The Empire of Dragaera

A D&D 3.5 Campaign Setting

Inspired by the fantasy novels of Steven Brust

Compiled and adapted by Bryce Jones

Credits
Compiled by Bryce Jones (bjj838383@gmail.com) – liberal copy/pasting was done from Lyorn Wiki.
With Paige Jones & Andrew Simons.

All Vlad Taltos and Dragaera novels, and all the names and terms found within them are the property of Steven Brust
and his publisher, Tor Books.

All D&D terms and rules owned by Wizards of the Coast.

Images
 Dylan Meconis - http://www.dylanmeconis.com/illustration/jhereg-2/
 Javawombat - http://javawombat.deviantart.com/art/Khaavren-Tiassa-mostly-finished-440900926
 samekh-mem - http://www.deviantart.com/art/Dragaera-Lyorn-51208506
 KeresaLea - http://keresalea.deviantart.com/art/The-Dragaeran-Cycle-of-Houses-68438133
 Katherine Grantham - http://search.elfwood.com/u/kathyg2/
 Sigu - http://sigu.deviantart.com/art/Teckla-103195796
 AshleyCope - http://ashleycope.deviantart.com/art/Vlad-Taltos-52372917
 Bryan Newell - http://www.bryann.net/dragaera/map/

Text
 Lyorn Wiki - http://dragaera.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
 Dragaera Timeline - http://www.panix.com/~alexx/dragtime.html

2
Contents
Introduction…………………….…....5
Sethra Lavode……………….……..5
Chapter 1: Characters………….....6
Races…………………………….……...6
Easterner…………………..………6
Dragaeran………………….………7
Phoenix………………..……………8
Dragon……………………..….……9
Lyorn………………………….……10
Tiassa………………………………10
Hawk……………………….………11
Dzur…………………………..……12
Issola………………………………12
Tsalmoth…………………………13
Vallista……………………………13
Jhereg……………………….……14
Iorich………………………..……14
Chreotha…………….…….……15
Yendi………………………..……16
Orca…………………………….…16
Teckla……………………….……17
Jhegaala…………………………17
Athyra……………………………18
Islander……………………….…18
Serioli………………………….…19
Cat-Centaur……………………20
Classes…………………………..….22
Feats………………………………...23
Chapter 2: Magic………………...24
Sorcery……………………………...24
Amorphia…………………….…24
Elder Sorcery………………….24
The Orb……………………..…..24
Witchcraft………………………….25
Familiars……………………..….25
Covens…………………………...25
Psychics……………………………..26
Necromancy……………………...26
Necromantic Gates………...26
Undead…………………………..26
Other Topics……………………...26
Wizards…………………………..26
Planar Travel…………………..26
Great Weapons……………....27
Spells………………………………….29
Chapter 3: Life in Dragaera…..30
Time & Calendar………………..30
Dragaeran Calendar……….30
Eastern Calendar…………...30
Government……………………...30
The Cycle………………………..31
Citizenship……………………...33
Land & Ownership…………..33
Titles……………………………33
Rural Life………………………...33
Rebellions……………………….33
City Life…………………………..33
Military & Police……………..33
Postal System………………….34
Class & Station…………….….34
Families…………………….…….34
Education……………….……….34
Customs…………………….……35
Adventurers…………………....35
Coin & Commerce………….…..35
Agriculture & Industry…….35
Travel……………………………..35
Coinage………………………….36
Recreation & Entertainment.36
Magic in Society……….………..36
Magic Items…………….……..36
Religion……………………………..37
Warfare……………………….…....37
Crafts & Engineering……...….37
Equipment………………….….37
Chapter 4: Geography………...39
The Dragaeran Empire……...39
The Enclouding…………..….39
The Seas of Chaos………….39
Adrilankha……………..……..39
The Imperial Palace……39
The Pushta…………………….43
The Sorannah…………….….43
The Suntra……………..….….43
Kanefthali Mountains..….43
Eastern Mountains………..43
Forever Plains…………….….43
Dzur Mountain……………….43
Castle Black…………….……..43
The Maelstrom………………….43
Island Nations…………………...44
The Eastern Kingdoms……….44
Serioli & Cat-Centaurs……….44
Planetary Matters……….…….44
Chapter 5: Deities………….…....46
Worship…………………….……...46
Patron Deities……….….…...46
Death of a God……….……...46
Paths of the Dead……….……..46
The Halls of Judgment…….46
Lords of Judgment……….…….47
Barlen……….…….……….…….47
Verra……….…….……………….47
Tri’Nagore………………………48
Crow…….…………………..……48
Trout………………………………48
G’mon……………………..…….49
Kéurana…………………..…….49
Kelchor….………………………49
Mafenyi……….…………….….49
Moranthë………………..…….50
Nyssa…….…….…………….….50
Naro…….…………………….….50
Ordwynac……………………….51
Demons……………………….…….51
The Necromancer.…...…….51
Others……………………….……….51
Devera……………………….…..51
Jenoine…………………….………..52
History……………….…………..52
Abilities & Description……52
Worship……………….………..52
Chapter 6: History………….…....53
In the Beginning………….….….53
The Jenoine………………….…...53
Prelude to an Empire………...53
The Empire Begins………….….54
The Dragon-Jhereg War….54
The Lavode Scandal………..54
Adron’s Disaster……………..….54
The Interregnum……….……….55
Reclaiming Order……………56
Recent Years……………….……..56
Chapter 7: Organizations……...57
Imperial Government…….…..57
Armed Forces……………….…...58
Imperial Intelligence………....58
The Imperial Guard……….…..59
The Lavodes…………………..….59
Guilds…………………….………….59
The Jhereg………….……………..59
Chapter 8: Bestiary………….....61
Chapter 9: NPCs…………..……..72
Zerika the Fourth……..….…..72
Aliera e’Kieron…….…………..72
Daymar…………………….……..73
Kiera the Thief………….……..73
Laszló………………………….…..73
Lord Khaavren…………….…..73
Mario Greymist…………..…..74
Morrolan e’Drien………..…..74
Norathar e’Lanya…………....74
Sethra the Younger………….75
Telnan…………..………………...75
The Demon…………….………..75
The Sorceress in Green…….75
 Phoenix sinks into decay,
Haughty dragon yearns to slay.
Lyorn growls and lowers horn,
Tiassa dreams and plots are born.
Hawk looks down from lofty flight,
Dzur stalks and blends with night.
Issola strikes from courtly bow,
Tsalmoth maintains, though none knows how.
Vallista rends and then rebuilds,
Jhereg feeds on others' kills.
Quiet iorich won't forget,
Sly chreotha weaves his net.
Yendi coils and strikes, unseen,
Orca circles, hard and lean.
Frightened teckla hides in grass,
Jhegaala shifts as moments pass.
Athyra rules minds' interplay,
Phoenix rise from ashes, gray.

S o, my strange friend. You wish to learn about Dragaera, and yet, you don’t wish to peruse my personal library in
order to do so. I suppose it’s only natural – it would probably take more years to read my volumes than you have
left to live.
So, where to begin? It is an interesting question. The history of our land is something that most of us take for
granted – myself especially, since I’ve lived through all of it. But we’ve never encountered an outsider who was genuinely
curious to learn about our land, just for the sake of learning. And I’ve certainly not encountered someone who’s never
even heard of Dragaera. So again, I ask: where to begin?
You should understand that our proud Empire has existed for more than two-hundred millennia. No offence
intended, my friend, but can you even comprehend such a length of time? I doubt you can. So for your benefit, let us skip
the minutia of our history – the senseless rebellions, the paltry wars that never seem to resolve anything, the
counterproductive political schemes – you don’t require those details in order to grasp what you seek.
No, what you must realize is that the Dragaeran Empire is a massive machine. It has wheels and cogs that go
round and round, never ceasing, never changing. These cogs are the Great Houses. There are seventeen of these Houses
in the Empire, and every citizen belongs to a House. I doubt you’ll ever have a true grasp of what it means to be of a
House. To a Dragaeran, one’s House is the foundation of one’s soul; it means everything.
The machine that these cogs are a part of it the Cycle. The Cycle is never ending. As the Cycle slowly turns, every
House has their turn to sit upon the throne, and the chance to contribute their unique strengths to the Empire. In this
way, the Houses always know where they stand, and they always know that they’ll get their opportunity – someday – to
do things how they see fit.
I make it sound rather simple, but like all things, the reality can be… complicated. So let me do my best to
simplify the life and history of Dragaera for you, here, in this short volume. May it guide you and serve you as you explore
the land of Dragaera.
– Sethra Lavode,
Baroness of Dzur Mountain
nd
252 Year of the Reign of Zerika the Fourth

4
The Land of Dragaera
This is the world of Dragaera, a realm with hundreds of
millennia of history, encompassing war, magic, rebellion, and
divine power struggles which have been known to threaten
the very fabric of existence.
The People
Dragaerans
These long-lived, elven people have maintained their western
Empire for more than 200,000 years. They’ve always
persevered, despite frequent wars with their neighbors and
even more frequent internal rebellions. Their stability lies in
the Cycle, their near-sacred form of governance which gives
each of the seventeen Great Houses their turn on the throne.
Each Dragaeran belongs to one of these Houses, and to a
Dragaeran, one’s House is the most important and
fundamental aspect of oneself.
The Dragaerans are just finishing their recovery from the
most significant disaster to ever befall them. Will they
complete the restoration of their former glory? Or will
political strife and otherworldly enemies spell their
downfall once and for all?
Easterners
The short-lived and short-of-stature humans who inhabit the
Eastern Kingdoms hold their own against their Dragaeran
neighbors, while maintaining their impressive and diverse
nations. Easterners who have immigrated to the Empire fight
their own, personal wars as well – daily struggles against
poverty, segregation, and ignorance. Life as an Easterner in a
Dragaeran’s world can be a harsh challenge, but if anyone
can adapt and survive in challenging circumstances, it’s an
Easterner.
A World of Magic
Dragaera is a land immersed in magic. Even the lowliest
peasant encounters magic of some fashion, and must know
how to deal with it accordingly.
Sorcery
Sorcery is the magic of choice in the Dragaeran Empire.
Calling upon the raw power of the Sea of Chaos, every
Dragaeran citizen has access to all the magical energy they
could ever want – the trick is knowing how to use it.
From personal teleportation to floating castles, Sorcery is
everywhere you look in Dragaera.
Witchcraft
The preferred magic of the Easterners, Witchcraft is a very
personal and ritualistic form of magic. It focuses on the
gathering and reshaping of internal energies in order to
5
manipulate the outside world. Dragaerans, as a rule, disdain
Witchcraft – much to their loss.
Other Wonders
Necromantic Gates, psychic communication, reincarnated
souls, vampires, and soul-devouring intelligent weapons are
just some of the mystical wonders you’ll encounter if you
spend enough time adventuring in the realm of Dragaera!
Divine Intervention
The gods of Dragaera – the Lords of Judgment – are on
constant guard against their former masters, the alien, evil,
and awe-inspiring Jenoine. As the peasants and aristocracy go
about their daily lives, the divine guardians of the world have
their hands full, preventing one hostile incursion after
another that threatens to undo the world itself. Do you have
what it takes to gain the power necessary to help in this
fight?
Sethra Lavode
"It is good to find one's self in agreement with the
gods. It shows that the gods have some wisdom."
If one had to choose any single individual who has
shaped the Empire more than any other, it would be
an easy choice: Sethra Lavode.
Sethra Lavode is the Enchantress of the mystical Dzur
Mountain. She is immortal, undead, a vampire, a
shape-shifter, and is likely the most powerful wizard
and best military general to ever live. She carries the
legendary Great Weapon Iceflame, which is tied to the
power of Dzur Mountain itself. The three of them
(Sethra, the Mountain, and Iceflame,) have helped the
gods defend against more than a hundred Jenoine
incursions into Dragaera.
To the common man, Sethra is as legendary
and mysterious a figure as any of the gods.
Some call her an evil witch, while to others she is a
noble hero. Some believe that she doesn’t even exist,
rather that she is an imaginary figure invented to frighten
children.
The truth is that Sethra is older than the Empire itself. She
has been an instrumental figure, in one way or another, for
more than 250,000 years. At various points in time, she has
served the Empire as Warlord, Court Wizard, leader of the
Lavodes, and countless other roles. When a catastrophic
threat looms on the horizons, it is Sethra Lavode whom the
Emperor calls on for help. Some say she was offered
godhood, but declined.
Sethra is made even more powerful by her friends.
Morrolan e’Drien, Aliera e’Kieron, Sethra the Younger, Kiera
the Thief, the Hawklord Daymar, Telnan, and a curious
Easterner named Valdimir Taltos serve as her unofficial
entourage, helping her in defense of the Empire.
CHARACTERS
Creating a Character
This chapter explains how to create a character tailored for
Dragaera and grounded in all the rich detail of the setting.
Character Races
The Dragaeran continent is home to two primary races. In the
vast Dragaeran Empire to the west live the Dragaerans,
whose mighty realm has stood for more than 200 millennia.
Not all Dragaerans are alike, however – each Dragaeran
belongs to a House, which defines the very core of his or her
personality and character.
In the east lie the Eastern Kingdoms, populated by human
Easterners. Some humans live in the Dragaeran Empire, but
only as second-class citizens.
Far less common are the ancient, mountain-dwelling
Serioli, and the proud, nomadic Cat-Centaurs.
Easterners (Humans)
“Easterners… Such sort, hairy, childish, barbaric
creatures.”
They call themselves “Humans” – Dragaerans call them
“Easterners.” They inhabit the eastern region of the
continent, which is divided into a number of separate
kingdoms. In the Dragaeran Empire they are a minority, and
often treated as second-class citizens.
Humans are an exceptionally diverse race. Two humans
who live next door to each other might find themselves with
less in common that two humans who live half a world apart.
Personality:
Humans are the most adaptable, flexible, and ambitious
people among the common races. They are diverse in their
tastes, morals, customs, and habits. Others accuse them of
having little respect for history, but it’s only natural that
humans, with their relatively short life spans and constantly
changing cultures, would have a shorter collective memory
than Dragaerans or Serioli.
Physical Description:
Compared to Dragaerans, humans (averaging 5-6 feet in
height,) are exceptionally short and stocky. The males grow
facial and chest hair, as opposed to the females. Humans
usually live for approximately 60-70 years, and reach
adulthood around age 18.
Relations:
In their Eastern homelands, the many different kingdoms are
in a constant state of flux. Countries rise and fall, and change
alliances very quickly, (on the timescale of the Dragaerans, at
least.) These human kingdoms rarely concern themselves
with any lands not directly bordering their own. Collectively,
6
the Eastern Kingdoms are usually in some sort of conflict with
the Dragaeran Empire, although the occasional truce does
happen.
Humans living within the Dragaeran Empire are more often
than not treated as second-class citizens, or worse. Usually,
these humans are peasants, unaffiliated with any of the
Dragaeran houses. However, humans may join the House of
the Teckla, (the house of commoners) if they agree to be a
servant or employee of a nobleman. If they have enough
money, humans may also purchase a House title from the
House of the Jhereg. These are the only methods by which
humans may gain a link to the Orb, and thus perform Sorcery.
The average Dragaeran doesn’t have a very high opinion of
“Easterners” in general. Due to their short stature, their
comparatively puny lifespan, and deep-seeded racial stigmas,
most Dragaerans view Easterners as little more than
backwards children. These views aren’t held as strongly by
those of House Teckla, (the commoners.)
Human Lands:
To the east of the Eastern Mountains, entire kingdoms of
humankind go about their business, usually ignored by the
Dragaeran Empire. Compared to the Empire, these Kingdoms
are small, short-lived and, (according to your average
Dragaeran,) “barbaric and backwards.” This opinion,
however, is largely based on racial stigma – not fact. One of
the largest of these kingdoms is Fenario; most human
immigrants of the Empire hail from Fenario. Unlike the
always-overcast Empire, the eastern lands have clear skies.
Within the Dragaeran Empire, humans almost never own
their own lands. They almost universally live in the eastern
part of the Empire, close to their homelands. Cities in this
region of the Empire tend to have semi-segregated
“Easterner Quarters.”
Religion:
In contrast with the Dragaerans, humans worship the gods as
all-powerful divine entities, who should be idolized and
praised. Most of the Eastern Kingdoms tend to have a “Patron
God” who is more revered than the rest, although most
humans still respect the entire divine pantheon. Holy shrines
and temples of worship are common sights wherever
Easterners live. Human children are taught from a young age
to praise and pray to their family’s patron deity.
Language:
The Eastern Kingdoms tend to have their own languages. For
example, the people of the Kingdom of Fenario speak
Fenarian. Most humans residing in the Dragaeran Empire
speak the common tongue.
Magic:
Witchcraft is seen as the traditional magical art of the East. A
female practitioner is known as a witch, and male is known as
a warlock, (although many males refer to themselves as
“witches” anyway.) Witchcraft is usually looked down upon
and ignored by Dragaerans. Humans can only practice Sorcery
if they have somehow gained an Imperial title and/or
citizenship, and thus a link to the Orb.
Names:
Human names vary greatly, depending largely upon heritage
and birthplace. The following are some examples of Fenarian
names: Vladimir, Cawti, Viktor, Sándor, Teréz, Ibronka, Kelly,
Franz, Ricard.
Adventurers:
Humans are largely at a disadvantage in the Dragaeran
Empire, but those who were born with some amount of
wealth, or those who live off of the land as their own
masters, have a better chance of having the freedom to
adventure.
HUMAN RACIAL TRAITS:
 Medium: As Medium creatures, Humans have no
bonuses or penalties due to their size.
 Human land speed is 30ft.
 1 extra feat at 1st level, since humans’ short lives (in
comparison to Dragaerans,) mean they specialize into
their roles quickly.
 4 extra skill points at 1st level, and 1 extra skill point at
each additional level, since humans are so versatile.
 Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Any
(other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
 Favored Class: Any.
Dragaerans (Elves)
“There is nothing, but nothing, that has more influence
on a Dragaeran but his House.”
They call themselves “Humans” – some Easterners have been
known to call them “Elves.” They inhabit the perpetually-
overcast western region of the continent, the Dragaeran
Empire. They are quite tall, and extremely long-lived, having
lifespans of thousands of years.
All the Dragaerans in the Empire are a member of one of
the seventeen houses.
Personality:
A Dragaeran’s personality depends strongly upon his house,
and thus there are few traits that apply globally to all
Dragaerans. One thing that all Dragaerans do have in
common is a fundamental respect for their way of
governance: almost no Dragaeran would ever even
contemplate breaking the Cycle.
Beyond this, almost all aspects of a Dragaeran’s personality
is rooted in the role and customs of his house. Put simply, a
Dragaeran’s house is at the fundamental core of his being.
Physical Description:
Appearance can vary widely between the houses, but there
are many traits that are shared. Dragaerans are all
exceptionally tall, by human standards, averaging about 7
feet in height. Unlike humans, they do not grow any facial or
body hair, and their hair coloring is almost always dark. All
Dragaerans are also thin; “stocky” is not a word applied to
very many Dragaerans, and “plump” is all but unheard of.
Most strikingly, the Dragaeran lifespan is roughly 2,000 to
2,500 years. As a consequence, they tend to take their time
7
when going about their lives. They reach adulthood at
approximately 100 years of age.
All Dragaerans, except Teckla peasants, have a “noble’s
point,” a V-shaped point in the hairline in the center of the
forehead.
Relations:
The relationship between individual Dragaerans depends
almost entirely upon House. Some Houses get along, while
others do not. Houses of high nobility would interact
differently with those of low nobility, or with commoners.
Throughout its long history, the Dragaeran Empire has
been in conflict with the Eastern Kingdoms, at least on some
level. The Empire and the Kingdoms have fought over the
lands around the Eastern Mountains since time immortal.
Having said that, the Empire does not see the East as a threat
to its long-term security.
Independent Dragaeran island-nations alternate between
being at war, and having peaceful relations with the Empire.
Most notable among these are Elde Island and the island of
Greenaere.
The Empire has a checkered past with the Serioli. As for the
Cat-Centaurs, they are on good terms.
Dragaeran Lands:
The Empire of Dragaera encompasses the entirety of the
western part of the continent. It is divided into separate
territories, (duchies, counties, etc.) but is nevertheless one
single entity. The Empire extends eastward until the Eastern
Mountains, and the lands around the mountains are often
contested between the Empire and the Eastern Kingdoms.
The vastness of the Empire encompasses jungles, deserts,
wide stretches of coastline, and extensive expanses of gentle
farmland.
The entire Empire lies under a sky which is perpetually
overcast. This “Enclouding,” or “Overcast,” prevents the stars
or the sun, (called the “Furnace,”) from ever being observed
in the Empire. The overcast is a red-orange color, under
normal weather conditions. It is also fairly low in the
atmosphere, as flying creatures such as jhereg can reach it
relatively easily.
Religion:
Unlike the Easterners, the Dragaerans do not “worship” the
gods, as such. To them, the gods are not nebulous,
unknowable entities; rather, the gods are seen by the
Dragaerans as very real, very definable individuals who
perform very specific tasks. Rather than worship the gods,
Dragaerans simply respect them, (although this respect can
run very deep indeed,) and emulate them.
To Dragaerans, gods are people too. Master diplomats
learn not only how to interact with Dragaerans and
Easterners, they also learn how to interact with gods, on the
off chance one of them decides to grace the world with his
presence.
All Dragaerans are aware of the fact that, when one dies,
one’s spirit departs for the Paths of the Dead, where one is
then subjugated to the judgment of the gods. Many spend
their lives preparing for this complex journey and its
consequences. One’s soul may either be held in limbo, or
reincarnated into a newly born body, where it will experience
an all new life.
Language:
Historically, there have been numerous languages in the
Empire. Various regions of the country have, at times, had
their own languages, and various Houses have even
developed their own unique languages (such as Silatan, the
Dragon language.) In modern times, however, nearly
everyone conforms to speaking the common tongue,
sometimes known as the “northwestern” tongue.
Magic:
On one level or another, every citizen of the Empire practices
Sorcery. This is because every citizen is linked to the Orb, an
artifact which is the power source for ALL Sorcery. For a great
many citizens, this ability is unhoned, and is limited to
extremely simple tasks, such as telling the precise time.
However, much more complex spells are possible, with
enough training.
Due to this innate sorcerous ability, Dragaerans almost
universally look down upon any other magical discipline, such
as Witchcraft or Psychics.
SHARED DRAGAERAN RACIAL TRAITS:
 Medium: As Medium creatures, Dragaerans have no
bonuses or penalties due to their size.
 Dragaeran land speed is 30ft.
 Automatic Languages: Common. Bonus Languages: Any
(other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
See below for the racial characteristics of each Dragaeran
house.
In the Dragaeran Empire, all citizens belong to one of
seventeen Great Houses, each of which is represented
sequentially on the Cycle. Each House is named after a wild
8
animal and, furthermore, stands true to the attributes and
values associated with each animal. In most cases it is
impossible to be accepted in a House unless by birth, but
there are exceptions.
To a Dragaeran, one's natural House affects one's life,
strengths, weaknesses, interests, goals, and skills more than
anything else. Every Dragaeran’s behavior finds its origin in
one of the seventeen animals of the Great Houses. The only
possible exception to this is the Jhereg, who have a unique
history. Crossbreeds are usually viewed as socially inferior,
and great stigma surround crossbreeds.
The House currently highest on the Cycle is most in favor,
and takes control of the throne. Emperors in a particular
reign are, of course, of the ruling House, and possess the Orb
throughout their time in power.
All of the Houses, except the Teckla, are considered to be
“nobility” of one degree or another, and make up only about
a tenth of the total population. The Teckla is the least of the
Houses, and constitutes the large majority of the peasant
population, alongside Easterners.
Phoenix
“She had a natural, undefinable air of majesty about
her.”
The House of the Phoenix is traditionally the smallest, by far,
of the noble Houses. This is due, in part, because the House
does not consider one to be a true Phoenix unless an actual
phoenix is flying directly overhead at the time of one’s birth.
This selectivity, however, seems to have been the downfall
of the House. During the tragedy known as Adron’s Disaster,
nearly all members of the Phoenix were killed. Currently,
there is only a single living member, Empress Zerika the
Fourth. What effect this will have on the future of the Cycle is
unknown.
Social Status:
High Nobility
House Colors:
Gold
Personality:
Phoenixes are considered to be the highest of the nobility,
and are often described as having an “air of majesty,” about
them. This may be due, in part, to the fact that their House is
so few in number; nearly all members serve some important
function, so there’s no room leftover for a “common”
Phoenix.
They have a reputation for being pure of character, but this
is more of a perception than the truth. Members of the
House also have a reputation for thinking in grand terms, and
for being contemplative and thoughtful.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Phoenix are
decay and rebirth.
Physical Description:
Whereas most Dragaerans have dark hair, the House of the
Phoenix is known for their light, golden hair. They possess
golden or light blue eyes, and moderately angular faces.
Relations:
Perhaps more than any other House, members of the Phoenix
tend to be universally well-liked. There are no feuds between
the House of the Phoenix and any other.
Names:
Zerika, Tortaalik, Illista, Noima, Jurabin.
Adventurers:
N/A
PHOENIX RACIAL TRAITS:
 N/A. There is currently only a single living member,
Empress Zerika the Fourth.
Dragon
"I do not wish us to die gallantly, I wish us to win!"
9
Dragons are warriors. They can be fierce, loyal, brutal, and
irrational, depending on the situation.
The vast majority of the Empire’s armed forces are
members of House Dragon. The position of Warlord of the
Empire is almost always filled by a Dragon. Every member of
the House is required to spend time in either the Army or the
Guard. In short, wherever you find armed conflict, you’ll find
plenty of Dragons.
Prominent Dragons are commonly referred to as
“Dragonlords.”
Dragon Lineages
Dragons, uniquely among the Houses, are not only known by
their personal name, but also by lineage names. The
descendants of an especially notable Dragon will often
identify themselves by the name of their ancestor; the name
is formed by placing an e in front of the ancestor's name.
Often, Dragonlords wear specific colors, (other than black and
silver,) which indicate their lineage within House Dragon -
each line in the House of the Dragon has its own unique
colors. Most often, a dragon-shaped pendent with colored-
gemstones for eyes is used to display lineage colors. Some of
the most common or notable lineages are:
• e’Kieron – green & blue • e’Tenith – yellow & green
• e’Drien – green & red • e’Baritt – violet & blue
• e’Marish’Chala – blue • e’Mondaar – yellow & red
• e’Lanya – red • e’N’varr – orange
• e’Terics – orange & green
Social Status:
High Nobility
House Colors:
Black and silver
Personality:
Dragons are honorable, yet arrogant. Warriors by nature,
they usually assume that their physical superiority and their
importance to the Empire makes them better than everyone
else. Dragonlords are eager to fight, whether in a personal
duel or on the battlefield.
Despite their love of battle, they usually refrain from
fighting when the odds are too stacked against them, (as
opposed to Dzur, who will fight under any circumstance.)
Strategy and tactics are important to any Dragon, and
Dragonlords spend a great deal of time and effort on the
technical aspects of their fighting form, (as opposed to Dzur,
who operate much more by instinct.)
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Dragon are
war and conquest.
Physical Description:
Like most Dragaerans, Dragons have dark hair, with the
notable exception of the e’Kieron line, who are known to
have blonde hair. Dragons also have an angular face, a
prominent chin, and a strong noble’s point. They are not as
stocky as Iorich, but are among the most well-muscled of the
Houses.
Relations:
Due to their arrogant and military nature, it can be difficult
for members of other Houses to interact with Dragons on a
personal level. Whereas all of the Great Houses have
distinguishing personality attributes, the combative nature of
the Dragons is especially apparent.
There is a particular rivalry between Dragons, (who
embody skill and technique,) and Dzur, (who embody
spontaneity and instinct.) In addition, any others who fancy
themselves a fighter will likely experience friction when
encountering a Dragon.
Names:
Adron, Aliera, Aelburr, Fornia, Kathana, Norathar.
Adventurers:
Dragons make excellent adventurers, as they tend to seek out
any outlet that aligns with their need for excitement and
conflict.
DRAGON RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Strength, -2 Wisdom. Dragons are fierce warriors, but
not the best diplomats.
• +1 racial bonus on Fortitude & Reflex saving throws;
Dragons are known for their unrelenting tenacity.
• Weapon Familiarity: Dragons are proficient with all
Simple & Martial weapons.
• Great Ally: When flanking with an ally, both gain an
additional +1 attack. (If there are multiple allies flanking,
choose one.)
• +2 racial bonus to Knowledge (geography & history)
checks; by studying past battles, Dragons have an excellent
sense of the Empire, especially regarding military history.
• Favored class: Fighter
Lyorn
“He was taught history, poetics, philosophy, sorcery, swordsmanship,
penmanship, and the thousand other things necessary…”
The House of the Lyorn is a House of well-rounded scholars
and record-keepers. They are best known for maintaining the
Lyorn Records, an archive which encompasses the majority of
recordable facts from throughout Imperial history.
Social Status:
High Nobility
House Colors:
Red and golden-brown
Personality:
Lyorn are thirsty for knowledge. It is the adherence to
form, etiquette, and attention to honor and duty which shape
10
the inquisitive mind of a Lyorn more than anything else.
Unlike Athyra, Lyorn are interested in studying many things
besides magic, aiming for knowledge more for its own worth
than as a source of skill.
Lyorn are not arrogant, despite their high social status; in
fact, they are described as being reserved, proper, and
thorough. It is considered nearly impossible to bribe or
coerce a Lyorn record-keeper.
All Lyorn receive a particularly extensive education. Of
particular focus are areas of etiquette and social customs.
This is a well-known fact, and if any Dragaeran ever has a
question about social etiquette, they probably seek out a
Lyorn for an answer.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Lyorn are
tradition, duty, and study.
Physical Description:
Lyorn have straight, brown hair, and a darker skin
complexion. They’re also characterized by having a thin face,
small mouth and hooked nose. In accordance with their
intellectual nature, they tend to be slight of build.
Relations:
Due to their reserved and polite nature, Lyorn rarely offend
anyone.
Names:
Aerich, Shaltre.
Adventurers:
The occasional Lyorn may focus his education on the fighting
arts, or other skills conducive to adventuring, but it is
uncommon.
LYORN RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Intelligence, -2 Constitution. Lyorn have keen minds,
but few favor battle.
• +1 dodge bonus to AC. To make up for their lack of
physical prowess, all Lyorn receive extensive self-defense
training. This stacks with similar abilities.
• +2 racial bonus to all Knowledge checks, and all
Knowledge are always considered class skills; all Lyorn
receive superb education.
• Favored class: Wizard or Bard
Tiassa
"Well, I admit I have sometimes had ideas."
"That is but natural; you are a Tiassa."
 Tiassa are renowned as thinkers and planners. They have a
well-deserved reputation as being the cleverest of
Hawk
Dragaerans, and have an uncanny knack for innovation.
“He was perceptive, clever, and, as they say, with a
Social Status: head so much in the Overcast that it had seeped in.”
High Nobility
House Colors:
Light blue and white
Personality:
Tiassa are a bit temperamental and impetuous, but are
very good at thinking on their feet. The problem most Tiassa
face is preventing stray thoughts from leaving their mouths,
before they have a chance to analyze them; this
outspokenness sometimes gets them into trouble. The House
Hawks are logical, detached, and extremely astute observers.
is also well known for its tendency towards youthful
If they spot something interesting, they’re likely to follow it
ambition.
and dissect it until they have sated their considerable
Although they make exceptional investigators, most Tiassa
curiosity.
utilize their talents in conjunction to members of the other
Prominent Hawks are often referred to as “Hawklords.”
noble Houses, usually in advisory capacities; military
Social Status:
strategists (Dragon), financial planners (Orca, Tsalmoth,
Middle Nobility
Chreotha) or research assistants (Lyorn, Hawk, Athyra) are
House Colors:
common.
Black and white
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Tiassa are
Personality:
curiosity, inspiration, and deduction.
The best words to describe a Hawk are distant, aloof,
Physical Description:
reserved, and detached. Like their avian namesakes, they
Tiassa have moderately pointed ears, (more so than most
spend an inordinate amount of time studying a situation from
Houses, but less than a Dzur.) They tend to have high
a distance before they take it upon themselves to act.
cheekbones, narrow eyes and thin lips. Other common
Unlike the Lyorn, who love learning for the sake of learning,
characteristics include a fair complexion and long fingers.
Hawks love to put what they’ve learned into practical use.
Relations:
Many professors and instructors in the Empire are Hawks.
Despite their tendency to be outspoken, Tiassa are on good
Hawklords do not share any one area of interest, so it is
relations with the other Houses, because their skills are highly
possible to find Hawk experts on a wide variety of subjects.
sought after by all.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Hawk are
Names:
observation and perception.
Khaavren, Piro, Daro, Malypon, Tevna, Röaana.
Physical Description:
Adventurers:
Hawks have black hair, and are characterized by having the
Their sharp wit and keen minds make Tiassa excellent
most chiseled and angular faces of any House. They have dark
adventuring candidates. Young Tiassa, especially, may give in
complexions.
to curiosity or wanderlust, and seek out excitement
Relations:
accordingly.
The House of the Hawk is respected, but individual Hawklords
are often found to be difficult to socialize with. The average
TIASSA RACIAL TRAITS: Hawk is so aloof and socially oblivious that casual
• +2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom. Tiassa are quite quick on the conversation can be a challenge.
draw, but can be considered outspoken, or even annoying. Names:
• +2 racial bonus on Concentration, Listen and Spot checks. Daymar, Paarfi, Ched.
Tiassa are very astute. Adventurers:
• A Tiassa is entitled to a DC 20 Intelligence check to notice Since many Hawklords become masters of one subject or
the presence of an invisible or hidden being within 10 ft. another, it is possible to find a Hawk whose area of passion
Also, they are entitled to a Search check when within 5ft of aligns with adventuring.
a hidden door. (Tiassa are quite perceptive.)
• Low-light Vision: A Tiassa can see twice as far as a human HAWK RACIAL TRAITS:
in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of • +2 Wisdom, -2 Strength. Hawks are very perceptive, but
poor illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color are slight of build.
and detail under these conditions. • +3 racial bonus on Spot, Listen & Search checks. Hawks
• Favored class: Monk or Rogue are masters of observation.
• Quick Learning: after a Hawk has been in battle with an
enemy for two rounds, he gains a +2 AC bonus vs. one
11
 chosen enemy, having observed their strengths and
weaknesses. This stacks with the Dodge feat and similar
abilities.
• Darkvision: Hawks can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like
normal sight, and Hawks can function just fine with no light
at all.
• Favored class: Monk, Psion or Cleric
Dzur
“How many Dzur heroes does it take to sharpen a sword?
Four. One to sharpen the sword and three to put up enough of
a fight to make it worthwhile."
Whereas Dragons fight for honor, Dzur fight for the fun of it.
Wild and unpredictable in a fight, there are few sights on the
battlefield more daunting than a raging Dzur.
Prominent Dzur are often referred to as “Dzurlords.”
Social Status:
High Nobility
House Colors:
Black
Personality:
Dzur are known more as lone warriors than military leaders
or strategic thinkers. They are naturally combat-oriented and
tend toward heroism, recklessness, courage and honor. They
are considered somewhat simplistic by some other Houses
due to how they react to things — with violence. As the Dzur
say, "only blood washes away dishonor." That's not to say
that the Dzur don't have the cunning or the intellect to be
devious, but most just don't care to often make use of these
talents.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Dzur are
heroism and honor.
Physical Description:
The most notable attribute of Dzur are their ears; they have
the most prominently pointed ears of any House. Other
distinguishing characteristics include slanted eyes, and well
defined cheekbones. Dzur occasionally have a hint of purple
in their eye color.
Relations:
There is a particular rivalry between Dragons, (who
embody skill and technique,) and Dzur, (who embody
spontaneity and instinct.)
Dzur are also one of the rare Houses that allow outsiders to
join. Doing so is very difficult, however; one must defeat in
battle 17 Dzur heroes, specifically chosen by the House of the
Dzur.
Names:
12
Tazendra, Sennya, G’aereth, Gyorg, Zungaron
Adventurers:
Dzur make superb adventurers; they thrive on the very
nature of adventuring, and many do not consider themselves
to have truly lived unless they’ve embarked on one adventure
or another.
DZUR RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Strength, -2 Charisma. Dzur speak their mind, no
matter the situation.
• +3 racial bonus on saving throws against fear; Dzur don’t
know the meaning of the word. Furthermore, they are
immune to the “shaken” effect.
• Weapon Familiarity: Dzur are proficient with all Simple &
Martial weapons.
• +2 racial bonus on Climb, Tumble and Knowledge
(dungeoneering) checks. Dzur are fierce in battle, but
better-rounded than dragons.
• Opponents receive a lessened flanking bonus against a
Dzur, due to their ferocity. This results in a -1 against the
normal flank bonus. (For example, instead of a +2 to your
attack roll, you’d instead receive only a +1 vs. a Dzur.)
• Favored class: Barbarian or Knight
Issola
“First she’ll bow, like an Issola. Then she’ll stab you – like an
Issola. That is to say, in the most polite manner possible.”
The undisputed masters of tact and diplomacy are the Issola.
Their natural charm and grace brings out the best in others,
and puts those around them at ease.
Social Status:
Middle Nobility
House Colors:
Green and white
Personality:
The Issola are known as natural diplomats. They normally
tend toward courtliness, manners, grace, tact and beauty.
Issola are masters of many languages and social protocols.
When it is in their interest to do so, however, they tend to
take sudden, decisive, and typically offensive actions without
any prior warning.
Issola may serve as stewards, hosts, diplomats or
entertainers. They excel at whatever they put their minds to.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Issola are
courtliness and surprise.
Physical Description:
Issola tend to have pale complexions and light brown hair.
Relations:
Issola make it a point to put those around them at ease. The
House has no rivals or enemies.
Names:
Teldra, Sara, Indus, Lewchin, Hub.
Adventurers:
Issola are rarely suited to pure adventuring, as such behavior
is “improper.” But a party with a worthwhile cause may be
wise to enlist an Issola for her diplomatic talents.
ISSOLA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Charisma, -2 Strength. Issola have silver tongues, and
are rarely front-line fighters.
• +2 racial bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff, and Sense Motive
checks; Issola are innate diplomats.
• Quick Strike: An Issola gains an additional +1 bonus to
attack a flanked target.
• Thanks to their mastery of the thought process, Issola
gain +2 racial bonus to saves vs. mind-affecting abilities.
• Issola start with one additional bonus language.
• Favored class: Bard (An Issola bard may be lawful.)
Tsalmoth
“You’ll know you’re fighting a Tsalmoth if you haven’t
time to spare to wonder who it is you’re fighting.”
The Tsalmoth embody unpredictability and tenacity. The
bear-like wild tsalmoth will attack its enemies with lightning-
fast, unpredictable attacks, and won’t stop until it is
victorious. The House of the Tsalmoth retains many of these
characteristics.
Social Status:
Middle Nobility
House Colors:
Red and silver
Personality:
Tsalmoth are known for their tenacity, variable nature, and
their ability to attack a problem from many different
directions all at once. This can manifest in many different
ways. Some Tsalmoth are fighters, who prefer a wild,
unpredictable fighting style. Others are politicians, whose
attacks are verbal, rather than physical. Many others are
merchants and businessmen, who utilize their flexibility and
adaptability to line their purses.
13
A Tsalmoth can be extremely loyal, but only as long as it is
in their interest to be so.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Tsalmoth
are tenacity and variability.
Physical Description:
Tsalmoth tend to have a full face and round eyes, in contrast
to most other House’s angular features. They also have a
distinctive nose.
Relations:
Most consider it to be a wise course of action to stay on their
toes when dealing with a Tsalmoth.
Names:
Garland, Iatha, Deleen.
Adventurers:
Since Tsalmoth can be found in many different walks of life, it
is not uncommon to find one who is prone to adventuring.
These Tsalmoth are prized for their abilities.
TSALMOTH RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Dexterity, -2 Wisdom. Tsalmoth tend to confront a
problem, rather than think about it.
• +2 racial bonus on initiative checks; Tsalmoth always
attack a problem from multiple vectors, giving them a
distinct advantage.
• A Tsalmoth’s ferocity can easily startle opponents. They
gain +2 for any attempt to trip, bull rush, sunder or disarm
an opponent.
• +2 racial bonus to Intimidate checks; Tsalmoth tenacity is
not limited to physical confrontations.
• Favored class: Fighter
Vallista
“What do you call a fun-loving, rules-be-damned
Vallista? Nonexistent!”
Vallista are natural builders. They are the architects of the
Empire.
Social Status:
Middle Nobility
House Colors:
Orange and purple
Personality:
Vallista are renowned as builders and especially architects;
the majority of the great structures in the Dragaeran Empire,
including the Imperial Palace, were constructed by Vallista.
One can immediately tell when one enters into a village
which is dominated by Vallista, as even the simplest of
structures is constructed with great flare and craftsmanship.
On a personal level, Vallista are usually somewhat socially
repressive. If it doesn’t have to do with crafting or
architecture, then they simply don’t have time for it. Prim and
proper, they shy away from excessive drinking, gambling, or
any other potentially unsavory behavior.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Vallista are
creation and destruction.
Physical Description:
Vallista have a very dark complexion, and dark eyes.
Relations:
As the architects of the Empire, the Vallista have close ties to
whichever House is currently in power, in order to take care
of any building needs they have. They also have close ties to
the Dragons, who always need new forts, bases and
earthworks.
Names:
Jamiss, Fecila, Carver
Adventurers:
A select few Vallista turn their affinity for craftsmanship away
from architecture and toward the art of armor and weaponry.
VALLISTA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom. Vallista adhere to rules and
laws, even in the face of common sense.
• +3 racial bonus on Knowledge (architecture), Use Magic
Device, and Craft checks; Vallista are natural builders.
• Armor Affinity: Any Vallista who wears armor tends to
tinker with it, increasing its AC value by +1 (special bonus.)
In addition, Vallista gain a +1 racial bonus to sunder an
enemy’s weapon, shield or armor.
• Favored class: Knight or Artificer
Jhereg
"Shut your face or I'll tear out your windpipe and make
you eat it."
The Jhereg are the scoundrels of the Empire. Any
entertaining, distracting, or illicit activity is sure to involve the
Jhereg in some fashion. These activities are tolerated, (to a
point,) by the rest of the nobility for a simple reason: they
distract the peasantry from their bleak lives. But, the
activities of “the Organization” can also run far deeper and
darker than mere taverns and gambling dens; Jhereg also
make the best assassins and thieves, by far.
Social Status:
Low Nobility
House Colors:
Black and grey
Personality:
A simplistic view of the Jhereg is that they are greedy,
devious and opportunistic. There is certainly a lot of truth to
14
this; from lowly enforcers to high ranking crime bosses, many
Jhereg spend their lives jostling for more power, more
notoriety, and above all, more cash.
But there is also room for codes of honor among the
Jhereg. Certain customs and rules of engagement are upheld
religiously, and not every subordinate would stab his boss in
the back for a bag of gold.
It is possible to gain entry to the House of the Jhereg, and
thus Imperial citizenship, by outright purchasing a title.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Jhereg are
greed and opportunism.
Physical Description:
The Jhereg have a unique history. They do not have a true
relationship with their patron animal, like the other Houses
do. Rather, the original Jhereg were comprised of various
outcasts and misfits of the other Houses. Thus, today’s Jhereg
are a melting pot of races and attributes. One can almost
never be certain of a Jhereg’s identify by sight alone, as they
incorporate many traits of the rest of the Houses.
Relations:
Most individuals, and all Houses look down upon the Jhereg.
To many, “Jhereg” is synonymous with “thief, scoundrel,
scum.” Yet, many still readily avail themselves of the services
that the Jhereg offer.
Names:
Dolivar, Laris, Melestav, Varg, Temek, Mellar, Nielar
Adventurers:
The unscrupulous nature of the Jhereg lends itself to
adventuring very well. Any party would benefit greatly from
their sneaky and devious skillset.
JHEREG RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma. Jhereg tend to be quick on
their feet, but not socially graceful.
• Aversion to Law: No Jhereg may be lawful-aligned.
• +2 racial bonus to Move Silently, Open Lock, Hide &
Gather Information checks. These, plus Disable Device, are
always class skills. Jhereg are skilled in surreptitiousness.
• Assassin Specialization: Once per day, a Jhereg may add
+4 to a single attack roll. He gains another use of this ability
every five levels, (max 5 at level 20.)
• Favored class: Rogue
Iorich
“Are you aware of the penalties for lying beneath the
Orb?”
Justice. Law. Integrity. These are the concerns of the House of
the Iorich. When it comes to the legal and punitive systems of
the Empire, the Iorich are in charge.
Social Status:
Middle Nobility
House Colors:
Brown and white
Personality:
The Iorich character is one of a passionate quest for justice
and the rule of law. As such, the House of Iorich is tasked with
running the justice system of the Empire. The large majority
(if not all) of justicers and advocates are Iorich. The Iorich
Guard protects the prisons in the Imperial Palace (which are
located in the Iorich Wing).
When slighted, Iorich can be zealous in their quest for
revenge and justice.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Iorich are
justice and retribution.
Physical Description:
Iorich are generally short and stocky, by Dragaeran standards
at least. They have brown hair and bright brown eyes.
Relations:
The Iorich are trusted in their duties, but some are
uncomfortable in the presence of strict law enforcers.
Names:
Dinb, Guinn, Perisil, Caltho, Desaniek
Adventurers:
For a noble party on a just quest, there is no better
companion than an Iorich.
IORICH RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Charisma, -2 Dexterity. Iorich are passionate, but are
stocky and lack flexibility.
• Law Obsession: No Iorich may be chaotic-aligned.
• +2 racial bonus to Knowledge (local), Diplomacy &
Intimidate checks; Iorich know all local laws and are
passionate in their ideals.
• +2 racial bonus to attack, or to spell DC against any
chaotic-aligned creature. An Iorich’s righteous anger gives
them a reserve of power that none others possess.
• Favored class: Paladin
Chreotha
“If you feel like losing, play chess against a Chreotha.”
Chreotha are typically involved in some form of trade.
While technically members of the nobility, the Chreotha
15
(along with the Jhegaala,) make up the “merchant Houses,”
and are often seen as only a small step above Teckla.
Appropriate to the weaving skills of the animal for which
they are named, Chreotha are often tailors. There also exist
numerous Chreotha merchants and innkeepers.
Social Status:
Low Nobility
House Colors:
Black and brown
Personality:
Chreotha are shy, but bright.
Usually easily flustered, Chreotha can come off as timid,
soft-spoken, and nervous. This is probably the root reason
why most of the other Houses look down upon the Chreotha.
However, they counterbalance this flaw with their
unparalleled ability to plan ahead. Chreotha have incredible
foresight, and can avoid most trouble by simply foreseeing it
and making contingency plans for the occasion. They are also
known to use their gifts to weave plots which snare others, in
order to avoid physical altercations.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Chreotha
are forethought and ensnarement.
Physical Description:
Chreotha have stubby fingers, and their hair is often curly.
Relations:
Chreotha share something of a bond with the Jhegaala, since
these two Houses are considered to be among the lowest of
the nobility, (along with the Jhereg.)
Names:
Omlo, Deppian, Synna
Adventurers:
Due to their lower station in society, it is not unheard for
Chreotha to choose the life of an adventurer, instead of the
life of a bookkeeper or clerk.
CHREOTHA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Intelligence, -2 Charisma. Chreotha are long-term
planners, but are socially shy.
• +2 racial bonus on Appraise & Craft checks; Chreotha are
often employed as merchants and craftsmen.
• +2 racial bonus on initiative checks; Chreotha plan ahead,
and are always prepared.
• Preparative Edge: thanks to cunning forethought, once
per day, a Chreotha can add a +2 racial bonus to any attack
roll, save, or spell DC. This increases to twice per day at
level 4, three at level 8, four at level 12, and five at level 16.
• Favored class: Ranger or Druid
 Yendi Orca
“How many Yendi does it take to sharpen a sword? “The sea never stops. I never get tired of watching her.”
Three. One to sharpen the sword, and one to confuse the
issue.”

