House Deneith

House Deneith

The Mark of Sentinel

The Mark of Sentinel conveys powers that protect creatures from harm. The humans of House Deneith carry the Mark of Sentinel. They put their powers to use in the Defenders Guild, which offers comprehensive bodyguard services to persons of position and wealth. The house also provides sentinel marshals that have jurisdiction across national boundaries. House Deneith originated in Karrnath, but the Defenders Guild operates across Khorvaire. The unmarked members of House Deneith work as bodyguards without the benefit of magical assistance.

History and Structure

The proud humans of House Deneith carry the Mark of Sentinel. Born in pre-Galifar Karrnath about twenty-six hundred years ago, today, the house offers the services of the Defenders Guild and Blademarks Guild, one devoted to protection and the other to the supply of mercenaries to the highest bidders. From his base of operations in Karrlakton, Baron Breven d’Deneith controls the guilds and oversees the activities of the Sentinel Marshals. They, by ancient decree, provide law and order across national boundaries. Since the rise of Galifar, House Deneith has held to a military structure. Heirs of the house are expected to serve in the Defenders Guild, the Blademarks, or the Sentinel Marshals, and leaders of the house are usually chosen from the generals of the Blademarks.

Political Influence and Activism

Because of its mercenary forces, Deneith holds the most significant military power among the dragonmarked houses. In the past, it has strictly abided by its vow of neutrality, selling its services to those on both sides of any conflict. With the Five Nations weakened by the Last War, some within the house feel that it is time for Deneith to exercise its power to forge a new kingdom. Chief among these activists is Shirin d’Deneith, Lord Commander of the Blademarks. A recent convert to the Blood of Vol, Shirin has been working with the Order of the Emerald Claw and may soon attempt to wrest control of the house away from Breven.

Services

The Defenders Guild provides personal protection, including skilled bodyguards and wizards, who can place warding spells on their charges. The Blademarks Guild manages mercenary activities across Khorvaire. Members of House Deneith serve as officers, trainers, and strategists, but the rank-and-file soldiers of the Blademarks are largely hired mercenaries. The hobgoblins of Darguun and the elves of Valenar both have strong representation in the forces of Deneith, but most of the house’s soldiers are human. One noteworthy troop is the League of the Bitter Blade. This mercenary band is composed of soldiers who served in the Queen’s Guard of Cyre and are now left with no war to fight and no kingdom to return to.

Mercenary Services

For centuries, House Deneith has coordinated mercenary services in Khorvaire. The typical band of adventurers picking up odd jobs is not considered a challenge to House Deneith’s monopoly. Adventurers typically encounter Deneith mercenaries as hired guards. Still, there is always the chance that adventurers will choose to take up service with the house, either as a long-term job or to gain accessto a restricted area.

Mercenary Services: Ranks and Structure

The Blademark of House Deneith has a reputation to maintain, and before a warrior can wear the Watchful Eye, the house sergeant must have complete confidence in both their skills and loyalty to the house. As a result, House Deneith rarely hires people on a day-to-day basis. Soldiers of the Blademark are employed for two-year terms. Recruits must have proper identification and background papers and undergo a grueling training period before being released into the field.

• Chaotic individuals and other people who have trouble dealing with structure and authority are usually expelled during these drills.
• After a recruit has been cleared, the house provides him with room, board, training, and basic equipment.
• In exchange, House Deneith takes a significant cut of the fees paid for the services of the soldier. A gray blade usually only receives a 40% commission; if he stays with the house and advances through the ranks, this may rise as high as 70%.

The cost to hire a Deneith mercenary depends on the quality of the soldier:

• Gray blade
• White blade
• Gold blade
• Black Blade

The Defender’s Guild

While the Blademark provides general security, the Defender’s Guild specializes in personal protection. The Defender’s Guild is comprised entirely of members of the Deneith bloodline. A Deneith heir must undergo a series of tests to qualify for service in the Defender’s Guild; this usually requires at least one tour of duty in the Blademark. Once she has passed these tests, they are issued a resilient document known as a writ of the Watchful Eye. As long as they possess this document, the heir can present themselves at any Deneith enclave and request work. This writ is sealed with an arcane mark and thus almost impossible to forge. If an heir’s background is called into question, a house leader may contact the enclave that issued the writ to request verification. A Deneith defender receives room and board from the house but is expected to provide their own equipment. They receive an 80% commission for the work they perform; the house takes the remaining 20% in exchange for lodging and brokering services. The daily cost of hiring a Deneith defender is based on the level of dragonmark possessed by the guardian; they are expected to use their mark to protect their charge.

