Eberron

HEROIC PULP ACTION

While dragonmarked houses and nations vie for supremacy in Khorvaire, the conflict is often less focused on economic espionage and more on relic hunting. Bands of adventurers venture into the dangerous frontiers like Xen’drik and the Mournland, racing to be the first to recover lost magic.

Unlike the grim tone of cyberpunk settings, Eberron’s evils are balanced by the sense that heroes can change the world. In cosmic horror, the actions of the heroes are futile in the face of an inevitable eldritch future. In Eberron, spells and steel can stop antediluvian horrors. Villains may weave dastardly schemes, but they can be defeated in a final high-stakes confrontation.

WANDSLINGERS

The frontier of Q’barra is patrolled by roving wandslingers, dispensing justice and mediating disputes. The battlefields of the Last War were fought not only by warriors with sword and shield, but by wandslingers hurling spells across enemy lines. While a wand can be a toy or tool, it is also a weapon, and wizards who openly carry a wand are publicly representing their threat.

Your character’s wands can be ergonomically designed and look like guns if you enjoy that aesthetic, but the advances of magic have made gunpowder unnecessary — why spend centuries refining a dangerous chemical compound when magic constantly provides an easier solution with wands that never jam or backfire?

THE LAST WAR

The continent of Khorvaire has just emerged from a century of war, which included periods of intense conflict intermixed with times of uneasily glaring at each other across borders. Nations lost territory, gained, and lost again, and several new nations were established from land seized from others. With shifting allegiances throughout the century of conflict, nearly every nation has considered all its neighbors enemies at some point. Though hostilities ceased with the Treaty of Thronehold and the nations are rebuilding relationships with their neighbors, the memory of tensions has not faded.

However, the dragonmarked houses have ensured some measure of stability, remaining neutral throughout the conflict. Dragonmarked heirs have an allegiance that transcends national borders, serving every nation alike, regardless of nation of birth.

In this world of wide magic, the innovations of warfare were not ones of machinery and gunpowder. The battlefield was controlled by archers and wandslingers, not ranks of riflemen. Artillery was dominated not by mundane cannons, but by massive siege staffs—wands made out of whole tree trunks.

SENTIENT CONSTRUCTS

Classical fantasy settings often feature soulless golems and constructs crafted by wizards, powered by alchemy or other magic. Steampunk settings expand on this with clockwork automatons using gears, wires, and an oil can to keep everything running smoothly. Cyberpunk settings spotlight high-tech robots with advanced artificial intelligence. In Eberron, the warforged are magically animated, but they’re no mere constructs nor clockwork devices. Beneath their armored exterior, warforged are made of living wood that functions as muscle, bone, and central nervous system. Warforged are not artificial intelligences, but fully sentient, with the same capacity for love, fear, and faith as any other person.

SHADES OF GRAY

People in Eberron are neither paragons of virtue nor vile exemplars. Even the jovial barkeep may water down his ale, an evil act of fraud. Villains have motivations beyond “They hate everyone, especially puppies.” Community leaders might do the right thing for all the wrong reasons.

While Eberron does not disregard alignment entirely, few creatures have fixed alignment. Traditional “monstrous” races, like goblins and harpies, are no more inclined to evil than dwarves or halflings, and while nations of monstrous creatures might be unfamiliar and uncomfortable to people from the Five Nations, its residents are not inherently evil. The only mortals bound to a certain alignment are those cursed with lycanthropy. Otherwise, all are free to live and act as they please, for good or evil. Immortal beings—whose existence flows from the distilled essence of their planes—usually fall within traditional alignments of good and evil, but even so, celestials can fall and fiends can rise.

DISTANT DEITIES

The gods of Eberron are distant, if they exist at all, and they certainly don’t walk the face of the earth. All souls, good and evil, fade away in Dolurrh together. Without cosmic forces of divinity shaping each moment, mortal souls choose their own destiny. Even a powerful cleric of the Sovereign Host can’t prove the presence of the Host, but believes they are ever-present, such as viewing Onatar’s existence as every strike of a hammer on the forge. Spells that commune with deities in other settings instead might reach powerful outsiders, who may have godlike powers but are only deities by merit of those that give them worship—and those powerful outsiders have no concrete proof of the existence of greater powers either. In Eberron, religion is truly a matter of faith, not sight.

THE DRACONIC PROPHECY

The Draconic Prophecy appears everywhere: in the sky, on the ground, in the pattern of streams flowing over sand, and, more recently, on mortals in the form of dragonmarks. Few creatures can begin to fathom its depths, let alone interpret its shifting nuances that speak to all possible futures. Dragons, with their advanced culture and spellcraft beyond the comprehension of lesser creatures, are one of the few mortals with the capacity to understand the immensity of the Draconic Prophecy. They dedicate their long lives to its study, believing that the Prophecy was set in place by the Progenitors as a way to guide them forwards into the future. Despite (or perhaps because of) their interest in the Prophecy, most dragons do not interfere in the affairs of other creatures, living in an isolated culture on the continent of Argonnessen.

DRAGONMARKS

Three thousand years ago, the first dragonmarks appeared, mysteriously giving magical power to their humanoid bearers. There are twelve true dragonmark types, each tied to a certain race and granting a particular set of abilities. They can manifest—seemingly at random—on individuals descended from a marked bloodline. More recently, destructive aberrant marks began appearing on creatures of every race, even those with no true dragonmarks in their heritage.

Races

From honorable hobgoblin artificers to elf necromancers venerating their undead ancestors, Eberron is a world of surprising cultures. This section highlights interesting lore and possible origins for characters of every race.

RIEDRAN

In Riedra, on the continent of Sarlona, changelings are regarded with awe and dread. The Riedran Path of Inspiration teaches that if humans live a good life, their spirit is reincarnated into a changeling’s form in their next lifetime. Riedran changelings are under immense social and religious pressure to serve the Inspired, and it is highly improbable one would abandon their place in the order of things for other pursuits.

Learn more: SOS chapters 1-2.

TYRANTS

The changeling gang known as the Tyrants is one of the three major criminal organizations of Sharn. These information brokers use their shapeshifting abilities for blackmail, fraud, and more. The Tyrants can be an excellent source of information—or terrible enemies who turn a victim’s secrets against them.

Learn more: SCT chapter 5.

DRAGONBORN

Honor-bound warriors created to serve the true dragons of Argonnessen, dragonborn come from a proud martial tradition.

Learn more: EPG chapter 2.

DROW

Eons ago, enslaved elves on the continent of Xen’drik rebelled. Their oppressors, the giants, responded by creating the drow, twisting and transforming their elvish captives. These new creatures with strange powers and perfect darkvision were tasked with assassinating the elvish rebels. When the giant civilization crumbled, the drow made their own way, settling in the ancient ruins of Xen’drik.

Learn more: SOX chapter 3.

DWARVES

Between the powers of commerce granted by the Mark of Warding, and the control of the Mror Holds over Khorvaire’s mineral resources and precious metals, dwarves enjoy prosperity and power. Still, simmering rivalries between clans threaten to boil over and destroy the fragile peace that the Iron Council has imposed on the boisterous dwarves.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1, DGS “Dwarves of the Mror Holds, Part 2.”

