Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Edymnion 06-17-05, 03:42 PM	I'm breaking this up into sblocks to keep it from being just a mass of text, not for any actual spoiler reason, btw. To bring you up to speed on the character in question:Name: Elyse Whiteclaw Gender: Female Race: Shifter, Razorclaw Trait Class: Artificer Lvl: 6 Homonculi: 1 Messanger (Isis), 1 Wright (Forge) Events leading up to the... situation:Most of the game up to now has been the group playing bodyguard to an Areneal Elf girl with the Mark of Death (I know, I know, but aside from having people try to blow her up, it didn't really come up). I wanted to get an Arm of Nyr (or something like it, a mechanical/magical arm) for flavor reasons. DM through a high level opponent at us that was supposed to maim my character badly enough to lose the arm. Didn't tell us that though, and my shifter got mad and, well, shifted. The WF had the goblin (it was a goblin monk) in a bear hug, and my shifter proceeded to rip the little guy to pieces. We killed the highly lethal threat in a couple rounds. Whoops! Discussing it afterwards with the DM, I suggested a big climactic battle when the elf went back to aerenial via airship. Something happens, the fire elemental escapes it's binding, havok ensues, and in the process my character's arm gets blown/burned off. Week or two later, we're at the airship port, and the assassins take one last shot at killing the elf. Couple of guys on Soarsleds attacking the elemental ring on the ship (which had two rings, an air ring to keep it floating and a fire for propulsion). Seeing things go down like we had discussed, my shifter artificer realizes it would be BAD to have Huge Fire Elemental loose in Sharn. The captain is fighting to control the elemental through the helm, so I race over to where the elemental ring is connected to the side of the ship, grab it, and say I'm going to try to use Retain Essence to try and leech away some of the ring's power, as if I was trying to eat it for craft points. My thinking OoC is that it would put my character in close proximity for the release, and make it easier for the DM to take off that arm. Well, after a couple of AP, DM says that its actually working a bit, giving the captain +2 to his checks to control the elemental, but I was having to make saves every round to keep from taking massive damage from all of the fire energy I was getting hit with. I was burning AP, literally, every round just to make the checks. Ended up shifting to dig claws into the ring to hold on. Party Warlock lent a hand with a few more AP getting spent to syphon some of that fire energy out of my character and into his, and then released it with a massive firey eldritch blast into the sky. Several rounds go by, the captain finally fails his check, elemental breaks free, my character is left smouldering on the deck, minus an eye and an arm. But, DM rules that for how long I had been sucking on the ring that the Elemental had been knocked down a size catagory or two to Medium, which the rest of the party could handle. There was a bit more excitement afterwards in trying to keep the airship from crashing into a tower, but that part isn't important. And now the meat of the matter:I leveled up, to lvl 6, after the xp for the encounter, the story reward, and an RP reward. With a month's (in game) downtime and most of her Craft Reserve, I delayed leveling until she could craft a few things (like her dedicated wright) to use up the reserve. But, now that its all taken care of, I was looking for feats to take, and the DM and I came up with something that is going to be... interesting... to say the least. The character was infused with LARGE amounts of elemental energy (to the point it was pouring out of her eyes and mouth) during the encounter. Elemental energy which also powers Fernia, the Lake of Fire, one of the Eberron planes. So it was planar energy. And there is a link between the Planes/Moons and... the Dragonmarks. Long story short (notice I say this AFTER I tell the long story :P), it was decided that that much planar energy would be enough to short-circuit the normal rules for who can manifest a Dragonmark. You've probably guessed where this is going by now. For my 6th level feat, with DM approval, I took Abberrant Dragonmark (Burning Hands). Despite being a Shifter. So, now, the question is, how do you think the setting at large is going to react, if/when they find out about it? I'm asking this not just as a player, but as a DM as well (especially since I'm also helping the DM in this game come up with ideas on how to treat it). The obvious ones are that my character, if/when its discovered, will become a matter of great interest to the dragons. She's also going for membership in the Fabricator's Guild, which means House Cannith is going to be involved (and won't be very happy about having an Abberrant mark in the house). We're in Sharn, which means House Trakkanen (or however you spell it, the Abberrant mark house) will be taking notice as well. But, what would you say would be the results if someone in-the-know was to discover a shifter with a dragonmark? And it is, of course, assumed that she will be doing her damndest to keep the mark hidden.
