Dythan’s Legion

Wielding arms and armor from a bygone era, these dragonborn legionnaires scour Arkhosian ruins for relics of their lost heritage. Dythan’s Legion has little patience for treasure hunters. Stand in its way, and your bones will litter the ruins for some future explorer to excavate.
On the hunt for lost dragonborn relics, Dythan’s Legion has come to the Nentir Vale to locate ancient Arkhosian ruins. Its members are all dragonborn that have flocked around the banner of Legatus Dythan, a charismatic idealist who seeks to raise Arkhosia from the ashes. Dythan’s Legion numbers close to five hundred—small in comparison to the legions of old, but large in an age without empires. The legion is split into platoons, each one numbering between twenty and twenty-four legionnaires, scattered throughout the Nentir Vale and beyond.
Relics of the Empire: Though the lost civilization of Arkhosia was centered in the lands south of the Nentir Vale, the dragonborn empire did have a handful of remote enclaves this far north. One such site, Rolaz-Gaar, is thought to lie near the shore of Lake Nen. Another Arkhosian ruin is rumored to rest deep within the limestone caverns beneath The Ogrefist Hills.
Mark of Bael Turath: Upon acceptance into the legion, each new member is branded with a Turathi slave marking. The brand serves as a stark reminder of the legion’s origin and purpose. Centuries ago, Bael Turath’s tiefling rulers sent devils to enslave isolated dragonborn clans along the Arkhosian border. Dythan’s ancestral clan, the Drakeriders, was among those enslaved. Though the Turathi empire collapsed long ago, its mark of bondage has endured, passed from one generation to the next. Legatus Dythan bears such a mark, and those deemed worthy to join his legion share in the honor.
Dythan’s Dream: The legion’s commander is fixated on seeing the Arkhosian empire restored to glory. Legatus Dythan plans to collect wisdom and power from the old empire’s relics to facilitate this monumental task. Standing nearly 7 feet tall, Dythan is a prime example of his race. The legatus is rarely seen without his gold-inlaid plate armor, which is embossed with heraldic devices of Arkhosia.
Duty and Discipline: The legion employs a strict hierarchy based on the service ranks used in ancient Arkhosia. Rank is earned through great deeds performed on and off the battlefield. Adroit tactical planning and critical thinking are valued as much as, if not more than, melee prowess. From highest to lowest, the legion’s ranks include legatus (general), thaenar (major), vargus (captain), morikar (lieutenant), farang (sergeant), hengot (corporal), and baka (private). Independent of rank, each legionnaire is assigned to one of three specialized corps: infantry, cavalry, or artillery.
Beasts Serve Too: Even though the legion is formidable in its own right, its use of drakes and behemoths greatly enhances its effectiveness. Legion dragoons capture liondrakes in desert lands far to the south and train them as mounts. Meanwhile, reptilian behemoths (Monster Manual 3) are purchased from hunters, trained as beasts of burden, and used to haul large supply wagons.
Arkhosian Siege Towers: Dythan’s Legion salvaged a handful of Arkhosia’s animated constructs. These 15-foot-wide, 30-foot-tall stone towers use 10-foot-tall granite rollers to move unimpeded over rough terrain. A siege tower’s roof resembles a stone dragon head, and it spews gouts of arcane fire. Eyes carved into each of the tower’s walls give it sight. A tower has two levels, and arrow slits perforate the upper floor’s walls. A top floor typically holds four archers, while a lower level comfortably fits nine warriors or other Medium creatures. Reinforced iron doors and retractable ramps worked into each tower’s walls allow troops to quickly embark or disembark.