Legality of Aberrant Marks? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Legality of Aberrant Marks?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
quill18
May 06, 2008 9:45:34 If a person (in Sharn, in this case) is discovered to have an Aberrant Dragonmark, what are the legal repercussions? Are there any laws requiring them to be imprisoned? Restricting breeding?
#2
Hellcow
May 06, 2008 11:44:54
If a person (in Sharn, in this case) is discovered to have an Aberrant Dragonmark, what are the legal repercussions?

By canon? In Sharn? Nothing. Many people are superstitious when it comes to aberrant marks, and the houses are especially hostile, but the War of the Mark was 1,500 years ago and the marks of today just aren't that bad. So you may deal with some level of prejudice, but legally, you're just like everyone else.
#3
quill18
May 06, 2008 12:22:33 Wonderful, thank you. I'm not opposed to breaking canon to ensure that a story develops in the most interesting manner, but the Eberron setting is so good as-is that I like to avoid tinkering with it.

*resists urge to gush in a fanboyish manner*

---

Context, in case anyone lurking cares:

- PCs are trying to find a friend of theirs who disappeared in the sewers of Sharn. (He's an interesting little goblin who goes fishing for sewer eels.....)
- Friend has been kidnapped by someone with a powerful aberrant mark (Child of Khyber, has Charm Person/Suggestion/Dominate Person powers).
- This friend (who is an artificer) has been brought to an underground community of aberrant-dragonmarked people and is being forced (via Dominate) to manufacture items for them.
- The community includes complete families, including children.

Clearly, the main bad guy is bad. Clearly, the friend is a prisoner and needs to be rescued. The party needed the help of a House Tharashk tracker to find their friend. As a result, the Houses know about the community of Aberrants and are going to "clean it out".

So the party is in the unenviable situation of having to stand between the dragonmarked houses (who they are on good terms with, except House Cannith) and a community of Aberrants (who kidnapped their friend) to prevent an outright slaughter.

As a GM, I'm having as much fun as when the party were asked to escort a Riedran Ambassador (Inspired, of course) to a peace conference and having to defend her from assassins (Kalashtar Atavists, of course).

My wife, who is playing a Kalashtar, had some choice words about the situation...
#4
Hellcow
May 06, 2008 12:33:18
Friend has been kidnapped by someone with a powerful aberrant mark (Child of Khyber, has Charm Person/Suggestion/Dominate Person powers).

The key word there is "kidnapped". Having an aberrant mark that lets you dominate is no more illegal than being a sorcerer with the ability to cast the spell. Using this aberrant mark to kidnap someone is just as illegal as doing it with a spell. Possession of the mark isn't illegal; using it to commit a crime is.
#5
quill18
May 06, 2008 13:00:25
The key word there is "kidnapped". Having an aberrant mark that lets you dominate is no more illegal than being a sorcerer with the ability to cast the spell. Using this aberrant mark to kidnap someone is just as illegal as doing it with a spell. Possession of the mark isn't illegal; using it to commit a crime is.

This was certainly my default position, but fear and suspicion can influence legislation -- especially when you have powerfully influential Dragonmarked Houses involved.

---

I cut my previous backstory a bit short -- my game has actually progressed a bit further than I described.

The PCs did manage to reign in the houses somewhat -- the Aberrants were subdued and captured, not killed. So now, the houses will try to make the case that something treason-esque was taking place below the city and try to have them imprisoned by the state (or held in a sort of concentration camp). I think that, from the point of view of the Dragonmarked houses, there MUST have been something dangerous happening down there.

The BBEG (the Dominator) was taken out earlier by the players. Other than a few petty thieves, the bulk of the community is innocent of any real wrongdoing. They were down there to avoid contact with prejudiced people and were not plotting anything.

This is no longer the main plot, but I believe that my players will have an interest in the outcome of these events.
#6
justicar347
May 06, 2008 14:02:49 I see to possible ways to have the PCs involved in what happens to the more or less inocent people with the aberrant marks.

1. They can help them in some way. Either have them get the people free or use their clout with the higher ups to get them released, or...

2. Have all of the people with aberrant marks executed whether from a someone jumping the gun on what to do with them or because someone rather nasty in the higherups orders it.

Number 2 is great if you don't like happy endings and want the PCs to feel a little bad because they are partly responsible for a genecide.
#7
quill18
May 06, 2008 14:09:35
Number 2 is great if you don't like happy endings and want the PCs to feel a little bad because they are partly responsible for a genecide.

They already feel pretty miserable about the situation. I don't want to make it too negative -- especially since there have been a few other "downer" moments lately.

(I expect our next session should leave them feeling more heroic. There's nothing ambiguous about killing Mind Flayers.)
#8
rania
May 07, 2008 14:59:09
By canon? In Sharn? Nothing. Many people are superstitious when it comes to aberrant marks, and the houses are especially hostile, but the War of the Mark was 1,500 years ago and the marks of today just aren't that bad. So you may deal with some level of prejudice, but legally, you're just like everyone else.

They could still end up "resisting arrest"; that's what I first thought of when I read that post. I mean, it doesn't say in any legal code that I know of that it's illegal to be black, Asian, Native American, etc., but in some places (way too many, even if it was only one) a crime committed against them won't be investigated too deeply.
#9
quill18
May 07, 2008 15:10:43
They could still end up "resisting arrest"; that's what I first thought of when I read that post. I mean, it doesn't say in any legal code that I know of that it's illegal to be black, Asian, Native American, etc., but in some places (way too many, even if it was only one) a crime committed against them won't be investigated too deeply.

