Korrik: The Island Nation

PREVIEW
By : Matt Sylvain (Hanzo187)
 Introduction
Two centuries ago, rival clans vied for supreme
control over the island nation of Korrik in what
became known as the War of the Nine. The war
took many lives and brought widespread ruin to
the lands. In time, the war threatened to rip the
very lands apart...but that was not to be.
One day, it is said, a quartet of beings
appeared: A knight, Keldon, a thief, Kage, a
wizard, K'tala and a priest, Kivis. Roaming from
countryside to countryside, these four
confronted the Quinjulo of each of the nine
clans. Making them see the error of their ways,
the four gathered the Quinjulo and brought
forth the Commandments of the Nine, thus
finally bringing an end to the long war and
returning peace to Korrik. With this signing, the
four disappeared, never to be seen again.
Now, 200 years later, the peace established in
Korrik has become shaken. The recent,
unexplained death of the White Lance's
Quinjulo, Bardan, has caused conflict among
the clans, both internal and external. With the
threat of war once again looming on the
horizon, what will happen next? Will the four
legendary figures of the past mysteriously return
to purge the growing tensions, or will more
earthly figures determine the fate of Korrik?

The World
Korrik is a land of superstitions and secrets.
Nine, K, seven, you name it, the Korrikans
likely have some story behind it. No matter the
reason, the island nation of Korrik is also a land
of extremes. Sprawling cities are complemented
by the tiniest villages a matter of a few miles
away. A warrior may go many leagues before
seeing any signs of civilization, then come upon
the most incredible sites the eye can see. The
war-torn lands that saw battle in the War of the
Nine are now lush, fertile lands, decreed to
never be touched for business.
The exact events that shaped the world are still
largely unknown. Most Korrikans have trouble
agreeing on a single, huge event sparking the
dawn of existence. However, many believe the
story of Korrik in some form, be it literal or
figurative:
Many thousands of years ago, the Dragon God
Korrik was also known as the Purveyor of All.
He was the most powerful of all the gods. Over
the years, he created the realms the people came
to know as the planes, but he grew tired of the
incessant infighting and constant conflict the
immortals conducted. Therefore, he consulted
his brother Korvus, god of the fey, to destroy the
fey’s immortality, thus creating the event known
as the Celestial Schism, splitting the Great Fey
into the eladrin and elves. In time, Korrik used
the life force from the Great Fey and created the
first humans.
Whether or not this story is true is a matter of
great debate, but none of the races of Korrik,
save the ani-men, know the exact origins of their
brethren. Some wish to know their history, and
some could care less, but all are interesting in
finding the meaning of life in some manner.
Korrik
Korrik is, for all intents and purposes, an island
nation. It serves as the heart of the world and the
epicenter of culture, politics, economics, and of
course, warfare. The nation is composed of nine
large regions, one each for the nine clans.
Gullen, the land of the League, Mend, an
appropriate name for the Light of Kallen,
Yamaf, the region of the Blue Rose,
Chronoterros, haven of the Herodotans, Ryohan,
land of the mercenaries known as the Raven
Blade, Cyterria, the Union of Gear’s
neighborhood, Whiteguard, shield arm of the
White Lance, Dragonreach, religious center of
the Syndicate of Dragons, and Nightport, the
coastland of the Tides of Aquilian, each clan has
its own jurisdiction in these lands, but there is
one area where the clans have no hold on the
people in any way, not even the League of
Gullen: Pillar’s Point, a small patch of central
Korrik where the nine pillars representing the
nine clans reside. It is said so long as the pillars
stand, war will never touch Korrik ever again.
However, the death of Bardan, Quinjulo of the
White Lance, under mysterious circumstances,
has led to the rumor of a small crack in the
White Lance pillar. True or no, one cannot deny
the ramifications of Bardan’s death on the rest of
Korrik.
Humans populate every section of civilized
Korrik, but other races permeate the area. Rat-
men, lion-men, rabbit-men, and tieflings can
sometimes be found in the bustling cities of the
island nation, while elves, the occasional
eladrin, and tiger-men inhabit the forests of the
world. The swamps in southern Korrik are home
to Halflings, wishing to have nothing to do with
the clans, and the coastlines are populated by
shark-men and assorted monsters.
Though each region is controlled by the nine
clans, that does not mean they can be
everywhere at once, particularly in the lawless
sections of the land. Northeastern Korrik was
once the home base for many of the shadow
warriors known as the ninja. Nature sects dot
western Korrik, notably in the Bladetree Forest.