ELVES

Former slaves of the giants, the long-lived elves of Eberron chase the immortality that was stripped from them when the giants kidnapped eladrin and transformed them into mortals. They fled and settled in Aerenal, and later Khorvaire, where elves bearing the Mark of Shadow have found renown as the greatest entertainers and artists of Khorvaire.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1.

DRAGONMARKED

The Mark of Shadow is carried by elves with the blood of House Phiarlan in their veins. However, not all elves with the Mark of Shadow are part of House Phiarlan. Nearly three decades ago, the Shadow Schism split the house, and the Thuranni family formed their own rival house. Phiarlan has claimed the western half of Khorvaire, while Thuranni has its most powerful holdings in Karrnath and the Lhazaar Principalities.

Learn more: See Factions: Dragonmarked Houses.

ELADRIN

The old stories are filled with legends of mythical feyspires. Ruled by powerful archfey and inhabited by elegant eladrin, they came and went from the Material Plane—but this all changed when the Day of Mourning struck. The feyspires became stuck, scattered across Eberron and unable to return to their native Thelanis.

Learn more: EPG chapter 2, ECG chapter 1.

TAIRNADAL

Most Tairnadal live on the mountainous isles of northern Aerenal, dedicated to ensuring the immortality of their greatest ancestors by emulating the deeds of these patron spirits. Each Tairnadal is selected by a patron spirit upon reaching adulthood, and live the rest of their life seeking to to emulate them; for example, if one’s patron spirit was a mighty warrior, they would seek worthy foes and great conflicts.

A large group of Tairnadal, the Valaes Tairn, immigrated to what was once southeastern Cyre. They served as mercenaries during the Last War before annexing the territory, now known as Valenar.

Learn more: PGE “Valenar,” DGS “The Elves of Valenar, Part 2.”

GNOLLS

Gnolls are predominantly found in Western Khorvaire. While the savage carrion tribes in the Demon Wastes have some gnoll members, people of the Five Nations are most familiar with the Znir Pact gnolls of Droaam. Centuries ago, this group of gnolls abandoned the worship of fiends, and the combined might of a dozen clan leaders shattered their chains and ensured they would no longer serve any demonic master. Today, the gnolls of the Znir Pact live free, neither conqueror nor conquered. Sometimes known as the Gnoll Brotherhood, the Znir Pact serves as mercenaries, trackers, and bounty hunters, with their archers held in high regard.

Learn more: PGE “Droaam,” DRA 368 “Backdrop: Graywall,” Queen of Stone novel.

GNOMES

Gnomes are cunning, social creatures who will never draw a dagger if a whispered message would have the same effect, yet never flinch when the dagger is necessary. They have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, which has led to them creating pillars of academic knowledge like the Library of Korranberg. The gnomes possess secret knowledge of how to bind elementals to Khyber dragonshards, making them an integral part of the economy of Khorvaire.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1, PGE “Gnomes.”

GOBLINOIDS

Goblinoids—known in their own tongue as dar, “the People”— lived in Khorvaire for many millennia before humanity settled there. The great Empire of Dhakaan spanned most of the continent, but after a long war with alien creatures from Xoriat, the Dhakaani Empire collapsed.

Thousands of years later, the remnants of the proud goblinoids are scattered across Khorvaire. The Goblin language is widespread, especially in the more untamed areas, and is treated as Common by many of the monstrous races.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1, PGE “Goblinoids,” KBB “Dragonmarks: Goblins.”

HALF-ELVES

Elves met humans two millennia ago when elves from Aerenal moved to Khorvaire. Their descendants formed a new race known as Khoravar—the Children of Khorvaire. Half-elves take pride in their race and in the importance of their two dragonmarked houses, Lyrandar and Medani.

The Khoravar have easily inserted themselves in Khorvairian culture and can find a home most anywhere on the continent. These half-elves have strong bonds of community and great pride in their racial identity, but also believe in the value of cooperation with other races.

Learn more: PGE “Half-Elves & Urban Elves,” ROE chapter 5, DGS “The Khoravar: Half-Elves of Khorvaire.”

HALF-ORCS

Over the years, the native orc and immigrant human tribes of Khorvaire inevitably intermingled. Half-orcs are not a truebreeding race that consistently reproduces itself like the Khoravar, nor do they have as distinct of a racial identity. These half-human, half-orc offspring are viewed as brutish in much of the Five Nations, but find respect in the Shadow Marches, Droaam, and to a lesser extent, the Eldeen Reaches.

Learn more: PGE “Orcs,” ROE chapter 5.

MARCHER

Long ago, human immigrants to western Khorvaire landed on the marshy shores of the Shadow Marches and were taken in by the orcs. Their offspring—known as Jhorgun’taal, “children of two bloods”—live comfortably with a fusion of Marcher human and orc culture. It was here that the Mark of Finding recently emerged in the last thousand years, and most Khorvairians view the stereotypical Jhorgun’taal as a Tharashk bounty hunter or inquisitive.

Learn more: PGE “Orcs.”

HALFLINGS

Hailing from the trackless Talenta Plains, the tolerant and witty halflings have been in Khorvaire since before recorded history. Some remain nomads to this day, while others have left their tribes in the plains and seamlessly integrated into Galifaran society. Halflings tend to form small communities of their own, the most infamous of which is the Boromar Clan of Sharn.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1, PGE “Halflings.”

HUMANS

Born on the continent of Sarlona, humankind first immigrated to Khorvaire over three thousand years ago. As legendary figures like Karrn the Conqueror cut a bloody path through the shambles of the Dhakaani Empire, humans slowly spread across the continent. In addition to the following unique cultures across the world, this enterprising and adaptable race is ubiquitous throughout most of Khorvaire.

Learn more: PGE “Humans.”

KALASHTAR

Kalashtar are descended from human monks that melded their minds with quori—dream spirits of light that fled Dal Quor in search of refuge on the Material Plane. The children of these monks became the kalashtar, and while they appear like uncannily beautiful humans, they are a separate race. These psionically gifted people carry a genetic link to those same spirits their ancestors bonded with millennia ago.

Kalashtar are born into a secretive interplanar conflict that they rarely entrust other races with knowledge of. They believe that sinister quori spirits rule Dal Quor, the Plane of Dreams. Through following their faith, the Path of Light, the kalashtar hope to bring about a new age in Dal Quor—one of light instead of nightmares.

Learn more: PGE “Kalashtar,” ROE chapter 4.

KOBOLDS

These small lizard-like humanoids are assumed primitive by many, but the clever kobolds simply prefer to live simply, apart from civilization. They believe themselves to be the first mortal race, born of blood spilled during the ancient conflict of the Progenitors—Khyber, Eberron, and Siberys. Kobold strengths include their ingenuity, ability to work together, and their sheer numbers.

Iredar kobolds trace their ancestry to Eberron and have moderate views, living in their mountain caves and fighting to protect themselves. Irvhir kobolds live deep in Khyber and fight everyone, including the iredar. Stories are told of the irsvern, winged kobolds that live on mountaintops and claim descent from Siberys, but no proof of their existence has been presented.

