Kaius ir'Wynarn I (? – 910 YK) was the first modern king of Karrnath. Along with his siblings Thalin and Wroaan, Kaius instigated the Last War by refusing to allow his sister Mishann to take the throne of Galifar.[3][5] Kaius led the armies of Karrnath to early victories during the war, but famines forced him to make use of undead troops and knightly orders such as the Order of the Emerald Claw.[6] His strict legal code, which places Karrnath under martial law, continues to be used in the present day, known as the Code of Kaius.[7]
Description[]
Kaius was a tall thin man and keen minded, with an intense stare.[5]
Relationships[]
Prince Kaius was a son of King Jarot ir'Wynarn and brother to Mishann, Thalin, Wroann, and Wrogar.[2][3] Kaius was married and had at least one child, his son Kaius ir'Wynarn II.[8]
History[]
Prince Kaius became governor-prince of Karrnath in 890 YK.[9]
When his father Jarot died in 894 YK, Prince Kaius joined his siblings Thalin of Thrane and Wroann of Breland in refusing to accept Princess Mishaan as Queen of Galifar, beginning the Last War. Prince Kaius declared himself King of Karrnath in late 894 YK, declared martial law over the nation, and began mustering troops to support his claim to the throne.[3][10] Initially Kaius's forces allied with Thrane and Breland, but after disagreement between the siblings over who should take the throne instead, the alliance fell apart.[11]
Karrnath's forces were better trained than many of their counterparts, but a series of disasters struck the country. A terrible winter caused failed harvests in 896 YK and, with trade between the nations at a standstill, this was followed by a terrible famine and several plagues. King Kaius was approached by members of the Blood of Vol, who offered to help him and his people. This deal brought much relief in the form of food, undead troops, and heroes like the Order of the Emerald Claw helping to save the nation from disaster.[12][6] In exchange, Kaius made the Blood of Vol the state religion in Karrnath.[13][10]
Kaius I died in 910 YK and was succeeded by his son Kaius II.[2][8] His dynasty continues to rule Karrnath, with the current ruler, Kaius ir'Wynarn III being the great-grandson of Kaius I.[6]
Rumors & Legends[]
Shortly after Kaius III's coronation, he was challenged by warlord Drago Thul, accusing him of being replaced by an undead Kaius I.[13] Those who believe this rumor assert that Kaius's deal with the Blood of Vol carried a heavy personal price, transforming him into a vampire in 897 YK by the leader of the Emerald Claw. Thul's accusation would require Kaius's death in 910 YK to have been faked and for Kaius I to have been in hiding for 80 years before emerging to replace his great-grandson.[6]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 104–105. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 9–10. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 85. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 176. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 177–178. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, and Christopher Perkins (2005). Five Nations. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 80–81. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ James Wyatt, Wolfgang Baur, Ari Marmell (2007). The Forge of War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-7869-4153-7.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0786966890.