The Organizations

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 ofthe 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 ofThartholan than most people alive.This 8th-level human greenbond has adapted well to serving a land with such a confused identity. Ifyou can find him,he can serve as an excellent guide or source ofinformation.

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 ofland.The folk ofVerdune 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 ofthe 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.

One can find hundreds ofguilds,militias,knightly orders, brotherhoods,and local organizations in the Lands ofthe Diamond Throne.A few are large or influential enough to merit discussion here.

The Council of Magisters

Once one ofthe most powerful organizations in the Lands ofthe 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 offalling stars in the night sky oflate, and even the rumors ofa new source ofmagical 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 ofthe 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 oftheir origins or their actual physical forms.One likely possibility is that the Jaren are not from this plane,but arrived here through one ofthe 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 ofbrass 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 ofthe Diamond Throne,a powerful and well-connected organization called the Nightwalkers uses thievery,smuggling,assassination,and occasionally slaving to earn vast amounts ofgold.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 ofone 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 ofthe day.The leader ofthe strongest element,the Night King,is the most powerful and influential member ofthe organization.

The elements occasionally feud,but this is actually fairly rare.Most often,the Nightwalkers avoid conflict ofany kind,even with local authorities or opposing groups (like the Jaren or the Order ofthe 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 ofthe Axe is the largest and most powerful knightly order in the Lands ofthe 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 ofthe nature ofthe order, however,they must work in secret.

Sir Redic Pynchar founded the Order ofthe Axe over 300 years ago on the principle ofmaintaining order,peace,and