Dragonmarked Surnames [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragonmarked Surnames [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Androlphas
01-02-05, 01:46 PM Ok. This might be a silly question, but after researching the topic, I find myself clueless: Who can use a Dragonmarked surname (e.x. "d'Cannith")? Is it:

-Someone with a Dragonmark or the Favored in House Feat?

-Someone who belongs to the "upper crust" within the house?

-Anyone who belongs to a house?

This brings me to a second question: What role does the nobility (i.e. with surnames like "ir'Whatever") play within Dragonmarked houses, if any? Can they be members of a house, or do they just fund houses with shared interests?

I ask because I have two PCs with house ties, but who didn't take a Least Dragonmark and/or Favored in House feat (despite dropped hints). One of them, Myrick d'Cannith (human male, Wiz 1) wants to become a power within the house and eventually re-unite the factions. Eberron being what it is, he might very well succeed one day, but I explaind he might need the Favored in House feat or a Least Dragonmark eventually (also dropping hints for the Dragonmarked Heir prestige class). The other, Callista d'Lyrandar (half-elf female, Brd 1) originally wanted to be a member of an "influential mercantile family", but also wanted to be a noble. I explained the the Dragonmarked houses are the "influential mercantile families" of Khorvaire and some within the houses can be as powerful (if not more so) than rulers.

Things are easier with Tzar (female changeling, Rog 1). All she wants is money :P
Ricohard_Draconis
01-02-05, 01:56 PM theres nothing wrong with the characters climbing to the highest echelons of a house with out a dragonmark or the favoured in house feat.

as for surnames i would say only the immediate family uses the surname yet there are others who think of themselves as members of house ___________ (think about the Klingon Houses from star trek, yes they are led by one powerful family but they also have many lesser families and individual people who work along side them as part of the house.)
Megatron
01-02-05, 02:32 PM the surnames go with the blood, just like any other surname.
Gez
01-02-05, 04:11 PM Ok. This might be a silly question, but after researching the topic, I find myself clueless: Who can use a Dragonmarked surname (e.x. "d'Cannith")? Is it:

This brings me to a second question: What role does the nobility (i.e. with surnames like "ir'Whatever") play within Dragonmarked houses, if any? Can they be members of a house, or do they just fund houses with shared interests?

Look in the ECS book. There's a Surname sidebar, page 138, in the "Life in the World" chapter.

Most folk carry a common surname, either a family name or a name related to their region of origin or job. Sorn Fellhorn, Kara of Windshire, and Tellan Magewright are all examples of naming conventions among the common folk of the Five Nations. Those born outside the Five Nations may follow this convention, or may not carry a name other than their given name.

The royal families that trace their roots to the original kings and nobles of the Five Nations, as well as those granted land and titles in more recent times, add an ir' in front of their surname. So, Queen Aurala of Aundair carries the name of Galifar's king, ir'Wynarn, while a cassal lord identifies himself as Lord Darro ir'Lain. This practice extends to the Mror Holds and Zilargo, where some dwarf and gnome families were granted titles by the Galifar rulers.

In a practice that predates Galifar and was introduced after the War of the Mark, those born of the blood of the dragonmarked houses add a d' to their surnames. Merrix d'Cannith, Orum d'Kundarak, and Elsen d'Medani are all blood members of the dragonmarked houses.

To add a bit to that, Keith said in the first AKB thread that the d' convention wasn't always followed by members of House Deneith, for saying d'Deneith sounds a bit like a stutter.

So, ir'=national nobility, and d'=commercial nobility.

Note, by the way, that not all blood members of a dragonmarked house must have the name of the house. For example, the intro adventure in the ECS features a NPC named Elaydren d'Vown, member of the Cannith family.
jedi8187
01-02-05, 04:11 PM I've also seen a people express relation to the main family of a house wit d'_______, meaning they chose a last name and added the d' prefix to signify that they are part of the family, and derived from the line, but are somewhat removed, probably by marrige.

