Aerenal elf with the mark of shadow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aerenal elf with the mark of shadow [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
FuzzCube
01-16-05, 02:53 AM What happens to elves with dragon mark of shadow that came from Aerenal?

I know that the ECS states that these elves usually join the Aerenal elite security force (don't have the ECS on me right now, and I forgot the name).
But what happens to these elves when they go to Khorvaire? What is their relationship with the elven houses?
For that matter what would be the treatnment they get in Aerenal considering the suspicison look the dragon marked houses get in Aerenal?
Wizardman
01-16-05, 03:50 AM I've sort of been wondering about this myself. What would happen to an Aereni who develops the Mark later in life? Would he/she be inducted into the Blades if discovered?

As for your questions, Fuzzcube, the elven Houses are in a difficult situation here. If Joe/Jane Q Khorvaire develops a dragonmark, he/she would usually have every reason to try to present him/herself to the House in question. Six out of ten people of Khorvaire are lower class, and the development of a dragonmark represents a certain path to greater wealth and power, with the potential to gain even more wealth and power if he/she can 'improve' the dragonmark. In return, the House gains another Dragonmarked member, and all Houses want as many of those as they can get. Everybody wins.

People from outside ancient Galifar are very different. The people of Aerenal have no remaining ties with House Phiarlan or Thuranni. In a way, joining either House means renouncing their homeland. The Aereni, and the Valenari for that matter, have a deep distrust of the Dragonmarked Houses, if not the Dragonmarked themselves. Any elf that joins one of the Houses would be seen as a member of House P/T, and no longer as an Aereni/Valenari. Aereni elves that join a House are allowed in their homeland, or at least in Pylas Talaer, but such elves would be outsiders, not truly Khorvairian but no longer truly at home in Aerenal. Also, it's not hard to imagine that such elves would either feel an obligation to join the Blades, or else do everything possible to conceal the manifestation of the Mark.

That means that the elven Houses would need to actively try to recruit such individuals, and try to bribe them into joining. If the other House found out, it's easy to imagine a bribe-war breaking out. If one House thinks that the other is about to recruit the Aereni, it might try to assassinate him/her. House Thuranni is especially liable to do so.

As for how the Aereni treat their homegrown Dragonmarked: remember that the Cairdal Blades are an elite unit so prestigious that it even has a contingent of Deathless. A Dragonmarked member of the Blades would probably be treated the same as any other member by the general population. Now, a Dragonmarked Aereni who is not a Blade faces different treatment. A 'pass' would be given to the matriarchs and patriarchs of families, or to Priests of Transition, to an elf that manifests the Mark extremely late in life, or to one (or both) of the Sibling Kings, but otherwise any Aereni that manifests a Dragonmark and won't join the Blades is likely to ostracized upon discovery.

You should put this question in the Ask Keith Baker thread. It's a really good question, and Hellcow will give you an official answer.
misanthropictodd
01-16-05, 02:53 PM impressive response Wizardman :bow:
but i got the impression that the dragonmarked houses are actual blood relatives albeit extended extended family. so with the inbreeding commonly found among the elves would it not be somewhat assumed that most of the aereani elves would have a view more in line with the thoughts on house Phiarlan. the Cairdal Blades seem to be comprised of elves born of small traces of the bloodline not of the house. so it seems to me the dragonmarked elf in question would be of the diluted bloodline if born in aerenl or would be born into "exile" in house Phiarlan. either way fun character concepts abound :lightbulb i don't know i could be way off or just paraphrasing your thoughts with a slight variation. regardless i love aerenial and all its splendors can't wait to get more info
FuzzCube
01-17-05, 08:06 AM Wizardman thanks for the input.

I spent some more time thinking about this over the weekend. I think that dragon marks as part of the prophecy can appear on any member of a dragon marked race. I don't see a dragon marks as herditary only. In addition to the bloodline the appearance of a dragon mark can be the result of the prophecy.

The undying court, the dragons, and the blood of Vol are probably the only organized groups that takes interest in the prophecy. A PC Aerenal elf with the mark of shadow can be in the middle of a struggle between the elven houses, the undying court, the chamber and the emerald claw. Each group will try to recruit the character to work for them, while at the same time the character will not be trusted by any group because of possible ties to the other groups.
For example the chamber and the undying court can find out that the PC is at a focal point of the prophecy, and his actions can change the fate of elves and dragons.
The Emerald claw wants him to study him - maybe the mark of death can also be woken in other elves, and the character is the key.
The elven houses want such a powerful character on their side, and not buried in the service of Aerenal.
At the same time all groups follow the PC around to try and find out if he/she had any contact with any of the other groups.
Even if the PC decided to join one of the groups, the other groups will either try to kill him, or bring him to their side. Imagine the undying court trying to use the PC as a spy inside the Emeral claw.
Now add a lord of dust that wants to kill or stop the characters mission just to spite the dragons.