Other smallers areas are rife with goblinoids and
assorted monsters. Rumors abound of dragons in
the uncharted continents, especially Dragina, but
no expedition to Dragina has returned since the
arrival of the dragonborn 6000 years ago. Krata,
a large continent to the south, has been
extensively charted at the borders, but the few
explorers to search the continent have come up
missing.
Deities of Korrik
The religion of Korrik is polytheism: A belief in
multiple gods. Though the existence of the gods
has never been confirmed, the people do believe
in them. It is said in holy texts that while the
gods do not directly interfere in the affairs of
mortals, they do try to influence them in subtle
ways. Following is a list of deities worshipped
(or at least acknowledged) by the people of
Korrik.
Korrik
Lawful Good
The Dragon God and Purveyor of All, he is the
god of life, dragons, and the natural world. He is
the twin brother of Krell and the older brother of
Korvus. He is revered by dragonborn and is
believed to currently reside in the Astral Sea
with his wife The Lady of Ravens, but
sometimes visits the Shadowfell with her. He is
said to appear as a gold dragon, but sometimes
appears as a bearded human in rags. He
commands his people:
✦ Creation is the ultimate endeavor.
✦ You get one life. Don’t waste it.
✦ Oppose Krell at every turn. The lord of
aberration’s twisted creations of life are an
abomination and must be stopped.
Korvus
Unaligned
The younger brother of Krell and Korrik, he is
the god of the sky and the fey. Though Korrik
split the fey, Korvus permitted this, and
continues to oversee the Feywild. He is married
to Krona, and is looked to by elves, eladrin, and
those who wish to reach the heavens. Korvus is
often viewed as a soaring eagle, but might also
wear the guise of an elf or eladrin. He expects
his followers to:
✦ Reach for the skies.
✦ Seek freedom in any form.
✦ Do not let those who would hold you down
get in your way.
Krona
Good
The goddess of the elements, originally from the
Elemental Chaos. She is the wife of Korvus and
is said to be the controller of the weather. She is
the creator of the clouds and stars. She now lives
in the Feywild with Korvus, and she is
worshipped by elemental beings. She is usually
depicted as a blonde-haired woman holding an
olive branch in her left hand. Farmers revere her
and her daughters. She commands:
✦ Be respectful of the elements.
✦ Bask in the light of the stars.
✦ Fight those who would destroy nature. Fight
the violent influences of Korvuun.
The Lady of Ravens
Unaligned
Her name unknown since the dawn of time, the
Lady of Ravens is the goddess of death. She is
the wife of Korrik, who chose him when he gave
her the gift of death. She, and is the object of
reverence for assassins and the ninja. It is
whispered she comes as a raven, signaling the
end of a person’s life, but is also said to appear
in dreams as a beautiful, dark-haired woman,
taking the dreamers by the hand and carrying
them to the afterlife, though none can say for
certain as her presence is one of speculation and
faith, since dead men tell no tales. She expects
this from her constituents:
✦ Do not mourn for those who live long lives.
Death is merely the beginning of another
part of life.
✦ Purge undeath where you may find it.
✦ The end of life is inevitable. Destroy those
who would cast off the chains of fate.
The Children of Korrik
Kallen
Good
Goddess of healing, marriage, and spring,
Kallen is called upon during weddings for a
lifelong union and for a miracle of healing in the
direst of straits. She appears as a beautiful
brown-haired elf dressed in flowing white robes,
but occasionally dresses in a more priestly garb
for weddings. She stresses these:
✦ Love is a wonderful gift. Be faithful to your
friends and family.
✦ Heal and help. Never turn your back on the
sick and injured.
✦ Marriage is the greatest bond, the union of
two spirits as one. Love your wife or
husband, and be loving of the fruits of your
union, for they carry your legacy.
Kara
Unaligned
The goddess of the sea, and the oldest of
Korrik’s children. Her temper is as fierce as the
sea, and sailors often pray to her for a safe trip.
Always worshipped by shark-men, she is
depicted as a mighty killer while, or sometimes
as a gentle mermaid. These are her beliefs:
✦ Be respectful of the sea. It can as calm as a
trickle one moment, then a tsunami the next.
✦ Be one with the sea. Use its resources if
needed, but always be mindful of its
fierceness.
✦ Explore. Search the depths of the oceans for
lost worlds.
Karana
Unaligned
God of civilization, law, and progress, and the
youngest of Korrik’s children, he is focused on
advancing society and while he is in good
standing with his brother Kog, they often have
disagreements. Often worshipped by barristers,
senators, and wizards, he is sometimes revered
by warlords and other arcane warriors. He often
appears as a handyman holding a hammer or a
map. He has these statutes:
✦ Spread law and civilization.