Great idea -- thanks!
#10
rania
May 07, 2008 15:47:08
Great idea -- thanks!

'Welcome.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 quill18 May 06, 2008 9:45:34	If a person (in Sharn, in this case) is discovered to have an Aberrant Dragonmark, what are the legal repercussions? Are there any laws requiring them to be imprisoned? Restricting breeding?
#2 Hellcow May 06, 2008 11:44:54	If a person (in Sharn, in this case) is discovered to have an Aberrant Dragonmark, what are the legal repercussions? By canon? In Sharn? Nothing. Many people are superstitious when it comes to aberrant marks, and the houses are especially hostile, but the War of the Mark was 1,500 years ago and the marks of today just aren't that bad. So you may deal with some level of prejudice, but legally, you're just like everyone else.
#3 quill18 May 06, 2008 12:22:33	Wonderful, thank you. I'm not opposed to breaking canon to ensure that a story develops in the most interesting manner, but the Eberron setting is so good as-is that I like to avoid tinkering with it. resists urge to gush in a fanboyish manner --- Context, in case anyone lurking cares: - PCs are trying to find a friend of theirs who disappeared in the sewers of Sharn. (He's an interesting little goblin who goes fishing for sewer eels.....) - Friend has been kidnapped by someone with a powerful aberrant mark (Child of Khyber, has Charm Person/Suggestion/Dominate Person powers). - This friend (who is an artificer) has been brought to an underground community of aberrant-dragonmarked people and is being forced (via Dominate) to manufacture items for them. - The community includes complete families, including children. Clearly, the main bad guy is bad. Clearly, the friend is a prisoner and needs to be rescued. The party needed the help of a House Tharashk tracker to find their friend. As a result, the Houses know about the community of Aberrants and are going to "clean it out". So the party is in the unenviable situation of having to stand between the dragonmarked houses (who they are on good terms with, except House Cannith) and a community of Aberrants (who kidnapped their friend) to prevent an outright slaughter. As a GM, I'm having as much fun as when the party were asked to escort a Riedran Ambassador (Inspired, of course) to a peace conference and having to defend her from assassins (Kalashtar Atavists, of course). My wife, who is playing a Kalashtar, had some choice words about the situation...
#4 Hellcow May 06, 2008 12:33:18	Friend has been kidnapped by someone with a powerful aberrant mark (Child of Khyber, has Charm Person/Suggestion/Dominate Person powers). The key word there is "kidnapped". Having an aberrant mark that lets you dominate is no more illegal than being a sorcerer with the ability to cast the spell. Using this aberrant mark to kidnap someone is just as illegal as doing it with a spell. Possession of the mark isn't illegal; using it to commit a crime is.
#5 quill18 May 06, 2008 13:00:25	The key word there is "kidnapped". Having an aberrant mark that lets you dominate is no more illegal than being a sorcerer with the ability to cast the spell. Using this aberrant mark to kidnap someone is just as illegal as doing it with a spell. Possession of the mark isn't illegal; using it to commit a crime is. This was certainly my default position, but fear and suspicion can influence legislation -- especially when you have powerfully influential Dragonmarked Houses involved. --- I cut my previous backstory a bit short -- my game has actually progressed a bit further than I described. The PCs did manage to reign in the houses somewhat -- the Aberrants were subdued and captured, not killed. So now, the houses will try to make the case that something treason-esque was taking place below the city and try to have them imprisoned by the state (or held in a sort of concentration camp). I think that, from the point of view of the Dragonmarked houses, there MUST have been something dangerous happening down there. The BBEG (the Dominator) was taken out earlier by the players. Other than a few petty thieves, the bulk of the community is innocent of any real wrongdoing. They were down there to avoid contact with prejudiced people and were not plotting anything. This is no longer the main plot, but I believe that my players will have an interest in the outcome of these events.
#6 justicar347 May 06, 2008 14:02:49	I see to possible ways to have the PCs involved in what happens to the more or less inocent people with the aberrant marks. 1. They can help them in some way. Either have them get the people free or use their clout with the higher ups to get them released, or... 2. Have all of the people with aberrant marks executed whether from a someone jumping the gun on what to do with them or because someone rather nasty in the higherups orders it. Number 2 is great if you don't like happy endings and want the PCs to feel a little bad because they are partly responsible for a genecide.
#7 quill18 May 06, 2008 14:09:35	Number 2 is great if you don't like happy endings and want the PCs to feel a little bad because they are partly responsible for a genecide. They already feel pretty miserable about the situation. I don't want to make it too negative -- especially since there have been a few other "downer" moments lately. (I expect our next session should leave them feeling more heroic. There's nothing ambiguous about killing Mind Flayers.)
#8 rania May 07, 2008 14:59:09	By canon? In Sharn? Nothing. Many people are superstitious when it comes to aberrant marks, and the houses are especially hostile, but the War of the Mark was 1,500 years ago and the marks of today just aren't that bad. So you may deal with some level of prejudice, but legally, you're just like everyone else. They could still end up "resisting arrest"; that's what I first thought of when I read that post. I mean, it doesn't say in any legal code that I know of that it's illegal to be black, Asian, Native American, etc., but in some places (way too many, even if it was only one) a crime committed against them won't be investigated too deeply.
#9 quill18 May 07, 2008 15:10:43	They could still end up "resisting arrest"; that's what I first thought of when I read that post. I mean, it doesn't say in any legal code that I know of that it's illegal to be black, Asian, Native American, etc., but in some places (way too many, even if it was only one) a crime committed against them won't be investigated too deeply. Great idea -- thanks!
#10 rania May 07, 2008 15:47:08	Great idea -- thanks! 'Welcome.