Page 199 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

treaty nations, a realm where they are the outsiders and
THE VOICE OF the monsters are at home. Adventurers might have to
� � ( L A N D pursue a fugitive or a war criminal into Droaam, or go
there in search of unusual services or information found
only in the land of monsters.
B O R A N E L C E D E S W A RL R D S OF R OA M
A
D
O
o
i
Droaam s home o a vast array f creatures. Many of
t
C
W E S T E R N R E A H ES these races maintain isolated enclaves: the medusa
city of Cazhaak Draa!, the harpy flights of the Byeshk
Mountains, the scattered minotaur clans, the mysteri­
In a shocking move, King Boranel has ordered that all ous changeling city known as Lost. But other creatures
Brelish citizens who live west of the Graywall Mountains have long been commingled. The ogres, ores, trolls, hill
must leave their homes and return to the eastern lands, giants, goblins, and kobolds of Droaam have never had
or else forfeit their claim to the king's protection. In distinct cultures; they have always been blended. Al­
the face of a few withered hags and a ragtag "army" of though enclaves made up of a single kind of creature do
filthy ogres and mangy gnolls, King Boranel's legendary exist, most communities contain a mix of creatures.
courage has apparently faltered. We can only assume he In bygone days, many of these groups of creatures
means to yield to Cyre next.
lived in transient communities, ruled by the most pow­
erful among them and constantly in conflict with neigh­
boring forces. When the Daughters of Sora Kell rose to
D R OAAM power, they used force and persuasion to bring an end
to this violence. They recognized the most powerful
Once, Droaam was a wild frontier that marked the edge existing warlords as rulers of their domains, and they
of civilized Khorvaire. Today, it is home to one of the appointed lieutenants-including oni and other powerful
strangest nations on the continent. In the streets of the and intelligent creatures-to govern other regions.
Great Crag, ogres and minotaurs rub shoulders with Within Droaam, any creature that commands the
gnolls and goblins. Gargoyles and wyverns circle in the loyalty of a band and has successfully claimed and held
sky, while harpies call work crews to the quarries with territory can call itself a warlord, but only a small num­
their songs. Under the rule of the enigmatic Daugh­ ber of such leaders wield significant power. A few of the
ters of Sora Kell, this land grows stronger with each most notable warlords and factions are described below.
passing year.
Thanks to the guidance of the hags, the diverse inhab­ Cairngorm. A remarkably intelligent gargoyle, Cairn-
itants of Droaam are learning to work together and find­ gorm is the lord of Grimstone Keep. He leads the
ing ways to use their supernatural gifts to help build and largest host of gargoyles in Droaam, and Grimstone is
sustain society. A medusa might use its petrifying gaze also home to ores and other creatures.
to preserve the life of an injured ally until medical atten­ The Dark Pack. An alliance of lycanthropes, worgs,
tion can be obtained. Harpies in the taverns of Droaam and other bestial creatures is led by an elf werewolf
use their hypnotic songs to entertain rather than to named Zaeurl. The Dark Pack bears a deep hatred for
harm. When you bring creatures from Droaam into the followers of the Silver Flame.
campaign, consider how different monsters can work Gorodan Ashford. A fire giant exiled from Xen'drik has
together in unusual ways and how their special abilities earned the loyalty of a powerful force of ogres and hill
could be used outside combat. giants. Gorodan knows a great deal about Xen'drik
Droaam offers a way to introduce monsters into any and could prove a valuable resource to adventurers.
adventure, and for characters to encounter these mon­ Harpy Flights. The harpies have long dwelled in the
sters in untraditional ways. Droaam demonstrates that Byeshk Mountains. Several flights across the nation­
even monstrous creatures want the same things that including the Stormsinger, Last Dirge, and Rotwing­
members of other races do, more or less. have pledged themselves to the Daughters of Sora
Droaamish monsters of a civilized bent could appear Kell. Other flights remain in isolation in the moun­
anywhere in Khorvaire. House Tharashk brokers the tains. The largest of these is the Wind Howlers, whose
services of Droaamish monsters across the continent. leader, Callain of the Bloody Word, despises the hags.
Some of these monsters can appear in traditionally Kethelrax the Cunning. The kobold lord Kethelrax
aggressive roles, as mercenary soldiers, a crime lord's has laid claim to Shaarat Kol in the south of Droaam
bodyguards, or assassins in the shadows of Sharn. But and leads host of kobolds and goblins-creatures that
Tharashk also provides less violent services. Ogre la­ have been traditionally enslaved and oppressed by the
borers put their strength to practical use in many of the larger and more powerful inhabitants of the region.
continent's cities. Gargoyle couriers are in high demand. Though his epithet, "the Cunning," is used mockingly
Though monstrous workers of these sorts are still rare by other warlords, Kethelrax has the favor of Sora Ka­
in many nations, their numbers are growing. tra and has proven to be clever in his own right. The
Conversely, a visit to Droaam gives adventurers a kobolds are thrilled to have their own territory and
chance to explore a land untethered by the laws of the are fiercely loyal to the Daughters, but many yearn for
revenge against their former masters.

C H APTER 4 I BUILDING EBERRON ADVENTURES
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