Korhal_IV 06-17-05, 04:22 PM	I imagine there would be a lot of racial-superiority complexes shattered by a shifter with a dragonmark. You might just be the spark needed to resume a certain crusade. I'd think you could keep going as normal - only a flagrant use of your power would bring it out, or a discovery by official powers. In the meantime, I suggest large tattoos to obscure it. :P
Edymnion 06-17-05, 04:31 PM	Actually, since its a Burning Hands mark, and it was her hands in direct physical contact with the ring, I plan on having the mark manifest on the back of her remaining hand. Which means she's going to take up wearing a fingerless glove from now on (so she can still shift and get her remaining claw attack without tearing up the glove).
Grymar 06-17-05, 04:37 PM	It all sounds very cool, and there is even some logic, convoluted albeit, to the way you guys bypassed the RAW. Obviously, you can expect more than a few visits from some of the Chamber. Not to mention a possible "summons" to Sarlona itself. I'd say since Abberant DMs are already considered to be corrupted, insanity causing things, the average npc is not going to want to be around you. Cannith is damn near going to want to take you apart to see how you work. :) I could see the seer sister of the Daughters of Sora Kell getting interested also; perhaps she saw this mark coming. The Twelve is not going to be very pleased either. This throws their racial monopoly into ruins.
HappyDragon 06-17-05, 04:54 PM	In general I'd say if individuals related to dragonmarked houses in particular found out they may not react well, infact some could get down right hostile. Again that is a generality, and there are always exceptions to break the rule. Perhaps some Excorriate, (however you spell it), or Syberus Heir of a House could take pity on you and help out with the ins and outs of surviving the Houses. Or even a legitamite Marked character who took alot of abuse working up the ranks could show some empathy and perhaps help hide your secret.....could work into an interesting you watch my back, I'll watch your back type of relationship. Depending on what your characters afilliations are, other Shifters could react any number of ways. Certain tribes in the Eldeen Reaches could see you as an abomination where others would be intrigued by the Draconic prophecies, while others still may see the mark and simply not give a damn what silly tattoos you have on your fur....""What, you think you're special....uppity shifter, sheesh"" The best thing you got going for you right now is the proximity to Sharn. If anything unusual happens, Sharn is the best place to be, because unusual is the norm........"Oh look dear, one of those furry people has a mark. How quaint. Perhaps the Changeling actors troupe are preparing for their new whimsical comedy. Wonderful! There last drama/mystery they did had me on the edge of my seat. I do so hope that minatour acrobat is with them still, when it juggled those flaming halflings....priceless I say, priceless.....etc, etc, etc" Yes Sharn will have it's share of enemies for a Shifter with an Aberrant Mark, but if it's possible for her to get allies anywhere, it's going to e a place like Sharn that probably has some of the most open-minded individuals in Eberron. As for the Dragons taking notice, I'm sure it could happen in time, but I've always seen the Dragons about being very subtle and patient about showing themselves to anyone.....even a shifter with an aberrant mark. They've seen odd things happen before, and they know they'll see odd things happen again. Although the DM could always throw some particularily zealous Dragon minions your way that you may not even know who they are, but they keep coming after you....which could have it's own amusement factor and interesting roleplaying encounters, depending on whether the minions are very helpful to you or very hostile. Those are the main points I can think of right now, hope some of it helps. :) Edit-Dragonmark individuals may even try to use you to their own ends, knowing you will be the hot flavour of the century, why not get in at groundfloor.
