“You stand behind words and titles, as though they would deter me. You stand behind walls, as though they could stop me. Nothing will stop me. I will take what I want until I’ve had my fill, then burn the rest.”
- Illyana Draketooth
The Umbral Dominion is a mocking moniker, adopted by the many ne’er-do-wells that used to call the Prime Dominion’s Underside their home and a callback to the time Illyana Draketooth spent there, looting, pillaging... and being arrested in Iscarion’s impenetrable High Tower prison. Though many in Illyana Draketooth’s surprisingly well-armed and well-equipped fleet hail from that now shattered land, many more have joined her red banner over the years she’s ravaged the Realms connected by the Ur-River. While aelves and humans are most common for this reason, many miscreants from the newly forged Furnace City and Mogrek’s WAAGH! have found their way amongst their ranks, as have mercenary ogors and seedier duardin. Most are drawn for one simple reason: Illyana Draketooth’s ambitions know no bounds, and that means plentiful profits for any who are willing to cheat, steal, and kill in her name.
Unsurprisingly, the Umbral Dominion is hardly a unified fighting force. Many of its members are just as willing to stab one of their own in the back to claim a larger share of the booty, a practice Draketooth isn’t in the habit of interfering with to make sure only the fittest serve with her. But when it’s time to enact one of her plans, Draketooth brooks no dissent or infighting in her ranks. And those few who think they can get away with it get Draketooth’s personal attention - and scream for many long days and nights as an example to the rest.
The Wyvern Rose, Draketooth’s flagship, epitomizes the best of her fleet’s traits: a sleek aelven sloop retro-fitted with Kharadron aethermatic engines, allowing for another deck of the Prime Dominion’s best cannons to be installed. The little ship packs a deceptive punch, but more importantly she’s stealthy and fast enough to pick her fights, swooping down on unexpecting prey and taking them out before they can act. For the Shadow Dominion has a simple motto to live by: the only unfair fight is the one you lose. The rest of the fleet’s vessels likewise adopt and adapt whatever weapons and equipment they can get their hands on, even shanghaiing whoever has the skills they need to maintain the riotous fusion of cultures and technologies.
Illyana Draketooth
Little is known about the aelven woman named Illyana Draketooth. Rumours suggest she is, or was, part of the Khainite cult. Others insist she is a dark sorceress, or maybe one of Malarion’s mysterious Umbraneth. Many claim she was an admiral in the Prime Dominion’s navy, before going rogue and taking those loyal with her. That she has the support of a mysterious backer, that may or may not be daemonic in nature. That she does or doesn’t spread all these rumours herself to build an elaborate, enigmatic persona.
What is known is that one day she appeared in the Prime Dominion at the head of an enormous fleet and stormed its capital city, looting and pillaging until mercenary armies hired by the Ruyalar drove them back and managed to capture Illyana. And that she escaped from Iscarion’s High Tower not long after.
And ever since that day, made her name as a pirate along the Ur-River, travelling its winding waves between the Realms to make a fortune striking at high value targets that no one else had heard a whisper of. Until recently, when she returned to the shattered Prime Dominion, stole away with some of its latest and greatest cannons, and a piece of the puzzle needed to find the hidden treasure troves of Krabnos.
Why pay tribute to Illyana Draketooth and play as a member the Umbral Dominion:
- You don’t fight for gods or glory, merely gold - and lots of it. The Umbral Dominion doesn’t mince words or take foolish risks, so you signed up with the person you think has the best odds of getting away with the most treasure.
- The Umbral Dominion, and Draketooth especially, are well-connected to the underworld and some seemingly wealthy investors throughout the realms connected by the Ur-River. You’re affiliated with one of those connections and hope that helping Draketooth here strengthens that relationship, so you can profit even more later.
- Rumours about Draketooth have driven your protagonist to join up and investigate her connections, skills, or otherworldly patrons... if they’re even real. Knowledge is power, and if you can figure out what’s going on, maybe you can learn from Draketooth one way or another.
- Your protagonist is a refugee from the shattered Prime Dominion, who signed up just to get away from their past life. Perhaps they’re looking for a home amidst the pirates and cut throats, or you’re just here for one more job to help you settle into a peaceful life in a realm that isn’t tearing itself apart.
