Help for a Warlock in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help for a Warlock in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
aikimiller
07-07-07, 02:10 PM Hello,

I've recently got the chance to get involved in an eberron game, the catch is I don't really know all that much about the setting, I'm not going to have a chance to really go through the books before I have to start as I don't have access to them, and I have to write a backstory, so...

I've settled on playing a Human Warlock, with the Aberrant Dragonmark feat (charm SLA). The mark started out on the palm of his hand (the one he uses to eldrich blast), and spread up his wrist and slowly coiling up his arm as his powers grew. I want to link his abilities as a warlock to the aberrant dragonmark, but I could use a little more background on dragonmarks, I couldn't find any in the articles on the Wizards D&D page.

My character is going to be from Riedra. He was arrested for rebellion or polotical dissidence and was going to be executed, but was able to charm his way out of a death sentence into banishment at a forced labor camp. Are aberrant dragonmarks known of in riedra? And how difficult would it be to keep the dragonmark, and the associated warlock powers unknown? In order to be able to talk his way out of the death sentence, his captors couldn't know how dangerous he was, or how easily he could escape given the chance.

What kind of judicial system is in place in riedra, and who exactly would he have to be talking to to get out of a death sentence? Also, I could use some help on the details of why he was arrested. I would like to have him have been involved in a good deal of combat, without having those that captured him know how powerful he was.

thanks
CrimsonDeath
07-08-07, 12:39 AM As far as I know, you can keep a dragonmark relatively secret by covering it up. For you, that would mean wearing long sleeves and gloves. However, there may be ways of magically detecting dragonmarks (and distinguishing between aberrant and true dragonmarks), although they would probably operate in a manner similar to Detect Evil.

There are a few feats in the book "Dragonmarked" that may be of use. One gives Dragonmarked warlocks additional benefits (regardless of whether the mark is true or aberrant). Another allows you to make an aberrant mark temporarily invisible. It also includes feats for improving an aberrant dragonmark to a Lesser or Greater version. There's also a spell that can temporarily make an aberrant mark look like a true one, but getting a wand or scroll of it might be difficult (although a Warlock will eventually be able to make them himself).
trickydevl666
07-08-07, 01:01 AM Well... Riedra is a feudal based system where it is Inspired>Humans. It wouldn't be too hard to hide a dragonmark... The people of Riedra well... the inspired use psionics not magic. And I'm pretty sure they at least know of the dragonmarks. They now send ambassadors to khorvaire and other places so it wouldn't be to difficult to believe that they know of the existence. I'm not sure... I haven't really read that much about Sarlona and Riedra. I'm more of a Karrn

As for connecting aberrant mark to your warlock powers isn't hard at all. In eberron, it is believed that the aberrant dragonmarks were a curse from Khyber, the dragon below. They used to be hunted down and killed... The war of the mark was the peak of this. Where the 12 true marked houses hunted down those with the aberrant marks. The superstition is that those with the aberrant marks are cursed with misfortune and madness. Which the true marked houses only fueled these beliefs. However, aberrant marks have become more common and so those with the marks are treated a bit suspiciously but they are not as outcast as they once before.

I believe the easiest way is to say that you are a true child of khyber. You are both marked and blessed with the warlock powers. Both are gifts from the dragon below.

I believe the easiest way to make you see combat would be if you were somehow involved in the Last War. It wouldn't be that hard to work into your backstory. Since I my mind is going down the toilet I am going to try to do a simple thingymabobber... story that's the word... anywho... You thought you were a normal riedran (or something else... I'm not that big of a fan of Riedra so....) Then something happened where you were going to be killed... you ended up manifesting your abberrant mark and your warlock powers. You charmed your way out and figured out a way to escape Riedra. When you reached Khorvaire... You found you were in a land that has been at war for nearly a century. You ended up being enlisted in one of the nation's armies... And you used your invocations in order to help... or maybe since you were a foreigner you were easier to use as a spy... Warlocks can be very sneaky...

