Page 99 - Eberron -Rising from the Last War_Neat

OTHER RELIGIOUS ORDERS
THE VOICE OF In addition to the Templars of the Silver Flame, several
A
l M � N l other groups might sponsor your party, such as the fol­
lowing organizations:
The Deathguard. This elite order of elven priests
S I L E R F L A M E ' S evil undead.
V
and warriors from Aerenal is sworn to destroy all
C R I S I S O F . FAIT H ! The Devout of the Celestial Crown. One of many litur­
gical councils that serve a mostly administrative role
for the priests of the Sovereign Host, the Devout man­
age a large portion of the city of Sham.
The T e mplars of the Silver Flame are supposed to repre­ The Gatekeepers. This ancient druid sect seeks to de­
sent the Church and the nation in pursuit of the highest fend nature against aberrations, fiends, and undead.
ideals of the faith, as they crusade against the forces of
evil across Khorvaire. But are they fulfilling that high UNIVERSITY
calling? Or are they just as mired in politics as the Brelish
bureaucracy? An institution of higher education sponsors your group.
High Cardinal Baerdren ir'Davik, who also holds the You might be researchers, bodyguards for scholars, or
rank of grand master of the templars, appears to be an glorified treasure hunters searching for ancient arti­
exemplary templar, utterly dedicated to the mission of facts. The university might regularly employ you or you
the order. Y e t it is widely known that he chafes at the might have a contact at the university who pays you any
political and bureaucratic responsibilities that his posi­ time you bring back something useful from your adven­
tion on the Council of Cardinals demands of him. This tures. You could be a team of academics, or you could be
reporter has learned that Sir Baerdren would readily employed to provide some (physical and magical) mus­
surrender his position, were it not for his distrust of his
seneschal, Ofejjaia of Korth. cle that the university otherwise lacks.
Lady Ofejjaia, it seems, has other issues on her per­
sonal agenda besides advancing the cause of the knights MORGRAVE UNIVERSITY
templar, and one wonders if those issues are tied to her At the heart of Sham's Morgrave University is a sharp
Karrnathi origin. Though her wisdom and sound judg­ dichotomy: On the one hand, it is known as a nexus for
ment are not in dispute, it seems that Sir Baerdren f e ars scholars wishing to study Xen'drik, thanks in large part
that she would drive the order into obsolescence or even to Sham's proximity to the secret continent. Its col­
banishment if she were in charge. lections of artifacts and scholarly works about ancient
Does Lady Ofejjaia hold her lofty position because of Xen'drik and the Dhakaan Empire are unparalleled.
her loyalty, her piety, and her qualifications? Or is she In many ways, it lives up to the shining vision of its
there simply so that Sir Baerdren can keep his eye on founder, Lord Lareth ir'Morgrave, to be "a beacon of
her and ensure that she doesn't sabotage the templars knowledge shining from the tallest towers of the city."
from within?
On the other hand, the university's reputation is
tainted by allegations of smuggling, treasure hunting,
O R D E R CONTACT and profiteering. Many priceless relics recovered from
Xen'drik or Dhakaani ruins have disappeared from the
d8 Contact university vaults and found their way to the black market
A cloistered priest with little worldly experience who or into the hands of the Aurum. It's an open secret that
doesn't really understand what you do but seems to some scholars, professors, and even students at the
approve of it anyway university have ties to smugglers and thieves. All these
2 A cynical priest who thinks nothing you do makes any allegations, too, have ties to the university's founding:
difference in the grand scheme of things Lord Morgrave himself is said to have made his fortune
3 A zealous priest who is constantly urging you to do selling Dhakaani artifacts on the black market, and
some have claimed that the true purpose of the uni­
more and do it better versity was to help him build his fortune through such
4 An ambitious priest who views you as a ticket to ad­ questionable means.
vancement in the i erarchy Allies. The academic world is relatively small, and
h
5 A retired adventurer who would rather do your work people at any one university tend to have connections
than direct you in it at others. You might parlay such relationships into as­
6 A pious priest who sees the hands of the divine in ev­ sistance from academies and institutions, such as the
ery event, even the actions of unbelievers following organizations:
7 A devout lay person who envies the magic and power Flamewind. The sphinx Flamewind (described in the
your group wields "Immortal Being" section) isn't officially affiliated
8 A practical functionary who tries to keep your work iso­ with the university, but she lives there and spends
much of her time in its libraries and museums. As a
lated from the knowledge and influence of the priests
scholar of the Draconic Prophecy, Flamewind often
poses strange questions and sends adventurers on
obscure missions.

CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
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