Taint in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Taint in Eberron [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Romulus LoneWolf
02-26-07, 07:17 PM Here's something I brainstormed today... Using the Taint rules from Heroes of Horror in Eberron, with Taint emanating from Khyber. Members of Cults of the Dragon Below would inevitably suffer from Corruption and Depravity, and Khyber itself would be a Tainted place, making the mining of subterranean Khyber Shards a dangerous task.

I was even thinking of replacing Alignment with Taint, with Paladins having the abilities Detect Taint and Smite Taint...

Any opinions?
Slightly_Unscrewed
02-26-07, 07:20 PM Sounds cool. Abbarant dragonmarks should give their bearers taint, as well.
taski
02-27-07, 12:51 AM In my Eberron, there are lots of sources of taint. The Mournlands is a big one.
The White Sorcerer
02-27-07, 08:13 AM Sounds cool. Abbarant dragonmarks should give their bearers taint, as well.

Hmm... I like this. Maybe a base 1 point of taint (corruption or depravity) for simply having the mark, and maybe a save to avoid gaining more for using it?
JeckAndon
02-27-07, 08:54 PM Hmm... Ilike this. Maybe a base 1 point of taint (corruption or depravity) for simply having the mark, and maybe a save to avoid gaining more for using it?

I would increase the save with every use by a tiny bit for every continous day that they use the mark, and then subtract the same amount for every day they don't.
Zombomaniac
02-27-07, 10:34 PM Abbarant dragonmarks giving taint is something I dont like, but since Khyber is basicly infused with taint I can see how that would happen, but if Abbarant dragonmarks give taint becasue their tied to Khyber wouldn't Khyber dragonshards have taint as well?
The White Sorcerer
02-28-07, 04:35 AM Abbarant dragonmarks giving taint is something I dont like, but since Khyber is basicly infused with taint I can see how that would happen, but if Abbarant dragonmarks give taint becasue their tied to Khyber wouldn't Khyber dragonshards have taint as well?

I don't know why aberrant marks cause deformities and insanity, but they often do. Hence, taint. It's not just an automatic "Khyber=taint" connection.
Kid SixXx
02-28-07, 06:57 AM Here's something I brainstormed today... Using the Taint rules from Heroes of Horror in Eberron, with Taint emanating from Khyber. Members of Cults of the Dragon Below would inevitably suffer from Corruption and Depravity, and Khyber itself would be a Tainted place, making the mining of subterranean Khyber Shards a dangerous task.

I thought the rules for the Taint were in Oriental Adventures? I really should check out Heroes of Horror to see if the OA rules for Taint have been revised.

I'd have stuck the Taint in The Mournlands like Taski did, as I always liked the concept of the faerzress radiation in Underdark, & was going to link the faerzress to Khyber dragonshards.

Taint works well also, though. I like the idea of linking Taint to Aberrant Dragonmarks, as it really enhances the Aberrant Dragonmark fluff in the Dmarked sourcebook. It would make NPC's like the Lady of the Plague a bit more sympathetic, as perhaps she wasn't inherently evil but continual use of her dragonmark slowly took its toll on her.

I've always wanted to use the concepts behind the Dark Wizards in Dragon Siege II in Eberron (ie. they use a form of magic that slowly kills them, but their pain makes their magic stronger. they have to ingest a special drug called voldane in order to keep from being driven completely insane by the pain they need to fuel their spells.) and this may be an avenue to work on an idea or two.

I was even thinking of replacing Alignment with Taint, with Paladins having the abilities Detect Taint and Smite Taint...

That's an idea I can get behind. The ability to sense corruption of the soul and strike it down is tailor made for paladins; especially paladins of the Silver Flame.

Detect Taint may be my substitute for the Detect Evil spell from here on out in this setting.
Bocamb
02-28-07, 08:57 AM I wrote up some material on the aberrant marks and taint awhile back that you may find useful. Basically, I decided that the red and blue-green aberrant marks have different origins (which is what my campaign will be about for one character). Anyway, here are my ideas taint and aberrant marks:

Aberrant Marks (Red)
Susceptibility: Taint (Corruption) – upon the initial exposure to any form of taint (that is, if the character fails his save), the PC automatically gains a corruption score of one-half his Charisma score. Individuals with red marks DO suffer the negative effects of taint, but they may also use their taint scores to qualify for additional feats (Monstrous, Tainted and Aberrant). The character must still meet the prerequisites for these feats.
Once an aberrant character has started down the path to corruption, s/he accrues it like a normal character (save or accrue 1d3 points of taint per exposure). If ever the character manages to pull down his/her corruption score to 0, the character is OK until another exposure to taint, at which time, the process begins all over again (as above). Characters with red aberrant marks develop depravity scores just as other characters do.