That's all I can think of... If you need more eberron info just let me know.
Darth Syntax
07-09-07, 03:28 AM The trouble with being both Reidran and marked is twofold: 1) the marks (aberrant and otherwise) seem to to localized to Khorvaire and Aerenal with no history of existing in the Sarlonan population. 2) The Inspired abhor magic and would be likely to have simply killed you outright upon learning of your rather "unique" abilities.
Hideous Phidias
07-09-07, 02:25 PM I like your idea of a warlock from Riedra but it needs work. I would like to see the build and hear what invocations you are planning on taking. I would also go with a different aberrant mark if I were you as one of your warlock powers you can get charm at will.

Riedra as the land of of your birth is do able but drop the whole trial and charming your why out of it. I would go with the simple story of your from Riedra you developed the aberrant mark then started to show signs of being a arcane magic user. Knowing the out look of the Inspired about arcane magic I were forced to make a decision to leave. Fearing for your life you fled the land of your birth for Khorvaire. Maybe you stowed away on a Reidra ship or found a magic means to get there then. I would go with the stowing away on a ship, here you could use your powers of charming people to stay on the ship. I would start off have landed first in the city of Sharn, it is the largest city of Eberron,. But, you could really start off ion any capital city the Riedra have theirhooks in most countries in Khorvaire.

