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The Diamond Throne
back to their worlds are alien beasts and odd creatures. Occasionally, a displaced golem or other construct from another plane is spotted wandering the fields of the kingdom, attempting to fulfill its original, alien mission. A trip to Thartholan can be a very strange experience, to say the least. Curiosities and Characters Veilin Tonast knows more about the wilds of Thartholan than most people alive. This 8th-level human greenbond has adapted well to serving a land with such a confused identity. If you can find him, he can serve as an excellent guide or source of information. The short but stout Thorek Glitterhammer, a 7th-level warrior, is displaced from his homeworld and wishes to get back. He claims to be a “dwarf.” Apparently this term means something to him other than “short human.”
The Unknown West Beyond Verdune and Thartholan to the west and north lies an uncharted expanse of land. The folk of Verdune say it is a dry and inhospitable place that stretches for a thousand miles before ending in another sea. Legends claim that this region provides a home for the metallic dragons that left the Lands of the Diamond Throne long ago. One tale speaks of an ancient castle where dragons once taught magic to humans. This fortress still rises above a valley—although whether dragons actually live there anymore is unknown.
The Organizations One can find hundreds of guilds, militias, knightly orders, brotherhoods, and local organizations in the Lands of the Diamond Throne. A few are large or influential enough to merit discussion here.
The Council of Magisters Once one of the most powerful organizations in the Lands of the Diamond Throne, this group technically disbanded about 90 years ago. Recently, however, a loresong faen magister named Faevor Grayportal has made it known that he wishes to resurrect the institution. He sees signs in such events as the renewed interest in Castle Mabb (see page 20), the increased number of falling stars in the night sky of late, and even the rumors of a new source of magical power among the alabasts. These signs, he says, show that the council is needed again. This Thayn-based mage is currently looking for powerful magisters.
The Jaren Perhaps the realm’s largest mercantile organization is also the most mysterious. The Jaren seemed to appear shortly after the disappearance of the dramojh. These people (their race is unknown) wear long purple robes, bronze masks, and articulated gauntlets. No one has ever seen their faces or bodies— and any Jaren slain in bandit raids or grievously harmed in
accidents have simply vanished. They do not speak of their origins or their actual physical forms. One likely possibility is that the Jaren are not from this plane, but arrived here through one of the many gates still active in Thartholan. Every Jaren ever encountered has been a potent mage. One may never meet an actual Jaren when working for them or with them, however. They have a vast network of employees and contractors from every major race. The Jaren concentrate mostly on shipping, running large caravans across the Central Plains and even through the Southern Wastes into Zalavat. They also operate on the sea, usually in hired ships with hired crews. Occasionally one might spy strange ships made of brass and dark wood with glass sails, apparently created by the Jaren themselves. In addition to transporting goods—buying in one area and transporting them vast distances to where there is demand—they also peddle their own wares wherever they go. Jaren goods are always magic items, usually potions but constant and charged items as well (never scrolls).
The Nightwalkers Throughout the Lands of the Diamond Throne, a powerful and well-connected organization called the Nightwalkers uses thievery, smuggling, assassination, and occasionally slaving to earn vast amounts of gold. Many estimate that this organized crime syndicate has more wealth and power than many kingdoms. The Nightwalkers comprise various subdivisions called “elements.” Each element controls a territory, and strict rules prevent members of one element from operating in or sometimes even entering another element’s territory. A leader, or “prince” controls each element. They occasionally convene in different locales to discuss business and issues of the day. The leader of the strongest element, the Night King, is the most powerful and influential member of the organization. The elements occasionally feud, but this is actually fairly rare. Most often, the Nightwalkers avoid conflict of any kind, even with local authorities or opposing groups (like the Jaren or the Order of the Axe; see below). They prefer to use tactics like blackmail, assassination, and sowing dissent rather than open warfare. The current Night King is a sibeccai in Ka-Rone named Urthoss the Dark. He is incredibly secretive and incredibly ruthless, even by Nightwalker standards.
The Order of Axe The Order of the Axe is the largest and most powerful knightly order in the Lands of the Diamond Throne. It has 37 chapters, each with its own chapterhouse located in a keep. Each chapter may have as few as 10 or as many as 300 members in its roster. Because of the nature of the order, however, they must work in secret. Sir Redic Pynchar founded the Order of the Axe over 300 years ago on the principle of maintaining order, peace, and
