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Day of Mourning...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
revan4444
Feb 24, 2008 3:37:57 I was reading the Cyre/mournland chapter and there is a section where onlookers witnessed the ominous deathless cloud that now inhabits the mournland coming from the Cyre Palace. But then some theorize that the deathless cloud came from the ruins of the maker. Then there is a scary legend that came around that says that the Lord of Blades was the instigator that used the deathless cloud to destroy Cyre Kingdom and that the other Nations are next on his list. I wonder if there is a group of novels that go into great details on the night of the Mourning and what happened? Did the Cyre messing with experiments which the Cyre were known for that was messing with something that should have been left alone and it escaped? Or will there be a group of novels coming out that goes into detail that explains what happend that fateful night/day?
#2
Syltorian
Feb 24, 2008 5:48:51 The cause of the Mourning has been intentionally left obscure, and will (so they tell us) never be revealed.

One of the stories in Tales of the Last War speaks of a Cyran expedition to Xen'drik which might be related, but that too is only one theory. Novels are not canon in Eberron, and even if they were, all you have is a hypothesis... just like the idea that it was the Lord of Blades, that a Cannith experiment went wrong, that Cyre did it itself by accident, that the dragons wiped it out for reasons only they understand, that it was a Daelkyr or Rakshasa being unleashed, or anything you, other posters, or anyone else can come up with.

One of Eberron's main themes is that it allows the DM control over various mysteries, without telling them everything. The Mournland. The motivations of the Daughters of Sora Kell. The Mark of Death. The afterlife. The existence of the gods. The true 'purpose' and nature of the Prophecy. There are examples, suggestions and theories, but ultimately, the DM is allowed to develop his own campaign, without being told he is doing it wrong.

If you want to claim that Cyre did it itself, but that they got exactly what they intended - Cyre moved itself to a pocket dimension to get out of the war they realised they were losing, and they left behind an illusion that deters or kills anyone coming too close before the Jewel of Galifar is ready to come back after it has built up - if you want to run with that story, you can. Canon will allow you to do this without coming out and saying: "Aundair did it." And if you want to run a campaign where Aundair did it, you can do so as well.
#3
lonestranger
Feb 25, 2008 17:36:03 I have seen the same information that the cause of the Day of Mourning has been intentionally left blank. That means that any game you run that focuses on that event can have whatever explanation you want, anything from demons to a well meaning angel trying to prevent something and causing it, to dire chipmunks. Literally any explanation you want would be the answer for that campaign itself.
#4
Edymnion
Feb 25, 2008 20:35:39 Yes, and just because you answer it once doesn't mean its answered.
Next campaign you can change the reason, and have all the fun of figuring out what caused the Mourning all over again!
#5
Gurv
Feb 26, 2008 5:49:06
Yes, and just because you answer it once doesn't mean its answered.
Next campaign you can change the reason, and have all the fun of figuring out what caused the Mourning all over again!

Or you can give your players proof that House Cannith did it, make it completely undeniable, totally beyond question. Then you can make it obvious that it happened when a daelkyr became free and dragged Cyre to Xoriat, again beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then do it again, making it impossible for anyone other than the dragons to have accomplished it.

Being an evil DM aside, there is one very important fact that my players realized after one of these discoveries. If someone ever did come across proof of what caused the Mourning and had it in their power to share that proof, doing so would be the most evil thing they could do.

The Last War didn't end because the rulers of the Five Nations had resolved their dispute. It ended because no one knew who had the power to cause the Mourning and none of them were willing to find out by attacking the wrong people. If everyone knew for certain who had the capability, all would join together to end the threat.

If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately.
#6
Syltorian
Feb 26, 2008 9:30:32
If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately.

I wonder what would happen if you found out not only who did it, but also how they've done it. Would that stop the war and create period where no nation dares attack the other for fear of being targeted by their WMDs?