Benefit: Treated as having the Aberrant Blood feat for purposes of qualifying for Aberrant feats. Must meet other requirements, however.

Sages speculate that these marks are somehow tied to the plane of Xoriat.

Aberrant marks (blue-green)
Susceptibility: Taint (Depravity) – upon the initial exposure to depravity (if he fails his save), the PC automatically gains a depravity score of one-half his Charisma score. Individuals with blue-green marks DO suffer the negative effects of taint, but they may also use their taint scores to qualify for additional feats (Monstrous, Tainted and Psionic). The character must still meet the prerequisites for these feats.
Once an aberrant character has started down the path to madness, s/he accrues it like a normal character (save or accrue 1d3 points of taint per exposure). If ever the character manages to pull down his/her depravity score to 0, the character is OK until another exposure to taint, at which time, the process begins all over again (as above). Characters with blue-green aberrant marks develop corruption scores just as other characters do.

Benefit: Treated as having the Wild Talent feat for purposes of qualifying for Psionic feats. Must meet other requirements, however.

NOTE: the DD manipulated various house members into trysts to produce these marks – this explains why the War of the Mark coincides roughly with the appearance of the Quori in Sarlona. The current puppet of the DD is House Tarkanan. The DD is fomenting a desire among the Houses for domination of Khorvaire that will culminate in a second War of the Mark.
Just another user
02-28-07, 09:17 AM I would increase the save with every use by a tiny bit for every continous day that they use the mark, and then subtract the same amount for every day they don't.

Aberrant dragonmarks already sucks, why do you want them to sucks more?

I'd make it this way, 1 initial taint , a saving throw based on the mark's caster level every time you use the mark or gain 1 extra taint, and you add the taint to the mark's caster level. The more you use the mark, more it become powerful and the more tainted you are, but is more easy to gain more taint and to make it more powerful in a sort of virtuos/vicious circle.
Romulus LoneWolf
02-28-07, 03:48 PM I thought the rules for the Taint were in Oriental Adventures? I really should check out Heroes of Horror to see if the OA rules for Taint have been revised.

Heroes of Horror updates those rules, actually. It also expands them by dividing Taint effects into two categories: physical Corruption, resisted by Constitution and mental Depravity, resisted by Wisdom.

Each category has tables with Taint effects, ranging from Palsy skin to a Twisted Spine for Corruption, and from Mildly Phobic to completly Murderous for Depravity.
AvonRekaes
02-28-07, 06:57 PM I actually just ended a two-year long campaign that made extensive use of the Taint rules from Heros of Horror. I didn't have just once source, as was suggested above. There were several areas in the campaign that would inflict Taint of one or both types (depravity or corruption). Here's a list of what I used..

The Mournland -- Corruption and very rarely Depravity
The Demon Wastes -- Corruption
Khyber -- Depravity
Xoriat -Corruption and Depravity

Also, instead of using jade as the taint-soaking material, it was any rare metal properly blessed. Gatekeepers used byeshk charms, the Gashkala Orcs of the Demon Wastes use blessed flametouched iron. The price for one charm is still 100 gp. Other varieties that never came up in my game, but could still be used. Maybe something like deep crystal properly worked by a follower of the Path of Light (and it would soak up both depravity and corruption, because psychometabolism energies can protect the body).

I also changed a few monster abilities, namely Dealkyr. Instead of inflicting ability damage with their Corrupting Touch, they could choose to inflict 1d10 points of either type of taint. They also have the ability to choose which syptom of taint they inflict when pushing a target of their Corrupting Touch past a treshhold (mild to moderate to severe).

Some undead I used in the mournland did Corruption damage rather than Strength or Consitution drain.

