New to DMing, New to Eberron: a few questions - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

New to DMing, New to Eberron: a few questions

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Granis25
Jul 26, 2009 12:23:04 I'm runing an Eberron game out of my house, We're on the verge of completing the level 1 adventure at the back of the Campeign Guide, and I'm leaading that into Seekers of the Ashen Crown and I had a few questions.

1. I know this is going to come up with my players eventually, and I Don't know where in the Eberron Campeign guide it touches on this, What are Aberrant Creatures, and what are the signifigance of Aberrat Dragonmarks? I was able to read up on every other bad thing (Emerald Claw, Khyber, the Lord of Blades and his crew, Argonessen's evil Dragons/Dragonborn/Kobolds that worship either Khyber or Tiamat, etc.) but I havent been able to read up on Aberrant Creatures, and any Evil Organizations relating to Aberrant Dragonmarks.

2. reguarding Seekers of the Ashen Crown. What should become of the crown or it's components at the end, SOme people say that the Crown is actually a really interesting item for the PCs to have, while other have told me even the component parts are overpowering artifacts for 5th level character to have, let alone the assembled Crown, and that managing it's sentient element with the Concordance may be too much trouible and I'll want someone to relieve the PC's of it, even if the PC's only end up with a couple of the components, at the earliest opportunity.
#2
nthdegree256
Jul 26, 2009 12:42:02 Aberrant creatures and aberrant dragonmarks aren't necessarily related to one another.

Aberrant creatures are creatures that exist outside of the natural order for one reason or another - something about them is fundamentally wrong. In Eberron, this usually means they were the product of evil, distorting magic; many aberrations were either crafted by the daelkyr (ECG 204, also see the pages recommended from there) or native to Xoriat, the Realm of Madness. Others may have just been warped by latent energies from the depths of Khyber, and some are a byproduct of the Mournland.

Aberrant dragonmarks are said to be linked to Khyber; they're more destructive and (and often painful to use) than the true dragonmarks, don't typically come in predictable known shapes, and are feared and distrusted by many people (especially the dragonmarked houses.) "House" Tarkanan (ECG 236) is a criminal organization that has sprung up to take in people with aberrant marks and protect them/use them (as suggested at the bottom of page 236, whether they're evil and manipulative or heroic rebels is up to you.)
#3
illathid
Jul 26, 2009 12:51:14 In regard to your first question, many aberrant creatures are associated with the Daelkyr, the immortal lord of Xoriat, although there are some exceptions. Aberrant dragonmarks are a bit of a different story as they are linked to the power of Khyber and the Draconic Prophesy. The cults of the Dragon below are your best bet for finding an evil organization tied to aberrant creatures (the family Finch on page 253 of the ECG also might be useful in your campaign), while House Tarkanan is underground criminal organization made up of people with aberrant dragon marks.

I haven't read the new adventure yet so I can't really comment on that.

EDIT: Darn Ninjas!
#4
Nived
Jul 26, 2009 18:04:01 According to the Dragonmarked Houses and their propaganda machines the 'aberrant' dragonmarks were dangerous, and drove the people they appeared on insane. This is why they had to commit what amounts to genocide against them in The War of the Mark 1,400 years ago.

While they've never been wiped out completely and they sporatically popped up over the centuries, they've never appeared in large numbers or manifested particularly powerfully until maybe the last few decades.

They're called 'aberrant' likely because of the madness associated with having one, aberrant creatures are created by Daelkyr the Lords of Madness, from Xoriat the Plane of Madness. A randomly appearing dragonmark that drives people mad? Aberrant.

Of course there is no evidence whatsoever that the Daelkyr having anything to do with them, they seem to be part of the prophecy just like the True Dragonmarks... but that doesn't stop people's perceptions of them.

Also, there is nothing... mechanically that would drive a bearer (like a PC) of an Aberrant Dragonmark mad... yet the superstition remains.

Is it a superstition? Or is there truth to it? In 3.5 Siberys shards respond to True Dragonmarks and were used in Dragonmark Focus Items... but in Dragonmarked it was implied that Khyber Shards respond to the Aberrant Marks.

Perhaps they really do have a connection to the Dragon Below, perhaps not.

That my friend is the beauty of Eberron. The truth of the Aberrant Marks, is left to the DM.

