Order of the Emerald Claw

​Once, this knightly order served the king of Karrnath faithfully. Now the order has been outlawed and the government has denounced its activities. Still, the Order of the Emerald Claw continues to operate, following the agenda set forth for it by its secret master, the lich Vol. When the order served the king, it provided security, elite agents, and unswerving shock troops that were a step or two better than the average Karrnathi soldier. As long as the king’s commands did not violate the will of the order’s secret master, the knights of the Emerald Claw appeared to be unquestionably loyal to the king and fanatically dedicated to crown and nation. When Kaius I learned the truth of their allegiance and how he had been used, he started the process of disbanding and disenfranchising the order. This was not accomplished until the reign of Regent Moranna, when the order was driven underground. Now the Emerald Claw operates as a vast underground network and terrorist group, proclaiming itself to be working to return Karrnath to greatness. In truth, the order is just another elaborate plot and powerful tool in the service of Vol, the lich lord of the Blood of Vol cult. Much larger and more active in Khorvaire’s current events than anyone is aware of, the Order of the Emerald Claw is a powerful army ready to serve the will of Vol. The true nature of the order remains a closely guarded secret, and any who discover its connection to the Blood of Vol quickly become sacrifices for the blood ceremonies. The reputation of the knightly Order of the Emerald Claw has gone from one extreme to the other. When it was established, the order was considered the ultimate expression of Karrnathi patriotism. Today, it has been outlawed and is seen as a terrorist organization working at cross-purposes to the legitimate government of the nation. The secret truth beyond the origin of the order and the evil it serves is terrifying. On the surface, the Order of the Emerald Claw appears to consist of a small number of fanatics dedicated to the military superiority of a Karrnath that doesn’t want their devotion. In reality, the order has no interest in promoting or elevating Karrnath. Its true master, hidden to all but the top leaders within the organization, is Vol, the self-styled Queen of the Dead. This seemingly small group is like an iceberg; the tip that rises above the surface is nothing compared to the mountain of ice hidden beneath the waves. The Order supports a vast network whose tendrils wind through all levels of Khorvairian society. It has eyes and ears in the halls of government, churches, dragonmarked houses, and private institutions. Some of its agents never reveal their true nature; others appear proudly in the knightly garb of the order. Vol uses the Order of the Emerald Claw to incite fear and terror, to cast suspicion on the actions of Karrnath and its leaders, to foment unrest, and to perform military missions that go beyond the capabilities of her followers within the Blood of Vol. Knights of the order scour the world for relics and artifacts of powerful magic, and aren’t above stealing arcane research from wizards and artificers to churn out new magic weapons for the order or for Vol. The garb worn by the knights of the order includes a distinctive helmet with a half faceplate, a tabard with a claw insignia over chainmail, and a powerful flail.​

​Sharn Lady Jesel Tarra’az of Ocean View is the local warden of the Order. From the heights of Tavick’s Landing she watches Sharn, gathering information and providing shelter and equipment for whatever agents of the Claw pass through Sharn. The Order can also find support in the district of Graywall in Middle Tavick’s Landing. However, both of these are passive forces. Jesel maintains a safe house, but she takes no actions; it is up to the visiting forces to carry out whatever missions they may have. ​

Notable Members

• Demise