h it, reach 5 ft., one target. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: + 6 t o h it, reach S ft., one target.
Hit: 7 (ld8 + 3) slashing damage. Hit: 8 (ld8 + 4) piercing damage.
..
D O LGRIM
Small aberration, chaotic evil
HOMUNCULI
A homunculus i s a construct servant created fo r certain
tasks. Artificers and wizards are responsible for most of
the homunculi in existence.
Each kind of homunculus has a body constructed from
different kinds of materials, including clay, iron, and
bits of hair and feathers. The process that creates a ho
munculus sees those materials mixed with the creator's
blood and animated through an extended magical ritual.
Constructed Nature. A homunculus doesn't require
air, food, drink, or sleep.
I RON D EFENDER
A n iron defender fights fo r its creator. They come in
many shapes and are often crafted in the form of ani IRON DEFENDER
mals. More creative artificers craft iron defenders in the Medium construct, neutral
shape of hybrid animals or other fantastical creatures.
Armor Class 17 (natu ral armor)
Hit Points 30 (4d8 + 1 2)
EXPEDITIOUS MESSENGER Speed 40 ft.
Tiny construct, neutral
STR DEX CON I NT WIS CHA
Armor Class 1 3 1 6 (+3) 14 (+2) 1 6 (+3) 8 (-1 ) 11 (+l) 7 (-2 )
Hit Points 7 (2d4 + 2)
Speed 25 ft., fly 60 ft. Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4
Damage Immunities poison
STR DEX CON I NT WIS CHA Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
6 (-2) 1 6 (+3) 13 (+l ) 8 (-1 ) 12 (+l ) 7 (-2) Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 1 3
Languages understands the languages of its creator but can't
Skills Acrobatics +5, Stealth +5 speak
Damage Immunities poison Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 1 1 Keen Senses. The defender has advantage on Wisdom (Percep
Languages one langu age spoken b y its creator
tion) checks.
Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
Telepathic Bond. While the defender is on the same plane of ex
istence as its master, it can magically convey what it senses to
Flyby. The messenger doesn't provoke opportunity attacks
its master, and the two can com m u nicate telepathically.
when it flies out of an enemy's reach.
VA R I A N T: Q U O R I VE S S E L
T h e I n spired are vessels for q uori spi rits, allowing the
q uori to manifest a portion of their power while the vessel
is possessed. An I nspired can gain benefits depending on
the type of quori possessing it. The quori also gai n s access
to the l nspired's knowledge and featu res.
H A S H ALAQ
Suggestion (3/Day). The I nspired can cast the sugges
tion spell (spell save DC 1 3) , req u i ring no material
components.
KALARAQ
All Around Vision. The I nspired can't be su rprised.
Arcane Eye (3/Day). The I nspired can cast the arcane eye
spell, requ i ring no material components.
Ts u c o R A
Fear (1/Day). The I n spired can cast the fear spell (spell
save DC 1 3) , req uiring no material components.
KARRNATHI UNDEAD
SOLDIER
Undead soldiers form the elite core of the army of Karr
nath. Fearless and tireless, they are a terrifying sight on
the battlefield. With the end of the Last War, most Kar
rnathi undead have been sealed in vaults below the city
of Atur. However, the Karrnathi army keeps numerous
undead in its service, while others have been comman
deered by the malevolent Order of the Emerald Claw.
The Odakyr Rites. The nation of Karrnath has a
proud martial heritage, and its soldiers are unmatched
in discipline. But in the early years of the Last War,
Karrnath was crippled by famine and plague. In desper
ation, King Kaius I embraced the Blood of Vol, whose
priests bolstered the armies of Karrnath with undead.
Initially, those skeletons and zombies required con
stant control and served as cannon fodder. Over de
cades, a high priest named Malevanor worked with the
necromancers of the Blood of Vol to develop the Odakyr
Rites, which grant Karrnathi undead the ability to make
tactical decisions and operate without direct guidance.
