Rekkenmark

The youngest of Karrnath’s major cities yet still nearly a millennium old, the city of Rekkenmark grew up around the academy founded by Prince Karrn. A manifest zone tied to Shavarath that enhances battle acuity and training lies at the heart of the academy; today it serves as the academy’s primary training grounds. For over 800 years Rekkenmark prepared Galifar’s greatest officers; some have been immortalized in song and story, while others have become infamous for their cowardice and corruption. The outbreak of the Last War set the students of Rekkenmark against each other, each nation forced to form their own rival schools. Rekkenmark has re-opened for international students, but an uneasy air hangs over the question of whether these classmates will, like their predecessors, soon find themselves facing off against each other in the name of king and country.

The city itself also suffered on account of the war; Aundair captured Rekkenmark early on in an invasion from Thaliost, and Kaius I retaliated by destroying parts of the White Arch Bridge to cut off the Aundairian supply route in 899 YK. While Orien heirs were able to repair the bridge and Karrnath recaptured the city, the bridge was fully blown to bits by saboteurs of unknown nationality only three decades later in 928 YK, shortly after Thrane captured Thaliost for what would be the final time. Cutting off this critical trade route wasn’t the end of the city’s woes; air raids by Thranish wyverns ravaged it several times throughout the war, cementing the hostility between Karrns and Thranes.

With the destruction of the White Arch Bridge, getting to Rekkenmark is much harder than it used to be; the city is built adjacent to steep cliffs and has little ability to accept traffic from the water. While it does have a freshly constructed airship docking tower, few routes stop in Rekkenmark compared to nearby Thaliost and Korth. Travelers to Rekkenmark from Western Khorvaire who can’t afford an airship ride usually travel by water from Flamekeep to Korth, then use the lightning rail station in Korth to reach the city.

The westernmost city in Karrnath is Rekkenmark, a community known for its military academy. Once called the door to Karrnath, thanks to the great White Arch Bridge spanning Scions Sound, Rekkenmark’s importance fell in the last century, when the bridge tumbled into the sound. Given that the bridge served as a major artery to the heart of Karrnath, many soldiers marveled that it stayed intact as long as it did. Cut off from the west by the river and surrounded or behind enemy lines for significant portions of the war, this border city suffered greatly during the conflict.

Rekkenmark’s survival and continued viability is a testament to Karrnathi stubbornness. Its citizens still work to bring the city back to its prewar magnificence. The people emphasize the city’s prewar charm, with buildings, temples, and structures surviving from when Karrnath was part of Galifar. Their efforts have not seen much success because the loss of the bridge also destroyed the lightning rail spanning it and greatly curtailed commerce and access to visitors. The city’s waterfront cannot replace the bridge’s access because Rekkenmark sits atop steep cliffs overlooking the sound. In addition, few elemental airships forgo the relatively near and more important berths in Korth to stop at the border city. Despite all these hindrances, the people refuse to give up; plans to rebuild the great bridge fill them with hope that better days lie ahead.

Source: Eberron Campaign Guide

From the halls of Rekkenmark Academy, one of the premier military training institutions on the continent, the cliffs that border both sides of Scions Sound can be seen. The large city of Rekkenmark has stared into the face of one of Karrnath’s most fervent enemies since the kingdom of Galifar collapsed and the children of Jarot went to war. Perhaps the most telling moment of the Last War occurred in 899 YK when King Kaius I ordered the destruction of the great White Arch Bridge to prevent an invasion by severing the passage across the sound. As the massive stone blocks, decorative statues, lightning rail conductor stones, and distinctive golden arches fell into the sound, the people of Rekkenmark realized that the Galifar kingdom had truly come undone. Today, the remains of the shattered bridge jut out over the cliffs as a stark reminder of both the connection that once existed and the war that ended Galifar’s dream.

Rekkenmark’s history as the training ground for generals and other military officers goes back to the second Galifar king (Karrn ir’Wynarn), who dedicated the facility that eventually became the Rekkenmark Academy. The city is rich in tradition and old-world charm, with much of Rekkenmark harkening back to the glory days of early Galifar. Unfortunately, the city has also seen its share of death and destruction. Reminders of the infamous air raid of 974 YK can still be seen, especially in the cliffside neighborhood of Draco Hill. Here, a number of buildings remain devastated, riddled by small boulders dropped from above by wyverns working with Thrane.

A lightning rail line crosses the Karrn River to connect Rekkenmark with Korth. In addition, various trails, paths, and trade roads lead out of the city toward the interior of the nation. The high, sheer cliffs that border Scions Sound make access to the waterway almost impossible, so Rekkenmark has no ports or water traffic to speak of. A Lyrandar airship mooring tower rises above the city, though it gets only occasional use, since most airships head directly to Korth upon crossing Karrnath’s borders from the west or north.

Source: Eberron Campaign Setting