Page 160 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

Sorcerers must prove their grasp of arcane theory to W A RDS OF S H A R N
earn a place, and warlocks are rarely accepted as mem­
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bers. The hall of the Esoteric Order of Aureon is in the Sham s a vertical city, and elevation s a n indicator of
district of Clifftop in Upper Dura. status and wealth. Each quarter is roughly divided into
T h e Guild of Starlight and Shadows. Breland's other three levels, and the combination of quarter and level
arcane order encourages independence and innovation, defines a ward. Thus, wards have names such as Lower
qualities that contribute to a mutually uncomfortable Dura, Upper Central, and Middle Menthis.
relationship between the Guild of Starlight and Shad­ Upper wards are the domain of the rich and powerful.
ows and the Sham Watch. The schools of conjuration, Here you'll find the finest goods and the most expensive
enchantment, and illusion are favored by this group. services. Only those who maintain a wealthy or aris­
Warlocks, especially those of the Archfey, are generally tocratic lifestyle can easily afford the prices for meals
welcome. Members of the Esoteric Order look down and lodging, and adventurers who maintain a squalid or
on Starlight wizards, and in turn the guild members wretched lifestyle might be treated with disdain (suffer­
often mock the wizards of the Esoteric Order and play ing disadvantage on Charisma checks).
pranks on them. The Guild of Starlight and Shadows Violence is rare in any of the upper wards, and the
has its hall in the Deathsgate district in Middle Tav­ Sham Watch actively patrols these areas. Although
ick's Landing. the guards here might be corrupt just as in a middle or
T h e Closed C i rcle. There is one dark stain in the lower ward, they're already being well paid by powerful
shared history of the arcane orders. Three hundred nobles and criminal organizations, and they work effi­
years ago, a third order arose in Sham-a sinister cabal ciently in the service of these forces.
called the Closed Circle. This order specialized in trans­ Middle wards are home to the middle classes. Here
mutation and necromancy and dabbled in the forbidden you'll find bustling markets and taverns, along with a
lore of the daelkyr and the Dragon Below. It's said that wide range of entertainment and housing. Most goods
the members of the Closed Circle went mad and sought and services are affordable by those of a modest or
to summon terrible things; whatever the truth, the guild comfortable lifestyle, with a few higher-priced options
was wiped out more than two hundred years ago by the tucked away. The Sham Watch has a presence, but not
combined action of the Church of the Silver Flame, the as strong as in the upper wards.
Esoteric Order, and the Guild of Starlight and Shadows. Lower wards house the hard-working laborers, along
Hidden workshops of the Closed Circle might still be with the destitute and the desperate, including refugees
found in Sham, where vengeful liches or other wizards who lost everything in the war and orphans who never
of the Circle practice their dark arts in hiding. had anything to begin with. Services priced for a modest