The Odakyr Rites work only when performed on the
remains of a soldier slain in battle, and only in manifest
zones tied to the plane of Mabar. The most significant
such zones in Karrnath exist in the cities of Atur and
Odakyr (now called Fort Bones). The number of Karr
nathi undead soldiers steadily increased over the course
of the war, with the losses of Karrnath's living troops
offset by the recovery and raising of their remains.
Malevanor claimed that Karrnathi undead are ani compassion. Undead soldiers kill any opposing forces
mated and granted intelligence by the patriotic spirit of including civilians among those forces-unless given
Karrnath. However, many Karrns fear that the undead explicit instructions to the contrary.
are vessels for a darker power-and that Lady Illmarrow A few exceptional Karrnathi undead retain their indi
or someone else will turn the undead against the living. viduality and the memories of their former lives. Such
Intelligent and Inhuman. Karrnathi undead bear undead are often found as champions of the Blood of Vol
little resemblance to the people they were in life. These or agents of the Order of the Emerald Claw.
undead are content to stand motionless and silent for Undead Nature. A Karrnathi undead soldier doesn't
days. They show no emotion, and certainly no mercy or require air, food, drink, or sleep.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Paralyzing Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
1 6 (+3) 1 6 (+3) 20 (+5) 27 (+8) 21 (+5) 24 (+7) one creature. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 1 0 (3d6)
cold damage, and the target m ust succeed on a DC 20 Consti
Saving Throws Con +1 2, Int +1 5 , Wis +1 2 tution saving throw or be paralyzed for l m i nute. The target
Skills Arcana +15, H istory +1 5, Insight +1 2, Perception +1 2 can repeat the savi ng throw at the end of each of its turns, end
Damage Resistances cold, lightn i n g ing the effect on itself on a success.
Damage Immunities necrotic, poison; bludgeo n i ng, piercing,
and slashing from nonmagical attacks Poison Breath (Recharge 5-6). I l l marrow exhales poisonous gas
Condition Immunities bli nded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, in a 30-foot cone. Each creature i n that area m ust make a DC
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned, stu nned 20 Constitution saving th row. On a fai led save, a creature takes
Senses truesight 1 20 ft., passive perception 22 3 5 ( 1 0d6) poison damage and i s poisoned for l m i n ute. While
Languages Common, Draconic, Elvish poisoned i n this way, the creature can't regain hit points. On a
Challenge 22 (41 ,000 XP) successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and
isn't poisoned.
A h u manoid reduced to 0 hit points by this damage dies and
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). I f l l lma rrow fails a savi ng throw, rises at the start of I l l marrow's next turn as a zom bie (see its
she can choose to succeed i n stead. entry i n the Monster Manual). The zombie acts i m mediately
Magic Resistance. I l l marrow has advantage on saving th rows after l l l marrow i n the i n itiative count and is permanently u nder
against spells and other magical effects. her com mand, fo llowing her verbal orders.
2nd level (3 slots) : blur, heat metal, scorching ray, see invisibility
3 rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, fly, haste
Medium humanoid (warforged), lawful evil
4th level (3 slots): freedom of movement, Mordenkainen's
faithful hound
Armor Class 19 (natural armor) 5th level (2 slots): animate objects, wall offorce
Hit Points 1 95 (23d8 + 92)
Speed 40 ft. Warforged Resilience. The Lord of B lades has advantage on
savi ng th rows against being poisoned, is i m m une to d isease,
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA and magic can't put him to sleep.
20 (+S) 15 (+2) 1 8 (+4) 1 9 (+4) 17 (+3) 1 8 (+4)
ACT I O N S
Saving Throws Str +1 1 , Con +10, I nt +1 0, Wis +9 Multiattack. The Lord of B lades makes three attacks: two with
Skills Arcana +1 0, Ath letics +1 1 , H istory +1 0, Perception +9 his adamantine sixblade and one with his bladed wings.
Damage Resistances necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion , frightened Adamantine Sixblade. Melee Weapon Attack: + 11 to hit, reach
Senses passive Perception 1 9 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3dl0 + 5) slashing damage plus 7
Languages Common, Draconic, Dwarvish, Elvish (2d6) force damage.
