Age of Worms

Background

Location

Age of Worms takes place in the nation of Breland, one of the so-called Five Nations on the continent of Khorvaire on Eberron. Initially, the campaign starts in Diamond Lake, a poor mining town a few hundred miles upriver from the fabled City of Towers, Sharn.

Breland and Sharn

Breland is among the least directly hit during the Last War. Now, it is an agricultural and industrial powerhouse, ruled by the beloved King Boranel ir'Wynarn. Though nominally a monarchy, Breland is alone in possessing a partially elected Brelish Parliament consisting of both royal and common members. The Brelish people are generally a cosmopolitan lot, accepting the differences of others. However, they are very keen on their freedoms and will will welcome former enemies with a smile and watchful eye.

The Brelish military forces consist of calvary and infantry units with some magical support, though not as extensive as the Knights Arcane of Aundair in the north of the undead legions of distant Karrnath. Though warforged were given their freedom by the Treaty of Thronehold (which ended the Last War), they form a significant portion of the military. Military forces, often led by officers from the Citadel in Wroat, are dispersed around the countryside, keeping the peace.

Breland follows the Code of Galifar, the laws of the old kingdom of Galifar. It provides basics rights to its citizens, and most Brelands know these basic tenants. Travel within is fairly open, though cross border travel requires appropriate papers. In larger communities, citizens are expected to carry identification papers notarized by House Sivis gnomes; in smaller townships like Diamond Lake, few care to bother.

Sharn is the largest city in Breland and Khorvaire. Tied to a manifestation of the plane Syrania, the Azure Sky, Sharn consists of magically supported towers that extend far above the ground. Sharn is the industrial center of Breland, consisting of the foundries of House Cannith and other enterprises. It is the home of Morgrave University; though not as well regarded as the University of Wynarn in Aundair, it is a fine start for relic hunters, especially those exploring the cyclopean depths of Xen'drik—the fabled continent of the ruined giant civilization. In short, anything can be found in Sharn, but not everyone can afford the price.

For more information on Breland and Sharn, consult The Eberron Campaign Setting, Sharn: City of Towers, and Five Nations.

Diamond Lake

Diamond Lake, named for once clear lake on its southeastern edge, is a poor mining town of a little more than 1,000 souls. Each eke out a living extracting the raw materials swallowed by Sharn a slow-day's boat ride to the south along the Dagger River. The mines are the twisted blood of the town; most people are little more than slaves the mine owners, themselves beholden to investors from the City of Towers.

Diamond Lake is overseen by the Governer-Mayor Lanod Neff, a lecherous philanderer known more for his use of thuggery than prudent governance. His will is enforced by Sheriff Cubbin, well known for his corruption. His bands of toughs patrol the Vein, keeping a bleary eye on the lascivious activities at the Emporium and nearby bars and cathouses.

The mine managers have enough clout to ignore Neff most of the time, and spend most of their time fighting each other for more profit and control. Chief among them is Balabar Smenk a rising start from Sharn who has somehow gained control of most of the mines in the area; it is unclear how clean most of these measures were. Chaum Gansworth, the youngest mine manager, seems neutral in the mine mangers' struggles, though his has been seen with Luzane Parrin recently. Parrin, who inherited a prosperous mine from her mother, has fallen on hard times and is struggling to survive. Gelch Tilgast used to be the major mine manager, but age and mismanagement has lost that post to Smenk. Finally, the dwarven Ragnolin Dourstone and elven Ellival Moonmeadow keep most to themselves, staying out of most local politics. The workers at the mine only know that regardless of their overseer, life is hard.

Diamond Lake is home to a small garrison of the Brelish military. They stay out of town affairs, and exist mainly to patrol the surrounding hinterlands. They are led by Captain Tolliver Trask, a decorated veteran of the Last War.

The only other claim to fame for Diamond Lake is the Cairn Hills, a series of small hills above the Orien Trade Rode filled with tombs from Malleon the Reaver, the goblinoid Dhakanni Empire, and more ancient ruins from the twisted daelkyr and beyond. A few hundred years ago, most of these were plundered for their riches, bring Diamond Lake a brief time of prosperity. However, most now lie empty, their treasures long missing.

For a more local version of the town, see a discussion recently overhead at the Feral Dog.

