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Dragons and Aberrant Dragonmarks (3.5)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tos_shai_hulud
Mar 19, 2010 12:03:07 I'm running a campaign, and looking for information on how Dragons view Aberrant Dragonmarks? I know that the dragonmarked houses dislike them, but are dragons able to read the aberrant dragonmarks? Are they a part of the prophesy, as well? Can Aberrations use them? Like aboleths? I have skimmed through Dragonmarked and Dragons of Eberron without much luck finding an answer. If anyone knows of a source, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise, I'll make something up, of course :D.

Thanks in advance!

--shai-hulud
#2
tos_shai_hulud
Mar 20, 2010 21:05:13 I decided that dragons can read the aberrant marks, as well. They are less common, but just as full of prophetic information... perhaps even more so.
#3
JohnLynch
Mar 30, 2010 4:22:52
I decided that dragons can read the aberrant marks, as well. They are less common, but just as full of prophetic information... perhaps even more so.

Perhaps there are organisations within Argonessen who are sympathetic to those with abberant marks thanks to the prophetic information they reveal. They may have seen the Dragonmark War similar to watching an swimmer chop off his right arm, whereas most of the Dragons saw the Dragonmark War as survival of the fittest and so refused to interfere.

Perhaps hidden away somewhere very remote there is secretly a small town filled with those who have abberant marks?
#4
Madfox11
Apr 12, 2010 6:28:20 I suspect there is no generic attitude amongst the dragons. It is hinted that aberrant dragon marks are part of Khyber, hence the fact that many wearers of the marks went insane in the past (and hence the War of the Mark). If that is true, I would supose most dragons sees them as part of some kind of anti-prophecy associated with the overlords (children of Khyber). Some would actively try to destroy it, most would be intrigued and warry (but study it to known the enemy).
#5
Alex_
Apr 12, 2010 9:14:52
I'm running a campaign, and looking for information on how Dragons view Aberrant Dragonmarks? I know that the dragonmarked houses dislike them, but are dragons able to read the aberrant dragonmarks? Are they a part of the prophesy, as well? Can Aberrations use them? Like aboleths? I have skimmed through Dragonmarked and Dragons of Eberron without much luck finding an answer. If anyone knows of a source, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise, I'll make something up, of course :D.

Thanks in advance!

--shai-hulud

Abberant marks don't actually have anything to do with Abberations like Mind Flayers and Aboleths. "Abberant" in the dragonmarked sense is being used in the sense of "abnormal" or "strange". So no relation to the Daelkyr and Quori.

While the Dragonmarked families fear them, it's because they're less predictable and their marks often have different- more destructive- abilities. The actions of some past bearers might have had a little to do with that. There's been a smear campaign running against them ever since.

Since they appear spontaneously on any member of the dragonmarked races, I'd assume that they are a part of the prophecy as well, and given their relative rarity, a very important part.
#6
Madfox11
Apr 13, 2010 6:39:51
Actually, depending on how much stock you place on novels and game books and how complicated you as a DM want to make it, there is a little bit more to the aberrant marks than simple spontaneous marks with more destructive powers. References to the War of the Mark (such as in the novel Son of Khyber) suggest that aberrant marks are actually marks of Khyber and that a sizeable group who have them become insane. The last is not even denied by the members of House Tarkanan - the current experts on aberrant marks. The explanation just differs with that from the houses. The houses claim insanity comes because it are the marks of Khyber. Tarkannan just points out that it is much harder to control these destructive marks, often hurting/harming loved ones by accident and many also are very painful to use to the wielder. Combine it with the scorn wearers of aberrant marks face and it is only natural many become insane. Of course, how much of that is PR or truth is up to discussion, but that is what makes Eberron so interesting ;)

(Mind you, the fact that the wielders in general have less control over these marks in itself explains why there is so much fear for them.)
#7
Alex_
Apr 13, 2010 22:28:21

