House Kundarak: Clans (Patreon)

Nine bloodlines carry the Mark of Warding. Five of these are the ruling clans of Kundarakhold; the remainder are the shield lines. Tales say that when Kundarak passed his holdings onto his five children, he gave each of them two gifts: a domain to govern and a companion sworn to serve and protect them. The shield lines are descended from those guardians, while the ruling clans—with the exception of Tuvodni—are descended from Kundarak’s children. Kundarak is an insular house, and tradition maintains that Dragonmarked heirs must marry within these nine lines; unmarked heirs have more freedom, but are still expected to marry respectable Mror dwarves. Within the guilds, all nine families are equals and anyone can become a Hearthwarden. But for those who choose to serve their clan instead of a guild, the division between ruling clan and shield line is sharp. Shield heirs serve and protect. They may be soldiers, miners, or masons, but they will never become Chieftains. Furthermore, the ruling clans control the land and the wealth of their spire. So it is ruling heirs that have generational wealth to invest; they are the merchant princes, while shield heirs are their guardians. While this can create some tension, the simple fact is that shield heirs who chafe against their role can take charge of their path by serving in the guilds. Those who choose to serve the ruling clans are usually proud of this role; they are carrying out the duty laid upon their ancestor by Kundarak himself. It’s worth noting that while shield heirs are subordinate to the rulers, they stand above the comment tenants of the hold. The shield lines were chosen by Kundarak and they carry the Mark of Warding; they are pillars of House Kundarak.  

Kundarak

Spire: Korunda Gate

Spheres of Influence: The Banking Guild, Stonemasonry 

Resources: Gold (Aur-Hal)

Shield Line: Undara

Celebrated Virtues: Insightful, Perceptive, Trustworthy. Offer sound advice and protect your friends from harm.   

House tales say that Kundarak gave his name to his eldest daughter, and she followed in his footsteps. Of all of his heirs, the young Kundarak was the finest stonemason and miner, and it was she who discovered the first veins of Aur-Hal. When Kundarak divided the hold between his heirs, he gave his daughter the largest and richest share and ordered her to govern wisely, to set an example for her younger siblings. From then until the present, the dwarves of Clan Kundarak have been first among equals within House Kundarak. Korunda Gate is their seat, and the seemingly inexhaustible Aur-Hal mines have given them wealth beyond that of the other clans. But they have always sought to follow the founder’s example: to invest carefully, to act wisely, and to offer good counsel to their allies. Long before the people of the Five Nations trusted Kundarak to protect their goods, the dwarves of the Mror Holds relied on Kundarak to fortify their halls. When a feud went too far, it was usually a Kundarak who mediated a resolution. Clan Soldorak has long resented Kundarak’s power and frequently claims that Kundarak investment and diplomacy always serves to advance the interests of Kundarak, and Kundarak heirs certainly do look for the long-term potential of any sort of investment—but largely they have earned their reputation for being trustworthy. Kundarak advice may benefit the advisor in the long term, but it almost always benefits the recipient now. 

Between its wealth and its wisdom, Clan Kundarak has long served as the de facto leader of the House and nearly all Kundarak barons have come from this clan. The drawback to this is that Kundarak heirs are expected to uphold this reputation. Nolons can be reckless and Durbanneks can carouse with abandon; full Kundaraks are expected to act wisely, to show a profit on their investments, and to impress those around them with their gravitas. While they possess the full powers of the Mark of Warding, Kundarak heirs typically work with the Banking Guild, whether guiding the investments of the guild or building its vaults and enclaves. 