Challenge 1 8 (20,000 XP)
Bladed Wings. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: + 11 to h it,
reach S ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 ( l d 6 + 5) slash
Adamantine Plating. Any critical hit against the Lord of Blades ing damage.
becomes a normal hit.
Fire Bolt (Cantrip). Ranged Spell Attack: +1 0 to h it, range 1 20
Bladed Armor. A creature that grapples the Lord of Blades or ft., one target. Hit: 22 (4dl0) fi re damage.
is grappled by him takes 13 (3d8) slashing d amage. A creature
takes 13 (3d8) slashing damage if it starts its turn grappling or LEG E N DA RY ACT I O N S
being grappled by the Lord of Blades. The Lord of B lades can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
Charge. If the Lord of Blades moves at least 1 0 feet straight the options below. Only one legendary action option can be
toward a target and then h its it with his adamantine sixblade used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn.
on the same turn, the target takes an extra 11 (2dl 0) slashing The Lord of Blades regains spent legendary actions at the start
d amage. If the target i s a creature, it m ust succeed on a DC of his turn .
1 9 Strength saving throw or be pushed u p to 1 0 feet away and Attack. The Lord of B lades makes one weapon attack.
knocked prone. Cantrip. The Lord of Blades casts one of his cantrips.
Spellcasting. The Lord of B lades is a 20th- level spellcaster.
Cast a Spell (Costs 2 Actions). The Lord of Blades casts a
spell of 2nd level or lower from h i s spell list that takes 1 ac
H i s spellcasti ng ability is I ntel l i gence (spel l save DC 1 8,
tion to cast.
+1 0 to hit with spell attacks). He has the fol lowi ng artificer
Blade Dash (Costs 3 Actions). The Lord of Blades moves up to
spells prepared:
his speed without provoking opportun ity attacks, then makes
Cantrips (at w i l l ) : .fi re bolt (see "Actions" below), mage hand, one attack with his adamantine sixblade. H e can make one
mending, prestidigitation bladed wings attack against each creature he moves past.
1 st level (4 slots): expeditious retreat, sanctuary, thunderwave
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Mordakhesh makes three greatsword attacks.
C HAPTER 6 I F R I E N D S A N D FOES
302
the Rage of War. Many of the Carrion Tribes of the De forces they are dealing with, or recognize the danger
mon Wastes likewise serve Rak Tulkhesh and yearn to inherent in her gifts.
carry his bloody banner into the soft lands of the south. The Queen ofShadows. An entity of shadow, Sul
The minotaurs of Droaam revere Rak Tulkhesh as the Khatesh can assume any form. Her favored shape is
Horned Prince. But the most powerful of the overlord's a twelve-foot-tall humanoid figure draped in a flow
follower's is the rakshasa Mordakhesh the Shadow ing, hooded robe formed of swirling mist and cling
sword-Rak Tulkhesh's exarch among the Lords of ing shadow.
Dust, who commands a host of fiends exerting the over Minions. Most of Sul Khatesh's followers are wizards
lord's will across Khorvaire. and warlocks, and she is one of the primary patrons for
warlocks in Khorvaire. Covens devoted to the Queen of
SUL KHATESH Shadows use dark magic and fear to dominate whole
communities, while isolated warlocks make pacts with
Sul Khatesh i s known a s the Keeper o f Secrets and the
Sul Khatesh to pursue power and revenge. By sharing
Queen of Shadows. She embodies the fears and super
her power in this way, the overlord perpetuates the im
stitions surrounding magic, from malevolent warlocks
age of the evil warlock, inciting fear that strengthens the
to mad wizards, from deadly curses to magical power
Keeper of Secrets even more.
that draws those who wield it deeper into darkness.
