The Ghaash'kala are several clans of orcs who worship Kalok Shash and fight to contain the evils of the Demon Wastes.[1][3] The Ghaash'kala mainly dwell in the Labyrinth, a winding maze of canyons and mesas that is the main exit from the Demon Wastes.[2]
Organization[]
The Ghaash'kala are split into four clans, each of which inhabit and protect a different section of the Labyrinth. Each clan has two leaders, the kizshmit, who is the military leader, and the sar'malaan, who is the spiritual leader or high priest. The kizshmit also oversees the day to day duties of leading the clan, but is appointed by the sar'malaan, who can appoint a new kizshmit at any time.[1][2][4]
Each clan has a family line of orcs at its core, but new members who have heard the call of Kalok Shash are also welcomed.[1]
Individual Clans[]
The Jaasakah (Orc for "deadly") clan inhabitants the eastern Labyrinth and guards the lands east of it.[1]
The Kastar (Orc for "swift") clan inhabits the western Labyrinth and guards the lands to the west of it.[1]
The Maruk (Orc for "mighty") clan is one of the oldest of the Ghaash'kala clans, and primarily inhabitants the central Labyrinth. They guard the main passages used by the rakshasas of the Lords of Dust to escape the Demon Wastes and are trained to spot deceptions and see through disguises. They have highest percentages of human and half-orc members and the highest number of paladins among the clans.[1][2] Their chief settlement is Maruk Dar in the southwest part of the Labyrinth. [5]
The Vaanka (Orc for "final") clan inhabitats the northwestern portion of the Labyrinth and protects the entrances from the rest of the Wastes there.[1]
Religion[]
The Ghaash'kala worship a force they call Kalok Shash, the binding flame. This force is believed to be made of the souls of noble warriors and holds the powers of darkness and evil at bay. This force is known elsewhere as the Silver Flame, although other followers of the Silver Flame may find the practices of the Ghaash'kala to be very different from their own.[6] The Ghaash'kala believe that protecting the Demon Wastes is a sacred duty and their militaristic clan structure and violent existence is necessary to combat the demonic horrors of the Wastes. This duty also means the Ghaash'kala seek to prevent outsiders from traveling into the Wastes, in order to not be corrupted by the evils within.[1]
Each clan has different variations of belief in Kalok Shash, with each clan revering a different aspect of the binding flame.[6] However the Ghaash'kala's priesthood is shared between the four clans, and every clan's priests and warriors gather together four times a year for religious ceremonies and martial displays.[1][2]
Members[]
The Ghaash'kala are primarily orcs, but occasionally other races hear the call of Kalok Shash, including human outcasts from the Carrion Tribes. Over time this has led to a small but significant number of half-orc members of the Ghaash'kala.[1][3]
Ghaash'kala members include barbarians, who fly into a rage to commune with the binding flame's warrior spirits, and paladins or clerics who gain their powers from the binding flame.[6][7]
Warriors of the Ghaash'kala often seek to be branded with the mark of the binding flame. The shape and size of the brand depends on the clan. For instance, the Jaasakah clan brand is a lengthy ritual that brands the entire back with burns and tattoos, while the Maruk clan brand is a simple symbol of a small flame. The brands give warriors temporary immunity to demonic possession and give a magical boost in their battles against fiends.[1]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Player's Guide to Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 117–118. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 118–119. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 160. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 112–113. ISBN 0786966890.