Religion

Most Brelish nominally subscribe to the Sovereign Host pantheon, though religion is mostly a private matter to the Brelish. A vocal minority subscribe to the evangelist Church of the Silver Flame to the annoyance of a few. Smaller, darker cults are hidden among the populace, but whispers of the Blood of Vol or the Cults of Dragon Below are generally hard to trace.

The Sovereign Host

The majority of Khorvaire worship the Sovereign Host as a whole, offering prayers to a patron deity of a certain domain. The Host consists of Arawai (God of Agriculture), Aureon (God of Law and Knowledge), Balinor (God of Beasts and the Hunt), Boldrei (God of Community and Hearth), Dol Arrah (God of Honor and Sacrifice), Dol Dorn (God of Strength at Arms), Kol Korran (God of Trade and Wealth), Olladra (God of Feast and Good Fortune), and Onatar (God of Artifice and the Forge). Unlike other campaign settings, the gods of Eberron do not take active roles in mundane affairs and none are known to contact them directly

The Church of the Silver Flame

The Church of the Silver Flame grew out of the sacrifice of a Thrane human paladin during a battle between a fiend and a couatl. Her sacrifice caused a silver flame to erupt at the site of the battle, and the Flame's followers burn to cleanse the evil from mortal's minds and the world. The Church is dedicated to protecting the common people against supernatural and personal forces of evil.

The Dark Six

The Dark Six are the shadow of the Sovereign Host, cast out due to their evil ways. Followers of the Dark Six are ambitious and greedy, seeking only for themselves. These deities include The Devourer (associated with dark waters and the destructive power of nature), The Fury (associated with passion driven to madness), The Keeper (associated with death and decay), The Mockery (associated with treachery), The Shadow (associated with dark magic), and The Traveler (associated with cunning and deception).

Druidism

Druids, who follow ancient teachings from the dragon Vvaraak, follow different sects with different interpretations of how to protect nature. Major groups include the Gatekeepers (who protect the world from supernatural incursions), Wardens of the Wood (who try to maintain a balance between nature and society), and fringes like the Ashbound or Children of Winter.

Other Religions

Other cults are widespread in Eberron, though not as open. The Cults of the Dragon Below worship the fiends or daelkyr trapped in the depths of Khyber (the Underdark) and seek to free them. The Blood of Vol is a necromantic cult associated with the power of blood. The Path of Light is a mysterious set of teachings followed by the ascetic kalashtar, while the elves of Aerenal follow a ancestor worshiping religion, the Undying Court.

Notable Organizations

The Dragonmarked Houses

A dragonmark is a supernatural marking on a member of the common races which imbues the wearer with minor magical power. Marks are hereditary; though a child of a dragonmarked person may not show the mark, anyone bearing the mark can trace their bloodline to a dragonmarked House. The Dragonmarked Houses form the basis of a large part of Khorvaire's economy, and operate beyond national boundaries. The Houses are listed in the table below:

A member of a Dragonmarked House is identified by a d' prefix to their surname, such as Taskar d'Jorasco, the leader of the Jorasco house of healing in Diamond Lake. Remember, the majority of members of a House do not bear a dragonmark.

Noble Houses

Each nation has different noble houses, all springing from the original Galifor noble line. A member of a noble line is identified by a ir' prefix to their surname, such as Boranel ir'Wynarn, King of Breland.

The Citadel

The Citadel is Breland's elite military facility and the home of the military command. Citadel trained soldiers are the best in the land. The Citadel also trains intelligence agents for the crown.

Morgrave University

Morgrave University, based in Sharn, may not be the most reputable institution, but is much more accessible than the Library of Korranberg or Wynarn University. The school is hounded by rumors of smuggling and grave robbing in its archeological efforts, and its corruption is well known. However, many forthright sages on the faculty try to better its reputation.

Recent History

Recent Brelish history has been dominated by the Last War. Started when scions of the Kingdom of Galifar broke the established rules of succession, the war only ended two years ago due to the mysterious arcane destruction of the nation of Cyre. Several new nations were formed at the end of the Last War, and an uneasy truce holds. The current year is 998 YK, measured after the establishment of Galifar.

Calendar

Breland uses the Galifar calendar. Wizard's provides an online calendar for Eberron.

Blood on the tracks
Blood in the mine.
Brothers and sisters
What a terrible time.