Orca are best known as professional sailors and traders. A

large portion of the Imperial Navy is from the House of Orca.
Plots, schemes and subversions are the lifeblood of the Yendi.
Social Status:
Widely known for these attributes, only a fool would take any
Low Nobility
word from a Yendi at face value.
House Colors:
Social Status:
Blue and sea green
Middle Nobility
Personality:
House Colors:
Like the orca itself, Orca are extremely predatory, and
Yellow
frequently display an inherently vicious nature. Orca youths
Personality:
with no occupation often find it entertaining to seek out and
The Yendi are known for the elaborate machinations, and
beat or mug other youths on the streets, and frequently
their extreme subtlety. In fact, they put the "b" into subtle.
target any Teckla and Easterners they find.
Deceptive, manipulative, and secretive are words that are
Their tough and hardy nature make Orca quite successful in
synonymous with the name Yendi.
any field that requires dispassionate or ruthless action, such
Yendi may pursue a wide variety of interests, ranging from
as banking or business ownership.
Sorcery to psychiatry.
More than anything else, however, Orca love the sea, and
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Yendi are
all Orca receive training on a seagoing vessel at some point in
subtlety and misdirection.
their lives. Professional sailors are almost universally Orca.
Physical Description:
The Orca are obsessively concerned with their rank and
Aside from the noble’s point shared by all nobility, the Yendi
titles, even though all of their titles of nobility are
have no identifying characteristics. This is one reason Yendi
unassociated with land holdings. This goes to the extent that
can be so devious – when you’re talking to one, you may very
the Orca will change a person's title when they receive a
well believe that you’re actually talking to someone of a
military promotion or demotion. This ensures that a mate
different House altogether.
always outranks a bosun, and that a captain outranks a
Relations:
mate—even when simply talking about their social status.
Yendi prefer to pursue their own individual interests, so the
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Orca are
House itself doesn’t usually interact with the other Houses
mercantilism and brutality.
much – until the Reign of the Yendi approaches.
Physical Description:
Names:
Orca have broad features, and a somewhat tough build. Their
Pel
hair is usually light brown, and eyes are usually blue.
Adventurers:
Relations:
If it suits their purposes, a Yendi will join any endeavor. Any
The trade fleets and mercantile nature of the Orca make
party can benefit from the scheming prowess of a Yendi – just
them very valuable to the Empire. However, their predatory
make sure he isn’t planning to stab you in the back.
nature means that they tend to abuse those of lower station
than themselves, (usually individuals of House Jhereg,
YENDI RACIAL TRAITS: Jhegaala, and Chreotha,) so relations there can be strained.
• +2 Charisma, -2 Strength. Yendi are masters at social Names:
manipulation, and thus don’t often partake in armed Shortisle, Fyres, Vonnith, Reega, Endra, Yinta.
combat. Adventurers:
• +3 racial bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Brutish and opportunistic, Orca are naturally adept at the
Disguise checks; Yendi scheme like nobody’s business. adventuring life.
• Opportunistic Casting: A Yendi casting a spell or
invocation at a target denied his Dexterity bonus gains a +1 ORCA RACIAL TRAITS:
to the spell’s DC. • +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma. Orca are tough, and lacking
• Favored class: Sorcerer or Warlock in social grace.
• Orcas have a base swim speed of 30ft.
16
 • Orca are stable on their feet; they gain +2 bonus against
bull rush or trip attempts.
• +2 racial bonus to Swim, Use Rope, Climb and Balance; all
Orca are trained extensively on seafaring vessels. Swim is
always a class skill.
• With regards to only conversations involving
buying/selling, the orca’s mercantile nature grants him +2 to
Diplomacy and Intimidate checks.
• Favored class: Swashbuckler or Barbarian
Teckla
“Oh come now, don’t be such a Teckla.”
The might of any Empire or Kingdom must be built upon
backs of the downtrodden masses. In Dragaera, the Teckla
are these masses.
The Teckla make up 90% of the Empire’s population. These
often uneducated peasants plow the fields, tend the land,
and perform all manner of menial tasks for the nobility.
Social Status:
Commoners
House Colors:
Brown, pale yellow, and green
Personality:
Teckla are often seen as being weak and timid. There is
definitely truth to this, but this perception is magnified and
exaggerated by the nobility, whom are often incapable of
seeing a Teckla as anything other than a peasant or servant.
Most Teckla are uneducated, and thus are limited to
occupations that do not require them to know how to read or
write. Most Teckla also live in rural areas, and are either
servants or farmers, sworn to the service of a particular
noble. There are also urban Teckla, who perform menial labor
in towns and cities, who are usually not beholden to any
particular noble.
It is possible to join the House of the Teckla by swearing
fealty to a noble of the Dragaeran Empire; there are no
"tests" to join, and indeed many Easterners in the Empire
have done just that, in order to gain citizenship and a link to
the Orb.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Teckla are
cowardice and fertility.
Physical Description:
Teckla lack the noble’s point of the nobility. One can usually
distinguish a Teckla by his round face and stubby fingers.
Relations:
Teckla are peasants and servants, looked down upon by
nearly all of the nobility. Easterners in the Empire usually
share the same status as Teckla, and the two groups
intermingle often.
17
Names:
Srahi, Mica, Lar, Clari, Paresh, Savn, Polyi.
Adventurers:
Many Teckla are used to harsh living conditions, and in this
way, would make good adventurers. However, most are also
beholden to a particular lord, and tend to be meek and
somewhat cowardly.
TECKLA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence. Teckla are hardy, but are
not educated.
• Illiterate: Teckla may learn to read and write by spending
skill points.
• +2 racial bonus on Profession, Craft, Handle Animal, Ride
& Survival checks; commoners use these skills to eke out an
existence.
• Teckla live under harsh conditions, which have hardened
their bodies. They get a +2 bonus on saves vs. poison, and
automatically stabilize when below 0 HP.
• Favored class: Scout or Ranger.
Jhegaala
“And what are you supposed to be, this week?”
Jhegaala stand for change and transformation. The wild
jhegaala goes through a great many metamorphoses in its
lifetime, and similarly, Jhegaala never stay in one place or at
one job for too long.
Social Status:
Low Nobility
House Colors:
Brown and yellow
Personality:
A Jhegaala will shift from one profession and worldly
outlook to the next as their stages pass. A Jhegaala might
suddenly abandon his job as a clerk and become an art critic,
if the mood struck him. This is perhaps similar to the human
concept of "going through a phase." As such, unlike most
other Dragaerans, Jhegaala do not choose one profession to
stay with throughout their lives; it is expected for Jhegaala to
constantly be on the move.
Jhegaala are commonly laborers or workers who perform
tasks that, while they are somewhat menial, still require the
ability to read and write, and so cannot be done by most
Teckla. Clerks, paymasters, and secretaries are common
occupations for Jhegaala. Others may include merchants,
actors, or craftsmen.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Jhegaala
are transformation and endurance.
 Physical Description:
Typical traits of Jhegaala are a long face, pale eyes and a pale
complexion.
Relations:
Jhegaala share something of a bond with the Chreotha, since
these two Houses are considered to be among the lowest of
the nobility, (along with the Jhereg.)
Names:
Lysek, Nethrond, Viodonna.
Adventurers:
At various stages in their lives, many Jhegaala are open to the
idea of adventuring. However, few are lifetime-adventurers;
it’s usually just a phase.
JHEGAALA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Dexterity, -2 Wisdom. Jhegaala are flexible, but tend
towards overconfidence.
• +2 racial bonus on Appraise & Craft checks; Jhegaala are
often employed as merchants and craftsmen.
• Jhegaala have astounding adaptability. Each day, for a
number of rounds equal to a quarter his character level
(round up,) a Jhegaala can add +2 to any chosen ability
score. The rounds per day need not be consecutive.
• Class Adaptability: Jhegaala never receive any XP penalty
for multiclassing.
• Favored class: Any. Jhegaala are nothing if not adaptable.
Athyra
"You, sir, reason like an Athyra."
When it comes to Sorcery and magic, it is difficult to best an
Athyra.
While many Houses have produced famous magical
practitioners, (including the Dragon, Dzur, and Jhereg,) it is
the House of the Athyra who are the true masters of the
magical arts. The majority of Athyra devote themselves to the
pursuit of magical research of one sort or another; it is rare to
encounter an Athyra not associated with magic in some way.
Social Status:
High Nobility
House Colors:
White and red
Personality:
The Athyra are noted for their ability to reason, as well as
their pursuit of intellectual challenges. It should be noted that
Athyra are primarily interested in exploring the world—and
especially the mind—as a means to gain power, and are
therefore less objective as scholars than a Hawk or Lyorn.
18
An Athyra sees those around him as either objects to be
used to achieve their own ends, or, for the more ethereal
Athyra, merely mental constructs; of no more importance
than a dream. It is these solipsist Athyra that pose the
greatest danger to others, since they do not even consider
others around them to be of any significance whatsoever.
Athyra are often considered aloof and cold.
Symbolically, the attributes of the House of the Athyra are
magic and philosophy.
Physical Description:
Athyra are typically thin, with smooth faces and distinctively
pale eyebrows. Their eyes are often gray in color.
Relations:
Since Sorcery is such an integral part of Dragaeran society,
Athyra are often held in high esteem, although most
individuals wouldn’t find it easy to make friends with an
Athyra.
Names:
Seodra, Loraan, Cherova, Wellborn, Erna, Nyleth
Adventurers:
Athyra will sometimes adventure as a means of practicing
and learning about magic and Sorcery, or to help uncover
magical artifacts.
ATHYRA RACIAL TRAITS:
• +2 Wisdom, -2 Dexterity. Athyra live to study and disdain
physical pursuits.
• Add +1 to the DC of any spells cast by an Athyra, as they
are most proficient with magic.
• +3 racial bonus to Spellcraft, Use Magic Device and
Knowledge (arcana) checks.
• Favored class: Cleric or Wizard
Dragaeran (Islander)
Off the western coasts of Dragaera lie several independent
island nations, which are not a part of the Dragaeran Empire.
These small bastions of independence highly value their
freedom, and have historically resisted all attempts at
integration made by the Dragaeran Empire.
 In the Dragaeran Empire, cross-breeds are considered
second-class citizens, at best. But on the independent Elde ISLANDER RACIAL TRAITS:
Island and the island of Greenaere, such stigmas never took  Medium: As Medium creatures, Islanders have no
hold in the first place. As such, none of the inhabitants of bonuses or penalties due to their size.
these lands maintain House segregation, and their  Islander land speed is 30ft.
populations are a melting-pot of the traditional houses of the  1 extra feat at 1st level, since the lack of House
Dragaeran Empire, (and perhaps even of the extinct tribes segregation opens up many possibilities to individual
which predate the Empire entirely.) Islanders.
Personality:  4 extra skill points at first level, and 1 extra skill point
Since the elves of the islands never segregated themselves by at each additional level.
House, the Islanders have a wide variety of personalities and
 Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Any
dispositions, much like humans.
(other than secret languages, such as Druidic).
Physical Description:
 Favored Class: Any.
Islanders are clearly Dragaeran, in race. However, they are
not subject to the House segregation which dominates the
Dragaeran Empire. Thus, to an outsider, an Islander would Serioli
appear to be some sort of Dragaeran crossbreed, sharing
traits associated with multiple Houses. This is because the
islands have been a melting pot since their colonization.
Relations:
The islands are highly independent. Multiple wars have been
fought throughout history with the Dragaeran Empire.
Islander Lands:
The two most notable independent islands are Greenaere
and Elde Island.
Greenaere is the smaller of the two, and further north. It is
known for sitting atop a massive deposit of various kinds of
Phoenix Stone, which protect the island from any sort of
magical attack.
Elde Island is the larger of the two, sitting at the southwest
tip of the Empire. There have been no fewer than nine wars
between the Empire and Elde.
In addition, the smaller islands of Landsight and Holcomb
often trade with the Empire.
Religion:
The Islands share most of the religious beliefs and practices of The Serioli were the original native inhabitants of Dragaera.
the Empire. They were largely wiped out by the early Dragaeran Empire,
Language: and are now living in small numbers in the mountains. Some
Like their mainland brothers, most Islanders are familiar with populations are bitter to this fact and quietly oppose the
the common tongue. Dragaerans, whereas others openly trade and interact with
Magic: their long-ago-enemies.
Nearly all forms of magic are impossible on Greenaere, so They are master craftsmen of weapons, jewelry, and magic
those Islanders do not practice magic. artifacts, often surpassing even the Dragaerans. They are the
Since the inhabitants of Elde Island are not Imperial original creators of Morganti blades, (weapons which devour
citizens, they do not have access to the Orb, and therefore souls,) as well as the seventeen legendary Great Weapons.
cannot practice Sorcery, unless an individual were to defect (see pg 27).
to the Empire and gain citizenship. Witchcraft and Psychics Personality:
are more common on Elde Island. Dragaerans and Easterners usually consider Serioli to be
Names: “different.” Exactly which flavor of “different” depends on
Aibynn, Corcor’n, Haro. the individual Serioli.
It is worth noting that some Islanders have first and last Physical Description:
names, much like Easterners. Most notably, Serioli are shorter even than Easterners.
Adventurers: Relations:
Islanders mainly stay in their homelands. But, despite their Historically, Serioli have had little interaction with Easterners,
resemblance to crossbreeds, and their history of conflict with although their history does preserve stories and legends of
the Empire, Islanders can usually wander the Empire without their interactions.
fear of reprisal.
19
 Some Serioli still consider the Dragaerans as enemies, due
to their long-ago conflicts with one another. Other Serioli,
Cat-Centaur
however, openly interact with Dragaerans. Some Dragaerans
consider topics such as Serioli art or the language of the
Serioli to be worthy areas of study. At various points
throughout history, Serioli plays or jewelry have been very
popular in the Empire.
Serioli Lands:
In ancient history, before the Dragaeran Empire existed, the
Serioli inhabited many of the lands that are now claimed by
the Empire. Today, only small and scattered populations
remain. They live mostly in remote mountain refuges,
although some persist deep in untamed forests as well.
At least some Serioli have inhabited the east, too.
Religion:
Serioli are not religious; in fact, many hate the gods. When
the early Dragaeran Empire was expanding, and forcing the
Serioli from their homes, it was at the behest of the gods. The
Serioli are aware of this, and still resent the gods for their
actions. There exists a small population of Cat-Centaurs far to the
Language: north, within the Forever Planes. Their society is simple,
The language of the Serioli is called Seriolaa. The language is nomadic and tribe-based. They honor the goddess Kelchor.
very harsh, full of clicks and abrupt consonants; most They keep entirely to their own lands and rarely, if ever,
outsiders find it nearly impossible to speak with any fluency. interact with any other peoples, except for outsiders who
Any Serioli who interact with other races speaks the common travel through their lands, with whom they tend to be
tongue as well. friendly.
Magic: Personality:
The Serioli are not Imperial citizens, and this do not have Cat-Centaurs tend to be friendly, unless you give them a
access to the Orb, which is the source of Sorcerous power. reason to behave otherwise. They’re usually more than
However, they obviously have access to some form of magic, willing to share a meal and converse with any travelers they
as evidenced by the magical items they create. This usually come across.
takes the form of the particular, very neutral, item-based They are also a people very much in touch with the land.
magic of the Artificer. They are nomads who live directly off of it, and don’t have
In addition, it seems likely that some Serioli practice pre- any permanent civilization the way Dragaerans and
Empire Sorcery, also known as Elder Sorcery, to some extent, Easterners do. They almost always prefer the company of
as well as Psychics. their own kind; you’ll rarely find a Cat-Centaur anywhere
Names: besides the Forever Plains.
Cly!ng Fr'ngtha, Jggo!f'tha. Physical Description:
Adventurers: Cat-Centaurs are large creatures, approximately horse-sized.
Serioli rarely leave the company of their own kind. They have the body of a large lion or panther, but the torso
and upper body of a Dragaeran.
Relations:
SERIOLI RACIAL TRAITS:
Cat-Centaurs keep to themselves to such a degree that many
• +2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma. Serioli are nimble, but have no
people don’t even realize that they exist. They are friendly to
desire to impress outsiders.
those who show respect to them and their lands.
• Base land speed is 20ft, due to their short stature.
Cat-Centaur Lands:
• Stonecutting: +2 bonus to notice and identify stonework.
The region known as the Forever Plains is the home of the
Now living in mountain refuges, Serioli are at home in
Cat-Centaur tribes.
stone.
Religion:
• +1 racial attack bonus against Dragaerans.
Cat-Centaurs revere the goddess Kelchor.
• +2 racial bonus to Profession, Craft, Appraise, Use Magic
Language:
Device, and Knowledge (arcana) checks. Serioli are master
Cat-Centaurs have their own language, but they are familiar
craftsmen of weapons, jewelry, and magic artifacts.
with the common tongue as well.
• Automatic Language: Seriolaa, Common. Bonus
Magic:
Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as
Cat-Centaurs, as non-citizens, cannot access the Orb, the
Druidic).
source of Sorcery. They tend not to use any magic
• Favored class: Ranger or Artificer. Serioli Clerics may only
serve the Jenoine.
20
whatsoever, but are known to employ a version of Witchcraft
at times.
Names:
Mist, Brandy, Birch
Adventurers:
Cat-Centaurs very rarely leave the company of their own kind.

