Overview: The Nerethese Empire escaped Karsus Folly by slipping through the Plane of Shadow and has arrived in the magic-rich world of Eberron. Facing a land ruled by dragonmarked houses, warforged legions, and living magic, the party must choose: conquer this world for their homeland or weave themselves into its intricate web of power. The choice will ripple through both worlds, and the price of power may be higher than mercy.

Starting point: The refugees land in Sharn or a key Khorvairian crossroads where a Dragonmarked House envoy offers aid—or a rival faction promises dangerous shortcuts. Old loyalties collide with new opportunity as spell-scarred veterans, scholars, and nobles weigh treachery against sanctuary.

Main quest: Legends speak of the Apex Lattice, a triad of artifacts once used by Nerethese to command planar travel. Its three shards lie hidden in shifting sites across the region: the lower wards and cliffways of Sharn, the ruined jungles of Xen'drik, and the ash-streaked frontier near the Mournland. Reassembling the lattice will rebind the Gate and grant the wielder a measure of control over travel between worlds—and the right to decide who travels where.

Adventure arcs:
- Arc 1: Establishment and choice. The party negotiates with Houses, city factions, or fringe guilds, gathers resources, and protects vulnerable refugees while deciding whether to seek influence or independence.
- Arc 2: The Shard Hunt. They journey to Xen'drik’s ancient ruins and to the perilous edge of the Mournland to recover the lattice shards. A side quest involves freeing a captive planar navigator who can unlock paths through the Gate.
- Arc 3: The Convergence. With the shards assembled, the party must perform a ritual at a shadow-haunted site in Sharn or its outskirts. The choice—activate the Gate to dominate Eberron or bind it to a mutual pact—determines the campaign’s final outcome.

Endgames and rewards: Conqueror’s path yields a formidable cross-world empire, but invites relentless resistance from Houses and planar powers; integration path earns influence, rival factions joining a new order, and access to unprecedented magical cross-pollination. Rewards include the Apex Lattice shards as ritual components, access to shadow-touched magic, alliances with dragonmarked houses, and unique artifacts that bend space, time, or fate. The campaign blends exploration, political intrigue, and perilous diplomacy with high-stakes planar peril, all under 5e rules.