✦ Be mindful of other cultures. Learn of them,
learn their customs, and incorporate these
cultures into society.
✦ Savages cannot be trusted. Weed them out.
Kivilian
Unaligned
God of knowledge and arcane magic, and
Korrik’s first son. He is obsessed with the
accumulation of knowledge, looking for new
spells and battle tactics. He is held in reverence
by many warlords and wizards, and sometimes
even fighters and warlocks. Eladrin who do not
worship Korvus usually worship Kivilian, or
even both, and he often appears as a hooded man
wearing a robe of green stars. He preaches:
✦ Knowledge is power. Learn.
✦ Exercise your mind as much as you can in as
many ways as you can.
✦ Search for items of great magic. They could
be the key to unlocking Korrik’s history.
Kog
Good
The god of artifice and machinery, Kog likes to
tinker and toil in his cavern, creating new
machines, some functional, some meant for war.
Dwarves revere him as their creator, forming
them from the raw materials of the earth. He is
the object of worship for dwarves, artificers, and
others with an eye for machines. He commands:
✦ Build new machines and gadgets.
✦ Use machines to help, and make weapons
only when nothing else can save you.
✦ Nothing is obsolete. It merely needs to be
improved.
Krag
Lawful Good
The god of war and valor, favored among
fighters and paladins for his strength. Not much
for tactics, he prefers being direct over dilly-
dallying. The consummate warrior, Krag is
viewed as a stoic fighter, wearing heavy armor
and holding a sword as tall as he in one hand. He
has no other known guise. He stresses these
commandments to his followers:
✦ Be direct. Speak your mind. Do not mince
words.
✦ Valor begets heart. Be strong, but use that
strength to serve others, not for selfish
deeds.
✦ Protect the innocent and the helpless. They
did nothing wrong, and do not deserve to be
the victims of crime.
The Children of Korvus
Koval
Good
The goddess of the moon and autumn, Koval is
one of the twins of Korvus. She is prayed to by
druids, shamans, and farmers wishing for a
bountiful harvest and is always revered during
the Harvest Moon. She is not a patron of the
nine clans, but she receives the universal prayers
of all Korrikans from time to time. These are her
commandments:
✦ Plant and watch the growth. New life is a
wonderful thing.
✦ The harvest moon is my day. Pray for
abundant crops when it appears.
✦ Prepare for my sister in the morning.
Kovak
Unaligned
The goddess of the sun and spring, Kovak is the
twin sister of Koval. She is often prayed to by
farmers who wish for sunny days or possibly to
stay away when rain is needed for their crops.
She is believed to be very vain, and wishes for
people to see her as much as possible. Her
scripture is thus:
✦ Bask in the sunlight.
✦ The light is your friend.
✦ Exterminate vampires. They are the enemies
of the sun and perpetually shun the light.
Krell and his Children
Krell and his children are evil deities. They are
opposed to Korrik, and try to create negative
influences upon the people. They are not
detailed at length in this section as they are evil
gods, with the exception of one: K’tan, the god
of subtlety, who will be covered at length.
K’tan
Unaligned
The god of subtlety, illusion and trickery, he is
the only one of Krell’s children who is not
inherently evil. Though he was once regarded
with ill will, the people of Korrik now view him
merely with indifference. K’tan was once
worshipped by the ninja, which lead to their
stigma, and while K’tan is no longer looked at
with disdain, the same is still not true for the
ninja. He appears in many guises, but once
common trait is that he always wears a mask,
revealing his face to none. He believes:
✦ Never reveal your true nature. Revealing too
much could put you at risk.
✦ The truth hurts. Be truthful only with care.
✦ The element of surprise is the deadliest
weapon of all. Use it.
Evil Deities
The evil gods of Korrik fight Korrik, Korvus,
and their children at every opportunity. The gods
must fight them, and in turn, the PC’s often find
themselves fighting their emissaries. This
section gives only a few details on these evil
beings, as the details on them are few and far
between. Only the ones who possess the Lost
Texts or actually follow these deities know the
full story of the evil gods.
Kallal is the evil goddess of immortality, lust,
and infidelity. She is Krell’s wife and the Raven
Queen’s sister.
Kaldra is the chaotic evil goddess of envy,
undeath, and defiance. Kaldra despises her aunt,
The Raven Queen, and seeks to question her
authority at every turn.
Kelsa is the chaotic evil goddess of poison and
treachery. Because of her corruption of the
drow, she has earned the eternal wrath of
Korvus.
