Forehead Markings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Forehead Markings [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aegis_Chiron
05-30-07, 03:19 AM I'm reading Scions of Arrabar and a question came to mind. Well, a series of questions based on the forehead markings used in the books. Just to be clear, I mean the colored dots that denote literacy and magical ability (arcane caster, not divine) in a person. 1 dot if you can read, 2 if you can write and 3 if you can cast.

1. Is there a name for this system?

2. Where exactly is it used? I know that in Turmish and Chessenta, but are there any other regions?

3. According the Sapphire Crescent, if you faslely identify yourself as a mage, the punishment is death. What if a mage/sorcerer is not properly marked?

4. I doubt it, but are there people to test incoming PC's to mark them correctly?

Any help is much appreciated
Fabius Maximus
05-30-07, 07:10 AM The system is exclusive to the Vilhon Reach, IIRC. I don't know if it has a name.

You can expect tests in Chessenta, Chondath and maybe Ssespech, because arcanists are not popular there. But I don't think these tests are somehow insitutionalised.

Turmish is rather tolerant, though. The markings are a matter of pride there.
BadCatMan
05-30-07, 08:35 PM I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that?

The system is probably related to the three blue concentric circles of Mulhorand. I can't offhand recall what they signify, probably nobility and magic-ability.

Vilhon Reach should explain the custom.
Aegis_Chiron
05-31-07, 02:43 AM I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that?

It doesn't. I confused Chondath ith Chessenta. Sorry about that...

But I still need to know about a mage who enters the area without the 'proper' 3 marks. Will they just demand he marks himself, fine him, throw him in prison until they find out why he was trying to hide it (lousy foreign spies, they all probably work for the Zhents, or are trying to bring back the Rotting Plague....)

Thanks
Fabius Maximus
05-31-07, 06:43 AM Generally, people without the markings are treated as dumb by most folk in the Reach area. So they will adapt quite fast. In Turmish, a mage will garner respect by the people.

In the other coutries, he will be disrespected, but not outright arrested. A mage with only two points (or less) on his forehead who is discovered to be a mage can expect a lynchmob.
If there are tests, they come on a case-by-case basis. It's no use to test everyone for magical ability.
And remember: clerics wear the three points, too.
ShadezofDis
05-31-07, 11:07 AM But I still need to know about a mage who enters the area without the 'proper' 3 marks. Will they just demand he marks himself, fine him, throw him in prison until they find out why he was trying to hide it (lousy foreign spies, they all probably work for the Zhents, or are trying to bring back the Rotting Plague....)

Thanks

If they were caught using magic (which would really be the only way to tell) then it would depend on who caught them. In general though they would be detained and the authorities would want to make sure that the character wasn't affiliated with an "outside power group" (no matter which one, the Reach doesn't like outsiders playing politics in their back yard)

If they are satisfied that the character isn't a big threat then they'd levy a hefty fine, take their name and description and tell them that if they are caught doing this again they face banishment or worse.

And, generally speaking, Turmish would be more forgiving but probably not too much more than the rest of the Reach, there was the whole debacle with the Windlass conclave.

Generally, people without the markings are treated as dumb by most folk in the Reach area. So they will adapt quite fast. In Turmish, a mage will garner respect by the people.

In the other coutries, he will be disrespected, but not outright arrested. A mage with only two points (or less) on his forehead who is discovered to be a mage can expect a lynchmob.
If there are tests, they come on a case-by-case basis. It's no use to test everyone for magical ability.
And remember: clerics wear the three points, too.

Typically it would be a noble or an authority figure who would test and that would usually only be on whim (though a PC group could be very suspicious, so that might make them want to test them)

I'm not sure where you come up with the idea that Turmish folk would respect mages, not saying you are wrong but I haven't seen any evidence of this and while the Turmish weren't hurt terribly by the Rotting War they still have had problems with mages in the past.
Fabius Maximus
05-31-07, 11:33 AM I'm not sure where you come up with the idea that Turmish folk would respect mages, not saying you are wrong but I haven't seen any evidence of this and while the Turmish weren't hurt terribly by the Rotting War they still have had problems with mages in the past.

I think it's in The Vilhon Reach. Turmish is tolerant because of their exposion to strangers through trade. By the way, 'respect' doesn't always have a positive meaning. At the very least, you can walk through the Turmisch countryside using magics without running afoul of a lynchmob.

Try that in Chondath.
Perun
05-31-07, 03:43 PM I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that?

The system is probably related to the three blue concentric circles of Mulhorand. I can't offhand recall what they signify, probably nobility and magic-ability.

Vilhon Reach should explain the custom.

The three blue concentric circles of the Mulhorandi mean:
These indicate learning, knowledge of magic, and familiarity with the laws, customs, and religious rituals of the land. (Very roughly, one circle means that the man is an educated freeman, two circles mean he is a mage, and three circles mean he is a priest.)