CAT-CENTAUR RACIAL TRAITS:

• +4 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma.
• Cat-Centaurs are Large creatures.
• Darkvision 60ft
• Speed 40ft
• Natural Attacks: Cat-Centaurs can make two claw attacks,
dealing 1d6 damage each. One may attack with a one-
handed weapon and then still make a claw attack as a
secondary attack at a -5 penalty.
• +6 racial bonus on Jump, Balance & Survival checks.
• Automatic Language: Cat-Centaur, Common. Bonus
Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as
Druidic).
• Favored class: Ranger or Barbarian
• Level Adjustment: +1

Powerful Races
Due to their superior physical attributes, Cat-Centaurs have
a Level Adjustment. Make sure you follow the appropriate
rules for such a character.

21
Character Classes
Nearly all of the information in the Player’s Handbook and
supplements is valid in Dragaera, with the following
exceptions and additions:
Barbarian
You aren’t likely to find many Dragaerans who are rough-and-
tumble raiders, living off the land. There are, however, plenty
of bandits who may approximate the barbarian lifestyle.
Not all nobleman practice the honed-to-perfection fighting
style of the Dragon – Dzur, especially, are known to prefer
the free-for-all spontaneity of the barbarian.
Bard
Bards (or minstrels, as they are more commonly called,) are
one of the most common forms of entertainment in the
Empire. Traveling minstrels regularly visit even the most
remote taverns and inns.
There are two, main kinds of magic in Dragaera –
Witchcraft, and Sorcery. (See Magic, pg 24 for details in the
lore of Sorcery and Witchcraft, very distinctive magical
disciplines.) As such, if you choose the Bard class, your
magical powers do not come from the mystical harmony of
music – they conform to either Witchcraft, or Sorcery.
Cleric
Easterner clerics conform to the traditional D&D role of cleric
– devout, humble servants. But Dragaerans have a more
reasonable and mundane relationship with the gods (See
Deities, pg 46).
There are two, main kinds of magic in Dragaera –
Witchcraft, and Sorcery. (See Magic, pg 24 for details in the
lore of Sorcery and Witchcraft, very distinctive magical
disciplines.) As such, if you choose the Bard class, your
magical powers do not come from the divine might of the
Lords of Judgment – they conform to either Witchcraft, or
Sorcery.
Druid
There are two, main kinds of magic in Dragaera – Witchcraft,
and Sorcery. (See Magic, pg 24 for details in the lore of
Sorcery and Witchcraft, very distinctive magical disciplines.)
As such, if you choose the Druid class, your magical powers
do not come from the mystical power of nature – they
conform to either Witchcraft, or Sorcery.
Fighter
The discipline and combat expertise of the fighter can often
be found in Dragons and Tsalmoth.
Monk
Tiassa and Hawk may have the physical and mental discipline
to follow the path of the monk.
22
Paladin
Righteous Iorich are typically more suited for police work and
courtroom debates, but when they choose the path of the
paladin, they can be a force for justice unequaled in
Dragaera.
Ranger
Most Dragaerans live out of the cities, where a ranger’s
abilities are most useful.
Rogue
Jhereg make superb rogues.
Sorcerer
In Dragaera, “Sorcery” is a particular brand of magic practiced
by citizens of the Empire (see Magic, pg 24). If you want to
play a Sorcerer, it makes the most sense to role-play as such a
citizen. If you play a “sorcerer” as anything but an Imperial
Citizen, it would make the most sense not to actually call your
particular brand of magic “Sorcery.” (See Magic, pg 24 for
details in the lore of Sorcery and Witchcraft, very distinctive
magical disciplines.)
Wizard Witch
The term “Wizard” has a very specific meaning in Dragaera. It
is recommended that you replace this with the term Witch, to
best fit the lore of Dragaera.
Witchcraft is practiced nearly exclusively by Easterners. If
you wish to play a “wizard” and are not role-playing as an
Easterner, call your brand of magic “Sorcery.” (See Magic, pg
24 for details in the lore of Sorcery and Witchcraft, very
distinctive magical disciplines.)
Artificer
Vallista and Serioli make excellent artificers.
Psion
Those rare individuals who master the science of Psychics
(see Magic, pg 24) would be the best analog to psions.
Feats
Sorcerously Gifted [General]
You’ve studied the basics of calling upon the Orb.
Prerequisite: Imperial Citizen
Benefit: You may choose any three spells of level-zero or
level-one from the Sorcerer’s spell list. You may not change
your selection after you choose. You may cast a total of three
spells per day, chosen from your list of known spells
mentioned above. You may take this feat even if your class
does not normally have a spellcasting ability. When casting a
spell, all normal rules are observed, including the use of
material or XP components. You are treated as a Sorcerer of
your arcane spellcasting level (minimum of first level) for the
determination of spell effects.

Lyorn Warrior [General]

In addition to the rigorous schooling that all Lyorn enjoy,
you’ve embarked down a rare path: that of the Lyorn warrior.
Prerequisite: Race: Lyorn
Benefit: You may swap the Lyorn racial traits with those of a
Dragon.
Restriction: You may only take this feat at your first level.

Left Hand Sorceress [General]

You’re a capable sorceress who uses her talents for power
and profit.
Prerequisite: Race: Jhereg – Gender: Female
Benefit: You may swap the Jhereg racial traits with those of
an Athyra.
Restriction: You may only take this feat at your first level.

Hawk Psychic [General]

As a master of manipulating the energies of the mind, you’ve
gained the ability to float, instead of walk.
Prerequisite: Race: Hawk – Class: Any spellcaster or psion
Benefit: You may hover no more than 3 feet above the
ground and move in any direction at your normal walking
speed. This is your preferred means of conveyance, over
walking.

Dzur Berserker [General]

You love a good fight, and the more you’re outnumbered, the
better!
Prerequisite: Race: Dzur
Benefit: When your space is threatened by two opponents at
once, you gain an attack bonus of +1 against both enemies. If
your space is threatened by three opponents at once, you
gain an attack bonus of +2 against all three enemies.

23
Magic
“That’s the thing about Sorcery, you see: With Witchcraft, it’s
all about gathering the energy to execute the spell. With
Sorcery, there’s all the power you could ever want for
anything. The question is, how do you handle it? How do you
make it work for you, doing what you want, instead of it just
dissipating into nothing – or, worse, blowing up in your face,
maybe taking a few people you like along with your face?
The word “spell” is misleading, or at least ambiguous.
When someone speaks of a Witchcraft “spell,” that’s sort of
just a way of saying a series of actions what will permit you to
gather the power you want for a particular use, and
simultaneously attuning it to that use. When someone speaks
of a Sorcery “spell,” that means a series of actions, or words,
or even diagrams, that help you concentrate in the right way
to produce a certain effect.”
– Vladimir Taltos
Both in Dragaera and in the East, magic is a part of everyday
life. From a cobbler using Witchcraft to place comfort spells
on a pair of boots, or a Teckla peasant sorcerously keeping his
head dry in the rain, magic is everywhere. It is so pervasive
that every individual, from common farmhand to Jhereg
assassin, needs to have a good understanding of the magical
arts, just to function in society.
Sorcery
Sorcery is the magical art of choice in the Dragaeran Empire,
and is all but unknown in the East. Today, every Imperial
citizen utilizes Sorcery, at least to a small degree.
Simply put, Sorcery is the magical science of using
amorphia – pure, chaotic energy – to reshape the world
around you, according to your desires.
Amorphia
Amorphia can be viewed in many ways – raw Chaos; the
opposite of matter; the component energy of all matter… No
matter how you view it, though, amorphia is the source of
power for all Dragaeran Sorcery.
In appearance, amorphia is a formless, colorless substance,
yet it also contains all forms and all colors. Seen from afar, it
may have a superficial resemblance to water, which leads to
collections of it being called 'rivers' or 'seas', (hence, the
Greater and the Lesser Seas of Chaos.) Additionally, small
amounts of contained amorphia may either spontaneously
transform, (or be deliberately transformed,) into a safe and
stable form, which appears to be a small, blue-purple stone.
24
Amorphia itself is an extremely hazardous substance. It is
inherently unstable, and will seek to consume and transform
all surrounding matter into amorphia unless contained
through Elder Sorcery. Even a tiny amount of amorphia could,
if contained improperly, start a chain reaction that might
obliterate the entire world.
Two natural sources of amorphia currently exist in the
world. The first, created in prehistory by the gods, is the
Greater Sea of Chaos. The second source, the Lesser Sea of
Chaos, is a much more recent addition, created as a result of
Adron’s Disaster (see History, pg 54) – a testament to the
dangers of amorphia.
Elder Sorcery
The first magical art to utilize amorphia was what is now
known as Elder Sorcery, or Pre-Empire Sorcery. It is the direct
manipulation of raw amorphia, (rather than amorphia
channeled and controlled by the Orb; see below.)
Anyone with the discipline and desire (some would say
recklessness,) to attempt this manipulation can become an
Elder Sorcerer. It has been noted, however, that each
opening of one's mind to amorphia is "one step closer to
madness". Many potential sorcerers are likely destroyed in
the initial stages of attempting to gain control of amorphia.
Due to the incredibly unstable nature of amorphia, this
form of Sorcery is extremely hazardous (as evidenced by
Adron's Disaster). Use of Elder Sorcery was outlawed upon
the creation of the Dragaeran Empire. Books on the subject
are now considered contraband.
A slightly safer form of Elder Sorcery involves the creation
of small bluish purple stones of amorphia from a source of
amorphia, which are arranged in such a way as to control a
flow of amorphia. This practice was discovered by Athyra
Wizards late in the Ninth Cycle. This form of Elder Sorcery is
really just "one step removed" from the direct control of
amorphia. It was later also banned by the Lyorn Emperor
Cuofor II.
While Elder Sorcerers can use pre-existing amorphia, some
members of the e'Kieron line of the House of the Dragon
have the ability to, through an effort of will, create amorphia
themselves.
The Orb
Because the science of Elder Sorcery was so very dangerous,
not to mention extremely difficult and time consuming to
learn, it was obvious that a better magical discipline was
sorely needed.
The first Empress of the Dragarean Empire, Zerika the First,
was given a gift from the gods themselves: trellanstone.
Trellanstone (also called kyrancteur in the Serioli tongue,) is a
mineral containing necrophia, a substance capable of
controlling amorphia and responding to the will of a sentient
being.
With necrophia, it is possible to manipulate amorphia with
zero risk. In a sense, whereas Elder Sorcery was art of
manipulating amorphia, modern Sorcery is the art of
manipulating necrophia – which does the job of manipulating
amorphia for you. As a certain Hawklord once put it, “The Orb
is a device for imposing dimensionality on amorphia’s
formlessness, thus permitting sorcerous access to amorphia.”
With the gift of trellanstone, Zerika the First manufactured
the most powerful artifact known to existence: the Orb. The
Orb is a small, many-faceted sphere, about eight or nine
inches in diameter, which constantly floats and encircles the
head of the current Emperor. It links to the minds of every
citizen of the Empire, and allows each and every one of them
access to the necrophia of which it is constructed, and thus,
allows each and every citizen to utilize amorphia and perform
Sorcery safely. The Orb utilizes the amorphia present in the
Greater Sea of Chaos.
Thanks to the Orb, Sorcery became an integral part of
Dragaeran society. Spells and enchantments were open for all
to learn, and even peasants learned at least simple spells, like
learning how to stay dry in the rain.
The Orb also serves a great many other functions. The Orb
is a repository of the collected knowledge of every Emperor
or Empress who has ever worn it. This information is typically
used to help the reigning ruler make wise (or at least
informed) decisions. The Orb will also attempt to defend the
Emperor from physical or sorcerous attack, making him very
difficult to directly harm. The Orb can be used as a 'lie
detector'; suspects can be questioned under it, or testify
under it as witnesses. The Orb also has the power to locate
any Imperial citizen, although there are laws about when this
can be attempted. Among its more minor functions, the Orb
changes color according to the mood of the Emperor.
Recently, (by Dragaeran standards,) the Orb has become
even more powerful. During the Interregnum, (see History,
pg 54) the Orb was upgraded by the gods. It is now capable of
more subtle and powerful manipulation of amorphia, giving
sorcerers access to spells and abilities never before dreamed
of.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft is the Eastern science of magic. It is widely
employed by the humans of the Eastern Kingdoms, but it is
almost unheard of for a Dragaeran to practice the “heathen
art” of Witchcraft. Mainly out of cultural stigma and
ignorance, most Dragaerans consider Witchcraft to be some
combination of silly, weak, suitable only for heathens, or
altogether imaginary.
This belief is obviously inaccurate, as Easterners have been
practicing Witchcraft for many centuries, at least.
There are several key differences between Witchcraft and
Sorcery. Whereas Sorcery utilizes an external source of power
– amorphia – Witchcraft instead uses an internal source of
power: the energy of the practitioner himself. The Art of the
witch is simply to use the energy of the mind to manipulate
probabilities.
25
Another subtle difference is that Sorcery is always
performed by a single individual, whereas witches can join
together and pool their efforts to complete a spell.
A spell usually consists of maneuvering through reality
using a precise and artistic continuation of will, sometimes
supplemented by replacing certain concepts with symbols or
objects relevant to the spell. Often, witches may engage in
relaxed contemplation with objects, aromas, or symbols
(some of these include herbs, runic symbols, black and white
candles, incense, crystals, and often, if the spell targets an
individual, personal objects owned by the target). Many of
those who practice the Art use rituals and incantations
designed to guide the mind down the proper path to release
their energy in the proper way, especially when given an
unestablished stretch of time to manifest their spell.
This highlights another difference between Witchcraft and
Sorcery; whereas Sorcery can often be performed in the blink
of an eye, Witchcraft spells often take a great deal of time to
complete. This is due, in part, because the effect of a witch’s
spell is limited by the psychic power of the witch or witches
casting it. In contrast, the complexity of a sorcerer’s spell is
limited by the mental capacity of the sorcerer casting it — but
the spell’s power is virtually unlimited, being supplied by the
amorphia channeled through the Orb.
Familiars
It is common for witches to acquire a familiar – a companion
animal that aids the witch or warlock in the practice of
Witchcraft. A familiar forms a close psionic bond with their
witch, and is able to communicate with them telepathically.
This bond is nearly unbreakable; effects that would normally
block magic or psychic communication have no effect on the
link.
A familiar is vitally important for several reasons, including
helping the witch maintain focus, contributing energy to
spells, protecting the witch from outside threats (especially
when he is vulnerable during and after spellcasting,) and
warning the witch when his energy is dangerously low.
Familiars are first summoned by using a spell which calls on
the familiar's mother, who then bargains with the witch and,
if convinced, offers the witch her offspring. Once the bond
has been established between a witch and her familiar, the
two will be lifelong companions.
Some Eastern regions have superstitions about the kind of
animal that a witch choses as a familiar; some animals are
considered to be the mark of a good witch, while others are
considered to be the mark of an evil witch.
Familiars are almost always small creatures. Examples
include cats, dogs, lizards, birds, and jhereg,
Covens
A coven is a group of witches who perform spells together.
Some covens exist in order to grant local witches “safety in
numbers,” whereas other covens might exist because they
are made of witches who share a common purpose. For
example, there may be covens devoted to the worship of a
particular god or goddess.
Psychics
The magic of Psychics concerns itself with manipulations of
the mind. Technically, the magical science of Psychics is not
an isolated, distinct branch of magic; both Sorcery and
Witchcraft utilize the manipulation of psionic energies to
some degree, (especially Witchcraft). However, the practice
of specialized Psychics is sufficiently different from baseline
Sorcery or Witchcraft to warrant special mention.
The most common use of low-level Psychics is simple mind-
to-mind communication. This can be achieved by any race,
and by either a witch or sorcerer. Usually, one must know the
person whom one is trying to contact fairly well. One initiates
a psychic link by concentrating about the particular
individual; the individual then gets a strong feeling, as if he’s
suddenly remembering something he’s forgotten to do – this
is the cue that a link is attempting to be forged.
Both Dragaerans and Easterners are psychic to some
degree – that is, both races have the capability to manipulate
and be manipulated by psionic energy. (Psionic energy is that
which is created through concentrated control of
imagination.) As such, Psychics typically originates from an
internal source, much as Witchcraft does. It is for this reason
that many Dragaerans, (who prejudicially prefer Sorcery,) do
not consider Psychics as an art worth studying.
However, when a sorcerer combines the power of the Orb
with the manipulation of psionic energy, astonishing and
powerful magics are made possible. Powerful mind probes,
mind shields, illusions, object reading, and clairvoyance are
some examples of what an accomplished wielder of Psychics
can accomplish. Yet, due to many sorcerers’ stigma against
anything remotely involving Witchcraft, very few true Psychic
masters exist.
Psychics utilized in this way is sufficiently different from
Sorcery that most magical alarms calibrated to detect Sorcery
will not detect Psychic manipulations.
Necromancy
While many consider Necromancy the study of death, it is
actually better expressed as a study of the many levels of
existence. This encompasses not just life and death, but
alternate planes of reality, (this includes dreamwalking), as
well as reincarnation, and disposition of souls.
Necromancy often overlaps with Sorcery, and the
distinction between the two can sometimes be difficult to
discern. Like Sorcery, Necromancy can derive its power
through the control of amorphia using necrophia. However,
at times Necromancy can have more in common with
Witchcraft, or altogether different magical arts.
As it pertains to death, Necromancy is the art of soul
manipulation, of one kind or another. Since the Interregnum,
26
some necromantic spells have come into common sorcerous
usage, such as revivification and counterspells preventing one
from revivifying a body.
Necromantic Gates
Another important facet of Necromancy involves accessing
other worlds or other planes of existence. A portal created
through the use of Necromancy that passes from one plane
of existence to another is called a necromantic gate. Often, a
necromantic gate will pass through a separate plane to travel
quickly from one place in a single plane to another place on
the same plane. (This is distinct from teleportation.)
Undead
Undead are those who have died, been sent to the Paths of
the Dead, and for reasons known only to the Gods, been
allowed to return to the land of the living. (This is a different
thing entirely from reincarnation, where a soul starts a new
life and a new identity.)
While it is known that Sethra Lavode is a vampire, it is
conceivable that there are other forms of undead on
Dragaera.
Vampires are not vicious monsters; indeed, vampires eat
little, and only need a small amount of blood to continue to
exist.
Other Topics
Wizards
“Like they say, if you ask five wizards what the word means,
you’ll get six answers.”
A wizard is someone who has achieved sufficient skill in
multiple magical disciplines to combine them in a united and
effective form. The results of wizardry are unobtainable
through the exercise of any single magical discipline.
Since nearly all Dragaerans disdain Witchcraft, the
disciplines involved are usually Sorcery, Phychics, and
Necromancy. (There may also be other, more obscure and
more specific forms of magic involved as well.) Most
Dragaeran wizards are of the House of the Athyra, or the
House of the Dzur.
The hallmark of a wizard is his staff. Some wizards carry a
staff proudly at all times, while others transmute their staff
into a less conspicuous object when the situation allows.
Planar Travel
The notion of other planes of existence is a foreign one to all
most the most learned magical scholars. While there are
legends and rumors of other worlds where planar travel is
commonplace, Dragaera is not one of those worlds. Mythical
“planes of fire,” or “planes of darkness,” or “abyssal planes of
the damned,” simply aren’t part of the picture.
Certain individuals, such as the Necromancer, are known to
have lived in other planes of existence, but this is a feat which
remains unduplicated among mortals.
Great Weapons
The Great Weapons are Morganti weapons (see Equipment,
pg 37) that possess greater power than all others, and are
endowed with a defined sentience. Dragaeran legend tells of
seventeen of such artifacts, each with its own character,
abilities, skills, powers, and purpose; the Great Weapons blur
the distinction between animate and inanimate. It has been
claimed that the Great Weapons "have their own life, and the
wielder must to come to an agreement with them, and at
some point there will be a test of wills, and that if you possess
the weapon, it is a bridge between you and the powers
beyond the world".
Once the weapon has a wielder, (it is unclear if it chooses
one, or if the bond occurs as a result of an independent
phenomenon,) it cooperates with him or her faithfully, and
may act on their behalf if unconscious.
The Great Weapons have a dark history. The Serioli claim
that, in the distant past, some of their people "desired
divinity and crafted artifacts to find and then destroy those
who sit on the Thrones of Judgment," i.e., the gods. The
Serioli despise the gods, because it was through their
interference that the early Dragaeran Empire was directed to
overtake the territory of the Serioli. The master craftsman,
Cly!ng Fr'ngtha, created the Great Weapons to be used
against the Gods.
However, their plan was never fulfilled. In modern times,
the gods have turned the tables, and instead use the
weapons (through their mortal wielders) as tools to assist in
defense against the Jenoine (see Deities, pg 52).
Some traits that exist in all known Great Weapons are:
 The ability to choose whether to devour a soul or not.
 The ability to enhance one's magical prowess.
 The ability, to some degree, to deflect magical attacks.
 The ability to shield or temporarily harbor the wielder's
soul, to prevent its destruction.
 The ability and initiative to act independently in the
wielder's defense, even if the wielder is unconscious.
 The ability to heal its bearer, utilizing energy previously
absorbed.
The exact locations, or even the identities of all seventeen
Great Weapons is not known. Some Great Weapons lie
hidden away in secret places forgotten even by the Serioli;
others hide in plain sight, concealed within mundane
Morganti blades, awaiting the chance to awaken. In the event
that a Great Weapon has yet to be awakened or released,
crossing blades with another Great Weapon usually is
sufficient to do so.
Any Morganti weapon can be psychically felt when it is
drawn – they have a powerful and deadly aura about them.
27
But a naked Great Weapon can put terror into the souls of
anyone nearby with simply its presence.
Interestingly, since it is illegal to own a Morganti weapon, it
is also technically illegal to own a Great Weapon – although
this technicality is typically ignored by everyone.
Many Great Weapons also have special, unique abilities
(see below).
Iceflame
“Wherever you see Sethra Lavode, you’re likely to see
Iceflame as well. You see, Sethra is the Enchantress of Dzur
Mountain. And, the way I understand it, Iceflame embodies
the power of Dzur Mountain. And Sethra is Dzur Mountain.
Understand? …No, I suppose I don’t, either. But that’s how it
was explained to me, and I didn’t ask for clarification. All I
know is, if she points that thing at you, kiss yourself goodbye.”
– Vladimir Taltosh
According to Sethra Lavode, Iceflame is bound up with the
fate of the Empire. Exactly how, though, is unclear. It most
likely has to do with Sethra and Dzur Mountain’s role is
thwarting the various invasions of the Jenoine (see pg. 52)
Some theorize that the mountain is the source of power,
Sethra is the director of power, and Iceflame is the channel
between the two.
Blackwand
“It was a blade that could break kingdoms. Its metal was as
black as its pommel, and its heart was grey. It was small for a
longsword, and it seemed to absorb the light from the room.
The demons of a thousand years came and sat upon my
shoulder, crying, ‘Run, as you value your soul.’ ”
– Vladimir Taltosh
Sethra Lavode, while not the wielder of the blade, was
nonetheless in possession of it for an undisclosed length of
time. When she first encountered Morrolan e’Drien, she
gifted the weapon to him, and he became the formal bearer.
Blackwand has the unique ability to function both as a
wizard’s staff and a witch’s familiar. Her personality is
feminine, (and quite aggressive,) and she has been described
as “an infantry battalion disguised as a sword.” Her original
name, in the language of the Serioli, is Magical-wand-for-
creating-death-in-the-form-of-a-black-sword.
Pathfinder Vladimir refers to her, Lady Teldra. Her sheathe shares this
ability.
The Serioli name for the weapon is Remover-of-aspects-of-
deity, and legend has it that the blade is destined to kill the
goddess Verra. At the very least, Sethra Lavode claims that
the weapon is “bound up with the fate of the gods.”
“The poor fool had no idea whom he was challenging to a
duel. The look on his face when Aliera drew Pathfinder was Nightslayer
most amusing.”
– Morrolan e’Drien

The weapon Pathfinder has a masculine personality, and a

complicated history. It was somehow hidden around the
dawn of the Dragaeran Empire within another, regular,
Morganti blade, (and a rather weak one, at that.) Only
recently, it was discovered among the possessions of the
recently-deceased Dragonlord, Barrit, and released from its
hiding place. It soon found its way into the hands of Aliera
e'Kieron, (former Heir to the Dragon throne and sometimes-
Warlord,) who is the current wielder.
Pathfinder is said to share a bond with another Great
Weapon, Godslayer. The Serioli name for the weapon is
Artifact-in-sword-form-that-searches-for-the-true-path. As
such, the unique power of Pathfinder if the ability to locate
anyone or anything, regardless of which place of existence it
may reside on.
Godslayer
“This sword—it likes to kill the way a landlord likes to eat. It’s
a being that exists to create as much mayhem as it can. If
malice had consciousness, that’s how it would feel.”
– Telnan
Nightslayer was discovered recently, by accident, at an
archeological Serioli dig-site, where it had been causing an
amorphic anomaly. It was discovered by the young Dzurlord
known as Telnan who, after a battle of wills, became its
bearer. It is an especially violent and vicious blade, and longs
for the blood of innocents.
The blade’s Serioli name is Loci-for-different-levels-of-
energy-from-various-planes-of-existence, but, Telnan prefers
“Nightslayer.” As Telnan has been spending most of his time
training in the dungeons of Dzur Mountain, word has not yet
circulated about whatever unique powers Nightslayer might
possess.