Learn more: DGS “Kobolds of Khorvaire.”

LIZARDFOLK

Lizardfolk are an uncommon race sometimes lumped together with dragonborn and kobolds and called “scales” by confused Khorvairians. These territorial creatures tend toward a tribal society, and can be found hidden in pockets scattered across the globe, especially in Q’barra and Xen’drik.

Learn more: WGE chapter 3, PGE “Q’barra.”

ORCS

Orcs, one of the few races native to Khorvaire, are neither wild or uncivilized, but live driven more by belief and passion than by any desire to build an empire. As a result, they were pushed to the edges of the continent by the goblinoid Dhakaani Empire. Today, orcs tend to live by their passions in small family groups and clans.

Learn more: PGE “Orcs,” KBB “Dragonmarks: Orcs and the Ghaash’kala.”

DEMON WASTES

The orcs that inhabit the Demon Wastes and the twisted passages of the Labyrinth are some of the few mortals that live in this bleak region. Most worship dark fiendish powers, though they occasionally hear the call of the Binding Flame and seek to join the Ghaash’kala.

The Ghaash’kala orcs believe themselves charged with the sacred duty of protecting the world from the horrors of the Demon Wastes. These tribes—primarily comprised of orcs, but also humans and half-orcs—guard the primary passage in and out of the Labyrinth. These holy warriors dedicate their lives to serving Kalok Shash, the Binding Flame.

Learn more: KBB “Dragonmarks: Orcs and the Ghaash’kala,” PGE “Demon Wastes,” DUN 172 “Expeditionary Dispatches: Guardians of the Labyrinth.”

PLANETOUCHED

Planetouched creatures are a rarity in Eberron, but in a world of magic and mystery, anything can happen. Planar energies might infuse and change the biology of children born in manifest zones, granting them unexpected powers. Even outside of manifest zones, the unpredictable powers of planes could change the physiology and abilities of any creature, whether through an encounter with an extraplanar creature summoned during the Last War or an accident of artificing.

GENASI

Genasi are touched by powerful elemental forces from the planes. An air genasi might be touched by Lamannia or Syrania, while a fire genasi would likely be touched by Fernia or Kythri.

Learn more: EPG chapter 2.

TIEFLINGS

In Eberron, not all tieflings have red skin, horns, and tails, though all are humanoids touched by inhuman power. The variant tieflings in Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes could represent the influence of different powers and planes; Levistus for Risia, Zariel for Shavarath, etc.

The Venomous Demesne, a hidden city in Droaam, is home to tieflings that fled the Sarlonan region of Ohr Kaluun seeking safety from the Inspired. Their unnatural powers were gifted as part of a dark pact their ancestors made thousands of years ago. These tieflings do appear like traditional ones of other settings.

In the Demon Wastes, tieflings known as sakah are corrupted by the fiendish overlords and their rakshasa servitors. Their appearance varies, but all have signs of fiendish influence. Rellekor, a small town in Thrane, has a large tiefling population. The village was established by the Church of the Silver Flame as a haven for planetouched tieflings, surrendered to village elders at birth.

Learn more: MRM chapter 2, KBB “Dragonmarks: Tieflings.”

SHIFTERS

Drawing on their beast within to temporarily shift, shifters can take on aspects of the animal they embody to grant abilities such as increased strength or speed. They value individualism and rely on instinct and emotion. Most shifters live in the Eldeen Reaches, though they can be found in rural areas throughout Khorvaire.

Common belief holds that shifters—or “weretouched”—are related to dangerous lycanthropes, but shifters are neither cursed nor contagious. Nearly two centuries ago, fanatical elements within the well-meaning Church of the Silver Flame sought to purge them along with the lycanthropes; as a result, many shifters mistrust the Church to this day.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1, ROE chapter 2.

WARFORGED

The warforged are the most spectacular of the Last War’s many innovations. These sentient golems were made by House Cannith for a single purpose: to fight and die for whoever bought them. But to their creators’ surprise, they not only had intelligence, but true sentience—the ability to feel, fear, and love like any race.

With the Treaty of Thronehold and the end of the Last War, warforged were declared to be people, free to decide their own futures. This freedom came at a price, however; House Cannith was ordered to dismantle all its creation forges so no more warforged could ever be created.

The end of the Last War has not made life easy for these creations of war, and warforged face discrimination across Khorvaire. In some places—notably Breland—they are treated equitably, but still have few opportunities for improving their station. In other regions, especially Thrane and Karrnath, many warforged are little more than indentured servants. Even where treated fairly, many warforged find themselves unsure what to do after spending their lives as obedient soldiers. Unaccustomed to frivolity and having few physical needs, some simply work for a pittance to pay off some debt unscrupulous charlatans convince them they owe.

Warforged models can serve a variety of purposes, some as nimble scouts, others as towering juggernauts, but all have some sort of armored exterior that encloses a core of living wood. Every warforged has a unique mark on their forehead, known as a ghulra—a Dwarven word for “truth.” This ghulra serves as a fingerprint, and no two are alike; their cause and meaning are a mystery, even to their creators at House Cannith.

Learn more: PGE “Warforged,” ROE chapter 1, DGS “The Warforged, Part 1” & “Part 2”

OTHER RACES

You could establish a place for any race imaginable somewhere on Eberron or its many planes. The following section suggests origins for uncommon races that have been given little attention in previous sourcebooks. As always, you are free to come up with your own explanation to suit your campaign better.

YUAN-TIPUREBLOODS

Yuan-ti in Eberron include the sinister serpentine folk of the deep jungles of Xen’drik and Sarlona, as well as the feathered shulassakar of Khorvaire that revere the couatl and the Silver Flame.

SHADAR-KAI

Shadar-kai might be placed in the feyspire Taer Lian Doresh, in the Lhazaar Principalities. Perhaps they are one of the eladrin from the Fortress of Fallen Dreams, pulled into Dal Quor and slowly corrupted by the influence of that plane.

Places

While Khorvaire’s complex political drama and storied ancient ruins can easily fill a whole campaign, the need for heroes does not end at its shores. Beyond Khorvaire lie lands of wonder and power—crumbled empires, lost civilizations, alien cultures, unlikely allies, dangerous foes, and the land of ‘Here be Dragons.’

FROSTFELL & EVERICE

The frozen polar caps of Eberron are largely unexplored, awaiting brave adventurers to uncover their secrets. The northerly Frostfell is rumored to be the original home of the dwarves, but either that home lies deep underground, or the once-hospitable land was turned into a barren and icy wasteland by a fiendish overlord.

The southern Everice is difficult to reach, requiring navigation through Xen’drik or the dangerous waters that surround it. Everice is ruled over by a powerful archfey, the Queen of Winter, said to grant favors to those who reach her palace.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, PGE “Frostfell and Everice.”

