The people of Karrnath are stoic and grim. Karrnath is a nation of storms and long winters, and Karrns are accustomed to enduring hardship without complaint.

First and foremost, Karnath is known for its military tradition. Strength, strategy, and discipline are the core values of Karrnath. While Karrnath's soldiers may be the finest in the Five Nations, they lack the magical support of Aundair or Thrane, which evened the odds during the Last War. Nonetheless, Karrns are proud of their martial history, and most are convinced that they would have eventually won the Last War.

Karrnath suffered a series of severe food shortages and plagues early in the Last War. This caused the king to embrace the Blood of Vol as the national religion. The priests of this faith bolstered Karrnath’s forces with undead. The current King, Kaius ir'Wynarn III, broke ties with the Blood of Vol and has stopped creating new undead, but Karrnath still has a significant number of skeletons and zombies in service. Many Karrns still follow the faith of the Blood of Vol and approve of the use of undead, but just as many feel that this disgraces Karrnath’s proud military history... and that the necromancers themselves might have been responsible for the famines and plagues.


Interesting Things About Karrnath

  • Rekkenmark Academy is the premier military institute in Khorvaire; prior to the Last War, all of Galifar’s officers trained at Rekkenmark.
  • The Sovereign Host has regained its place as the dominant religion of Karrnath, but the Blood of Vol retains a strong following. Communities that practice the faith still use skeletons and zombies as guards or laborers.
  • The laws of Karrnath are harsher than those in other treaty nations, approaching a state of martial law.

Karrnathi Characters

Karrns are somber folk and disapprove of extravagance or excessive shows of emotion. As you develop a Karrnathi character or NPC, consider the following:

Military Service. Karrns have a strong tradition of military service, making soldier or sailor appropriate backgrounds for any character. Criminals and charlatans have a difficult time evading the harsh laws of Karrnath. The Martial Adept feat can give a character a strong sense of military experience.

Martial Tradition. Karrnathi tradition emphasizes teamwork, focus, and force, and melee warriors prefer heavy armor and weapons. Fighters favor the Champion and Battle Master martial archetypes, and Karrnathi wizards choose the School of Evocation or Necromancy as their arcane tradition.

The Dead. Undead soldiers have served in Karrnath’s armies for decades. How do you feel about the undead? Are you a follower of the Blood of Vol who considers the undead to be a practical tool? Do you have a relative or friend currently serving? Or do you despise the Blood of Vol and the use of necromancy?