The Hross

The Hross are an elemental monastic order residing in the southern mountain range of the main continent of Aeolos on the world of Tyramel.

The Hross Order
The Hross deal in forest and mountain magic, manipulating and coercing the vegetation of the forest, wielding the power of the earth, dirt, and boulders. They have allied themselves with eladrin, elves, feywild, and the like, but consist solely of human men who have taken an oath of celibacy and have dedicated their lives to meditation, peace, and quiet, though they are revered throughout the empire as deadly combatants in hand to hand combat, aided by their elemental magic. There are a total of seven monks at the establishment, three elderly men, and four younger men, though none are younger than thirty five. Before Carth sprung his trap (ca 3261 CA) the three elders are Hirden, Thross, and Grinem. The three formed an indistinguishable trinity, as they fill out each other's sentences frequently, and seem to share some sort of deep telepathic magic. The younger four do not speak and are merely disciples, sworn to a vow of silence for fifteen years to practice their telepathic communication with one another. Their identity is claimed once they complete their training. Until then, they are simply called "brother."

Hirden, Thross, and Grinem know Myrna the dragon by name.

The Hross and Carth
The three also know Carth as a former member of the Hross.

The Hross provide the following information concerning Carth:

Carth was a young and ambitious student from long ago. However, he began using his powers in the forest for evil purposes, self-gratification, and the like. The trinity head of the order does not know the origin of Carth. Students travel through the amnesiac forest for the purpose of studying with the Hross, and only those who maintain the memory of the single purpose they came to study will gain entry, or even find the monastery. By the time he arrived, he had forgotten everything about his past, leaving no information for the Hross. All three had trained Carth, and his abilities had been exceptional. The change in Carth's character came after a journey he took deep into the mountains to focus his mountain-moving magic. The typical training takes a full year of living off the bare rock in the great mountain, but Carth came back too soon. Far too soon, and with too great of a proficiency for his age and experience. The trinity simply took it as a sign that he was gifted in his area, but soon, his motivations became clear. He broke his vow of silence, cast off the authority of the trinity, and called on his fellow brothers to break off with him to dominate the rest of the world. The other brethren simply said nothing and looked to the trinity for guidance. The trinity banished him, and never heard from him again. That was over fifty years ago.

The Hross and Ptolemy
Ptolemy was actually a member of the monastery as well but forsook it after hearing that he had fathered a child and had not been responsible for her. The parting was bitter on all parts, since he was deeply respected, heightened by the fact that he would leave all he had at the monastery to take care of his daughter.

Last Sighting of the Hross
The Hross were last seen by a group of adventurers pursuing Carth. Carth suspended them in mid-air with some sort of spell, causing them all to vanish in a burst of dark magic. Their condition and whereabouts are unknown.