Sentinel Marshals

During the reign of King Galifar III, House Deneith was granted the right to enforce the laws of the kingdom, bringing fugitives to justice and enforcing punishments in exchange for gold. Initially, this was a largely honorary role that allowed House Deneith to assist the Galifar Guard in an official capacity. With the Last War and the formation of the Five Kingdoms, these Sentinel Marshals have become far more important. The Sharn Watch, the Blackened Book, and the King’s Citadel are all agents of the Brelish crown, and they cannot pursue fugitives into Aundair or Thrane. The Sentinel Marshals of House Deneith can. These elite agents are authorized to enforce the law in all five kingdoms—although they are not permitted to break the law to pursue justice! Sentinel Marshals are usually employed as auxiliaries by regional authorities, but they are occasionally hired by private individuals when the local judges lack the resources to pursue a case. A Sentinel Marshal holds the honor of House Deneith in their hand, and only the most trusted members of the house are granted this authority. A Sentinel Marshal must possess exceptional skills and knowledge of the laws of all of the kingdoms of Khorvaire. It is rare for an heir even to be considered for this honor unless they have served with both the Blademark and the Defender’s Guild. There are nine Sentinel Marshals in Sharn, all of whom also serve in the Defender’s Guild. Five of the Marshals possess the Lesser Mark of Sentinel, three possess the Least Mark of Sentinel, and one is an heir of the house who has not manifested the dragonmark.

Darguun

The rebellion of the goblinoid mercenaries in 969 YK was a terrible embarrassment for House Deneith. Nevertheless, the leaders of the house have since established a strong relationship with Haruuc. The hobgoblin warlord appreciates the legitimacy he gains through the association, while House Deneith needs the mercenary troops Haruuc provides. In addition to its outpost inside Rhukaan Draal, House Deneith maintains a fortress away from the capital city. Known as the Gathering Stone, this fortress serves as a staging area and training center for mercenaries who have agreed to serve the house.

Droaam

To date, Sora Katra has worked with House Tharashk to spread Droaam mercenaries across Khorvaire. The lords of House Deneith wish to assume control of this operation or, failing this, to acquire their independent force of monstrous mercenaries. This situation has resulted in several covert clashes between the two dragonmarked houses.

Karrnath

From high within the Sentinel Tower in Karrlakton, the patriarch of House Deneith and other family leaders conduct the business of defense and protection. Breven d’Deneith controls the family with an iron fist. Despite the family’s strong ties to Karrnath, Breven demands that all members of his house maintain an attitude of neutrality and fairness to all nations and institutions. Breven’s Defenders Guild operates out of the house enclave, as do the offices of the Sentinel Marshals. In the early years of the kingdom of Galifar, the Sentinel Marshals were granted the right to enforce laws and bring fugitives to justice throughout the land. When the kingdom shattered, Deneith’s Sentinel Marshals retained their role as law officers with the added ability to cross borders in pursuit of justice. Today, all the nations that signed the Treaty of Thronehold have agreed to allow Deneith to continue in this role as international police officers. The Sentinel Marshals are few in number, but they are a force to be reckoned with.

Thrane

House Deneith has a strong presence in Flamekeep, where it provides security for the Church of the Silver Flame. The house also maintains a large enclave in Sigilstar, where it trains and equips mercenaries for service across Khorvaire.

Valenar

House Deneith has a small presence in Taer Valaestas, where it provides security for the Council of Khorvaire. The house has also been trying to recruit Valenar elves as mercenaries, but the elves have shown little interest in serving anyone but themselves.

Zilargo

House Deneith has a small presence in Trolanport, where it provides security for the Library of Korranberg. The house has also been trying to recruit gnomes as spies and saboteurs, but the gnomes have shown little interest in serving anyone but themselves.

