Goblinoids and dragonmarks - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Goblinoids and dragonmarks

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zohar666
Oct 04, 2008 15:40:09 Well, I don`t know if this question was already aswered by the might Hellcow, but I will ask: the races who have the dragonmarks are supposed to represent the ones who have the major representation in Eberron. So why don`t give the goblinoids a dragonmark? Afterall the Dhakaani empire date to 16.000 years.

PS: Sorry for the bad English, I`m brazillian :D
#2
Hellcow
Oct 04, 2008 16:32:08
The races who have the dragonmarks are supposed to represent the ones who have the major representation in Eberron.

False assumption. The orcs don't have marks, the goblins don't have marks, and for that matter the humans of Sarlona or elves/drow of Xen'drik don't have marks. Heck, the dragons don't have marks, and they are the oldest and most powerful mortal species on Eberron. Likewise, the marks aren't supposed to innately reflect some deep defining characteristic of the race (as some people have questioned the assignment of certain marks to certain races).

It's important to remember that the marks aren't actually assigned to races; they are assigned to bloodlines within those races. It's not as simple as "Gnomes have the Mark of Scribing"; instead, the twelve bloodlines of the Sivis house developed the mark. The marks aren't about genetics: they are about Prophecy, and for whatever reason, these specific families have a role to play in the Prophecy.

So it's not about population or role in the world. It's about the role of specific families in the Prophecy - and it's something that sages and scholars within Eberron itself are deeply curious about.
#3
apparit
Oct 04, 2008 17:11:04 On that subject...so does this mean, seeing as the House of Death has fallen to but one member...we can assume that Vol as the last member (known) has an important role to play in the Draconic Prophecy.
#4
Hellcow
Oct 04, 2008 17:16:55
On that subject...so does this mean, seeing as the House of Death has fallen to but one member...we can assume that Vol as the last member (known) has an important role to play in the Draconic Prophecy.

I'd think that it's fairly clear that she does. However, it's also the case that a role in the Prophecy can take many forms. Perhaps the actions of the individual with affect the course of history - or perhaps it's the house as a whole that will make a difference. Some even believe that dragonmarked individuals are like tarot cards or runes - that one who understands the Prophecy can actually read omens into the appearance of a group of dragonmarked individuals in a particular location. So Radom Joe d'Cannith may not have a personal earth-shattering destiny ahead of him - but the mere fact that he arrived at the King of Fire at the same time as Jane d'Lyrandar may mean something to the Chamber observer watching the tavern.

But if you consider all that Erandis has already set in motion - just recently, look at her actions in Karrnath - I think it's clear that she has a role to play in the Prophecy.
#5
Elton74
Oct 04, 2008 17:43:08 Does the Dragon Prophecy concerns itself with only Khorvaire, or all of Eberron?
#6
RedRider
Oct 04, 2008 19:47:27 I think it's been mentioned that it effects all of Eberron, but I think it's also been mentioned that Sarlona is a kind of "blind spot" for The Prophecy.

I'd have to check my books again, but I think the idea is that The Prophecy doesn't predict much/anything for events in Sarlona and events in Sarlona do not appear to directly impact on The Prophecy.

(Obviously, if humans and other races get wrapped up in the prophecy then stuff like Lhazzar's emigration to Khorvaire effects The Prophecy, but it's possible the event itself wasn't predicted and the mass exodus didn't figure into Prophecy readings.)
#7
Hellcow
Oct 04, 2008 20:56:52
I think it's been mentioned that it effects all of Eberron, but I think it's also been mentioned that Sarlona is a kind of "blind spot" for The Prophecy.

Correct. All of Eberron, but for some reason, it's hard to predict the impact of events in or on Sarlona.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zohar666 Oct 04, 2008 15:40:09	Well, I don`t know if this question was already aswered by the might Hellcow, but I will ask: the races who have the dragonmarks are supposed to represent the ones who have the major representation in Eberron. So why don`t give the goblinoids a dragonmark? Afterall the Dhakaani empire date to 16.000 years. PS: Sorry for the bad English, I`m brazillian :D
#2 Hellcow Oct 04, 2008 16:32:08	The races who have the dragonmarks are supposed to represent the ones who have the major representation in Eberron. False assumption. The orcs don't have marks, the goblins don't have marks, and for that matter the humans of Sarlona or elves/drow of Xen'drik don't have marks. Heck, the dragons don't have marks, and they are the oldest and most powerful mortal species on Eberron. Likewise, the marks aren't supposed to innately reflect some deep defining characteristic of the race (as some people have questioned the assignment of certain marks to certain races). It's important to remember that the marks aren't actually assigned to races; they are assigned to bloodlines within those races. It's not as simple as "Gnomes have the Mark of Scribing"; instead, the twelve bloodlines of the Sivis house developed the mark. The marks aren't about genetics: they are about Prophecy, and for whatever reason, these specific families have a role to play in the Prophecy. So it's not about population or role in the world. It's about the role of specific families in the Prophecy - and it's something that sages and scholars within Eberron itself are deeply curious about.
#3 apparit Oct 04, 2008 17:11:04	On that subject...so does this mean, seeing as the House of Death has fallen to but one member...we can assume that Vol as the last member (known) has an important role to play in the Draconic Prophecy.
#4 Hellcow Oct 04, 2008 17:16:55	On that subject...so does this mean, seeing as the House of Death has fallen to but one member...we can assume that Vol as the last member (known) has an important role to play in the Draconic Prophecy. I'd think that it's fairly clear that she does. However, it's also the case that a role in the Prophecy can take many forms. Perhaps the actions of the individual with affect the course of history - or perhaps it's the house as a whole that will make a difference. Some even believe that dragonmarked individuals are like tarot cards or runes - that one who understands the Prophecy can actually read omens into the appearance of a group of dragonmarked individuals in a particular location. So Radom Joe d'Cannith may not have a personal earth-shattering destiny ahead of him - but the mere fact that he arrived at the King of Fire at the same time as Jane d'Lyrandar may mean something to the Chamber observer watching the tavern. But if you consider all that Erandis has already set in motion - just recently, look at her actions in Karrnath - I think it's clear that she has a role to play in the Prophecy.
#5 Elton74 Oct 04, 2008 17:43:08	Does the Dragon Prophecy concerns itself with only Khorvaire, or all of Eberron?
#6 RedRider Oct 04, 2008 19:47:27	I think it's been mentioned that it effects all of Eberron, but I think it's also been mentioned that Sarlona is a kind of "blind spot" for The Prophecy. I'd have to check my books again, but I think the idea is that The Prophecy doesn't predict much/anything for events in Sarlona and events in Sarlona do not appear to directly impact on The Prophecy. (Obviously, if humans and other races get wrapped up in the prophecy then stuff like Lhazzar's emigration to Khorvaire effects The Prophecy, but it's possible the event itself wasn't predicted and the mass exodus didn't figure into Prophecy readings.)
#7 Hellcow Oct 04, 2008 20:56:52	I think it's been mentioned that it effects all of Eberron, but I think it's also been mentioned that Sarlona is a kind of "blind spot" for The Prophecy. Correct. All of Eberron, but for some reason, it's hard to predict the impact of events in or on Sarlona.