KHORVAIRE

A century ago, when the Last War began, Khorvaire was dominated by the grand Kingdom of Galifar and its Five Nations. Galifar was officially disbanded with the Treaty of Thronehold in 996 YK, and as the war ended, twelve regions were recognized as sovereign nations. Beyond the fringes of civilization, the vast continent is also home to barren wastes and wild lands.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, ECS chapter 7.

ELDEEN REACHES

A land of farmland and forest, the fiercely independent Eldeen Reaches were once part of Aundair but seceded almost 50 years ago. They were later recognized as a sovereign nation by the Treaty of Thronehold, but many residents fear Aundair may try to reclaim its land.

Within, the Towering Wood is home to many shifter communities, and druidism is the predominant faith of most communities. The Wardens of the Wood, the largest druidic sect in the Reaches, are the generally accepted authorities of the region; led by the greatpine Oalian, an ancient awakened tree, they espouse living in harmony with nature.

House Vadalis is headquartered in the unforested southeastern portion of the region along the shores of Lake Galifar. One of the principal powers of the region, they and the many ranchers under their influence experience ongoing tensions with the Wardens, as the ranchers seek to develop the land for industry.

Learn more: ECS chapter 7, ECG chapter 4.

KARRNATH

Living in the cold northeast, the Karrns are a grim people with a strong martial heritage. Karrnath is home to Rekkenmark Academy, the most respected military academy in Khorvaire. Early in the war, Karrnath experienced a series of famines and crop failures that led King Kaius I to adopt the Blood of Vol as the state religion and accept help from a mysterious group within the faith known as the Order of the Emerald Claw. With their help, Karrnath raised armies of undead troops to bolster their ranks with soldiers who needed neither rest nor food.

When King Kaius III took power less than a decade ago, he ousted the Order of the Emerald Claw and declared them terrorists and enemies of the state. The Blood of Vol was also stripped of its exalted status, though many Karrns still follow the faith and approve of the use of undead.

Karrnath was one of the strongest proponents for ending the Last War, though Kaius has to keep a firm hand on his warlords, many of whom believe that they would have won the Last War.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, 5N chapter 4.

LHAZAAR PRINCIPALITIES

Stretching across the northeastern coast of Khorvaire, the islands of the Lhazaar Principalities are home to privateers and merchant princes. This land and its waters are often regarded as lawless by the citizens of greater Khorvaire. While High Prince Rygar ir’Wynarn represented the collected Principalities during the Treaty of Thronehold, he does not rule the Principalities. Instead, each fleet and captain independently govern over their claimed territories.

Not every Lhazaarite is a pirate, and most ships are simply merchant ships. However, many of the Principalities aren’t averse to flying more than one set of flags, depending on who they encounter on the high seas.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, ECG chapter 4, DGS “The Lhazaar Principalities, Part 1.” & “Part 2.”

THE MOURNLAND (FORMERLY CYRE)

The lost nation of Cyre once represented the best of Galifar. Its vibrant arts and culture were a fusion of the talents of the other nations. From the soaring heights of the Seven Palaces of Vermishard in the capital of Metrol to the vast foundries of Making, home of House Cannith, it was a sight to behold. In 994 YK, this jewel was shattered by a mysterious cataclysm known as the Day of Mourning, where dead-gray mist billowed out from central Cyre and stopped exactly at its borders, killing or horrifically transforming everything that it touched. Cyre is now called the Mournland, and the unnatural dead-gray mist lingers, though it has lost the lethal effect it had on that fateful day. Few brave its horrors except a growing band of warforged led by the charismatic and mysterious Lord of Blades, who live deep in the trackless mists.

Cyrans are now a broken people, lost without a homeland. Neighboring countries have taken in Cyran refugees, and Breland has offered them a home in what has become known as New Cyre. This area, little more than an enormous refugee camp, is ruled by Prince Oargev ir’Wynarn, the last surviving member of the Cyran royal family.

Learn more: RLW chapters 2 & 4, 5N chapter 3, KBB “Dragonmarks: Cyre.”

MROR HOLDS

During the Last War, the Mror Holds declared independence from Karrnath, and this claim was recognized by the recent Treaty of Thronehold. This homeland of the dwarves holds promise of vast wealth for those willing to delve deep in the Ironroot and Hoarfrost Mountains—both in veins of precious metals waiting to be mined, and deeper still, the recently discovered treasures of the lost Realm Below. But the prizes of the Realm Below come at a cost; these ancient halls are stalked by the daelkyr Dyrrn the Corruptor and his hordes of aberrations. Some Mror dwarves embrace the power offered by the daelkyr, while others reject it, the divide drives deep wedges between the clans.

On the surface of the Mountains, the dwarves have claimed the best land in the center of the valley, around Mirror Lake. But they are not the only ones to call the Holds their home; the nomadic Jhorash'tar orcs live on the fringes, driven to the desolate mountains by the dominant dwarves. Tensions run high between the Jhorash'tar and most dwarven clans, many wishing to banish them entirely. The animosity is returned in kind, with orcish raids on dwarven caravans and mining operations.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, PGE “Dwarves.”

Q’BARRA

As the Last War dragged on, it became clear that whatever the result, Galifar would never be the same. A conglomeration of disillusioned nobles, many from Cyre, declared they would abstain from the Last War and instead form a “New Galifar” in the jungles east of the Endworld Mountains. What they failed to account for were the existing inhabitants of their chosen paradise. These jungles were home to all forms of scaled beings including lizardfolk, dragonborn, and troglodytes. The settlers carved a bloody swath for themselves before finally agreeing to a treaty with the native inhabitants, allowing House Tharashk to set up extensive Eberron dragonshard mining operations throughout the region.

More recently, a second wave of immigrants, many of whom are Cyran refugees, have settled in mining towns to the west of New Galifar. This mix of prospectors, wandslingers, and renegades created a federation under the flag of Hope. The last few years have brought increasing tensions between these settlers and “scales” of the region, and future conflict seems unavoidable.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, DUN 182 “Backdrop: Q’barra,” DUN 185 “Poison Dusk, Black Sun.”

SHADOW MARCHES

The Shadow Marches are a wild and untamed region with no centralized government. Long ago, human immigrants from Sarlona landed on the western coast of Khorvaire and mingled with the native orc tribes, forming the hybrid tribes of today. Zarash’ak, the City of Stilts, is the largest city in the Marches and the traditional home of House Tharashk. The farther away from Zarash’ak you get, the wilder the land and its people.

Uncounted tribes of orcs, humans, and half-orcs live out in the marshes. Some worship the daelkyr whose influence lingers still, while others keep the traditions of the Gatekeepers, slaying any aberrations they come across and maintaining the dimensional seals that keep the daelkyr sealed in Khyber.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, DUN 191 “Eye on Eberron: The City of Zarash’ak.”

TALENTA PLAINS

The Talenta Plains of eastern Khorvaire range from the arid grasslands in the north to the Blade Desert that runs along the Endworld Mountains to the south. Its halfling residents and their dinosaur companions are the most well-known inhabitants of the Plains, and the city of Gatherhold, near the once-beautiful Lake Cyre, is the only permanent settlement of any size. The borders between Eberron and its planes appear to be particularly thin in this region, with spirits from Dolurrh and Thelanis in particular slipping through to the Material Plane through numerous manifest zones. Ancient ruins, be they demonic, couatl, Dhakaani, or dragonborn, dot the landscape, treated as sacred or cursed places by Talenta halflings.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, ECS chapter 7.

