House Deneith — Services & Prices

"Those two have been watching you since you came in. The dwarf in the conveniently nondescript chainmail recently drank a Potion of Giant Strength — see the way his muscles are trembling, barely able to contain the power? The Khoravar's a mage. That's a wand of Xorian wenge in her hand, so she's probably an enchanter. Which probably means they intend to take you alive… probably. Do you want to try your luck and see how it turns out? Or shall we discuss my rates for protection?" — Overheard at a Deneith hiring hall, Sharn

Mark: Sentinel | Guilds: Blademarks Guild, Defender's Guild, Sentinel Marshals Headquarters: Sentinel Tower, Karrlakton, Karrnath

House Deneith is the dragonmarked house of martial contracting, professional defense, and international law enforcement, bound to the Mark of Sentinel. Its services span mercenary forces, personal and institutional security, cross-border legal enforcement, and military training — all sold under tightly structured contracts recognized across Khorvaire. When you hire Deneith, you are not hiring a soldier. You are hiring the house — its discipline, its reputation, its centuries of institutional memory, and its willingness to put that reputation on the line for your contract.

The house maintains its primary headquarters at Sentinel Tower in Karrlakton, Karrnath, with enclaves, hiring halls, and marshal offices throughout the Five Nations and beyond. In Sharn alone, the house maintains nearly two hundred members of the Deneith bloodline and a Blademark force of five hundred soldiers — forty-nine heirs and a host of Brelish recruits. Many fought in the Last War; today they serve as private security for the wealthiest citizens of the city, with a particularly strong presence in Upper Tavick's Landing, where Deneith soldiers hold full authority to act as agents of the Sharn Watch under a standing arrangement that predates the Last War.

All pricing is in gold pieces (gp). Hazard premiums, extended-contract discounts, and political risk surcharges apply as noted.

What House Deneith Will and Will Not Do

House Deneith sells its services to any party willing to pay — this is institutional policy, not mere practice. The house contracted forces to both sides of the Last War without apology and would do so again tomorrow. A Brelish noble and a Karrnathi warlord may both retain Deneith services simultaneously. The house's neutrality is the foundation of its business model: the moment Deneith is perceived as favoring one client over another, every government and noble in Khorvaire recalculates whether they can trust the chimera seal on their bodyguard's cloak.

The house will:

• Contract mercenary forces, bodyguards, and security personnel to any client, regardless of nationality or political allegiance

• Broker the services of independent military organizations — Valenar warbands, Ghaal'dar hobgoblin units, Droaam forces, Cyran veterans — at commission

• Pursue and arrest criminals across national borders under Sentinel Marshal authority

• Enforce warrants and escort prisoners on behalf of regional authorities or private clients

• Train soldiers, militia, and security personnel to Deneith standards

The house will not:

• Take political sides or deploy its forces in service of a faction's territorial ambitions

• Use the Sentinel Marshals as personal enforcement tools — Marshals pursue criminals, not political enemies

• Break the law in pursuit of a fugitive, regardless of the client's wishes or the criminal's severity

• Allow Blademark soldiers to serve under unmonitored client command: Deneith handlers travel with contracted units, enforce discipline, and reserve the right to withdraw troops if orders violate house policy

• Deploy forces against another dragonmarked house

A client who attempts to use Deneith services to gain political leverage over a rival nation should expect the contract to be voided. The house has occasionally blacklisted clients who tried. The neutrality is not optional — it is the product the house is actually selling.

CONTRACT NOTICE — HOUSE DENEITH STANDARD ENGAGEMENT TERMS All contracted personnel remain under Deneith command authority for the duration of engagement. The client directs operational objectives; the house governs conduct. Engagements that require Deneith personnel to violate the Code of Galifar, act against the interests of House Deneith, or perform duties inconsistent with the contracted scope of service are subject to immediate termination without refund. Disputes are arbitrated through the Committee of the Twelve. — Standard addendum, all Deneith service contracts

I. Defender's Guild — Bodyguard & Protection Services

The Defender's Guild provides personal and institutional protection. It is composed exclusively of members of the Deneith bloodline — no outsiders may join. All heirs must complete at least one tour in the Blademarks before qualifying; those who pass are issued a writ of the Watchful Eye, sealed with an arcane mark and virtually impossible to forge. Presenting this writ at any Deneith enclave entitles the heir to request work; if the heir's background is called into question, a house leader can contact the issuing enclave for verification.

