Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sir Elton 04-01-07, 07:20 PM	So, any PCs in your games start out married? :D
davethebrave371 04-01-07, 09:39 PM	So, any PCs in your games start out married? :D One started out divorced (his wife severed all ties with him when he was banished from House Deneith), and one was going to get married in-game to another PC, but that PC then became lost in a horrifying blackness in the Mournland. He has since had the engagement ring he bought made into a sentient ring (they came back from the Mournlands with a LOT of money) and named it after her. AWWWW. He also spends a lot of money on divinations about her whereabouts, which always end with the caster's heart stopping, requiring immediate aid. He now routinely warns the people he hires about this before getting them to cast the spell. Only one character started out the game happily married, and he had two kids. Well, three, but one died in the war. Of course, he started out at age 57 or something. I think his kids are both in their late 20s or early 30s. He's still married, but he's very upper crust, and his wife busies herself with their estate in the meanwhile.
Nuclear_Buddha 04-02-07, 10:55 AM	Most PCs in my games usually start out single. I assume they figure I'll hook 'em up eventually as part of the plot. :P However, just recently one of my players made a new character, a shifter druid barrister that was already well established: wife, kid (though the kid had died young) and a career in the army and the royal court of Cyre. Oh, yeah, this is before 20 Olarune 994.
AntiSean 04-02-07, 11:16 AM	Why is this in Eberron General? There is nothing in the OP to indicate that the question has anything at all to do with the setting.
Sir Elton 04-02-07, 11:34 AM	Well, lets see. how about if I ask: In your Eberron campaign, how young can someone be to legally marry someone? This is simply because of a little fact that is on the books during Medieval times. So, if a character can marry young, do any of your PCs start out married? Even in medieval and modern times, English Common Law (a system which has served as a legal substratum to which U.S. Laws default when statutes are rescinded) imposed few restrictions upon the marriage of minors. Under Common Law, children under the age of 7 were held to be entirely incapable of contracting marriage. In other words, if either party were under the age of 7, any marriage between them would be completely void. Between the age of 7 and the “age of discretion” (14 for boys, 12 for girls,) individuals could enter into lawful but “imperfect” marriages. These marriages could be voided at will, by either party, until no party was younger than the “age of discretion.” Marriages in which both parties were at or above “age of discretion” (i.e., 12 for girls) were legally valid. [Source: www.law2.byu.edu/Wardle/FundPrinsFamL/5ESSAGEK.htm] (Yes, that is a link to Brigham Young University's Web Page)
AntiSean 04-02-07, 12:14 PM	Well, lets see. how about if I ask: In your Eberron campaign, how young can someone be to legally marry someone? It hasn't come up. If it did, I'd check the ECS and Faiths of Eberron for information, or wing it. This is simply because of a little fact that is on the books during Medieval times. So, if a character can marry young, do any of your PCs start out married? What relevance does English Common Law have to Eberron? If you were playing in a historical recreation, the quote you dug up might have some meaning, but Eberron is anything but. D&D as a whole, and Eberron in particular, uses fantastical elements based on the European Middle Ages as one of many sources of inspiration; it isn't limited to that source, and it certainly doesn't seek to painstakingly recreate every aspect of it. To that end, except where specifically called out, modern societal standards are usually applied, not medieval ones. It's safe to assume that the age of majority for many things, marriage included, hovers around 18. (Yes, that is a link to Brigham Young University's Web Page) Thank you, I'm perfectly capable of looking up domain names that I might not recognize on my own.