Ignoring groups like the Order of the Emerald Claw who would not necessarily hold back simply for fear of retaliation... and Sovereigns save us if the LoBster finds out how do cause Mournings.
#7
lonestranger
Feb 29, 2008 17:27:30 It may, or you run the risk of all the other countries ganging up on the one that can cause destruction on a scale like that to prevent them from using it on anyone else then fighting each other to get the technology.
#8
revan4444
Mar 01, 2008 5:33:00 thanks for the info, I guess if anyone wants to find out what happened that day they'll have to wait for a dm to make a story about it if they want.
#9
half_dragon_infernal
Mar 07, 2008 13:46:15 I say that some dreaming dark agents were making a massive mind control machine underneath metrol, and the Lord of Blades and some other warforged adventurers discovered it and set off to destroy it. Then, the Lord of Blades had his blade destroyed, but then stole a unique riedran crysteel blade from the main dreaming dark person instigator. He then stabbed the machine, which had a rebellious quori as the power source, which then switched places with the Lord of Blades soul. Due to the soul's nature, instead of creating a manifest zone to Dal Quar, it made one connected to Dolurhh. I don't know when my PC's will find it out, but i already made it for when they do.
#10
melchizedek
Mar 08, 2008 23:41:34 During one campaign, one of my players became convinced that the Chamber was behind the Mourning. He actually did a great deal of research (both in and out of game) and came up with some pretty solid evidence. I'm sure I won't remember everything he came up with, but his main point was this:

Look at the timeline in the ECS. You'll notice that the Dragons have ultimately determined the outcome of every major upheaval in history. The Fiend-Dragon wars and the destruction of Xendrik are no-brainers, but also note that it was a Dragon who taught the druidic mysteries to the Orcs, which was what ended the Dealkyr wars. The dragons had a hand in the destruction of House Vol, which was what caused many elves to settle on Khorvaire. Of course, there were other forces at work during each of these events, but they pretty much came and went. The dragons are the consistent factor the events that brought about the turns of ages, from the Age of Dragons, to Fiends, to Giants, to Monsters, and finally to Man. It certainly makes sense for them to have chosen (and brought about) the outcome of the last war. (And, perhaps more than any other power group, they are definitely powerful enough to accomplish this) Determining the outcome of history - sometimes obviously, sometimes not - is their perogative.

Of course, this doesn't strictly prove his theory, as the creators never meant for it to be provable, for reasons others above me have stated. However, this is one of the most solid theory's I've heard, and is based on multiple peices of (admittedly circumstancial) evidence published in cannon sources.
#11
rania
Apr 04, 2008 20:51:20
...
Being an evil DM aside, there is one very important fact that my players realized after one of these discoveries. If someone ever did come across proof of what caused the Mourning and had it in their power to share that proof, doing so would be the most evil thing they could do.

The Last War didn't end because the rulers of the Five Nations had resolved their dispute. It ended because no one knew who had the power to cause the Mourning and none of them were willing to find out by attacking the wrong people. If everyone knew for certain who had the capability, all would join together to end the threat.

If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately.

Ya know, I'd never thought of it that way before. It makes a lot of sense, and it also provides a level of sinister-ness.

It could also allow for the PCs to find out what caused the Mourning without you having to tell them it. Just say that in the end-boss's room, they found proof-positive of the cause of the Mourning; but because letting it out would be so destructive, they all consented to have it erased from their memory. Sure, it'd be a bit of a cop-out, but it could work. Just not with my group (they'd be more likely to eat the room).
#12
kelvinaw273
Apr 06, 2008 7:44:57 I have a campaign idea to use the mists of the Mournland as a link to the Mists of Ravenloft and the demi-plane of Dread. But I have no idea what could have caused it ...
#13
skrap-san
Apr 06, 2008 15:10:21
I have a campaign idea to use the mists of the Mournland as a link to the Mists of Ravenloft and the demi-plane of Dread. But I have no idea what could have caused it ...

I have been playing with this idea as well. My idea was to make the last queen of Cyre do something similar as Strahd. Her intel organisation would have found a mighty artefact in Xen'dirk that would let her rip her entire nation from this realm of existence to another this would naturally be the Ravenloft universe. Thus adding an almost perfect mirror of old Cyre, full of fog somewhere.

