Welcome to Eberron
Exploration, adventure, and intruige will collide as factions and nations find themselves in a tense game of sociopolitical chess; it is here that our adventure beings.
The legends say that long ago, three god-like dragons from somewhere outside of reality created a self-contained reality away from the prying eyes of their original home. Syberis, the good dragon of arcane magic. Eberron, the neutral dragon of life and nature. Khyber, the evil dragon of decay and madness. After creating their reality and the planes within it, Khyber sought to take control for herself, so she tore Syberis to pieces and scattered his essence in the cosmos. Eberron fought Khyber, but could not defeat her, so Eberron used her body to form a living prison around the vicious Khyber.
From Eberron, which now exists as a planet at the center of the Material Plane, came the beasts of the land, the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air; from Eberron, came humanity and civilization. Syberis's essence granted magic to the world while Khyber produced spawn of the most heinous of monsters from the depths. This includes The Overlords, a group of ultra-powerful fiends that once rose and threatened to devastate the entire surface of Eberron had it not been for the efforts of giants, dragons, and celestial cuoatls.
The age of fiends ended, the age of giants came and went, the age of dragons is in a strange limbo as parts of the world seem void of their influence while dragons still control the entire continent of Argonnessen. Today, humanoid societies flourish with the widest array of cultures and national histories on the continent of Khorvaire.
Khorvaire recently saw the end of the most brutal war in its history as the entire continent was engaged in a vicious military campaign for over a century. The once-united nations of the Kingdom of Galifar fractured and began fighting for the crown after the king died with a lot of children who all wanted the the throne for themselves. The war has left them in a hyper-tense pseudo-armistice. They call this The Last War.
The Galifarian kingdom comprised the majority of the continent, but now it all lies fractured. Aundair is a nation of fertile farmland and excellent arcane education. Breland is an industrial powerhouse. Cyre was once the center of arts for Galifar, but more on that in a moment. Karrnath is a nationalist state utilizing its citizens undead bodies as soldiers in their military force. Thrane remains a beacon of religious devotion to the Church of the Silver Flame.
Besides the five Galifarian nations, a number of territories gained independence in lieu of the war. Darguun is a nation of goblinoids that feel they have finally gained independence from humanoid oppressors. Droaam is a more diverse state of monstrous races (ranging from gnolls to trolls to lycanthropes to medusas) seeking liberty. The Eldeen Reaches declared independence from Aundair in the northwest and are comprised of a number of druid sects that preserve and protect the vast magical forest. The Lhazaar Principalities are islands and coastline ruled by pirate princes. The Mror Holds are a dwarven union living mountain fortresses that extend deep into the planet. Q'barra was once a part of Cyre, but now is a free state of explorers in a, relatively, untamed jungle. The Talenta Plains are filled with halfling nomads riding the backs of giant lizards (dinosaurs). Valenar is home to elves who engage in warrior-like ancestor worship. Zilargo is a nation of gnome artificers and engineers that have kept themselves, mostly, neutral through the escalating conflicts.
The Last War concluded with an event known as The Day of Mourning where a gray fog expanded over the entire nation of Cyre and left every living thing warped, dead, or both. Nobody knows what caused The Mourning, but the gray cloud has not dispersed as it hangs as a dead gray mist over the barren wasteland of the former gem. Few dare to enter, what is now insensitively known as, The Mournland, but even fewer ever come back out.
Khorvaire is, primarily, a continent of humans. Dwarves, halflings, gnomes, half-elves and elves make up other major demographics. Orcs have a place as wilderness guides, prospectors, and naturalists rather than savage barbarians. Shifters are "were-touched" pseudo-lycanthropes that are shunned by lots of societal factions, and they spend most of their time in their own communities outside of cities. Kalashtar are a race that was once human until they merged with Quori (a race of aberrations from the Plane of Dreams). Changelings are blank-faced in their true forms, but can change their appearance at will into anyone they've seen before (not clothing, however). Lastly, Warforged are metal-forged humanoids that were created by House Cannith as soldiers-for-sale for the Last War. Now, warforged have nowhere to call home.
From Eberron, which now exists as a planet at the center of the Material Plane, came the beasts of the land, the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air; from Eberron, came humanity and civilization. Syberis's essence granted magic to the world while Khyber produced spawn of the most heinous of monsters from the depths. This includes The Overlords, a group of ultra-powerful fiends that once rose and threatened to devastate the entire surface of Eberron had it not been for the efforts of giants, dragons, and celestial cuoatls.
The age of fiends ended, the age of giants came and went, the age of dragons is in a strange limbo as parts of the world seem void of their influence while dragons still control the entire continent of Argonnessen. Today, humanoid societies flourish with the widest array of cultures and national histories on the continent of Khorvaire.
Khorvaire recently saw the end of the most brutal war in its history as the entire continent was engaged in a vicious military campaign for over a century. The once-united nations of the Kingdom of Galifar fractured and began fighting for the crown after the king died with a lot of children who all wanted the the throne for themselves. The war has left them in a hyper-tense pseudo-armistice. They call this The Last War.
