Dragonmark question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragonmark question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
shilsen
03-20-05, 07:37 AM I've been browsing this board for a couple months since I began running an Eberron game and finally decided to get a username and start posting. Esp. since I'm starting a 2nd Eberron game in a week's time.

A player in my new game mentioned being interested in playing a character who has a dragonmark in a place he can't see it (don't ask :D) and doesn't even know he has a dragonmark. Is the latter even possible? From what I've seen in the ECS and Keith's postings on these boards, I'd say that it would be an instantly recognizable thing when you manifest a dragonmark. Also, I know that the dragonmarked houses like to keep track of dragonmarked heirs. But is there any info on how they track them? After all, suppose someone with a Cannith dragonmark working in Sharn decides to head off to Darguun for whatever reason. As long as he doesn't go out of his way to let people know about it, how would the House find out? And how much effort would they make to keep an eye on peopel bearing their dragonmark?

I'm also planning to tell the player a little more about how dragonmarks work (he's new to Eberron) and also giving him the option of having an aberrant mark. Since the game will start in Sharn, that would open up some interesting roleplay options with House Tarkanan.

Opinions and comments welcome.
JohnnyONeal
03-20-05, 07:50 AM In one of the novels, there's a character who has a mark and doesn't realize it (because it's not in a place the person can see). So there's certainly precedent.

However, this makes more sense with an aberrant mark. My understanding is that the appearance of the mark is usually paired with a distinctive feeling, and that it often emerges under duress (such as during the Test of Siberys). If you're in a house and you suddenly feel a surge of energy come from your lower back, it's not hard to guess what it is.

But if you're aware you've manifested a mark and you just want to keep it a secret from other members of your house, that should be easy. As long as you don't give others a reason to think you have one, you're in the clear. As a mark of status, a dragonmark is usually something most nobles are going to advertise.

It does beg the question as to whether the houses have developed a detect dragonmark spell to identify forgeries (that could be cast on someone who's trying to keep their dragonmark a secret). I'd say they must.
Purple Yin
03-20-05, 07:52 AM youhave a dragon mark from birth, so someone would see it. it could be on his scalp, hidden from his view generally, and others view by hair, but as a child, it would be noticable by anyone tending to his needs.
The White Sorcerer
03-20-05, 08:50 AM youhave a dragon mark from birthWrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens.
Rolapin
03-20-05, 09:08 AM Wrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens.
True. It's interesting to have the mark appear at a time meaning something for the person. It can have a great impact on roleplay and background.

Rolapin
Shurijo
03-20-05, 01:29 PM In another Eberron novel, a little girl has a mark where she can't see it, but it burned/hurt when it started to appear and that made her find a way to see it.

If you could somehow figure out how to handle the appearace and burning (it doesn't appear instantly, it grows). Why would your character have no worries or inclination to see that part of his body was burning?

Plus, if you were a child, then what about your family? They would see it probably before you would, if it was in a place that you couldn't see it. And when you use the power, it burns\hurts a little too.
Purple Yin
03-20-05, 05:26 PM Wrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens.
neat, didnt realise. thx. =)
TwinBahamut
03-20-05, 05:34 PM How many places could there be where you couldn't see something as large as a Dragonmark? I mean, it isn't like Eberron doesn't have mirrors or anything... I surprised to hear that so many things are using the idea that someone can't see thier own dragonmark.
Contrast
03-20-05, 07:56 PM I was going to create a character with his dragonmark on his face (possibly down his neck as well), is there any reason I would not be able to do this?
brotha_fas
03-20-05, 08:07 PM The dragonmark seems to start relatively small and then spread as it increases through the various levels. From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but...

From what I've read the marks itch or burn - sometimes have boils appear near it, I suppose it depends on how low you dial down the itching burning.
If it's not too intense, someone might not be impelled to look at it.
Also, maybe it could ache instead of burn. If it's at the lower back, someone might think it's just muscle tension. Same if it's at the base of the head and hidden by one's hair.
Contrast
03-20-05, 08:44 PM From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but...

Note that I never specified the grade of the dragonmark. I haven't decided yet.
Teron Gorefiend
03-20-05, 08:48 PM The dragonmark seems to start relatively small and then spread as it increases through the various levels. From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but...

From what I've read the marks itch or burn - sometimes have boils appear near it, I suppose it depends on how low you dial down the itching burning.
If it's not too intense, someone might not be impelled to look at it.
Also, maybe it could ache instead of burn. If it's at the lower back, someone might think it's just muscle tension. Same if it's at the base of the head and hidden by one's hair.
I don't know about burning, but according to Keith it's the aberrant dragonmarks that cause boils and other visible unpleasantness - one of the reasons for their bad reputation.