Defenders specialize in one of two paths. Swift Defenders operate in light or no armor, relying on speed and precision — they excel at covert protection, infiltration environments, and situations where the client does not want their security to be visible. Ravan heirs dominate this path. Strong Defenders wear heavy armor and deter would-be attackers through obvious, imposing presence — the message they send is not subtlety but certainty. The Peacekeepers are an elite subset trained specifically for environments where no weapons are permitted: formal courts, diplomatic functions, sacred spaces, high-society galas. They rely entirely on unarmed, non-lethal techniques refined through study at the Order of the Broken Blade in Karrlakton.

Every marked Defender shares the core abilities of the Mark of Sentinel: a heightened intuitive awareness of threats (the +1d4 bonus to Perception and Insight), the ability to cast shield at least once per long rest, and Vigilant Guardian — the ability to physically swap places with their charge to intercept an attack. This last ability is the Defender's signature: the flash of blue-purple light, the sudden displacement, the Defender standing exactly where the client was a heartbeat ago, wound accepted. It is the moment that justifies every gold piece of the fee.

The gap between rates for least and lesser marks reflects a vast difference in capability. A lesser-marked Defender can cast counterspell, share damage with their charge through warding bond, and project protective energy at a level an unmarked heir simply cannot approach. A greater-marked Defender can manifest a guardian of faith — typically in the shape of their family beast — and wield Bigby's hand with battlefield precision. The price is not vanity. It is the cost of magic that can save your life.

Extended contracts receive rate reductions negotiated with the local enclave. Magical protection scales directly with mark rank and is not available from unmarked heirs. The Defender's Guild does not place heirs in politically compromised positions; if a client's security needs require a Defender to take a partisan role, the contract will be declined. The Sharn enclave maintains 33 unmarked Defenders, 75 with the Least Mark, and 7 with the Lesser Mark. No Greater or Siberys bearers are currently posted in Sharn — a fact that reflects how rare those manifestations truly are, even in one of the largest enclaves outside Karrlakton.

II. Blademarks Guild — Mercenary Contracts

The Blademarks Guild has governed the mercenary trade across Khorvaire for centuries — it is the largest licensed military force on the continent. House members bearing the Mark of Sentinel serve as officers, trainers, and strategists. The rank and file draws from a broader pool: the bulk of Blademark soldiers are not blood heirs of the house but licensed mercenaries trained and managed by the house. The distinction matters. Deneith heirs are elite mercenaries, but not every job requires an elite mercenary. Sometimes a black blade — competent, disciplined, backed by the chimera seal — is all you need. And the fact that they carry the Blademark license tells you they have been vetted, trained, and held to a standard. The reason you hire the Blademark is not necessarily because you need a soldier who can cast shield — it is because you want a capable mercenary you can trust.

Soldiers of the Blademark are hired on two-year terms. Recruits must provide identification and background papers and pass a rigorous training period; those who cannot function within a command structure are expelled. The house provides room, board, training, and basic equipment in exchange for a substantial commission cut. A new recruit — a gray blade — receives only 40% commission; veterans who advance may eventually reach 70%. The internal hierarchy runs from black blades (entry-level infantry) through gray, white, and gold blades, with officers drawn from the white and gold ranks. White and gold blades serve primarily as coordinators, administrators, and instructors.

A Blademark who serves a long and distinguished term may be granted honorary membership in House Deneith — making them eligible to marry into the house and granting access to Deneith enclaves. This is not common, but it is the origin of the lesser families within the house, and the founding line a lesser family associates with reflects the values they choose to embrace.

