Page 75 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

The Twelve facilitates communication and coopera­
THE KORRANBERG tion among the dragonmarked houses. As part of the
<C M � O N � <C l l 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
F E U D W I T H 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
T H E T W E L V E ? 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
T w elve, 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 T w elve 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 P a tronage. As a patron, the Twelve is functionally
ers are operating within their allotted budget and keep­
ing their results secret only temporarily, as a matter of similar to a dragonmarked house. Rather than advanc­
house security. ing one house's interests, though, the Twelve seeks to
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 T w elve 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 CON T ACTS Benefits"), and as their agents, you receive a 5 percent
d8 Contact discount on services from all the dragonmarked houses
(rather than a 10 percent discount from one house).
A lesser guild functionary who is cowed by your group
Leadership. The Committee of Twelve oversees the
(especially if it includes 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 group onmarks, but the Mark of Shadow is represented by two
3 The lovingly indulgent parent of a character in your different houses, and House Cannith is currently frag­
group mented into three branches, each of which has claimed
4 The smugly superior dragon marked sibling of an un­ a seat on the council.
marked member of the family in your group The Twelve is headquartered in a many-spired keep
5 The money-minded business manager of a guild within that floats in the air above the city of Korth in Karrnath.
Most researchers funded by the Twelve operate within
your patron house
this structure, but the institute occasionally pays grants
6 A retired adventurer within the family who would rather
to researchers whose promising work can't easily (or
join you on your adventures than assign them to you safely) be relocated inside the keep.
7 The proud leader of a regional branch of the dragon­ Allies. With a long record of providing benefit to so­
marked family 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 T W ELVE 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.

CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
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