I want to make a more interesting character then normal. I never play cleric and this time I thought, I know the most about Eberron then anyone else in the group so I should be the best to play a character that has more on the ball then the average PC. Other wise I risk using out of character knowledge to much.
I want to play a cleric of the Blood of Vol, one directed connected to the Queen of the dead herself. My idea is that once the Tower of Twelve starts to put things into play the secret followers in the Dragonmarked houses would let the plan slip and Vol would want to get in valved. Thus she send a group to the Tower of Twelve to announce the return of the House of Vol. I know the cult of Vol is all about the secrets but it maybe time for the return of the mark of death true or not.
A dark forboating ship from the North arrives in the harbor of Korth late at night. A group of a dozen people disembark from her and head up the quite streets to the Tower of Twelve. They are slowly joined by other dark groups of armed man baring the crest of the Emerald Claw. Soon the group swells to a crowd, the arrive at the gates and pound on the doors. The late hour means only a few Deneith are a wake. The caption of the night watch is summoned and is told of the strange party at the door. He opens the doors to enquirer to their business at this late hour. He watch as an white haired elf steps forth from the party announces " the House Of Vol has returned, the lost mark has be found and now comes to take it rightful place with the other House." The group is granted entry into the tower and the ambassador of each house are summoned. In the court yard of the gate house the ambassadors watch as a woman is brought forth and unveiled. In the center of the the yard, she is a drow. This drow bares the mark of Death. The elf from before calls out the Bareness Vol has come to fulfill the prophecy and lead the way to the future.
The idea behind my character is a cleric of Vol who has come to Korth with the embassy of Vol to act as guide and adviser to the new Lady Vol. But in reality he is an again of change. Here on orders from the Queen of Death herself to see that the plans to rebuild the Empire of Galifar but as she sees fit.
I want to make a cleric and a knight protector of some kind. We are starting out around level nine, so leadership is not a problem. I just need ideas for roleplay and maybe a idea for the class for the cohort and a prestige class for both characters. I like the way the Red Wizard work in the Realms and am looking for an idea like that.
The group I described in the passage above is one drow, my cleric (the elf) his protector, a few other warriors that protect the "Lady Vol" and a number other low level NPCs meant to fill out a embassy. They would be joined by various units of the Emerald Claw that will have major NPCs that I will make up as need but I want at least one bone knight, that would be the leader of the first group of EC that join them on the way to the Tower and a few undead hidden from the Dragonmarked houses.
What good would the return of the mark of death do for Lady Vol? Wouldn't only serve as a lightening rod bring the wrath of the Dragons and the Undying Court on House Vol once again? One would think history would simply repeat itself with the destruction of the bloodline yet again.
not necessarily. Erandis might know something that the rest of the world does not, which neutralizes--at least temporarily--the influence of the Undying Court/Argonessen. After all, these are mysterious, distant places, beyond the ken of mere mortals.
If, for instance, a Rajah had re-emerged in Argonessen or Aerenal, that would certainly be more pressing for the locals than the rebirth of the House of Death (which, let's be honest, was destroyed for its creation of a half-breed, whom everyone thinks is dead... oh wait...). Xoriat may have gone co-terminus in that part of the world... the Dragon-Elf Wars may have re-started... the Inspired may have decided to make a play for that part of the world... there are plenty of things that might have happened and The PCs wouldn't necessarily know about them, or have a way of knowing, but Erandis might.
these things aren't entirely necessary, however. The Undying Court and the Dragons have a far longer time horizon with which to make decisions, and may post-pone action for decades simply to see how things play out or to gather additional information.
If Erandis HAS restarted her line, and IF she manages to hide her own participation in it, it is possible that the Undying Court and the Dragons might leave it alone. After all, should she restrict her house's operations to Khorvaire, that is well outside the bounds of Aerenal, the Court might be willing to let well enough alone, so long as NEW House Vol is small, unthreatening, and unlinked to the OLD House Vol.