THRANE

Thranes are a religious, devoted, and kind people that shun materialism and other vices. This theocracy is officially led by Jaela Daran, Keeper of the Flame—an eleven-year-old girl with a powerful connection to the Silver Flame. The vast majority of Thranes follow the faith of the Silver Flame, and while few led to become bold warriors rooting out supernatural evil, they are all called to lives of goodness and faith.

With its fertile lands bordered on most sides by rivers and greater bodies of water, Thrane was the only nation to retain all its territory in the Treaty of Thronehold. It also maintains control of the once-Aundairian city of Thaliost it seized near the end of the Last War, and many citizens of both nations hold bitter resentment toward the other.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, 5N chapter 5.

VALENAR

Formerly known as southeast Cyre, the land now known as Valenar was seized by mounted Tairnadal warriors from Aerenal during the Last War. The human residents of Valenar have transitioned surprisingly well to their new elven masters.

While the Valaes Tairn are nominally the rulers, these warrior elves of Valenar are uninterested in the actual administration of the country. House Lyrandar has stepped in to govern while the Valaes Tairn try to provoke their neighbors (most prominently Karrnath) into skirmishes, or even better yet—an actual war.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, DGS “The Elves of Valenar, Part 1,” DRA 362 “Expeditionary Dispatches: The People of Taer Valaestas.”

ZILARGO

Zilargo is a land and culture dominated by gnomes. On the surface the land is idyllic, with little to no crime, nearly untouched by the Last War, a safe and secure land. Dig a little deeper, however, and you will find the Zil maintain this facade through manipulation, blackmail, and paranoid surveillance. To the gnomes of Zilargo, privacy is a luxury that is not worth the cost of violence, crime, or civil unrest. It is the duty of the Trust — their secret police — to maintain this vigil, and its members could be anyone, anywhere, at any time, and they are always watching.

Learn more: RLW chapter 2, ECG chapter 4, DGS “The Gnomes of Zilargo, Part 1.”

Factions

In every corner of Khorvaire and beyond, you will find no shortage of groups with a vested interest in the success or failure of brave heroes. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you climb a tangled web of competing interests. Allies and enemies abound—and depending on the day, a single faction might play both roles. Everyone wants something, though their motives are rarely as simple as good or evil. You might be useful in achieving those desires, or be an obstacle in need of removal... Or both.

DAUGHTERS OF SORA KELL

The Daughters of Sora Kell are legends come to life. These three hags emerged from the shadows less than 15 years ago with an army of war trolls behind them, seizing control of the region now known as Droaam.

Sora Maenya, an annis hag, is the iron fist of the coven. The terror of the Eldeen Reaches for generations, her strength and appetite are legendary, and she loves playing games with her prey before tearing them to shreds. Over the centuries, she has devoured entire villages, leaving them barren and empty.

Sora Katra, a green hag, is the honeyed voice of the coven. Renowned as a trickster of the deep swamps, she’s been a mainstay in Brelish folklore for centuries. Stories abound about heroes coming to her in search of treasures or secrets, determined to best her with wit or steel, but they rarely end well for the mortals.

Sora Teraza, a dusk hag, is the most mysterious member of the coven. Believed by many to be the driving force behind the creation of Droaam, she’s said to be the most gifted oracle of the age, with preternatural prescience despite her blindness.

Learn more: DGS “Daughters of Sora Kell, Part 1” & “Part 2,” KBB “Dragonmarks: Droaam and the Daughters of Sora Kell.”

DAELKYR

Bizarre creatures from the plane of Xoriat, the daelkyr led an incursion into the Material Plane several millennia ago. Their assault on Eberron focused on Khorvaire, and they shattered the goblinoid Dhakaani Empire beyond repair. Eventually, the daelkyr were beaten back and trapped in Khyber.

Each daelkyr has a preferred portfolio of aberrations they have crafted, and each one’s “art” tends to follow a particular theme. Among the six great named daelkyr, Belashyrra the Glorious Eye spawned the first beholders, while Dyrrn the Corruptor mutated the dar into the monstrous dolgrim and dolgaunts.

Learn more: RLW chapter 6, PGE “Khyber: The Daelkyr,” MZ “Daelkyr and Cults of the Dragon Below.”

DRAGONMARKED HOUSES

Thousands of years ago, the first dragonmarks appeared on the continent of Khorvaire—and mysteriously, only there, not on any other continents. Today, twelve marks exist, each tied to a certain race and bloodline. The families bearing each mark came together to form dragonmarked houses, holding near-monopolies in their respective areas and exerting tremendous economic and political power—despite the Korth Edicts ensuring that the houses are officially unaffiliated with any nations or political factions, and members prohibited from holding land or noble titles to ensure neutrality. You need not be marked to find employ with a house, though the most lucrative services are generally offered by dragonmarked heirs.

Learn more: PGE “Dragonmarks,” ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

GHALLANDA (HOSPITALITY)

The Mark of Hospitality presents on halflings descended from the Ghallanda bloodline and is tied to service of others, food and shelter. House Ghallanda provides the best inns and restaurants across Khorvaire. It remains popular largely due to the strict neutrality of its inns, with governments having no power in a Ghallanda house.

The only guild that House Ghallanda controls is the Hostelers Guild, but its reach is large. It controls all aspects of the service industry, from food and lodging to legal gambling. An inn with the Ghallanda seal of certification is guaranteed to meet the minimum standards for health and safety in the Five Nations.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

JORASCO (HEALING)

The Mark of Healing appears on halflings and is tied to healing wounds, both physical and mental. House Jorasco offers medical services of both mundane and magical natures throughout Khorvaire, and some of its most powerful dragonmarked heirs can even raise the dead.

House Jorasco controls the Healers Guild, providing and regulating medical services across Khorvaire, from hospitals to long term care facilities. Its healers were essential in the Last War, serving as medics to all nations without reservation.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

KUNDARAK (WARDING)

The Mark of Warding presents on dwarves descended from the Kundarak bloodline and is tied to the storage and protection of material goods and places. House Kundarak controls the majority of Khorvaire’s banking industry and used that status to acquire significant wealth during the Last War.

House Kundarak controls two major guilds: the Banking Guild, which protects and distributes the gold and valuables of Khorvaire, and the Warding Guild, which wards houses and properties against thieves and damage.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

LYRANDAR (STORM)

The Mark of Storm presents on half-elves descended from the Lyrandar bloodline and is tied to weather patterns and effects. House Lyrandar controls the seas and skies of Khorvaire, with the majority of Khorvaire’s ships and all of its skyships belonging to this house. During the Last War, it played an important role in ensuring an adequate food supply through manipulating weather.

