The Protectorate of the Dragon (A 4E campaign idea)

[Imperialus]

Hey, a few months back there was a debate here about the place that dragons have in 4E. It gave me an idea for a campaign that's been percolating in the back of my brain since then and I finally now had time to get some of my thoughts down. I wanted to do something that would showcase the PoL concept and run with it but still provide an overarching 'big picture' that would take the PC's beyond the village. I also wanted to include a dragon in it as a central player but one who doesn't need to rely on brute force to get the job done.

Also happy that the 4E alignment system lets me paint a lot more shades of grey

Anyhow, without further ado, here it is. Let me know what you think.

Oh and as far as inspiration goes. Basically it is 2 parts War of the Roses, 1 part Holy Roman Empire and a hefty dose of dragon to add flavor.

A history of the Protectorship of the Dragon.

The history of the Protectorship of the Dragon begins before the fall of the great house of Tyrus and the collapse of the Kingdom of Rhynwal. For centuries, the leadership of the Tyrus dynasty had led human civilization to a golden age of peace and prosperity. King Geodwin II brokered a peace treaty between ancient rivals, the Elvin nation of Lyssandra and the Dwarven ClanFast of Grimsweld and trade from both nations flooded into the kingdom. The ancient battles with the orkish tribes of the north were a distant memory and the Hobgoblin Empire of Gral-Sherath had been driven from their great basalt cities and into the southern wastes. Culture, literature, and philosophy dominated society and warfare was seen as a grand adventure where legions of young noblemen, eager to prove themselves would travel on expeditions to prove their dominance of the Ork barbarians and what remained of the Hobgoblins holdings.

All this changed however with the untimely death of King Geodwin VIII. Though he left a son who was crowned King Reginald III, the eight year old boy was dominated by his powerful Half Elvin uncle and regent Duke Hessan. The boy was also weak in body and mind. He was subject to fits, nothing could hold his attention, and despite the efforts of the greatest physicians in the kingdom never developed the mental acumen of his father.

Duke Hessan on the other hand was an intelligent and cunning political animal. He was also a powerful wizard and commanded the loyalty of many of the southern noblemen who’s rich lands bordered the Elvin kingdom. He was also a bastard however, born of a liaison between Reginald’s grandfather and a courtesan within the Elvin Queen Rhyanna’s entourage. He had secretly resented his half brothers position for years and took the opportunity of his early death to assume the reigns of power himself.

As time went by other nobles within the kingdom began casting suspicious glances towards Duke Hessan and the influence he had over their young king who was by now a teenager and should have been assuming a more important role. Rumors began to fly that the Duke had actually murdered his half brother in a bid for power and that he was continuing to control the young king through sorcerous means. Eventually these rumors were picked up and given legitimacy by the former King Geodwin’s cousin, and First Lord of the Baronial counsel, Duke Edward of Noran who began rallying other nobles to his cause and demanding that Duke Hessan renounce his position.

Corrupted by power, Duke Hessan responded by sending a Voiceless One, a supernatural assassin created through sorcery to kill Duke Edward and his family. The assassin was successful in everything but killing Edward himself. Several of the Duke’s closest companions undertook a perilous journey to recover a rare herb that provided an antidote to the poison which saved Edwards life though he remained weak and infirm for the rest of his life but served as a figurehead for the rebellious barons until his death some ten years later.

During Edward’s recovery, other circumstances began to spiral out of control. Many minor noblemen and uneducated peasants who were loyal to Duke Edward saw Duke Hessan’s Elvin heritage and old prejudices began simmering to the surface. Though Elvin expatriates had been living in human cities for hundreds of years, they had never completely integrated, Elvin witchcraft was blamed for everything from the death of King Geodwin VIII, to the assassin who was sent to kill Edward. Things came to a head on a cold December evening when a minor disturbance at the Elvin market in the northern city of Homesgate lead to a full scale riot, and massacre of the cities Elvin population.

