House Tharashk

**House Tharashk** is a human and half-orc dragonmarked house that has just recently begun spreading throughout Khorvaire, though it is still heavily based in The Shadow Marches. The house is the second youngest of the Dragonmarked Houses. Its members are renowned prospectors, bounty hunters, and inquisitives. House Tharashk is the effective 'government' of the Shadow Marches, serving as a makeshift republic between dozens of orcish clans that make it up, but has no actual sovereignty to control its constituant members. Tharashk is the only house to hire monstrous laborers and mercenaries from Droaam, with whom they have an alliance.

*"We are hunters in a world of tribex." -* Kalaash'arrna, Tharashk inquisitive.

## Dragonmark

House Tharashk possesses the Mark of Finding. This mark grants various magical benefits related to locating people and objects which in turn has led to their fame for bounty hunting.

## History

Around 1000 years ago the Mark of Finding made its first appearance on members of three Shadow Marches clans. The clans were the Torrns, The Velderans and the Aashtas. Word of master huntsmen from the Shadow Marches who possessed an unknown dragon mark soon spread throughout Khorvaire. In the late 600's YK a group of House Sivis Gnomes decided to go in search of this dragon mark and upon discovering the three clans they helped them form House Tharashk.

Though new to the civilized world of the Five Nations and the rest of Khorvaire, Tharashk found its purpose relatively fast and adapted well. Being master hunters wasn't enough to survive in this new world so upon learning of the high demand and value of Dragonshards, Tharashk decided to compete in trade and business. Dragonshard trade not only helped Tharashk earn its place in Khorvaire but created its wealth and influence. Despite this there are many who distrust Tharashk calling them "graybloods".

### Last War

When the Last War began Tharashk had little interest and intervention and the war was the same in return. The war had no effect on Tharashk's trade as it occurred in the wilds and Shadow Marches. The only times Tharashk was called upon was for search and rescue missions which felt more like a charity than business.

The war finally came to Tharashk in its later stage though not in anyway they'd expect. The war led to the rise of Droaam as a nation and House Tharashk took advantage of this by negotiating trade deals and eventually an alliance.

## Hierarchy

House Tharashk is governed by a council named the Triumvirate which has only three members, each one a representative from the three major clans. The current three triumvirs are Daric d'Velderan, Khundar'aashta and Maagrim Torrn d'Tharashk.

## Tharashk Clans

Unlike other dragonmarked houses Tharashk's clans are incredibly important and they are not as united as their peers. It is uncommon for a Tharashk house member to refer to refer to themselves as d'Tharashk and the use of their clan name is more prominent. The three main clans are Aashta, Torrn and Velderan, though these aren't the only clans that make up Tharashk; smaller clans tend to be aligned with one of them. Although the clans do their best to work together for the sake of the house, heirs often put the interests of their clan before the house, which has led to many feuds. Known clans of Tharashk include:

* **Aashta.** The ‘Aashta have long been known as the fiercest clan of the Shadow Marches. The ‘Aashta are devoted to what they call the “Old Ways”; what scholars might identify as Cults of the Dragon Below.
	+ **'Arrna.** Overall, the ‘Aashta have no great love of subterfuge. When they need such schemes, they turn to the ‘Arrna, a lesser clan who produces more rogues than rangers. While they are just as aggressive as the ‘Aashta, the ‘Aarna love intrigues and fighting with words as well as blades.
	+ **'Istaaran.** The Istaaran are devoted Whisperers and skilled alchemists; they have a great love of poisons and have helped to produce nonlethal toxins to help bounty hunters bring down their prey.
	+ **'Oorac.** The ‘Oorac are a small clan known for producing aberrant dragonmarks and sorcerers; before the union they were often persecuted, but ‘Aashta shields them.
	+ **'Syntok.** While the other tribes sought to settle in larger fixed communities, the Syntok tribe saw the nomadic lifestyle as a boon, a way to ensure that every life ended in a good death. Nearly every member of Tribe Syntok follows the tradition of the Inner Sun; and those who don't are quickly shunned, exiled, or even slaughtered. Tribe Syntok took to a life of pillaging and hunting for everything they needed, their War-chief setting a precedent of conflict that would cause the word Orc to be feared by any outsiders who dared enter the Shadow Marches. They rarely join in any democratic proccess, but when they do, they always side with Aashta.
* **Torrn.** Clan Tornn has strong connections to the druidic society of the Gatekeepers and within the clans inner circle a group calling themselves the Valshar'ak Seal seeks to use **House Tharashk** money to forward its goals of pushing back the Dragon Below.
	+ **Aelmak.** Led by a great Huntress, the Aelmak tribe is well known for producing some of the greatest hunters and rangers of Khorvaire. The Aelmak Tribe became an isolated and extremely territorial people, though they have a delegate that maintains contact with Valshar'ak.
	+ **Torruk.** The Torruk are a small, diverse clan with strong ties to the Gatekeepers, known for fiercely hunting aberrations in the Eldeen Reaches and for clashing with the ‘Aashta. Though majority orc, Torruk contains a significant minority of humans, elves, and Shifters: Reachers who joined their clan because they believed in the Gatekeepers' cause.
	+ **Brokaa.** The Brokaa are among the finest miners in the house and are increasingly more concerned with profits than with ancient traditions.
* **Velderan.** Velderan is a clan of traders and diplomats, and for much of the history of the Shadow Marches, the only clan to have contact with the rest of the world. Where the other clans hold tight to ancient (and fundamentally opposed) traditions, Velderan dream of the future and embrace change; it is their their enthusiasm and charisma that often sways the others. Overall, the Velderan are the glue that holds Tharashk together.
	+ **Orgaal.** The Orgaal are an orc-majority clan, and given this people often forget they’re allied with Velderan; as such, the Veldokaa often use them as spies and observers.
	+ **Torshaa.** The Torshaa are expert boatmen and are considered the most reliable guides in the Shadow Marches
	+ **Vaalda.** The Vaalda are the finest hunters among the Velderan; it’s whispered that some among them train to hunt two-legged prey, and they produce Assassin rogues as well as hunters.

 File:Tharashk warrior.png
## Notable Members

* Daric d'Velderan
* Khundar'aashta
* Maagrim Torrn d'Tharashk
* Khundran d'Torrn
* Urlev Torrn
* Kalaash'arrna
* Kava Velderan

## Joining House Tharashk

Family ties are important to those in House Tharashk, so the only way to become a member is through marriage. Though the house is a union of orc and Shadow March human cultures the house accepts anyone regardless of race, so long as they share their values. The house also takes in those who have no dragonmark and use them in the mercantile fields. Heirs of House Tharashk live hard lives and are encouraged to practice a wide range of skills. Experts, rangers and rogues are most common throughout the house, though Tharashk has a use for most classes such as fighters, scouts and barbarians. Even aristocrats can be found serving as mediators for mercenary contracts in the cities. The house doesn't attract many wizards or artificers, although a tradition of sorcery runs through the clans. There are rumors of warlocks within the Aashta clan who are followers of the Dragon Below. Druids who follow the Gatekeepers work for the house by working alongside prospectors to protect and restore the land.

## Business

House Tharashk act as a proxy business for the Daughters of Sora Kell by negotiating trade with the rest of Khorvaire for them. Anyone wanting to contract the monster labourers or mercenaries of Droaam go through Tharashk in order to do so. House Deneith are in direct competition with Tharashk as they wish to wrestle the monster mercenaries out of their control. Though neither house admits to open conflict between each other, sabotage and secret operations occur often.

### Droaam Contracts

House Tharashk contracts monster races from Droaam to either be mercenaries or laborers. Contracted monsters are first evaluated to make sure they are able to communicate and be non violent towards other humanoids. They are then licensed and monitored by the Dragonne's Roar. Gnolls, ogres and minotaurs are fielded as mercenaries or laborers, while gargoyles and harpies are used as couriers, scouts and messengers. As a rule, House Tharashk only contracts monsters to clients with good credentials such as dragonmarked heirs. Mercenaries are more expensive than laborers as laborers will only fight when their own life is threatened. Services are restricted to one location such as a city, contracted monsters cannot be taken on journeys. The house makes profit through volume so monsters are often contracted in groups larger than twenty and for at least a month's work paid in advance.

### Prospecting and Mining

House Tharashk makes a large amount of profit through prospecting and the sale of dragonshards. The Mark of Finding allows Tharashk heirs to locate areas with valuable natural resources - usually dragonshards, but Tharashk can just as easily prospect for any mineral deposit. Once a valuable region is identified, House Tharashk will purchase mining claims for the area and hire locals to work the mines. If mining claims for the area aren't available, usually because local miners already own their own claims, Tharashk will attempt to buy them out with *very generous offers*. Until they manage to monopolize the area, Tharashk will maintain a presence in order to give the local miners a convenient market to sell to. In independent mining towns, the Tharashk purchasing agent is almost always the richest man in town.