Khanali is the evil god of sloth, gluttony, and
greed. He is the mortal enemy of Krag.
Korvuun is the chaotic evil god of wrath,
violence, and disaster, believed to be the creator
of earthquakes, storms, and tidal waves.
Krell is the chaotic evil lord of the Far Realm
and the twin brother of the Dragon God, Korrik.
Kuss is the evil goddess of pride and
arrogance. She is obsessed with spreading hubris
in any form.
The Ani-Men in Korrik
The ani-men are relatively new compared to
other races, but are older than some others, as
well, which gives them a distinctive position in
the world. They are accepted, but only
grudgingly. They have a presence, but not a
vocal one. Their very existence is a dichotomy,
and their interaction within the nine clans is no
different.
Lion-Men
Lion-men boast long lives, and their services are
appreciated no matter where they go. In fact,
they offer themselves to three clans: The White
Lance, the Syndicate of Dragons, and the Light
of Kallen. There are more lion-men in the White
Lance than any other, and they serve more of a
role as combat medics in the Light. Those lion-
men in the Dragonus enlist more out of respect
for the dragonborn.
 Lion-men, being privy to purpose, find their
calling to the divinity, and will worship the deity
they most identify with, the most notable being
Krag, the god of valor and war. Some even
believe Krag is a lion warrior, and might call the
god The Great Lionheart. Some worship Korrik,
but not many.
Monkey-Men
Monkey-men feel the call of the divine more
than any other race in Korrik, and for that, they
are drawn to the more ascetic clans, especially
the Light of Kallen and the Syndicate of
Dragons. Monkey-men usually do not display
their religious ferver as most Dragonus do,
preferring to serve as preists and monks, if
possible. In the Light, monkey-men display an
uncanny healer’s touch, and it is in the Light
monkey-men feel most welcome.
Monkey-men, bearing some possible divine
spark, are naturally drawn to the gods, but do
not feel a bias towards a particular god, even if
one is in one of the nine clans. Even so, some
monkey-men are partial to Kallen.
Rabbit-Men
Rabbit-men are fun-loving and capable of
inducing superstitions in others. Their
preternatural lucky streaks are usually founded
by a quick tongue and quicker reflexes, and this
proves of aid to the Raven Blade and the Tides
of Aquilian. Their methods are different within
each clan. As a Raven Blade, their skills are
used for infiltration and theft, while as part of
the Tides, they serve as commanders and
quartermasters. No matter their function, rabbit-
men are helpful.
Though they believe in luck, rabbit-men
believe in creating their own luck. They do not
believe in divine intervention, though they do
not mind the gods, either.
Rat-Men
If you want cold, calculated subtlety, rat-men are
the best. Their expertise for stealth has made rat-
men artists in the way of disappearance and
invisibility. It is whispered their subtlety is
completely nonmagical in nature, a terrifying
display of skill if it is true. Because of this, rat-
men are not easily trusted, but the Raven Blade
know the value of shadows and subterfuge,
employing them at every opportunity for
ambushes, theft, infiltration, and, during the War
of the Nine, assassination. Rat-men hated
assassination, but accepted this charge out of
loyalty to the Raven Blade. Documents found in
2-4 a.w. also counted rat-men among the ninja.
Rat-men are said to be totally agnostic, but in
truth, they simply keep their prayers to
themselves. Some rat-men revere a being called
The Stalker. Also called the Great Rat and That
Which is Veiled, many scholars who have heard
of this being suspect it is K’tan, the god of
illusion, in one of his disguises. K’tan is the
commonly worshipped deity among rat-men, but
some worship The Lady of Ravens.
Shark-Men
Shark-men are sea folk, finding life in the
oceans of Korrik. Their gills and fins make them
more acclimated for a life at sea, but this makes
them immensely useful to the Tides of Aquilian.
Since they are the only members of the Tides
who can actually breathe underwater, they work
mostly as “sea scouts”, people who survey the
open sea, assessing the area for dangerous
terrain, monsters, and if they can get back in
time, incoming tidal waves.
Shark-men exclusively worship Kara, goddess
of the sea.
Serpent-Men
Serpent-men are devious and deceptive. Their
speech elicits an unsettling aura only colder
races, such as the rat-men and shadar-kai, can
deal without getting a chill down their spine.
Their demeanor and general misanthropy makes
them untrustworthy, and they always have an
ulterior motive. For that reason, they are part of
the Blue Rose, a treacherous clan in and of
itself. No one in the Blue Rose trusts the others,
so the clan is more than “accepting” of serpent-
men. A few serpent-men also serve in the Gullen
Senate, their cunning and natural intellect
proving of benefit.