The Baron of Homesgate was a well known supporter of Duke Edward and when Duke Hessan began marching elements of the Royal Guard north towards the city bearing a edict sealed by King Reginald III ordering the removal of the Baron the citizens barred the gates. The first battle of the so-called “Princes War” had begun.

The war raged for almost 15 years. Cities were razed, brother fought brother, sons turned on their fathers. Orc and Hobgoblin mercenaries were used by both sides and the Dwarves and Elves renewed their old grievances, with the Elves supporting Duke Hessan and the ‘Royalist’ cause, and the Dwarves lending their axes to the Baron’s Alliance.

Gradually it appeared that the Royalist forces were gaining the upper hand. However the war had so consumed both sides that they had forgotten about their old enemies, the Hobgoblin Empire of Gral-Sherath. Financed and trained by the mercenaries fighting for both sides and under the leadership of a powerful and charismatic warlord named High Fist, Irrack-Hyan a massive hobgoblin army erupted from the southern wastes and invaded the rich southern lands that had been taken from them centuries before. The unprepared defenders, consisting mostly of old men and boys could only watch in horror as the armies of Irrack-Hyan trampled across their fields and put towns and villages to the torch dragging survivors away to serve as slaves in the harsh desert where they had been forced to make their home.

Within a month the Hobgoblin forces had placed the capitol city of Tyrus under siege and although the Royalist armies rushed to relive their beleaguered sovereign, a fire was started in the keep and both King Reginald III and Duke Hessan were killed. Duke Godwin of Had, who’s homeland was occupied by the Hobgoblins assumed command of the royalist forces and managed to halt the Hobgoblin advance, though his battle weary troops were incapable of driving them back. He also began tentative negotiations with the Barons Alliance, now under the nominal command of the Marcher Lord, Earl Henry of Dramis who’s own holding were under attack by an aggressive clan or Orcs. The negotiations appeared to be at an impasse until an entirely unexpected player entered the field.

The armies of the Duke of Had and the Earl of Dramis met on April morning at a river ford called Cyrus. Though the two sides had both supposedly arrived to negotiate, neither trusted the good faith of the other and each had brought sizable contingents of troops to guard against treachery and exploit any potential weaknesses. By noon on the second day they hadn’t even decided which side of the river to hold negotiations on, and it looked like it would be another round of failed diplomacy.

As bloodshed became more and more likely, a massive shape wheeling against the clouds suddenly blotted out the sun. As the nervous soldiers on both sides fingered their weapons, suspecting treachery a massive dragon landed on the riverbank, its silver scales glistening in the afternoon sun. Its voice rumbled out across the field as he introduced himself as Syrranius and offered a solution to the conflict.

In what became known as the River Treaty, both sides accepted Syrranius’ proposal. Each province of the kingdom was to become a largely independent holding owing fealty only to Syrranius in the interest of common defense. There would be no king, the Protectorship would instead be ruled by a counsel of the 7 most powerful noble houses in the kingdom known as the High Princes. Despite this Syrranius himself would serve as the final arbiter, and the High Princes had no direct sovereignty over the smaller princedoms that made up the Protectorship. Strict laws governing warfare were laid out in the treaty, which would be enforced by the Dragonblood soldiers of Syrranius in exchange for a yearly tax.

With a tenuous peace forged between the Human lords Syrranius turned his attention to the demihumans surrounding his new domain. Bolstered by his Dragonblood soldiers the human armies won a decisive victory at the Battle of 1000 Widows against the Army of Gral-Sherath. In July of the same year the Hobgoblins accepted the treaty of Irrack’s Tears in which they returned many of their new holdings and human prisoners but were permitted to retain a sizable swath of the rich southern lands, ending their exile in the desert.

The proud dwarves agreed to stop their conflict with the Elves but refused to subject themselves to Syrranius’ rule and retreated to their mountain holdings emerging only occasionally to trade their mineral wealth for grain and other essentials.

Likewise the Elves retreated into their forests but a small kingdom of Eldran agreed to Syrranius’ terms and joined the Protectorship with slightly different conditions regarding their autonomy within the Protectorship that were laid out in the Treaty of the Golden Boughs.

