Dragonshards and Dragonmarks - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dragonshards and Dragonmarks

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
teamfireyleader
May 27, 2009 13:45:58 I've just been introduced to Eberron and have read about half of the grand history (up to the half-orc and human house that I now cannot remember the name of) and I've been wondering about two things:

1) how common are Dragonshards? Are they worthy of being common quest end treasure, or are they much rarer or common than that?

2) Is each dragonmark individual with the same abilities apearing in a house or are they all identical in how they look? Or is it that each of the different levels of dragonmark look different? How do you distinguish?

TFL
#2
ieattrollsforbreakfast
May 27, 2009 15:01:00
I've just been introduced to Eberron and have read about half of the grand history (up to the half-orc and human house that I now cannot remember the name of) and I've been wondering about two things:

1) how common are Dragonshards? Are they worthy of being common quest end treasure, or are they much rarer or common than that?

Eberron dragonshards are relatively common, and form the basis of many magic items in Khorvaire. Siberys and Khyber shards are much rarer, however, and much more dangerous to acquire. Siberys shards only fall as meteorites in Xen'drik, while Khyber shards can only be found deep underground (in Khyber, hence the name).
Larger shards of any type make worthy treasure, however - they fetch a high price!
Although it's non-canon, the story of the PC game Dragonshard was about a war between drow, lizardfolk and Khorvairians in Xen'drik over an enormous Siberys dragonshard called the Heart of Siberys. So yes, they can be very important plot devices.

2) Is each dragonmark individual with the same abilities apearing in a house or are they all identical in how they look? Or is it that each of the different levels of dragonmark look different? How do you distinguish?

TFL

A dragonmark of a given level (least, lesser, greater, Siberys) of a given house has a specific look shared by all individuals with that mark. True dragonmarks are characterised by this uniform appearance. That uniformity was one of the ways the gnomes were able to tell that the Mark of Finding on the half-orc was a true mark rather than aberrant. Their shapes can be seen in the 3.5 ECS, or here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4art/20040618a

Aberrant dragonmarks are unique to the individual.
#3
Nived
May 27, 2009 16:34:46 Size of the dragonshards make a difference as stated above. Think of it like a diamond, one the size of sesame seed still has value, sure, but no one is likely to kill someone over it, one the size of your first however. That's the kind of macguffin action movies are built around.
#4
Beleriphon
Jun 01, 2009 14:16:51
SThink of it like a diamond, one the size of sesame seed still has value, sure, but no one is likely to kill someone over it,

Unless you're DeBeers, seriously those people are crazy! That said a very small diamond likely to have a much higher value than a large one unless it is very, very pure and free of flaws (highly unlikely, thus why diamonds are cut). Still the analogy holds, a larger dragonshard is more valuable than a smaller one in most cases.

As mentioned the Kyber shards are great for binding, thus they form the basis of things like the lightning rail or airships. A bag full of Eberron shards would make a fine reward, so long as you know how much its worth in gold pieces you should be fine. I think this would make for more interesting treasure than just piles of Galifars.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 teamfireyleader May 27, 2009 13:45:58	I've just been introduced to Eberron and have read about half of the grand history (up to the half-orc and human house that I now cannot remember the name of) and I've been wondering about two things: 1) how common are Dragonshards? Are they worthy of being common quest end treasure, or are they much rarer or common than that? 2) Is each dragonmark individual with the same abilities apearing in a house or are they all identical in how they look? Or is it that each of the different levels of dragonmark look different? How do you distinguish? TFL
#2 ieattrollsforbreakfast May 27, 2009 15:01:00	I've just been introduced to Eberron and have read about half of the grand history (up to the half-orc and human house that I now cannot remember the name of) and I've been wondering about two things: 1) how common are Dragonshards? Are they worthy of being common quest end treasure, or are they much rarer or common than that? Eberron dragonshards are relatively common, and form the basis of many magic items in Khorvaire. Siberys and Khyber shards are much rarer, however, and much more dangerous to acquire. Siberys shards only fall as meteorites in Xen'drik, while Khyber shards can only be found deep underground (in Khyber, hence the name). Larger shards of any type make worthy treasure, however - they fetch a high price! Although it's non-canon, the story of the PC game Dragonshard was about a war between drow, lizardfolk and Khorvairians in Xen'drik over an enormous Siberys dragonshard called the Heart of Siberys. So yes, they can be very important plot devices. 2) Is each dragonmark individual with the same abilities apearing in a house or are they all identical in how they look? Or is it that each of the different levels of dragonmark look different? How do you distinguish? TFL A dragonmark of a given level (least, lesser, greater, Siberys) of a given house has a specific look shared by all individuals with that mark. True dragonmarks are characterised by this uniform appearance. That uniformity was one of the ways the gnomes were able to tell that the Mark of Finding on the half-orc was a true mark rather than aberrant. Their shapes can be seen in the 3.5 ECS, or here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4art/20040618a Aberrant dragonmarks are unique to the individual.
#3 Nived May 27, 2009 16:34:46	Size of the dragonshards make a difference as stated above. Think of it like a diamond, one the size of sesame seed still has value, sure, but no one is likely to kill someone over it, one the size of your first however. That's the kind of macguffin action movies are built around.
#4 Beleriphon Jun 01, 2009 14:16:51	SThink of it like a diamond, one the size of sesame seed still has value, sure, but no one is likely to kill someone over it, Unless you're DeBeers, seriously those people are crazy! That said a very small diamond likely to have a much higher value than a large one unless it is very, very pure and free of flaws (highly unlikely, thus why diamonds are cut). Still the analogy holds, a larger dragonshard is more valuable than a smaller one in most cases. As mentioned the Kyber shards are great for binding, thus they form the basis of things like the lightning rail or airships. A bag full of Eberron shards would make a fine reward, so long as you know how much its worth in gold pieces you should be fine. I think this would make for more interesting treasure than just piles of Galifars.