If House Tharashk is able to purchase enough claims to have a local monopoly, they will set up a company town. In the company town, Tharashk hires local miners promising a very generous wage. Their miners don't get to keep what they dig up, instead they are paid a commision based on how much the miner is able to produce, and offered bonuses to encourage efficiency and finding new deposits. Tharashk, however, keeps the lion's share of the profits and only pays its workers in company scrip. Beyond that, in such a Tharashk town, Tharashk also provides the law (using Tharashk mercenaries) and runs the mercantile and the saloon... so they set the prices on everything, and you don't have anyone to turn to... because the Sheriff works for the house.
Although such company towns appear to be in violation of the Korth Edicts, Tharashk's Sivis barristers would note that Tharashk doesn't own the ***land*** — which would be a clear violation of the Edicts — but that it has a royal decree granting rights to mineral extraction. While this is still pretty clearly violating the *principle* of the Edicts, there's not much to be done to protest the legality of these towns without legislative intervention.

### Bounty Hunting

Dragonmarked members of House Tharashk possesses possess a remarkable skill for people-finding and bounty hunting thanks to their Mark of Finding, which gives them control over magic used to locate people and objects. Many Tharashk heirs become professional inquisitives and can be hired.

## Relations

Overall the people of Khorvaire feel indifferent to members of House Tharashk, though many believe them to be provincial and uncivilized. Many find the presence of contracted monsters unsettling, especially outside large communities. Among their fellow Dragonmarked Houses:

* **House Cannith:** House Tharashk dislikes House Cannith for their dominance over the dragonmarked houses. Members of Tharashk sometimes refer to members of House Cannith as Cannith dandies.
* **House Deneith:** House Tharashk are openly resentful of House Deneith's self-styled military superiority. House Tharashk are in competition with House Deneith as both focus on the contracting of mercenaries. Members of House Tharashk sometimes refer to members of House Deneith as Toothless Deneith lords.
* **House Lyrandar:** House Tharashk regularly contracts bodyguards and mercenaries to House Lyrandar and so Lyrandar agents are often friendly towards their Tharashk counterparts.
* **House Thuranni:** House Thuranni and Tharashk both share ambition and influence in Droaam. Members of House Thuranni are friendly towards members of Tharahsk.

## Key Locations

 File:Zarash.jpg
* **Zarash'ak**: located in the city of the same name in the Shadow Marches, Zarash'ak is Tharashk's seat of power.

* **Graywall**: A large settlement on the outskirts of Droaam. Though it is not run by House Tharashk, it is of much importance to them as they recruit their monstrous mercenaries and laborers from here.

## Guilds and Organizations

* Finders Guild
* Liondrake's Roar

### Affiliates

* **Cults of the Dragon Below:** House Tharashk traces its roots to the Shadow Marches and shares the beliefs of many of its inhabitants. Many Aashtar clan members cling to these old ways and, although they aren't usually dangerous, can be disturbing for outsiders. Some members wish to use the House's resources in service of dark forces from the world below.

* **The Gatekeepers:**Though some members of House Tharashk follow the Cults of the Dragon Below, others choose to adhere to the teachings of the Gatekeeper Druids. Many of those that do follow these beliefs are Torrn clan members.

## Prestige Classes & Paragon Paths

* Duraak'ash
* Tharashk Wayfinder

## Stats

**3.5 Edition**

* Typical House Tharashk Bounty Hunter: Eberron Campaign Setting p.238
* Kalaash'arrna: Dragonmarked p.81

**4th Edition**

* Tharashk Hunter: Eberron Campaign Guide p.231

## Notes

The names or even number of the minor clans are unrecorded, probably so that players can create their own surname and minor clan.

Aberrant Marks (House Tarkanan) · Mark of Death (House Vol)

## References

* ***Eberron Campaign Setting***.

Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, and James Wyatt (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
Page 238

* ***Dragonmarked***.

Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
Pages 76-81

* ***Eberron Campaign Guide***.

James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.

Pages 230-231

* ***Eberron Player's Guide***.

David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.

Page 90