Kundarak Characters. Kundarak heirs are expected to be strong leaders and wise counselors. A Kundarak adventurer might be a Battle Master Fighter with Maneuvers tied to leadership, an Oath of Glory Paladin drawing on devotion to Kol Korran and Kundarak himself, or a College of Glamour Bard—reflecting a talent for leadership and negotiation as opposed to music and entertainment. In making a Kundarak adventurer, one question is their connection to the generational wealth of their family. Kundarak is the wealthiest clan, but it’s impractical for an adventurer to have access to a vast fortune. So: why doesn’t this character have access to that wealth? They could be a black sheep, fallen out of favor due to a terrible mistake, who’s now working to regain the trust of their family through their actions. Their parents might have given them a task they must accomplish to prove their worth. If both DM and player are interested in the idea, another possibility is that the heir receives an allowance and does start off with a chunk of extra gold—but that they are expected to invest that gold and to be able to show some sort of long term return before they will receive any more. A variation of this is to make the adventurer’s family the patrons of the adventuring party: they don’t provide raw coin, but they cover the group’s lodging, transportation, and similar expenses, providing them with a Wealthy lifestyle. This plays with the idea that the character comes from wealth without simply handing them 10,000 gp.   

Notable Kundaraks. Baron Morrikan Kundarak d’Kundarak is the patriarch of House Kundarak and the 

chieftain of Clan Kundarak. He’s a trusted leader who has guided the House through the Last War and whose advice helped set Mror independence in motion. Morrikan is a hands-on leader who has cultivated relationships with all of the leaders of the Five Nations. He spends a lot of time traveling between the major cities of the Thronehold nations, meeting with powerful clients and overseeing Kundarak investments. Morrikan is shrewd and wise, but he does his best to ensure a strong return for both his House and his clients. Morrikan is willing to follow strange leads. Recently he found accounts of the role the Gatekeeper druids played in the Xoriat Incursion, and he wonders if their techniques could somehow be adapted by Warding heirs to help the Mror fight the horrors in Sol Udar. He wants to send emissaries west to look for Gatekeeper relics or lore, or even to treat with members of the sect should it still exist; this could be a task he entrusts to a player character from the clan. 

Shield Line. The Undara family are the shields of Kundarak. They are the proudest of the shield lines, sworn to the service of the greatest of the clans. Often it’s Undara masons who carry out the hard labor to complete designs created by Kundarak architects, and Undara heirs guard Aur-Hal and the vaults of Korunda Gate. Undara champions excel at the use of the Mark of Warding, and may be Eldritch Knights or Abjurer Wizards; however, they tend to use these skills for the direct defense of House and clan as opposed to serving in the Warding Guild.  

Durbannek

Spire: Coppergate

Sphere of Influence: The Golden Door; the Keyguard; seals and wards

Resources: Copper

Shield Line: Ordonon

Celebrated Virtues: Joyful, Reliable, Generous. Ward your door against your enemies, but open it for your friends.

The Durbanneks excel at protecting goods and grounds. House legends say that while Kundarak built the fortresses of the dwarf lords, it was Durbannek who protected their treasures. According to these tales, it was Durbannek who first used the Mark of Warding to hide his Secret Chest. In the present day, Durbanneks typically serve with the Warding Guild, most notably with the Golden Door; the finest locksmiths and glyphweavers of the house are typically Durbanneks. The mineral wealth of the spire is largely copper; as such, it lacks the wealth of Kundarak or Ghedin, and plays little role in the Banking Guild. Despite being the poorest of the ruling clans, Durbannek has always been noted for its kindness and generosity. Durbannek heirs celebrate all the good moments in life, drawing attention to their blessings and relishing every morning and every meal. The Durbannek motto is Ward your door against your enemies, but open it for your friends; Durbanneks consider their friends to be their greatest treasures. A Durbannek is sure to be the life of any party they attend, much to the chagrin of their Kundarak cousins. 

Durbannek Characters. Durbanneks specialize in locks and wards. Most of the Keyguard are drawn from the Durbannek line, and they find joy in bypassing defenses as another might enjoy a good puzzle. The classic Durbannek adventurer is an Arcane Trickster Rogue, using their spell slots to build upon the powers of the Mark of Warding. The Durbannek Rogue is rarely driven by greed; they may come from the poorest of the ruling clans, but they are still part of the prosperous house. Instead, the Durbannek Rogue loves the challenge of overcoming ancient traps or powerful wards, and loves helping their companions achieve their goals. 