Unjustly persecuted innocent victims of fate and prophecy? Or unholy ticking timb bombs of madness?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Granis25 Jul 26, 2009 12:23:04	I'm runing an Eberron game out of my house, We're on the verge of completing the level 1 adventure at the back of the Campeign Guide, and I'm leaading that into Seekers of the Ashen Crown and I had a few questions. 1. I know this is going to come up with my players eventually, and I Don't know where in the Eberron Campeign guide it touches on this, What are Aberrant Creatures, and what are the signifigance of Aberrat Dragonmarks? I was able to read up on every other bad thing (Emerald Claw, Khyber, the Lord of Blades and his crew, Argonessen's evil Dragons/Dragonborn/Kobolds that worship either Khyber or Tiamat, etc.) but I havent been able to read up on Aberrant Creatures, and any Evil Organizations relating to Aberrant Dragonmarks. 2. reguarding Seekers of the Ashen Crown. What should become of the crown or it's components at the end, SOme people say that the Crown is actually a really interesting item for the PCs to have, while other have told me even the component parts are overpowering artifacts for 5th level character to have, let alone the assembled Crown, and that managing it's sentient element with the Concordance may be too much trouible and I'll want someone to relieve the PC's of it, even if the PC's only end up with a couple of the components, at the earliest opportunity.
#2 nthdegree256 Jul 26, 2009 12:42:02	Aberrant creatures and aberrant dragonmarks aren't necessarily related to one another. Aberrant creatures are creatures that exist outside of the natural order for one reason or another - something about them is fundamentally wrong. In Eberron, this usually means they were the product of evil, distorting magic; many aberrations were either crafted by the daelkyr (ECG 204, also see the pages recommended from there) or native to Xoriat, the Realm of Madness. Others may have just been warped by latent energies from the depths of Khyber, and some are a byproduct of the Mournland. Aberrant dragonmarks are said to be linked to Khyber; they're more destructive and (and often painful to use) than the true dragonmarks, don't typically come in predictable known shapes, and are feared and distrusted by many people (especially the dragonmarked houses.) "House" Tarkanan (ECG 236) is a criminal organization that has sprung up to take in people with aberrant marks and protect them/use them (as suggested at the bottom of page 236, whether they're evil and manipulative or heroic rebels is up to you.)
#3 illathid Jul 26, 2009 12:51:14	In regard to your first question, many aberrant creatures are associated with the Daelkyr, the immortal lord of Xoriat, although there are some exceptions. Aberrant dragonmarks are a bit of a different story as they are linked to the power of Khyber and the Draconic Prophesy. The cults of the Dragon below are your best bet for finding an evil organization tied to aberrant creatures (the family Finch on page 253 of the ECG also might be useful in your campaign), while House Tarkanan is underground criminal organization made up of people with aberrant dragon marks. I haven't read the new adventure yet so I can't really comment on that. EDIT: Darn Ninjas!
#4 Nived Jul 26, 2009 18:04:01	According to the Dragonmarked Houses and their propaganda machines the 'aberrant' dragonmarks were dangerous, and drove the people they appeared on insane. This is why they had to commit what amounts to genocide against them in The War of the Mark 1,400 years ago. While they've never been wiped out completely and they sporatically popped up over the centuries, they've never appeared in large numbers or manifested particularly powerfully until maybe the last few decades. They're called 'aberrant' likely because of the madness associated with having one, aberrant creatures are created by Daelkyr the Lords of Madness, from Xoriat the Plane of Madness. A randomly appearing dragonmark that drives people mad? Aberrant. Of course there is no evidence whatsoever that the Daelkyr having anything to do with them, they seem to be part of the prophecy just like the True Dragonmarks... but that doesn't stop people's perceptions of them. Also, there is nothing... mechanically that would drive a bearer (like a PC) of an Aberrant Dragonmark mad... yet the superstition remains. Is it a superstition? Or is there truth to it? In 3.5 Siberys shards respond to True Dragonmarks and were used in Dragonmark Focus Items... but in Dragonmarked it was implied that Khyber Shards respond to the Aberrant Marks. Perhaps they really do have a connection to the Dragon Below, perhaps not. That my friend is the beauty of Eberron. The truth of the Aberrant Marks, is left to the DM. Unjustly persecuted innocent victims of fate and prophecy? Or unholy ticking timb bombs of madness?