Edymnion 06-17-05, 04:57 PM	Hmmm... another possible ramification. Its always been that only special "selected" people could manifest a mark. Blood members of houses, and even then, only the special ones. If it gets out that ANYONE can manifest a dragonmark, even an Abberrant one? Sure, most of the populace still wouldn't be able to do anything about it, but the more powerful ones that could both generate a planar link, and withstand the energies? It very well could start the War of the Mark up again if anybody with strong enough magic could potentially give themselves a mark. Hmmm... not to mention Vol! If she thought she could tap into one of the dark planes to essentially recharge her Mark of Death until it was FUNCTIONAL again... Not to mention that Vol is a Dracolich, and healed by negative energy... Geez, I think I've created an Eberron Supervillian. Imagine Vol tapping into Mabar, the Endless Night, recharging her long dormant Mark of Death, and in the process supercharging her lich/half-dragon nature. Its Super-Vol!
Elderich 06-17-05, 06:37 PM	If it gets out that ANYONE can manifest a dragonmark, even an Abberrant one? Sure, most of the populace still wouldn't be able to do anything about it, but the more powerful ones that could both generate a planar link, and withstand the energies?I imagine quite a few plot hooks could involve this idea. But one could counter that you did a very brave thing, in a very foolish way, had some excellent help, and got very, very lucky. I see the BBEG who grabs you to figure out how you did this eventually figuring out for themselves how insanely lucky/blessed you were. Unless your campaign WANTs to start another war. Going the other way, if the process can be controlled and reproduced, then one could mass produce planar energy marks (no longer dragon marks? Are they prophecy related or not?). Is this prophecy related? Are you the prophecical antichrist?
chimpman 06-17-05, 08:00 PM	Hmmm... taking this in another direction entirely. Perhaps the mark is not an aberrant mark after all, but the 13th dragonmark re-making itself. In a way it could be seen as similar to what happens if you kill one of the Lords of Dust or a quori. The individual dies, but their essence is reformed to create a new (and unique) individual. So, since the Mark of Death has been gone for thouseands of years already, this event may be long overdue. Perhaps your shifter is the first in a long line of 'stable aberrant marks', ie: a new non-aberrant mark. The new 13th mark ;). Now, your shifter (and everyone else for that matter) may know nothing about this. But what if other shifters start showing up also possessing the same mark? That might also lead to some interesting plot developments. And what would Vol think in this case? I think it would be a sign that the Mark of Death is truely gone. Now, not only does Vol have to re-create her own line, but before she can do that she has to destroy your line as well!
Edymnion 06-17-05, 08:20 PM	Hmmm... taking this in another direction entirely. Perhaps the mark is not an aberrant mark after all, but the 13th dragonmark re-making itself.Except that we've already ran into a living person with the Mark of Death...
Gurv 06-17-05, 08:32 PM	Except that we've already ran into a living person with the Mark of Death... Which would lead me to the conclusion that the Prophecy is really, really, interested in your group. That is two seriously significant occurances in a very short span of time. The return of the Mark of Death and the appearance of a mark (of any kind) on a Shifter must be related somehow. Perhaps some kind of magic was used to induce the Mark of Death to return, but ran amok, affecting more than just the proper elven target. I can imagine Vol creating such a spell, designed to revive a Dragonmark from within someone with even the weakest echo of a Deathmark. Such a spell would be used on elves that she thought might have a tiny trace of the MoD, in hopes of strengthening that trait. But what if the spell is stronger than she anticipated and somehow affects all who have prolonged contact with the target? The aberrent mark could be thus be the result of "dragonmarked blood" stemming from your shifter's human ancestory; normally nullified by the other influences in your blood, this powerful spell has overcome those factors, albeit inperfectly.