Notable Durbanneks. The most accomplished agent of the Keyguard is known only as The Phantom; it’s said that there’s no door she cannot pass. Her true identity is a closely guarded secret of the House; the mystery enhances her reputation and protects her from retaliation. Meanwhile, Orrika Durbannek d’Kundarak is one of the finest security experts of the Golden Door; she travels constantly, helping perfect the defenses of noble estates and guild halls. Orrika is celebrated for her wit and charm, and can be found at galas and salons wherever she goes. Could she be the Phantom? Another interesting Silver Key is Batwigg the Vole, a foundling from Sharn taken in by Clan Durbannek after he’d used his innate talents to rob a number of Brelish nobles. It took some work and wealth to keep Batwigg from being executed by the Citadel, but now he uses his remarkable skills on behalf of the Keyguard. 

Shield Line. The Ordanon family are the shields of Durbannek. While known for being jovial, Ordanons typically seek to balance the joyful nature of their Durbannek comrades. At a party, it’s the Ordanon who will keep their wits about them while the Durbannek indulges. Given Durbannek’s generosity and low status among the ruling clans, there’s less of a sharp divide between the shields and the rulers than in most of the other spires, and the lines treat one another as cousins. 

Ghedin

Spire: Goldenroot

Sphere of Influence: Both the Banking Guild and the Warding Guild; the Ghorad’din; Abjuration magic 

Resources: Gold

Celebrated Virtues: Clever, Secretive, Vengeful. We treasure our secrets. 

Shield Line: Gholon

House legends say Ghedin was the lone wizard among Kundarak’s children. Her father gave her a book of magic brought up from the Realm Below and she refused to share its secrets with her siblings. When she manifested the Mark of Warding, Ghedin quickly learned how to use it to keep anyone from spying on her through magical means. Whether or not these tales are true, Clan Ghedin has long produced the most accomplished Abjurers in the House and its heirs excel at weaving wards… but they jealously guard their secrets and their treasures. Other heirs say No one knows the truth of a Ghedin; they have layers of secrets, even among their friends. Their spire of Goldenroot is named for its rich mines, and Ghedin is second only to Kundarak in its wealth. Ghedin heirs play an important role in the Banking Guild, but they also engage in personal investments kept secret from possible rivals. Rumors say that the Ghedin have a set of secret vaults hidden even from the rest of the House—possibly containing treasures recovered from the Realm Below over the course of centuries. If any clan is working with daelkyr symbionts, it would be the Ghedin. 

In addition to their secrecy, Ghedin heirs are known for their vengeful nature. A Ghedin never forgives an injury, and they will go to great lengths to punish anyone who steals from them. The Ghedin and the Gholon make up the majority of the Ghorad’din, and they take great pride in hunting down thieves. 

Ghedin Characters. The classic Ghedin adventurer is an Abjurer Wizard; the Ghedin are the most accomplished Abjurers in the House. A vengeful Ghedin might follow the path of the Arcane Trickster Rogue, specializing in the swift kill. The Gholon shields blend Abjuration with martial skill, potentially producing Eldritch Knight Fighters. In creating a Ghedin character, consider their relationship to their generational wealth as discussed with Kundarak above; but also consider at least one secret the character is determined to keep. Do they have a hidden treasure from their childhood? Do they know a secret passage in Goldenroot, perhaps a route into the Realms Below? What’s a personal secret they’ve never shared with anyone, and why is it so important to keep it hidden?   

Notable Ghedins. Dosun Ghedin d’Kundarak is the Lord Warden of Dreadhold. While Dreadhold is largely manned and operated by Clan Tuvodni, Lord Dosun is one of the most accomplished Abjurers of the age and his skills play a vital role in maintaining Dreadhold’s defenses. Dosun’s comrades call him “The Old Rock,” saying he’s as cold and hard as the prisoners he petrifies. Blaurath Gholon d’Kundarak is the nephew of Baron Morrikan d’Kundarak (whose sister married into Gholon); he is decorated member of the Ghorad’din who considers it his personal duty to hunt down thieves who steal from Kundarak vaults and to return the stolen items. 