You could use the question of why did you a develop a aberrant mark and became a warlock as your characters main quest goal. Have him trying to learn as much as he can about the dragonmarks and draconic prophecy.
Hideous Phidias
07-09-07, 03:07 PM Another thought is maybe take a feat called hidden talent out of expanded psionics that gives you one first level psionic power and two power points. Maybe make your character a mix of arcan and psionic abilities do to the fact your from Riedra.
CrimsonDeath
07-09-07, 04:23 PM I would also go with a different aberrant mark if I were you as one of your warlock powers you can get charm at will.
Not for a while. Charm is a Lesser invocation; he can get an Aberrant Dragonmark at level 1. I suppose your idea would work if he's starting at a high enough level, but the aberrant mark would explain the ability to Charm at an early age.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
aikimiller 07-07-07, 02:10 PM	Hello, I've recently got the chance to get involved in an eberron game, the catch is I don't really know all that much about the setting, I'm not going to have a chance to really go through the books before I have to start as I don't have access to them, and I have to write a backstory, so... I've settled on playing a Human Warlock, with the Aberrant Dragonmark feat (charm SLA). The mark started out on the palm of his hand (the one he uses to eldrich blast), and spread up his wrist and slowly coiling up his arm as his powers grew. I want to link his abilities as a warlock to the aberrant dragonmark, but I could use a little more background on dragonmarks, I couldn't find any in the articles on the Wizards D&D page. My character is going to be from Riedra. He was arrested for rebellion or polotical dissidence and was going to be executed, but was able to charm his way out of a death sentence into banishment at a forced labor camp. Are aberrant dragonmarks known of in riedra? And how difficult would it be to keep the dragonmark, and the associated warlock powers unknown? In order to be able to talk his way out of the death sentence, his captors couldn't know how dangerous he was, or how easily he could escape given the chance. What kind of judicial system is in place in riedra, and who exactly would he have to be talking to to get out of a death sentence? Also, I could use some help on the details of why he was arrested. I would like to have him have been involved in a good deal of combat, without having those that captured him know how powerful he was. thanks
CrimsonDeath 07-08-07, 12:39 AM	As far as I know, you can keep a dragonmark relatively secret by covering it up. For you, that would mean wearing long sleeves and gloves. However, there may be ways of magically detecting dragonmarks (and distinguishing between aberrant and true dragonmarks), although they would probably operate in a manner similar to Detect Evil. There are a few feats in the book "Dragonmarked" that may be of use. One gives Dragonmarked warlocks additional benefits (regardless of whether the mark is true or aberrant). Another allows you to make an aberrant mark temporarily invisible. It also includes feats for improving an aberrant dragonmark to a Lesser or Greater version. There's also a spell that can temporarily make an aberrant mark look like a true one, but getting a wand or scroll of it might be difficult (although a Warlock will eventually be able to make them himself).
trickydevl666 07-08-07, 01:01 AM	Well... Riedra is a feudal based system where it is Inspired>Humans. It wouldn't be too hard to hide a dragonmark... The people of Riedra well... the inspired use psionics not magic. And I'm pretty sure they at least know of the dragonmarks. They now send ambassadors to khorvaire and other places so it wouldn't be to difficult to believe that they know of the existence. I'm not sure... I haven't really read that much about Sarlona and Riedra. I'm more of a Karrn As for connecting aberrant mark to your warlock powers isn't hard at all. In eberron, it is believed that the aberrant dragonmarks were a curse from Khyber, the dragon below. They used to be hunted down and killed... The war of the mark was the peak of this. Where the 12 true marked houses hunted down those with the aberrant marks. The superstition is that those with the aberrant marks are cursed with misfortune and madness. Which the true marked houses only fueled these beliefs. However, aberrant marks have become more common and so those with the marks are treated a bit suspiciously but they are not as outcast as they once before. I believe the easiest way is to say that you are a true child of khyber. You are both marked and blessed with the warlock powers. Both are gifts from the dragon below. I believe the easiest way to make you see combat would be if you were somehow involved in the Last War. It wouldn't be that hard to work into your backstory. Since I my mind is going down the toilet I am going to try to do a simple thingymabobber... story that's the word... anywho... You thought you were a normal riedran (or something else... I'm not that big of a fan of Riedra so....) Then something happened where you were going to be killed... you ended up manifesting your abberrant mark and your warlock powers. You charmed your way out and figured out a way to escape Riedra. When you reached Khorvaire... You found you were in a land that has been at war for nearly a century. You ended up being enlisted in one of the nation's armies... And you used your invocations in order to help... or maybe since you were a foreigner you were easier to use as a spy... Warlocks can be very sneaky... That's all I can think of... If you need more eberron info just let me know.
Darth Syntax 07-09-07, 03:28 AM	The trouble with being both Reidran and marked is twofold: 1) the marks (aberrant and otherwise) seem to to localized to Khorvaire and Aerenal with no history of existing in the Sarlonan population. 2) The Inspired abhor magic and would be likely to have simply killed you outright upon learning of your rather "unique" abilities.
Hideous Phidias 07-09-07, 02:25 PM	I like your idea of a warlock from Riedra but it needs work. I would like to see the build and hear what invocations you are planning on taking. I would also go with a different aberrant mark if I were you as one of your warlock powers you can get charm at will. Riedra as the land of of your birth is do able but drop the whole trial and charming your why out of it. I would go with the simple story of your from Riedra you developed the aberrant mark then started to show signs of being a arcane magic user. Knowing the out look of the Inspired about arcane magic I were forced to make a decision to leave. Fearing for your life you fled the land of your birth for Khorvaire. Maybe you stowed away on a Reidra ship or found a magic means to get there then. I would go with the stowing away on a ship, here you could use your powers of charming people to stay on the ship. I would start off have landed first in the city of Sharn, it is the largest city of Eberron,. But, you could really start off ion any capital city the Riedra have theirhooks in most countries in Khorvaire. You could use the question of why did you a develop a aberrant mark and became a warlock as your characters main quest goal. Have him trying to learn as much as he can about the dragonmarks and draconic prophecy.
Hideous Phidias 07-09-07, 03:07 PM	Another thought is maybe take a feat called hidden talent out of expanded psionics that gives you one first level psionic power and two power points. Maybe make your character a mix of arcan and psionic abilities do to the fact your from Riedra.
CrimsonDeath 07-09-07, 04:23 PM	I would also go with a different aberrant mark if I were you as one of your warlock powers you can get charm at will. Not for a while. Charm is a Lesser invocation; he can get an Aberrant Dragonmark at level 1. I suppose your idea would work if he's starting at a high enough level, but the aberrant mark would explain the ability to Charm at an early age.