Chiyo 06-17-05, 10:56 PM	I'd expect House Cannith to be very cautious. She's a significant artificer but has an abherant mark. I think however that deep down she could pike their interest being an oddity and all. If she relates the events that lead to it, they'll probably be very interested in noting the connection. So they might want to keep her close by to see how it evolves. They have a lot of power to try to channel elemental energies from various devices. For them, this is a new research avenue. Now if house Cannith is interested, other houses will as well because they're all watching each other. The warforged of the Lord of Blades especially. After all, warforged cannot get dragonmarks but they have probably a few gifted artificers in their ranks. If it manifested on a shifter, who's to say that channeling elemental energies wouldn't work to help warforged manifest dragonmarks as well. And that's probably not the only faction that would keep a close eye on her. Not really a faction but other shifters could be jealous or interested as well. Reaction could vary from hostile ("you're a freak of nature for having this dragonmark...") to very friendly ("say you did what before it appeared ... slow down on the details I'm taking notes."). But on the other hand, the mark isn't that powerful so it's unlikely that it'll shake the tree too much. If it had been like a Mark of Syberis or something of that order, it would have heralded some much more troubled times. As an abherant mark, it'll probably be a curiosity, a certain academic interest with few applications but assuming the various parties interested fail to reproduce it, the whooplah will die down pretty soon. Unless something weird happens with that mark in the future ...
Radkres 06-17-05, 11:09 PM	Depending on how the mark manifests on the back of her hand. It might look like a badly scared /charred hand from the event giving her a reason to wear a glove. If her hand is intact and it shows up on her fur and her skin then I would suggest hair dye / bleach then a glove. An Idea that just came to me what if the mark appeared during the event on the missing hand and was destroyed when the hand was removed. She would still have the powers just no mark. I know it removes the whole what if I am caught with this mark part.
Edymnion 06-18-05, 12:25 AM	An Idea that just came to me what if the mark appeared during the event on the missing hand and was destroyed when the hand was removed.Thats actually a very cool idea. We already know that just removing the mark physically doesn't work, that it'll just reappear somewhere else. Perhaps it DID first appear on her left hand, the one that was exposed to the brunt of the elemental fire (to the point it was burned away), and it just took a couple of days to re-appear.
Crimsonsun 06-18-05, 01:28 AM	I probably think a good portion of the dragons expected something like this to happen, eventually. The other races got their marks a few thousand years ago, and now the newer races are getting theirs.... Only thing Id really worry about the other houses is if they percieve you a threat. I don't thinkt hey would bother with a lone shifter over an aberrant mark TOO much..
Mr. Wilson 06-18-05, 02:43 AM	It is a very cool idea and done very, very well. That said, I'd also say your character is going to be very, very dead once the other dragonmarked find out. There are way to many people that would have an interest in gacking you, and way to few in helping you survive. Or perhaps, maybe you'll be viewed as another sign of the coming Apocolypse in the same vain as the Mournland. If nothing else, it should be an exciting game.
Isran_Imrador 06-19-05, 06:06 AM	The Dragon would know something like this was going to happen and watch out for this part of the prophecy to unfold. Fragment of the Prophecy When a son of Fernia meet a carrier of death The 13 moon will soon rise over the land of the new house One of the 3 will be the new Fire and Death will make a new time
Jar Head 06-20-05, 02:54 AM	Very different, but very interesting. I don't understand how a lot of that stuff happened, but hey, it's Eberron! Who cares as long as it's cool, eh?
