Emerald Claw, as a people-place - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Emerald Claw, as a people-place

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dread_lord
Feb 22, 2009 16:48:07 As a Dm I'm privy to the 'real' secret behind this group.

But what do the actual members think that they're fighting for? What are the goals the leadership tells them they're trying to reach?

Who do the regular troops think they're fighting for? Is there a Cobra Commander? I know that Vol is running the show, but what about the guy who decides to risk his life?

Do they have a battle cry? Something like "For the Claw!"

It seems like they would have much better luck recruiting if there was some party line that anyone from any walk of life might get behind. Maybe something like: "The Last War fractured our great nation! None of the so-called rulers are fit to unite our great culture. We, the people of Khorvare must unite and take back our destiny before the royalty leads us all into doom!"
#2
Gilo
Feb 22, 2009 22:38:05 "Travel the world, meet lots of interesting people and kill them!"
#3
Hellcow
Feb 23, 2009 3:33:46 The Emerald Claw is an extremist sect of the Blood of Vol. As such, they consider undead followers of the faith to be champions of the faith, and most are directly loyal to the local champion. It's reasonably common knowledge within the Claw that the ultimately leader is a mighty lich known as the Queen of Death; however, her true name and bloodline are not public knowledge, simply that she's the greatest champion of the faith in existence today.

Beyond that, it varies based on where the person is from. The bulk of BoV troops come from Karrnath. They believe that their faith was betrayed by the current leaders of the kingdom, that said leaders are weak, and that the Queen of Death will restore Karrnath to its rightful place of dominance over Khorvaire. So they are driven both by Karrnathi patriotism and a somewhat distorted faith in the BoV (with greater emphasis on serving the undead and less "find your own divinity within").

However, you could have BoV recruit from other countries, especially the Lhazaar Principalities. The key point is a belief in the power of the Queen of Death and the fact that the undead champions will lead the faithful to dominance over Khorvaire... a more militant and less introspective version of the BoV faith. Many members of the EC also hope to become undead, which is something the core BoV faith generally looks at as a thing of last resort and a condition inferior to what mortals could become.
#4
Alex_
Feb 23, 2009 23:25:15 I always tend to protray the Emerald Claw as the Nazis/Communist Soviets/Terrorists from old pulp works like Indiana Jones or Johnny Quest.

You have the general masses who just regular people who buy into the dogma, and as scary as it might seem, they aren't exactly violent about it. Then you have the guys who are organized, ruthless, and not only practice some of the scarier rhetoric and dogma, but with great organization, devotion, and ruthlessness.

That Dogma being the Blood of Vol's assertions that most other faiths aren't worth following. Others are tools, fools, or obstacles that stand in the way of true divinity because they're blindly following gods that couldn't care less about them. That the path to true divinity lies in the power of blood, and that Undead are allies in the effort to understanding and utilizing that power.

The Emerald Claws are the guys who are carrying out genocide, developing the secret super weapon, or subtlety gaining alliances with those who are disillusioned with how the current powers are treating them. All in an effort to further the religion's cause, but in a way that few actual practitioners would ever dream of doing.

Soldiers of the Emerald Claw are passionate. They're the ones who actually buy into the rhetoric and dogma enough to risk life and limb. I see a lot of them being younger, and often driven by anger at something else, or a desire to prove themselves.

"I hate Thrane. They killed my father in the lat war. I joined the Emerald Claw to fight them, but then King Kaius declares peace. Screw him. The Silver Flame is going down."

"My grandfather was a member, his father was a member, and they all died honorable and glorious deaths. I only hope I can serve as faithfully and competently as they did."

"I believe in freeing everyone I know and love from the ultimate oblivion that is death. That's why I do the things others are afraid to do."
#5
dread_lord
Feb 27, 2009 17:15:22 That's pretty good. The only thing I'm concerned about is they their acts of terrorism will turn the other three kingdoms against Karnnath like wounded dogs all too soon. Also if Vol's existence is fairly common knowledge among the members then a good interrogation of a captured foot solder will make it fairly common knowledge in the kingdom. Unless the organization is much smaller and more elite than I understood it to be, in which case using them like HYDRA or Cobra won't really work. And they can't be a whole lot like the Nazis because they don't really have a secure government backing them up.

They might be closer to Al Qaeda. But the peace is far too fragile following the Last War to keep the other four nations from crushing Karnnath after the third or fourth major attack carried out "in the name of Karnnath and for the glory of Vol!"

Eh, I kinda wanted to use these guys because they're already established in the setting. But I suppose it would be just as easy to make up another organization.
#6
Hellcow
Feb 27, 2009 17:48:16 The key in my eyes is that Karrnathi patriotism is a recruiting tactic, NOT the primary thrust of the Emerald Claw. Many Claw soldiers come from the Lhazaar Principalities and care nothing for Karrnath. It's an extremist militant sect of the BoV who have deviated from the core tenets of the faith to follow the agenda of a charismatic leader (despite the fact that the leaders name is part of the name of the core faith!). Some members are Karrnathi superpatriots... but the Farlnen elves (such as Demise) are purely interested in their own quests for power and vengeance.

