The Order of the Gauntlet is a faith-based militant organization dedicated to protecting others from evil. Its members place their faith in good-aligned deities such as Torm, Helm, and Tyr, bringing divine conviction and martial strength to bear against villainy. All members are unflinchingly brave, though their expeditions in Chult often fare poorly when confronted by conditions that contradict their training and mindset.
Mission in Chult
The Order has committed considerable resources to quelling the undead menace in Chult. Their original forward base, Camp Righteous, was overrun by hundreds of undead that swarmed from the jungle. The camp was established around an ancient Chultan shrine called the House of the Crocodile. The Order’s forces were overconfident and neglected proper defenses, believing their martial prowess sufficient. Only a handful of warriors escaped the slaughter.
After the disaster at Camp Righteous, survivors retreated up the River Soshenstar and established Camp Vengeance near the Aldani Basin. This new fortification is far more defensible, featuring timber walls, watchtowers, a surrounding ditch with sharpened stakes, and a gatehouse facing the river. However, the camp suffers from disease, exhaustion, and constant attacks by undead at night and jungle carnivores by day.
Leadership and Personnel
Commander Niles Breakbone (LG male Chondathan human noble) leads Camp Vengeance. While dedicated to the Order’s ideals, he is poorly suited to jungle warfare and spends most of his time in his command tent reviewing inaccurate maps and supply reports. His understanding of traditional warfare with battle lines and supply trains doesn’t translate to the ambush tactics and jungle conditions in Chult.
The camp’s effective leadership comes from Breakbone’s two captains:
- Ord Firebeard (LG male gold dwarf veteran)
- Perne Salhana (LG female Tethyrian human veteran)
The standard garrison consists of 58 people, though the actual number of effective warriors is usually lower due to disease:
- Eight veterans and twenty-four guards form the main fighting force
- Six acolytes led by Sister Cyas (LG female Chondathan human priest of Helm) provide religious services and medical care
- Fifteen tribal warriors led by Lorsa Bilwatal (CN female Chultan human scout) and Wulf Rygor (CG male half-elf scout, Breakbone’s longtime friend) serve as scouts and hunters
Representatives in Port Nyanzaru
Undril Silvertusk (LG female half-orc priest of Torm with darkvision) represents the Order in Port Nyanzaru. She needs escort to Camp Vengeance to deliver herself and dispatches from her superiors to Commander Breakbone. Initially she believed she could simply buy a horse and ride to the camp, but the terrain makes this impossible. If characters gain her respect during the journey, she will intercede on their behalf if difficulties arise with Breakbone.
Interactions with Adventurers
The Order’s lieutenants are more likely to share useful information or offer aid than Breakbone himself, but only if characters offer assistance to Camp Vengeance in return. Breakbone makes unreasonable demands of visiting adventurers—either transporting seven disease-ridden soldiers downriver or leading a two-week patrol to destroy undead. Refusal results in arrest and potential execution by exposure. Characters can avoid this fate by gaining Undril’s support beforehand or convincing both Ord and Perne to intercede (DC 15 Charisma checks with sound arguments for leniency).
Attacking the camp would mark characters for death by the Order throughout Chult and potentially the wider Realms. The organization maintains connections with Port Nyanzaru and sends emissaries via canoe up the River Soshenstar regularly for supplies and reinforcements.
Notable Members
Zalder Faelrond (LG male Tethyrian human knight of Torm) is an Order member who was kidnapped by the Sewn Sisters while patrolling the jungle. He may be encountered as a prisoner in the Tomb of the Nine Gods, kept unconscious by night hag magic that can only be broken by holy water. If freed, he requests escort back to Camp Vengeance.