Dragonmarked Houses

The Dragonmarked Houses are the cornerstone of the economy of Khorvaire. Most of the houses have enclaves and outposts across the continent, where they provide the services and goods for which they are known. There are twelve dragonmarked houses in total, and each one is tied to a specific race. The dragonmarks are hereditary and typically do not appear on members of other races or on members of the house who are not of the bloodline. Each house is a separate entity from the others, and they are not part of the political structure of any nation, though they maintain strong political ties with all of them.

House Deneith in the World

House Deneith is a human dragonmarked house and is known for its mercenaries and bodyguards. The house is based in Karrnath but has a significant presence in every nation on Khorvaire. House Deneith carries the Mark of Sentinel and provides security and protection services to the other houses and the nations of Khorvaire. The house is divided into three guilds: the Blademarks Guild, which provides soldiers and mercenaries; the Defenders Guild, which provides bodyguards; and the Sentinel Marshals, who have the authority to act as law enforcement across national borders.

Notable Members

• Baron Breven d'Deneith
• Shirin d'Deneith

Guilds and Organizations

• Blademarks Guild
• Defenders Guild
• Sentinel Marshals

Public Opinion

The general public respects House Deneith for its dedication to law and order. Many people feel safer knowing that the house's mercenaries and bodyguards are around. However, some people are wary of the house's power and influence, fearing that it could be used for nefarious purposes.

Major Historical Events

• The Rebellion of the Goblinoid Mercenaries (969 YK)
• The establishment of a strong relationship with Haruuc

Locations & Settlements

• Karrlakton
• Rhukaan Draal
• The Gathering Stone
• Flamekeep
• Sigilstar
• Taer Valaestas
• Trolanport

House Deneith's Influence and Relationships

House Deneith has significant influence due to its military power. It has established relationships with various entities, including Haruuc, the Church of the Silver Flame, theCouncil of Khorvaire, and the Library of Korranberg. The house has also had covert clashes with House Tharashk over control of mercenary operations.

House Deneith's Services

House Deneith provides various services, including personal protection, mercenary activities, law enforcement across national borders, and training for mercenaries. The cost to hire a Deneith mercenary or a Deneith defender depends on the quality of the soldier or the level of dragonmark possessed by the guardian.

House Deneith's Structure

House Deneith has a military structure, with its members expected to serve in the Defenders Guild, the Blademarks, or the Sentinel Marshals. The leaders of the house are usually chosen from the generals of the Blademarks. The house sergeant must have complete confidence in a recruit's skills and loyalty to the house before they can wear the Watchful Eye. Soldiers of the Blademark are employed for two-year terms and must undergo a grueling training period before being released into the field.

House Deneith's Future

With the Five Nations weakened by the Last War, some within House Deneith feel that it is time for the house to exercise its power to forge a new kingdom. Chief among these activists is Shirin d’Deneith, Lord Commander of the Blademarks. A recent convert to the Blood of Vol, Shirin has been working with the Order of the Emerald Claw and may soon attempt to wrest control of the house away from Breven.

House Deneith's Influence and Relationships

House Deneith has significant influence due to its military power. It has established relationships with various entities, including Haruuc, the Church of the Silver Flame, the Council of Khorvaire, and the Library of Korranberg. The house has also had covert clashes with House Tharashk over control of mercenary operations.

House Deneith's Services

House Deneith provides various services, including personal protection, mercenary activities, law enforcement across national borders, and training for mercenaries. The cost to hire a Deneith mercenary or a Deneith defender depends on the quality of the soldier or the level of dragonmark possessed by the guardian.

House Deneith's Structure

House Deneith has a military structure, with its members expected to serve in the Defenders Guild, the Blademarks, or the Sentinel Marshals. The leaders of the house are usually chosen from the generals of the Blademarks. The house sergeant must have complete confidence in a recruit's skills and loyalty to the house before they can wear the Watchful Eye. Soldiers of the Blademark are employed for two-year terms and must undergo a grueling training period before being released into the field.

House Deneith's Future

With the Five Nations weakened by the Last War, some within House Deneith feel that it is time for the house to exercise its power to forge a new kingdom. Chief among these activists is Shirin d’Deneith, Lord Commander of the Blademarks. A recent convert to the Blood of Vol, Shirin has been working with the Order of the Emerald Claw and may soon attempt to wrest control of the house away from Breven.