Sul Khatesh's chief agent among the Lords of Dust
Sul Khatesh is subtler than the Rage of War. She em
is the rakshasa Hektula, who serves as the librarian in
powers warlocks and whispers secrets into the minds of
the demonic citadel of Ashtakala. Known as the First
wizards and artificers, helping them master spells and
Scribe, Hektula presides over an immense trove of ar
create relics they could never shape on their own. But
cane knowledge and artifacts.
few of those inspired by Sul Khatesh understand what
Armor Class 23 (natural armor; 25 versus ranged attacks) Spawned Melee Weapon. Melee Weapon Attack: +1 7 to h it,
Hit Points 478 (33d12 + 264) reach 10 ft. , one target. Hit: 28 (3dl 2 + 9) force damage.
Speed 40 ft., clim b 40 ft., fly 80 ft. Spawned Ranged Weapon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +1 2 to h it ,
range 1 50/600 ft . , one target. Hit: 1 7 (3d8 + 4 ) force damage.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
29 (+9) 1 9 (+4) 27 (+8) 21 (+5) 22 (+6) 26 (+8) Change Shape. Rak Tu l khesh magically polymorphs i nto a hu
m a n oid, beast, or giant that has a challenge rating no h igher
Saving Throws Str +17, Con +1 6, Wis +14, Cha +1 6 than h i s own, or back i nto his true form. H e reverts to his true
Skills Athletics +17, I ntimidation +1 6, Perception +14 form if he dies. Any equipment he is wearing or carrying is ab
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning sorbed or borne by the new form (his choice).
Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and In a new form, Rak Tu l khesh retains his al ignment, hit points,
slashing from nonmagical attacks Hit Dice, abi lity to speak, proficiencies, Legendary Resistance,
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, and I ntel l igence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as this
paralyzed, poisoned, stunned action. His statistics and capabi lities are otherwise replaced by
Senses truesight 1 20 ft., passive Perception 24 those of the new form, except any class features or legendary
Languages all, telepathy 1 20 ft. actions of that form.
Challenge 28 ( 1 20,000 XP)
LEG E N DA RY ACTI O N S
Deadly Critical. Rak Tu l khesh scores a critical hit on a roll of 1 9 Rak Tu l khesh can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from
or 2 0 a n d rolls the d a m age d ice three times , i nstead of twice. the options below. Only one legendary action option can be
used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn.
Innate Spe/lcasting. Rak Tu l khesh's spellcasti ng a b i l ity is Cha
Rak Tu l khesh regains spent legendary actions at the start
risma (spell save D C 24). H e can i nnately cast the fol lowing
of his turn.
spells, req uiring no material components:
Attack. Rak Tul khesh makes one weapon attack.
At will: detect thoughts, dispel m agic, spirit guardians
l/day each: banishing smite, blinding smite, staggering smite
End Magic (Costs 2 Actions). Rak Tu l khesh casts dispel magic.
Provoke Rage (Costs 3 Actions). Each creature within 60 feet of
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Rak Tu l khesh fails a savi ng Rak Tu l khesh m ust succeed on a DC 24 Wisdom saving th row
th row, he can choose to succeed i n stead. or use its reaction to make a melee weapon attack against
a random creature with in reach. If no creatures are with i n
Magic Resistance- Rak Tu l khesh has advantage on saving reach, it m akes a ranged weapon attack agai n st a random
throws against spells and other magical effects. creature within range, throwing its weapon if necessary. This
Whirlwind of Weapons_ A magical a u ra of wea pons sur attack is made with advantage and gains a +4 bon us to the
rou n d s Rak Tu l khesh in a 1 0 foot rad ius. At the start of each damage roll.
of his turns, any other creature in the aura takes 14 (4d6)
force damage.
C HAPTER 6 I F R I E N D S A N D FOES
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Sul Khatesh fails a savi ng
th row, she can choose to succeed instead.
ACTI O N S
Multiattack. S u l Khatesh makes fou r attacks with Arcane Blast.
to 0 h it poi nts from this attack d ies and has its soul imprisoned
in one of the q uori's eyes. The target can't be revived by any
means short of a wish spell u ntil the quori is destroyed.