Sir Elton 04-02-07, 12:30 PM	If you were playing in a historical recreation, the quote you dug up might have some meaning, but Eberron is anything but. D&D as a whole, and Eberron in particular, uses fantastical elements based on the European Middle Ages as one of many sources of inspiration; it isn't limited to that source, and it certainly doesn't seek to painstakingly recreate every aspect of it. To that end, except where specifically called out, modern societal standards are usually applied, not medieval ones. It's safe to assume that the age of majority for many things, marriage included, hovers around 18. That's what I have for Thrane. IMC, the other three nations have different standards, since they aren't ruled by a Theocracy. I treat all twelve of them as different societies. But since you want to change this into a discussion of Law in General. . . . Common Galifar Law is the standard by which all the nations (except the Demon Wastes) base their criminal and legal codes on. In Thrane, this tends to be more extreme, and in Breland, more relaxed. Fortunately, this is up to each Dungeon Master. So, my question still applies. :)
AntiSean 04-02-07, 12:57 PM	That's what I have for Thrane. IMC, the other three nations have different standards, since they aren't ruled by a Theocracy. I treat all twelve of them as different societies. This is the Eberron General forum, not Sir Elton's Campaign Specific Forum. Please stop treating it as such. But since you want to change this into a discussion of Law in General. . . . I want nothing of the sort. The text of mine that you quoted was a refutation of the relevance of your earlier post. Common Galifar Law is the standard by which all the nations (except the Demon Wastes) base their criminal and legal codes on. In Thrane, this tends to be more extreme, and in Breland, more relaxed. Do you mean the Galifar Code of Justice, which applies to the 12 Thronehold signatories? Or are you still trying to clumsily shoehorn medieval European simulationism (file off the 'English' from 'English Common Law' and scribble 'Galifar' in where you have enough room) into Eberron? If it's the former, IIRC, nothing definitive has yet been written regarding the legal customs of marriage. Faiths of Eberron may speak to the religious customs of marriage, but I don't recall offhand. Fortunately, this is up to each Dungeon Master. So, my question still applies. :) Your question is about as applicable to this forum as "Hey, who likes pizza?" or "What time is it?".
Daydreamer 04-02-07, 05:53 PM	WE try to avoid this, especially since several members of my group are female.
Sir Elton 04-02-07, 09:21 PM	WE try to avoid this, especially since several members of my group are female. Oh.
JulesCARV 04-02-07, 09:41 PM	Everyone knows that the role of marriage in Eberron is for PCs to have spouses who were killed by some group of antagonists (the Emerald Claw, cultists of the Dark Six, etc), which lead the PCs to become bitter, jaded, alcoholics with perpetual 3-day beards (if male humans) and a smouldering hatred of the aforementioned antagonist group. I mean, that's obvious, isn't it?
davethebrave371 04-02-07, 09:45 PM	AntiSean, cool your jets. There is no reason to be rude. Just as this isn't the "Sir Elton's Campaign General" forum, this thread is also not, "AntiSean's personal interpretation of what is and is not Eberron" thread. If you don't like it, don't contribute. If you think it violates ToS, report it. Sir Elton, I feel this is more relevant to Eberron than to any other campaign setting, due to the Last War. It seems fairly common for people to play older character in Eberron, as opposed to young ones, and I see a lot of people having husbands or wives back home, taking care of the kids (adventurers make irresponsible parents, it would seem :D )
Sir Elton 04-02-07, 10:48 PM	Everyone knows that the role of marriage in Eberron is for PCs to have spouses who were killed by some group of antagonists (the Emerald Claw, cultists of the Dark Six, etc), which lead the PCs to become bitter, jaded, alcoholics with perpetual 3-day beards (if male humans) and a smouldering hatred of the aforementioned antagonist group. I mean, that's obvious, isn't it? I think Adventuring is a great reason to preserve the freedom and chastity of your PC's loved ones, actually. And yes, they are great plot hooks for say . . . A1-A4 [Your wife and children were stolen by slavers. What do you do now?] Think about it, just for one second. Put yourself in the shoes of the Ancients who had to go to battle. The main reason why they participated in such dangerous Adventurism was to protect their loved ones. After all, if the enemy did win the day, they could carry off the elders and boys to be work slaves, and of all horrors: carry off their women and their girls to be sex slaves or to live as brothel mates. That was the main reason why everyone in the Last War went to battle. To hell with politics and who wanted the Galifar Throne. Who cares who started it? This is about protecting our women, our children, and our elders. The Brellish were storming on the Thranish border and they were going to force Democracy on the Children of the Flame by the Sword and by whats between their legs! The Cyreans were also on the border, and who knows what would happen to your women and children once they lay their filthy hands on them! Thranish Crusaders feel that your religion isn't the "One True Religion" and they are certainly going to spread their faith into lovely Cyre by rapine and slaughter! Adventurers who are married may be in adventurism for that very purpose. They want to secure a safe future for their loved ones. Even though their wives may pine for their return, an adventurer with the safety of his wife and children in mind (and also his freedom) would go adventuring for that very purpose. So, how about this for a motivation for a 22 year-old human wizard? "I married my wife when I was fifteen and she was 14. I had some time to go in my apprenticeship and we are so much in love that we chose to marry each other. "Now I can't stand the oppression of the Emerald Claw as they destroyed the village storehouse. If we don't make a stand against them, they will come again asking for the favors of my beautiful young wife. I can't stand by and let this happen. I'm willing to make a stand for my wife, and for my unborn child to make sure that the Knights of the Emerald Claw never bothers our village again!"
