Priory of the Broken Skull

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Alistaire

Entry in the 2006 Nexus Organizations Contest.

History

The Priory of the Broken Skull was formed shortly after the Third Dragon War by the renegade wizard Rulna Yelvetti. She had broken with the Wizards of High Sorcery after seeking a way to gain further powers as a necromancer that could only be found by devotion to Chemosh. Chemosh had granted Rulna a vision of what was to become the Priory. It was to be a secret society that quietly gathered the remains of fallen heroes and necromantic lore from across the continent of Ansalon. Rulna would find many new priors within the church of Chemosh as well as fellow Black Robes seeking to enhance their abilities.

For the first few decades of the organization's life the members would study their arts in one of several priories that had been established beneath the cities of Ansalon. They were training to build an army of heroes that might one day be used to destroy life across the continent. The most devout members of the Priory would be taught the art of becoming a lich so that they may continue to serve Chemosh for millennia to come. Patience is their key virtue for they believe that when Chemosh is ready he shall unleash the armies they have been gathering.

Over the next several hundred years the organization was amassing a formidable force near the lands of Istar. The Cataclysm destroyed the largest part of their armies when the lands of Istar were hit by the fiery mountain. With the Cataclysm came a rift within the Priory where factions were divided on their course of action without Chemosh to guide them and with Rulna missing and presumed destroyed. They were divided in their belief as to whether Chemosh and Rulna would return. Those believing that they would return favored continuing business as usual, collecting bodies for use in rebuilding the lost army. Those that believed they would never return sought to use what remained of the army to wage a massive war against the world. For several years there was friction as the Priory went about collecting a few select bodies that would wash up on the shores of the new Blood Sea of Istar.

After several years, though, the factions began a long war with each other in the caverns and mountains of the Khalkist region. The battle would last for many years, virtually destroying what remained of the army. With the army destroyed, the survivors went their separate ways. Prior Gildan Denorte, however, established a new Priory hidden in the Kern region. Though he lacked the power to create powerful undead, he continued collecting all of the necromantic lore that he could gather. He even recruited a few Black Robed wizards to his new Priory to acquire some lore from the Tower of Wayreth.

With the coming of the War of the Lance and the return of the gods, Gildan had his clerical powers returned to him and the Priory once again began collecting the bodies of fallen heroes during the war. They were again patiently awaiting a time when they could build enough strength to lash out on the world.

During the Chaos War Chemosh ordered what army the Priory had built up to join the fight against Chaos. His servants were to stay back as much as possible so as to be ready for victory when they could gather the fallen to refill the ranks. Their plan may have worked had Tahkisis not stolen the world immediately following the defeat of Chaos.

Without Chemosh to guide them, the Priory under the leadership of Gildan decided to await the return of the gods. It was his belief that the gods had only temporarily left the world once again and that they would return. With the coming of the Dragon Overlords, the Priory found an abundance of bodies available to them and a few Priors formed loose alliances with the Overlords to collect the bodies of the fallen humans, elves, and other non-dragon races. In return the Overlords would gain access to all knowledge the Priory had on the dragons of Krynn which was vast since the Priory had once considered the creation of undead dragons to serve them.

With the "return" of Tahkisis to the world, the Priory was once again divided. They were not sure whether to join up with the mysterious "one god" or to remain hidden in the hopes that Chemosh would once again return to them. Led by liches, time was of little importance to the Priory and they took their time debating matters. By the time they were ready to make a decision the gods had returned to the world and Tahkisis was defeated. With their powers once more restored to them the Order became bolder than ever before in its history.

It was decided that they should be more proactive about acquiring bodies, even unsuccessfully attempting a raid on the Tomb of the Last Heroes in Solace. The Priory has scattered across the world forming many individual cells that all follow the biding of the Grand Master Gildan Denorte.

Goals/Motivations

The Priory of the Broken skull's primary objective is to acquire the bodies of fallen heroes both good and evil. They intend to raise their bodies for use in an army that will one day sweep down upon Ansalon with a might unrivaled in history.

Headquarters/Areas of Influence

The Priory is now broken into many cells spread out across Ansalon. They all take their orders from the Grand Master Gildan Denorte who was last known to be heading operations from within the Nordmaar region.

Leadership/Organization

The Priory of the Broken Skull is lead by the Grand Master Gildan Denorte. His word is law within the Priory and all who oppose him are quietly killed off and join the ranks of the undead. Each cell is lead by a lich Master who oversees the daily operations of the Priory.

Allies

Devoted followers of Chemosh are considered to be allies for many members of the Priory were once clerics themselves.

Enemies

The enemies of the order are many though few even know of its existence. Many merely think the operations of the Priory are just the usual operations of the church of Chemosh. Each local cell might have different groups opposing them. For example in Solamnia the Knights of Solamnia and clergies of Mishakal would be their primary enemies.

Membership

Members of the Priory are expected to be secretive about their activities. The living members of the organization typically lead dual lives. They may serve as herbalists or alchemists in the villages and cities that they operate out of. Undead members are always working behind the scenes working from caves, crypts and hidden Priories. To be a full member of the Priory and have access to all of its secrets requires that you become a lich and prove your devoting on several occasions.

Joining the Organization

One does not join the organization, you are recruited if a member feels that you would be a worthwhile member. There are three levels of membership within the Priory. The first is as a mortal, living being. If you are a living member you do not know that you work for the Priory, but rather that you work for some powerful faction within the church of Chemosh. Mortals can serve as assassins and as the agents used to collect the bodies. Few mortal know that they are even working for the liches that make up the next tier of the priory. If you have proven yourself you may be taught the secrets of becoming a Lich. As a Lich you gain full access to the knowledge collected over the years. The final level of membership is as an undead minion. These are the mindless soldiers that the order works to create. Members who break the laws of the Priory may find themselves serving as an undead minion.

Costs and Benefits of Membership

The cost of joining the Priory is essentially your life and soul. Members must be committed in heart mind and soul to the goals of Chemosh. In exchange for this many members will gain access to secret arts and even lichdom.

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