For thirty years now this tenuous peace has held. Conflict is still a part of life, as the dozens of tiny principalities vie for power, recognition and sometimes simple survival. The great trading routes that existed during the Tyrus Dynasty no longer exist and the countryside is rife with monsters, along with huge numbers unemployed and desperate soldiers who turned to banditry and raiding to support themselves. Ghosts and monsters haunt the ruins of destroyed cities and much of the knowledge that flourished during the golden age is lost. In fifteen years of war human society almost destroyed itself, and it appears that its recovery will take much, much longer.

 

[Imperialus]

A writeup on Syrrianus, and Knightly Orders. Gotta love the knightly orders. Let me know what you think.

Syrrianus:
Elder Silver Dragon
Unaligned with leanings towards good.

Syrrianus is the leader of the Protectorate of the Dragon. He spent many years observing the humans warring amongst themselves electing to not take a side in the conflict until both factions had exhausted themselves. Syrrianus is primarily interested in personal power though he does genuinely believe that his system is for the peoples own good. He takes a relatively hands off approach to rule. The various princedoms are generally permitted to govern their own affairs, trade, and even fight wars amongst themselves as long as the conventions of The River Treaty are upheld and it doesn’t appear that the conflict will escalate to involve multiple princedoms. His personal army, The Order of the Dragon has outposts and fortresses scattered throughout the land though they too rarely intervene in human conflicts. For the most part Syrrianus and his army are content to sit back and let taxes flow in, anything that threatens to disrupt that will be dealt with.

Order of the Dragon
Knightly Order
Largely Good, Lawful tendencies
Approximately 3000 members (mostly fighters, paladins, warlords, clerics)

The Order of the Dragon never existed in Rhynwal before Syrrianus’ ascendancy. They are none the less an extremely popular organization for young nobles and other people wishing to improve their, or their families standing in the eyes of Syrrianus. Despite the orders lack of history it borrows heavily from the “Knights of Bahamut” incorporating many of the traditions and beliefs of the ancient order of draconic knights. The core of the organization consists of Dragonborn knights, many of whom had been supporters of Syrrianus from before most humans even knew his name.

The organization has expanded massively however since Syrrianus’ coming to power and a younger generation of human knights drawn largely from war orphans are coming of age. Members of the Order of the Dragon can expect respectful treatment in most areas of the Protectorate, small things like food and lodging, medical aid and response to other simple requests. Higher ranking members are expected to raise militias, lead other knights, serve as arbiters in disputes between lords or princes and also serve as a rapid response force to enforce Syrrianus’ will.

The organization is still quite small considering the area it is mandated to protect. Approximately 3000 knights are parceled out among small outposts and strongholds across the Protectorate. Given time they can coalesce into a powerful force but for the most part a Knight of the Order of the Dragon leads a solitary existence relying on support from outside the order itself to survive. Individual knights are forbidden from holding land, instead relying on a monthly stipend from the Order.

Knights of Saint Cuthburt
Knightly Order
Unaligned, Quite Lawful
Approximately 500 members (mostly Fighters, Warlords, Clerics)

The Knights of Saint Cuthburt were by far the most powerful knightly order in Rhynwal before the war. Seen as the ultimate embodiment of chivalric honor nearly every nobleman in the kingdom claimed membership of one kind or another in its ranks. When the Princes War tore the kingdom apart it split the Knights of Saint Cuthburt as well as the order itself was drawn into the conflict on the Royalist side. Many of the rebellious princes revived the Brotherhood of Kord and revived the cult of Kord, an old god of the northern tribes from before the existence of Rhynwal.

The brutal nature of the war, and the elitism inherent in the Knights of Saint Cuthburt ensured its fall from grace and the once proud knightly order is a shadow of its former self. A single stronghold in the Duchy of Had is still maintained but that is the only region where the order still receives widespread support due to a concentrated (though still unsuccessful) effort on their part to drive the Hobgoblins out of Had. Syrrianus distrusts the Knights of Saint Cuthburt, but has not attempted to eradicate them as of yet. Many knights are lone wanderers, little better off than the poorest hedge knight, oftentimes trying to recover artifacts, documents, and relics from their old strongholds while dreaming of a return to their old glory.