House Lyrandar controls two major guilds: the Raincallers Guild, who specialize in weather control and irrigation, and the Windwrights Guild, which dominates the industries of shipping and transportation by sea and (more recently) by air.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

MEDANI(DETECTION)

The Mark of Detection presents on half-elves descended from the Medani bloodline and is tied to finding immediate threats and preventing those yet to come. House Medani serves as private investigators—known as inquisitives—and profited from counterintelligence operations during the Last War.

House Medani controls the Warning Guild, which not only licenses non-house inquisitives and sentries, but also trains bodyguards to proactively anticipate and neutralize danger.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

ORIEN (PASSAGE)

The Mark of Passage presents on humans descended from the Orien bloodline and is tied to movement. House Orien provides most courier services and land transport in Khorvaire, but lost its main interchange and thousands of miles of lightning rail during the Day of Mourning.

House Orien maintains two guilds: the Couriers Guild, which delivers mail and packages across the face of Khorvaire, and the Transportation Guild, which is responsible for maintaining the trade roads, courier posts, and most importantly, operating the lightning rail.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

PHIARLAN & THURANNI(SHADOW)

The Mark of Shadow presents on elves descended from the Phiarlan bloodline and is tied to illusion and stealth. House Phiarlan is renowned for its skilled artisans and entertainers, but secretly provides espionage services through its clandestine branch. Formerly based in Cyre, the house moved headquarters to Sharn after the Day of Mourning.

House Phiarlan controls one major guild, along with a secretive one that few even know exists. The Entertainers and Artisans Guild runs theaters, music halls, circuses, and oversees the artisans of the continent. The secret Serpentine Table is the most reliable and exclusive information-gathering network in Khorvaire, though even its own employees usually know next to nothing about the organization that they work for. Several decades ago, the Thuranni family—accomplished assassins of the house—split off from House Phiarlan and took with them the house's clientele in eastern Khorvaire, forming their own dragonmarked house, House Thuranni. Today, these two rival houses generally service different regions of Khorvaire, with Phiarlan in the west and Thuranni in the east.

Like Phiarlan, the new House Thuranni is known for the arts, but secretly it offers espionage, along with its specialty, discrete assassination services. House Thuranni operates the Shadow Network, with a public face of entertainment, but behind the scenes, its members serve as elite assassins or spies.

Learn more: ECG chapter 6, DMK chapter 1.

OTHER MARKS

Beyond the twelve dragonmarked houses recognized today, there are two others of note, though their history is often lost or misunderstood. The extinct line of Vol once carried the Mark of Death, while House Tarkanan is the newest organization to collect the aberrant marks under its control.

THE DREAMING DARK

The Dreaming Dark are quori, nightmare spirits from Dal Quor. They cannot touch Eberron directly, but operate through their Inspired vessels, seeking to manipulate the world until all fall under their sway.

The quori’s ultimate goal is to anchor Dal Quor in its current state, lest they all perish as its current age comes to an end. They believe that by controlling the dreams of mortals and the world itself, they can halt the turning of the age.

Learn more: RLW chapter 4, SOS chapter 1.

THE EMERALD CLAW

Though the Order of the Emerald Claw was one of the most prestigious Karrnathi knightly orders during the Last War, they’ve since been declared terrorists and lost the crown’s official support. T he fragmented remnants of the Emerald Claw have vowed to restore the true glory of Karrnath. These fanatics serve the Lady Illmarrow, a mythical figure once regarded as a scary story to frighten children at night. Their forces are bolstered by powerful necromancers, skilled bone knights with power over undeath, and legions of intelligent undead soldiers. Although the Order prays to the Blood of Vol, the vast majority of faithful Seekers disavow their behavior.

Learn more: RLW chapter 4, ECG chapter 3.

THE LORD OF BLADES

The origins of the enigmatic Lord of Blades are unknown, but recently, this figure emerged from the dead-gray mists of the Mournland and began preaching his message of warforged superiority. His followers believe absolutely in his message of an apocalyptic future in which the warforged will destroy or enslave the creatures of flesh and bone that currently rule Khorvaire.

He is seen as a terrorist by some warforged, who have had their fill of war and seek only to live a quiet life, but others call him a messiah, feeling as if they were exploited by the people who used them like slaves then took away their ability to reproduce.

Although the creation forges that created the warforged were ordered dismantled after the Treaty of Thronehold, rumors abound that the Lord of Blades has recovered a functioning one in the Mournland and seeks to learn how to operate it.

Learn more: RLW chapter 4, DUN 111 “Critical Threats: Lord of Blades.”

THE LORDS OF DUST

Although the fiendish overlords were sealed away eons ago at the end of the Age of Demons, their followers were not. The immortal and endlessly patient rakshasas study the Draconic Prophecy with the intention of freeing their dark masters. They match wits and agents against the dragons of Argonnessen, both factions trying to bend the Prophecy to their own ends.

The mighty city of Ashtakala in the Demon Wastes is the seat of their power, and powerful artifacts hide behind these obsidian walls. Here the prakhutu, chosen voices of the overlords, scheme and betray one another, each seeking to release their own master.

Learn more: DRA 337 “Eternal Evil: The Lords of Dust,” KBB “Dragonmarks: The Lords of Dust.”

NEWSPAPERS

Scandal, intrigue, romance, thrills from distant lands—you can find all this at the nearest newsstand! Magic allows for the rapid copying and distribution of daily and weekly broadsheets. While these chronicles vary in integrity and veracity, the people of Khorvaire rely on them to be their window to the wider world.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1.

SCHOLARSHIP

While not mandatory, education is considered a basic right throughout the Five Nations. Higher education, however, is generally a privilege available to the nobility and upper classes.

Learn more: RLW chapter 1.

UNIVERSITY OF WYNARN

Once the foremost institute of learning in Khorvaire, a century of war was not kind to the University of Wynarn, with most staff and students from other nations returning to their home nations. Located in the capital of Aundair, this school has been forced to expand admissions to include those not of noble birth.

Learn more: ECG chapter 3.

Faith

In Eberron, faith can be immensely powerful, whether or not the deity being worshiped is real. The gods of Eberron generally can’t be contacted, interacted with, or even proven to exist. Rather, their existence is taken as a matter of faith. A cleric’s power doesn’t necessarily come from the deity they worship, but from the power of their belief in what they worship.

Most citizens of Khorvaire worship the Sovereign Host, the Dark Six, or the Silver Flame.

DARK SIX

The Devourer, Fury, Keeper, and Mockery were originally part of the pantheon of the Sovereign Host, but were cast out during the Schism for their evil acts. These four, in conjunction with the Traveler and the Shadow, now form the Dark Six. They represent the darker aspects of civilization, the wild, and mortal nature.

Many Vassals of the Host make prayers to the Dark Six in an attempt to avoid their wrath, as they are still considered deities despite being rejected from the pantheon of the Host. Among faithful of the Dark Six themselves, some incline toward evil acts, while others revere the Six for pragmatic reasons or appreciate the balance they represent in the natural order.

Most followers of the Six focus their devotion on just one god, while holding the others in cautious regard.

• The Devourer is the god of storms and the deep. He represents the untamable power of nature and the glory of the predator.

• The Fury is the goddess of passion and vengeance. She represents instinct, primal emotion, and the storm of rage.