Actually, depending on how much stock you place on novels and game books and how complicated you as a DM want to make it, there is a little bit more to the aberrant marks than simple spontaneous marks with more destructive powers. References to the War of the Mark (such as in the novel Son of Khyber) suggest that aberrant marks are actually marks of Khyber and that a sizeable group who have them become insane. The last is not even denied by the members of House Tarkanan - the current experts on aberrant marks. The explanation just differs with that from the houses. The houses claim insanity comes because it are the marks of Khyber. Tarkannan just points out that it is much harder to control these destructive marks, often hurting/harming loved ones by accident and many also are very painful to use to the wielder. Combine it with the scorn wearers of aberrant marks face and it is only natural many become insane. Of course, how much of that is PR or truth is up to discussion, but that is what makes Eberron so interesting ;)

(Mind you, the fact that the wielders in general have less control over these marks in itself explains why there is so much fear for them.)

Actually... IRRC, the three Proginator Wyrms were the original creators of the Prophecy.

So the three types of Dragonmarks could represent the parts of the Prophecy that each came up with. There are Syberis marks, which are the powerful and more glorious ones, like Syberis. Then there are the Aberrant marks, which tend to be more dangerous, like Khyber. And in between are the "regular" Dragonmarks- holding pieces of Eberron's part of the Prophecy.

#8
Madfox11
Apr 14, 2010 3:57:47 Well, dragons consider themselves the children of Sibernis and Eberron while the overlords are children of Khyber. Makes you wonder why the dragons even describe Khyber as a dragon since it seems everything but a dragon ;) Regardless, the dragons do not like Khyber, so it is not a big step to assume they dislike its marks. Of course, it is still a prophecy of sorts, and hence worth studying, but for me it is easy to belief that a faction of dragons sees them as extremely dangerous opposition to the regular prophecy - a bit like the satanic bible for their religion so to speak. Those dragons would likely go out of their way to destroy the aberrant marks, and who is to say that the dragons did not had a hand in the War of the Mark? ;)
#9
Alex_
Apr 14, 2010 11:15:48
Well, dragons consider themselves the children of Sibernis and Eberron while the overlords are children of Khyber. Makes you wonder why the dragons even describe Khyber as a dragon since it seems everything but a dragon )

