Page 25 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

of life, whether they be as merchants, magewrights, strife; when they weren't fighting Galifar or Zilargo, the
scholars, or scoundrels. While the gnomes of the Five tribes usually turned on one another. This came to an
Nations aren't as inherently devious as their Zil cousins, end with the Last War. House Deneith hired Ghaal'dar
they share the Zil emphasis on the importance of family. mercenaries, and this gave focus to the divided tribes.
As a gnome character from the Five Nations, you A brilliant hobgoblin, Haruuc, united the Ghaal'dar,
might have a network of connections to the community and under his leadership they seized control of what is
your grew up in, likely built on the exchange of informa­ now Darguun (see chapter 2). The aging Lhesh Haruuc
tion. Alternatively, you might seek your own path in life, remains as the ruler of Darguun, and many fear that his
avoiding the intrigues your cousins adore. death could throw the region into chaos.
As a Ghaal'dar goblinoid, you hold your place through
O
GN M E S AND D R AGONMARKS cunning and strength. You may have been a former mer­
The Mark of Scribing appears among the gnomes of cenary now seeking adventure. You could be working
House Sivis. The gnomes of this house were among as an emissary for one of the Ghaal'dar tribes or even
the first of their kind to leave Zilargo and live in human Lhesh Haruuc himself. Or you could have been driven
lands. They love bureaucracy and intrigue as much as from your tribe by the actions of a rival; perhaps you're
the gnomes of their homeland, but they have carefully seeking allies to reclaim your birthright.
cultivated a reputation for impartiality and secrecy, THE MARGUUL
since their services rely on trust.
Today, House Sivis provides avenues of communica­ The Marguul bugbears threw off the yoke of the
tion across Khorvaire. Translation, mediation, inter­ Ghaal'dar long ago, seizing territory in the Seawall
preting, and legal advocacy all fall within House Sivis's Mountains in the south of Darguun. They are infamous
broad purview, and they maintain the network of mes­ raiders, and while they have brokered a truce with the
sage stations that allow cross-continent communication. Ghaal'dar, anyone venturing into the Seawall Mountains
had best travel with a Marguul guide.
G O B L I N O I D S As a Marguul bugbear, you are savage and proud of it.
The Marguul worship the Mockery and believe in victory
HOISTING THE HEAD BY THE FADING PLUMES OF THE by any means necessary: there is no such thing as honor
ruined helmet, still tied under the chin by a cord, Haruuc on the battlefield. It's certainly an unusual choice for a
player character, but if you've taken a liking to a particu­
raised it in one hand and his bloody sword in the other.
lar group of the small folk, you could be a powerful ally.
"Your lord is dead!" he howled in the human language.
"The battle is done! B y m y sword, I claim this place and THE H E I R S OF D H AKAAN
name it Rhukaan Draa/, the crown city o f Darguun, the Though the Dhakaani Empire defeated the alien
land o f the people!" daelkyr, the war left seeds of corruption strewn through­
out the empire. As Dhakaan began to fall, a number
-Don Bassingthwaite, The Doom o f Kings
of generals and governors gathered their forces and
retreated into shelters deep within the earth, deter­
The goblinoid species-goblins, hobgoblins, and bug­ mined to preserve their civilization until the Empire
bears-were once the dominant civilization in Khor­ could finally be restored. After thousands of years, their
vaire, with the goblinoid Empire of Dhakaan ruling the descendants have finally emerged, competing among
continent for thousands of years. It was crippled by a themselves to determine which leader deserves the im­
long conflict with the daelkyr and their aberrant armies; perial crown. Once this is settled, they will turn to the
even though the daelkyr were defeated, the seeds of conquest of Darguun and Khorvaire.
madness took root in the empire and tore it apart. Today The Dhakaani are far fewer in number than the
there are four primary goblinoid cultures in Khorvaire. Ghaal'dar; they had to carefully limit their population in
C I T Y GOBLIN S the underground vaults they've dwelled in for the past
age. However, they have held onto the martial discipline
o
Goblins dwell in most f the major cities f the Five and techniques that allowed their ancestors to dominate
o
Nations. When humans first came to Khorvaire, they the continent. Their weaponsmiths are superior even
enslaved many goblins and built their cities on the foun­ to the artificers of House Cannith, and they are experts
dations of Dhakaani ruins. Galifar ended the practice of in the working of adamantine and other exotic metals.
slavery, and these goblins are now citizens of the Five Anyone who presumes to look down upon goblinoids
Nations. Gifted goblins can be found in all walks of life, should be surprised by the skills of the Dhakaani.
and goblins served in the armies of the Five Nations The Heirs of Dhaka an are an agnostic society and
during the Last War. don't have clerics, paladins, or druids. Their focus is
on martial excellence, and their spiritual leaders are
THE GHAAL D AR bards, who tell tales of past glory. Among the Dhakaan,
'
The Ghaal'dar tribes arose from the remnants of the goblinoids work together. Hobgoblins are the strategists
Dhakaani Empire. Hobgoblins are the leaders of the and commanders, typically having the skills of fighters,
Ghaal'dar, enforcing their will on their goblin and bug­ bards, or rangers. Bugbears cultivate a focused battle
bear peers. The history of the Ghaal'dar is filled with rage and are typically barbarians. Goblins are largely

CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
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