Serpent-men believe in the gods, but do not
feel they interfere directly in matters of the
natural world. Some serpent-men worship Kelsa
or Kuss, but others might favor Karana.
Tiger-Men
Tiger-men are free-roaming warriors and
hunters, primarily unconcerned with the goings-
on of greater Korrik. They are at home in the
forests, living off the land and taking up trades
as hunters and guides. Since they almost never
visit cities, tiger-men are the only ani-man race
to not be a part of the nine clans. This gives
them a unique position, however, as the clans
see value in freelance warriors, particularly the
Raven Blade, and they, as well as the White
Lance and the Syndicate of Dragons, enlist tiger-
men from time to time, but only ever in a
temporary capacity.
Tiger-men favor gods of the wild and nature,
usually worshipping Korvus and his twin
daughters, Koval and Kovak.

Vulture-Men
Vulture-men are strange, to put it bluntly. They
are considered death’s gatekeeper, which would
make one think the Raven Blade would welcome
them. In truth, the clan has never associated with
them, as their open displays of cannibalism are
not up to the Raven Blade’s discreet reputation.
Rather, there are a number of vulture-men The Nine Clans
among the White Lance and the Syndicate of
Dragons. Still, membership among these clans is Blue Rose
minor at best. Evil
Vulture-men are worshippers of the Lady of
Ravens, first and foremost. If they do not
worship her, they at least offer a prayer to her
once in a while.

Wolf-Men
Wolf-men are strongly tied to the bonds of
family and strength of mind. They possess an
insight matched by few, but prefer keeping it to
themselves.
Of all the ani-men, wolf-men make up part of
more clans than the rest: The League of Gullen,
the Herodotans, the Union of Gears, and the
Syndicate of Dragons. More wolf-men are
numbered among the Herodotans than any other
as their secretive nature lets them scry Korrik’s
current history in relative peace. Only wolf-men
who wish to openly display their insight make
up part of the Gullen Senate.
Wolf-men are deeply spiritual, though not
necessarily religious. Those wolf-men who
believe in the gods typically worship the
respective god of their clan. Those not part of a
clan usually pray to Kivilian, god of knowledge.
“We’re here on business. Watch your money, or
we’ll watch it for you.”
Their specialty is business. No more, no less.
The Blue Rose are in the interest of making
money, and in this day and age, what better way
than in trade. Because of their expertise in many
fields of business and trade, ranging from
farming and manufacturing to accounting and
business contracts, the Blue Rose are the perfect
businessmen in Korrik. Because they are in the
business of doing business, many members also
have strong educations in law, using it to their
advantage, and keeping the White Lance out of
their way.
 No one expects less from the Blue Rose, the conscience of many members, but they
mainly because they were an organized crime understand that intervening would be an abuse
syndicate during the War of the Nine, running of power, and the Herodotans know the extent of
rackets against farmers and merchants. Called power.
the mafia in the west and the yakuza in the east, Today, the Herodotans record history as it
the Blue Rose used fear and violence to subvert goes along, without bias or regard for others.
the people into debt and indentured service. It The Herodotans cannot play favorites.
was said anyone who spoke out against them
faced the wrath of the Blue Rose’s personal The League of Gullen
ninja clan, the White Shadow, the only ninja Unaligned
clan not involved with the Raven Blade at the
time of the War. Their resourcefulness and guile
made them a deadly force in the War, but the
arrival of the Four K’s two hundred years ago
forced the disbanding of the crime syndicates.
Now, they use their skills for more beneficial
pursuits, though the law can sometimes be bent,
perhaps even broken.
“We’re here to legislate. To form the laws of the
laws of the land in order to protect the people.”

Parasites. Vampires. Scumbags. Shrewd.

The Herodotans
Unaligned
“We’re here to observe. Never to interfere, only
to view, as we watch history unfold.”
See it. Record it. Store it. These are the three
precepts of The Herodotans. The official
historians of Korrik, the clan has numerous
scrying orbs located within their tower, Chronos,
which gives them unparalleled access to all the
events occurring in Korrik. In essence, nothing
escapes their eyes. However, this access gives
The Herodotans nigh-invincibility.