• The Keeper is the god of death and greed. He is the collector of souls, patron of selfish industry, and maker of bargains that always end up in his favor.

• The Mockery is the god of betrayal and pain, of winning no matter the cost. He represents the harsh realities of war and survival, the inevitable pain and bloodshed life always brings.

• The Shadow is the god of forbidden lore and ambition, master of dark magic, and maker of monsters. He represents the dangers and rewards of the pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement, no matter the cost.

• The Traveler does not incline toward evil, unlike the others of the Six, but is the god of chaos and change. It believes that the unexpected makes us stronger — but beware the gifts of the Traveler, for the unexpected comes with a cost.

Learn more: PGE “The Dark Six,” FOE chapter 2.

THE SILVER FLAME

The Age of Demons ended when the couatls collectively sacrificed most of their race to create a force that could imprison the overlords within Khyber. Their essences formed the Silver Flame, an eternal force of goodness that empowers mortal champions against the darkness.

KALOK SHASH, THE BINDING FLAME

The Ghaash’kala tribes—primarily orcs, but including half-orcs and humans—worship a force known to them as Kalok Shash, “the Binding Flame,” which they believe holds the souls of noble warriors from time immemorial who have died fighting the corruption of the Wastes. Most theologians agree that Kalok Shash is in fact the same force as the Silver Flame, though the two faiths have many differences.

Learn more: PGE “Demon Wastes,” DUN 172 “Expeditionary Dispatches: Guardians of the Labyrinth.”

OTHER FAITHS

Faith is as diverse as the faithful. Across the face of Eberron, many cultures have developed their own sets of values and beliefs. As to their validity, when no gods walk upon the world, who is to say? Regardless of what you worship, with enough faith, it’s theoretically possible you might channel divine power from that faith. A charismatic cult leader may believe in themselves so much that they draw power from that belief and that of their followers, performing miracles that a simple con artist could never achieve. However, scholars debate where this sort of divine power comes from—some assert that it’s a communal pool of faith empowering the faithful, others that it’s channeling power from true deities, and still others argue all power comes from the Divinity Within. This section highlights the diversity of faith across the surface of Eberron.

Learn more: DGS “Religion in Eberron.”

DRUIDISM

The druids of Eberron draw on the primal magic that sleeps within the earth. Druidism was originally taught to the lesser races by the dragon Vvaraak, who foresaw the daelkyr incursion and taught the orcs of Khorvaire how to tap into Eberron's power and seal the daelkyr deep within Khyber. Over the following millennia, Vvaraak's teachings spread across the continent, becoming the foundation for a variety of druidic sects. Eberron holds many more than those named in this section, these are merely the traditions detailed in sources.

Learn more: KBB “Dragonmarks: Druids”, PGE “Eldeen Reaches.”

ELVISH FAITHS

Despite their long lives, elves find their faith turning to matters of death, just as many religions of the shorter-lived races.

QUORI FAITHS

Sarlona is home to the ancient empire of Riedra, where the Inspired rule with the guidance of otherworldly spirits known as quori. The Path of Inspiration believes these spirits to be benevolent, while the dissident Path of Light disagrees.

SEREN DRAGON CULTS

Sitting just off the northwest coast of Argonnessen, the Seren tribes worship the dragons of the mainland as powerful totemic figures, assigning different values and traits to each color.

Learn more: PGE “Dragons,” DGS “The Serens, Part 1.”

WARFORGED FAITHS

As the newly freed warforged ponder their existence and the uncertain nature of their souls, several philosophies have emerged among the living constructs.

THE LORD OF BLADES

The Lord of Blades is a charismatic leader who lives in the Mournland, preaching that the warforged represent a new and higher level of existence, destined to replace the weak races of flesh and blood. The Lord of Blades is rumored to possess a creation forge, but many dismiss this as a self-serving rumor started by the Lord of Blades themself.

Learn more: RLW chapter 4, DUN 111 “Critical Threats: Lord of Blades.”

THE REFORGED

The Reforged embrace the living half of their nature as living constructs. They devote themselves to introspection, emotion, and insight, contemplating the place of warforged in the wider world and the meaning of life itself. Some Reforged even go so far as to remove the metal plating of standard warforged models, becoming as much like flesh and blood as possible.

Learn more: ROE chapter 7.

A Magical World

The Five Nations were built on a magical foundation. To them, magic is a form of science, which can be studied and taught. Nevertheless, few people possess the skill required to become a wizard or an artificer, and high-level magic remains rare. Resurrection and teleportation aren't part of everyday life, but citizens harness lesser effects and use them for the common good.

Artisans called magewrights provide much of this magic. Compared to a wizard or an artificer, a magewright's knowledge of magic is narrow: a locksmith might master the arcane lock and knock spells to supplement the use of physical tools; a magewright healer could cast lesser restoration and cure wounds in addition to using healer's kits and the Medicine skill. A magewright's casting is also slow and expensive: they typically cast their spells as rituals. They are artisans, not adventurers, and the prosperity of the Five Nations was built on their foundation.

Medicine

The dragonmarked House Jorasco maintains houses of healing across Khorvaire. The simplest service is the expert application of the Medicine skill. For those with desperate need and gold to pay, most Jorasco outposts can provide lesser restoration; the best healers can also provide greater restoration. In the finest Jorasco enclaves, it's even possible to raise the dead.

The Healing Services table summarizes typical prices for the services provided by House Jorasco.

Transportation

An excellent system of roads connects the central nations of Khorvaire. Travelers can always make their way by horse or coach, which might employ draft animals magebred by House Vadalis for speed or endurance. House Vadalis also supplies exotic mounts such as hippogriffs and griffons. Elemental galleons use bound air or water elementals to propel them.

Two main options provide long-distance travel across land. Major cities in Khorvaire are linked by the lightning rail of House Orien, which allows you to avoid the perils—and tedium—of the roads. The lightning rail uses bound elementals to pull a train of carriages over a path of magical stones, between which a rail-like stream of lightning arcs.

If speed is an issue, you can book passage on a House Lyrandar airship, which uses a bound elemental to hold a ship aloft and propel it through the air. This is almost the fastest way to travel, but also the most expensive. Elemental airships are a recent innovation and are relatively rare; many cities don't yet have docking towers.

For those with no time to spare and plenty of money to spend, House Orien also has teleportation circles in each of its enclaves in cities across Khorvaire. At significant cost, a member of the house will transport passengers instantaneously from one enclave to another.

The Travel Services table summarizes the cost of traveling by these extraordinary means.

Warfare

After a century of war, magic plays an ever-increasing role on the battlefield. Massive magical siege staffs fill the role of artillery. Semi-sentient warforged titans can scatter squads of infantry. Arcane sappers may spread glyphs of warding to deny a region to an enemy. Wands and rods haven't replaced the swords or bows, but elite wandslingers, as military spellcasters are often known, are becoming ever more common.

The nations of Khorvaire all employed different forms of battle magic during the war. Aundair fielded the greatest number of wizards, while Breland produced floating fortresses and other engines of war. The nation of Karrnath embraced the practice of necromancy and animated hordes of undead soldiers.