“I admit that I am having difficulty unraveling the mysteries of

Goodthunder
Godslayer – excuse me, of Lady Teldra. Vlad told me that she
changes form to suit his needs, which, to my knowledge, no
other Great Weapon is capable of. She also seems to have an
enhanced ability to defend her bearer against magical
attacks. Given the abilities of Spellbreaker, I suppose I should
not be surprised…”
– Sethra Lavode

It is said that Godslayer was deliberately dismantled by the “I swear, that’s what he called the thing. ‘Goodthunder.’ Can
gods in the distant past, (or perhaps the future,) and the you believe it? I mean, by Verra’s tits, what kind of name is
component parts dispersed, because of the unique ability of that for a Great Weapon?! But, the fellow was a Hawklord
the weapon to pierce through the protective magics of the specialist, so, I’m inclined to believe him…”
gods. – Vladimir Taltosh
However, Godslayer was re-formed in the hand of an
easterner named Vladimir Taltos during a battle between the Not much is known about Goodthunder, aside that it is a war-
gods and the Jenoine. The component parts were: an axe that is apparently embarrassed by its name…
exceptionally powerful, long Morganti dagger with a blood
groove; the soul of an Issola named Lady Teldra; and an
artifact known as Spellbreaker.
Spellbreaker had been a length of gold chain which had the
ability to defend against magical attacks, and to change its
length and thickness depending on the situation. It seems
these abilities are now also present in Godslayer – or, as
28
Spells of Dragaera individual. Law enforcement often use this spell so that they
can keep track of suspects and persons of interest.

Prevent Revivification Teleport Block

Conjuration Abjuration
Level: Cleric 5, Sor/Wiz 5 Level: Cleric 7, Paladin 4, Sor/Wiz 7
Components: V, S Components: V, S
Casting Time: 3 rounds Casting Time: 2 rounds
Range: Touch Range: 10ft per 2 caster levels
Target: One living sentient being Effect: Cone, radius & height 10ft per 2 caster levels
Duration: Permanent Duration: 1 minute per caster level
Saving Throw: None Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes Spell Resistance: No

This spell effectively prevents spells like resurrection and You create a region that is temporarily protected against
revivification from being able to return a soul to a body. In interplanar intrusion. This includes spells and abilities that
effect, the individual will remain dead, permanently. use other planes, including dimension door, teleport, plane
shift, and travel through other planes.
Summoning and calling spells do not function within a
Psychic Communication teleport block, but summoned and called creatures outside
Conjuration can be sent inside it.
Level: Any spellcaster, invocation-user, psion, or individual This spell can be made permanent with the permanency
with the “Sorcerously Gifted” feat (pg 23) who has access to spell for 1,750 XP.
the Orb.
Components: None
Casting Time: 1 round
Teleport Trace
Range: Within Dragaeran Empire Abjuration
Target: One living sentient being Level: Cleric 8, Sor/Wiz 8
Duration: Concentration Components: V, S
Saving Throw: None Casting Time: 2 rounds
Spell Resistance: No Range: 10ft per 2 caster levels
Effect: Cone, radius & height 10ft per 2 caster levels
Through the power of the Orb, any individual can Duration: Instantaneous
communicate telepathically with any other individual, so long Saving Throw: None
as there is a certain degree of familiarity between the two Spell Resistance: Yes
individuals. In order to initiate the psychic link, one needs to
have a firm feel of the individual trying to be reached. A When you cast this spell, you can trace where a recent
casual acquaintance could not be reached in this way, but (within the last 15 hours) teleportation-type spell sent its
someone you’ve had a few extended conversations with travelers to, as long as the original teleport occurred with this
might be. (DM discretion should be used in order to ascertain spell’s area of effect. If the individual who cast the
whom a player may or may not contact in this manner.) teleportation spell had Spell Resistance, that resistance value
is used against this spell.
Psychic Impression
Abjuration
Level: Cleric 4, Druid 4, Paladin 2, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: Touch
Target: One living sentient being
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

When you take a psychic impression of an individual, you will

forever be able to identify an individual, and trace him if you
are within a distance of half a mile. You can use the same
spell to duplicate and pass on the impression to another
29
Life in
A Great Cycle is equivalent to seventeen Cycles. The Empire
is currently in the infancy of the 2nd Great Cycle.
When noting the date, there are two options one may
follow. The shorthand method is given by the following
example:
In the 224th Year

Dragaera
Of the Glorious Reign
Of the Empress Zerika the Fourth

An example of the full method:

On this 3rd day of the Month of the Athyra
Of the Year of the Vallista
Most Dragaerans labor as peasants, farmers, and simple Of the Turn of the Jhereg
craftsfolk, living in countless tiny hamlets and villages – these Of the Phase of the Dragon
are the Teckla. Over this vast sea of simple folk rule the Of the Reign of the Phoenix
wealthy and the privileged, the nobility, who belong to the In the Cycle of the Phoenix
other sixteen Dragaeran Houses. In some ways, these two In the Great Cycle of the Dragon
groups are remarkably similar, but in others, they couldn’t be
further apart. At the time of this writing, the Empire is well over 200,000
years old.

Time and the Calendar Eastern Calendar

The calendar of the Dragaeran Empire revolves around the
most significant of all numbers: seventeen. In the Eastern Kingdoms, a week lasts 7 days, and a month is
typically about 30 days in length. A decade signifies 10 years,
and a century is 100 years in length.
Dragaeran Calendar
Any Imperial citizen may access the Orb at any time in order
to tell the exact time of day. As such, exact scheduling is
commonplace in the Empire.
An hour consists of 60 minutes, and a day consists of 30
hours. This means that "noon" is at 15 o'clock. The extra time
in each day means that Dragaerans eat an average of four
meals a day, rather than three. It is common for one to tell
time in the following manner, “the 12th hour of the morning,”
or, “the 4th hour past noon.”
A week in the Empire is only five days long, (the days are
Firstday, Homeday, Skyday, Farmday and Marketday – also
called Endweek,) and a month lasts for seventeen days. There
are seventeen months in the year, meaning each year is 289
(or 172) days long. The months are named for the seventeen
Dragaeran Houses of the Cycle.
Dragaerans do not note "decades" - a rough equivalent is a
“Turn,” which is seventeen Dragaeran years. Seventeen Turns
make up a “Phase,” roughly akin to a century, though this is
of course 289 (or 172) Dragaeran years.
A Phase is the minimum length of time that a single house
can rule The Empire, according to the Cycle, while seventeen
Phases — 4,913 (or 173) years — is the maximum.
Obviously, a Cycle is the length of time it takes for all
seventeen Houses to have a turn at the throne. (In other
words, one Cycle begins with the Reign of the Phoenix, and
the same Cycle ends when the Phoenix comes all the way
back around again.) Since there is no fixed length of time for
Government
The governmental structure of the Empire revolves around
a House to be in power, the length of a Cycle is variable,
the most unquestionable aspect of their entire society: the
(anywhere from 4,913 to 83,521 years). The Empire is
Cycle.
currently in the beginning of the 18th Cycle.
30

The Cycle
It is said that the Cycle is the most fundamental and
unquestionable law of the Dragaeran Empire. It dictates
which House will lead the Empire, the order in which the
Houses take turns ruling, and ensures the continued welfare
of the Empire by making sure each House has the opportunity
to lend its particular strengths to the Empire as a whole.
The Cycle turns in a counterclockwise direction. In this way,
it is known that a Dragon reign will always follow a Phoenix
reign, and a Lyorn will always follow a Dragon, etc. As is
stated below, the specific order of the Houses on the Cycle is
not without reason:
Rationale of the Cycle
Phoenix
The House of the Phoenix signifies both decay and rebirth.
As their Reigns progress they become decadent and absorbed
in their own interests.
In time, the neglect of a decadent Phoenix Emperor
invariably leaves the Empire in a state where only war will
rectify the ills. It is then that a Dragon Emperor will assume
the throne and set the Empire back in order once more—
usually by leading the armies of the Empire into battle.
Dragon
Under normal circumstances, a Dragon will assume the
throne by overthrowing the Reign of a Phoenix Emperor who
has grown decadent and neglected the affairs of the Empire
to a dangerous degree. The establishment of a Dragon Reign
therefore typically ends years of decay and mismanagement,
allowing the fighting and organizational skills of the Dragon to
benefit the Empire.
Eventually, however, the Dragon becomes over-eager to
conquer, and a return to a more traditional, less
revolutionary ruler is needed. This is when the Lyorn will take
the Orb.
Lyorn
Lyorn Emperors assume the throne at the end of the Dragon
Reign. When a Dragon's ambition and arrogance grows too
great, a Lyorn Emperor is called for to return the Empire to
stability and establish a sense of tradition.
A Lyorn Emperor tends to be a staunch conservative,
however, and when faced with a new or unusual problem, a
Tiassa's innovation and resourcefulness is needed to assume
the throne and guide the Empire.
Tiassa
The Tiassa takes the Orb from the House of Lyorn when the
Lyorn is faced with a problem that conservative tradition
cannot counter. It is here that the resourcefulness of the
Tiassa pays off for himself, and for the Empire.
In time, however, a Tiassa Emperor's exuberance will run
away with him, and his passion will betray him. It is then that
a Hawk Emperor is needed to offer a more objective and
reasoned approach to the rule of the Empire.
Hawk
31
When a Tiassa Emperor has committed an impassioned act
that costs him politically — or else costs him his life — a
Hawk will take the Orb and attempt to restore reason and
order to the Empire.
Eventually, however, the Hawk's detached nature will
betray him and make him unable to counter a direct threat.
This is when a Dzur is needed to stop thinking about the
problem and simply act.
Dzur
A Dzur will take the Orb when immediate and decisive action
is required, which is sometimes beyond the capabilities of a
Hawk Emperor.
A Dzur's characteristic temper, however, will eventually
spell his doom. Then it is time for the tact and grace of an
Issola.
Issola
When a Dzur Emperor grows too rash and commits an act
that costs him face, or even his life, it is time for the grace of
an Issola. An Issola Emperor will attempt to soothe the
Court and the Empire after the rash actions of his Dzur
predecessor, and lead the Empire with tact and diplomacy.
Eventually, however, a problem or situation will arise that
requires more than tact — it will require the ruthless tenacity
of a Tsalmoth.
Tsalmoth
An Issola Emperor will use tact and diplomacy to solve
problems that arise during their reign. This can only go so far,
however, and eventually a problem comes up that must
simply be attacked head-on. This is when the Tsalmoth take
the Orb and the rule of the Empire.
This same tenacity can be the undoing of a Tsalmoth
emperor, however. Once a Tsalmoth gets so involved in a
project or undertaking that he becomes obsessed, he may
lose face (or his life) in a way that signals the Cycle has
changed, and it is time for a Vallista reign.
Vallista
A Vallista Emperor takes over from Tsalmoth, presumably
once a Tsalmoth emperor has gotten so ahold of an idea that
it leads to his destruction. A Vallista then tears down the
fabric of the former ruler's obsession, and builds something
new and beautiful.
Invariably, however, a Vallista ruler engages in great
building projects. These can be very expensive, and as a
result, Vallista Emperors inevitably attempt to raise tax
revenue to pay for these projects. This results in a much
stricter application of the laws applying to all taxed
activities— which greatly increases the profits of the Jhereg
who make their living circumventing these laws. A Vallista
Reign is also implied to be somewhat socially-repressive,
meaning that common vices are driven underground, to the
Jhereg's further profit. All told, this leads to the Reign of the
Jhereg.
Jhereg
The Jhereg assume the throne after the rule of a Vallista
Emperor, who invariably enforce the tax laws of the Empire
to such an extent that the populace becomes weary of it, and
supports the Jhereg (whom they would normally shun) in
their bid for the throne, as they are seen as the lesser of two
evils.
The reign of a Jhereg emperor is, by definition, corruption
incarnate. When the populace finally wearies of this situation,
(which is made more bearable by the cheap availability of all
sorts of sinful pleasures), the House of Iorich steps in to
assume the throne, and restore the rule of law.
Iorich
Iorich assumes the throne after the reign of the corrupt
Jhereg. It is up to the house of Iorich to restore the rule of
law. But the Iorich's obsessive tenacity eventually plays out,
and the application of law devolves into a massive witch-
hunt. As the Iorich are essentially incorruptible, they are
difficult to dislodge from power when this happens.
Only a Chreotha has the ability to trap an Iorich Emperor
into having no choice but to abandon power and allow the
Cycle to turn.
Chreotha
It falls to the crafty Chreotha to trap an overzealous Iorich
Emperor into abandoning power, and allowing the Cycle to
change. Given their insecure nature, however, a Chreotha
Emperor is not usually a strong or effective leader, and after a
time the Chreotha Emperor becomes easy prey to the
machinations of a Yendi who schemes to take the throne for
himself and his House.
Yendi
A devious Yendi will typically put into motion a plot to take
the Orb from a Chreotha Emperor. Given the shyness and
indecisiveness of a Chreotha, they are typically easy prey to
the clever Yendi.
It is given to the predatory nature of the Orca to eventually
bring enough power and guile to bear on a Yendi Emperor to
force a change in the Cycle.
Orca
The Orca's predatory instincts serve them well when it comes
time to dislodge an exceptionally devious and crafty Yendi
Emperor. In his turn, the Orca Emperor will turn his attention
to gaining wealth and power, preying on the weak and the
poor of the Empire. Their tendency to increase the power and
prestige of the Imperial Navy will often cause an Orca
Emperor to employ the use of press gangs.
All of this will eventually enrage the peasantry, which, once
per cycle, will rise up in a successful revolt and found a Teckla
Republic.
Teckla
Like the other sixteen houses, the Teckla do take their turn at
ruling, typically after a popular revolution that unseats an
Orca emperor. This typically results in the reformation of the
Empire into a Republic. It is unclear what happens to the Orb
during a Teckla reign, though it is presumably held by the
"president" (or whatever the chief executive is called) of the
Republic.
Eventually, however, the Cycle must change, and the Teckla
Republic will fail, to be replaced by the reformation of the
Empire under a Jhegaala Emperor.
Jhegaala
32
Jhegaala stand for change and transformation. It is with this
in mind that when their turn to rule comes in the Cycle, they
are tasked with transforming the Teckla Republic that
precedes them back into an Empire once more.
By the end of a Jhegaala reign, the last traces of the
Republic are gone, and it is time for the logical and learned
Athyra to take the Orb.
Athyra
The Athyra take their turn at ruling after the Reign of a
Jhegaala. Since the task of putting the Empire back together
(after the fall of the earlier Teckla Republic) is complete, an
Athyra will look to expand the knowledge and power of the
Empire.
It is after an Athyra drifts too far into the arcane to pay
attention to the affairs of the Empire that it becomes time for
a Phoenix to assume the throne, and take the Orb once more,
thus ending one Cycle and beginning another.
The exact length of time each House spends on the throne is
not predetermined. All that exist are limits – a House must
rule for at least 289 years, but for no more than 4,913 years.
Short of this limit being reached, there is no one event that
can force the Cycle to change.
It is up the official Heir of the next House in line, (referred
to as the House’s Prince or Princess,) to determine whether
or not the Cycle has turned; there is no definite signal. For
example, if a Phoenix Emperor has allowed the state of the
Empire to degrade, the Dragon Heir may conclude that the
Emperor has become a decadent Phoenix, and launch a coup
to take the Orb from the Emperor. In such a situation, the
Dragon Heir would be considered a rebel up until the point
where he actually took possession of the Orb. If he failed, it
would be taken as a sign that the Cycle had not yet turned. If
he succeeded, then the Orb would accept him, and it would
automatically become an official Dragon Reign. (It is believed
that the Orb always knows the true position of the Cycle.)
A House's position on the cycle also affects how well fate
favors each house. The higher the position of a House on the
Cycle, the more it is favored; the lower its position, the
worse. A House whose position is rising in the Cycle, such as
the Dragon, is gaining favor, while the Athyra, (whose Reign
has passed "recently,") will continue to lose favor until the
next Vallista Reign, when it will start to rise again.
The Physical Cycle
The Cycle is not merely a mental construct – it is an actual,
physical object located near the Halls of Judgment in the
Paths of the Dead (see Deities, pg 46). It is a massive stone
wheel, mounted on the side of a great wall. According to
Dragaerans who are authorities on the subject, this artifact is
not simply a manifestation or symbol of the Cycle – this
massive stone wheel actually is the Cycle in every important
respect.
It is said that if someone were able to physically turn the
stone wheel, then the Cycle itself would, in fact, change.
Given the mass of the Cycle, this does not seem likely.

Citizenship
Every Dragaeran of the Empire is a member of one of the
seventeen Houses, and is considered a citizen of the Empire.
The only possible non-citizens to be found in Dragaera would
be Serioli, non-native Easterners, or immigrants from the
independent island nations. If any of these individuals wished
to gain citizenship to the Empire, the most common course of
action would be to join the House of the Teckla, (the House of
peasants,) but pledging oneself to a landowner. Less
commonly, one could outright purchase citizenship into the
House of the Jhereg. (One could also gain entry into the
House of the Dzur by defeating 17 Dzur Heroes in armed
combat, but, this method is little-known and, for obvious
reasons, impractical.)
Land & Ownership
Geographically, the Dragaeran Empire dominates the major
continent of the known world. It is bordered on the east by
the Eastern Mountains, (beyond which lie the Eastern
Kingdoms,) and on the south and west by the Ocean Sea. To
the north lies an extension of the ocean called Kieron’s Sea.
The interior of the vast Empire consists of a wide variety of
landscapes, from the grasslands of the Pushta, to the jungles
of Southmoor, as well as the mountainous regions of
Kanefthali and the arid Suntra desert.
Titles
The Empire itself is one cohesive unit. However, it is divided
into distinct political regions. The largest division is the
Duchy, of which there are dozens. Duchies are divided into
Counties, which are further divided into Baronies, and then
Baronetcies. Many nobles are in possession of titles, i.e. “the
Countess of Whitecrest,” signifying an ownership of a
particular territory.
Duchy – Duke/Duchess
County – Count/Countess
Barony – Baron/Baroness
Baronetcy – Baronet, Baronetess
Titles may be granted either by a House, or in special
circumstances, the Empire itself. (Imperial titles are seen as
more prestigious than House titles.) Also, due to obvious
practical limitations, not every title-holder has an actual,
physical place to go along with his or her title. The titles of
Orca, for example, are never tied to real land holdings.
The title Viscount/Viscountess denotes nobility, but is a
lower title, with no land holdings.
Rural Life
Despite the complexity and diversity of the Dragaeran
Houses, one finds that the most abundant and widespread
portion of its populace is also the most ordinary and
33
unremarkable. The House of the Teckla – the peasantry –
makes up roughly 90% of the population of the Empire, and it
is through their laborious efforts that the enormous machine
of the Empire is able to run smoothly.
Vast swaths of territory are dedicated to farmland, food
production, livestock cultivation, timber manufacture,
mining, and all of the other strenuous tasks performed by
Teckla of one stripe or another. These Teckla are invariably
overseen by the nobility – Lords who own the land and the
companies that the Teckla are beholden to.
Dukes, Counts, and Barons are, to some extent,
autonomous rulers of their own slices of Dragaera.
Technically speaking, there are a great many laws (as you
might expect there to be,) regarding what a particular Lord
can or cannot do within his or her territory. For example, fees
and tariffs must fall within Imperial guidelines, and trade
must be uninterrupted.
But in practice, local Lords can get away with a great deal,
as long as it does not interfere with the Empire to such an
extent that it draws the attention of the Imperial authorities.
Consequently, if one were to travel across Dragaera, one
would witness a wide range of living conditions and local
laws. Some Lords are reasonable… whereas others can be
quite harsh.
Rebellions
A fact of life in the Empire is that there will be rebellions.
Although very few rebellions ever gain any measure of
victory, it is nonetheless a disturbingly common occurrence
to hear of some Duke or Count who’s mustered his own army
in order to try and impede the Empire in some way; some
declare independence, while others simply try to gain
leverage to increase tariffs or gain exceptions to rules and
laws.
With very few exceptions, these rebellions inevitably fail,
and become a footnote in historical textbooks. One wonders
why anyone would bother at all…
City Life
The cities are the dominions of the nobility; they are the
centers of government, education, research, the arts, and
commerce. Cities still have a large population of “urban
Teckla,” who usually congregate in a particular section of the
given city, but the concentration of nobles is much greater in
metropolitan environments than it is “in the duchies.”
Military & Police
The Imperial Army, (along with the Navy,) has the job of
securing the Empire against the threats of outside invasion
and rebellion. The Empire has a long history of war with the
bordering Eastern Kingdoms, (and in such times it falls to the
Army to defend Dragaera,) but even so, war is not a constant
threat.
 Much more common is the threat of rebellion. The Empire
always maintains some standing army to deal with these
nuisances and to put down the rebellion. The Army is led by
the Warlord, (almost always a Dragon,) and consists of two
main varieties of battalions. Elite battalions are mostly
comprised of Dragonlords, with Dzurlords making up most of
the remainder; conscripted battalions are made of Teckla
who have been pressed into service.
The Navy is maintained by the House of the Orca, and
mainly sees action when war is declared between Dragaera
and any of the independent island nations.
Separate from the military are the Imperial Guards, whom
largely serve as a police force. They patrol the streets of
cities, keep the piece, investigate crimes, and arrest criminals.
The Imperial Guard is typically renamed to fit whichever
House is currently on the throne; for example, during a
Phoenix Reign (like now,) they are referred to as the “Phoenix
Guard.”
Note, however, that whatever their current name might be,
their ranks are still comprised of mostly Dragonlords.
Members of the Guard typically dress in their own house
colors, and wear a half-cloak of the same color as the ruling
House. (As such, members of the Phoenix Guard can be
distinguished by their bright, golden half-cloaks.)
The Guard is seen as a formidable force, and it is common
knowledge that the Guards are not to be trifled with –
anyone who does will come to regret it.
Postal System
The Empire maintains an efficient postal system. Postal
stations are dotted about the countryside, and noblemen on
urgent missions often make use of these stations to exchange
tired horses for fresh ones.
Class & Station
The foundation of Dragaeran society – the Cycle, which
depends upon the Houses – has ultimately led to a society
heavily divided by social class.
34
The Peasantry
The House of the Teckla makes up the vast majority of the
population of Dragaera. Along with immigrant Easterners,
they perform the unpleasant and often menial duties that
keep the Empire running.
Low Nobility
The lesser nobility of Dragaera, (most notably, members of
the Houses of Chreotha, Jhegaala, Orca, and Jhereg) are the
closest thing that the Empire has to a "middle-class". These
individuals are typically employed as clerks, tailors,
merchants, or minor craftsmen.
Mid-Nobility
The middle nobility (notably the Houses of Hawk, Yendi,
Tsalmoth, Iorich, Vallista and Issola) are more often employed
as skilled laborers in a service industry. Typical occupations
include magician or magical educator, diplomatist or minstrel,
advocate or justicer, architect or artisan, or security services.
High Nobility
The high nobility of the Empire consists of the Houses of the
Dragon, Phoenix, Dzur, Lyorn, Tiassa, and Athyra. Many of
these individuals are aristocrats, politicians, military leaders,
sorcerers, and professors.
Families
Much like Easterners, Dragaerans tend to mate for life, and
devote a great deal of time and effort to the care of their
families.
Due to the relatively small sizes of the noble Houses, a
noble will usually check to make sure that a potential mate
isn’t too closely related to himself (or herself) before pursuing
the matter. Nonetheless, Dragaerans tend to fall in love very
quickly, compared to Easterners.
Children reach the age of maturity around their 100th
birthday, and even after they have set out on their own,
familial ties remain very strong among Dragaerans. For
example, if a particular maiden were to have her honor
sullied in some way, it would not be unreasonable for the
entire extended family to get involved in rectifying the affair.
Conversely, if an individual were to do something to dishonor
his or her House, it would not be uncommon for his entire
family to ostracize him.
Courtships and marriages take place entirely within one’s
own House. To marry between Houses is forbidden, and the
offspring of such unions (known as crossbreeds or half-
breeds) face a very difficult life, as there is a great social
stigma surrounding the notion of inter-House breeding. For
most of the history of the Empire, crossbreeds were unable
to be a part of any House except for the Teckla or the Jhereg.
It should be noted, however, that since the Interregnum (see
History, pg 55), this stigma has lessened somewhat, and the
situation is improving for crossbreeds.
Education
Universities are usually present in the larger cities of the
Empire. All members of the nobility receive some form of
education, depending on their House’s particular tastes. For
example, Athyra obviously specialize in magical theory,
whereas Dragons mainly study military history and theory.
(Lyorns, of course, study everything.)
Teckla receive no education beyond what their family can
teach them at home, and any job training or apprenticeships
that are necessary for their lot in life. Teckla tend to be
illiterate.
Customs
In many cases, personal feuds are settled with formal duels,
typically to the death. Through some periods of Dragaeran
history, these duels have been exceptionally common,
although they’ve partially fallen out of favor in recent years.
Whereas Easterners pound on one another’s doors with a
closed fist to announce their presence, this is unheard of for
Dragaerans. With the prevalence of Sorcery, touching
someone’s door unannounced is a good way to be harmed by
protective wards. Instead, it is the custom of Dragaerans to
announce themselves by clapping outside of one’s door. (In
situations where a clap would not be heard, such as at the
door of a mansion, there will be a rope to pull on, called a
clapper, which will activate a chime or wooden knocker inside
the house.)
Many customs for common behavior vary from House to
House, so it is typically a good idea to know exactly whom
one is dealing with before planning detailed steps of
etiquette.
Lyorn and Issola are typically considered the authorities on
etiquette.
Adventurers
It takes a special kind of Dragaeran or Easterner to take up an
adventure. Most members of the noble Houses do their duty
while staying prim and proper; most Teckla and Easterners
rarely find themselves with enough freedom to gallivant
about. But, in a place the size of Dragaera, if you look hard
enough, you can find any kind of individual you can imagine.
It’s not unheard of for young Tiassa or Tsalmoth to have an
adventurous spirit in their youth, and to take off on quests
that would be frowned upon by their superiors. Various
eclectic Hawklords have interests that align with the
adventurer’s skillset. Studious Lyorn may become desecrators
(i.e. archaeologists) who search for long-lost artifacts, and
any Athyra worth his weight in jhereg droppings would set
out on a quest for the right magical tome or device.
Dragonlords, while prone to action, typically disdain a
disorderly life of casual adventure, preferring the structure of
the military, and Iorich (while passionate about justice,)
aren’t usually prone to casual crusades. However, these
things do happen, from time to time.
In contrast, the Dzur live to adventure.
35
Coin & Commerce
The Empress has a very important job – running the Empire.
Some might think that in order to do her job, her most
important task is to keep the Houses in check; some think it is
to keep the East from invading, while putting down
rebellions. But, in truth, the most crucial aspect of
maintaining the Empire is much more mundane: keep the
wheels of commerce greased and turning.
Agriculture & Industry
Dragaera has a large population. Consequently, Dragaera has
an immense volume of farmland. Various grains, fruits,
vegetables, fibers, and types of timber are constantly being
transported to and fro across the face of the Empire. Fish
from the sea make the journey inland on a daily basis. This
intricate dance is the lifeblood of the Empire.
If a Duke in the north raises taxes a percentage too high,
cities in the south might starve. If a flood disrupts the
shipments of tin from the Korlaph, prices skyrocket hundreds
of miles away. For these reasons (and many more,) the
Imperial Palace keeps a very close watch on industries of all
varieties, to make sure all of the cogs all run in synch.
Agriculture, mining, and related activities are usually
tended to by Teckla laborers with nobleman overseers of
some sort. Most Teckla have such weak Sorcery skills that the
hard labor is performed entirely by hand.
It should be noted that since the Empire is a united entity,
there is no “trade” to speak of within the Empire. These is a
small amount of trade with the independent island nations,
and rarely, with the bordering Eastern Kingdoms.
Travel
Although many folk are tied to the land and seldom travel far
from home, a surprising number of others crisscross the
continent for months or years at a time for business and
personal reasons. The paramount travelers are merchants,
peddlers, goods convoys, the postal system, and bandits.
Travel by barge on an inland waterway is easiest and
cheapest—either drifting downstream, steered by oar and
pole, or working upstream, sometimes aided by beasts
towing from shore. Sea travel is faster and less costly in terms
of manpower when hauling bulk goods—hence the string of
seaport cities up and down the coasts of Dragaera.
Most travel across Dragaera is by foot, horse, or other
beast of burden. The Empire maintains a respectable road
system, but even in the best of times, bandits are always a
concern in the vast stretches of territory between cities. The
Imperial Guard patrol the roads as best they can in an effort
to protect travelers and commercial interests.
The standard unit of length when traveling is the league.
Throughout history, this unit has fluctuated in meaning from
region to region, but the official measurement puts it at
approximately 3 miles in length.
 Due to the prevalence of Sorcery, however, the preferred
method of travel is to simply teleport from place to place.
This is a recent development; before the Interregnum (see
History, pg 55) the Orb was not sophisticated enough to allow
for commonplace teleportation. Over the past few centuries,
however, this method of conveyance has rapidly grown in
popularity. It is limited by the fact that one can only teleport
to an area one is intimately familiar with, but there are
professional teleporting agencies who make it their business
to have sorcerers on staff who are familiar with a great many
locations across Dragaera.
Still, teleportation is limited to the conveyance of
individuals, or at most, small groups. Large shipments of
goods still rely on the tried-and-true methods of transport.
Coinage
The standard unit of money in Dragaera is the Imperial Gold
Piece (or simply the "Imperial"). This is a gold coin consisting
of one Imperial Ounce of gold; or one seventeenth of an
Imperial Pound. The Imperial is typically stamped with the
face of the current Emperor or Empress. A working
commoner in the capital city Adrilankha makes (on rough
estimate,) from five to seventeen Imperials per month. Larger
coin denominations exist, the most common of which being
the Five-Imperial gold piece.
The "Orb" is a silver coin of smaller denomination, at the
rate of seventeen Orbs to the Imperial. Typically, an orb will
bear a Serioli symbol of the number of the cycle in which it
was struck, with a small mark to indicate the House that was
in power at the time. The obverse side will typically show the
face of the Lord in whose demesne the coin was struck.
(Despite the implication of the name, an Orb is flat, like a
normal coin.)
The "copper" is a copper coin, the smallest coin
denomination in the Empire. There are seventeen coppers to
the Orb.
There also exists a form of paper-note currency, however it
is mainly used in large bank transactions where the transport
of many tons of coins would be impractical.
Recreation & Entertainment
In the Empire, entertainment most often consists of a
number of major pastimes: gambling, drinking, whoring,
theatre, and minstrel entertainment.
Brothels are common in the major cities such as
Adrilankha, but less so in rural areas. This activity is mostly a
legal one — or, at least, any such laws are almost never more
than loosely enforced.
Gambling is also legal so long as all winnings, either by the
gaming house operator or by the gamblers, are reported to
the Imperial Tax Collectors. Popular games include Shereba,
S'yang stones, Orbs, Three-copper mud, and Seven-Clawed-
Jhereg. (One should avoid Nine-copper, which is a rigged
game.)
36
Intoxicating beverages, in modern times anyway, generally
consist of various forms of wine. The drink known by
Easterners as brandy (also called wine in the Empire) is also
common. Many regions of the Empire are renowned for the
quality of their wines, such as Khavv'n and Aerethia. Brandy
drinks are mostly from the Eastern Kingdoms, especially
Fenario. The Ailor region of Fenario is renowned for its
dessert wines. Dessert wines made by the Serioli are also
sometimes available. Another spirit, called Oishka, is
sometimes consumed; this is presumably a grain-based
distilled liquor.
Other forms of chemical pleasure come in many legal
forms, including dreamgrass, murchin, opium and other
forms of poppy extract, Laughwort, Logfungus, and Koelsh
Leaf.
(Note that all of the above activities, at least within large
cities, are probably operated by the House of the Jhereg.)
Physical sports are also enjoyed, especially by Teckla (who
can afford little else) and Dragonlords, who like to keep in
shape. Sandball and Squareball are two such games.
For musical entertainment, the Minstrel’s Guild organizes
and oversees individual performers and small groups who
wander the Empire, performing in taverns of all sizes and
types. In the cities, large ensemble and orchestral music are
considered a highly cultured form of entertainment.
Theater is also a common pastime, as is reading. There is a
healthy market for recreational reading materials in the
major cities.
Magic in Society
With their link to the Orb, every citizen of the Dragaeran
Empire has the (theoretical) ability to perform Sorcery. In
order to utilize this power with any proficiency, however, a
fair amount of training is necessary. For this reason, most
individuals only know a small amount of magic, focusing
mostly on practical applications. Teckla typically have no skills
whatsoever in the magical arts, or else only know the
simplest of spells. Still, even peasants have a fair grasp of
what is capable with magic, and the educated nobility know a
great deal of basic magical theory, even if they lack the
training or dedication to actually perform the spells
themselves.
In the East, where covens of withes have a near-monopoly
on complex magic, common peasants are less educated
about the intricacies of magic. But low-level practitioners are
common enough that most towns have a “Witchcraft supply”
store.
Magic Items
Enchanted items are relatively rare and expensive, even
within the Empire. Average citizens typically won’t be in
possession of any permanently enchanted items, beyond the
occasional weatherproofed-shoes or self-cleaning-frying-pan.
Real magic items – enchanted weapons, wands, staves,
cloaks, etc. – are reserved for the wealthy nobility.