Shield Line. The Gholon line are the shields of Ghedin. While there is a sharp social distinction between the wealthy Ghedin and their Gholon shields, the Gholons are utterly dedicated to their work and take pride in avenging any injury inflicted upon Clan Ghedin. The Gholons are the smallest of the shield lines, possibly due to their tireless service hunting thieves, but they are considered to be the deadliest warriors in the House and make up the majority of the Ghorad’din. Gholons can be found with the Iron Gate, but they typically don’t like selling their services as mercenaries; they prefer to work directly for the Ghedin or the House, guarding the vaults and hunting down thieves. 

Nolon

Spire: Nolonspire

Sphere of Influence: The Banking Guild; Nolon’s 

Resources: Jewels

Celebrated Virtues: Artistic, Innovative, Witty. Going Farther. 

Shield Line: Tokalor 

House Kundarak profits off its rich deposits of precious metals, but it’s Clan Nolon that actually works with gold and copper. The mountains around Nolonspire hold rich deposits of rubies and sapphires, and Nolon artisans produce torcs, armbands, amulets and rings using Kundarak gold and Nolon jewels. Nolon artisans seek to profit from their work, but they truly love creating beautiful things; some say the Nolons are bards whose songs are made from gold. When House Sivis came to the Ironroot Mountains, Clan Nolon immediately connected with the gnomes. Nolon was the first Kundarak family to venture out into the wider world, establishing an enclave at Zolanberg. Over time, they have worked closely with a number of Zil families; while the Korth Edicts prevent Nolon from owning land beyond the Mror Holds, the clan has funded the mining operations of the the Zil House Saris, and effectively owns a number of jewel mines throughout the Seawall Mountains. Their grandest venture is known as The Deep Mine: a vast platinum and khyber shard mine in the Seawalls maintained through a partnership with Clan Mroranon, House Tharashk, and House Saris of Zilargo. This is the House’s largest mining operation beyond Aur-Hal, and some fear that they might be digging too deep—what could happen if they cross into Khyber? 

Clan Nolon encourages its heirs to develop their artistic skills, and generally has a greater interest in the liberal arts than any of the other Kundarak families. This is reflected by their close ties to House Sivis and the Zil in general. Where most Kundarak heirs and indeed most Mror put a high value on tradition, the Nolons are always seeking to challenge their own assumptions and to try new things. They are known for making risky investments. Many of these have collapsed spectacularly, but those that have succeeded have been remarkable. Among other things, Nolon invested heavily in the expeditions and work that set the Zil elemental binding industry in motion. The ties between Nolon and Zilargo run deep, and a number of gnomes have married into the Clan or been adopted into it. Gnomes can’t carry the Mark of Warding, but some of Nolon’s finest jewelers are gnomes—”Gnolons,” as some call them.     

Nolon Characters. Clan Nolon encourages its heirs to pursue their dreams, whatever those may be. A Nolon adventurer could be a Bard, either reflecting a great love of Lore or using Glamour to reflect their exceptional wit and talent for negotiation. Of all the Kundarak families, Clan Nolon is the one most likely to produce a warlock—perhaps bargaining with a spirit in a Khyber shard discovered in a Nolon mine. As with Kundarak and Ghedin, Nolon is a wealthy line and a Nolon adventurer should consider their relationship with family funds. Beyond that, Nolons take jewelry very seriously. A Nolon adventurer should have at least one piece or jewelry. It might not be exceptionally valuable, but it will have meaning to the heir. Is it something they themselves made in their youth, or an heirloom passed down through generations?  