In the remainder of the Protectorate the Knights of Saint Cuthburt are viewed with a combination of pity and distain. They are seen as arrogant and overbearing, unwilling to let go of their traditions with many of them quietly seeking to restore a human prince to the throne. They are tolerated but largely marginalized and distrusted. The brutal fighting of the Princes War showed how hypocritical their ‘honor’ was and the order has never recovered from it.

Brotherhood of Kord
Warrior Brotherhood
Unaligned, Chaotic Tendencies
Approximately 1000 members (mostly Fighters, Rangers, some Warlords, eventually Druids and Barbarians)

The Brotherhood of Kord emerged during the Princes War out of a simple ceremony preformed by several of the highest ranking rebel barons where they revived an ancient cult dedicated to the glory of combat. Kord and his pantheon had been largely forgotten in Rhynwal for several hundred years though many of the barbarian tribes of the north still revered him. Dedicated to personal glory in combat members of the Brotherhood of Kord fought alongside the Barons Alliance while creating a renascence dedicated to the old gods. The pantheon became a rallying point for the resistance, a way for the northerners to differentiate themselves from the soft and civilized southerners and embrace their rugged homeland.

The order of Kord is a loose organization with a single fixed stronghold located in the Iron Hills. It was built around an ancient circle of standing stones and has been revived as an important focal point for the old gods. It is seen as the place where the boundaries between the world of men and the land of the fey are weakest. They have also revived the priestly caste of druids and bards who perform long forgotten rights and rituals. Members of the Brotherhood of Kord are largely independent however; their ties are more fraternal than the strict hierarchy of the Knights of Saint Cuthburt. Members are expected to rely on themselves

The Brotherhood of Kord is very popular among the northern princedoms. Most people of significant military standing are members but they are very spread out. Members of the Brotherhood can expect free food and lodging in most northern settlements and they are largely accepted by Syrrianus as well. They are happy with their independence and Syrrianus has not yet seen any need to try and weaken them since they have not challenged his position. Members of the Brotherhood often try and uncover relics of the old gods scattered across the Protectorship sometimes bringing themselves into conflict with southern noblemen who have collected (Brotherhood members claim looted) artifacts from the north’s history.

In the south, the Brotherhood is seen with suspicion, and sometimes outright hostility. During the war southerners were subjected to propaganda aimed at painting the northerners as wildmen and barbarians, worshiping gods that reveled in human sacrifice and mayhem. Members of the Brotherhood have done little to dissuade these myths, being of the opinion that sometimes a little healthy fear is good.

 

[Imperialus]

Another quick update on the religion.

Old Gods Vs. Southern Gods

One of the biggest changes wrought by the Princes war was the change in religion throughout the Protectorate. Though the kingdom had been unified for many generations the north and south had originally been separate cultures. As the war ground on far beyond its beginnings as a simple rebellion the Barons Alliance sought to distance themselves further from the culture and way of life that had over the generations been imposed on them by the more ‘civilized’ south.

In the 4th year of the war, a strange hermit named Erik the Wise came to the court of Duke Edward. He claimed to have had a vision of a mighty warrior, dressed in skins and wielding a bronze axe who introduced himself as Kord, an ancient god of the north. Kord claimed that after many centuries of slumber it was time for him and his brothers and sisters to awake and lead the people of the north who had forgotten them to glory. The idea caught on like wildfire and within a month Erik led the leaders of the Barons in a ritual where they denounced their ties to the gods of the south and embraced their heritage.

All across the north, churches of Pelor, Saint Cuthburt and Erathis were torn down and their priests converted, fled, or were killed. Temples to Kord, Melora, Obed-Hai and Sehanine were raised and a new priestly order known as the druids began directing their flocks to develop a better connection with the natural forces that make up the world.