Religion
Dragaerans think of the gods as individuals with great skill
and power; Easterners worship them and behold them in
awe.
Easterners build temples and shrines to the Lords of
Judgment, and revere them as all-powerful supernatural
entities. Among Easterners, there are clerics who devote
themselves to the service of one deity or another, praying to
them for wisdom and guidance.
The relationship between the gods and Dragaerans,
however, is more obtuse. To the Dragaerans, the gods are not
supernatural or mysterious – they are definite, real entities
who dwell in the Halls of Judgment and oversee the world.
What could be simpler? For the most part, thought of the
gods don’t intrude upon the daily lives of most Dragaerans.
(See Deities, pg 46).
Warfare
The nature of warfare in Dragaera has radically changed
throughout the history of the Empire. The source of this
constant transformation: magic.
There is a constant arms race in the field of battlefield
magic. When a new form of offense is developed, a
countering form of defense must be developed as well. As a
consequence, modern battlefield mages rarely get to actually
harm the opposing army – they constantly probe against the
defenses of their enemy, who are constantly doing the exact
same thing in return. These defenses mean that entire
battalions can’t be wiped from the field by using magic.
So, what does that leave to fight with? Good old fashion
soldiers. The Empire maintains a standing army to deal with
any rebellious lords who may pop up, or any sudden invasion
of Easterners or Islanders. The majority of the Empire’s
fighting force are conscripted Teckla, with Dragonlords and
Dzurlords making up most of the elite battalions.
Since harmful magical energy generally tends to be
attracted to metals, the use of metal armor has fallen out of
favor in the armed forces.
Craft & Engineering
There’s an old Dragaeran adage that states that anything
technology can do, magic can do better. But since few
individuals have the training to perform any magic they
please, there’s still plenty of room in the Empire for reliable
tools and items.
Equipment
37
Mundane Items
Flashstone
A flashstone is a handheld, ordinary stone which has been
modified through the use of sorcery to discharge a small
explosion, or flash, at an enemy during battle.
Flashstones are simple to discharge, requiring only the will
of the user to activate. A flashstone is normally fatal at close
range, say 10–12 feet. Beyond this range, the effect is limited
to a bright light that may confuse or injure (but not kill) its
intended victim.
A typical flashstone will carry a single "charge", meaning
once it is discharged, it becomes an ordinary stone again, and
is simply discarded. A person skilled in sorcery may be able to
add additional charges to a flashstone (as many as four per
stone), but it becomes increasingly time consuming to add
each additional charge to a single stone.
After the Interregnum, flashtones have been made
obsolete for those proficient in Sorcery, by the improvements
in the Orb, including methods to discharge hundreds of
flashstones simultaneously.
The discharge of a flashstone deals 5d6 bludgeoning
damage, with a range of 10ft, and requires a ranged touch
attack in order to hit.
Price – One charge – 250GP; two charges – 750GP; three
charges – 1,500GP; four charges – 2,500GP
Chreotha-Web Rope
This rope is stronger than traditional silk rope. It has 6 hit
points and can be burst with a DC 26 Strength check. It is so
supple that it provides a +3 circumstance bonus on Use Rope
checks.
Price – 50ft for 15GP Weight – 5lb
Special Items
Morganti Blade
First created by the Serioli, Morganti weapons are a type of
weapon capable of "eating" the soul of any person they cut. It
is said that they were created in an attempt to "make war so
horrible no one would ever engage in it." In a world where
reincarnation and revivification are both known and often
expected, a soul-killing weapon which prevents these
occurrences takes on a considerable horror.
Morganti weapons are, in every known case, edged
weapons. Their blades are generally black or matte-grey and
they radiate a sense of hunger. Most individuals find this
feeling very disturbing. Morganti weapons are known to have
a "kind of sentience", but in most cases, this does not go
beyond an ability to feel hunger. Some Morganti blades are
known to be stronger and more potent than others.
In the Empire, it is illegal to own a Morganti blade, but
there are still plenty of them floating around. Powerful
nobles, especially, can usually get away with owning
Morganti weapons due to their position. Some even consider
collecting Morganti blades to be a symbol of power.
A weak Morganti blade has a 1d20 chance to destroy a
target’s soul when it does damage to the target. A medium-
strength blade has a 1d10 chance, and a potent blade has a apply any metamagic effect that the user already knows to a
1d6 chance. spell, without increasing the level of the spell.
A blade must be constructed Morganti – it is not an Price – 3,500 GP
enchantment that can be added after the fact.

Type of Morganti Blade

Weak Medium Potent
Light slashing or +9,000GP +13,000GP +19,000GP
piercing weapon.
One-handed +11,000GP +16,000GP +23,000GP
slashing or piercing
weapon, or one head
of a slashing or
piercing double
weapon.
Two-handed +13,000GP +19,000GP +27,000GP
slashing or piercing
weapon, or both
heads of a slashing
or piercing double
weapon.

Phoenix Stone
Phoenix Stone is a rare, special material found only on the
island of Greenaere. It comes in two varieties; Gold and Black.
Gold Phoenix Stone blocks the use of Sorcery, except for
Elder Sorcery. Presumably, it blocks the ability of the Orb to
channel amorphia from the Greater Sea of Chaos. When one
is wearing a golden Phoenix Stone amulet, one cannot
perform Sorcery, and one cannot be the target of any
sorcerous spells.
Black Phoenix Stone blocks psionic abilities, including
psionic communication, and the use of Witchcraft (although it
does not block psychic contact with one’s familiar.) When one
is wearing a black Phoenix Stone amulet, one cannot perform
Witchcraft, and one cannot be the target of any Witchcraft
spells. The same goes for psychic communication. Black
Phoenix Stone also prevents divine communication.
Most individuals have never heard of Phoenix Stone; only
those deeply versed in the magical disciplines will have any
knowledge of it.
Gold Phoenix Stone Amulet – price 110,000 GP
Black Phoenix Stone Amulet – price 110,000 GP

Hawk’s Egg
The thrushhawk is a magical creature which uses its talents to
hide its nests from predators. Due to this slippery, protective
magic, the eggs themselves become permeated in magical
energies. When held in the hand and then crushed, the egg
releases a potent wave of surplus magical energy that can be
harnessed for the purpose of Witchcraft spells.
This variety of hawk’s egg is particularly difficult to locate,
due to the protective magic surrounding the nests. The only
way to find this kind of nest is to go from tree to tree looking
the old fashioned way. In areas where these hawks can be
found, about one in thirty birds’ nests will belong to the
proper species.
A hawk’s egg is a one-time use object. When used as an
optional material component in a Witchcraft spell, one can

38

Geography
The Dragaeran Empire
The Empire of Dragaera, (known as “Faerie” to the
inhabitants of the Eastern Kingdoms,) is a vast country,
encompassing the entire western region of the continent.
Dragaera is bordered on the west and south by the vast
Ocean-Sea. To the north, the Forever Plains extend nearly all
the way to the Ash Mountains, which are home to Deathgate
Falls. To the northeast can be found the Greater Sea of Chaos,
the source of all Sorcerous Energy on Dragaera. To the east,
beyond the Eastern Mountains, lie the Eastern Kingdoms. In
the south, the capital of Adrilankha oversees all of Dragaera.
The Enclouding
The Enclouding, also called the Overcast, is a permanent
cloud-like substance which covers most of the sky of the
Dragaeran Empire. It is of a sufficient thickness to block the
direct sight of the Furnace (the Dragaeran name for their
sun). It is usually an orange-reddish hue, although it will
become redder at sunset. While it is approximately as dense
as a thick fog, it is clearly not merely water vapor, in that it
has an odd mix of smells, both harsh and tangy-sweet; those
who can traverse it rapidly may prefer to hold their breath
while doing so. It also differs from any ordinary vapor or
particulate cloud, in that the vast bulk of it does not ever
dissipate nor precipitate, although it can be thinner on some
days, compared to others. The Enclouding can vary in how
high it hovers above the ground; it sometimes is low enough
that one can pass through the Enclouding by climbing the
slopes of Dzur Mountain. Castle Black will also sometimes be
above the Enclouding, and sometimes below.
Sometimes called the "Hand of the Faerie" in the Eastern
Kingdoms, the Overcast often takes Easterners by surprise
when they first come to Dragaera. Conversely, Dragaerans
who travel east or west to the edges of the Empire will
sometime be surprised at how the thinning of the Overcast
allows them to actually see the sky.
The Seas of Chaos
The Greater Sea of Chaos is the source of all Sorcerous power
used in Dragaera, created by the gods in the distant past. (See
Jenoine, pg 52, and Magic, pg 24) It lies in the northern
reaches of the Empire, between the Suntra Desert and the
Holdfree Mountains.
The Lesser Sea of Chaos is a much more recent addition to
Dragaera, caused by Adron’s Disaster (see History, pg. 54) It is
located in central Dragaera, at the former site of Dragaera
City.
39
Adrilankha
Adrilankha is the capital of the Dragaeran Empire, and a
coastal city on the south edge of Dragaera. Adrilankha was
established as the Imperial City at the end of the
Interregnum, in order to replace Dragaera City as the capital.
From the sea, the city is traditionally said to resemble a
bird in flight, with the high cliffs on either side of the city
forming the "wings" of the bird. However, this changed
during Adron's Disaster when the Orb was lost, and Sorcery
suddenly stopped functioning. The cliffs to the east of the city
(a promontory known as Kieron's Watch) collapsed into the
sea when the spells that were holding it in place stopped
working.
The city, being the Imperial Capital, is the largest city left in
the Dragaeran Empire. As such, it contains a wide variety of
different neighborhoods, from the opulent estates on the
west side of town, to the Easterner's Ghetto in “South
Adrilankha.” Like any city that has grown well beyond its
original size, Adrilankha is known for having a confusing
layout, with regions and streets bearing names that often
don’t make sense.
The Adrilankha River passes through the center of the city.
A number of bridges cross the river at various points,
including the Chain Bridge, the Stone Bridge, the Wrecked
Bridge, and the Five Mile Bridge.
The Imperial Palace
The Imperial Palace is the residence of Her Majesty, and is
the central seat of government of the Dragaeran Empire.
The palace is arranged like the spokes of a wagon wheel. At
the center is the “Imperial Wing,” where the primary matters
of state are governed. It’s almost a miniature city in and of
itself, with thousands of halls and pathways, just as many
rooms, and even entire marketplaces.
There are seventeen “spokes” of the wheel, which
comprise the wings of the various Houses. The Dragon Wing
holds the offices of all military and defense officials; the Iorich
Wing is home to the Imperial Prison; the Lyorn Wing houses
the officials in charge of the Lyorn Records; etc. The wings are
ordered just as the Houses are ordered on the Cycle.
At the end of each “spoke” is a separate building where the
leadership each separate Dragaeran House resides. For
example, if one were to walk out of the Palace, leaving from
the tip of the Dragon Wing, one would then cross a short
courtyard before running into the Dragon House.
40
Highland Reef

41
42
The Pushta
The Pushta is a vast grassland that stretches across most of
central Dragaera. It ranges from semi-arid in the north,
(bordering the Suntra Desert,) to lush and fertile farmland in
the south.
The Sorannah
The Sorannah is the portion of the Pushta grasslands which
encompasses the regions surrounding the capital city
Adrilankha.
The Suntra
An arid desert region in the northeast of Dragaera, the Suntra
Desert presents a logistical boundary separating the northern
regions, including the Kanefthali Mountains, from the
relatively more lush and fertile areas of the Pushta in central
Dragaera.
Kanefthali Mountains
This mountainous region in the northwestern part of the
Empire has an even lengthier history than most of Dragaera,
since the first Dragaerans originated in this area, and slowly
built their Empire out from there.
Eastern Mountains
This large and imposing mountain range has long been an
effective natural border between the Dragaeran Empire and
the Eastern Kingdoms, (who refer to the range as the
“Mountains of Faerie.”) There are only a few workable passes
in the chain, so travel from one side of the mountains to the
other is often difficult, and can be easily monitored.
In order to prevent “Eastern Invasions,” most of the
duchies bordering the mountains are ruled by prominent
Dragonlords who maintain standing armies.
Forever Plains
This range of grassy plains and low hills is in the far north of
Dragaera, near to Deathgate Falls. The plains are populated
by tribes of Cat-Centaurs and wild norska. Those journeying
to Deathgate Falls to drop off the bodies of the dead often
travel through the Plains.
Dzur Mountain
Dzur Mountain is the home of the mystical enchantress,
Sethra Lavode. It is located in Southmoor County, and is
technically part of Morrolan e'Drien's fief.
The mountain is a mostly natural rock monolith that
reaches far into the Enclouding above Dragaera. Seen from
afar, the mountain resembles a crouching dzur. At least some
parts of Dzur Mountain were artificially constructed,
43
especially the left "ear" of the dzur. It is partially volcanic in
nature, having erupted at least once in the past.
Dzur Mountain contains many mechanisms that defend
Dragaera from attacks by the Jenoine, and is the source of
much of Sethra Lavode's power. The mountain itself is a
labyrinth of caves, tunnels, hallways, and also houses
extensive dungeons in its lower levels, as well as stables.
All but a few individuals are completely ignorant of these
facts. To most of the world, Dzur Mountain is as mysterious
as Sethra Lavode herself. One does not simply walk up and
pull the clapper at Dzur Mountain – legends abound of
misguided Dzur-Heroes who charge up to the mountain, only
to be turned into woodland creatures for their trouble.
Castle Black
Castle Black is the home of the influential Dragonlord
Morrolan e'Drien. It is the first floating castle to be
constructed after the restoration of the Dragaeran Empire.
The castle was originally built on the ground, from the ruins
of another floating castle, the ancestral home of Rollondar
e'Drien, (Morrolan’s father,) which had fallen to its
destruction when sorcery failed at the beginning of the
Interregnum.
Castle Black was finished during the first few years of Zerika
the Fourth's reign, and the celebratory party of its completion
is still in progress, (some 250 years later,) with a variety of
famous guests coming and going at all hours. When one
teleports to Castle Black, one arrives in an open air courtyard
– literally. One appears to be walking on nothingness up until
you reach the hugely grandiose front gates, which silently
swing open upon your approach.
The fact that the castle is entirely black, (the traditional
color of Sorcery,) is considered to be terribly tacky, gaudy,
and egotistical by many. Even more galling to these
individuals is that Morrolan’s abilities as a sorcerer and a
warrior allow him the right to do pretty much anything he
wishes – including painting his castle black.
In the areas of the castle that are private, Morrolan
conducts much magical study. He has libraries of rare and
forbidden tomes, a wing devoted to his coven of witches, and
a secret tower which contains a changing number of mystical
windows which serve as Necromantic Gates.
The Maelstrom
The southern and western reaches of the planet are entirely
unknown to the population of the Dragaeran Empire, with
distant sea travel being prevented by the presence of the
Great Maelstrom and the Grey Rocks. Orca traders
sometimes send expeditions to the south, into the
Maelstrom, which are never heard from again. However, this
hasn’t stopped myths and legends about rich and exotic
civilizations existing beyond the southern seas.
Island Nations
Beyond the coast of Dragaera lie several island nations that
have managed to maintain their independence from the
Dragaeran Empire. Most of the time, these oddities maintain
peaceful trade relations with the Empire, but they’re no
strangers to war, either.
The islands are mostly inhabited by Dragaerans who
immigrated in the far distant past, before House segregation
became an unquestionable cornerstone of society. As such,
Islanders don’t belong to any House; rather, their genetics are
a racial melting pot.
Elde Island
The largest of the independent isles, Elde Island also boasts
the most urban and industrialized civilization of all the
islands. Elde Island has a long and sordid history of war with
the Empire – there have been no fewer than nine separate
wars with Elde. Additionally, Elde Island sent armies to help
Duke Kâna try to wrest control of the Empire away from
Zerika the Fourth during the Battle of Adrilankha.
Greenaere
Greenaere is a small, crescent-shaped island (perhaps
resembling a banana) off of the west coast of the main
continent. It is also the northernmost of the independent
islands.
Greenaere’s most distinguishing characteristic is, curiously,
not common knowledge to outsiders. The island sits atop
massive deposits of Black & Gold Phoenix Stone, unique
materials that together make any form of magic impossible
on the island.
While the government of Greenaere is a hereditary
monarchy, in many ways it is much less structured than one
might assume. The palace is not particularly ornate, and the
king is not very well guarded.
While there is not much of a standing army or navy, the
Greenaerans have a sufficiently large fishing fleet with skilled
sailors that can act as a navy in times of war.
Landsight & Holcomb
These small nations are best known for their trade relations
with the Empire. Despite their small size they import a large
quantity of tropical fruits and plants, which grow readily due
to the islands’ southern locations.
The Eastern Kingdoms
The kingdoms and realms to the east, beyond the Dragaeran
Empire, are populated by Easterners (or, as they call
themselves, humans.)
These are, by and large, prosperous realms in their own
way, evidenced by the fact that during the Interregnum a
number of the westernmost kingdoms actually invaded
portions of Dragaera. However, as a consequence of the
Easterners’ comparatively puny lifespans, the various
44
kingdoms are in a constant state of flux when compared to
the perpetual sameness of Dragaera.
One major difference encountered in the lands of the east
is the absence of the Enclouding that prevails in the "Lands of
the Faerie" (as some Easterners call Dragaera), which enables
inhabitants to see the Furnace during the day, and the stars
at night. (Both of these phenomena are relatively unknown
within the Empire.)
Perhaps the most famous of the Eastern Kingdoms is
Fenario, the northernmost of the bordering kingdoms. Many
of the human immigrants of Dragaera trace their lineages to
Fenario.
Despite the fact that the Dragaeran Empire has been at war
with the East, on and off, for over 200,000 years, the vast
majority of Dragaerans know absolutely nothing about life in
the east. The customs of Easterners, their habits, their means
of governance, and the attributes of their societies are of no
interest to most Dragaerans. Many are happy with their
extreme ignorance, believing that the Eastern Kingdoms are
barbarian states whose people are universally backwards,
stupid, and savage. Even among the most learned scholars, it
is very rare to find an individual who treats Eastern sociology
as anything more than a quaint curiosity. Even the military
only has intelligence on the nations that directly border the
Empire; anything further east is a complete (and
uninteresting) mystery.
Serioli & Cat-Centaurs
As the original inhabitants of Dragaera, the Serioli once held
most of the western region as their territory. Today,
however, they are limited to remote locations deep in the
jungles and mountains. Still, while their population is small, it
is far from extinct. The remaining Serioli go about their lives
in their own way, producing crafts and arts that can be highly
sought after in modern-day Dragaera.
The small, nomadic population of Cat-Centaurs keep almost
entirely to themselves, living off of the land in the Forever
Plains in the northeastern regions of the Empire. As their
interests don’t interfere with the Empire’s, they’ve lived in
peaceful and isolated coexistence with Dragaerans since time
immortal.
Planetary Matters
Dragaerans refer to the sun as “the furnace,” although they
can see neither it nor the stars, due to the Overcast.
Dragaera also has no moon.
If other continents exist beyond the Maelstrom or far to the
east, they’ve remained undiscovered for the last 200,000
years due to Dragaerans contentedness to remain in their
own lands and see to their own matters.
45
Deities
The Lords of Judgment are a collection of beings protecting
Dragaera against their own former masters, the Jenoine. They
were responsible for bringing the Dragaeran Empire into
existence via inspirational dreams sent to Kieron the
Conqueror. Deities are defined as extremely powerful, (but
not all-powerful) beings who have the ability to be in more
than one place at any given time.
Worship
Dragaerans think of the gods as individuals with great skill
and power; Easterners worship them and behold them in
awe.
Easterners build temples and shrines to the Lords of
Judgment, and revere them as all-powerful supernatural
entities. Among Easterners, there are clerics who devote
themselves to the service of one deity or another, praying to
them for wisdom and guidance.
The relationship between the gods and Dragaerans,
however, is more obtuse. To the Dragaerans, the gods are not
supernatural or mysterious – they are definite, real entities
who dwell in the Halls of Judgment and oversee the world.
What could be simpler?
The equivalent of a cleric exists in Dragaeran society, but
the role bears little resemblance to the role as Easterners see
it. A Dragaeran cleric might be a devout servant to a
particular deity, but will always see the deity as a definite,
real being who may (on occasion) be conversed with as
anyone else would be.
Patron Deities
In the East, it is customary for each nation or region to have a
specific deity, whom it venerates more than any other. For
example, until relatively recently, the nation of Fenario
revered Verra.
Most Dragaerans don’t go to the same extremes Easterners
do, in terms of devout worship, but it’s not unheard of for a
particular individual to devote himself to the service of a
particular god. For example, it is known that Morrolan e’Drien
of Castle Black is a devout servant of Verra.
Death of a God
There are certain circumstances that can prevent a god
from being able to manifest in a particular area. If a god loses
all of his worshipers, he won’t be able to appear in the real
world. If he (or at least one copy of himself) is slain while in
the real world, he might be prevented from manifesting in or
influencing the world. A powerful banishment may also block
a deity from appearing in a certain specific area.
46
Gods can be killed in the traditional sense, but it takes a
Great Weapon (see pg 27) in order to do so.
The Paths of the Dead
The “Paths of the Dead” is the general term for the
otherworldly realm where Dragaeran souls go after one’s
body dies, and where the gods reside.
While the Paths of the Dead themselves are not actually in
the same plane of existence as the Dragaeran Empire, they
can nonetheless be reached by physically traveling to the far
northeast of the Empire, across the Forever Plains, to
Greymist Valley (between Hanging Mountain and Gyffer's
Peak,) and following the Blood River that flows through the
Greymist Valley until one reaches Deathgate Falls, and then
going over the Falls in some manner. At the bottom of the
Falls begin the Paths of the Dead.
It is customary for a Dragaeran who has died to have his or
her body brought to Deathgate Falls, and for the body to be
placed in a small boat and sent over the falls, so that one’s
soul safely arrives at the Paths.
The Paths consist of a seemingly incoherent series of trials
and tribulations all intended to either prove one’s worth to
the gods… or condemn your soul to wander around for the
rest of eternity in a veritable oblivion. Each House has their
own tradition and specific route to follow in the Paths, and a
Dragaeran is expected to know by memory the correct
choices or actions. Tomes which contain these instructions
can be hard to get ahold of, and pervasive magic prevents
them from being copied.
If a soul manages to make it through the paths, it must still
await its fate at the hands of the Lords of Judgment, (i.e, the
gods,) who reside in the Halls of Judgment. At this point, a
soul may either be placed in limbo, sentenced to service
within the Halls themselves, or reincarnated into a new life.
Those who are made to stay within the Halls are called
“Purple Robes” due to their attire, and wander to and fro,
performing the will of the gods.
It is well known that no living soul may enter the Paths of
the Dead without being trapped forever. Currently, it is
believed that only three mortal individuals have ever visited
the Paths of the Dead alive and been able to leave in the
same state: Vladimir Taltos, Morrolan e’Drien, and Zerika the
Fourth.
Separately, it is possible for select individuals to leave the
Paths of the Dead in an undead state. Usually this is justified
by the person in question having some important task to
perform for the Gods. The most notable undead in Dragaera
is Sethra Lavode, the Enchantress of Dzur Mountain.
It should be noted that the above pertains to Dragaeran
souls, only. Apparently the other races of Dragaera, including
Easterners, do not traverse the Paths at all.
The Halls of Judgment
At the center of the Paths of the Dead are the Halls of
Judgment, home to the gods. Each god lives somewhere
within these Halls, and may create their own demesne here.
There is a central meeting location, where all of the Lords of
Judgment may gather and discuss topics of interest.
The Lords of Judgment
The unified divine force of both the Dragaeran Empire and
the Eastern Kingdoms, the Lords of Judgment take it upon
themselves to protect and (when necessary,) guide the
Dragaerans and Easterners of the world. They had a hand in
the creation of the world as we know it, and in the formation
of the Dragaeran Empire (see History, pg. 53)
Barlen
Greater Deity
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Domains: Law, Protection, EnduranceBoED, LiberationCD,
TemperanceDM#355
Favored Weapon: Greatsword
Barlen is among the eldest of gods. He is the enemy and lover
of Verra – he is the opposite of her in all ways. As such, he
holds tradition as being very important, respects the rule of
law, and is loath to overly meddle in the affairs of mortals. He
is said to be sensible and dependable.
During gatherings of the gods, he is usually a calm voice of
reason.
47
Verra
Greater Deity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Chaos, Magic, Luck, Knowledge, SpellSC,
BeguilementDM#312
Favored Weapon: Dagger
Verra is the goddess of magic and whimsicality.
Also known as the Demon Goddess, Verra is said to be the
embodiment of capriciousness. She is the lover and enemy of
Barlen, who is also said to be her opposite in all ways. She is
also sister to both Moranthë and Kéurana – the three of them
together are known as the Daughters of Darkness, or simply
the Three Sisters.
In appearance, she is extremely tall, has dark hair, and an
extra joint on each of her fingers.
She is among the oldest of the gods, and meddles in the
affairs of mortals as she sees fit; she is probably the least
conservative of the gods. She is willful and often disrespectful
of the other gods, and of the rules that bind them. She is not
ashamed to play favorites among the mortals she watches
over.
She is currently unable to manifest in the East, although
she was formerly matron of the Eastern nation of Fenario.
Tristangrascalaticrunagore (Tri'nagore)
Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Domains: Death, Chaos, Evil, SpiteHoH, WrathDM#323
Favored Weapon: Greataxe
Tri’nagore has a reputation for demanding human sacrifice,
so his followers are few. He usually holds himself apart from
the other gods – a mutual dislike usually stands between
them.
After meddling too much in the affairs of mortals during
the Interregnum (see History, pg 55), his shrine was
destroyed by a vengeful Dragonlord wielding a Great
Weapon, and he was battled. He was severely weakened, and
is believed to be unable to manifest himself in the world of
Dragaera.
This doesn’t stop the occasional mad cult from worshipping
him and sacrificing people in his name, however.
Crow
48
Lesser Deity
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Air, Travel, Good, SkyRotW, WindstormSC
Favored Weapon: Sickle
Crow is a deity favored by some of the peasantry. His
dominion is said to be things that fall, but his influence can
also extend to wind and weather, and how they affect the
common traveler. His devout clerics study the sky and clouds
for portents, and work to protect the nesting places of flying
animals.
Trout
Greater Deity
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Animal, Plant, Water, Healing, Good, FamilySC,
CharityDM#355
Favored Weapon: Quarterstaff
Trout is considered by some to be the wisest of the gods, and
the one who knows the true motives of each of the Lords of
Judgment. During assemblies of the gods he tends to be a
quiet observer, although when he does speak, all of the other
Lords show him respect and take his opinions seriously.
Trout tends to be honored more among Teckla than by the
nobility. He has been known to accept prayers of well-being
and protection. When it is necessary for the Empire to
commune with the gods, Trout is the most likely to have
honest, straightforward and helpful words to share with
mortals.
G’mon
Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Domains: Chaos, Good, FateCW, MindCD, DreamCD, OracleCD,
NightDM#342
Favored Weapon: Crossbow
G'mon is the Lord of Dreams. She is the god who visits the
dreams of visionaries, lords, philosophers, and poets, bringing
with her the spark of creativity they need to unlock their own
greatness. She is said to have numerous children who patrol
the land of dreams and banish nightmares.
In reality, G’mon is the most adept of the gods at the art of
dream manipulation, and she did the legwork of inspiring
Kieron the Conqueror to set off on his crusades.
Clerics of G’mon believe in the power of dreams and
visions, and often seek out signs, portents, and oracles.
Kéurana
Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Knowledge, Chaos, Magic, IllusionSC, DestinyRoD
Favored Weapon: Longbow
49
Kéurana is the sister of Verra and Moranthë – the trio is
known in legends as the Daughters of Darkness. She often
appears as a blinding prismatic being.
Whereas her sister Verra keeps a broad eye on the use of
all magic, she takes personal responsibility for those on
Dragaera who practice Sorcery specifically. (This distinction is
often confused by those who do not worship the Daughters
directly.) Accordingly, many Athyra give her praise.
Kelchor
Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Domains: Chaos, Weather, Protection, BestialBoVD, CourageCW
Favored Weapon: Longspear
Kelchor is the goddess of the Cat-Centaurs. Sometimes she
takes the form of a Cat-Centaur, (typically when about to do
battle,) and at other times she appears as a humanoid cat.
Like any cat, she is a flighty creature: depending on her whim,
she can be very favorable and helpful, or, she can be spiteful
and cruel – however the mood strikes her.
She especially admires any who display the typical
characteristics of the Cat-Centaurs: independence, ferocity,
and a reverence for the natural world.
Mafenyi
Lesser Deity
Alignment: Neutral
Domains: CreationCD, PlanningCW, CraftSC, BalanceSC
Nyssa
Favored Weapon: Warhammer