I'd say anyone whose from the line of the family can use it, weather they have taken those feats or not. Nor would I require someone to use the surname if they take the feats, as it's been generations and women marry out(assuming same patriarchal set up as monder US) and obtain new names, but still use d' to denote their heritage.
MarkB
01-02-05, 05:36 PM Note, by the way, that not all blood members of a dragonmarked house must have the name of the house. For example, the intro adventure in the ECS features a NPC named Elaydren d'Vown, member of the Cannith family.
Actually, Keith's said that was a mistake, and he renamed her Elaydren d'Cannith in Shadows of the Last War. Generally speaking, anyone of the line of a dragonmarked family will take the d'[House] surname.

One question that arises is, what happens if someone who is not known to be of a dragonmarked family manifests that family's dragonmark, and becomes a part of the company? Are they allowed, or encouraged, to take up the House name in order that their offspring bear the family name? Or would the House avoid that, and keep close tabs on their descendents, fearing the possibility of mixed blood? I'd guess it'd depend on how well they could trace the person's heritage.
The Fireballed Mage
01-02-05, 07:17 PM You can advance high in a Dragonmark house without having either of the feats Favoured in House or Least/Lesser/Greater Dragonmark... it's just a lot harder.

The DM controls the game, so if he/she/it wants to allow a charcter to reach important levels in the House, the character can. But Favoured in House signifies that the character has the connections to be a mover in the house, and is treated as someone important.

Having a Dragonmark means the person has important blood... at least as far as the House is concerned. It can open you up for a good political marriage so as to increase your status in the family.

If you lack both feats, then you'll have to rise high on talent and ability alone.

Normally that's not such a difficult thing for PCs to do --characters often gain infamy and fame just by doing what PCs do-- but as DM you should make things harder for the characters if they don't take those feats. Evan a well respected, talented individual may not have the clout or the connections to rise to the top.

A real world example would be Canadian General Louis MacKenzie. He led a section of the UN peacekeepers in the Balkins for a while. He was well respected, outspoken, popular and considered a great man. He later ran for public office but was defeated. People respected his talents, but he just couldn't tranform his personal credit into what was needed for politcal power.