Hope my random thoughts helps...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 revan4444 Feb 24, 2008 3:37:57	I was reading the Cyre/mournland chapter and there is a section where onlookers witnessed the ominous deathless cloud that now inhabits the mournland coming from the Cyre Palace. But then some theorize that the deathless cloud came from the ruins of the maker. Then there is a scary legend that came around that says that the Lord of Blades was the instigator that used the deathless cloud to destroy Cyre Kingdom and that the other Nations are next on his list. I wonder if there is a group of novels that go into great details on the night of the Mourning and what happened? Did the Cyre messing with experiments which the Cyre were known for that was messing with something that should have been left alone and it escaped? Or will there be a group of novels coming out that goes into detail that explains what happend that fateful night/day?
#2 Syltorian Feb 24, 2008 5:48:51	The cause of the Mourning has been intentionally left obscure, and will (so they tell us) never be revealed. One of the stories in Tales of the Last War speaks of a Cyran expedition to Xen'drik which might be related, but that too is only one theory. Novels are not canon in Eberron, and even if they were, all you have is a hypothesis... just like the idea that it was the Lord of Blades, that a Cannith experiment went wrong, that Cyre did it itself by accident, that the dragons wiped it out for reasons only they understand, that it was a Daelkyr or Rakshasa being unleashed, or anything you, other posters, or anyone else can come up with. One of Eberron's main themes is that it allows the DM control over various mysteries, without telling them everything. The Mournland. The motivations of the Daughters of Sora Kell. The Mark of Death. The afterlife. The existence of the gods. The true 'purpose' and nature of the Prophecy. There are examples, suggestions and theories, but ultimately, the DM is allowed to develop his own campaign, without being told he is doing it wrong. If you want to claim that Cyre did it itself, but that they got exactly what they intended - Cyre moved itself to a pocket dimension to get out of the war they realised they were losing, and they left behind an illusion that deters or kills anyone coming too close before the Jewel of Galifar is ready to come back after it has built up - if you want to run with that story, you can. Canon will allow you to do this without coming out and saying: "Aundair did it." And if you want to run a campaign where Aundair did it, you can do so as well.
#3 lonestranger Feb 25, 2008 17:36:03	I have seen the same information that the cause of the Day of Mourning has been intentionally left blank. That means that any game you run that focuses on that event can have whatever explanation you want, anything from demons to a well meaning angel trying to prevent something and causing it, to dire chipmunks. Literally any explanation you want would be the answer for that campaign itself.
#4 Edymnion Feb 25, 2008 20:35:39	Yes, and just because you answer it once doesn't mean its answered. Next campaign you can change the reason, and have all the fun of figuring out what caused the Mourning all over again!
#5 Gurv Feb 26, 2008 5:49:06	Yes, and just because you answer it once doesn't mean its answered. Next campaign you can change the reason, and have all the fun of figuring out what caused the Mourning all over again! Or you can give your players proof that House Cannith did it, make it completely undeniable, totally beyond question. Then you can make it obvious that it happened when a daelkyr became free and dragged Cyre to Xoriat, again beyond a shadow of a doubt. Then do it again, making it impossible for anyone other than the dragons to have accomplished it. Being an evil DM aside, there is one very important fact that my players realized after one of these discoveries. If someone ever did come across proof of what caused the Mourning and had it in their power to share that proof, doing so would be the most evil thing they could do. The Last War didn't end because the rulers of the Five Nations had resolved their dispute. It ended because no one knew who had the power to cause the Mourning and none of them were willing to find out by attacking the wrong people. If everyone knew for certain who had the capability, all would join together to end the threat. If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately.
#6 Syltorian Feb 26, 2008 9:30:32	If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately. I wonder what would happen if you found out not only who did it, but also how they've done it. Would that stop the war and create period where no nation dares attack the other for fear of being targeted by their WMDs? Ignoring groups like the Order of the Emerald Claw who would not necessarily hold back simply for fear of retaliation... and Sovereigns save us if the LoBster finds out how do cause Mournings.