Matron of the blacksmiths, artificers, and crafters of all

stripes, Mafenyi herself is the artificer of the gods. Some of
the most mysterious and powerful items in creation are her
handiwork. Whenever one of the Lords of Judgment requires
an item for themselves, it is likely Mafenyi that they turn to.
She has a large number of Vallista as followers.

Moranthë

Intermediate Deity
Alignment: Neutral Good
Domains: Trickery, InquisitionCD, CharmSC, TimeSC, Good
Favored Weapon: Light Mace

Nyssa is a mysterious and enigmatic goddess. She typically

manifests as a dim, indistinct shape floating in the air – and
her personality matches. Her opinions shift and sway, one
moment seeming firm and solid, the next, shifting to
something else entirely.
Sending the Necromancer to aid Sethra Lavode during the
Intermediate Deity restoration of the Empire was strongly supported by Nyssa.
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral Nyssa originally opposed allowing Empress Zerika to leave the
Domains: Knowledge, Magic, Chaos, Pride DM#323, Rune Sand Paths of the Dead with the Orb, but later changed her mind
Favored Weapon: Shortsword when she became impressed by the Phoenix.

Her form is small and always in shadow. She is the patron

deity of all witches, (as opposed to her sister Kéurana, who
Naro
oversees sorcerers.) She has special responsibilities to those
in the Eastern Kingdoms, excluding Fenario, (formerly Verra’s
territory.) Since Dragaerans typically disdain Witchcraft, her
Dragaeran followers are few and far between.
Her sisters are Kéurana and Verra. The trio is referred to in
legends as the Daughters of Darkness.

Lesser Deity
Alignment: Neutral
Domains: ForceCD, CommunityBoED, BalanceSC, MysticismCD
Favored Weapon: Garrote

One of Naro’s epithets is "The Lady Who Sleeps".

50
 There is a legend in the East that all of the universe is a
dream, and if Naro were to ever awaken, the universe would
cease to be. She is said to be the protector of those who
sleep, ensuring they make it safely through the night. Her
devout clerics ensure the safety of places of sanctuary.
Ordwynac
Greater Deity
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Domains: Evil, Law, Destruction, Fire, Strength, War,
RetributionSC, Wrath DM#323
Favored Weapon: Morningstar
Ordwynac (sometimes called just Wynac,) is the embodiment
of fire. An old legend says that Ordwynac has no means of
speaking – it is more likely true that Ordwynac rarely feels the
need to explain himself or his actions, and dispenses
judgments as he sees fit. He is a gruff, cruel, and often cold-
hearted god. His clerics promote structured violence over
peace.
Demons
When used technically by those Dragaerans who have made a
thorough study of Sorcery and sorcerous theory, the term
“Demon" refers specifically to an entity that, like a God, has
learned how to manifest in at least two locations at once, but
which can be summoned, bound, and controlled. By this
definition, being controlled is the only characteristic which
distinguishes a demon from a god. (This does not mean,
however, that controlling a demon is a wise or easy task.)
A demon can sometimes be more powerful than a god; for
example, the Necromancer can do certain things faster and
better than Verra could.
51
The Necromancer
The Necromancer is a powerful undead demon, whose
abilities are on par with most of the Lords of Judgment. She
comes from a place called the World of Seven Doors, and it is
said that she "knows six of them...and she is not entirely
unacquainted with the seventh," a fact that even astonishes
several of the gods.
She appeared to have no name when she first manifested
on Dragaera (or at least none that she cared to use in that
plane), so she accepted the respectful title of "The
Necromancer", given to her in admiration by Sethra the
Younger, in honor of her unprecedented powerful facility
with planes of existence and necromancy in general.
In appearance she looks vaguely like a Dragaeran of House
Dragon, but with the typical pallor of the undead. Her
personality seems distant and very reserved; she has few
social graces and tends to take every statement absolutely
literally. Most of her social failures are because she finds
Dragaeran etiquette to be alien, or at best, quaint. When she
first manifested on Dragaera, she didn't realize it was
impolite to invite herself into Dzur Mountain… by force. Her
current place of residence is a very cramped quarters in
Castle Black, the lack of space alleviated by the fact she is free
to move in dimensions other than the three familiar ones.
She was sent by the gods in the Halls of Judgment to aid
Sethra Lavode and Her Majesty, Zerika the Fourth, reestablish
the Dragaeran Empire during the Interregnum (see History,
pg 55) as well as defend Dragaera from the Jenoine. After the
reforming of the Empire, she has remained and dutifully
helped defend the world from the Jenoine.
Others
Devera
Devera is a little brown-haired girl who seems to turn up in
the oddest places. Very few individuals know of her existence,
and fewer still know the history of her heritage.
Her mother is Aliera e'Kieron, (former Dragon Heir and
Warlord, wielder of the Great Weapon named Pathfinder.)
Her father is Kieron the Conqueror, (who has been deceased
and waiting in limbo in the Halls of Judgment since the
formation of the Empire.) Verra (the Demon Goddess) is her
grandmother, and her grandfather is Adron e'Kieron (Aliera’s
father, and perpetuator of Adron’s Disaster which led to the
Interregnum.)
Devara apparently has the ability to time travel, although it
is possible that this ability has a limitation: it may be that
once she visits a particular instant in time, she may never
again visit it. She can also transform into a powerful dragon.
Her first appearance chronologically (that we know of,) was
to leave a message for Adron that he was to return home to
meet his newborn daughter. The daughter in question was
Aliera, Devera's mother. Think about that a minute...
The Jenoine
The Jenoine are an alien race of supernatural beings
possessing god-like skill and ability. They are the former
masters, and the current enemies of the Lords of Judgment.
History
In the distant past, well before the formation of the
Dragaeran Empire, the Jenoine colonized Dragaera. It is
unknown where they came from or what their true intentions
were, (although according to the goddess Verra, they thought
of themselves as benevolent, in their own twisted logic.) The
planet was already inhabited by the native Serioli, as well as
by some Eastern colonists. Sethra Lavode asserts that the
Dragaeran race are, in fact, descended from Easterners who
were experimented upon and modified by the Jenoine.
The alien Jenoine performed genetic experiments on
Dragaerans using various local animals (possibly, thirty-one of
them). They succeeded in incorporating various traits from
the animals in question into their Dragaeran test subjects.
This was the precursor of the Dragaeran House system.
Their experiments we not limited to Dragaerans and
Easterners; they worked successfully on manifesting
intelligence to jhereg as well, and might have had a hand in
the creation of the Cat-Centaurs.
Their servants, at the time, included many of the current
Lords of Judgment, including Verra and
Tristangrascalaticrunagore. According to some of these gods,
including Verra, the Jenoine did not treat them favorably, and
a great friction emerged between the oblivious Jenoine and
their chafing servants.
Eventually, a catastrophe happened, resulting from a chain
of occurrences most likely set in motion by Verra and her
cohorts. This catastrophe involved amorphia, and was
responsible for the creation of the Greater Sea of Chaos. The
catastrophe resulted in the death or disappearance of the
Jenoine who were on Dragaera, and their former servants
became the gods and protectors of their new world.
Ever since that time, the enigmatic and unknowable
Jenoine have attempted time and again to regain control of
their experiment. They regularly attempt incursions into
Dragaera, but so far, they have always been held at bay by
the Lords of Judgment and their mortal allies, (including the
current Emperor of the time, and the wielders of the various
Great Weapons.) Their most recent attempt involved them
52
siphoning and subverting the power of the Lesser Sea of
Chaos, but this plan was thwarted by the Lords of Judgment
and bearers of the Great Weapons.
Among Easterners, knowledge of the Jenoine is spotty and
inaccurate, at best. But among Dragaerans, their existence
and general nature is common knowledge. Since they seek to
undo everything that the Dragaerans have built over the last
two hundred millennia, there is no such thing as a Jenoine-
collaborator among Dragareans, (aside from the occasional
madman.) However, some Serioli still harbor an extreme
resentment against the Lords of Judgment, and take to heart
the old adage “an enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Abilities and Description
It is unknown if immortality is among the traits of the
Jenoine, but their powers are nevertheless extremely
formidable. They are roughly nine feet in height; they are
broad, robust, and appear very strong. Those encountered so
far appear without clothing and are entirely hairless. They
have large and wide-set black eyes facing forward, a "sort of"
mouth, and are without wrists or any visible sexual
characteristics. Their torsos seem to contain excess copies of
vital organs, which they are capable of regenerating if their
working ones are damaged. Jenoine are resistant to effects of
amorphia and the powers of Morganti or conventional blades
(with the exception of Great Weapons, especially Godslayer.)
They have their own language which sounds to a listener as
something in between a high-pitched screech and some form
of howl.
They appear to have the ability to travel across the planes
of existence, and possess strange and mystifying
technologies, including strange weapons that shoot beams of
light.
Worship
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Domains: Evil, CorruptionLoM, HatredLoM, Vile DarknessLoM,
Suffering Greyhawk, PainBoVD
Favored Weapon: Bastard Sword
The Jenoine have no desire to be “worshiped,” but they are
not above accepting the help of individuals who can aid them
in their never-ending quest to regain control over Dragaera.
It’s next to unheard of for any but mad, disgruntled Serioli
to help the Jenoine in such a manner.
History
The Dragaeran Empire has existed for more than 200,000
years. In that time, countless wars, rebellions, and
otherworldly excursions have been confronted and thwarted
by the might of the Empire.
In the Beginning
How the world itself came to be – be it via the machinations
of unknown gods, the Jenoine, or natural forces – is a
mystery. However, it is clear that the Serioli were the first
race to inhabit the world now called Dragaera, and they may
in fact be the world’s only native intelligent species.
At some point in the far distant past, humans – that is to
say, Easterners – came to Dragaera. How they made this
journey is unknown. According to the Serioli, (who refer to
Easterners as “The Old People,”) humans are “people from
the small invisible lights.” Planar scholars theorize that this
implies that humans are native to a planet orbiting a star
other than Dragaera’s own sun. It is possible that animal life-
forms also made the trip alongside humans.
Since the humans settled the eastern part of the continent,
and the Serioli primarily inhabited the west, there is no
record of conflict between these peoples.
The Jenoine
Sometime later, the Jenoine arrived. (See The Jenoine, pg 52).
The Jenoine are an alien race with powers that rival (and
typically surpass) the gods themselves. In fact, most of the
Lords of Judgment we know today were, at this time, simply
the assistants, servants, and slaves of the Jenoine, who
brought them along to Dragaera.
It is unknown where the Jenoine came from or what their
true intentions were, (although according to the goddess
Verra, they thought of themselves as benevolent, in their
own twisted logic.) What is undeniable, though, is that the
Jenoine performed genetic experiments on humans, which in
effect, created the Dragaeran race.
The Jenoine genetically altered humans in order to improve
upon them. Their lifespans were extended, and their physical
attributes were enhanced, laying the groundwork for the
Dragaerans of today.
(It should be noted that this topic of beyond-ancient history
is the subject of debate among only the most learned of
Dragaerans. Common knowledge is limited to the general
existence of the Jenoine only.)
Additionally, the Jenoine combined the genetic material of
their new Dragaerans with approximately thirty-one different
local animals. They succeeded in incorporating various traits
from the animals in question into their Dragaeran test-
53
subjects. This was the precursor of the Dragaeran House
system: those of House Dragon actually have some indirect,
yet very real, genetic relationship with actual dragons. The
same goes for all of the other Houses (save the Jhereg.)
After a great many years of Jenoine meddling on Dragaera
– perhaps millennia, perhaps many, many millennia – the
present-day gods began plotting to rid themselves of their
Jenoine masters. Verra, Tri’nagore, and others initiated the
great cataclysm which resulted in the formation of the
Greater Sea of Chaos (see Sorcery, pg 24), which
simultaneously killed every Jenoine currently on Dragaera,
and elevated these former servants into gods themselves.
Prelude to an Empire
Without the interference of the Jenoine, the primitive
Dragaerans were free to make their own choices. With their
entire population in the northwestern part of Dragaera, they
originally had next to no interactions with either the Serioli or
Easterners.
Initially, the Dragaerans formed 31 tribes, each tribe having
a genetic relationship with a particular animal. As the
centuries passed, however, only 16 would survive – all of the
modern Houses, save the Jhereg. At first, the tribes did not
function as a cohesive unit, but this would change thanks to
one of the most famous Dragonlords of all time: Kieron the
Conqueror.
Kieron began an aggressive campaign to unite the tribes
and expand their territory eastward after he received a
manipulative dream from the Lords of Judgment. As the
decades pressed on, the Dragaerans would eventually drive
the Serioli out of their ancestral homelands and into hiding
deep in the mountains. They also encountered many
Easterners in what is now the heartland of present-day
Dragaera, and began a vicious war to drive the Easterners
out.
Kieron had one brother, Dolivar, and a sister who was a
prominent shaman – and whose soul would later be
reincarnated as Aliera e’Kieron. At some point in time, Dolivar
betrayed Kieron, and was forced out of Tribe Dragon.
Eventually, Dolivar gathered together all of the misfits and
outcasts of the other tribes, and created his very own tribe,
which came to be called the Tribe of the Jhereg.
Around this time, an insightful Phoenix named Zerika, (who
would come to be known as Zerika the First,) realized that
Kieron’s actions were laying the framework for a grand
Empire. Inspired by the gods, who gave her a gift of precious
trellanstone (see Sorcery, pg 24), Zerika formed the Orb, and
introduced the Dragaerans to modern Sorcery. (It was at this
time when the use of Elder Sorcery was outlawed.)
Zerika became the first Empress of the Dragaeran Empire
after Kieron the Conqueror formed the “Tribe of all Tribes,”
for the purpose of mounting on final offensive which would
drive the Easterners beyond the Eastern Mountains. Joining
all of the tribes together was a political nightmare, (one
which would later cost Kieron his life,) but he managed to do
so, and successfully concluded his campaign against the
humans. He consciously stopped at this time, rather than
continuing on to exterminate the Easterners, so that the
Empire would always have an enemy to focus on, so that the
tribes would never be able to turn on each other.
The Empire Reigns
During the first Cycle, the Imperial Palace was constructed in
the Empire’s capital of Dragaera City. By the time of the third
Cycle, Imperial expansion had gone as far eastward as the
Eastern Mountains, which would come to be the traditional
border between Dragaera and the Eastern Kingdoms. By the
fourth Cycle, most of the Empire had conformed to use the
“northwestern tongue.”
By and large, most of Dragaera’s 200,000 year history was a
relatively smooth one, at least on a large scale. In all this
time, not once was the Empire ever seriously weakened. To
be sure, during this time there were many, many attacks,
wars, and rebellions that posed some threat to the Empire’s
security, but none of these ever materialized enough to truly
shake the foundation of Dragaera for any length of time.
Many wars were fought with the bordering Eastern
Kingdoms, and the borders between them and Dragaera were
redrawn a number of times on either side of the Eastern
Mountains, but by and large, the two factions have remained
in a reliable stalemate throughout history. Wars were also
fought with the independent island nations – no less than
nine with Elde Island alone – but just like the wars with the
east, these wars typically ended with no clear victor and no
long-lasting consequences.
From time to time, the Jenoine would attempt to gain a
foothold on Dragaera, but these attempts were always
thwarted, thanks to the gods, the Orb, and the Enchantress of
Dzur Mountain, Sethra Lavode.
The Dragon-Jhereg War
In the sixteenth Athyra reign, a Jhereg assassin killed another
Jhereg, who happened to be the guest of a Dragonlord at the
time. The Dragonlord, feeling his honor had been slighted,
retaliated against the Jhereg, who then retaliated against the
Dragons, etc. Eventually, a full-blown conflict between House
Jhereg and House Dragon erupted, with heavy casualties on
both sides. It only ended due to the forcible intervention of
the Emperor. To this day, Jhereg never perform an
assassination against a guest of a Dragonlord.
The Lavode Scandal
Around the time of the Cycle change between the
seventeenth Jhegaala and Athyra reigns, the so-called Lavode
Scandal forced Sethra Lavode out of the machinations of the
Court, and the Lavodes (an independent
security/investigative/fighting force) continued on without
her leadership. This is notable because Sethra had been a
part of the Imperial power structure, on and off, since the
beginning of the Empire.
54
The exact nature of the scandal was never made public, but
might have had something to do with Sethra’s undead status
going public.
Adron’s Disaster
Once the Empire had reached the end of its seventeenth
Cycle – the end of the first Great Cycle – it set in motion a
time of great upheaval and rebirth: the Interregnum.
All reigns of the Phoenix are marked by decay and rebirth,
but the 18th Reign of the Phoenix would turn out to be
especially so. The Emperor at the time was Tortaalik the First,
who began his reign as an honorable man with great
character. Alas, as is the wont of most Phoenix rulers, by his
532nd year as Emperor he had sunk deep into a state of
decadence and over-indulgent vanity. By this time, most of
the daily affairs of the Empire were being taken care of by
Prime Minister Jurabin, because His Majesty Tortaalik could
not bring himself to be bothered by such trivialities.
Jurabin was a worthy Prime Minister, but regrettably, he
proved to not be up to snuff at filling the shoes of the
Emperor. A complex confluence of unfortunate events
(including but not limited to: a war with an Eastern Kingdom,
internal rebellion, drought-driven economic fluctuations, and
disagreements among most of the Great Houses over the
Imperial Allotment of the treasury,) led to a near-crisis within
the government. Even when Tortaalik managed to drag
himself back to the throne, it seemed as if nothing could stop
a major economic disaster from sweeping the Empire.
To make matters even worse, a number of separate
political intrigues were taking place behind the scenes. Some
of the aforementioned aspects of this crisis were partially the
doing of one Garland (aka Greycat) of House Tsalmoth, a
former courtier of the Emperor who had been dishonored
and banished when it was discovered that he was tangled in
conspiracies against the throne. As revenge, Garland set into
motion the heart of the economic crisis by manipulating and
bribing many high-ranking Imperial officials. More severely,
he set into motion a number of very carefully orchestrated
assassinations, including the Captain of the Lavodes (see
Organizations, pg 59), one Gyorg Lavode, and multiple failed
assassination attempts on the famed Captain of the Phoenix
Guards, Khaavren.
An equally harmful intrigue revolved around the Dragon
Heir at the time, Adron e’Kieron. Adron and his daughter,
Aliera e’Kieron, both dabbled in Elder Sorcery (see Magic, pg.
24) While this practice is technically forbidden, at this time in
history, the crime was often overlooked. Unfortunately, the
Emperor’s consort, Noima, grew jealous of Aliera for a
number of reasons, and had her quarters at the Imperial
Palace searched, where evidence of her study of Elder
Sorcery was discovered. At Noima’s urging, Emperor Tortaalik
imprisoned Aliera.
Her father, Adron, was already considering action against
the throne due to Tortaalik’s bungling of recent events, but
the perceived insult to his daughter sent him over the edge,
causing Adron to begin his fateful military campaign and
attempted coup of the Orb.
Armies quickly gathered and fought on the outskirts of the
capital, Dragaera City. On one side were the Imperial forces,
attempting to stop the “rebellion” of Adron e’Kieron. On the
other was Adron himself, attempting to take the Orb for
himself and turn the Cycle to a rightful Dragon Reign.
Adron had more up his sleeve than military might,
however. He planned to use a complex and dangerous rite
involving Elder Sorcery to snatch the Orb from a distance –
something that had never been conceived of before. In the
middle of the grand battle between his army and the Imperial
forces, he set the spell into motion that would reach out, rip
the Orb from the grasp of the Emperor, and bring it to Adron,
so that he could become the Dragon Emperor.
Fate, however, had other ideas. In the capital, Garland’s
conspiracy was still unfolding – in disastrously unexpected
ways. At the culmination of a complex series of events, the
Emperor himself was assassinated (by the soon-to-be-
legendary assassin, Mario.) This completely ruined Adron’s
intricate and complex spell, which was designed to steal the
Orb. Because nobody was actually in possession of the Orb, it
could not, in fact, be stolen. This disrupted the pure amorphia
being utilized by the Elder Sorcery… and, sadly, reminded
everyone why Elder Sorcery is a forbidden art.
Unleashed in the city, raw amorphia – pure chaos – began
to unravel the fabric of reality. In mere moments, the
Imperial Palace, all of Dragaera City, and miles of surrounding
countryside were obliterated. Adron himself, most of the
ranking politicians of the Empire, most of the members of
House Phoenix, all of the Lavodes, and thousands of civilians
lost their lives in what would come to be known as Adron’s
Disaster.
It was only thanks to Sethra Lavode that all hope for the
future was not lost that day. At the last instant, she was able
to teleport the Orb to safety, by sending it to the Paths of the
Dead, and to teleport herself (and Aliera’s spirit) away as
well. Because this was before the Orb’s upgrade in the
Interregnum, teleportation was exceptionally rare and
difficult at this time. In fact, it was unheard of to teleport a
living individual. In short, the Empire is very lucky that Sethra
Lavode was in the right place at the right time.
The Interregnum
Adron’s Disaster resulted in two primary woes for the Empire.
Firstly, Dragaera no longer had a government; the capital city
and most of the leading politicians were now a seething mass
of amorphia. Secondly, and perhaps even more damning, was
the complete nullification of all Sorcery. With the Orb sent to
the Paths of the Dead, Dragaeran citizens could no longer call
upon it to access sorcerous power.
All long-term enchantments working in the Empire failed.
Floating castles crashed to the ground; Kieron's Watch, a
historic rise that jutted into the sea near Adrilankha, suffered
a similar fate. Spells preventing the degradation of bridges
55
and buildings failed, and many structures rapidly fell victim to
the effects of time.
For the next 247 years, the Dragaeran Empire effectively
ceased to exist as a united political entity. This time would
come to be known as the Interregnum.
During this period,
there was a total
breakdown in the
normal structure or
Dragaeran society,
which dramatically
affected trade, military
engagements,
medicine, art, farming,
and every other
important aspect of
Dragaeran life. These
breakdowns were
responsible for a
dramatic increase in
famine, plagues, crime,
and other major
problems within
Dragaera. Without a
unified front constantly
pressing against them,
the bordering Eastern
Kingdoms quickly set
about reclaiming lands
west of the Eastern
Mountains.
The responsibility to govern fell to the individual Dukes and
Counts of the Empire, some of whom upheld their duties
honorably, while others became petty tyrants and warlords.
Obviously, no one could claim the old title of Emperor,
because there was no longer an Orb to claim.
Of greater concern to many high nobles was the state of
the Cycle itself, the unalterable and unquestionable system of
governance which had been the cornerstone of Dragaeran
society for more than 200,000 years. The fate of the Cycle
was brought into question when it became known that,
apparently, no members of House Phoenix had survived – the
House, it seemed, had died out. How could the Cycle
continue without one of its key components?
Unbeknownst to most, however, was the fact that a single
Phoenix did survive the disaster. Zerika the Fourth lived
because her mother fled Dragaera City in the hours before
Adron’s Disaster. Sadly, her parents died soon after, and at
this time, Sethra Lavode intervened in order to save the
Cycle. She hid the young Phoenix away in the city Adrilankha
to be raised by Dragonlord foster-parents. Zerika remained
ignorant of her heritage and even her true name, (going by
“Zivra,”) for more than two centuries, until the time came for
her to restore the former glory of the Dragarean Empire.
When Sethra determined that the time to be right, "Zivra"
was summoned to Dzur Mountain and told that her real
name was "Zerika", and that she was the Phoenix Heir (due to
the fact that there were literally no other possible
candidates.) Zerika was tutored in the ways of the Paths of
the Dead (see Deities, pg 46) so that should could journey to
that otherworldly place and retrieve the Orb from its hiding
place, thus becoming the next Empress of the Empire.
This was a very risky proposition, for the simple reason that
living beings are not permitted to leave the paths of the dead.
However, Sethra made an educated guess that the gods
would make an exception in order to allow the Cycle to
resume.
Zerika traveled to Deathgate Falls and into the Paths of the
Dead, successfully navigating them until she reached the
home of the gods, the Halls of Judgment. There, she
appeared before the gods and made her case, that she should
be allowed to return to Dragaera with both her soul and the
Orb. After some spirited discussion, she was allowed to do so.
Moreover, during its stay in the Paths, the Orb had been
upgraded by the gods with the ability to more accurately
control the flow of amorphia, opening the way for brand new
uses of Sorcery to be explored in the future.
Additionally, the gods sent a powerful demon known as the
Necromancer to Dragaera in order to help the reformation of
the Empire.
forces were quickly routed, and Kâna was arrested and
executed.
With her only real rival dealt with, Empress Zerika the
Fourth was sworn into office by the reformed Council of
Princess, and work quickly began to restore the Empire to its
rightful splendor.
Recent Years
Although less than three centuries have passed since the
Interregnum – the equivalent to about a decade, to an
Easterner – one can scarcely tell that it ever happened at all.
The government reformed and restored order quite rapidly
after Zerika’s coronation, and construction of the new
Imperial Palace in Adrilankha proceeded at lightning speed,
and in no time at all, the city had adapted to its new role as
capital. Imperial armed forces quickly mobilized and retook
the lands recently invaded by Easterners.
All in all, no major crises have hit the Empire for the last
few centuries. But make no mistake, life in Dragaera is
anything but dull. Rebellious lords, meddling gods, Jenoine
attacks, and the threat of war still continue – enough to keep
any adventurer on his toes!

