The interesting thing about the Emerald Claw is that, despite the rest of the world viewing them as war criminals, many people in Karrnath must continue to view them as national heroes. You have to wonder where they draw their members from, because obviously not everybody joins the Order knowing the secret allegiance to the perpetrators of the Blood of Vol cult.
I have this picture in my head of a teenager donning the signature tabard and picking up his flail for the first time. He marches into a hall with a hundred others just like him, to hear a speech from his superiors-- a speech he will hold as true no matter how many lies are twisted into it. He'll probably never realize the true, evil goals of the Order before he dies in its name. It's a bit tragic when you think about it.
The idea, so far, is a group of adventurers deputized by an aging Sentinel Marshal and brought in to hunt down and neutralize war criminals in Karrnath. In other words, the Order of the Emerald Claw. Over time, I hope to humanize the Order to some extent-- to get the players to take different look at an organization that is otherwise an endless supply of minions to plow through. This premise may not last long enough to form an entire campaign, but I think it could be a good start.
I just need to think of ways to pull it off without being ham-handed about it. I'm finding this a bit more difficult than I first thought it would be. So far that image of the teenagers being indoctrinated is the only idea I have, and I don't really know if it's possible to present that to the players through gameplay.
So I figured this could be an interesting discussion. How do people around here feel about the idea of humanizing the Emerald Claw, and how would you go about doing it if you were to try?
Maybe you could follow that plot a little. Maybe one of the PCs has a little cousin or something and he finds out the kid has joined the Claw and why.
Definitely a good idea, though.
1. Why were there so many popular mob leaders in the past? They took care of the locals. Have the Emerald Claw support a town that is under attack from something more evil, like an attack of Chillborn.
2. They all have mothers...Introduce a recurring NPC who is a claw members mother who wants their child rescued. Introduce a "Claw Family Night" where agents of the Claw, their families and their skeleton/zombie Karnath family members are brought together to talk about their service to the Kingdom.
3. They are a fascist organization -- introduce special rewards for characters who do Karnath special deeds, build them up to be the highest honor for the society, and eventually reveal that they are Claw rewards, thus making the players complicit in it.
4. If you take the Nazi model as background, have the towns run by the claw be extra efficient, cleaner, less depressed. The Nazi's came to power because they offered hope, and using that for the Claw will definetely bring home how people would join it.
Just some thoughts.
The trouble with the Emerald Claw begins with its leaders, who are largely concerned with acheiving their own ends without regards to the well-being of their followers. If you think the Church of the Silver Flame had a monopoly on corruption, it's the Emerald Claw that proves you wrong; they are abusing the faith of their followers for their own selfish goals. This problem is exacerbated by the fanatical devotion of the typical member. This is a trait the recruiters look for - they don't WANT a thoughtful philosopher who questions orders. They look for the people easily blinded by slogans and rhetoric, people angry about the actions of their king, people who believe that Karrnath could yet rise triumphant with the guidance of the Queen of Death. The follower of the Emerald Claw believes in the superiority of his faith and his nation, and has no qualms about murdering civilians or doing whatever the superiors demand. It's important to note that they AREN'T a national army. They DON'T have to take everyone, and many followers of the Blood of Vol despise the actions of the Emerald Claw. No one is forced to join - and again, the recruiters are going to look for the people who fit their profile.
WITH THAT SAID: just because the stereotype of the Emerald Claw soldier is that of the ruthless goon willing to commit any atrocity on the orders of Erandis doesn't mean that they are heartless or inhuman. The soldier BELIEVES in the tenets of the Claw... and you have to ask yourself WHY he believes these things. Perhaps his family was slaughtered in the Last War, and he hungers for vengeance against the nation responsible. Maybe soldiers of the Emerald Claw saved his village from bandits (possibly to engender just such devotion, but still). Perhaps his parents served with the original Emerald Claw during the Last War and served nobly and with distinction, only to be abandoned and disavowed by Kaius. Most likely he truly believes that Erandis and the other higher-ups within the Emerald Claw are deeply devoted to the principles of the Blood of Vol and seek to break the bonds of death.