Lazaro 04-03-07, 01:50 AM	So, any PCs in your games start out married? :D Unfortunatly, no. My players refuse to have relationships of anykind with anyone, PC or NPC. They say "Having families or friends in game is only a hinderance. Why have any of those, the DM will just use them against you". So mosty I'm left with PC's how keep tp themselves and won't gey involved with anything.
taski 04-03-07, 01:58 AM	The way I see it, a PC who intends to defend his family from imminent threat isn't going to think of it as an "adventure," or of himself as an "adventurer." He's living a nightmare, and he's trying to prevent it from getting worse. He'll want to keep a lid on the threat, and stay where he can defend his home. He won't follow three weirdos into the dangerous Xen'drik jungles just because some shady Morgrave professor will pay for a magic statue. That is, unless he discovers that he likes the wayward mercenary lifestyle more than his nagging wife and backwater hometown.
CannibalSmith 04-03-07, 09:23 AM	So, any PCs in your games start out married? :D I do! That is, my character does. T'is no hindrance too much. I just don't advertise my character's martial status and spend downtime with the family.
Kryptonian Scion 04-03-07, 12:57 PM	Think about it, just for one second. Put yourself in the shoes of the Ancients who had to go to battle. The main reason why they participated in such dangerous Adventurism was to protect their loved ones. After all, if the enemy did win the day, they could carry off the elders and boys to be work slaves, and of all horrors: carry off their women and their girls to be sex slaves or to live as brothel mates. That was the main reason why everyone in the Last War went to battle. To hell with politics and who wanted the Galifar Throne. Who cares who started it? This is about protecting our women, our children, and our elders. I have to disagree with you on this. We have seen that, unlike in real medieval history, women in Eberron take on similar and equal roles in matters of war and politics that men do. It was probably more common in the Last War for a husband and wife to have both gone to war to protect their family and to endorse their nation's stand against the other nations' claims to the throne of Galifar.
DarthMidget 04-03-07, 01:43 PM	Families can make great plot tools for a DM. And I don't mean that they always get threatened or kidnaps by the BBEG (thought that is a possibility). Husbands, wives, and other loved ones can all be used to propel PCs in one direction or another. Example: "Well, honey, I know I'm just a farmer, and you know I don't want to tell you how to preach the Silver Flame, but gosh darn it them there lycanthropes needs killin'." Example: "Nathan Mooresby! We've been married for ten years and everytime you come back from one of these damned adventures I'm stuck cleaning dragonscales for a month! Can't you for once bring back something that doesn't require me to clean up after you?!!! After all I am stuck here with your kids while you go gallavanting around the countryside with that damned wizard and that damned halfling." "Uh...sorry honey."