Reclaiming Order
Restoring order to the Empire was not a task that was
accomplished overnight. While many citizens desired nothing
more than a return to the Empire’s glory days, there were
those who resisted. In particular, the Dragonlord named
Skinter e'Terics (often referred to as Duke Kâna,) from the
northwestern Kanefthali Mountains, had spent the last
several decades setting himself up as the Emperor of a new
and improved Empire. Needless to say, Kâna was not willing
to relinquish his hold on power without a fight.
He eventually launched a massive invasion of the Empire’s
new capital city, Adrilankha. Alongside his military assault, he
had hatched several dangerous schemes to maximize his
chances of success. He formed an alliance with the evil god
Tri’nagore, who used his powers to prevent the Imperial
forces from benefiting from either Witchcraft or Necromancy.
Duke Kâna went even further, opening a dimensional portal
which allowed the dreaded Jenoine access to Dragaera; once
there, the Jenoine disabled the Orb, preventing Imperial
forces from benefitting from Sorcery, as well.
The obstacles put into place by Tri’nagore were
circumvented by a young, yet powerful Dragonlord who was
loyal to the Empire named Morrolan e’Drien. Morrolan was a
noble with considerable skill at both Sorcery and Witchcraft,
(rare for any Dragaeran, even during the Interregnum,) and
was the wielder of the Great Weapon named Blackwand. He
used this powerful artifact to confront a manifestation of
Tri’nagore himself, which he slew – effectively banishing the
god from the mortal world.
The Jenoine were left to Sethra Lavode and the
Necromancer to contend with, which they eventually
managed to. With access to Sorcery restored, Duke Kâna’s
56
Organizations
In a society as old as the Empire, many groups of individuals
have come and gone. These are some of the most influential
and important to recognize.
Imperial Government
In order to maintain order, the government of the Empire is,
by necessity, an enormously complex machine – whose cogs
don’t always mesh.
Council of Deputies
The Council of Deputies is a large parliamentary body of the
seventeen Dragaeran Houses.
It is composed of seventeen House Representatives or
Delegates from each of the seventeen Houses, of which the
Heirs of each House presumably have the highest seniority.
The Council of Deputies come together at the Meeting of
Principalities at an interval of once per phase. Not all 289
delegates will necessarily come, as a full quorum is not
absolutely required. However, a full quorum is sufficiently
desirable that only a personal emergency is acceptable as an
excuse for nonattendance.
A subset of this group is the Council of Princes.
Council of Princes
The Council of Princes is the official council of the seventeen
Dragaeran Houses. It is composed of the seventeen Heirs of
each House.
It is up to the Council of Princes to determine when the
Cycle has changed, and to confirm each new Emperor. They
also determine the Imperial Allotment, which is the portion of
the Imperial budget that each House must contribute to.
The Court
A great number of individuals oversee the operations of the
Empire, in addition to the Emperor or Empress.
Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of the Dragaeran Empire is one of the key
figures in the running of the administration.
The exact duties of the Prime Minister vary depending on
the individual tendencies and characteristics of the current
Emperor. Typically, the Prime Minister acts as a “second in
command” or “vice-Emperor,” taking up whatever roles the
current Emperor is ill-suited to perform. For example, as a
Phoenix Emperor sinks into decadence, the Prime Minister
takes up the slack until he is performing nearly all of the
Emperor’s former tasks.
There are often significant periods of time where the
position of Prime Minister is not occupied at all. On these
57
occasions, the duties of this position are carried out by the
Minister of the Houses.
Currently, there is officially no Prime Minister, although the
role is secretly filled by a sly Yendi named Pel.
Minister of the Houses
The Minister of the Houses acts as a liaison between
representatives of the various Dragaeran Houses and the
Emperor or Empress.
This post serves as a supplement to the Prime Minister,
since the Minister of the Houses takes on many of the Prime
Minister's responsibilities when he or she in unavailable (or
when the Prime Minister's post is not filled at all).
The present Minster of the Houses is a shrewd but loyal
Issola woman named Indus.
Warlord
The Warlord is the title and rank associated with the military
leader of the Dragaeran Empire, who is responsible only to
the Emperor. The Warlord oversees the Army, Navy, and also
the Imperial Guard. In addition to guarding the Empire
against the occasional outside hostile force, the Warlord is
responsible for putting down any internal rebellions that may
crop up. In official appearances, the Warlord traditionally
wears a distinctive headdress.
Aliera e’Kieron currently fills the role of Warlord.
Court Wizard
The Court Wizard is the position of the foremost magical
advisor to the Emperor or Empress, who has studied enough
sorcery to attain the rank of Wizard. The Court Wizard
oversees any and all magical matters that the Emperor needs
tending to, and handles the Empire’s magical defenses in the
event of Jenoine invasion. The Court Wizard is also
responsible for aiding the Warlord with the battle sorcery
employed by the Imperial Army.
An Athyra named Kosadr is the present Court Wizard,
having recently taken over for Morrorlan e’Drien.
Leader of the Guard
The Brigadier of the Imperial Guard answers directly to the
Warlord, and oversees the police and security force of the
Empire. He is directly responsible for the safety and welfare
of the Emperor.
The size of the Imperial Guard varies according to
circumstance, and at times there is no need for a Brigadier,
and the Guard is commanded by the Captain of the Guard.
The current Captain of the Guard is Khaavren the Tiassa.
Minister of Finance
The Minister of Finance is responsible for the financial
management of the banks and other central monetary
institutions of the Empire.
Discreet
The Imperial Discreet is the Emperor’s personal confidant,
counselor, therapist, and advisor in personal matters. The
Discreet has absolute and inviolable confidentiality. When the
Emperor speaks of whatever troubles him, the Discreet must
listen without judging, and respond with the advice which will
best soothe whatever those troubles may be.
The art of Discretion is nearly an extinct one, as the only
Institute of Discretion was located in Dragaera City, and was
lost in Adron’s Disaster.
Consort
The spouse of the Emperor or Empress is referred to as the
Consort. While the Consort has no official role in the workings
of the Empire, he or she usually exerts a degree of informal
power over the Court.
Armed Forces
The Empire is no stranger to conflict. Throughout the
millennia, dozens of conflicts have crept up: trade wars with
the Islands, territorial wars with the bordering Eastern
Kingdoms, and internal rebellions constantly keep the
Imperial Armed Forces on their toes.
Imperial Army
The Empire always retains some portion of a standing army,
but there are mechanisms in place to rapidly inflate the size
of this fighting force in times of crisis. The army is overseen
directly by the Warlord of the Empire, who answers directly
to the Emperor.
In wartime, the majority of the fighting forces consist of
conscripted Teckla. Elite battalions, consisting of primarily
Dragonlords and Dzurlords, make up the remainder.
Imperial Navy
The Imperial Navy is naturally comprised chiefly of House
Orca, although it still answers directly to the Warlord. The
Navy is most crucial during times of conflict with Elde Island
and Greenaere, when it is the first line of defense against the
Islanders.
Imperial Intelligence
There are multiple institutions within the Empire whose
purpose is to gather intelligence and perform covert
operations. Their duties often overlap, and for the most part,
these various organizations have no great love of each other.
Special Tasks Group
The Special Tasks Group is a secret division of the Imperial
Army, whose responsibilities are many and varied.
This is a small, very well-trained group that is often used to
cover up mistakes of other Dragaeran Intelligence agencies,
such as Division Six, the Imperial Surveillance Corps, and Third
Floor Relic.
The Special Tasks Group is a semi-autonomous organization
whose existence is not publicly acknowledged. The title of its
commander is the “Brigadier.” The group appears to work
58
under the direct authority of the Empress, though it is also
monitored by the Prime Minister of the Empire. The current
Brigadier of this group is Khaavren, also the leader of the
Imperial Guard.
Division Six
Formally known as “Division Six of the Imperial Army General
Staff Consultants,” this is a large, bulky division of the
Imperial Army that is dedicated to intelligence gathering,
special operations and investigations. While fairly effective,
this is an extremely large and bureaucratic group, unsuited
for operating with a high degree of secrecy or subtlety.
Normally, Division Six operates internationally, although in
certain situations they may sometimes operate within the
Empire.
Like the rest of the Imperial Army, Division Six falls under
the supervision of the Warlord.
Imperial Surveillance Corps
A clandestine Imperial organization that handles internal
security matters.
The Surveillance Corps is overseen by the Prime Minister,
unless that post is vacant (as sometimes happens) in which
case it is instead managed by the Minister of the Houses.
Third Floor Relic
This semi-secret group gets its name from its peculiar choice
of meeting places. Specifically, they meet in a room of the
Imperial Wing of the Imperial Palace – a room on the third
floor – which is dedicated to the storage of important
Imperial relics. The leader of this group answers directly to
the current Emperor. The members of this group carry only
one form of identification – a plain, unadorned platinum ring
which holds a very specific, and impossible-to-duplicate
identification spell.
The Imperial Guard
The Imperial Guard is a defensive and regulative branch of
the Imperial Armed Forces which keeps the peace and
maintains order within the Empire.
Traditionally, the Guard is named after the current House
in power; currently, they are known as the “Phoenix Guard,”
since Empress Zerika the Fourth is of the House of the
Phoenix. When the Cycle turns, and the Dragon Heir becomes
Emperor or Empress, the Guard will then be called the
“Dragon Guard.”
The members of the Guard can be identified by their
distinctive half-cloaks, colored to reflect the House of the
current Emperor. The current Phoenix Guard thus wear
golden half-cloaks. Traditionally, Guardsmen wear their
cloaks at all times, on top of their standard personal house
colors.
No matter which House is sitting on the throne, the Guard
is always comprised mostly of Dragonlords, (much like the
Army is.) Members of House Dragon are required to serve at
some point in either the Army or the Guard.
The Guards act as the Imperial law enforcement system
and routinely set urban and rural patrols to report and
address certain public behavior. They are the standard
response for most kinds of civil disturbances (for example, a
tavern fight, murder, or robbery). The Imperial Guard also
acts as the traditional defensive structure within the Imperial
Palace, so it is within their duty to ensure the safety of the
Emperor himself.
The Guard is usually led by an individual whose rank and
title is Brigadier. The Brigadier answers directly to the
Warlord. However, the size of the Imperial Guard can vary
depending on circumstance, and at times, it might not have
the size to necessitate a Brigadier. In such a case, the next
lowest rank, Captain, would lead the Guard. This is currently
the case, and Khaavren of House Tiassa is Captain.
Ranks within the Guard are as follows: Brigadier, Captain,
Lieutenant, Ensign, Corporal, and Guardsman.
The Iorich Guard
Unlike the Imperial Guard of the other great Houses, The
Iorich Guard exists as a separate entity during the rule of
other Houses, throughout the entire Cycle.
They are primarily tasked with the custody of the Imperial
Prisons during these times, but they also act as bailiffs and
perform ceremonial functions during Imperial judicial
proceedings. During the reign of an Iorich Emperor, the guard
assumes role of police for the entire Empire, which gives an
Iorich Emperor tremendous ability to rigorously and
judiciously enforce the laws of the Empire as he sees fit.
The Lavodes
59
The Lavodes are (or rather, were,) an elite group of warriors
who are also wizards, (or perhaps, wizards who are also
warriors.)
Formed by Sethra Lavode herself, the group was tasked
with defending the Orb and the Cycle from threats that were
fundamentally non-military. Although they operated out of
the Imperial Palace, they were technically not a part of the
Imperial Armed Forces; they were a separate entity who
answered to Sethra – not the Emperor.
Around the time of the Cycle change between the
seventeenth Jhegaala and Athyra reigns, the so-called Lavode
Scandal forced Sethra out of the machinations of the Court,
and the Lavodes continued on without her. Unfortunately, all
members of the Lavodes were killed during Adron’s Disaster,
while fighting in battle in a futile attempt to reach Adron
himself.
As such, the only current Lavodes are technically Sethra
herself, and a single student in training named Telnan
(wielder of the Great Weapon called Nightslayer.)
The word “Lavode” is a Serioli word meaning "versatile", or
if pronounced slightly differently, "of mountains". The group
gets its name from its founder, Sethra Lavode. When an
individual is accepted into the ranks of this prestigious group,
they commonly take “Lavode” as an honorary surname, as
well.
Guilds
There are many guilds in the Dragaeran Empire.
Merchant’s Guild
Various merchants across Dragaera band together in order to
stabilize prices and prevent hostile competition.
Minstrel’s Guild
The Minstrel’s Guild is an organization of performing
musicians of the Dragaeran Empire. The guild presumably
protects minstrels from dishonest tavern owners, as well as
assisting guild members with collecting debts owed to them.
This prevents guild members from having to hire their own
advocates to pursue individual claims.
Members of the Guild are issued an identification ring. On
occasion, a non-musician will purchase such a ring from the
Guild in order to be treated more favorably by Guild
Members.
The Jhereg
Just as the Iorich are considered the “House of Law,” and the
Dragons are considered the “House of Warfare,” the Jhereg
are seen as the “House of Profit.” Money-lending, gambling,
and all manner of illegal activities are overseen by the House
of the Jhereg.
The Right Hand them occurs when a particular Jhereg (that is to say, of the
Right Hand,) hires a sorceress to perform a magical service,
“The Organization,” also known as the “Right Hand of the such as installing a teleport block, or placing magical anti-
Jhereg,” has its fingers in nearly every illegal activity in the surveillance barriers.
Empire. Taverns, back-room gambling dens, drug distribution, The Left Hand has a unique history. It was founded in the
brothels, and loan gouging are just a few of the common 14th Cycle by a group of five sorceresses; two of the House of
Jhereg operations that can be found in any large city. the Athyra, two Dragons and one Dzur. Their separate illegal
Territory for these activities is overseen by a “boss,” who work eventually led to their arrest, and in the famous trial
collects all the profits from the illegal activities in his area, that followed they were unable to prove their innocence,
and charges local businesses for “protection.” He then passes resulting in their expulsion from their respective Houses, and
a large cut of the money to a larger boss who oversees various other punishments, including branding and flogging,
several areas, and so on up the chain, until it reaches the were implemented. However, the Empire was also unable to
Jhereg Council. prove their guilt, and so that was the limit of their
Turf wars between bosses are quite common. As a general punishment. The women bought titles and joined the Jhereg,
rule, though, collateral damage is kept to a minimum, in and continued their practices.
order to avoid drawing the attention of the Imperial Guard. Today, the Left Hand is known to have developed unique
Wars may involve buying off low-level goons and body spells unknown to even the Athyra.
guards, breaking up rival gaming dens, or, in extreme
circumstances, hired assassinations.
In order to make money, the Jhereg need to make sure that
the general public knows where to find their illegal activities.
This means that the Imperial Guard also often knows the
locations of these activities. Luckily for the Jhereg, most
Phoenix Guardsmen are highly susceptible to bribery.
Most everyone else in the Empire looks down on the
Jhereg, but, if one wants to hire a thief or an assassin, it’s the
Jhereg that they go to. Almost universally, the best
practitioners of these activities are of House Jhereg.
The Jhereg, although disdainful of the rule of law on
principle, paradoxically have a set of rules that are universally
understood to never be violated. Among them: don’t harass
or hurt an Imperial Guard, ever; don’t snitch to the Empire;
don’t interfere with the House’s Imperial representatives;
and above all, don’t jeopardize profit.
Those who do “work” – that is, assassins – have even more
specific codes of conduct. An assassination may not be
performed inside the home of the victim, or in front of his
family. A limited number of specific locations, such as select
hostels and restaurants, are also considered hallowed
ground, and are off limits. One also cannot be assassinated in
a place of worship. Following the Dragon-Jhereg War, no
Jhereg may assassinate the guest of a Dragonlord.

The Left Hand

The Left Hand of the Jhereg is a fairly new organization of
sorceresses within the Jhereg which specializes in illegal
magic. Unlike the more traditional Right Hand of the Jhereg,
the internal affairs of the Left Hand are shrouded in mystery;
it is known that they own illegal businesses offering magical
services and that they have different divisions and an
enforcement arm, but beyond this only a bit is known of the
nature of their structure, work, and aims. Informally, the
Jhereg currently refer to them as the "Bitch Patrol" because
almost all members of the Left Hand are female.
The two “Hands” don’t have any direct or formal dealing
with each other. The most common interaction between

60

Bestiary
Many strange and wonderful creatures roam the mountains,
planes and valleys of Dragaera, from the hypnotic athyra, to
the sly yendi.
Athyra
Small Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 10 (68 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural), touch 12, flat-
footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+4
Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d4+2) or claw (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d4+2) and 2 claws (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Hypnotic Attraction
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +9
Abilities: Str 5, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 4, Wis 12, Cha 4
Skills: Listen +13, Spot +13, Search +7, Hide +6
Feats: Blindfight, Hover, Weapon Focus (claw)
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary or nest (2–4)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: Standard
Advancement: 11–13 HD (Large)_____________________
Hypnotic Attraction (Su): Any creature in a 15ft radius must
succeed on a DC 12 Will save or be dazed for 1d4 rounds.
The athyra is an owl-like bird of prey that mentally attracts
victims (sending emotional messages of safety and food) and
repels predators (sending emotional messages of fear), using
some aspect of psionics. Their psychic abilities are not
sufficient against humans who know what they are doing, or
against full-grown dragons, who are undeterred by their
mental broadcasts. Athyra are described as having thick
brown plumage, bushy eyebrow feathers, and hooked beaks.
They are actually held to be tasty by some, but they are not a
typical food source.
61
Chreotha
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (12 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), burrow 10 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14,
flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–5
Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d2+1)
Full Attack: 2 claws +4 melee (1d2+1) and bite +1 melee
(1d3+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Web
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Escape Artist +7, Listen +3, Spot +3
Feats: TrackB, Weapon Finesse
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Advancement: 3 HD (Small)___________________________
Web (Ex): Chreotha can throw a web eight times per day. This
is similar to an attack with a net but has a maximum range of
50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective
against targets up to Medium size.
An entangled creature can escape with a successful Escape
Artist check (DC 12) or burst it with a Strength check (DC 16).
Both are standard actions. Chreotha often create sheets of
sticky webbing from 5 to 60 feet square. Approaching
creatures must succeed on a DC 20 Spot check to notice a
web; otherwise they stumble into it and become trapped as
though by a successful web attack.
Attempts to escape or burst the webbing gain a +5 bonus if
the trapped creature has something to walk on or grab while
pulling free. Each 5-foot section has 6 hit points, and sheet
webs have damage reduction 6/—.
The chreotha is a large, foxlike animal that weaves strong
webs from its saliva in order to catch its prey — which can be
as large as Dragon and Dzur. Chreotha fur is sometimes used
as a commodity for sleeping bags or jackets, but it is not as
highly prized as its silk is. Chreotha web rope is a strong and
valuable commodity.
Curking Dayocat
Small Animal Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp) Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (5 hp)
Initiative: +3 Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares) Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-
flat-footed 12 footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–3 Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–3
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1) Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d3+1)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1) Full Attack: 2 claws +4 melee (1d3+1) and bite –1 melee
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. (1d4)
Special Attacks: — Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent Special Attacks: Improved grab, pounce, rake 1d3
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1 Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Saves: Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1 Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Feats: Alertness, TrackB Skills: Balance +7, Climb +7, Hide +11*, Jump +17, Listen
Environment: Temperate plains +9, Move Silently +7, Spot +3
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12) Feats: Weapon Finesse
Challenge Rating: 1/3 Environment: Warm plains/forests
Advancement: — Organization: Solitary, pair, or family (3–5)
Challenge Rating: 1
Large populations of curkings can be found in Bra-moor Treasure: None
County, where their barking can be heard from before dawn Advancement: 2–3 HD (Small)______________________
to well after dusk. They waddle in in neat rows as they travel, Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dayocat must hit
much like ducks. with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it
Darr wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.
Pounce (Ex): If a dayocat charges a foe, it can make a full
Medium Animal
attack, including two rake attacks.
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (11 hp)
Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +4 melee, damage 1d3.
Initiative: +1
*In areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth, the Hide bonus
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
increases to +8.
Armor Class: 14 (+1 Dex, +3 natural) touch 11, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
The dayocat is a much smaller cousin of a dzur. They are
Attack: Gore +2 melee (1d4+1)
typically found in semi-tropical environments.
Full Attack: Gore +2 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent Dragon
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +0
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 4
Skills: Listen +3, Spot +2
Feat: Endurance
Environment: Cold plains
Organization: Herd (11–20)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Advancement: 3–4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large)

The darr possesses water-tight skin, which makes excellent

material for boots or blankets. The darr is somewhat similar
to a deer, however, darr are capable of walking on two feet.
They are typically placid, but if they feel threatened, they can
be aggressive enough to chase a lone person on horseback.
The meat is sometimes eaten, although this is not as Large Animal
prominent a food-animal as a norska or a kethna. Hit Dice: 9d8+32 (74 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 30 ft.
62
Armor Class: 16 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +6 natural), touch 10, flat- Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 10 ft.
footed 14 Armor Class: 16 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+18 footed 13
Attack: Claw +13 (1d8+8) Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+13
Full Attack: 2 claws +13 melee (1d8+8) and bite +8 melee Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d6+6)
(2d6+4) Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d6+6) and bite +3 melee
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft. (1d8+3)
Special Attacks: Improved grab Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent Special Attacks: Rage
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +3 Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +5
Skills: Hide –2, Listen +5, Spot +7, Swim +16 Abilities: Str 22, Dex 17, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Feats: Endurance, Run, Track Skills: Climb +14, Listen +7, Spot +7
Environment: Cold/temperate plains or forests, mountains Feats: Alertness, Toughness, TrackB
Organization: Solitary or pair Environment: Cold forests
Challenge Rating: 5 Organization: Solitary or pair
Advancement: 10–12 HD (Large)_______________________ Challenge Rating: 4
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dragon must hit Treasure: None
with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a Alignment: Always neutral
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. Advancement: 6–15 HD (Large)_______________________
Rage (Ex): A dzur that takes damage in combat flies into a
The Dragaeran dragon is a huge and fearsome creature with a berserk rage on its next turn, clawing and biting madly until
triangular head, endowed with several prehensile tentacles. either it or its opponent is dead. An enraged dzur gains +4
It can pick up psychic impressions of other animals with its Strength, +4 Constitution, and –2 AC. The creature cannot
tentacles. end its rage voluntarily.
Contrary to ancient legends, dragons do not breathe fire, Pounce (Ex): If a dzur charges a foe, it can make a full attack,
nor do they fly. including two rake attacks.
Dragons are typically found in the mountains, but can Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +7 melee, damage 1d4+4.
range into the lowlands from time to time. They have been
known to infest the forests of Fenario on occasion. They are The Dzur is a large black cat, resembling a huge panther. It is
dedicated parents, and will defend their offspring to the an especially vicious predator, and rarely attacks with
death. anything less than a brutal frenzy.
In the wild, dragons have been known to fall prey to vicious
groups of norska. Hawk
Dzur

Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 60 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 17 (+2 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 15, flat-
footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–10
Attack: Talons +5 melee (1d4–2)
Full Attack: Talons +5 melee (1d4–2)
Large Animal Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Hit Dice: 5d8+23 (45 hp) Special Attacks: —
Initiative: +3 Special Qualities: Low-light vision

63
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6 The iorich is a large, slow-moving, river-dwelling mammal
Skills: Listen +2, Spot +14 with a bad vengeance streak. They are roughly analogous to a
Feats: Weapon Finesse mammalian crocodile. Some varieties of iorich are even
Environment: Temperate forests winged.
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Advancement: —
Issola
Imperial naturalists have identified 144 varieties of raptors,
all of which are commonly called “hawks.”

Iorich

Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (11 hp)
Initiative: +1
Large Animal Speed: 30 ft. (8 squares)
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (22 hp) Armor Class: 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 12
Initiative: +1 Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), swim 30 ft. Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d4)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14 Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d4) and 2 claws +3 melee
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+6 (1d3+2)
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6) or tail slap +6 melee (1d12+6) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d8+6) or tail slap +6 melee Special Qualities: Low-light vision, marsh move
(1d12+6) Saves: Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +0
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Abilities: Str 14, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 9
Special Attacks: Improved grab Skills: Hide +4, Jump +4, Listen +2, Spot +6
Special Qualities: Hold breath, low-light vision Feats: Alertness, Dodge, Lightning Reflexes
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2 Environment: Wetlands
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2 Organization: Solitary or flock (2–4)
Skills: Hide +7, Listen +4, Spot +4, Swim +12 Challenge Rating: 1/2
Feats: Alertness, Skill Focus (Hide) Treasure: None
Environment: Warm marshes Advancement: 3 HD________________________________
Organization: Solitary or colony (6–11) Marsh Move: Issola suffer no movement penalties while
Challenge Rating: 2 standing in wet or marshy environments.
Advancement: 4–5 HD (Medium)_______________________
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an iorich must hit The issola is a graceful bird, similar to a heron or stork, except
with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a with darker colors and sharper beak. It is renowned for its
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it ability to strike with extreme speed, sometimes faster than
wins the grapple check, the iorich establishes a hold on the the human eye can follow.
opponent with its mouth and drags it into deep water,
attempting to pin it to the bottom.
Hold Breath (Ex): An iorich can hold its breath for a number
of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks
drowning.
64
Jhegaala Jhereg

Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8 (8 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 10 ft (2 squares), fly 40 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +4 Dex), touch 16, flat-footed 12
Small Magical Beast* Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+5
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+2 + poison)
Hit Dice: 1d10 (5 hp)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+2 + poison)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 10 ft (2 squares), fly 40 ft. (average) Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +4 Dex), touch 16, flat-footed 12 Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, evasion
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6 + poison)
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 6
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6 + poison)
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. Skills: Hide +14, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse B
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision Environment: Warm forests, urban environments
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1 Organization: Solitary, mated pair, or nest (5-7)
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6 Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: None
Skills: Hide +14, Listen +4, Spot +4
Alignment: Always neutral
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesse B
Environment: Warm marshes Advancement: –___________________________________
Poison: DC 13, 1d4 Dex/1d4 Dex
Organization: Solitary
Evasion (Ex): With a successful Reflex save against an attack
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: None that allows a Reflex save for half damage, a jhereg takes no
Alignment: Always neutral damage.
Advancement: –___________________________________
Jhereg are winged reptiles, capable of hunting but preferring
* Stats given for the winged adult life-phase.
Poison: DC 12, 1d4 Dex/1d4 Dex to scavenge. Jhereg have a poisonous bite that, while not
always lethal, is enough to slow down a human significantly.
The jhegaala is known for its complex metamorphic cycle, They’re native to warm forests, but many have adapted to
changing form several times during its lifetime. It lives in urban environments.
swamps and spends stages as an egg, a nymph, a large toad, a Those who have never seen a jhereg in person sometimes
hold the mistaken belief that jhereg have four legs; this is not
moth, and flying reptilian.
The specific names of the various life stages of the jhegaala the case. Jhereg possess two rear legs, and two wings in place
are: •Egg •Apoptera •Steminastria •Notonide •Levidopt of front legs.
The word "jhegaala" itself is related to the word "jhereg". Female jhereg are dominant, and noticeably larger than
This is because the adult form of the jhegaala is winged and males.
venomous, like a jhereg.

65
Jhereg, Giant They run wild in the plains to the north where they are
sometimes hunted by the Cat-centaurs of the Forever Plains.
Large Animal
A domesticated variety is also common, and they are
Hit Dice: 4d10+4 (26 hp)
frequently raised by Teckla in farms throughout the Empire.
Initiative: +3
They inhabit a place on the food chain similar to pigs or
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 80 ft. (average)
chickens. They have under-sized cloven hooves, and often
Armor Class: 15 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-
snort and snuffle.
footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+12
Attack: Claw +7 melee (1d6+4) Lyorn
Full Attack: 2 claws +7 melee (1d6+4) and bite +2 melee
(1d8+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, evasion
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Knowledge (nature) +2, Listen +6, Sense Motive +4,
Spot +15, Survival +3
Feats: Alertness, Flyby Attack
Environment: Temperate mountains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or eyrie (5–12)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Advancement: 5–8 HD (Large); 9–12 HD (Huge)__________
Evasion (Ex): With a successful Reflex save against an attack
that allows a Reflex save for half damage, a jhereg takes no Small Animal
damage. Hit Dice: 1d8+4 (8 hp)
Initiative: +3
There is a giant variety of non-poisonous jhereg that live Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
along the northern ranges of the Eastern Mountains. These Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-
jhereg are larger in size than most Easterners. footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–3
Kethna Attack: Gore +4 melee (2d4+2)
Small Animal Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1) or Gore +4 melee (2d4+2)
Hit Dice: 1d8–1 (3 hp) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Initiative: +3 Special Attacks: —
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares) Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat- Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
footed 12 Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–6 Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4–2) Feats: Alertness, TrackB
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4–2) Environment: Temperate plains
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent Challenge Rating: 1/2
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +1 Advancement: —
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 8, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +9, Listen +4, Spot +4 The lyorn is something like a golden-haired dog of medium
Feats: Alertness, Weapon FinesseB size, but it has a horn. Lyorn skin is sometimes used to make
Environment: Cold plains fashionable boots. Lyorn legs are also mentioned as being
Organization: Solitary or pair served in restaurants or by street venders.
Challenge Rating: 1/4
Norska
Kethna are common herbivorous animals present in a diverse Tiny Animal
set of environments. They used as food-animals and are Hit Dice: 1d8+1 (5 hp)
raised and eaten across the lands of Dragaera and the East. Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.
66
Armor Class: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 14, flat-footed 12 requires a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level). Using
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–12 skills requiring patience and concentration requires a DC 20
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+2) Concentration check. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+2) Wounding (Ex): Any living creature damaged by a norska
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. swarm continues to bleed, losing 1 hit point per round
Special Attacks: — thereafter. Multiple wounds do not result in cumulative
Special Qualities: Low-light vision bleeding loss. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 10 Heal
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1 check or the application of a cure spell or some other healing
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2 magic.
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +12, Hide +10, Listen +3, Spot +3 Skills: *Norska swarms gain a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks
Feats: Weapon Finesse when in areas of dense foliage, jungle, or heavy underbrush.
Environment: Warm forests
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1/4
Orca
Advancement: —

A fanged, rabbit-like creature, Norska are omnivorous, and in

the wild are known to eat dragons, (hunted in groups). They
will ordinarily refuse to eat meat they have not killed, but in
captivity can be fed on a diet of ground meat and vegetables.
Norska eat by filling their cheeks with food, then slowly
chewing and swallowing miniscule amounts at a time.
The flesh of the norska is featured in many dishes. Norska
furs are also prized, and are often used in cloaks and for trim
on fashionable garments.