It really added to my game, I think. I didn't take out alignments (as I really don't have any problem with them), but I think maybe making Detect Taint and Smite Taint "regional substitutions" for the Gashkala paladins would be pretty cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Romulus LoneWolf 02-26-07, 07:17 PM	Here's something I brainstormed today... Using the Taint rules from Heroes of Horror in Eberron, with Taint emanating from Khyber. Members of Cults of the Dragon Below would inevitably suffer from Corruption and Depravity, and Khyber itself would be a Tainted place, making the mining of subterranean Khyber Shards a dangerous task. I was even thinking of replacing Alignment with Taint, with Paladins having the abilities Detect Taint and Smite Taint... Any opinions?
Slightly_Unscrewed 02-26-07, 07:20 PM	Sounds cool. Abbarant dragonmarks should give their bearers taint, as well.
taski 02-27-07, 12:51 AM	In my Eberron, there are lots of sources of taint. The Mournlands is a big one.
The White Sorcerer 02-27-07, 08:13 AM	Sounds cool. Abbarant dragonmarks should give their bearers taint, as well. Hmm... I like this. Maybe a base 1 point of taint (corruption or depravity) for simply having the mark, and maybe a save to avoid gaining more for using it?
JeckAndon 02-27-07, 08:54 PM	Hmm... Ilike this. Maybe a base 1 point of taint (corruption or depravity) for simply having the mark, and maybe a save to avoid gaining more for using it? I would increase the save with every use by a tiny bit for every continous day that they use the mark, and then subtract the same amount for every day they don't.
Zombomaniac 02-27-07, 10:34 PM	Abbarant dragonmarks giving taint is something I dont like, but since Khyber is basicly infused with taint I can see how that would happen, but if Abbarant dragonmarks give taint becasue their tied to Khyber wouldn't Khyber dragonshards have taint as well?
The White Sorcerer 02-28-07, 04:35 AM	Abbarant dragonmarks giving taint is something I dont like, but since Khyber is basicly infused with taint I can see how that would happen, but if Abbarant dragonmarks give taint becasue their tied to Khyber wouldn't Khyber dragonshards have taint as well? I don't know why aberrant marks cause deformities and insanity, but they often do. Hence, taint. It's not just an automatic "Khyber=taint" connection.
Kid SixXx 02-28-07, 06:57 AM	Here's something I brainstormed today... Using the Taint rules from Heroes of Horror in Eberron, with Taint emanating from Khyber. Members of Cults of the Dragon Below would inevitably suffer from Corruption and Depravity, and Khyber itself would be a Tainted place, making the mining of subterranean Khyber Shards a dangerous task. I thought the rules for the Taint were in Oriental Adventures? I really should check out Heroes of Horror to see if the OA rules for Taint have been revised. I'd have stuck the Taint in The Mournlands like Taski did, as I always liked the concept of the faerzress radiation in Underdark, & was going to link the faerzress to Khyber dragonshards. Taint works well also, though. I like the idea of linking Taint to Aberrant Dragonmarks, as it really enhances the Aberrant Dragonmark fluff in the Dmarked sourcebook. It would make NPC's like the Lady of the Plague a bit more sympathetic, as perhaps she wasn't inherently evil but continual use of her dragonmark slowly took its toll on her. I've always wanted to use the concepts behind the Dark Wizards in Dragon Siege II in Eberron (ie. they use a form of magic that slowly kills them, but their pain makes their magic stronger. they have to ingest a special drug called voldane in order to keep from being driven completely insane by the pain they need to fuel their spells.) and this may be an avenue to work on an idea or two. I was even thinking of replacing Alignment with Taint, with Paladins having the abilities Detect Taint and Smite Taint... That's an idea I can get behind. The ability to sense corruption of the soul and strike it down is tailor made for paladins; especially paladins of the Silver Flame. Detect Taint may be my substitute for the Detect Evil spell from here on out in this setting.
Bocamb 02-28-07, 08:57 AM	I wrote up some material on the aberrant marks and taint awhile back that you may find useful. Basically, I decided that the red and blue-green aberrant marks have different origins (which is what my campaign will be about for one character). Anyway, here are my ideas taint and aberrant marks: Aberrant Marks (Red) Susceptibility: Taint (Corruption) – upon the initial exposure to any form of taint (that is, if the character fails his save), the PC automatically gains a corruption score of one-half his Charisma score. Individuals with red marks DO suffer the negative effects of taint, but they may also use their taint scores to qualify for additional feats (Monstrous, Tainted and Aberrant). The character must still meet the