Other famous people who were skilled, talented and forceful but never achieved the influence they might have desired include General Colin Powell of the US. A number of years ago some people were saying he should have run for president, but despite his popularity and respect that never happened.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Androlphas 01-02-05, 01:46 PM	Ok. This might be a silly question, but after researching the topic, I find myself clueless: Who can use a Dragonmarked surname (e.x. "d'Cannith")? Is it: -Someone with a Dragonmark or the Favored in House Feat? -Someone who belongs to the "upper crust" within the house? -Anyone who belongs to a house? This brings me to a second question: What role does the nobility (i.e. with surnames like "ir'Whatever") play within Dragonmarked houses, if any? Can they be members of a house, or do they just fund houses with shared interests? I ask because I have two PCs with house ties, but who didn't take a Least Dragonmark and/or Favored in House feat (despite dropped hints). One of them, Myrick d'Cannith (human male, Wiz 1) wants to become a power within the house and eventually re-unite the factions. Eberron being what it is, he might very well succeed one day, but I explaind he might need the Favored in House feat or a Least Dragonmark eventually (also dropping hints for the Dragonmarked Heir prestige class). The other, Callista d'Lyrandar (half-elf female, Brd 1) originally wanted to be a member of an "influential mercantile family", but also wanted to be a noble. I explained the the Dragonmarked houses are the "influential mercantile families" of Khorvaire and some within the houses can be as powerful (if not more so) than rulers. Things are easier with Tzar (female changeling, Rog 1). All she wants is money :P
Ricohard_Draconis 01-02-05, 01:56 PM	theres nothing wrong with the characters climbing to the highest echelons of a house with out a dragonmark or the favoured in house feat. as for surnames i would say only the immediate family uses the surname yet there are others who think of themselves as members of house ___________ (think about the Klingon Houses from star trek, yes they are led by one powerful family but they also have many lesser families and individual people who work along side them as part of the house.)
Megatron 01-02-05, 02:32 PM	the surnames go with the blood, just like any other surname.
Gez 01-02-05, 04:11 PM	Ok. This might be a silly question, but after researching the topic, I find myself clueless: Who can use a Dragonmarked surname (e.x. "d'Cannith")? Is it: This brings me to a second question: What role does the nobility (i.e. with surnames like "ir'Whatever") play within Dragonmarked houses, if any? Can they be members of a house, or do they just fund houses with shared interests? Look in the ECS book. There's a Surname sidebar, page 138, in the "Life in the World" chapter. Most folk carry a common surname, either a family name or a name related to their region of origin or job. Sorn Fellhorn, Kara of Windshire, and Tellan Magewright are all examples of naming conventions among the common folk of the Five Nations. Those born outside the Five Nations may follow this convention, or may not carry a name other than their given name. The royal families that trace their roots to the original kings and nobles of the Five Nations, as well as those granted land and titles in more recent times, add an ir' in front of their surname. So, Queen Aurala of Aundair carries the name of Galifar's king, ir'Wynarn, while a cassal lord identifies himself as Lord Darro ir'Lain. This practice extends to the Mror Holds and Zilargo, where some dwarf and gnome families were granted titles by the Galifar rulers. In a practice that predates Galifar and was introduced after the War of the Mark, those born of the blood of the dragonmarked houses add a d' to their surnames. Merrix d'Cannith, Orum d'Kundarak, and Elsen d'Medani are all blood members of the dragonmarked houses. To add a bit to that, Keith said in the first AKB thread that the d' convention wasn't always followed by members of House Deneith, for saying d'Deneith sounds a bit like a stutter. So, ir'=national nobility, and d'=commercial nobility. Note, by the way, that not all blood members of a dragonmarked house must have the name of the house. For example, the intro adventure in the ECS features a NPC named Elaydren d'Vown, member of the Cannith family.
jedi8187 01-02-05, 04:11 PM	I've also seen a people express relation to the main family of a house wit d'_______, meaning they chose a last name and added the d' prefix to signify that they are part of the family, and derived from the line, but are somewhat removed, probably by marrige. I'd say anyone whose from the line of the family can use it, weather they have taken those feats or not. Nor would I require someone to use the surname if they take the feats, as it's been generations and women marry out(assuming same patriarchal set up as monder US) and obtain new names, but still use d' to denote their heritage.
MarkB 01-02-05, 05:36 PM	Note, by the way, that not all blood members of a dragonmarked house must have the name of the house. For example, the intro adventure in the ECS features a NPC named Elaydren d'Vown, member of the Cannith family. Actually, Keith's said that was a mistake, and he renamed her Elaydren d'Cannith in Shadows of the Last War. Generally speaking, anyone of the line of a dragonmarked family will take the d'[House] surname. One question that arises is, what happens if someone who is not known to be of a dragonmarked family manifests that family's dragonmark, and becomes a part of the company? Are they allowed, or encouraged, to take up the House name in order that their offspring bear the family name? Or would the House avoid that, and keep close tabs on their descendents, fearing the possibility of mixed blood? I'd guess it'd depend on how well they could trace the person's heritage.
The Fireballed Mage 01-02-05, 07:17 PM	You can advance high in a Dragonmark house without having either of the feats Favoured in House or Least/Lesser/Greater Dragonmark... it's just a lot harder. The DM controls the game, so if he/she/it wants to allow a charcter to reach important levels in the House, the character can. But Favoured in House signifies that the character has the connections to be a mover in the house, and is treated as someone important. Having a Dragonmark means the person has important blood... at least as far as the House is concerned. It can open you up for a good political marriage so as to increase your status in the family. If you lack both feats, then you'll have to rise high on talent and ability alone. Normally that's not such a difficult thing for PCs to do --characters often gain infamy and fame just by doing what PCs do-- but as DM you should make things harder for the characters if they don't take those feats. Evan a well respected, talented individual may not have the clout or the connections to rise to the top. A real world example would be Canadian General Louis MacKenzie. He led a section of the UN peacekeepers in the Balkins for a while. He was well respected, outspoken, popular and considered a great man. He later ran for public office but was defeated. People respected his talents, but he just couldn't tranform his personal credit into what was needed for politcal power. Other famous people who were skilled, talented and forceful but never achieved the influence they might have desired include General Colin Powell of the US. A number of years ago some people were saying he should have run for president, but despite his popularity and respect that never happened.