Daask

=Daask=

A reputed criminal organization led by monstrous humanoids from Droaam. It first appeared in Sharn two years ago at the end of the Last War, but has since spread to other major cities of Khorvaire, including Wroat, Korth, Fairhaven and Passage.

In these cities, small communities of expatriate Droaamites -- retired mercenaries from the final years of the War, and often their families -- find themselves in ghettos, as the dominant humanoid races fear and distrust them. In many cases they are targeted by local law enforcement, while crimes committed against them are ignored. Daask supports these expatriate communities by protecting them and advocating on their behalf. Their soldiers (usually Orcs and Gnolls) patrol streets, protect struggling businesses, and react when a Droaam national is attacked or mistreated. In return, the local neighborhood gives them shelter and pays for their upkeep.

For an example of this arrangement in action, see Little Droaam in Wroat.

Many low-ranking Daask members prominently display the organization's symbol -- a stylized, ornate letter "D" -- in the form of jewelry, tattoos and sometimes seared or branded into the creature's fur or flesh. To these creatures, Daask serves as both "employer" and surrogate family. Their loyalty is considered nigh-unbreakable.

Of course, Daask's community involvement and the small-time gangsta trappings mask extensive criminal activities (see //Sharn: City of Towers//). The Boromar Clan in Sharn has been attacked, and many think an underworld war is either coming or has already started.

The Boromars, as well as intelligence agencies like the King's Citadel of Breland, see a deeper motive for Daask's presence and sudden growth. They believe that Daask -- and the Droaam expatriate movement itself -- is controlled by the Daughters of Sora Kell, the Hag Covey that rules Droaam. In the event of renewed conflict, these creatures -- some possessing extraordinary strength, flight and dangerous supernatural abilities, backed by Orcs and Gnolls willing to fight to the death -- could devastate the cities they're in, leaving them open for conquest or destruction.

//(For a real-world parallel, think of Daask as a combination of the Palestinian group Hamas -- known for their charity and community outreach as well as their acts of guerrilla warfare and terrorism -- and the Crips of South Central Los Angeles.)//

Currently, the leaders of Daask in Sharn are two Oni (aka Ogre Magi), reputedly brother and sister though they may actually be mates, called Carvalho and Cavallah.


 * Update:** Sometime in Zarantyr 998 YK, Carvalho accepted a deal offered by the professional firm Noçeon, Zimmall, Zuñiga & Nayaz. NZZN sought muscle to support some of its clients, and also needed a quick-strike force in Wroat to engage and kill a Hobgoblin Courier from Darguun before she delivered a diplomatic pouch from the Lhesh Haruuc to Regent Kor of Breland. Pay apparently came directly from the firm's other clients, and largely consisted of ancient Dhakaani coins, potions, alchemical vials, Eberron shards and minor magical items such as //swift fly amulets//. Between the wholly inadequate pay, the loss of numerous Daask members in both Wroat and Sharn, and the damage to the group's reputation for failing to slay a single Hobgoblin, Carvalho is strongly considering breaking the contract. For additional guidance he demanded NZZN send him a divination wizard. They sent Kaela, a Valenar Elf who may have had a run-in with the Ogre Mage eight years ago during the Last War.