This is why I love this setting so much, everything can be tied toether to form neverending plots and intrigue. ;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
FuzzCube 01-16-05, 02:53 AM	What happens to elves with dragon mark of shadow that came from Aerenal? I know that the ECS states that these elves usually join the Aerenal elite security force (don't have the ECS on me right now, and I forgot the name). But what happens to these elves when they go to Khorvaire? What is their relationship with the elven houses? For that matter what would be the treatnment they get in Aerenal considering the suspicison look the dragon marked houses get in Aerenal?
Wizardman 01-16-05, 03:50 AM	I've sort of been wondering about this myself. What would happen to an Aereni who develops the Mark later in life? Would he/she be inducted into the Blades if discovered? As for your questions, Fuzzcube, the elven Houses are in a difficult situation here. If Joe/Jane Q Khorvaire develops a dragonmark, he/she would usually have every reason to try to present him/herself to the House in question. Six out of ten people of Khorvaire are lower class, and the development of a dragonmark represents a certain path to greater wealth and power, with the potential to gain even more wealth and power if he/she can 'improve' the dragonmark. In return, the House gains another Dragonmarked member, and all Houses want as many of those as they can get. Everybody wins. People from outside ancient Galifar are very different. The people of Aerenal have no remaining ties with House Phiarlan or Thuranni. In a way, joining either House means renouncing their homeland. The Aereni, and the Valenari for that matter, have a deep distrust of the Dragonmarked Houses, if not the Dragonmarked themselves. Any elf that joins one of the Houses would be seen as a member of House P/T, and no longer as an Aereni/Valenari. Aereni elves that join a House are allowed in their homeland, or at least in Pylas Talaer, but such elves would be outsiders, not truly Khorvairian but no longer truly at home in Aerenal. Also, it's not hard to imagine that such elves would either feel an obligation to join the Blades, or else do everything possible to conceal the manifestation of the Mark. That means that the elven Houses would need to actively try to recruit such individuals, and try to bribe them into joining. If the other House found out, it's easy to imagine a bribe-war breaking out. If one House thinks that the other is about to recruit the Aereni, it might try to assassinate him/her. House Thuranni is especially liable to do so. As for how the Aereni treat their homegrown Dragonmarked: remember that the Cairdal Blades are an elite unit so prestigious that it even has a contingent of Deathless. A Dragonmarked member of the Blades would probably be treated the same as any other member by the general population. Now, a Dragonmarked Aereni who is not a Blade faces different treatment. A 'pass' would be given to the matriarchs and patriarchs of families, or to Priests of Transition, to an elf that manifests the Mark extremely late in life, or to one (or both) of the Sibling Kings, but otherwise any Aereni that manifests a Dragonmark and won't join the Blades is likely to ostracized upon discovery. You should put this question in the Ask Keith Baker thread. It's a really good question, and Hellcow will give you an official answer.
misanthropictodd 01-16-05, 02:53 PM	impressive response Wizardman :bow: but i got the impression that the dragonmarked houses are actual blood relatives albeit extended extended family. so with the inbreeding commonly found among the elves would it not be somewhat assumed that most of the aereani elves would have a view more in line with the thoughts on house Phiarlan. the Cairdal Blades seem to be comprised of elves born of small traces of the bloodline not of the house. so it seems to me the dragonmarked elf in question would be of the diluted bloodline if born in aerenl or would be born into "exile" in house Phiarlan. either way fun character concepts abound :lightbulb i don't know i could be way off or just paraphrasing your thoughts with a slight variation. regardless i love aerenial and all its splendors can't wait to get more info
FuzzCube 01-17-05, 08:06 AM	Wizardman thanks for the input. I spent some more time thinking about this over the weekend. I think that dragon marks as part of the prophecy can appear on any member of a dragon marked race. I don't see a dragon marks as herditary only. In addition to the bloodline the appearance of a dragon mark can be the result of the prophecy. The undying court, the dragons, and the blood of Vol are probably the only organized groups that takes interest in the prophecy. A PC Aerenal elf with the mark of shadow can be in the middle of a struggle between the elven houses, the undying court, the chamber and the emerald claw. Each group will try to recruit the character to work for them, while at the same time the character will not be trusted by any group because of possible ties to the other groups. For example the chamber and the undying court can find out that the PC is at a focal point of the prophecy, and his actions can change the fate of elves and dragons. The Emerald claw wants him to study him - maybe the mark of death can also be woken in other elves, and the character is the key. The elven houses want such a powerful character on their side, and not buried in the service of Aerenal. At the same time all groups follow the PC around to try and find out if he/she had any contact with any of the other groups. Even if the PC decided to join one of the groups, the other groups will either try to kill him, or bring him to their side. Imagine the undying court trying to use the PC as a spy inside the Emeral claw. Now add a lord of dust that wants to kill or stop the characters mission just to spite the dragons. This is why I love this setting so much, everything can be tied toether to form neverending plots and intrigue. ;)