Armor Class 1 8 (natural armor) Mind Seed (1/Day). The quori touches one humanoid, which
Hit Points 1 61 (19d8 + 76) m u st succeed o n a D C 21 Intelligence saving throw or be
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (hover) cursed. The curse lasts until it's removed by a remove curse or
greater restoration spell.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA The cu rsed target suffers l level of exhaustion every 24
1 2 (+1) 21 (+5) 1 8 (+4) 23 (+6) 24 (+7) 2 5 (+7) hours, and fi n ishing a long rest doesn't reduce its exhaustion.
If the cu rsed target reaches exhaustion level 6 , it doesn't d ie; it
Saving Throws I nt +1 2, Wis +1 3, Cha +1 3 i n stead becomes a thrall under the q uori's control, and all its
Skills Deception +1 3, Perception +1 3, Persuasion +1 3 exhaustion is removed. Only the wish spell can free the thrall
Damage Resistances cold, necrotic, poison, psychic; from this control.
bludgeoning, p iercing, and slash i n g from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, exhaustion, Swarm of Eyes (Recharge 6). The quori creates a swarm of spec
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, petrified, prone, restrained tra l eyes that fi ll s a 30-foot-radius sphere centered on a point
Senses truesight 1 20 ft., passive Perception 23 it can see within 60 feet of it. Each creature in that area m ust
Languages all, telepathy 1 20 ft. make a DC 21 Wisdom saving th row. On a fai l u re, a creature
Challenge 19 (22,000 XP) takes 45 (1 0d8) psychic da mage, and it is blinded fo r l m i n
ute. On a success, a creature takes half as m uch damage a n d
All-Around Vision. The q uori can't be su rprised while it isn't isn't blinded. A bli nded creature c a n repeat the savi ng th row
incapacitated. at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on
a success.
Incorporeal Movement. The quori can move through other
creatures and objects as if they were difficult terrain. It takes 5 Possession (Recharge 6). One h u manoid that the q uori can see
( l dl O) force dam age i f it ends its turn inside an object. with i n 5 feet of it m ust succeed o n a DC 21 Charisma saving
th row or be possessed by the quori; the q uori then disappears,
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The q uori's spellcasting ability is and the target is incapacitated and loses control of its body.
Charisma (spell save DC 21 , +1 3 to hit with spell attacks). It can The quori now controls the body but doesn't deprive the target
i n n ately cast the following spell s , req uiring no components: of awareness. The q uori can't be targeted by any attack, spell,
At will: arcane eye or other effect, and it retains its al ignment, I ntelligence, Wis·
3/day each: clairvoyance, confusion, dream, eyebite dom, Charisma, and i mmunity to being charmed a n d fright
ened. It otherwise uses the possessed target's statistics, but
Magic Resistance. The quori has advantage on saving throws doesn't gain access to the target's knowledge, class features,
against spells and other magical effects. or proficiencies.
The possession lasts u ntil the body d rops to 0 hit points, the
ACTI O N S
q uori ends it as a bonus action, or the quori is forced out by an
Multiattack. The quori makes two Soul B i n d i n g attacks. Alter effect l i ke the dispel evil and good spe l l . When the possession
natively, it can make four attacks with Arcane B last. ends, the quori reappears i n an u noccupied space with in 5 feet
of the body. The ta rget is i m m u n e to this quori's Possession
Arcane Blast. Ranged Spell Attack: +1 3 to h it, range 1 20 ft., one
for 24 hours after succeeding on the saving th row or after the
target. Hit: 1 2 (l d l 0 + 7) force damage.
possession ends.
Soul Binding. Melee Spell Attack: + 13 to hit, reach 5 ft. , one
target. Hit: 29 (4dl 0 + 7) necrotic damage. A creature reduced
•
•
drink, or sleep. �
u
ZAKYA RAKSHASA
Zakya rakshasas are the bloodthirsty foot soldiers of
the rakshasa horde. They are driven to free their fiend
ish rulers, seeking vengeance against the dragons and
those who revere the couatls. Unlike other rakshasas
with their luxurious robes and fineries, zakya rakshasas
are almost always clad in battle gear: well-worn scale
mail, a razor-sharp longsword, and a heavy shield bear
ing the emblem of their demonic master.