The Order of the Emerald Claw was a knightly order in Karrnath, and that's the rallying point for the Karrnathi recruits. But bear in mind that the Emerald Claw was the title of Erandis' father, something few of those recruits know. As a cabal serving the personal agenda of Erandis, the organization has been around far longer; the Karrnathi-patriot aspect is simply a manifestation that helps pull in passionate people and encourage them to fight for the Claw.
#7
skrapsan
Feb 28, 2009 7:56:22 I think, and this is just a thought, that some of the blame is actually to find in the adventure "path" that was released for 3.5. Because there I at least got the feeling that the Emerald Claw was mainly Karrnathi fanatics. Now of course with this thread I see the error of my ways so to speak.
#8
Alex_
Feb 28, 2009 23:35:37
That's pretty good. The only thing I'm concerned about is they their acts of terrorism will turn the other three kingdoms against Karnnath like wounded dogs all too soon. Also if Vol's existence is fairly common knowledge among the members then a good interrogation of a captured foot solder will make it fairly common knowledge in the kingdom. Unless the organization is much smaller and more elite than I understood it to be, in which case using them like HYDRA or Cobra won't really work. And they can't be a whole lot like the Nazis because they don't really have a secure government backing them up.

They might be closer to Al Qaeda. But the peace is far too fragile following the Last War to keep the other four nations from crushing Karnnath after the third or fourth major attack carried out "in the name of Karnnath and for the glory of Vol!"

Eh, I kinda wanted to use these guys because they're already established in the setting. But I suppose it would be just as easy to make up another organization.

Even if some are acting in the name of Karrnath (or an ideal version of Karrnath), they're not actually supported by the Karrnathi government. Quite the opposite, Kaius goes to great efforts to curb their actions in the nation, even going so far as branding them a terrorist organization.

This is one of those cases where peaceful cooperation with the Karrnathi government to fight a mutual enemy seems to me like it'd be preferable. Invading Karrnathi soil would simply result in a war with Karrnath, while the Emerald Claw continues doing what it does, since it didn't really rely on the current Karrnathi government. However, teaming up with Karrnath to help it wipe out a mutual enemy bears promise.

To use your analogy, I'd think it's more like the relationship between Al Qaeda and the current Pakistani government than it is like the relationship between Al Qaeda and the Taliban led Afghanistan.

