Xen'drik
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Xen'drik is a fictional continent in the Eberron campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.
Description
Xen'drik is a jungle continent of vast size and varying climate that lies to the south of Khorvaire. Xen'drik's coastline has been mapped, but its interior remains largely unexplored, and the continent has a reputation as a land of secrets, danger, and mystery. Xen'drik and Khorvaire are separated by Shargon's Teeth and the Thunder Sea.
Sahuagin tribes guard the seas between Khorvaire and Xen'drik. Some tribes attack any who attempt to reach Xen'drik; others work as guides, often trading, assisting, and negotiating deals with explorers and merchants.
Xen'drik was once home to a civilization of giants, with whom the dragons risked sharing ancient magical secrets. This civilization fell into ruin due to a Quori invasion, an elven rebellion and then a war against the dragons of Argonnessen some forty thousand years ago. Current publication suggests these Quori were neutral or good aligned (as opposed to the evil Quori of the current era) and refugees from an unknown cataclysm in Dal Quor who were assaulted by the giants. Dragons of Eberron further suggests that by the time of the elven rebellion, the giants had become so corrupt that they turned to nihilism and decided to destroy the world if they couldn't rule it, at which point the dragons decided to destroy them. Primitive remnants of the giant civilization still exist within the land's jungles and mountains. Tribes of drow, those remaining from the enslaved elves of yore, who worship the scorpion god Vulkoor also live among the ruins of the giant civilization, possessing the most advanced society on Xen'drik. The elves of Aerenal, once ruled by the ancient giants, originate from Xen'drik. There is also evidence of a "vermin king" who held power in the recent past, which is a reference to Obox-ob, a powerful demon lord.
The Ring of Siberys circles Eberron above the equator, which crosses over Xen'drik. Thus, Siberys dragonshards fall on Xen'drik with some regularity, and Xen'drik is one of very few sources of these rare and valuable objects.
The trade city of Stormreach is located at the northernmost point of Xen'drik, and is the only modern city on the continent. Originally a pirate hideout built among the ruins of a giant city, it now serves as the first stop for travelers to the continent. All dragonmarked houses have agents in Stormreach. Some nearby giant tribes trade with Stormreach, but the inhabitants of Xen'drik become more hostile as one travels further inland. The economy of Stormreach is based primarily upon supporting expeditions to the interior, which are made in the interest of retrieving artifacts, magical items, and other treasures from the giants' ruined cities, temples, and other outposts.
At the northeastern edge of Shargon's Teeth are located Korthos Island and Korthos Village. This is the starting point of Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach.
In other media
The computer games Dragonshard and Dungeons & Dragons Online are set in Xen'drik.
References
- Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, and James Wyatt. Eberron Campaign Setting. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- Bill Slavicsek, David Noonan, Christopher Perkins. Five Nations. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. ISBN 0-7869-3690-8.
- Keith Baker, Steven "Stan!" Brown, Luke Johnson, and James Wyatt. Player's Guide to Eberron. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast, 2006. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
- Keith Baker, Jason Bulmahn, and Amber Scott. Secrets of Xen'drik. Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. ISBN 0-7869-3916-8