ussie 06-20-05, 04:07 AM	upon discovery it will wreck havoc not only upon the major players of the dragonmarked houses but also those who study it. The Shifters could believe that it is amongst them that there lies the 13th house giving them as a race certain legitamacy. It could spark a taskforce by the 12 to assasinate you, your comprades and perhaps a larger crusade against shifters, remember no one has pity.... case in point the ruthless genocide of the house of vol when a hybrid was born, the dragons and elves put aside their hatred of one another and exterminated the house and removed it every trace they could find, a shifter developing a dragonmark abherrent or not, could be considered worse, the shifters could by the urgence of the moonspeakers demand recognition as a dragonmarked race if playing on an epic scale the chamber might approach the silver flame to reignite their crusade to purge the world of shifters. when it comes to dragonmarks there is no mercy, no pity, no forgiveness check out http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=443969
D4rkchylde 06-20-05, 08:06 PM	Well the way I see it: If House Tarkanan finds out; they'll most likely try to recruit you. Failing that; Bloodshed ensues If the other houses find out, bloodshed ensues, unless you are more valuable to them alive... what would make you valuable? Oh and in case you're wandering; racism would be the most likely motive for murdering the uppity shifter. When the Dragons find out; enter Draconic vassal, Argonnessen's best and brightest but depending on which Draconic faction sends the vassal; Bloodshed ensues :P If the general populace finds out; Anarchy ensues, all "lesser" races become "uppity", I can see Riots in Sharn when the under-dogs begin to resent the attitude of the arrogant "superior" races; Bloodshed ensues. Of course this is the “worst case scenario” here, things could be decidedly normal for the young enigma… well as normal as an adventurers life gets.
Streamweaver 06-20-05, 09:12 PM	So, now, the question is, how do you think the setting at large is going to react, if/when they find out about it? ... But, what would you say would be the results if someone in-the-know was to discover a shifter with a dragonmark? The real question I think is how to handle this and keep it fun in a game context. I think realistically this character would have to be lost if it were found. The Twelve or some other group would snatch the character up for study. Alternativly there could be massive upheval because this may not be taken as a shifter manifesting an abberant mark, but could be taken that the Shifters have manifested their own (new 13th) mark. The latter take on it could have global rammifications. Etheir way it would go beyond passing interest and a "that's interesting, get back to us when you have some time because I'd like to ask you a few questions" would probably not be in order.
Edymnion 07-01-05, 01:45 PM	I'll admit, I do find the idea of a new 13th mark appearing to replace the lost one, but its just not feasable in this game, as the Mark of Death is alive and well it seems (well, on life support, but you get the idea). Although, there is another possibility. Abberant marks were once much stronger than they are today, and its because of the concious effort of Khovaire and the War of the Mark that much of the Abberrant mark power was destroyed. After all, the tales tell of the Lady of Plague that could infect and kill entire cities with her Mark, and the one with the earthquakes that could destroy cities outright the old fashioned way with his. Perhaps one idea could be that the abberrant marks are as much a part of the Prophecy as the "real" marks. And when many of them were destroyed, the cosmos began trying to re-establish the marks. Perhaps it is the new races of Khovaire that just came onto the scene (relatively speaking) that are the targets of these new marks, and my character's planar overload just sorta flicked the switch that activated one early.
Edymnion 08-18-05, 02:06 AM	*casts Raise Dead on thread* Here's a thought. Since we already broke the rules by giving a mark, even an abberant one, to a shifter, perhaps we could make things... more interesting. In a bad/"oh :censored:" kind of way. What if the mark kept growing? As in, what if I was allowed to take Lesser and Greater feats for the Abberant mark? Its currently covering the back of her hand. What if it grew to a Lesser Mark that covered her entire forearm, and then the Greater Mark went all the way up to her shoulder? As if a shifter with a Burning Hands mark wasn't bad enough, imagine their reaction if they found out she could use Fireball or Fire Storm...
Salla 08-18-05, 02:23 AM	I'd say since Abberant DMs are already considered to be corrupted, insanity causing things, The irony is, this sentence works whether your brain translates DMs as 'dragonmarks' *or* 'Dungeon Masters'. Anyway ... First, allow me to say 'wow'. That whole situation was very nifty, and I wish I had the DM guts to break the RAW in such amusing ways. Second ... I don't have a second. I'm in shock. Just ... damn. This could throw quite a bit of Khorvaire into chaos.