Whether or not they have a government behind them, they seem to be fairly organized and funded. Well enough to have standardized equipment, armor, and an established hierarchy like any other militant orders.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dread_lord Feb 22, 2009 16:48:07	As a Dm I'm privy to the 'real' secret behind this group. But what do the actual members think that they're fighting for? What are the goals the leadership tells them they're trying to reach? Who do the regular troops think they're fighting for? Is there a Cobra Commander? I know that Vol is running the show, but what about the guy who decides to risk his life? Do they have a battle cry? Something like "For the Claw!" It seems like they would have much better luck recruiting if there was some party line that anyone from any walk of life might get behind. Maybe something like: "The Last War fractured our great nation! None of the so-called rulers are fit to unite our great culture. We, the people of Khorvare must unite and take back our destiny before the royalty leads us all into doom!"
#2 Gilo Feb 22, 2009 22:38:05	"Travel the world, meet lots of interesting people and kill them!"
#3 Hellcow Feb 23, 2009 3:33:46	The Emerald Claw is an extremist sect of the Blood of Vol. As such, they consider undead followers of the faith to be champions of the faith, and most are directly loyal to the local champion. It's reasonably common knowledge within the Claw that the ultimately leader is a mighty lich known as the Queen of Death; however, her true name and bloodline are not public knowledge, simply that she's the greatest champion of the faith in existence today. Beyond that, it varies based on where the person is from. The bulk of BoV troops come from Karrnath. They believe that their faith was betrayed by the current leaders of the kingdom, that said leaders are weak, and that the Queen of Death will restore Karrnath to its rightful place of dominance over Khorvaire. So they are driven both by Karrnathi patriotism and a somewhat distorted faith in the BoV (with greater emphasis on serving the undead and less "find your own divinity within"). However, you could have BoV recruit from other countries, especially the Lhazaar Principalities. The key point is a belief in the power of the Queen of Death and the fact that the undead champions will lead the faithful to dominance over Khorvaire... a more militant and less introspective version of the BoV faith. Many members of the EC also hope to become undead, which is something the core BoV faith generally looks at as a thing of last resort and a condition inferior to what mortals could become.
#4 Alex_ Feb 23, 2009 23:25:15	I always tend to protray the Emerald Claw as the Nazis/Communist Soviets/Terrorists from old pulp works like Indiana Jones or Johnny Quest. You have the general masses who just regular people who buy into the dogma, and as scary as it might seem, they aren't exactly violent about it. Then you have the guys who are organized, ruthless, and not only practice some of the scarier rhetoric and dogma, but with great organization, devotion, and ruthlessness. That Dogma being the Blood of Vol's assertions that most other faiths aren't worth following. Others are tools, fools, or obstacles that stand in the way of true divinity because they're blindly following gods that couldn't care less about them. That the path to true divinity lies in the power of blood, and that Undead are allies in the effort to understanding and utilizing that power. The Emerald Claws are the guys who are carrying out genocide, developing the secret super weapon, or subtlety gaining alliances with those who are disillusioned with how the current powers are treating them. All in an effort to further the religion's cause, but in a way that few actual practitioners would ever dream of doing. Soldiers of the Emerald Claw are passionate. They're the ones who actually buy into the rhetoric and dogma enough to risk life and limb. I see a lot of them being younger, and often driven by anger at something else, or a desire to prove themselves. "I hate Thrane. They killed my father in the lat war. I joined the Emerald Claw to fight them, but then King Kaius declares peace. Screw him. The Silver Flame is going down." "My grandfather was a member, his father was a member, and they all died honorable and glorious deaths. I only hope I can serve as faithfully and competently as they did." "I believe in freeing everyone I know and love from the ultimate oblivion that is death. That's why I do the things others are afraid to do."
#5 dread_lord Feb 27, 2009 17:15:22	That's pretty good. The only thing I'm concerned about is they their acts of terrorism will turn the other three kingdoms against Karnnath like wounded dogs all too soon. Also if Vol's existence is fairly common knowledge among the members then a good interrogation of a captured foot solder will make it fairly common knowledge in the kingdom. Unless the organization is much smaller and more elite than I understood it to be, in which case using them like HYDRA or Cobra won't really work. And they can't be a whole lot like the Nazis because they don't really have a secure government backing them up. They might be closer to Al Qaeda. But the peace is far too fragile following the Last War to keep the other four nations from crushing Karnnath after the third or fourth major attack carried out "in the name of Karnnath and for the glory of Vol!" Eh, I kinda wanted to use these guys because they're already established in the setting. But I suppose it would be just as easy to make up another organization.
#6 Hellcow Feb 27, 2009 17:48:16	The key in my eyes is that Karrnathi patriotism is a recruiting tactic, NOT the primary thrust of the Emerald Claw. Many Claw soldiers come from the Lhazaar Principalities and care nothing for Karrnath. It's an extremist militant sect of the BoV who have deviated from the core tenets of the faith to follow the agenda of a charismatic leader (despite the fact that the leaders name is part of the name of the core faith!). Some members are Karrnathi superpatriots... but the Farlnen elves (such as Demise) are purely interested in their own quests for power and vengeance. The Order of the Emerald Claw was a knightly order in Karrnath, and that's the rallying point for the Karrnathi recruits. But bear in mind that the Emerald Claw was the title of Erandis' father, something few of those recruits know. As a cabal serving the personal agenda of Erandis, the organization has been around far longer; the Karrnathi-patriot aspect is simply a manifestation that helps pull in passionate people and encourage them to fight for the Claw.
#7 skrapsan Feb 28, 2009 7:56:22	I think, and this is just a thought, that some of the blame is actually to find in the adventure "path" that was released for 3.5. Because there I at least got the feeling that the Emerald Claw was mainly Karrnathi fanatics. Now of course with this thread I see the error of my ways so to speak.
#8 Alex_ Feb 28, 2009 23:35:37	That's pretty good. The only thing I'm concerned about is they their acts of terrorism will turn the other three kingdoms against Karnnath like wounded dogs all too soon. Also if Vol's existence is fairly common knowledge among the members then a good interrogation of a captured foot solder will make it fairly common knowledge in the kingdom. Unless the organization is much smaller and more elite than I understood it to be, in which case using them like HYDRA or Cobra won't really work. And they can't be a whole lot like the Nazis because they don't really have a secure government backing them up. They might be closer to Al Qaeda. But the peace is far too fragile following the Last War to keep the other four nations from crushing Karnnath after the third or fourth major attack carried out "in the name of Karnnath and for the glory of Vol!" Eh, I kinda wanted to use these guys because they're already established in the setting. But I suppose it would be just as easy to make up another organization. Even if some are acting in the name of Karrnath (or an ideal version of Karrnath), they're not actually supported by the Karrnathi government. Quite the opposite, Kaius goes to great efforts to curb their actions in the nation, even going so far as branding them a terrorist organization. This is one of those cases where peaceful cooperation with the Karrnathi government to fight a mutual enemy seems to me like it'd be preferable. Invading Karrnathi soil would simply result in a war with Karrnath, while the Emerald Claw continues doing what it does, since it didn't really rely on the current Karrnathi government. However, teaming up with Karrnath to help it wipe out a mutual enemy bears promise. To use your analogy, I'd think it's more like the relationship between Al Qaeda and the current Pakistani government than it is like the relationship between Al Qaeda and the Taliban led Afghanistan. Whether or not they have a government behind them, they seem to be fairly organized and funded. Well enough to have standardized equipment, armor, and an established hierarchy like any other militant orders.