Eberron - Rising from the Last War

(Jeff_L) #1

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THE LAST WA R
For hundreds of years, the continent of Khorvaire was
united under the kingdom of Galifar. This peace came to
an end with the death of King J arot in 894 YK, just over
a century ago. Conflict over the succession spiraled into
outright war between the Five Nations.
The Last War was a bitter struggle that forever
changed the shape of Khorvaire. It was a century
marked by shifting alliances, with years of stalemate in­
terspersed with periods of intense battles. This grueling
conflict left deep scars on the land and the people, but
there was worse to come. On 20 Olarune 994 YK, the
nation of Cyre was consumed in a magical cataclysm
now known as the Mourning. The cause of the Mourn­
ing remains unknown; many fe ar it was caused by un­
bridled use of war magic. Shock and fe ar brought the
nations to the negotiating table, and the Last War came
to an end in 996 YK with the Treaty of Thronehold.
Although many celebrated the end of the war, others
remain unsatisfied with its outcome. No one won the
war. Even though people optimistically refer to it as the
Last War, most believe that it's only a matter of time
until conflict begins anew. The mystery of the Mourn­
ing is the only thing holding the warmongers at bay. If
someone uncovers the secret of the Mourning-if it can
be proven that the Mourning can't happen again, or if
its power could be harnessed as a weapon-war could
erupt again. Until then, the nations remain in a cold war
as each makes preparations and seeks advantages in a
conflict that could lie ahead.

WELCOME TO EBERRON

THE SCARS OF WA R
As of 1 Zarantyr 998 YK, it's been less than four years
since the Mourning and less than two years since the
Last War came to an end. The Last War spanned the
continent and lasted for over a century. Most people
want to move on. But the scars of decades of war can't
be erased so quickly. These are just a few of the ongoing
effects of the Last War.

DRAGONMARKED POWER
The dragonmarked houses remained neutral in the war
and made considerable profit selling their services to all
sides. War drives innovation; House Cannith developed
many new weapons during the war, including the war­
forged. House Lyrandar perfected its airships in the last
decade of the conflict. Rumors persist of monsters or
super soldiers developed by House Vadalis or biological
weapons in the hands of House Jorasco.
The dragonmarked houses emerged from the war
stronger than ever, with the divided nations dependent
on their services. Before the Last War, united Galifar
imposed many restrictions on the houses. Today, no
monarch can afford to break ties with any of the dragon­
marked houses. What will happen if one of the houses
goes too far in its pursuit of profit?

NEW NATIONS
Before the Last War, Galifar laid claim to all Khorvaire.
Several new states emerged over the course of the war.
In some cases, this was largely a formality; Galifar
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