Armor Class 1 7 (breastplate, s hield) Illumination. The sold ier magically sheds bright light i n a 1 0-
Hit Points 26 (4d8 + 8) foot rad i u s and d i m light for an additional 1 0 feet. The soldier
Speed 30 ft. can exti nguish or restore this light as a bonus action.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Turn Resistance. The soldier has advantage on savin g throws
1 6 (+3) 12 (+l ) 14 (+2) 11 (+O) 1 3 (+l ) 1 4 (+2) against any effect that turns u ndead.
CHAPTER 6 I F R I E N D S AN D F O E S
WARFORGED TITAN
Warforged titans are hulking constructs built to wreak
paths of destruction through enemy armies. Some of
the most feared combatants of the Last War, warforged
titans are barely sentient, with just enough intelligence
to follow commands.
Legacy ofGiants. In the Age of Giants, giant artifi
cers built mindless war golems to aid them in their war
against the quori. Millennia later, some of these golems
were unearthed by adventurers searching for the se
crets of that age, then turned over to artificers working
for the dragonmarked houses during the Last War.
House Cannith studied these designs, and in the course
of uncovering the secrets of the golems and the giant ar
tificers who made them, House Cannith created the first
warforged titans.
WARFORGED TITAN
Huge construct, lawful neutral
ACT I O N S
Multiattack. The warforged titan makes one axehand attack
and one ham merfist attack.
BONE KNIGHT
Bone knights are the champions of the Order of the Em
erald Claw. Clad in distinctive bonecraft armor-heavy
armor adorned with the bones of fallen enemies-these
fearsome warriors command squads of undead soldiers
as they pursue the sinister goals of Lady Illmarrow.
Karrnathi Patriots. Early in the Last War, Karrnath
turned to the necromancers of the Blood of Vol to bol
ster the nation's army with undead forces. The skeletons
and zombies created by the necromancers were mind
less creatures that required guidance. The first bone
knights were appointed to provide this control.
Devoted paladins of the Blood of Vol were fused into
suits of bonecraft armor, whose magic focused their di
vine gifts, allowing them to command units of mindless
undead. Bonecraft armor can't be removed without kill
ing the knight who wears it, and when donning it, each
bone knight understood that their former life was over.
The Fall ofthe Emerald Claw. During the Last War,
many bone knights took service with the Order of the
Emerald Claw, helping that name strike fear into the en
emies of Karmath. In the last decade, King Kaius III of
Karrnath has done much to ensure a peaceful end to the
Last War. Under the terms of the Treaty of Thronehold,
Kaius sealed most of Karrnath's undead in deep vaults,
and the Order of the Emerald Claw was disbanded. A
few bone knights remained in service to the crown, but
most were cast aside-still bound to their bonecraft ar
mor and still convinced of Karrnathi supremacy. These
bone knights felt that Kaius had betrayed both them and
their nation, leading their once-proud order to find a
new purpose in the service of Lady Illmarrow.
Commander of Bones. As a bonus action, the knight can target Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
one skeleton or zom bie it can see within 30 feet of it. The tar target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) slashing damage.
get m ust make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a fai led save, Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to h it, range 1 50/600 ft. ,
the target must obey the knight's commands until the knight o n e target. Hit: 5 ( l d8 + 1 ) piercing damage.
KALAS HTAR
The kalashtar have bonded with good-aligned quori
spirits, which communicate with their hosts through
dreams and visions. Descended from monks who of
fered their bodies as sanctuaries to those quori escaping
the evil of Dal Quor, the kalashtar now fight to herald in
a new age of light and balance.
K A L A S H TAR OR
CHANG E L I NG D I S G U I S E D
CHANGELING AS A K A L ASHTAR
Medium humanoid (changeling, shapechanger), any alignment
Skills Acrobatics +4, Deception +5, I nsight +2, Perception +2, Armor Class 1 2
Persuasion +5 Hit Points 1 6 (3d8 + 3 )
Senses passive Perception 1 2 Speed 3 0 ft.
