House Tarkanan is a criminal organization based in Sharn consisting mostly of bearers of aberrant dragonmarks. The House takes its name from Lord Halas Tarkanan who, along with the Lady of the Plague, raised up those with aberrant dragonmarks to challenge the dragonmarked houses during the War of the Mark.[1][2][3] House Tarkanan has a reputation for assassination, thievery and other unlawful deeds.[1]
History[]
Predecessors[]
Though House Tarkanan was only founded in the last decade, the War of the Mark played an important role in House Tarkanan's formation and ideology. The war began almost 1500 years ago, when the established dragonmarked houses launched an inquisition to exterminate those who carried an aberrant mark. Those who had aberrant marks were desperate for leaders who could unite them. Several rose to the challenge, including Halas Tarkanan, also known as the Earthshaker. Eventually Tarkanan took refuge in Dorasharn (modern day Sharn) with his army and consort, the Lady of the Plague.[4]
Though Tarkanan and his army resisted, it was clear that the combined forces of the dragonmarked houses were far too great and the resistance would in the end be wiped out. Eventually Halas and the Lady of the Plague unleashed a curse that brought catastrophic earthquakes and summoned hordes of vermin from the depths. The curse destroyed Dorasharn along with Halas and his forces, ending the resistance.[2][4]
Founding[]
During the Last War, the Dark Lanterns of Breland formed a squad of covert operatives with aberrant dragonmarks. These individuals were considered expendable by Breland and were sent on suicidal black ops missions. Eventually, the survivors of this team became fed up and went rogue. They fled to Sharn where they formed the criminal organization known as House Tarkanan in 990 YK.[3]
When House Tarkanan first established itself in Sharn, the Boromar Clan attempted to assimilate them, but the offer was turned down. This resulted in the Boromars attempting to destroy the House. When this proved too difficult, a deal was struck. Since the Boromar clan doesn't traffic in assassinations, it was agreed that so long as House Tarkanan doesn't take contracts against the Boromars, they would be permitted to stay in Sharn without paying a fee.[1]
Membership[]
An assassin of House Tarkanan.
A House Tarkanan soldier.
House Tarkanan accepts anyone who has an aberrant dragonmark.[1] Those who join will either be placed into the business side of the House or the assassination and theft side. The business side deals with general administration such as contracts and accounting.[2]
They are led by Thora Tavin, who is known as Thora Tarkanan to other members of the organization.[3]
Activities[]
A member of House Tarkanan manifests his aberrant dragonmark, much to the horror of a hapless guard.
House Tarkanan's current objective is to search for those who have aberrant marks, recruit them. and train them to use their powers.[3]
Many of those who joined House Tarkanan are thieves or killers and those who are not are trained to become one. The House provides services of assassination, burglary, and pickpocketing. A client only needs to approach the House and provide enough information on what they want stolen or who they want killed and a fee is calculated there and then. Assassination falls into two categories: assassination and manslaughter. Assassination is more complex and the method, date, time, and the condition of the corpse can be specified, whereas manslaughter is quicker as the House will send a hitman to kill the target at whatever time, location, and method they find best, though the costs were the same.[1]
House Tarkanan does not accept contracts that target high-ranking members of any major criminal organizations in Sharn such as the Boromar Clan, Daask, or the Tyrants. If the assassin is killed attempting the contract, then the House will send a second assassin or will cancel the contract and refund half of the fee if they believe it to be unachievable.[1]
House Tarkanan also offers a special service called assassination of the soul, in which they use their single +1 Keeper's fang dagger to kill the target. The dagger traps the target's soul in the domain of the Keeper and thus they cannot be raised or resurrected. This service costs twice that of a normal assassination.[1]
Key Locations[]
- Thora's Manor
Notable Members[]
- Thora Tarkanan
- The Son of Khyber
- Rotting Bal
- Zae
Appendix[]
Mechanics[]
House Tarkanan appears as an alternate example of a Criminal Organization Group Patron in Rising from the Last War.
Differences Between Editions[]
Despite not being an official dragonmarked house, House Tarkanan is occasionally referenced alongside them in various sourcebooks from 3.5 and 4th editions.[2][1]
In the 4th-edition Eberron Campaign Guide, Thora Tavin is said to no longer run the organization, instead having relinquished leadership to an individual known as the Son of Khyber.[2] This development is based on the novel of the same name by Keith Baker. This was a change from 3.5 edition, where Thora Tavin was head of the House. Subsequently, 5th-edition's Rising from the Last War returned to having Thora Tavin being in charge of House Tarkanan.[3]
Similarly, Eberron Campaign Guide lists the founding of House Tarkanan as 990 YK,[2] while Sharn: City of Towers and Rising from the Last War both have House Tarkanan being established in Sharn "six years ago".[1][3]
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 Keith Baker & James Wyatt (2004). Sharn: City of Towers. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 154–155. ISBN 0-7869-3434-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 236–237. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 253. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 157. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.