This thread has made me envision a character with a faceful of dragonmark, rash and boils. And a moustache.
Chiba_Monkey
03-20-05, 08:48 PM Dragonmarks are warm to the touch, and they heat up more when they're forming, changing (such as when your mark goes from least to lesser) or when in use. This was on the Ask Keith FAQ.
brotha_fas
03-21-05, 12:11 AM I think that's right - abberant marks have the boils.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shilsen 03-20-05, 07:37 AM	I've been browsing this board for a couple months since I began running an Eberron game and finally decided to get a username and start posting. Esp. since I'm starting a 2nd Eberron game in a week's time. A player in my new game mentioned being interested in playing a character who has a dragonmark in a place he can't see it (don't ask :D) and doesn't even know he has a dragonmark. Is the latter even possible? From what I've seen in the ECS and Keith's postings on these boards, I'd say that it would be an instantly recognizable thing when you manifest a dragonmark. Also, I know that the dragonmarked houses like to keep track of dragonmarked heirs. But is there any info on how they track them? After all, suppose someone with a Cannith dragonmark working in Sharn decides to head off to Darguun for whatever reason. As long as he doesn't go out of his way to let people know about it, how would the House find out? And how much effort would they make to keep an eye on peopel bearing their dragonmark? I'm also planning to tell the player a little more about how dragonmarks work (he's new to Eberron) and also giving him the option of having an aberrant mark. Since the game will start in Sharn, that would open up some interesting roleplay options with House Tarkanan. Opinions and comments welcome.
JohnnyONeal 03-20-05, 07:50 AM	In one of the novels, there's a character who has a mark and doesn't realize it (because it's not in a place the person can see). So there's certainly precedent. However, this makes more sense with an aberrant mark. My understanding is that the appearance of the mark is usually paired with a distinctive feeling, and that it often emerges under duress (such as during the Test of Siberys). If you're in a house and you suddenly feel a surge of energy come from your lower back, it's not hard to guess what it is. But if you're aware you've manifested a mark and you just want to keep it a secret from other members of your house, that should be easy. As long as you don't give others a reason to think you have one, you're in the clear. As a mark of status, a dragonmark is usually something most nobles are going to advertise. It does beg the question as to whether the houses have developed a detect dragonmark spell to identify forgeries (that could be cast on someone who's trying to keep their dragonmark a secret). I'd say they must.
Purple Yin 03-20-05, 07:52 AM	youhave a dragon mark from birth, so someone would see it. it could be on his scalp, hidden from his view generally, and others view by hair, but as a child, it would be noticable by anyone tending to his needs.
The White Sorcerer 03-20-05, 08:50 AM	youhave a dragon mark from birthWrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens.
Rolapin 03-20-05, 09:08 AM	Wrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens. True. It's interesting to have the mark appear at a time meaning something for the person. It can have a great impact on roleplay and background. Rolapin
Shurijo 03-20-05, 01:29 PM	In another Eberron novel, a little girl has a mark where she can't see it, but it burned/hurt when it started to appear and that made her find a way to see it. If you could somehow figure out how to handle the appearace and burning (it doesn't appear instantly, it grows). Why would your character have no worries or inclination to see that part of his body was burning? Plus, if you were a child, then what about your family? They would see it probably before you would, if it was in a place that you couldn't see it. And when you use the power, it burns\hurts a little too.
Purple Yin 03-20-05, 05:26 PM	Wrong, no one is born with a dragonmark. It always appears later in life. Lei, for example, was exceptional because she manifested hers before her teens. neat, didnt realise. thx. =)
TwinBahamut 03-20-05, 05:34 PM	How many places could there be where you couldn't see something as large as a Dragonmark? I mean, it isn't like Eberron doesn't have mirrors or anything... I surprised to hear that so many things are using the idea that someone can't see thier own dragonmark.
Contrast 03-20-05, 07:56 PM	I was going to create a character with his dragonmark on his face (possibly down his neck as well), is there any reason I would not be able to do this?
brotha_fas 03-20-05, 08:07 PM	The dragonmark seems to start relatively small and then spread as it increases through the various levels. From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but... From what I've read the marks itch or burn - sometimes have boils appear near it, I suppose it depends on how low you dial down the itching burning. If it's not too intense, someone might not be impelled to look at it. Also, maybe it could ache instead of burn. If it's at the lower back, someone might think it's just muscle tension. Same if it's at the base of the head and hidden by one's hair.
Contrast 03-20-05, 08:44 PM	From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but... Note that I never specified the grade of the dragonmark. I haven't decided yet.
Teron Gorefiend 03-20-05, 08:48 PM	The dragonmark seems to start relatively small and then spread as it increases through the various levels. From face down the neck seems rather large for a least dragonmark, but... From what I've read the marks itch or burn - sometimes have boils appear near it, I suppose it depends on how low you dial down the itching burning. If it's not too intense, someone might not be impelled to look at it. Also, maybe it could ache instead of burn. If it's at the lower back, someone might think it's just muscle tension. Same if it's at the base of the head and hidden by one's hair. I don't know about burning, but according to Keith it's the aberrant dragonmarks that cause boils and other visible unpleasantness - one of the reasons for their bad reputation. This thread has made me envision a character with a faceful of dragonmark, rash and boils. And a moustache.
Chiba_Monkey 03-20-05, 08:48 PM	Dragonmarks are warm to the touch, and they heat up more when they're forming, changing (such as when your mark goes from least to lesser) or when in use. This was on the Ask Keith FAQ.
brotha_fas 03-21-05, 12:11 AM	I think that's right - abberant marks have the boils.