In fact, during the War of the Nine, many
Herodotans were expert scryers, giving them an
amazing tactical advantage, despite their lacking
fighting skill, so the four figures were careful in
letting the Herodotans perform their function,
and their power does come with a price: They
are expressly forbidden from interfering directly
in the events of Korrik, lest they violate the very
code of a historian: To observe, never to
intervene. This limitation does put a damper on
Devious. Supressive. Call the League of Gullen
whatever you will, but it does not change the
fact they serve an important and necessary
function in Korrik: They make laws. Some
would say would say the League only wish to
further suppress free will and infringe on the
people further with more rules, and this may be
true. But like all the clans, the League has their
share of good and evil members, and while some
wish to create more and more laws, others
believe the people are fit to govern themselves
and fight to repeal many laws they deem useless
or impractical. A recent law making it illegal to
carry two swords was repealed for that reason,
as well as another to heavily tax coffee, a
widely-indulged beverage in Korrik.
During the War of the Nine, the League of
Gullen were only very recently created by their
first Quinjulo, Gullen I. During this time, they
were skilled and charismatic negotiators and
politicians, possessing uncanny skill in
preventing things from happening. In essence,
one could say they tried to talk their enemies to
death. Their words were their weapon, literally
and figuratively, which made the League
specialists in arcane magic. Where their martial
skills lacked, they made up for in arcane
mastery. Nevertheless, their affinity for the
arcane was not enough to dominate the War, but
it enabled them to gain a new function: Law, and
they use it today with unpredictable effect.
The Light of Kallen
Good
“We’re here to heal. To bind souls in love, to
care for the sick and injured, to give life where
there is death.”
Mending bones, stitching wounds, and caring for
the sick are skills required for survival. The
clans realize the importance of effective
medicine, and each clan was privy to training
medics during the War of the Nine. Despite their
presence, there was one clan whose healing
abilities were far superior to the other clans.
They are known as the Light of Kallen.
Experts in the nuances and intricacies of
medical care, the Light of Kallen consists of
priests, healers, apothecaries, herbalists, and
doctors, all of whom display an uncanny
expertise in various areas of healing. Though
they charge for their services, the Light is not
quick to turn away those who are in genuine
need. They are in the business of using their
healing to make money, but those who can
afford their services can oftentimes pay off the
Light for good or other services, such as
deliveries or information. It is rumored the Light
often hire Raven Blade spies to glean
information on new medicines from freelance
healers.
The Light of Kallen was the only clan that did
not actively fight in the War of the Nine.
Though they did not side with any clan, they did
try to render equal care to each clan, and any
that requested such aid were not turned away.
The Light did not see the War as a helpful
endeavor, and it could be for that reason why the
Commandments of the Nine were the least
restrictive on the Light of Kallen.
The Light is unique among the nine clans in
that only a woman can be Quinjulo. This is
because the clan is named after Kallen, the
goddess of healing.
The Raven Blade
Unaligned
“We’re here to spy. To stand unnoticed, in
shadow and in light, to be invisible to all.”
Spies, saboteurs, guerillas, mercenaries, thieves,
assassins- these are just some of the words used
to describe the Raven Blade. Comprised of the
finest practitioners of stealth and espionage, the
members of the Raven Blade are the foremost
experts in unconventional tactics and warfare. If
anyone needs someone to spy on someone,
gather useful information, or require a
bodyguard, the Raven Blade are up for the task.
Before the end of the War of the Nine, the
Raven Blade was particularly notorious among
the more superstitious folk of Korrik for their
most mysterious warriors: The beings of the
shadow called the ninja. During the war, it was
believed the ninja were responsible for
numerous raids, assassinations, thefts, and fires,
but no trace was ever found of the ninja during
the War to establish these claims. In time, the
ninja were revealed to be comprised mainly of
Raven Blade warriors who devoted their entire
lives to the practice of concealment, so much so
that those who were deemed outsiders of society
were branded as ninja and looked at with disdain
and hostility, although such cases were
never proven true. As per the Commandments
of the Nine, the ninja were ordered to be
disbanded, and were forbidden from passing
their skills onto the next generation.
Of course, the ninja above all people know
you cannot fight what you cannot see.
The Syndicate of Dragons
Lawful Good

“We’re here to guide. To help you find your
purpose, your calling. Perhaps it is with the
gods.”
Sometimes called the Dragonus, the Syndicate
of Dragons represent the religious epicenter of
Korrik. Deeply faitfhful at best and grossly
fanatical at worst, Syndicate churches are
sprawled throughout the cities of Korrik. So
populous are they that a priest of the Syndicate
is located in every city, acting as an
intermediary to the overgod Korrik.
