Common Knowledge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Common Knowledge [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord_Of_The_Savages
11-25-05, 11:57 PM What does the common Eberron native of Khorvaire know of the following:
(Feel free to break up answers by nation or by class, such as residents of Thrane know this, farmers know this, etc.)

The Planes - ?

The Quori - ?

The Dragons/prophecy - ?

Xen'drik - ?

Giants - ?

Daelkyr - ?

Pre-Galifar history - ?

Lords of Dust/age of demons - ?

Those are the questions that come to mind now, though I may have more. I hope this gets the discussion flowing. Thanks.
Psionycx
11-26-05, 12:44 AM Well, Galifar had a public education system, which most of the surviving nations still maintain to some degree. So the general population is probably more educated than in other settings. Also, some cultures favor learning (Aundair) or have a heavy interest in theology and metaphysics (Thrane) or history (Karrnath). Also remember that these people have newspapers.

So....

The Planes: Eberron's planes have a definite effect in the world, rather than just being abstract other worlds. Consequently, the planes probably factor heavily into any discussion of astrology-type matters. Since the proximity of the planes has a noticeable effect on the world, people are probably very much aware of them, their names, a rough idea of their nature and probably treat them much like the Zodiac is treated by many people in the real world, only perhaps more seriously.

The Quori: Keep a low profile and operate in extreme secrecy. Only the people with direct experience or a lot of ranks of Knowledge (Planes) know much about them.

The Dragons/Prophecy: On the one hand the Draconic Prophecy is of crucial importance, as it forms the base creation myth for most societies in Eberron and is accepted as fact by most religions. That said, very few people know much actual detail beyond the legend of Siberys, Khyber and Eberron. Everyone knows the dragons live in Argonnessen. Few people suspect that polymorphed dragons sneak around Khorvaire. Dragons are feared and avoided by most when they appear openly.

Xen'Drik/Giants: That the giants once had a great empire on Xen'Drik, and that the elves came from there, is common knowledge. Most people see Xen'Drik as a land of adventure and buried wonders, much like Victorians saw Africa during the 19th century. The Korrenberg Chronicle prints reams of stories about adventurers exploring Xen'Drik. But sensationalistic copy probably exceeds actual fact.

Daelkyr: Probably well-known by people living in societies with strong Gatekeeper presence (The Eldeen Reaches, the Shadow Marches), but considered little more than a myth elsewhere. Most people probably don't even know of them by name, and just lump them in with other monsters from Khyber.

Pre-Galifar History: Not well known, except perhaps in Karrnath. Very few people know anything of human history on Sarlona. Most people's sense of clear history begins with Karrn the Conqueror. Before that most history is probably legend and and filled with semi-mythical tales. People know of the Dhakaani Empire (there are ruins everywhere) but couldn't name any historical facts about it. The exception of course is with the elves and gnomes, who either have detailed histories of the time before the human kingdoms (the gnomes) or have deathless ancestors still running around that remember this era (the elves).

Lords of Dust/Age of Demons: Is bound up extensively in the theology of the Church of the Silver Flame, and so a general knowledge of this is bound to exist wherever the Church has a strong presence. However, as is often the case with ancient events heavily influenced by religious thought, it is very strongly mytholgized and discussed more as a kind of threat should Evil be allowed to rise, as opposed to a factual history.

Those are my thoughts.
Hola
11-26-05, 12:50 AM The Planes - That they exist, and how they affect Joe eberron of Breland/other nation. See the dragon shard its good.

The Quori - "They Dal Quor is were you dream.." or "Quori? Whats quori?"

Dragons/profacy - Dragons. "There and magical, knights kill them." Prophacy. "Dragons are prophets? Now thats just silly. Its sorra kel thats a prophet, adventures what will they say next."

Xen'dirk - "Strange place I here, the last adventurers say Mysterious stuffs there."

Giants - "There big and make peoples bones into bread."

Daelkyr - "Scary boogie men that invincible, steal bad boys children and they live underground"

Pre-Galifer - "Well I recon' Korvaire was a bunch of waring kindoms like today before good old king Galifar united it."

LoD - "Them! Their evil demons spat out by kyber at creation."

Age of Demons - "They had an age?"

Interview of Jaken Daran human farmer of Cyre(now Valinare) used with permishin from Morgrave University in Sharn, Breland.
MarkB
11-26-05, 05:01 AM The Dragonshards article What Do You Know? (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040830a) can provide some answers here, giving DCs for typical Knowledge checks in an Eberron campaign. The DCs are for adventurers, but I think they'd be equally reasonable for the average resident of the Five Nations, with modifiers for their particular situation.

When looking at the DCs, bear in mind that 'common knowledge' - knowledge that can be available even to characters with no ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill, if they make the check - has a maximum DC of 10.