One of the PCs in my first 4E Eberron campaign played a paladin of the Blood of Vol with a connection to Erandis. (story follows)
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His concept was that his father was a Karrnathi noble who served in the original chivalric order. When Kaius turned against the order, the PC's father challenged him and was killed; the infant character was hidden away in the Lhazaar Principalities. Raised in secret and devoted to the principles of the Blood of Vol, he was contacted by Erandis who told him that it was his destiny to overthrow Kaius and start a new dynasty that would restore the glory of Karrnath.
The concept was that he was going to Stormreach to start building a network of allies that would support his actions against Kaius... so not working directly with the Order, because he needed to stay out of the public eye on Khorvaire. Nonetheless, he believed that Erandis was a noble priestess with the best interests of Karrnath and the Blood of Vol at heart, and that she would help him to avenge his father and lead Karrnath and Galifar to a new golden age. Of course, he and I knew that it was more likely that over the course of the campaign, he would realize that Erandis was using him as she'd tried to use Kaius - and that ultimately, whether before or after he'd challenged Kaius, he would end up challenging Erandis herself and seeking to eiminate the corruption of the Blood.
Point of all this: In the beginning, he truly believes that Erandis' goals are noble and he is blinded by his own desire for revenge; but we assumed that over the course of his character arc he'd learn the truth and battle this corruption. So while the typical EC goon might be blinded by propaganda or zealotry, and recruited with this in mind, people can always change.
The concept was that he was going to Stormreach to start building a network of allies that would support his actions against Kaius... so not working directly with the Order, because he needed to stay out of the public eye on Khorvaire. Nonetheless, he believed that Erandis was a noble priestess with the best interests of Karrnath and the Blood of Vol at heart, and that she would help him to avenge his father and lead Karrnath and Galifar to a new golden age. Of course, he and I knew that it was more likely that over the course of the campaign, he would realize that Erandis was using him as she'd tried to use Kaius - and that ultimately, whether before or after he'd challenged Kaius, he would end up challenging Erandis herself and seeking to eiminate the corruption of the Blood.
Point of all this: In the beginning, he truly believes that Erandis' goals are noble and he is blinded by his own desire for revenge; but we assumed that over the course of his character arc he'd learn the truth and battle this corruption. So while the typical EC goon might be blinded by propaganda or zealotry, and recruited with this in mind, people can always change.
They look for the people easily blinded by slogans and rhetoric, people angry about the actions of their king, people who believe that Karrnath could yet rise triumphant with the guidance of the Queen of Death...
WITH THAT SAID: just because the stereotype of the Emerald Claw soldier is that of the ruthless goon willing to commit any atrocity on the orders of Erandis doesn't mean that they are heartless or inhuman....Most likely he truly believes that Erandis and the other higher-ups within the Emerald Claw are deeply devoted to the principles of the Blood of Vol and seek to break the bonds of death.
Bold added
Wow. This is drastically different than I've been playing the typical agent of the Claw. This surprises me, as I'd assumed I'd taken my cue from the ECS the rest of the 3E published sources (City of Stormreach jumps to mind.)
I've always assumed that the typical agent of the Claw is a Karrnathi patriot who believes that the Claw's path is either better than that of the current Karrnathi regime, or that they are doing what their king cannot or will not do. I've always thought that only the "higher ups", or those deeply placed within the organization would know of the organizations true master(s) and purpose.
I could've sworn I'd taken this view from canon. No?
I've always thought that only the "higher ups", or those deeply placed within the organization would know of the organizations true master(s) and purpose. I could've sworn I'd taken this view from canon. No?
Yes and no. You're misinterpreting my statement. You are correct that the typical soldier of the Emerald Claw knows little about the true nature or goals of the inner circle. So...
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Who is the true master of the Order of the Emerald Claw?
Erandis Vol, last scion of the line of Vol.
What is the true purpose of the EC?
To serve Erandis' goals, which have nothing to do with the good of Karrnath or overthrowing death (for the masses). She wants vengeance and she wants to achieve HER epic destiny.
Who does the typical EC soldier THINK is the master of the Order of the Emerald Claw?
An alliance of priests and undead champions. The greatest of these is the lich known only as the Queen of the Dead. The soldier has no idea who this lich actually is, simply that she is a champion of great power and wisdom, who will surely lead the Claw to victory. So the key is that he knows of the Queen of Death - but that doesn't mean he knows about Erandis.
