Maruk

Among the orc tribes of the Demon Wastes, the Maruk tribe inhabits the deadly Labyrinth that lies between the wastes and the Eldeen Reaches. In its sacred dedication to containing the threat of the Lords of Dust, it draws significant numbers of orc barbarians from the Shadow Marches, human scouts from the Eldeen Reaches, and even youths from the Carrion Tribes that live deeper in the wastes.

Source: Rising from the Last War Chapter 1

The Labyrinth is a convoluted series of canyons and depressions carved into the flat highland plain as though by gargantuan claws. No part of Khyber, the Dragon Below, rests so close to the surface of Eberron as in the Labyrinth. In ages past, the orcs that eventually became the Ghaash’kala entered the Labyrinth for the express purpose of keeping the horrors of the Wastes trapped and cut off from the rest of the world. One of the oldest of these clans, the Maruk, has a long and bloody history of fulfilling this mission.

The Maruk clan guards the central passages through the Labyrinth, the routes most often used by the Lords of Dust and their agents. The sly and clever rakshasas often manage to slip past the vigilant eyes of the Maruk guards, but the sacred warriors of the binding flame are not without their resources. They can see through disguises used by the fiends, and when a fiend’s disguise is seen through, deadly battles can erupt in the depths of the canyons. The Maruk clan suffers terrible casualties as a result of these constant battles; the only reason the clan has survived to the present day is because of the steady infusion of new blood. Orc barbarians from the Shadow Marches, human scouts from the Eldeen Reaches, and even youths from the Carrion Tribes often hear the call of Kalok Shash, a divine beacon that draws them to the Maruk Ghaash’kala. As a result, the Maruk clan counts more humans and half-orcs among its members than any other Ghaash’kala clan and possesses slightly better equipment. The Maruk clan also has a higher percentage of paladins than the other three clans.

Members of the Maruk Ghaash’kala are somber and serious, prepared to die at any time in battle with the fiends of the Demon Wastes and other horrors spit up from the depths of Khyber. Torgaan Shashaarat (LG male orc, fighter 3/paladin 6) leads the clan, while the elderly priest Lharc Suusha (LG female orc, cleric 9 Kalok Shash) guides it.

Source: Eberron Campaign Setting

Maruk means “Mighty” in the Orcish tongue. The Maruk are the oldest and largest of the tribes. They occupy the central Labyrinth and guard the largest above-ground territory. They are led by the orc kizshmit Torgaan Shashaarat (male orc ghaash’kala kizshmit, he/him) and their sar’malaan is the orc Lharc Suusha (female orc ghaash’kala sar’malaan, she/her).

Maruk Dar is carved into the walls of an immense ravine near the center of the Labyrinth, with the exterior fortifications hiding the vast network of caverns and tunnels within. Hidden staircases lead up to the largest of the strongholds of the Ghaash’kala. Maruk Dar is the place where the first of the Ghaash’kala were led where they learned how to survive and navigate the Labyrinth, and where the four Ghaash’kala tribes gather annually to exchange information.

Source: Sarhain's Guide to the Silver Flame

Clan Maruk are the foundation on which the Ghaash’kala stand - the shining beacon of faith that marks their duty. As the first and oldest clan, the Maruk are the most traditional, and strive to uphold the ideals of the Kalok Shash above all else. The paladins and clerics of the clan are tireless in their duties, holding the line against the western Wastes. In the event of a major assault against other clans, the Maruk always send kala to assist, bringing healing and light to the darkest of days.

The Binding Stone is the seat of both the Maruk, and the Ghaash’kala as a whole. The ancient fortress is built into the walls of a gorge in the south-west of the Labyrinth. Switchback stairs and ancient traps lie ready for any fiends that dare to approach, with powerful archers keeping constant watch. The Stone contains vaults stocked with ancient relics and weaponry buried deep in the rock behind kitchens, gathering halls, forges and homes. A series of immense songsilver bells ring out from its heart, heard only by those with faith in the Kalok Shash. These artifacts channel the energy of the Irian manifest zone around the fortress to empower the Maruk in their darkest hours.

The Maruk are compassionate but firm in their duty; anyone that can be saved is given healing, but those warriors that feel the weight of corruption do not hesitate to give up their lives to the Flame. Similarly, those who enter the Wastes find the Maruk willing to welcome them and salve their wounds, but the devoted warriors cannot allow such tainted people to leave. This has been their duty for thousands of years, and it will be their duty for a thousand more.

Source: Ghaash'kala: Paladins of the Wastes

Maruk Dar – the first fortress – is where the Ghaash’kala were reborn. The Maruk are the oldest and largest of the Clans, with their brethren splitting off from the fortress to reclaim other positions in the Labyrinth. Maruk Dar is a hidden citadel carved from the bloody rock of the Wastes, with the outwardly visible arrow-slits and stairs hiding the massive network of caverns within. The longevity of the Maruk is partially a result of the Stone; an Irian manifest zone cloaks the fortress, empowering healing and the use of positive energy. As a result, those within Maruk Dar find it far easier to wield their faith, and often wield magic empowered solely within the fortress domain.

Inside the Binding Stone

The core of the Binding Stone is built into the walls of an immense closed ravine in the Labyrinth. Thousands of years of chambers and caverns have been carved deep into the rock as a physical history of the Ghaash’kala’s work. The largest central chamber is an immense cathedral hall from which the other rooms radiate. The hall is dominated by hundreds of hanging bells. The smallest are the size of thimbles; the argest are a set of songsilver bells suspended on vast chains, each taller than a pit fiend. These are the Peals of Dawn - the Divine Affections that sustain Maruk Dar by channeling Irian magic from the surrounding manifest zone.

Divine Melodies. The Peals of Dawn are seven in number and older than the world. Each shimmers softly with prismatic reflections and rings with celestial harmonies when struck - but only to those who hold the Flame in their heart. Each bell is bigger than the last, and causes a different effect when rung, if given time to absorb ambient positive energy. Each bell has a paired songhammer carved with celestial glyphs that must be used to strike it. Of the 7 hammers, 4 belong to the Maruk, with the remaining 3 lost to time. Legend holds that the first time each bell is rung heralds the discovery of a new Clanhold, and the Ghaash’kala would do anything to reclaim the lost hammers.

Knowledge of Ages. The surrounding halls of Maruk Dar are engraved with millions of words in Celestial, carved by unknown hands. These records and instructions form part of Maruk Dar’s role as a foundation for the Ghaash’kala. Many years of deciphering these instructions have revealed the locations of other Clanholds, the habits of the Lords of Dust, and methods of exploiting demiplanes. This crucial guidance helped the Ghaash’kala to survive in the Wastes, and it’s the honored role of the Maruk korta to add their knowledge as well. Even if the Maruk fall, these records will live on, and save the lives of others as it did for them.

Source: Paladins of the Wastes

The Binding Stone

Inside the Binding Stone

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