The Proginator Wyrms are supposed to be allegory. It's not that there were litterally three huge dragons floating around in the empty void of nothingness.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tos_shai_hulud Mar 19, 2010 12:03:07	I'm running a campaign, and looking for information on how Dragons view Aberrant Dragonmarks? I know that the dragonmarked houses dislike them, but are dragons able to read the aberrant dragonmarks? Are they a part of the prophesy, as well? Can Aberrations use them? Like aboleths? I have skimmed through Dragonmarked and Dragons of Eberron without much luck finding an answer. If anyone knows of a source, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise, I'll make something up, of course :D. Thanks in advance! --shai-hulud
#2 tos_shai_hulud Mar 20, 2010 21:05:13	I decided that dragons can read the aberrant marks, as well. They are less common, but just as full of prophetic information... perhaps even more so.
#3 JohnLynch Mar 30, 2010 4:22:52	I decided that dragons can read the aberrant marks, as well. They are less common, but just as full of prophetic information... perhaps even more so. Perhaps there are organisations within Argonessen who are sympathetic to those with abberant marks thanks to the prophetic information they reveal. They may have seen the Dragonmark War similar to watching an swimmer chop off his right arm, whereas most of the Dragons saw the Dragonmark War as survival of the fittest and so refused to interfere. Perhaps hidden away somewhere very remote there is secretly a small town filled with those who have abberant marks?
#4 Madfox11 Apr 12, 2010 6:28:20	I suspect there is no generic attitude amongst the dragons. It is hinted that aberrant dragon marks are part of Khyber, hence the fact that many wearers of the marks went insane in the past (and hence the War of the Mark). If that is true, I would supose most dragons sees them as part of some kind of anti-prophecy associated with the overlords (children of Khyber). Some would actively try to destroy it, most would be intrigued and warry (but study it to known the enemy).
#5 Alex_ Apr 12, 2010 9:14:52	I'm running a campaign, and looking for information on how Dragons view Aberrant Dragonmarks? I know that the dragonmarked houses dislike them, but are dragons able to read the aberrant dragonmarks? Are they a part of the prophesy, as well? Can Aberrations use them? Like aboleths? I have skimmed through Dragonmarked and Dragons of Eberron without much luck finding an answer. If anyone knows of a source, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise, I'll make something up, of course :D. Thanks in advance! --shai-hulud Abberant marks don't actually have anything to do with Abberations like Mind Flayers and Aboleths. "Abberant" in the dragonmarked sense is being used in the sense of "abnormal" or "strange". So no relation to the Daelkyr and Quori. While the Dragonmarked families fear them, it's because they're less predictable and their marks often have different- more destructive- abilities. The actions of some past bearers might have had a little to do with that. There's been a smear campaign running against them ever since. Since they appear spontaneously on any member of the dragonmarked races, I'd assume that they are a part of the prophecy as well, and given their relative rarity, a very important part.
#6 Madfox11 Apr 13, 2010 6:39:51	Actually, depending on how much stock you place on novels and game books and how complicated you as a DM want to make it, there is a little bit more to the aberrant marks than simple spontaneous marks with more destructive powers. References to the War of the Mark (such as in the novel Son of Khyber) suggest that aberrant marks are actually marks of Khyber and that a sizeable group who have them become insane. The last is not even denied by the members of House Tarkanan - the current experts on aberrant marks. The explanation just differs with that from the houses. The houses claim insanity comes because it are the marks of Khyber. Tarkannan just points out that it is much harder to control these destructive marks, often hurting/harming loved ones by accident and many also are very painful to use to the wielder. Combine it with the scorn wearers of aberrant marks face and it is only natural many become insane. Of course, how much of that is PR or truth is up to discussion, but that is what makes Eberron so interesting ;) (Mind you, the fact that the wielders in general have less control over these marks in itself explains why there is so much fear for them.)
#7 Alex_ Apr 13, 2010 22:28:21	Actually, depending on how much stock you place on novels and game books and how complicated you as a DM want to make it, there is a little bit more to the aberrant marks than simple spontaneous marks with more destructive powers. References to the War of the Mark (such as in the novel Son of Khyber) suggest that aberrant marks are actually marks of Khyber and that a sizeable group who have them become insane. The last is not even denied by the members of House Tarkanan - the current experts on aberrant marks. The explanation just differs with that from the houses. The houses claim insanity comes because it are the marks of Khyber. Tarkannan just points out that it is much harder to control these destructive marks, often hurting/harming loved ones by accident and many also are very painful to use to the wielder. Combine it with the scorn wearers of aberrant marks face and it is only natural many become insane. Of course, how much of that is PR or truth is up to discussion, but that is what makes Eberron so interesting ;) (Mind you, the fact that the wielders in general have less control over these marks in itself explains why there is so much fear for them.) Actually... IRRC, the three Proginator Wyrms were the original creators of the Prophecy. So the three types of Dragonmarks could represent the parts of the Prophecy that each came up with. There are Syberis marks, which are the powerful and more glorious ones, like Syberis. Then there are the Aberrant marks, which tend to be more dangerous, like Khyber. And in between are the "regular" Dragonmarks- holding pieces of Eberron's part of the Prophecy.
#8 Madfox11 Apr 14, 2010 3:57:47	Well, dragons consider themselves the children of Sibernis and Eberron while the overlords are children of Khyber. Makes you wonder why the dragons even describe Khyber as a dragon since it seems everything but a dragon ;) Regardless, the dragons do not like Khyber, so it is not a big step to assume they dislike its marks. Of course, it is still a prophecy of sorts, and hence worth studying, but for me it is easy to belief that a faction of dragons sees them as extremely dangerous opposition to the regular prophecy - a bit like the satanic bible for their religion so to speak. Those dragons would likely go out of their way to destroy the aberrant marks, and who is to say that the dragons did not had a hand in the War of the Mark? ;)
#9 Alex_ Apr 14, 2010 11:15:48	Well, dragons consider themselves the children of Sibernis and Eberron while the overlords are children of Khyber. Makes you wonder why the dragons even describe Khyber as a dragon since it seems everything but a dragon ) The Proginator Wyrms are supposed to be allegory. It's not that there were litterally three huge dragons floating around in the empty void of nothingness.