prerequisites for these feats. Once an aberrant character has started down the path to corruption, s/he accrues it like a normal character (save or accrue 1d3 points of taint per exposure). If ever the character manages to pull down his/her corruption score to 0, the character is OK until another exposure to taint, at which time, the process begins all over again (as above). Characters with red aberrant marks develop depravity scores just as other characters do. Benefit: Treated as having the Aberrant Blood feat for purposes of qualifying for Aberrant feats. Must meet other requirements, however. Sages speculate that these marks are somehow tied to the plane of Xoriat. Aberrant marks (blue-green) Susceptibility: Taint (Depravity) – upon the initial exposure to depravity (if he fails his save), the PC automatically gains a depravity score of one-half his Charisma score. Individuals with blue-green marks DO suffer the negative effects of taint, but they may also use their taint scores to qualify for additional feats (Monstrous, Tainted and Psionic). The character must still meet the prerequisites for these feats. Once an aberrant character has started down the path to madness, s/he accrues it like a normal character (save or accrue 1d3 points of taint per exposure). If ever the character manages to pull down his/her depravity score to 0, the character is OK until another exposure to taint, at which time, the process begins all over again (as above). Characters with blue-green aberrant marks develop corruption scores just as other characters do. Benefit: Treated as having the Wild Talent feat for purposes of qualifying for Psionic feats. Must meet other requirements, however. NOTE: the DD manipulated various house members into trysts to produce these marks – this explains why the War of the Mark coincides roughly with the appearance of the Quori in Sarlona. The current puppet of the DD is House Tarkanan. The DD is fomenting a desire among the Houses for domination of Khorvaire that will culminate in a second War of the Mark.
Just another user 02-28-07, 09:17 AM	I would increase the save with every use by a tiny bit for every continous day that they use the mark, and then subtract the same amount for every day they don't. Aberrant dragonmarks already sucks, why do you want them to sucks more? I'd make it this way, 1 initial taint , a saving throw based on the mark's caster level every time you use the mark or gain 1 extra taint, and you add the taint to the mark's caster level. The more you use the mark, more it become powerful and the more tainted you are, but is more easy to gain more taint and to make it more powerful in a sort of virtuos/vicious circle.
Romulus LoneWolf 02-28-07, 03:48 PM	I thought the rules for the Taint were in Oriental Adventures? I really should check out Heroes of Horror to see if the OA rules for Taint have been revised. Heroes of Horror updates those rules, actually. It also expands them by dividing Taint effects into two categories: physical Corruption, resisted by Constitution and mental Depravity, resisted by Wisdom. Each category has tables with Taint effects, ranging from Palsy skin to a Twisted Spine for Corruption, and from Mildly Phobic to completly Murderous for Depravity.
AvonRekaes 02-28-07, 06:57 PM	I actually just ended a two-year long campaign that made extensive use of the Taint rules from Heros of Horror. I didn't have just once source, as was suggested above. There were several areas in the campaign that would inflict Taint of one or both types (depravity or corruption). Here's a list of what I used.. The Mournland -- Corruption and very rarely Depravity The Demon Wastes -- Corruption Khyber -- Depravity Xoriat -Corruption and Depravity Also, instead of using jade as the taint-soaking material, it was any rare metal properly blessed. Gatekeepers used byeshk charms, the Gashkala Orcs of the Demon Wastes use blessed flametouched iron. The price for one charm is still 100 gp. Other varieties that never came up in my game, but could still be used. Maybe something like deep crystal properly worked by a follower of the Path of Light (and it would soak up both depravity and corruption, because psychometabolism energies can protect the body). I also changed a few monster abilities, namely Dealkyr. Instead of inflicting ability damage with their Corrupting Touch, they could choose to inflict 1d10 points of either type of taint. They also have the ability to choose which syptom of taint they inflict when pushing a target of their Corrupting Touch past a treshhold (mild to moderate to severe). Some undead I used in the mournland did Corruption damage rather than Strength or Consitution drain. It really added to my game, I think. I didn't take out alignments (as I really don't have any problem with them), but I think maybe making Detect Taint and Smite Taint "regional substitutions" for the Gashkala paladins would be pretty cool.