What does the typical soldier think the purpose of the EC is?
To help Karrnath achieve its destiny and to accomplish the sacred goals of the Blood of Vol.
So the typical soldier is devoted both to Karrnath and the Blood of Vol, and believes that those above him are as well. As you go higher up the chain, you see more and more corruption, more priests who are dedicated to the faith solely as a tool for manipulating the underlings, and who care nothing about Karrnath - and those who see undeath as a means to gain personal power and a satisfactory end in itself, not as a form of martyrdom to serve the greater goals of the BoV.
Erandis Vol, last scion of the line of Vol.
What is the true purpose of the EC?
To serve Erandis' goals, which have nothing to do with the good of Karrnath or overthrowing death (for the masses). She wants vengeance and she wants to achieve HER epic destiny.
Who does the typical EC soldier THINK is the master of the Order of the Emerald Claw?
An alliance of priests and undead champions. The greatest of these is the lich known only as the Queen of the Dead. The soldier has no idea who this lich actually is, simply that she is a champion of great power and wisdom, who will surely lead the Claw to victory. So the key is that he knows of the Queen of Death - but that doesn't mean he knows about Erandis.
What does the typical soldier think the purpose of the EC is?
To help Karrnath achieve its destiny and to accomplish the sacred goals of the Blood of Vol.
So the typical soldier is devoted both to Karrnath and the Blood of Vol, and believes that those above him are as well. As you go higher up the chain, you see more and more corruption, more priests who are dedicated to the faith solely as a tool for manipulating the underlings, and who care nothing about Karrnath - and those who see undeath as a means to gain personal power and a satisfactory end in itself, not as a form of martyrdom to serve the greater goals of the BoV.
This surprises me, as I'd assumed I'd taken my cue from the ECS the rest of the 3E published sources (City of Stormreach jumps to mind.)
Looking to Stormreach, make sure that you aren't getting the Emerald Claw mixed up with the Swords of Karrn. If you recheck the EC entry on page 85, you'll find multiple mentions of the EC directly serving Vol's ambitions and of her having a few agents who have dealt with her directly. The EC doesn't know her full history, but they are Vol's tool - it's simply the case that many of those at the bottom don't understand what she hopes to achieve. The members of the EC are Karrnathi patriots AND fanatically devoted to the Blood of Vol; and they believe that the faith is the key to Karrnathi ascendancy. However, "since Xen'drik is of great importance to the lich queen Vol, the order considers it important too." Not because it's important to KARRNATH, but because it's important to Erandis. The leaders of the EC play on Karrnathi patriotism to motivate their troops, but ultimately what drives them are the goals of the Queen of Death. The rank and file firmly believe that she is acting in the best interests of Karrnath, and as such they will follow their orders even if there is no obvious advantage to Karrnath - mere mortals can't always understand the insights of the undead champions.
Meanwhile, the Swords of Karrn are soldiers who are disgusted with the actions of the current regimes and intended to take action the kings won't. But they don't have any connection to the Blood of Vol, and Drago Thul actually opposed the use of undead in war.
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He's engaged in negotiations with Erandis, just as Kaius did, but doesn't want to be linked to her agenda.
Maybe "morally gray" isn't the best way to describe it. We can't really question that the acts of all terrorists are evil in nature, of course. That would be a rather distasteful subject for a D&D campaign, I think. >.<
Key point - when I said "Most likely, he believes that Erandis and the other higher-ups..." I was speaking to you, the DM, not literally reflecting what he knows. If we're dealing purely with his knowledge, any use of "Erandis" should be replaced with "The Queen of the Dead", because he doesn't know that IS Erandis. But as DMs, we do. So, my apologies if that was unclear.
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So we are on the same page.
I'd misinterpreted your words, my friend. I think the key was that you were speaking to a DM. If I'd caught that, I'd likely have answered my own question.Maybe one day we'll start a campaign as naive agents of the Claw. Playing for the "bad guys" can be fun, at times. It would be much like starting out working for the Citadel or the Royal Eyes, in some ways. It would be interesting to see how far we'd advance before our characters' eyes were opened and subsequently "switched teams", so to speak. And, which team do they join? Do they become true Karrnathi military, mercenary adventurers, Silver Flame converts (:P), or something else?