So, by that article, the common citizen would, for instance, be able to name most large cities in his nation, or even beyond, but be fuzzy on smaller towns and villages outside his local area, would know a lot about the last five years' history and some major events listed under The Current Age on pages 224-225, but unless a scholar of history wouldn't know about much before then, and could name some or all of the Dragonmarked Houses but have no significant information about the Emerald Claw or the Aurum.
Lord_Of_The_Savages
11-26-05, 01:11 PM Thanks for the input guys, I will check out the Dragonshard and threads as well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord_Of_The_Savages 11-25-05, 11:57 PM	What does the common Eberron native of Khorvaire know of the following: (Feel free to break up answers by nation or by class, such as residents of Thrane know this, farmers know this, etc.) The Planes - ? The Quori - ? The Dragons/prophecy - ? Xen'drik - ? Giants - ? Daelkyr - ? Pre-Galifar history - ? Lords of Dust/age of demons - ? Those are the questions that come to mind now, though I may have more. I hope this gets the discussion flowing. Thanks.
Psionycx 11-26-05, 12:44 AM	Well, Galifar had a public education system, which most of the surviving nations still maintain to some degree. So the general population is probably more educated than in other settings. Also, some cultures favor learning (Aundair) or have a heavy interest in theology and metaphysics (Thrane) or history (Karrnath). Also remember that these people have newspapers. So.... The Planes: Eberron's planes have a definite effect in the world, rather than just being abstract other worlds. Consequently, the planes probably factor heavily into any discussion of astrology-type matters. Since the proximity of the planes has a noticeable effect on the world, people are probably very much aware of them, their names, a rough idea of their nature and probably treat them much like the Zodiac is treated by many people in the real world, only perhaps more seriously. The Quori: Keep a low profile and operate in extreme secrecy. Only the people with direct experience or a lot of ranks of Knowledge (Planes) know much about them. The Dragons/Prophecy: On the one hand the Draconic Prophecy is of crucial importance, as it forms the base creation myth for most societies in Eberron and is accepted as fact by most religions. That said, very few people know much actual detail beyond the legend of Siberys, Khyber and Eberron. Everyone knows the dragons live in Argonnessen. Few people suspect that polymorphed dragons sneak around Khorvaire. Dragons are feared and avoided by most when they appear openly. Xen'Drik/Giants: That the giants once had a great empire on Xen'Drik, and that the elves came from there, is common knowledge. Most people see Xen'Drik as a land of adventure and buried wonders, much like Victorians saw Africa during the 19th century. The Korrenberg Chronicle prints reams of stories about adventurers exploring Xen'Drik. But sensationalistic copy probably exceeds actual fact. Daelkyr: Probably well-known by people living in societies with strong Gatekeeper presence (The Eldeen Reaches, the Shadow Marches), but considered little more than a myth elsewhere. Most people probably don't even know of them by name, and just lump them in with other monsters from Khyber. Pre-Galifar History: Not well known, except perhaps in Karrnath. Very few people know anything of human history on Sarlona. Most people's sense of clear history begins with Karrn the Conqueror. Before that most history is probably legend and and filled with semi-mythical tales. People know of the Dhakaani Empire (there are ruins everywhere) but couldn't name any historical facts about it. The exception of course is with the elves and gnomes, who either have detailed histories of the time before the human kingdoms (the gnomes) or have deathless ancestors still running around that remember this era (the elves). Lords of Dust/Age of Demons: Is bound up extensively in the theology of the Church of the Silver Flame, and so a general knowledge of this is bound to exist wherever the Church has a strong presence. However, as is often the case with ancient events heavily influenced by religious thought, it is very strongly mytholgized and discussed more as a kind of threat should Evil be allowed to rise, as opposed to a factual history. Those are my thoughts.
Hola 11-26-05, 12:50 AM	The Planes - That they exist, and how they affect Joe eberron of Breland/other nation. See the dragon shard its good. The Quori - "They Dal Quor is were you dream.." or "Quori? Whats quori?" Dragons/profacy - Dragons. "There and magical, knights kill them." Prophacy. "Dragons are prophets? Now thats just silly. Its sorra kel thats a prophet, adventures what will they say next." Xen'dirk - "Strange place I here, the last adventurers say Mysterious stuffs there." Giants - "There big and make peoples bones into bread." Daelkyr - "Scary boogie men that invincible, steal bad boys children and they live underground" Pre-Galifer - "Well I recon' Korvaire was a bunch of waring kindoms like today before good old king Galifar united it." LoD - "Them! Their evil demons spat out by kyber at creation." Age of Demons - "They had an age?" Interview of Jaken Daran human farmer of Cyre(now Valinare) used with permishin from Morgrave University in Sharn, Breland.
MarkB 11-26-05, 05:01 AM	The Dragonshards article What Do You Know? (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040830a) can provide some answers here, giving DCs for typical Knowledge checks in an Eberron campaign. The DCs are for adventurers, but I think they'd be equally reasonable for the average resident of the Five Nations, with modifiers for their particular situation. When looking at the DCs, bear in mind that 'common knowledge' - knowledge that can be available even to characters with no ranks in the appropriate Knowledge skill, if they make the check - has a maximum DC of 10. So, by that article, the common citizen would, for instance, be able to name most large cities in his nation, or even beyond, but be fuzzy on smaller towns and villages outside his local area, would know a lot about the last five years' history and some major events listed under The Current Age on pages 224-225, but unless a scholar of history wouldn't know about much before then, and could name some or all of the Dragonmarked Houses but have no significant information about the Emerald Claw or the Aurum.
Lord_Of_The_Savages 11-26-05, 01:11 PM	Thanks for the input guys, I will check out the Dragonshard and threads as well.