The Syndicate harbor strong beliefs: They
believe Korrik, the Purveyor of all, is a dragon
god, watching over his lesser creations from the
heavens. They feel humanity is inferior to
dragons, with dragonborn representing a higher
form of life than humans, but still lesser than a
true dragon. They held to this belief strongly and
would not waver in it until after the War of the
Nine.
During the War, the Syndicate was fiercely
fanatical, suppressing practices of other religions
in hopes of creating only one true
religion. By accomplishing this, they could
subvert all the peoples of Korrik to their will.
But before they could do that, they had to
eliminate the clans. Now, with the
Commandments of the Nine and the edict they
can no longer suppress other religions, the
Syndicate’s fanaticism has diminished, and they
are the largest and strongest religion in Korrik,
but the old feelings still remain from the War.
The Tides of Aquilian
Unaligned
“We’re here to explore. To survey the seas and
find what is beyond the horizon…and under the
waves.”
The sea is their home. The corals, the sharks, the
waves, the tides. This is the nature of the Tides
of Aquilian. Life-long sea dogs, the Tides prefer
the unpredictability of the sea to the drudgery of
life on land. In their mind, the sea is a true
frontier, full of danger and intrigue, and
often times, that is true. Unfortunately, that is
not always a good thing.
The Tides are responsible for controlling the
seafaring routes of Korrik, ensuring safe passage
for merchants, fishermen, and assorted traders.
Since they control more coastline then all the
nine clans, the Tides are best suited for that job.
However, the Tides were (and some would say
are) known for their pirates. The buccaneers of
Korrik were fearsome and vicious, slitting the
throat of any who would stand in the way of
possible booty. Though it was said the pirates
lived by a code, many would not believe they
followed anything outside of their selfish
whims.
Nevertheless, during the War of the Nine, the
Tides commanded a powerful navy. They were
well-known for creating blockades along the
western Korrikan coast, cutting the supply lines
for various clans. However, the pirates often
gave in to infighting and conflicts of interest,
causing them to be destroyed from within.
Though not public knowledge, many Tides
members are pirates, and they have no qualms
about plundering and swindling if it is
convenient to them, but others are moral
seafarers who try to fight off pirate influences.
The Union of Gears
Good
“We’re here to build. To create wonders for the
eyes, in one way or another, is what we strive
for.

Gears, buildings, weapons, you name it, the
Union of Gears will make it. Unmatched in the
fields of machinery, architecture, chemistry, and
physics, the Union consists of the greatest
scientific minds in Korrik. Combining a taste for
creation and building with an obsession for
progress, the Union of Gears function as the
builders of the island nation, constructing towns
and cities for the people of Korrik. They were
responsible for building Chronos, the famed
tower capital of the Herodotans, a truly
astounding feat in architecture and ingenuity.
During the War of the Nine, however, the
Union’s skills were put to more lethal pursuits.
Though their numbers were few relative to the
other clans, their incredible understanding of
technology enabled them to created giant
weapons of war. Cannons, siege towers,
battering rams, and dynamite were employed by
the Union. Even the first guns saw sporadic use
during the final seven years of the War, but
with the signing of the Commandments of the
Nine, The Union were forced to destroy their
weapons of war, including their guns, never to
be used again.
These days, the Union do not concern
themselves with war, preferring to create rather
than destroy…but one can never be certain.
The White Lance
Lawful Good
“We’re here to enforce. To make sure the law is
followed, and to stop those who would break it.”
The League of Gullen is responsible for creating
the laws of Korrik, but the White Lance is
responsible for enforcing them. A devoted cadre
of warriors, the White Lance engage in a tireless
effort to spread the words of the League and to
make sure those words are followed. Strict
enforcers of the law, they do not abide even the
most minor of offenses, no matter the reason.
Before the War of the Nine, the White Lance
comprised the strongest and largest military of
all the clans. Unfortunately, a relative lack of
tact did not serve them well in battle against
enemies able to exploit this weakness.
Nevertheless, the White Lance would not stop,
and this strength of will made them a force to be
reckoned with during the war. When the
Commandments of the Nine was signed, the four
warriors noticed the White Lance's resolve and
unwillingness to quit, which lead them to make
the clan the enforcers of Korrik's laws. Today,
many in Korrik believe the White
Lance to be fanatical in their interpretation of
the law, but to them, there is no such thing as a
petty crime. This zealotry has given them
strength but has also earned them their fair share
of enemies.
Other Organizations
The Brotherhood of the White
To the public at large, the Brotherhood of the
White no longer exists, and this is accurate. It is
true there is a scattered member here and there
throughout Korrik, but the Brotherhood itself no
longer functions.
