Page 189 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

E
AURUM C A M P AIGN TH M E S C U L T S OF H E
T
It's easy to introduce the Aurum to the characters early D R AGO N B E LOW
in a campaign. Its members are public figures, some­
times eccentric but not necessarily evil. A Concordian The Cults of the Dragon Below are made up of people fa­
could hire the adventurers to solve a mystery or to ac­ natically devoted to the daelkyr or the fiendish overlords
quire a harmless curio. A Concordian could be tied to (both described in chapter 6). Though some choose
the party's group patron (see chapter 1)-the owner of this path, most are drawn to it by strange visions and
.
the newspaper, a major donor to the university, or the corrupting madness. Like weeds breaking through the
power behind a criminal syndicate. foundation of Khorvaire, Cults of the Dragon Below can
Alternatively, an Aurum Concordian can be a be­ spring up anywhere, at any time.
hind-the-scenes villain: low-level adventurers could Unlike other organizations with global reach, the
clash with the Concordian's hired goons as they pur­ cults have no organizing structure or principle. They
sue the same treasure, or the adventurers could be are an infection inflicted on the world without reason.
trying to solve a mystery the thugs are covering up. As "Cult of the Dragon Below" is a term that outsiders
the campaign progresses, the characters might face use to describe any sect devoted to the daelkyr or the
higher-ranking members of the Aurum, or recurring overlords. Each cult pursues its own mad schemes, tied
mercenaries who are increasing in power and status at to its dark patron. Even cults associated with the same
the same rate they are. master might not recognize one another as allies. You
Whether they interact with the Aurum as ally or en­ can roll on the Cult of the Dragon Below table to get a
emy, at some point the adventurers might well realize quick description of a cult, or you can create something
that the Concordians aren't just greedy plutocrats, but entirely new. Whatever purpose cultists find or create
participants in an international conspiracy. The Aurum's for themselves from their twisted devotions, they pursue
arc in the campaign might climax with the characters it with fanaticism. Even the most urbane and cultured
learning of the Shadow Cabinet and thwarting one of its cult leaders are unwavering in their convictions, entirely
grand schemes. sure that their beliefs are good, true, and just.
AURUM M I S SIONS C U L TS OF T H E DRAGON B E L OW
The Aurum Missions table suggests a variety of assign­ d8 Cult
ments that adventurers might be asked to undertake on A cult of Belashyrra murders innocents and steals
behalf of the Au rum or one of its members, whether or their eyes, magically preserving the image of the last
not they're aware of their patron's affiliation. thing the eyes beheld. The cultists collect the eyes in
a deep vault, while new eyes grow in strange places
AUR U M M I S S I O N S
on their own bodies.
d6 Mission 2 A cult of Dyrrn the Corrupter seeks to transcend hu­
Retrieve a journal from a ship that sailed to Xen'drik manity by bonding with aberrations and symbionts.
and never returned. 3 A cult of Kyrzin, the daelkyr Prince of Slime, keeps a
2 Locate the grave of a certain dragonmarked scion, gibbering mouther in the basement and feeds their
and retrieve the signet buried with them. elders to this creature, believing their voices can still
3 Make friends with a scholar at the local university and be heard in the whispers of the beast.
learn their vices. 4 A cult of Rak Tulkhesh believes that this life is only a
4 Recover a trove of art, artifacts, or recorded stepping stone, and members earn a path to paradise
knowledge that was thought lost in a battle during the by spilling blood and spreading strife.
Last War. S A cult of Belashyrra serves a beholder messiah, be­
S Capture an officer from a rival nation's army, or con­ lieving that only the eye tyrant has the vision to lead
vince the officer to defect, to gain access to their spe­ them to a golden age.
cialized knowledge. 6 A cult of Dyrrn led by a mind flayer kidnaps people
6 Sabotage the negotiations between a dragonmarked with dragonmarks, seeking to decipher the marks and
house and the local government on a plan that will transfer them to others.
undermine the Aurum's status. 7 An arcane think tank has become a cult of Sul
Khatesh; the members believe they can heal the dam­
M
age of the o urning, but the eldritch machine they
are building will surely cause more horror.
8 A cult of Rak Tu k hesh has sprung up among a local
l
militia. Its members are convinced that refugees from
the war are secretly inhuman monsters, and must be
destroyed.

C H APTER 4 I BUILDING EBERRON ADVENTURES
r88