Notable Nolons. Lady Magdi Nolon d’Kundarak is considered to be the finest jeweler of the modern age. Magdi brooches command a high price; she has worked with House Cannith to produce magical jewelry for nobles and other celebrities. Lord Norlan Nolon d’Kundarak is the Hearthwarden of Kundarak’s enclave in Zolanberg; he carries the Mark of Warding, but many say he’s more gnome than dwarf. Lord Norlan is known for taking financial risks, and he might be convinced to fund an adventuring expedition with an interesting story. 

Shield Line. The Tokalor family are the shields of Nolon. While they appreciate the artistic nature of the Nolons, the Tokalors are more staid; they see their role as being the anchors that keep the Nolons from straying too far from tradition. The Tokalors are devoted Vassals, though they follow a House tradition that varies in a number of ways from the Pyrinean Creed. Onatar, Boldrei, and Kol Korran are the most celebrated of the Sovereigns, but their myths and services weave traditional tales of the Sovereigns together with stories of Kundarak and the other ancestral heroes of the Mror Holds. Kundarak clerics often come from the Tokalor line. 

Tuvodni

Spire: Coldiron                                                        

Sphere of Influence: The Iron Gate

Resources: Iron, Bal Ulok

Celebrated Virtues: Brave, Patient, Stoic. Ever watching.   

Kundarak’s fourth child was named Corloron, and he was known for his curiosity. Coloran was always going where he was told not to, and slipping away from his shield Tuvodni. Coloran was nearly killed after stealing from the Jhorash’tar, and was slain by the horrors in the deep after he ventured down a forbidden passage. Despite the tragic loss, Kundarak recognized how hard Tuvodni had worked to protect his foolish son and granted the spire of Coldiron to the shield; however, as she now had no heir to protect, Tuvodni was tasked to guard Bal Ulok and all the prisons of Kundarak. 

Because of this, Tuvodni is the only ruling clan that doesn’t have a shield line; they are both ruler and shield. Their region is known for its deep deposits of iron ore. House Cannith is a ready market for Tuvodni ore, but the clan still has far less wealth than Kundarak, Nolon or Ghedin, and as a result its heirs are rarely found in the Banking Guild. Instead, Tuvodni forms the backbone of the Iron Gate. In particular, Tuvodni has long maintained the Kundarak prisons, from the great pit of Bal Ulok to the island fortress of Dreadhold. Kundarak prisons often involve experts from other clans; the Lord Warden of Dreadhold is a Ghedin Abjurer. But Tuvodni provides the bulk of the staff and soldiers that protect the prisons, as well as the guardians whose services are brokered by the Iron Gate. 

Tuvodni heirs are known for their patience and grim stoicism, but also for their exceptional courage; it’s said Only a Tuvodni can win a staring contest with a medusa. It was Dolon Tuvodni who scaled the heights to speak with the manticores that dwelt above, and the Tuvodnis are the core of the Manticorps. Tuvodnis are also found in the Ghorad’din, fighting alongside the Gholon. 

Tuvodni Characters. The Tuvodni are grim warriors, known for their courage and ability to fight through pain and discomfort. A Tuvodni adventurer might be a Zealot Barbarian. Instead of channeling a divine force, their power flows from the Mark of Warding itself; their “Rage” reflects the Mark shielding and strengthening them. A Tuvodni adventurer could have been dismissed after allowing a jailbreak to occur on their watch; now they seek to recapture all those prisoners who escaped. 