Kamikaze Chicken 04-12-07, 07:58 PM	what about a forged who is married to his artificer? just a question to get the ball rolling..... KAMIKAZE! :chicken:
Cherubaddon 04-13-07, 08:05 PM	what about a forged who is married to his artificer? just a question to get the ball rolling..... KAMIKAZE! :chicken: Dude, in all seriousness, that is an awesome character concept! Best part is, it is probably the only case of a warforged relationship that might actually end in a family:P ! Cherubaddon
Creature_Mastermind 04-13-07, 11:21 PM	Best part is, it is probably the only case of a warforged relationship that might actually end in a family:P ! Cherubaddon :eek: You have made me have nightmares now thanks :eek:
CannibalSmith 04-14-07, 01:01 AM	what about a forged who is married to his artificer? "Aww, you missed the delivery. But making the baby is the fun part!"
Creature_Mastermind 04-14-07, 01:25 AM	"Aww, you missed the delivery. But making the baby is the fun part!" you and Cherubaddon have made me have many nightmares to come. thanls lol.
Sir Elton 04-14-07, 02:59 PM	what about a forged who is married to his artificer? just a question to get the ball rolling..... KAMIKAZE! :chicken: What an awful thought.
davethebrave371 04-14-07, 03:08 PM	What an awful thought. I think you mean awesome.
yossarius 04-14-07, 03:22 PM	what about a forged who is married to his artificer? just a question to get the ball rolling..... KAMIKAZE! :chicken: I can't get the image out of my head from Robot Chicken of the robot and the washing machine.....
Cherubaddon 04-14-07, 05:35 PM	:eek: You have made me have nightmares now thanks :eek: You are welcome. :D "Aww, you missed the delivery. But making the baby is the fun part!" :rofl:
SirPudding 04-14-07, 09:44 PM	........Mawidge.......Mawidge is what bwings us here togever...today. That being said, adventuring and family life don't make good bedfellows. With the exception of lone wolf and cub, bringing kids along is not a good idea. And finding a sitter every time an adventure hook comes along is well... I digress. I think the PC's family is an often neglected part of one's backstory. Living family members are great hooks. A couple of my NPCs, as well as my fanfic characters are related. I shamelessly stole Creliath Movanek (The iconic inquistitive) and the Iconic dragon marked heir both from the ECS as my protagonist's father and sister respectively. Whatever, feel the love
mhacdebhandia 04-14-07, 10:26 PM	So, any PCs in your games start out married? Not in Eberron, but I've played a married character whose wife had been his mentor in the order of witch-hunters; they were working separate assignments when I joined the game, and she eventually sacrificed her soul and became corrupted in order to spare some innocents from the same fate. This game was set in Britannia, the world of the Ultima computer games, and we used a heavily modified version of D&D centered around Oriental Adventures because the DM's overall storyline was based on the idea of the Virtues and Avatarhood in that setting, in which he saw many parallels with Eastern philosophy. This Wednesday night I'm running the first real session of my Eberron Savage Tide campaign, and I'm curious to see whether or not any of the PCs will pick up on the romantic possibilities in the storyline.
mhacdebhandia 04-14-07, 10:31 PM	Everyone knows that the role of marriage in Eberron is for PCs to have spouses who were killed by some group of antagonists (the Emerald Claw, cultists of the Dark Six, etc), which lead the PCs to become bitter, jaded, alcoholics with perpetual 3-day beards (if male humans) and a smouldering hatred of the aforementioned antagonist group. I mean, that's obvious, isn't it? Heh. In James Wyatt's novel In the Claws of the Tiger, the protagonist's wife having turned EVIL is a really serious element of the plot. Turns out she was possessed by a rakshasa! One of the other characters, a paladin, channels a couatl in the climax to drive the demon out of her, and the protagonist gets his wife back. An unexpected happy ending, even if the paladin does die.
hecknoshow 05-11-07, 05:50 PM	I played in a game where one of the PC's was married during the second sesion. It was a homebrew and the GM had the characters adventuring carrer effect the wife(who was blind).Character was a sorcerer which was considered a kind of social taboo, when he was discovered his wifes home life deteriorated and we had to crack a few thugs heads Not a big plot point, but interesting.:D
Bluebrush 05-11-07, 06:30 PM	I knew an 18th level fighter who was married to his greatsword. *Rimshot*
hecknoshow 05-14-07, 09:24 AM	:heehee I knew a larper like this,not in character.