The Drow War Book Two. The Dying Of - RoseRed

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for 1d3 hours after drinking. However, it also creates
gas in the system, bestowing a –2 penalty on all Move
Silently checks and Perform checks which involve the
voice. Cost: 2 gp
Non-Player Character Group: The Iron
Dukes
Each of the Iron Dukes has an additional title that
describes his region of responsibility. The relevant
duke commands the forces in that part of Jehannum as
well as having a voice in the day-to-day governing of
the nation.
When the Player Characters visit the dukes in
Burgenstoch, only four of them are present: Morgenstern,
Ambar Lone, Frederick and Carom. Gormick may also
be there if he has accompanied the Player Characters to
Crom Calamar.
The dukes and their wards are:
Duke Morgenstern, Sovereign of Burgenstoch: This
duke, an elderly gentleman with joints that crack and
pop, is in charge of the upper city and the castle. He
is the honorary chairman of the dukes’ council and is
looked to when disputes between the dukes need to be
resolved.
Morgenstern is not whom he appears to be. The spirit of
a former ruler of the city, Duke Taggarac, possesses him
through the iron mask of office that he wears. Taggarac
was responsible for making the deal with the elves of
Xoth Sarandi, in which a vast tribute payment was made
in exchange for the annulment of the peace treaty with
the drow. What nobody but Taggarac and a handful of
the lords of Xoth Sarandi know is that part of that tribute
was the promise to help Taggarac cheat death. Money
alone would not have persuaded the duke to go back on
his word but the assurance of immortality did. The iron
masks, fashioned by the highest of the elven archmages,
arrived along with the heaps of treasure.
Taggarac is cautious, observant and sly. He has held
the position of Sovereign of Burgenstoch for over 800
years, using the mask to possess the different people
who take on the office. The coming of the drow fills
him with stark terror. It is his fault, more than anyone
else’s, that the drow were driven from Jehannum and
slaughtered by the thousands. What if they were to
discover that the man responsible for their doom is still
living, his soul preserved through an artefact?
Duke Ambar, Protector of the City: Duke Ambar is
bald and heavy-set, with a metal bolt through his nose.
He rose through the ranks from a mere private to this
high position simply because of his bravery and refusal
to give in despite the odds. Duke Ambar is believed
to be ‘lucky’ and those who fight with him are always
confident that they will have victory. His role is to
defend Crom Calamar itself, up to the top of the Shadrill
Stair, where Duke Morgenstern takes over.
Duke Ashforth, Guardian of Wathrell Forest: Duke
Ashforth, a taciturn and brilliant man with a sad face
and a drooping moustache, has the responsibility to keep
Wathrell Forest and the neighbouring city of Esveltarn
free from unrest.
Duke Carom, Steward of Nebelkir: Duke Carom
is charged with protecting Nebelkir, the easternmost
city of Jehannum, an especially important tactical spot
because of its proximity to the border with Visk. Carom
is obsessed with military precision and always appears
with every button polished and every seam straight. He
is the least popular of the dukes among the soldiery.
Duke Frederick, Admiral of the Fleet: Duke Frederick
has long hair and a bushy beard and speaks far more
loudly than he needs to. Crom Calamar has only a small
naval force, so his station is more of an honorary one.
The sea-portals to and from Xoth Sarandi have made
sea travel safe and swift, so there is little need for a
large fleet. Frederick’s ships mostly patrol up and down
the western coast, watching for pirates and smugglers.
Duke Gormick, Wolf of the West: Gormick lives up
to his title, a grey-haired old veteran with yellow teeth
and a look that suggests he would tear a man’s throat
out if he looked at him the wrong way. He is in charge
of defending the western borders, specifically that with
Ghael. Gormick’s power base is the fortress of Ellenbek
(see above). If the Player Characters come through
Ghael, they will almost certainly meet Gormick.
Duke Osteron, Knight of the Mountains: Osteron is
built like an ogre, with little glinting eyes and a huge
jaw. His duty is to patrol the border with Svarth, which
is not often a challenging task, since the country has
been at peace with Jehannum for many years. The worst
disturbances come from bandits in the hills raiding – or
trying to raid – the trade caravans filled with quality
weapons and armour from the smithies of Svarth, or the
returning traders laden with food and dry goods from
the fields of Jehannum.
Duke Sagaz, Warden of the Plains: Duke Sagaz
is olive-skinned and was originally an officer in the
Phoenix Legion of the Topaz Dominions before joining
Ibon Presno Gonzalez (order #73006) 8