In the final decades of the war, House Cannith created the warforged: tireless soldiers formed of metal and other materials. The Treaty of Thronehold forbade the creation of new warforged and granted freedom to those that survived the conflict. Warforged now seek places to call home across Khorvaire, but these living weapons struggle to find their place in a world at peace.

The Last War

For hundreds of years, the continent of Khorvaire was united under the kingdom of Galifar. This peace came to an end with the death of King Jarot in 894 YK, just over a century ago. Conflict over the succession spiraled into outright war between the Five Nations.

The Last War was a bitter struggle that forever changed the shape of Khorvaire. It was a century marked by shifting alliances, with years of stalemate interspersed with periods of intense battles. This grueling conflict left deep scars on the land and the people, but there was worse to come. On 20 Olarune 994 YK, the nation of Cyre was consumed in a magical cataclysm now known as the Mourning. The cause of the Mourning remains unknown; many fear it was caused by unbridled use of war magic. Shock and fear brought the nations to the negotiating table, and the Last War came to an end in 996 YK with the Treaty of Thronehold.

Although many celebrated the end of the war, others remain unsatisfied with its outcome. No one won the war. Even though people optimistically refer to it as the Last War, most believe that it's only a matter of time until conflict begins anew. The mystery of the Mourning is the only thing holding the warmongers at bay. If someone uncovers the secret of the Mourning—if it can be proven that the Mourning can't happen again, or if its power could be harnessed as a weapon—war could erupt again. Until then, the nations remain in a cold war as each makes preparations and seeks advantages in a conflict that could lie ahead.

The Mourning

The nation of Cyre was once the heart of the kingdom of Galifar. The Last War took a heavy toll on Cyre and its citizens, as the nation became a primary battleground where the Five Nations crossed swords. But no one was prepared for the disaster that struck in 994 YK.

Accounts of the Mourning vary. Some say that a blinding light engulfed the battlefield near the Saerun Road. Others say that dead-gray mists rose in the capital city of Metrol and spread from there. Within the space of one day, the nation of Cyre had been engulfed in a wall of mist, and anything caught within the mists was horrifically transformed. Over a million Cyrans were killed on the day of Mourning. Those who survived were soldiers fighting in enemy territory, those living on the borders who were able to flee from the advancing mists, and those few who were able to escape the interior through magical means. On 20 Olarune 994 YK, the nation of Cyre ceased to exist.

The Mourning threw Khorvaire into a state of shock. Who could unleash such power? Was this a weapon, and if so, when would those responsible issues their demands? Were the borders of the lingering walls of mist stable, or could they expand at any moment? What was to be done with the Cyran refugees surging into every adjacent nation? Fear of the Mourning ended the war. But all those questions remain unanswered.

Breland opened its borders to refugees, and Prince Oargev serves as de facto ruler in the area now called New Cyre. Despite its grand name, New Cyre is little more than a vast refugee camp. Other refugees scattered across Khorvaire; some are treated with pity, others with suspicion or anger. And fear of the Mourning hangs like a shadow across Khorvaire. Could it happen again? Is this how the world ends?

Draconic Prophecy

There are patterns hidden in the world. Secrets lie in the conjunctions of the planes and moons, in strange symbols formed by the flowing lava of a volcanic eruption or the fissures caused by an earthquake. Carved in the walls of ancient citadels and on primeval megaliths, knot patterns appear to have meaning that only the contemplative mind can hope to comprehend. To those who can read them, these myriad events and signs form a map of possible futures, a map that can be used to shape the course of history.

Scholars call this map the Draconic Prophecy, attributing it to the Progenitor Dragons: Eberron, Siberys, and Khyber. The Prophecy is vast and complex, its signs scattered across the world. Few humans or even elves have the time or resources to unravel its secrets. The foremost students of the Prophecy are ancient dragons, immortal fiends, and others who have devoted thousands of years to this work.

What makes the Prophecy especially complex is that it doesn't define a singular path for the future. Rather, the Prophecy is a map that shows many possible futures, along with the steps that must occur to make that future a reality. A fragment of the Prophecy might say, "If the Bear King is slain by a sorrowful assassin in the Shadow of the Mourning, the Crown will fall from his nation." The "Bear King" could refer to King Boranel of Breland, since the bear is Breland's heraldic beast. The "Shadow of the Mourning" could mean that Boranel must be slain in the Mournland, or it could mean that the assassination must occur on the anniversary of the Mourning. This passage doesn't say that Boranel will be assassinated or that the Brelish monarchy will fall; it suggests that if Boranel is assassinated under these conditions, then the monarchy will surely fall. But it could also be fulfilled in different ways, if the terms of the Prophecy are interpreted differently. Other fragments of the Prophecy might cover what happens if Boranel is assassinated under other circumstances, or what happens if he dies of natural causes.

As an adventurer, you could be hired by a scholar trying to piece together a fragment of the Prophecy and clash with a secret society along the way. Or you could discover that your family plays a pivotal role in a fragment of the Prophecy. Will you embrace this or fight your potential destiny? Will you dedicate your life to interpreting the Prophecy or ignore it as just a bunch of mystical nonsense? And might the Prophecy hold the answer to the Mourning itself?

The War of the Mark

Period: Approximately 1,500 years ago

The first aberrant dragonmarks appeared soon after the true dragonmarks. At the time the dragonmarked houses joined together as the Twelve, aberrant marks were spread across the Five Nations. Some members of the Twelve truly saw aberrant marks as abominations; others considered them a convenient scapegoat to unite the houses and strengthen their position. House propaganda and whispering campaigns amplified the perception of aberrant marks as dangerous and uncontrollable. Fear progressed to violence, and in time, to squads of Deneith soldiers, Vadalis trackers, and Medani inquisitors “protecting communities from the aberrant threat.”

Aberrant dragonmarks of the time were generally more powerful and dangerous than those of today. The Twelve took true stories of innocents harmed by uncontrolled marks and amplified them—superstition and fear did the rest. The title “War of the Mark” implies two even sides, but this was more of a purge than a struggle of equals. Toward the end, however, a few aberrant-marked champions rallied others and challenged the houses. The most infamous were Halas Tarkanan and the Lady of the Plague, who seized Sharn and declared it a haven for those with aberrant marks. Eventually, the forces of the Twelve laid siege to the city. When Tarkanan and the Lady saw victory was impossible, they unleashed the full power of their marks. Tarkanan’s mark gave him power over the earth, and he shattered the towers. The Lady of the Plague called vermin up from the depths and spread vile diseases in the ruins. Both the aberrants sheltering in the city and the armies attacking it perished, and Sharn remained in ruins for centuries before Galifar I finally reclaimed it.

Aberrant marks were almost completely eradicated during the War of the Mark. When they reappeared in later centuries, they were far weaker than Halas Tarkanan’s earth-shaking power, but fear and prejudice linger. Over the last century, with no explanation, aberrant marks have begun manifesting with greater frequency and power. The criminal organization known as House Tarkanan has begun organizing and training those with aberrant marks, fearing another purge could lie ahead.

House Tarkanan