#7 lonestranger Feb 29, 2008 17:27:30	It may, or you run the risk of all the other countries ganging up on the one that can cause destruction on a scale like that to prevent them from using it on anyone else then fighting each other to get the technology.
#8 revan4444 Mar 01, 2008 5:33:00	thanks for the info, I guess if anyone wants to find out what happened that day they'll have to wait for a dm to make a story about it if they want.
#9 half_dragon_infernal Mar 07, 2008 13:46:15	I say that some dreaming dark agents were making a massive mind control machine underneath metrol, and the Lord of Blades and some other warforged adventurers discovered it and set off to destroy it. Then, the Lord of Blades had his blade destroyed, but then stole a unique riedran crysteel blade from the main dreaming dark person instigator. He then stabbed the machine, which had a rebellious quori as the power source, which then switched places with the Lord of Blades soul. Due to the soul's nature, instead of creating a manifest zone to Dal Quar, it made one connected to Dolurhh. I don't know when my PC's will find it out, but i already made it for when they do.
#10 melchizedek Mar 08, 2008 23:41:34	During one campaign, one of my players became convinced that the Chamber was behind the Mourning. He actually did a great deal of research (both in and out of game) and came up with some pretty solid evidence. I'm sure I won't remember everything he came up with, but his main point was this: Look at the timeline in the ECS. You'll notice that the Dragons have ultimately determined the outcome of every major upheaval in history. The Fiend-Dragon wars and the destruction of Xendrik are no-brainers, but also note that it was a Dragon who taught the druidic mysteries to the Orcs, which was what ended the Dealkyr wars. The dragons had a hand in the destruction of House Vol, which was what caused many elves to settle on Khorvaire. Of course, there were other forces at work during each of these events, but they pretty much came and went. The dragons are the consistent factor the events that brought about the turns of ages, from the Age of Dragons, to Fiends, to Giants, to Monsters, and finally to Man. It certainly makes sense for them to have chosen (and brought about) the outcome of the last war. (And, perhaps more than any other power group, they are definitely powerful enough to accomplish this) Determining the outcome of history - sometimes obviously, sometimes not - is their perogative. Of course, this doesn't strictly prove his theory, as the creators never meant for it to be provable, for reasons others above me have stated. However, this is one of the most solid theory's I've heard, and is based on multiple peices of (admittedly circumstancial) evidence published in cannon sources.
#11 rania Apr 04, 2008 20:51:20	... Being an evil DM aside, there is one very important fact that my players realized after one of these discoveries. If someone ever did come across proof of what caused the Mourning and had it in their power to share that proof, doing so would be the most evil thing they could do. The Last War didn't end because the rulers of the Five Nations had resolved their dispute. It ended because no one knew who had the power to cause the Mourning and none of them were willing to find out by attacking the wrong people. If everyone knew for certain who had the capability, all would join together to end the threat. If successful, the Last War would begin again almost immediately. Ya know, I'd never thought of it that way before. It makes a lot of sense, and it also provides a level of sinister-ness. It could also allow for the PCs to find out what caused the Mourning without you having to tell them it. Just say that in the end-boss's room, they found proof-positive of the cause of the Mourning; but because letting it out would be so destructive, they all consented to have it erased from their memory. Sure, it'd be a bit of a cop-out, but it could work. Just not with my group (they'd be more likely to eat the room).
#12 kelvinaw273 Apr 06, 2008 7:44:57	I have a campaign idea to use the mists of the Mournland as a link to the Mists of Ravenloft and the demi-plane of Dread. But I have no idea what could have caused it ...
#13 skrap-san Apr 06, 2008 15:10:21	I have a campaign idea to use the mists of the Mournland as a link to the Mists of Ravenloft and the demi-plane of Dread. But I have no idea what could have caused it ... I have been playing with this idea as well. My idea was to make the last queen of Cyre do something similar as Strahd. Her intel organisation would have found a mighty artefact in Xen'dirk that would let her rip her entire nation from this realm of existence to another this would naturally be the Ravenloft universe. Thus adding an almost perfect mirror of old Cyre, full of fog somewhere. Hope my random thoughts helps...