Standard minimum engagement is one week. Custom arms and armor for contracted forces are billed separately. Deneith handlers accompany all units — the client directs strategy; the handler enforces house standards and discipline. A client who orders Blademark troops to commit atrocities, violate the Code of Galifar, or act against Deneith policy will find their contract terminated and troops withdrawn. This has happened, and the house does not bluff about it.

Brokered independent units — Valenar cavalry, Ghaal'dar warbands, Droaam forces — operate under their own customs. The house arranges transport, translators, and logistics and facilitates the relationship, but does not guarantee compliance with Five Nations law. Valenar warbands in particular maintain a representative of each warclan at Sentinel Tower as surety for acceptable behavior — a system born of hard experience after the Valenar betrayal of Cyre.

When blooded Deneith heirs are deployed against other Deneith heirs — as occasionally occurred during the Last War — house tradition holds to the principle of the first and felling blow: heirs fight to their full capability but will attempt to avoid killing their own kin. Many carried a baton alongside their primary weapon when expecting to face other heirs, using the club rather than the blade against family. No such restraint applies to licensed mercenaries without blood ties to the house.

"The Blademark seal on a soldier's arm doesn't mean he's the best fighter in the room. It means he'll follow orders, hold the line, and not steal the silverware when the job is done. That's worth more than a magic sword." — Blademark recruiting officer, Gathering Stone, Darguun

III. Sentinel Marshals — Law Enforcement Services

The Sentinel Marshals are the house's most prestigious corps and arguably its most important contribution to postwar Khorvaire. They hold cross-border legal authority recognized by every Treaty of Thronehold signatory — the only such force in Khorvaire. Local watches and constabularies are agents of their respective crowns and cannot pursue fugitives into foreign territory. The Sentinel Marshals can. In many ways, they represent the last functional remnant of Galifar — a legal authority that crosses every line the war drew.

Marshals are never obliged to take a case. They may decline if they doubt either the justice of the cause or their ability to accomplish it, without any stain on their record. They are typically engaged by regional authorities as auxiliaries, but may be hired privately when local justices lack the resources to pursue a case. They enforce the law but are not authorized to break it in pursuit of justice. If a quarry has already been formally declared an outlaw, however, lethal force is not a crime.

Only the most trusted and capable members of the house are appointed as Marshals, and candidates must possess thorough knowledge of the laws and customs of all Five Nations. Many train with the Order of the Broken Blade in Karrlakton, earning the Blademaster qualification — the law enforcement role involves more close-quarters confrontation than open battlefield work, and the distinction matters.

Marshals pursue criminals — they do not serve as personal enforcement arms. A client who presents a politically motivated warrant without legitimate criminal basis will be refused. Local governments are required to cooperate with Sentinel Marshals under the Treaty of Thronehold, though in practice this cooperation varies significantly outside the Five Nations. Marshals operating in Droaam have noted that local guards will not actively interfere with a lawful arrest — but will not lift a finger when the criminal's hired muscle moves against the Marshal afterward.

The Sharn enclave maintains nine Marshals, all of whom also serve in the Defender's Guild: five hold the Lesser Mark, three the Least Mark, and one is an unmarked heir. Among the most accomplished of the Sharn contingent are the twin sisters Lalia and Tasra d'Deneith, both lesser-marked. Lalia specializes in tracking fugitives through the wilderness; Tasra knows the seedy underbelly of Sharn like the back of her hand. Both have a reputation for thoroughness that borders on relentlessness.

SENTINEL MARSHAL — PUBLIC SERVICE NOTICE The Sentinel Marshals of House Deneith operate under authority recognized by all Treaty of Thronehold signatory nations. Obstruction of a Marshal in the lawful execution of a warrant is a criminal offense under the Code of Galifar, Article 14, Section 3. Cooperation with Marshal investigations is expected and appreciated. If you have information regarding the whereabouts of a fugitive, present yourself at the nearest Deneith enclave. Confidentiality is assured where legally permissible. — Posted in Sentinel Marshal offices, all major enclaves

IV. Specialized & Tactical Services

Higher-tier offerings for organized forces, national defense, and crisis situations.