Regards.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aegis_Chiron 05-30-07, 03:19 AM	I'm reading Scions of Arrabar and a question came to mind. Well, a series of questions based on the forehead markings used in the books. Just to be clear, I mean the colored dots that denote literacy and magical ability (arcane caster, not divine) in a person. 1 dot if you can read, 2 if you can write and 3 if you can cast. 1. Is there a name for this system? 2. Where exactly is it used? I know that in Turmish and Chessenta, but are there any other regions? 3. According the Sapphire Crescent, if you faslely identify yourself as a mage, the punishment is death. What if a mage/sorcerer is not properly marked? 4. I doubt it, but are there people to test incoming PC's to mark them correctly? Any help is much appreciated
Fabius Maximus 05-30-07, 07:10 AM	The system is exclusive to the Vilhon Reach, IIRC. I don't know if it has a name. You can expect tests in Chessenta, Chondath and maybe Ssespech, because arcanists are not popular there. But I don't think these tests are somehow insitutionalised. Turmish is rather tolerant, though. The markings are a matter of pride there.
BadCatMan 05-30-07, 08:35 PM	I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that? The system is probably related to the three blue concentric circles of Mulhorand. I can't offhand recall what they signify, probably nobility and magic-ability. Vilhon Reach should explain the custom.
Aegis_Chiron 05-31-07, 02:43 AM	I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that? It doesn't. I confused Chondath ith Chessenta. Sorry about that... But I still need to know about a mage who enters the area without the 'proper' 3 marks. Will they just demand he marks himself, fine him, throw him in prison until they find out why he was trying to hide it (lousy foreign spies, they all probably work for the Zhents, or are trying to bring back the Rotting Plague....) Thanks
Fabius Maximus 05-31-07, 06:43 AM	Generally, people without the markings are treated as dumb by most folk in the Reach area. So they will adapt quite fast. In Turmish, a mage will garner respect by the people. In the other coutries, he will be disrespected, but not outright arrested. A mage with only two points (or less) on his forehead who is discovered to be a mage can expect a lynchmob. If there are tests, they come on a case-by-case basis. It's no use to test everyone for magical ability. And remember: clerics wear the three points, too.
ShadezofDis 05-31-07, 11:07 AM	But I still need to know about a mage who enters the area without the 'proper' 3 marks. Will they just demand he marks himself, fine him, throw him in prison until they find out why he was trying to hide it (lousy foreign spies, they all probably work for the Zhents, or are trying to bring back the Rotting Plague....) Thanks If they were caught using magic (which would really be the only way to tell) then it would depend on who caught them. In general though they would be detained and the authorities would want to make sure that the character wasn't affiliated with an "outside power group" (no matter which one, the Reach doesn't like outsiders playing politics in their back yard) If they are satisfied that the character isn't a big threat then they'd levy a hefty fine, take their name and description and tell them that if they are caught doing this again they face banishment or worse. And, generally speaking, Turmish would be more forgiving but probably not too much more than the rest of the Reach, there was the whole debacle with the Windlass conclave. Generally, people without the markings are treated as dumb by most folk in the Reach area. So they will adapt quite fast. In Turmish, a mage will garner respect by the people. In the other coutries, he will be disrespected, but not outright arrested. A mage with only two points (or less) on his forehead who is discovered to be a mage can expect a lynchmob. If there are tests, they come on a case-by-case basis. It's no use to test everyone for magical ability. And remember: clerics wear the three points, too. Typically it would be a noble or an authority figure who would test and that would usually only be on whim (though a PC group could be very suspicious, so that might make them want to test them) I'm not sure where you come up with the idea that Turmish folk would respect mages, not saying you are wrong but I haven't seen any evidence of this and while the Turmish weren't hurt terribly by the Rotting War they still have had problems with mages in the past.
Fabius Maximus 05-31-07, 11:33 AM	I'm not sure where you come up with the idea that Turmish folk would respect mages, not saying you are wrong but I haven't seen any evidence of this and while the Turmish weren't hurt terribly by the Rotting War they still have had problems with mages in the past. I think it's in The Vilhon Reach. Turmish is tolerant because of their exposion to strangers through trade. By the way, 'respect' doesn't always have a positive meaning. At the very least, you can walk through the Turmisch countryside using magics without running afoul of a lynchmob. Try that in Chondath.
Perun 05-31-07, 03:43 PM	I didn't think it was used in Chessenta. Where does it say that? The system is probably related to the three blue concentric circles of Mulhorand. I can't offhand recall what they signify, probably nobility and magic-ability. Vilhon Reach should explain the custom. The three blue concentric circles of the Mulhorandi mean: These indicate learning, knowledge of magic, and familiarity with the laws, customs, and religious rituals of the land. (Very roughly, one circle means that the man is an educated freeman, two circles mean he is a mage, and three circles mean he is a priest.) Regards.