The Brotherhood of the White was an ancient
order of assassins that originated in western
Korrik. They were firm believers in the old
adage that power leads to corruption, and they
felt many leaders, particularly those in the nine
clans, abused their influence and were
undeserving of the power they had. They felt
that power should be used in service of the
people, and they would make the corrupt pay for
their transgressions.
The Brotherhood proved to be effective at
their job, claiming responsibility for the deaths
of numerous political and military leaders during
the War of the Nine. However, a few years after
peace was established, the Brotherhood
mysteriously disappeared.
The Communion of Ten
A society of monastic warriors, the Communion of
Ten resides in southern Mend. The Communion’s
home is a large, stone-walled temple, designed to be
impregnable and keep unwanted visitors out. Though
the Communion is not an unwelcoming group, they
place great value in their privacy, and they know
their practices might cause a stigma.
The exact practices the Communion perform on the
inside is kept to themselves, but what is known is the
order partakes in intensive mental and physical
training. Meditation, fasting, and pain application are
some of the training methods employed by the order,
but in order for a Korrikan to know of these things,
they really must see it to believe it; the Communion
is forbidden to speak except during prayer when
inside the temple. Only the Fingers of the
Communion are allowed to speak freely, doing so
only to who they feel are most worthy of hearing
their sage wisdom.
The Conclave of Chaos
The Conclave is one of the most dangerous
organizations in Korrik. They are fascists:
People who desire a form of government that
emphasizes total control over the people. In their
eyes, the government imposed by the nine clans
does not work. Only by exercising greater power
can they award freedom, and that is the duty
they feel they must fulfill. To this end, they are
famous for carrying out numerous terrorist
activities across the island nation: Mass killings,
bridge demolition, bombings, and other terror
tactics are among the methods used by the
Conclave.
The Greenvale
The Greenvale is a druidic order formed
thousands of years ago, before the arrival of
humans into Korrik. None outside of the order
know of the exact origins of the Greenvale, other
than the fact they come from northwestern
Korrik.
The Lost Clan
Thousands of years ago, the first of the nine
clans, the Tides of Aquilian, were born. Over the
next few millenia, the rest of the clans would
take shape and establish their foothold over
Korrik, with the final clan, the League of
Gullen. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending
on one’s point of view), there was a tenth clan
that oversaw the production of sky travel. This
clan, now called the Lost Clan, was said to be
inventors on par with the Union of Gears, but
where the Union’s pursuits were grounded
firmly on land, this clan wished to reach the
heavens. Skilled astronomers and scientists in
the area on aeronautical engineering, the Lost
Clan developed blueprints for the first flying
machines. Though only a few of these blueprints
still exist today, it certainly proves the existence
of this tenth clan to the general public.
The Ninja
The ninja. The word is synonymous with “spies,
thieves, assassins, ghosts, demons, mystics”, and
other assorted terms. The ninja were a group of
clans, most in service to the Raven Blade, who
were among the most skilled in stealth,
infiltration, and deception. Although their true
exploits were not revealed until the end of the
War of the Nine, the ninja were more skilled
than the average soldier. So terrifying were their
skills they were soon viewed as cavorters in dark
powers. Two years after the war ended, the
ninja were officially disbanded. Their temples
were destroyed, the warriors disappeared or
were imprisoned, and the practice of ninjutsu
(the art of concealment) was made illegal.
The Skysweepers
A small organization of urban military scouts,
the Skysweepers are probably the most unique
group in Korrik. They are the foremost in
surveying buildings, streets, and skyscrapers,
understanding the city as a regular scout would
try to understand the land. Once an offshoot of
the Raven Blade, the Skysweepers broke off
from the clan as they felt their skills were too
specialized.
The Tengu
The Tengu. In ancient times, the eastern
Korrikans believed in the spirits of forgotten
ages. Among them, they worshipped bat-like
demons called tengu. They were said to wear
illusion like a cloak, fading from mortal sight at-
will, but ever vigilant against evil. Hundreds of
millennia ago, it was believed the tengu were the
first line of defense for good, a force to combat
the rakshasa. If this occurred is unknown, as the
tengu are no more than legends, but what is
known is that the tengu no longer exist. Of
course, one must remember the first rule of
legends…they ALWAYS have a grain of truth!
Seven years ago, in the city of Blackstone, a
wave of vigilantism swept the city. Criminals
were rounded up, Blue Rose bosses were
running scared, and thieves did not dare go out
at night. Eyewitnesses reported a figure…a man the old tales, Korrikans now call this mysterious
wearing a mask shaped like a bat. Drawing from individual (or individuals) The Tengu.