Rapid deployment is often coordinated with House Orien for overland movement — a reminder that the houses are interdependent even as they compete. War College training is conducted at Sentinel Tower in Karrlakton, which maintains three separate academies, or at major enclave facilities. Candidates from non-Karrnathi nations have historically been accepted, though postwar political sensitivities can complicate enrollment. The house considers its training programs a point of pride: Sentinel Tower's academies are regarded as peer institutions to the Rekkenmark Academy, and graduates carry that credential throughout their careers.

V. Infrastructure & Security Consulting

Services for settlements, institutions, and private estates.

The house coordinates ward and alarm integration with House Cannith and House Sivis where relevant — Cannith supplies the arcane locks and defensive glyphs, Sivis provides alarm communication networks — though those services are billed through their respective houses. Deneith provides the human (or humanoid) layer: the guards, the schedules, the command structure, and the institutional knowledge of how to defend a building against people who actually know how to attack one.

VI. Civil Order & Public Contracts

Lethal force requires explicit written authorization from the contracting authority. Municipal contracts, particularly those involving standing guard obligations, typically require the contracting party to swear loyalty oaths before local magistrates. Deneith will not accept municipal contracts that require its troops to function as partisan enforcers rather than neutral peacekeepers. In Upper Tavick's Landing, Sharn, Deneith soldiers hold full authority to act as agents of the Sharn Watch — a standing arrangement that has operated without interruption since before the Last War. The arrangement works because both sides benefit: the Watch gets professional soldiers it does not have to train or pay pensions, and Deneith gets a permanent presence in one of Sharn's wealthiest districts, with all the intelligence-gathering opportunities that implies.

VII. Training & Certification

Marshal certification is not available for purchase — candidates must be Deneith bloodline heirs who meet the house's internal standards. The figure above reflects training and examination fees for qualified candidates, not a market rate for the credential. You cannot buy a Sentinel Marshal's badge. You earn it, or you do not carry one.

Blademark Academy training is open to outside recruits, who take on an indenture to the guild until training costs are repaid. This is the most common entry point for non-Deneith soldiers seeking a career in professional mercenary work — and the training is genuinely excellent. The house considers every graduate an advertisement for its standards.

VIII. Personnel (Daily Hirelings)

Individual personnel available for short-term or long-term engagement through Deneith enclaves.

All personnel remain under Deneith command authority — the client directs assignment and operational goals; the house governs conduct. Sentinel Marshals do not serve as long-term personal bodyguards; that function belongs to the Defender's Guild. An individual Marshal engaged privately is expected to be pursuing a specific legal matter, not providing general security. Clients seeking to misuse the Marshal's jurisdictional authority for personal or political ends will find the engagement terminated and may be reported to regional authorities.

Pricing Context

Prices across all guilds represent Khorvaire-wide standard rates from Deneith enclaves in major cities. Expect variation based on:

Hazard zone premiums — Active war zones, undead regions (Karrnath's interior, the Mournland border), or operations beyond treaty nations add 25–100% depending on risk. A Blademark squad deployed to escort a salvage team into the Mournland is not being paid the same rate as one guarding a merchant's warehouse in Wroat.

Extended contract discounts — Engagements beyond one month are negotiated directly with the relevant guild officer. Long-term clients build relationships with specific enclaves, and those relationships have value on both sides.

Remoteness — Deployments requiring significant House Orien transport costs are billed additionally. Getting a platoon to Q'barra is not the same as deploying one across Sharn.

Mark rank availability — Greater and Siberys mark heirs are extraordinarily rare. The Sharn enclave, one of the largest outside Karrlakton, carries none. A client who requires greater-mark protection must negotiate with Sentinel Tower directly, and the house will want to know why.

"How much does a Deneith bodyguard cost? Less than a funeral." — Common saying in Sharn's upper wards