The Galifarian kingdom comprised the majority of the continent, but now it all lies fractured. Aundair is a nation of fertile farmland and excellent arcane education. Breland is an industrial powerhouse. Cyre was once the center of arts for Galifar, but more on that in a moment. Karrnath is a nationalist state utilizing its citizens undead bodies as soldiers in their military force. Thrane remains a beacon of religious devotion to the Church of the Silver Flame.
Besides the five Galifarian nations, a number of territories gained independence in lieu of the war. Darguun is a nation of goblinoids that feel they have finally gained independence from humanoid oppressors. Droaam is a more diverse state of monstrous races (ranging from gnolls to trolls to lycanthropes to medusas) seeking liberty. The Eldeen Reaches declared independence from Aundair in the northwest and are comprised of a number of druid sects that preserve and protect the vast magical forest. The Lhazaar Principalities are islands and coastline ruled by pirate princes. The Mror Holds are a dwarven union living mountain fortresses that extend deep into the planet. Q'barra was once a part of Cyre, but now is a free state of explorers in a, relatively, untamed jungle. The Talenta Plains are filled with halfling nomads riding the backs of giant lizards (dinosaurs). Valenar is home to elves who engage in warrior-like ancestor worship. Zilargo is a nation of gnome artificers and engineers that have kept themselves, mostly, neutral through the escalating conflicts.
The Last War concluded with an event known as The Day of Mourning where a gray fog expanded over the entire nation of Cyre and left every living thing warped, dead, or both. Nobody knows what caused The Mourning, but the gray cloud has not dispersed as it hangs as a dead gray mist over the barren wasteland of the former gem. Few dare to enter, what is now insensitively known as, The Mournland, but even fewer ever come back out.
Khorvaire is, primarily, a continent of humans. Dwarves, halflings, gnomes, half-elves and elves make up other major demographics. Orcs have a place as wilderness guides, prospectors, and naturalists rather than savage barbarians. Shifters are "were-touched" pseudo-lycanthropes that are shunned by lots of societal factions, and they spend most of their time in their own communities outside of cities. Kalashtar are a race that was once human until they merged with Quori (a race of aberrations from the Plane of Dreams). Changelings are blank-faced in their true forms, but can change their appearance at will into anyone they've seen before (not clothing, however). Lastly, Warforged are metal-forged humanoids that were created by House Cannith as soldiers-for-sale for the Last War. Now, warforged have nowhere to call home.
The Dragonmarked Houses are institutions that function as monopolistic corporations over specific industries or trades.
This ranges from animal breeding / training from House Vadalis to land transportation from House Orien to banking from House Kundarak to medical services provided by House Jorasco.
The houses are so named due to their Dragonmarks which are tattoo-like birthmarks that appear on certain members of the esteemed families. House Cannith, the industrial titan, is comprised of humans, but House Ghallanda, which provides food and lodging across Khorvaire, is a house of halflings.
The dragonmarked houses are forbidden from becoming official royalty, but that doesn't stop their patriarchs and matriarchs from wielding king-like authority and influence. Religion on Eberron, specifically in Khorvaire, is unique from most any other fantasy setting. The gods have not descended to the Material plane to speak to their followers, and divine powers are not granted by deities to clerics / paladins. However, it is the power of a person's convictions and faith that powers their clerical magic as they channel some divine, magical force through their body.
The primary faiths of Khorvaire are the Sovereign Host and Silver Flame. The Sovereign Host is a pantheon of deities given portfolios over different aspects of civilization and order while their enemies, the Dark Six, are a pantheon of chaotic deities that represent the evils of turbulent nature. The Silver Flame worships the divine essence alive in all creatures that feeds into a celestial force for good (the Silver Flame) which puts them in a strange relationship with the Blood of Vol who worship the blood (soul) within all living creatures.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
This ranges from animal breeding / training from House Vadalis to land transportation from House Orien to banking from House Kundarak to medical services provided by House Jorasco.
The houses are so named due to their Dragonmarks which are tattoo-like birthmarks that appear on certain members of the esteemed families. House Cannith, the industrial titan, is comprised of humans, but House Ghallanda, which provides food and lodging across Khorvaire, is a house of halflings.
The dragonmarked houses are forbidden from becoming official royalty, but that doesn't stop their patriarchs and matriarchs from wielding king-like authority and influence. Religion on Eberron, specifically in Khorvaire, is unique from most any other fantasy setting. The gods have not descended to the Material plane to speak to their followers, and divine powers are not granted by deities to clerics / paladins. However, it is the power of a person's convictions and faith that powers their clerical magic as they channel some divine, magical force through their body.
The primary faiths of Khorvaire are the Sovereign Host and Silver Flame. The Sovereign Host is a pantheon of deities given portfolios over different aspects of civilization and order while their enemies, the Dark Six, are a pantheon of chaotic deities that represent the evils of turbulent nature. The Silver Flame worships the divine essence alive in all creatures that feeds into a celestial force for good (the Silver Flame) which puts them in a strange relationship with the Blood of Vol who worship the blood (soul) within all living creatures.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments