Events+of+Rhann+12-20,+997+YK

=Rise of the Thirteenth Clan:=

A Mourning in Khorvaire Prequel
This is a prequel adventure relating to the main campaign, from the perspective of the Goblins of Darguun. Specifically, PCs are a party of the //Kech Volaar//, the "Bearers of the Word," one of the 12 Dhakaani clans that mostly dwell in northern Darguun and in the Seawall Mountains north of Marguul Pass (opposite northeastern Breland and New Cyre). To the rest of Khorvaire they are a mystery, as their members rarely hired out as mercenaries during the Last War.

Generally, the Dhakaani believe they are the true inheritors of the ancient Empire (app. 16,000-5,000 years ago), and are in many ways opposed to Lhesh Haruuc and his lowland-dwelling, Hobgoblin-dominated Ghaal'dar clans. Dhakaani clan chiefs all claim bloodlines dating back to various Dhakaan royal dynasties, and 10 of the 12 clans are a mix of all three races (though with a clear division of labor -- for the most part, Hobgoblins lead and fight; Goblins craft, skulk and fight; and Bugbears toil and fight). The other two are the legendary all-Goblin //Khesh'dar// (Silent Clans).

If the clans were unified (the explicit goal of the //Kech Shaarat// or "Blade Bearers" clan), they could overthrow Haruuc. From there, all it would take is one major shift in the balance of power -- like the Mourning -- for a **New Dhakaan** to rise, sweeping the Five Nations aside. But they are not unified (in part because the //Kech Shaarat// are so arrogant and blatant in their ambitions), a fact which dismays and disappoints the leadership of the //Kech Volaar//. While the other 11 plot and scheme (sometimes supporting Haruuc), and ambitious Ghaal'dar warlords encroach on their territory, the //Kech Volaar// busy themselves in the collection of ancient Dhakaani relics and teaching the way of the //duur'kala// (dirge singers, the bardic tradition that dominates the arcane arts in Darguun as it did in the heyday of Dhakaan). The vaults in their undermountain stronghold, Volaar Draal, are said to contain thousands of items, from archaeological curios and battle standards to weapons made to fight the Daelkyr of Xoriat -- and nine fragments of //Muut//, the legendary Shield of Nobles, a //byeshk// shield allegedly forged by Taruuzh, greatest //dashoor// (artificer) in the entire 17,000-year history of the Goblin peoples. The Shield, symbolizing the link between clan chieftains and the Emperor, was shattered into 13 pieces* by a Daelkyr called "Khybersfist" during one of the last invasions from Xoriat.

//(As it turns out, this is inaccurate. The **true**// Muut //was never a physical shield at all, but a protective ward intended to counter the mind-controlling power of the// Rod of Kings//, an artifact-level scepter wielded by the Emperors of Dhakaan. When the first// Muut //was lost in the chaos of an earlier Daelkyr incursion, an artificer with the Draar Mac// ("Dark Hands") //clan forged a new// Muut //-- this time a shield worthy of an Emperor or Champion. It was this counterfeit -- but still mighty --// Muut //that Khybersfist shattered.)//

Now, in the middle of Rhaan (autumn) of the Year 997 YK (by the Humans' reckoning), your leaders send the //duur'kala// **Mariin** "Dhakaan" and her hand-picked team (**Banuur** //shaarat'khesh//, a Blue Goblin of the Silent Blades; **Jiindal** //taarka'khesh//, a Goblin with the Silent Wolves; **Broomm**, a Bugbear battle sorceress from the //Kech Volaar//; **Nasheer** of the //Kech Shaarat//, a Bugbear Crusader; and **Rasa**, a Warforged "Chainmaster" Fighter revived and repaired by a //Kech Volaar// artificer) to investigate reports that odd-shaped coinage has turned up in a small village nestled in the Seawall foothills (near the fabled Seven Caves), where scores of clanless Goblinoids -- ex-mercenaries, outcasts and outlaws from all over Darguun, even some "city" Goblin immigrants from the Five Kingdoms -- are gathering....

Rhann, 997 YK

 * 12 - VOLAAR DRAAL: In Darguun, //Kech Volaar// clan leaders assign Mariin 'Dhakaan's' Skullreave-based strike team to investigate sightings of possible Empire-era coinage and rock slides near Seven Caves.
 * 17 - CHARDONN VILLAGE, DARGUUN: (early evening) //Kech Volaar// strike team fights members of a mercenary/outlaw group claiming the name of the long-lost thirteenth Dhakaani clan, the Dark Hands.
 * 18 - KOGAA KEEP, DARGUUN: (early morning) Warlord Kogaa of the //Gan'durr// clan (second in status to the Lhesh Haruuc's own clan in modern Darguun) tries to kill members of the //Kech Volaar// team; team barely escapes Kogaa's castle.
 * 19 - CHARDONN: Kech Volaar team recovers from events of previous night; travel into Seawall Foothills to site of rock slides.

While Mariin, Broomm and Jiindal investigated mountain rock slides that may have opened up long-lost caves -- taking them off-stage -- Banuur, Rasa "Chainmaster" and Nasheer entered the village of Chardonn to check out the strange coins circulating.

Along the way they passed near a Human-made castle that looked intact and inhabited, 28 years after the Cyrans were overthrown in these parts.

The sleepy village (nestled in the foothills surrounded on three sides by vineyards and by the Seawall mountains to the west) was indeed awash in ancient Dhakaani-era coins -- five-sided coppers (green with age), six-sided silvers (black with age), and heavy eight-sided golds depicting a stern-looking Hobgoblin in 3/4 view and an inscription in an archaic Dhakaani script none of the three present could decipher.

There was also an active recruiting drive for a "new" Dhakaani clan called the //Draar Mac// ("Dark Hands"). This explains the line of down-and-out Goblins, Hobgoblins and Bugbears, ready to swear allegiance in exchange for a coin pouch, armor and a weapon. For their part, the villagers were both angry at the interlopers for attracting clanless outlaws...and happy at how much these Dark Hands were willing to pay for stuff.

The barker, a charismatic Hobgoblin, tried to recruit the Warforged, but Rasa didn't bite. Another member, a Bugbear, tried to reach Nasheer, but the Crusader rolled a nat 20 for Knowledge (History) and figured out who the Dark Hands used to be...a clan from the days of the Empire, wiped out after the disastrous Ku'un Dynasty failed to stop the Fifth Daelkyr Incursion ~7,500 years ago. The //Draar Mac// were eccentric, innovative, masters of craft and artifice...and a little crazy //(like, Josef Mengele crazy...Tuskegee Experiments crazy...and so on)//.

Naturally, a fight broke out. Villagers and most of the wannabe recruits scattered; those left gave a good account of themselves, but lost. The barker was killed by Banuur's "Banhammer" finishing move, but a couple of others survived, and the trio recovered hundreds of coins and a lot of armor and weapons from outside Darguun. Including masterwork breastplates made for Karrnathi Skeletons, and crossbows w/bayonets from Zilargo.

Buying a horse and cart from a farmer, the group started hauling the body, the two captured survivors and the recovered gear towards the castle (having received a Message from Mariin the Bard to go there and ask the local Warlord for help). Said Warlord was Kogaa, a member of the lowland //Ghaal'dar// clans that control most of Darguun (Lhesh Haruuc is a Ghaal'dar of the //Rhukaan Taash//), and a famous mercenary air cavalry officer during the War (his advanced elite Manticore mount was seen at the castle). Kogaa's vineyards were tended by Human slaves, and his castle -- restored stone-by-stone to its original Cyran construction -- was staffed by well-dressed Cyre-born "house" slaves (and harem girls). The Warlord fancied himself a master vintner, and his blood wine (Darguul grapes, Karrnathi fermentation methods, and a dash of badger for taste) was indeed excellent.

During a late dinner, Kogaa received another visitor -- Tyvon of House Cannith. Tyvon, a white-haired Human, had just returned from Sharn where he'd met with "interested parties" and run into the Golem he'd made 30 years ago, Fedder (small world, eh?). Tyvon gushed and fawned over Rasa, recognizing from his build and plating that he was a "Cyran Heavy Skirmisher, 973 model"...a good year...but as he recalled, "most of the '73s had //female// personalities."

Kogaa, who'd been funding Tyvon's research, gave him a jewel box holding three freshly-dug Eberron shards, which the Cyran claimed would help him "unravel the mystery of the Mourning," and sent him on his way with all his tools and lab equipment to his new, undisclosed location.

Dinner completed, it was time for the tour of the wine-making facilities...in the basement. Naturally, it was a trap. Kogaa teleported out using a magic item, and the trio fought a squad of Karrnathi Undead, bursting from crates and barrels just like in //Diablo II//.

The Karrns -- 3 Zombies, 2 Skeletons, a Deathlock, an Archer and a Dread Marshal -- fought hard and detonated with negative energy when slain. The fight was long, yet our intrepid trio managed to survive...but are now trapped in the cellar, literally.

Which is where the session ended.

For December 14, we could finish this, with the rest of the players taking Mariin, Broomm and Jiindal and trying to 1) rescue the others, 2) defeat Warlord Kogaa and 3) catch the Cannith excoriate before he joins the Dark Hands on the Brelish side of the mountains....


 * UPDATE, 5 Eyre 998 YK:** Nasheer and Broomm (along with Raavik of the //Rhukaan Taash// and the Greater Barghest called Diizina) confronted Choraan //taarka'khesh// in the foothills of the Seawall Mountains outside New Cyre.


 * UPDATE, 15 Eyre 998 YK:** Mariin, Nasheer, Broomm, Banuur and Jiindal are all killed in the events at the top of Seven Caves mountain. The team had been corrupted by the Goblin Artificer Lich Kriilla Darkhand, and had worked to bring about her grand vision of using a Giant-era //eldritch machine// to merge the thousands of feral goblinoids (//Dekanter'Dar//) dwelling in the mountain with //Ja Noi Oni// spirits from Shavarath that had once been mighty Hobgoblin warriors during the Dhakaani Empire.


 * The //Kech Volaar// Strike Team:**


 * Mariin 'Dhakaan' -- Hobgoblin Bard 5 (team leader)
 * Rasa 'Chainmaster' -- Warforged Fighter 5 (Rich), later seen in Breland as a Warforged called "Plow" (or //p'lau// = "inside")
 * Nasheer -- Bugbear Crusader 5 (Jeremy) (//Kech Shaarat// clan)
 * Banuur -- Blue Goblin Monk 2/Psychic Warrior 3 (Tony) (//Shaarat'khesh// clan)
 * Broomm -- Bugbear Battle Sorceress 5
 * Jiindal -- Goblin Scout 3/Ranger 2 (//Taarka'khesh// clan)


 * Of the 13 pieces of the second //Muut//, the //Kech Volaar// hold nine, Lhesh Haruuc has one at his palace, the Library of Korranberg in Zilargo has one, one is missing -- and the 13th was lodged in the chest of "Khybersfist" when he broke the Shield, causing him immense pain until he and the other Daelkyr were imprisoned by the Gatekeepers.

Original "Mourning in Khorvaire" material and specific House Rules -- © 2007-2017 Herb Helzer. All Rights Reserved. "Eberron," "Dungeons & Dragons," "d20 system," etc. -- ©1995-2017 Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.