Notable Tuvodnis. Jakela Tuvodni d’Kundarak, known as “The Hearthwarden of Hearthwardens,” oversees the operations of the House enclave of Korunda Gate. Lady Jakela is known for her courage and conviction; she will not bend to pressure or buckle under stress. She is stern but fair, and also a remarkable abjurer in her own right. In her younger days Jakela served with the Manticorps, and she’s married to Ghrgnr “Grog” Tuvodni—a manticore officially adopted into the clan for his exceptional service and bravery during a jailbreak at Bal Ulok. While Grog spends most of his day patrolling the skies above Krona Peak, he enjoys attending feasts with Jakela. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Kundarak is a quiet House. Its services aren’t as dramatic as Lyrandar airships or Jorasco healing; a party of adventurers could go through an entire campaign without ever setting foot in a Kundarak bank. But there are a number of ways that adventurers can be drawn to Kundarak. Large amounts of coin are unwieldy, and should a group of heroes somehow come across a hoard of a hundred thousand copper pieces they will want to work with Kundarak to convert that mass of copper into a letter of credit. Conversely, a Kundarak bank is the easiest option if someone needs to convert a letter of credit or a precious stone into currency. Another interesting option is for adventurers to come into possession of a model Adamant Chest after defeating a villain. Essentially, this is like getting the key to a safety deposit box. It can only be opened by a Kundarak heir, and there’s no way of knowing what the summoned chest might hold! 

A second way in which adventurers will cross paths with House Kundarak is through their security systems; after dealing with Guilt Traps, Glyphs of Warding and other products of the Golden Door, adventurers might curse Kundarak’s name. A further interesting way to weave Kundarak into a story is through investment. Perhaps adventurers want to lead an expedition into Khyber or the Demon Wastes. Maybe they need a ship for a scheme they have in mind. A Kundarak heir could finance their operation, for a share of the profit. A Kundarak or Ghedin investor will surely want to make certain they’re making a sound investment; but Nolons are known for taking chances, and might be willing to work with a group simply because they have a compelling idea and interesting story!   

The Families section provides a number of ideas for Kundarak characters, but here’s a few more Kundarak heirs you could play or meet. 

The Dilettante Warlock. How do you do, fellow adventurers? You’re a scion of a wealthy Kundarak family. You’ve grown up reading adventure stories, and you want to be a bold adventurer—and you’ve invested the bulk of your inheritance to acquire a warlock pact. It could be that you paid an intermediary to set-up the pact for you, or it could be that your pact is associated with an object; the Amulet of Azorath IS your patron. While Warlock is the obvious class for this, the idea could be applied to any other class. Perhaps you’re covered in mystical tattoos that give you the power of a Wild Heart Barbarian, or you have a haunted ring that gives you talents of a Rogue. The point is that you are excited to get out into the world and have adventures, but you don’t actually have any of the experience that goes with your skills. You might have the abilities of a 3rd level fighter but you’ve never actually killed anyone before. You expect adventuring to be just like the stories you’ve read; the truth may be surprising. 

The Investor. You’re a House Agent from a wealthy branch of House Kundarak, and your job is to identify interesting investment opportunities for your family. Perhaps you just cleared cockatrices out of an abandoned mine… is it worth reopening? Maybe the local priest is trying to make the Sand Fruit Festival happen… do you think it could succeed? You don’t have personal access to the wealth of your family, but your recommendations can have an impact on the communities you are interacting with and create new opportunities over the course of a campaign. 

The Avenger. You were tasked to guard something incredibly valuable. You failed. A remarkable spy or thief humiliated you and there were consequences; perhaps innocent people died because of your failure. You weren’t excoriated, but you were dismissed from the guild and forced to find another path out in the world. Whatever it is you’re doing, you’ve sworn that someday you will find the thief who ruined your life and you’ll make them pay for what they did to you. 

The Seeker. Nadia Nolon d’Kundarak was the wealthiest scion of Clan Nolon, but she died with no heir. Rather than simply willing her wealth to the House, she scattered a hundred tiny Adamant Chest models across Khorvaire. Some contained letters of credit; others remarkable treasures; and one contains the deed to her vast estate. Only a Kundarak heir can open an Adamant Chest; who will inherit her fortune? Over the last century, a few dozen of these chests have been found, but most remain scattered, including the deed to her estate. You’re a Nolon heir, and you want to find the master chest. You have a few clues you received as a child. Wherever your adventures may take you, you want to keep your eyes open for Nadia’s chests! Consider whether you have a particular rival in this hunt—a cousin who’s sworn to find the master chest before you. What would you do with that inheritance? What would they do instead?