Norska Pack
Tiny Animal (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 11d8+22 (71 hp)
Initiative: +9
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 19 (+2 size, +5 Dex, +2 natural), touch 17, flat-
footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/—
Attack: Swarm (3d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (3d6) Huge Animal
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft. Hit Dice: 9d8+48 (88 hp)
Special Attacks: Distraction, wounding Initiative: +2
Special Qualities: Half damage from slashing and piercing Speed: Swim 50 ft. (10 squares)
weapons, low-light vision, scent, swarm traits Armor Class: 16 (–2 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 10, flat-
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +4 footed 14
Abilities: Str 2, Dex 21, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 2 Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+22
Skills: Hide +18*, Listen +7, Move Silently +10, Spot +7 Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+12)
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Lightning Refl exes, Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+12)
Stealthy Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Environment: Warm forests Special Attacks: —
Organization: Solitary, gang (2–4 swarms), or pride (5–8 Special Qualities: Blindsight 120 ft., hold breath, low-light
swarms) vision
Challenge Rating: 6 Saves: Fort +11, Ref +8, Will +5
Treasure: None Abilities: Str 27, Dex 15, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Advancement: —_______________________________ Skills: Listen +14*, Spot +14*, Swim +16
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature vulnerable to a norska Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Run, Toughness
swarm’s damage that begins its turn with a swarm in its space Environment: Cold aquatic
is nauseated for 1 round; a Fortitude DC 17 negates the Organization: Solitary or pod (6–11)
effect. Even after a successful save, spellcasting or Challenge Rating: 5
concentrating on spells within the area of a norska swarm Advancement: 10–13 HD (Huge); 14–27 HD (Gargantuan)

67
Hold Breath (Ex): A whale can hold its breath for a number of
rounds equal to 8 × its Constitution score before it risks
drowning.
The Dragaeran orca is a predator known for its ferocity. It is a
very large sea vertebrate, with distinctive black and white
markings. The orca is not simply a whale, it also has gills.
Phoenix
Treasure: Standard
Advancement: 9-11 HD (Medium), 12-22 HD (Large)_______
Spell-Like Abilities: At will - burning hands (DC 13); 3/day -
scorching ray, produce flame; The save DC's are Intelligence-
based.
Burning Claws (Su): A phoenix deals 1d4 points extra fire
damage when it hits with a talons attack. Also, a creature
grappling a phoenix takes 1d6 points fire damage each turn.
Rebirth (Ex): Upon death, a phoenix is consumed in flame,
dealing 1d6 fire damage to all targets within 5 feet. The
phoenix is then reborn from the ashes as a Tiny hatchling,
which grows to full size in 1d4 days. The reborn phoenix
retains all of its memories. If the ashes are gathered up and
cast into a large body of water directly after death (i.e. before
rebirth), the phoenix will die permanently.

The Dragaeran phoenix is extremely rare, and when it dies it

is reborn in fire.

Ratbird
Diminutive Animal
Hit Dice: 1/4 d8 (1 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 5 ft (1 square), fly 40 ft. (good)
Armor Class: 16 (+4 size, +2 Dex), touch 16, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–17
Attack: —
Full Attack: —
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Blindsense 20 ft., low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 1, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 4
Skills: Hide +14, Listen +8*, Move Silently +6, Spot +8*
Medium Magical Beast Feats: Alertness
Hit Dice: 8d10 (44 hp) Environment: Temperate forests
Initiative: +9 Organization: Colony (10–40) or crowd (10–50)
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), fly 70 ft. (14 squares) Challenge Rating: 1/10
Armor Class: 18 (+5 Dex, +1 natural, +2 deflection), touch 17, Advancement: —____________________________________
flat-footed 13 Blindsense (Ex): A bat notices and locates creatures within 20
Base Attack/Grapple: +8/+9 feet. Opponents still have 100% concealment against a
Attack: Talons +9 melee (1d4+1 plus 1d4 fire damage) creature with blindsense.
Full Attack: 2 talons +9 melee (1d4+1 plus 1d4 fire damage) Skills: *A bat has a +4 racial bonus on Spot and Listen checks.
and bite +4 melee (1d6) These bonuses are lost if its blindsense is negated.
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spell-like abilities, burning claws The ratbird lives in the jungles near Adrilankha.
Special Qualities: Immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold, spell They are predators who subsist on small creatures such as
resistance 18, rebirth rats and teckla.
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +15, Will +10 Ratbirds hunt in pairs, and stay in contact with one another
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 20, Con 11, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 16 by periodically calling out to one another. The period of time
Skills: Sense Motive +11, Bluff +11, Appraise +9, Spellcraft between calls is consistent for each pair of hunting ratbirds.
+10 A clever individual may be able to keep track of time by
Feats: Improved Initiative, Flyby Attack, Empower Spell-like measuring the time interval between calls for a pair of nearby
Ability (burning hands) ratbirds, and then counting the number of times a call is
Environment: Warm regions made during a specific period.
Organization: Solitary or small flock (5-6)
Challenge Rating: 7
68
Teckla Armor Class: 16 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +4 natural), touch 12, flat-
footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+13
Attack: Claw +8 melee (1d6+6)
Full Attack: 2 claws +8 melee (1d6+6) and bite +3 melee
(1d8+3)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Rage
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +5
Tiny Animal Abilities: Str 22, Dex 17, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Hit Dice: 1/4 d8 (1 hp) Skills: Climb +14, Listen +7, Spot +7
Initiative: +2 Feats: Alertness, Toughness, TrackB
Speed: 15 ft. (3 squares), climb 15 ft., swim 15 ft. Environment: Cold forests
Armor Class: 14 (+2 size, +2 Dex), touch 14, flat-footed 12 Organization: Solitary or pair
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–12 Challenge Rating: 5
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3–4) Treasure: None
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d3–4) Alignment: Always neutral
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. Advancement: 7–16 HD (Large)_
Special Attacks: — Pounce (Ex): If a lion charges a foe, it can make a full attack,
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent including two rake attacks.
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +4, Will +1 Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a lion must hit with its
Abilities: Str 2, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 2 bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free
Skills: Balance +10, Climb +12, Hide +14, Move Silently +10, action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins
Swim +10 the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can rake.
Feats: Weapon Finesse Rake (Ex): Attack bonus +7 melee, damage 1d4+2.
Environment: Any
Organization: Plague (10–100) The tiassa is a large cat-like predator, capable of flight thanks
Challenge Rating: 1/8 to bat-like wings. Wild tiassa typically live off of kethna and
Advancement: — norska. They are typically found in remote areas, particularly
forests and mountains.
The common tackla is a marsh mouse, known for being
stereotypically timid. They are easy pickings for predators,
especially jhereg.
Tsalmoth
Tiassa

Large Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+24 (51 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +5 natural), touch 10, flat-
footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+16
Attack: Claw +11 melee (1d8+8)
Large Animal Full Attack: 2 claws +11 melee (1d8+8) and bite +6 melee
Hit Dice: 6d8+23 (49 hp) (2d6+4)
Initiative: +3 Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 10 ft., fly 40 ft. Special Attacks: Improved grab, rapid strike
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
69
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +4, Spot +7, Swim +12
Winneasaurus
Large Animal
Feats: Endurance, Run, Track
Hit Dice: 4d8+11 (29 hp)
Environment: Cold forests
Initiative: +2
Organization: Solitary or pair
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Challenge Rating: 5
Armor Class: 14 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +3 natural), touch 11, flat-
Advancement: 7–10 HD (Large)________________________
footed 12
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a tsalmoth must hit
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+12
with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a
Attack: Claws +7 melee (1d6+5)
free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Full Attack: 2 claws +7 melee (1d6+5) and bite +2 melee
Rapid Strike (Ex): A tsalmoth can used two standard claw
(1d6+2)
attacks in place of a regular standard attack action, due to
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
their speed and tenacity.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
The bear-like tsalmoth has a reputation for tenacity and
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2
singleness of purpose. The mating dance of tsalmoth is
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
noteworthy, an intricate dance following a circular pattern.
Skills: Climb +14, Listen +6, Spot +6
While not one of the primary food-animals of Dragaera,
Feats: Alertness, Toughness
tsalmoth ribs or steaks may sometimes be found on the menu
Environment: Warm forests
at fashionable restaurants in Adrilankha.
Organization: Solitary, pair, or company (3–5)
In the wild, the predatory tsalmoth shares common ranges
Challenge Rating: 2
with antelope, living in lightly wooded areas near plains.
Advancement: 5–8 HD

Vallista The winneasaurus is a gentle creature most commonly

utilized as a foodstuff. It is a less common dish than norska or
kethna.

Yendi

Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-
footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–3 Tiny Animal
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1) Hit Dice: ½ d8 (2 hp)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d4+1) Initiative: +3
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Speed: 15 ft. (3 squares), climb 15ft., swim 15ft.
Special Attacks: — Armor Class: 17 (+2size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 15, flat-
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent footed 14
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1 Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-11
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6 Attack: Bite +5 (1 + poison)
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1 Full Attack: Bite +5 (1 + poison)
Feats: Alertness, TrackB Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Environment: Rivers & lakes Special Attacks: Poison
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12) Special Qualities: Scent, low-light vision
Challenge Rating: 1/3 Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Advancement: — Abilities: Str 4, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +15, Listen+6, Spot +6,
Vallista are amphibious creatures that live in streams and Swim +5
ponds. Like a beaver, they construct (and periodically Feats: Weapon Finesse
demolish) intricate dams, burrows, and bridges. Environment: Temperate plains, deserts

70
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Treasure: None
Advancement: —

The yendi is a desert snake with a venomous, though subtle

poison. Victims often don't know they've been bitten until
they drop dead an hour later.

71
NPCs
Empress Zerika the Fourth
Phoenix
Zerika is the daughter of Lord Vernoi and Princess Loudin,
two of the only members of House Phoenix who survived
Adron’s Disaster. Sadly, they perished shortly after Zerika’s
birth from one of the many plagues to sweep across Dragaera
during the Interregnum.
She was raised in anonymity by two Dragonlords in
Adrilankha, under the orders of Sethra Lavode. She was called
"Zivra" for the first two hundred years of her life, unaware of
who she was or what her future would entail.
When Sethra determined the time to be right, "Zivra" was
summoned and told that her real name was "Zerika", and
that she was the Phoenix Heir (due to the fact that there
were literally no other Phoenix alive). Zerika was tutored in
the ways of the Paths of the Dead, in order to restore the
Dragaeran Empire and end the Interregnum by retrieving the
Orb, which Sethra Lavode had sent there shortly before
Adron's Disaster. This was an extremely significant and
difficult task, as normally no living soul may depart the Paths
after it enters.
Zerika was officially confirmed as Empress by the Council of
Princes shortly after the Battle of Adrilankha, where her only
real rival to the throne, the Dragonlord Duke Kâna, was
defeated.
For the past two and a half centuries, Zerika has led the
Empire skillfully and faithfully. She is known to be less up-
tight than one might expect of an Empress, and the popular
gossip of the court has long whispered about her secretive
Easterner lover, (who happens to be Laszló, perhaps the most
skilled Witchcraft practitioner alive.) Officially, her cabinet
contains no Prime Minister, but the post is secretly filled by a
Yendi named Pel.
Aliera e’Kieron
Dragon
Aliera e’Kieron is the daughter of Duke Adron e’Kieron (of the
famed catastrophe which bears his name,) and the goddess
Verra, (although this last is not common knowledge.)
Morrolan e’Drien, a prominent Dragonlord, is her cousin, and
only those who know her best know that the famed assassin
Mario is her lover.
Every bit the arrogant princess, Aliera just so happens to
enjoy chopping people in half more than anything else. In
spite of her extremely short stature, she is an expert
combatant, wielding the Great Weapon named Pathfinder.
She is known to levitate in an attempt to seem taller, and her
eyes have been known to change color when she is angry.
Being of the e’Kieron line, her hair is atypically blonde. She
72
was briefly Heir to the Dragon throne, but after weaseling her
way out of that honor, she contents herself with being
Warlord of the Empire.
Aliera is the
reincarnation of one of
the founders of the
Empire, sister to both
Kieron the Conqueror
and Dolivar, founder of
House Jhereg. She has
undergone regression
with Sethra Lavode (who
has been alive since the
Empire’s founding, and
thus actually knew Aliera
back then,) to recall her
past life.
Aliera’s role in history
has been a significant
one. It was her arrival at the Imperial Palace in the last days
of the Reign of Emperor Tortaalik that disrupted the Court,
especially the attention of Prime Minister Jurabin and the
Emperor’s consort, Noima. Noima convinced the Emperor to
search Aliera's guest room for items of Pre-Empire Sorcery,
(as it was well known that Adron and Aliera practiced this
illegal study,) which eventually cascaded into Adron’s
Disaster, obliterating Dragaera City.
At ground-zero of the Disaster, it was only to the timely
intervention of Sethra Lavode that saved Aliera from
destruction – though her soul was wrenched from her
physical body during the process. Aliera's soul was found in a
Teckla wheat field and put into a staff, which found its way
into the possession of an Athyra sorcerer named Loraan, who
used it for magical research. After the Interregnum, its
location was discovered by Sethra Lavode and Morrolan
e'Drien, who organized the appropriation of the staff with the
aid of the Jhereg assassin, Vladimir Taltos.
With her soul in hand, Vlad and Aliera’s cousin, Morrolan,
perilously journeyed to the Paths of the Dead in order to free
it from confinement. Eventually, the goddess Verra, (Aliera’s
mother,) restored Aliera to life and allowed her to return to
the land of the living.
Once again alive, Aliera continued her magical research,
especially in the area of Elder Sorcery. By right of heritage,
she also supplanted Morrolan as the Dragon Heir – a position
she loathed. She put a great deal of effort into locating a
more suitable heir, and by chance encountered such an
individual in Norathar e’Lanya. Aliera then took the position
of Warlord, and eventually came into possession of the Great
Weapon, Pathfinder, from Sethra the Younger. As the wielder
of such a blade, she has been instrumental in recent efforts to
protect the world from Jenoine incursion.
Another oddity in Aliera’s life is her daughter, Devera. The
goddess Verra set Aliera up on an unusual date with the only
man she has ever considered a worthy sire for her child:
Kieron the Conqueror, whose soul has resided in the Paths of
the Dead, having never been reincarnated since the founding
of the Empire. As such, she defied time, space, and plane to fact, preferring to use her skills only in relation to the
conceive her daughter, Devera, who, as a partially divine performance of her craft.
being, has the ability to travel through time and space on a
whim.
Secret Identity
Daymar Only one, perhaps two individuals in the entire Empire know
Hawk that Kiera the Thief is just an alter ego of Sethra Lavode (see
Daymar is a Hawklord and Psychics expert, (an oddity, to be pg 5). When she was displaced from the royal Court during
sure,) with stronger mental powers than any but the the Lavode scandal, she needed a way to keep track of
strongest wizards. criminal activity in the Empire, and created the persona of
Daymar is a strangely Kiera to facilitate her continued surveillance of criminal
detached fellow with an almost organizations.
endless supply of curiosity,
combined with a social
ineptitude that is almost
unparalleled in the Empire.
Laszló
Jokes and sarcasm tend to fly Easterner
right over his head, causing Better known as Viscount Brimford, or simply “The Warlock,”
Daymar to take most comments Laszló is perhaps the world’s foremost practitioner of
extremely literally. A great many Witchcraft. Testament to this is the fact that he, uniquely, has
individuals would describe not one, but two familiars: a dog named Awtlá (who can, via
Daymar as annoying and unknown means, turn into a wolf,) and a cat named Sireng
irritating – despite the fact that (who can similarly become a dzur.) Even more impressive is
Daymar has nothing but the the fact that Brimford has managed to significantly extend his
best intentions. lifespan – by several centuries.
Still, Daymar has accumulated some powerful friends, After proving his value during the restoration of the
(including Morrolan e’Drien,) thanks in part to being deeply Dragaeran Empire, Zerika the Fourth granted him his imperial
title of Viscount. It is an open secret in the Imperial Court that
well-informed about psychic powers. In fact, he may be
considered one of the Empires foremost experts on that Brimford is the Empress’s lover. At times, he’s been known to
peculiar magical craft. As a friend, Daymar is very loyal, and go on unofficial missions for her.
often does difficult favors for nothing but the pleasure of
doing them. Lord Khaavren
Among his many eccentricities, Daymar prefers to float Tiassa
wherever he goes, instead of walk. He also has the habit of Lord Khaavren is a man of many names. Publically, he is the
teleporting unannounced to and from places, and often Count of Shallowbanks, Marquis of Khaavren, and Captain of
leaves without remembering that the socially polite thing to the Phoenix Guard. Secretly, he is also Brigadier of the Special
do is to say “goodbye.” Tasks Group. Behind his back, some call him “Papa Cat.”
A professor of Palmar University, Daymar has been known In the Athyra Reign prior to Emperor Tortaalik’s ascension,
to dabble in desecration – i.e., archaeology – and was present only those with magical talent could enlist in the Imperial
when the Great Weapon known as Nightslayer was Guard. After the turning of the Cycle, though, Khaavren took
unearthed by the Dzurlord Telnan. the opportunity to become one of the Empire’s law
enforcement officers – unusual, for a Tiassa.
Kiera the Thief He quickly rose in prestige by displaying a quick wit, keen
intelligence, and an unwavering moral and ethical code. His
Jhereg
Kiera the Thief is considered one willingness to take the initiative earned him several important
of the best thieves in the Jhereg. assignments, and in short order, Khaavren was climbing
She is one of the few women in through the ranks.
the business end of the Jhereg, He was leading the Imperial Guard as Captain when
(i.e., the “Right Hand.”) She often Emperor Tortaalik was assassinated, and he took this turn of
steals on commission, though events hard, believing he had failed in his duties. However,
sometimes she steals for herself when Zerika the Fourth reclaimed the Orb, he distinguished
as well. She is considered himself at the Battle of Adrilankha, and reclaimed his post.
legendary both at pick-pocketry Since that time he has also become the leader of the
and at breaking and entering. Special Tasks Group, one of the Empire’s secret intelligence
She is a highly accomplished departments. In his public role as Captain of the Guard,
sorceress, but never flaunts the
73
however, he has gained a strong reputation for being an
unwavering champion for justice.
Khaavren is married to Daro, the Countess of Whitecrest,
(the country in which the city of Adrilankha resides.) Together
they have a son, Piro, the Viscount of Adrilankha.
Mario Greymist
Jhereg
The most legendary assassin in recent history, Mario gained
fame and infamy when he assassinated Emperor Tortaalik.
Whenever a murder goes unsolved these days, the Imperial
Guards simply shrug and say, “Mario did it.”
In truth, Mario’s infamous assassination was due more to
luck than skill. He was hired to kill the Emperor, but unknown
to him, his attempt was never intended to succeed, and his
employers were counting on Mario being killed in the
attempt. He made it out alive, however, and somewhat
inexplicably, decided to go through with the assassination
anyway. Unfortunately for the Empire, his second attempt
was successful, and the death of the Emperor caused Adron
e’Kieron’s spell involving Elder Sorcery to backlash, causing
Adron’s Disaster.
Morrolan e’Drien
Dragon
Duke of Southmoor and the Lord of Castle Black, Morrolan
e'Drien has, at various points in recent history, been a general
in the Imperial Army, the Court Wizard, and the Dragon Heir.
Morrolan is relatively even-tempered for a Dragonlord, but
never takes insults lightly. He supervises a party at his floating
castle, Castle Black, that has been going on for two hundred
years, non-stop. He is particularly devoted to the safety of his
guests, and is notoriously aggressive to any who dare violate
it. His personal sense of honor and duty to the Empire is very
strong, and he’ll do anything to uphold it. Unlike the vast
majority of Dragaerans, Morrolan is an accomplished witch,
in addition to being a sorcerer. He is also one of Verra’s most
dedicated worshipers.
Morrolan's father
was Rollondar
e'Drien, who was
Warlord under
Emperor Tortaalik
just before the
Interregnum, and
was killed during
Adron's Disaster. His
mother was Adron
e'Kieron's youngest
sister. Orphaned in
the first years of the
Interregnum, he
came to be raised not
in Dragaera, but
strangely, in the East.
He grew up knowing
74
almost nothing about the Empire or about Dragaerans, and
initially believed that he was nothing more and an
exceptionally tall Easterner.
As a youth, he trained to be a witch, and as part of a
lengthy quest, he sought out a symbolic new name. A chance
encounter with a coachman granted him the name Morrolan,
which in the ancient language of the Dragons means “Dark
Star.” To complete his quest, he devoted himself completely
to the Demon Goddess Verra, and formed a dedicated coven
of witches to serve her.
It was only with the arrival of Lady Teldra, an Issola, that he
learned of his ancestral landholdings, and decided to return
to the homeland he’d never known. With his coven in tow, he
crossed the Eastern Mountains and reclaimed lordship over
his father’s lands. Little did he know that Dzur Mountain, the
home of Sethra Lavode, sat within these lands. When first
they met, Sethra fulfilled an ancient prophecy by gifting him
Blackwand, one of the seventeen Great Weapons, and set
about teaching him Sorcery (which was only possible because
Zerika had recently reclaimed the Orb.)
Morrolan discovered that because of his heritage, he was
the Dragon Heir to the throne, while allowed him to rise in
status overnight. He was instrumental in winning the battles
which secured Zerika the Fourth the Imperial throne, one of
which required the levitation of his fledgling home, Castle
Black, and another of which required him to slay the god
Tri'nagore, using Blackwand.
For the next two hundred and forty years, Morrolan
solidified his place as one of the more influential aristocrats in
the Empire. With Sethra’s help, he recovered the long-lost
soul of his cousin Aliera e’Kieron, (whom he had never met,)
and journeyed into the Paths of the Dead in order to return
her to life. Normally, he would have been unable to leave the
Paths again, because no living mortal soul may depart the
paths. Luckily, it had been arranged for a vial of a goddess’s
blood to be injected into Morrolan, and this divine gift
allowed him to return to the land of the living.
Since Aliera was now the rightful Dragon Heir, Morrolan
instead took the post of Court Wizard. However, he held this
posting only briefly. He is still an influential member of House
Dragon, though, and is personal friends with the Empress.
Along with Blackwand, he has been instrumental in defending
the world from recent Jenoine attacks.
Norathar e'Lanya
Dragon
Duchess of Ninerocks and Countess of Haewind, Norathar
e’Lanya was once a Jhereg assassin, but now holds the
position of Dragon Heir, and barring unforeseen
circumstances, will become the next Empress of Dragaera.
Norathar e'Lanya was orphaned at the age of four when
her parents, K'laiyer and Miera, died at a time of battle with
Sethra Lavode. The reason behind the battle was an
accusation made by Sethra questioning Norathar's eligibility
as Dragon Heir after she was told Norathar was a bastard and
that her father was not a Dragon and thought it her duty to
investigate, choosing to confront K'laiyer about the situation.
K'laiyer was offended and refused to permit a genetic scan,
declaring war against Dzur Mountain. Being a skilled tactician,
he lost with some difficulty. K'laiyer and Miera were reported
to have massive head injuries but the circumstances of their
death at the time were unknown. Norathar was scanned
falsely and was confirmed by the Dragon Council to be an
illegitimate child.
There was an underlying force at play during this entire
affair composed of a Dragon, Sethra the Younger, who
performed the false scan, and a Yendi, the Sorceress in
Green, who conspired with her to prevent Lord K'laiyer from
becoming Heir after their discovery that K'laiyer did not plan
to make offensive moves against the East once he assumes
the Throne. The whole conspiracy was designed to ensure an
invasion of the East and presumably began once the Dragon
Council chose K'laiyer as their Heir, after which they arranged
for Sethra Lavode to hear the a rumor about Norathar's
ancestry. In the events that followed Norathar was ejected
from the House of the Dragon and joined the Jhereg.
At some point, the orphaned Norathar joined the House
Jhereg, and she eventually partnered with an Easterner
named Cawti. The two of them became famed and very
skilled assassins who called themselves the "Sword and
Dagger of the Jhereg". Their partnership came to an end,
however, when an assassination contract led them across the
paths of Sethra Lavode and Aliera e’Kieron, the Dragon Heir
at the time, who was desperately seeking someone else to fill
that role.
Sethra the Younger
Dragon
Sethra the Younger is a Dragonlord who apprenticed herself
to Sethra Lavode, and took the name "Sethra" in order to
honor her mentor. Indeed, Sethra the Younger is the only
apprentice that Sethra Lavode has had so far who did not try
to kill her.
Immediately after the Interregnum, she was very
instrumental in holding off the forces of Kâna during the
Battle of Adrilankha. In return for this service, she was
granted the post of Warlord.
Sethra the Younger manipulated the Dragon succession so
that under the next Emperor, she would either be Warlord or
the Warlord would be someone who didn't mind if she
invaded the East. Her manipulations resulted in the deaths of
K'laiyer e'Lanya, the rightful Heir of the e'Lanya line, and his
spouse Miera, resulting in Adron e'Kieron becoming Heir
(again), which was rather more unfortunate than it should
have been, as no one could have expected Adron to destroy
Dragaera City and cause the Interregnum.
When her schemes came to light, Sethra Lavode punished
her former apprentice by sending her to another dimension
to write "I will not interfere with the Dragon Council" 83,521
(or 174) times. The Empress further punished Sethra the
Younger by declaring that she could never hold any Imperial
post. This disgrace led to her termination from the post of
75
Court Wizard, which she occupied at the time these
machinations became known.
Sethra the Younger claimed the Morganti greatsword that
was hiding the Great Weapon Pathfinder at the Battle of
Baritt's Tomb, but later traded it to Aliera e'Kieron for
Kieron's Greatsword, which she intends to use to conquer the
East.
Telnan
Dzur
Telnan is an unusually cheerful Dzurlord who has spent much
of the last century studying in the dungeons of Dzur
Mountain to become the first of a new generation of
Lavodes. Although he hasn’t made any great
accomplishments as of yet, the fact that Sethra decided to
train him speaks a great deal about his potential. A large part
of that potential might have to do with him being the bearer
of the newly unearthed Great Weapon named Nightslayer.
When Telnan completes his training, he intends to take the
name “Zungaron Lavode.”
The Demon
Jhereg
Daifan (or, “the Demon,” as he is more commonly known,) is
currently the number-one figure in the Right Hand of the
Jhereg. He is fairly young, probably under eight hundred
years of age. Records of him do not exist before the
Interregnum. His prominence began after he personally
assassinated two of three remaining Jhereg Council members
who survived the invasions, plagues and destruction of
Dragaera City. He has a reputation for being an honest – but
ruthless – kind of guy.
The Sorceress in Green
Yendi
This clever Yendi is a close associate of Sethra Lavode, and
can usually be found wearing something green. She is
exceptionally tall, even for a Dragaeran, has an attractive face
with light brown hair, and might easily be taken for an Athyra.
The Sorceress in Green is very old, as the first evidence of
her activities dates back several cycles. This works out to well
over 20,000 years, or approximately 7–10 times a normal
Dragaeran lifespan. However, she uses sorcery to maintain
her appearance at around a youthful 250 years of age.
Her fame as a sorceress dates at least to the fifteenth
Tsalmoth Reign when she created the "Wall of Circling
Winds" to hold back a tidal wave. Later, during the Littleshell
War, she held the entire sorcerers' corps of Baron Niefivre at
bay for three days, giving Sethra time to flank her opponent
and win the war for the Empire. Her skill was regarded so
highly that she was offered a command position in the Athyra
Guard during the seventeenth Athyra Reign.
The Sorceress in Green was instrumental in the
reconstruction of the Empire, serving in the Battle of Castle
Black and Battle of Adrilankha. However, she was also the key
figure (and villain) in the events and conspiracy against the
Dragon Council. During that time, she is known to have
pretended to be an Athyra, one Baroness Tierella, for the
purpose of establishing false evidence that Norathar e'Lanya
was a crossbreed bastard, in an effort to ensure that Sethra
the Younger would become Warlord. These schemes came to
light recently, much to her frustration.

76