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Halfli ng, thieves' cant
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
1 2 (+l) 1 4 (+2) 1 2 (+l) 1 3 (+l) 15 (+2) 1 5 (+2)
Change Appearance. The changel ing can use its action to Skills Acrobatics +4, I nsight +4, Persuasion +6
polymorph i nto a M e d i u m h u manoid it has seen, or back i nto Damage Resistances psychic
its true form. Its statistics, other than its size, are the same i n Senses passive Perception 12
each form. A n y eq u i pment it is wearing or carrying i s n ' t trans Languages Com m o n , telepathy 20 ft.
formed. It reverts to its true form if it dies. Challenge 1 /4 (50 XP)
ACT I O N S
Dual Mind. The kalashtar has advantage on Wisdom sav
Multiattack. The changeling makes two attacks with its dagger. ing th rows.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to h it, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/60 ft. , one target. Hit: 4 ( l d4 + 2) piercing damage. ACT I O N S
Dagger. Melee o r Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
Unsettling Visage (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Each
range 20/60 ft. , one target. Hit: 4 ( l d4 + 2) piercing da mage.
creature with i n 30 feet of the changeling must succeed on a DC
13 Wisdom saving th row or be frightened fo r l m i n ute. A crea Mind Thrust. The kalashtar targets a creature it can see with i n
t u re can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, 30 feet o f it. T h e target must s ucceed on a DC 1 2 Wisdom sav
ending the effect on itself on a success. i n g throw or take 11 (2dl 0) psychic damage.
C REATING A MAGEWRIGHT
The magewright stat block provides the baseline statis
tics for a magewright. You then add to that baseline by
choosing a specialty from the Magewright Specialties
table, or roll for one. The specialty determines addi
tional spells the magewright knows, including ones that
can be cast only as rituals. The specialty also gives the
magewright more proficiencies.
MAG E W R I G H T S P E C I ALT I ES
MAGEWRIGHT
d8 Specialty Spells Proficiencies Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Artisan Guidance, mending One type of
artisan's tools Armor Class 1 1
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
2 Entertainer Minor illusion, thau- Performance (+3)
Speed 30 ft.
maturgy. Ritual o n ly:
disguise self. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
3 Healer Resistance, spare the Medicine (+4), 1 1 (+0) 13 (+l) 10 (+O) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1)
dying. R itual o n ly: herbalism kit
detect poison and dis-
Skills Arcana +4
Senses passive Perception 1 2
ease, lesser restoration Languages Common plus any two languages
(1 hour) . Challenge 0 (0 XP)
4 Lamp- Light. Ritual on ly: con Tinker's tools
l ighter tinualflame (1 hour) . Spellcasting. The magewright's spellcast i n g ability is I ntel li
5 Locksm ith Mending. Ritual only: Thieves' tools, gence (spell save DC 1 2) . To cast one of its rituals, the mage
arcane lock (1 hour) , tinker's tools wright must provide additional material components whose
knock. value i n gold pieces is 20 times the spell's level. These com
6 Mediator Guidance. Ritual o n ly: I n s ight (+4) , ponents are consumed when the ritua l is fi n ished. The mage
wright knows the fol lowing spells:
comprehend languages, Persuasion (+3)
zone oftruth. At will: mage hand, prestidigitation
7 Medium Minor illusion. Ritual Deception (+3), Rituals: knock
SHIFTER
Medium humanoid (shifter), any alignment
A B E R R A N T D R A G O N M A R K I N N AT E S P E L L S
d6 At Will l /Day
1 Fire bolt (2d l 0) Burning hands (3d6)
2 Shocking grasp (2d8) Chromatic orb (4d8)
3 Poison spray (2dl 2) Ray ofsickness (3d8)
4 Friends Charm person (two creatures)
5 Minor illusion Thunderwave (2d8)
6 Dancing lights Sleep (7d8)
TARKANAN ASSASSIN
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-good alignment