In an ancient ruin beneath the Demon Wastes, a band of heroes race to claim the Reaper’s Heart. If the agents of the Emerald Claw reach it first, they’ll unleash an army of the dead against the people of Khorvaire…
In the city of Sharn, a brilliant team of spies pull off an impossible scheme — breaking into the impenetrable vaults of House Kundarak. But instead of gold, they find a secret that could shatter the fragile peace between the Five Nations…
On the deck of an airship, a wizard debates the interpretation of an ancient prophecy with a blood-red dragon. If the sage loses the debate, the dragon will destroy the airship and everyone on it. But if she wins the argument the dragon will take them to distant Argonnessen… and no human has ever seen the land of dragons and returned!
What is Eberron? It’s a world bound by a golden ring and surrounded by twelve moons. It’s the intersection of thirteen planes of existence, which shift in and out of alignment. It’s a place where magic has been harnessed as a tool — used to build cities, to sail ships through the skies, to create both wonders and weapons.
Eberron embraces swashbuckling action and pulp adventure and adds a layer of neo-noir intrigue. Stories don’t always end well and there isn’t a perfect answer to every problem. The Last War turned old allies into bitter enemies and destroyed an entire nation, leaving terrible scars behind. Crime and corruption lurk in the great cities of Khorvaire. Hidden dragons shape the course of history. Sinister fiends influence the dreams of the unwary. Human greed and ambition may prove more dangerous than any devil or demon. But through this darkness, there are opportunities for a group of bold adventurers to make a difference… for better or for worse.
This chapter explores these core themes and the ways that they can affect the stories or characters you create in Eberron. Here’s a quick overview of what lies ahead.
- A Magical World. From warforged and airships to the mighty dragonmarked houses, magic is a part of the world and its stories.
- Pulp Adventure. Whether you’re leaping from an airship or battling demons in forgotten ruins, Eberron encourages cinematic action and swashbuckling adventure.
- Neo-Noir Intrigue. Eberron is a world of difficult choices. The line between hero and villain is easily blurred, and even the champions of the light may have things they regret.
- The Last War. Eberron has just emerged from a century-long civil war, and the scars of that bitter conflict remain. How did the war affect your character, and how will it shape your story?
- The Mourning. This mystical cataclysm destroyed an entire nation and created a deadly wasteland in the heart of Khorvaire. The Mourning brought the war to an end, but it is a mystery and a threat that looms large over Eberron.
- Ancient Mysteries. Powerful artifacts are hidden in the ruined cities of giants. Dragons and demons scheme in the shadows, unraveling a prophecy that could shape the future. These ancient mysteries can be a source of fantastic adventures and terrible danger.
- If it exists in D&D, it has a place in Eberron… But it may not be the place you’re used to.
These elements are all part of Eberron, but you don’t have to use all of them in every story. As you go through this chapter, decide which themes appeal to you and best fit the stories you want to tell.