Let's assume, briefly, that the new mark was a spontaneous occurrence. What might the reactions be? I doubt it would be exceptionally polarizing (or at least there is a chance that it would not be polarizing). If Erandis is able to maintain this facade--and it's well within her power to do exactly that--having a new, survivable, Mark of Death is well within the bounds of possibility. It may even find welcome supporters amongst many of the exiled elves of Aerenal who live in Khorvaire, like the Valenar....
That being said, I think your intro is WAY over the top and should definitely be toned down.
That being said, I think your intro is WAY over the top and should definitely be toned down.
I am a villain/hero isn't over the top part of the package. It is the House of Death after all, it is not like they can just show up on a nice summer day with flowers in their hair and be like hey we' re back. I like the idea of a wind swept ship arriving in the dead of night and late night entry to the Tower of Twelve. I admit it is written badly but, I am a little out of practice on my dramatic openings. I guess I could loss the bit about the emerald claw soldiers joining the embassy on the way to the tower play the card closer to the vest. I mean I was trying to go for a spy type character. I see now he comes in to town like James Bond announcing to the world who he works for and why he is there.
I still want to use elements of the Emerald Claw when I can but, I think you are right and I need to tone it down. Maybe a smaller party levels the ship too.
What about the race of the new House of Vol should I stay with the drow are should I maybe go with a half-elf or even a normal elf. My DM was keen on the idea of a half-elf, he said it would be a better way to hide the mark over the thousands of years until now. But, I really not feeling it. I would think the line would have a better chance of be lost in the jungles or waste of Xen'drik then "hidden" in a group of half-elves on Khorivaire. My idea was to tie my back story to a trip to Xen'drik to the city of Qabalrin. Maybe finding the line there in the runes of the death city or near by.
What about the race of the new House of Vol should I stay with the drow are should I maybe go with a half-elf or even a normal elf. My DM was keen on the idea of a half-elf, he said it would be a better way to hide the mark over the thousands of years until now. But, I really not feeling it. I would think the line would have a better chance of be lost in the jungles or waste of Xen'drik then "hidden" in a group of half-elves on Khorivaire. My idea was to tie my back story to a trip to Xen'drik to the city of Qabalrin. Maybe finding the line there in the runes of the death city or near by.
The problem with this is that, thus far, only the peoples of Khorvaire have manifested Dragonmarks. This could change with revised 4E fluff, but that's yet to be seen. That would rule out drow. I guess a half-elf could reasonably bear the mark, but I wouldn't expect a line of half-elves bearing the mark. If you want the Mark of Death to return, then I'd say it should definitely be among elven descendants of House Vol.
The problem with this is that, thus far, only the peoples of Khorvaire have manifested Dragonmarks. This could change with revised 4E fluff, but that's yet to be seen. That would rule out drow. I guess a half-elf could reasonably bear the mark, but I wouldn't expect a line of half-elves bearing the mark. If you want the Mark of Death to return, then I'd say it should definitely be among elven descendants of House Vol.
It really depends on how you see drow, I see them only as other elves. The elves that made up the line of Vol came from Xen'drik before going to Aerenal. I remember reading some where that the line of Vol is very old and may even date back to the city of Qabalrin. that is one of the reasons my character is going to have at least been on a adventure to Qabalrin and done some work in the runes.
Beside the drow does not even have to have a real dragonmark. As far as I am concerned it could all be a ploy by Vol to test the waters or extend her influence with the dragonmarked houses. the thing about Xen'drik is that it is filled with mysterious thing and people. Who is to say that there is not a hidden people there with thirteen dragonmarks whole unique to Xen'drik.
OK, how about this I find the lost blood line of House Vol in the waste of Xen'drik and when I bring one back to Khorivaire the mark manifest proving the line is true or we just fake the whole thing.
Unless you're dead-set on this mark appearing on a drow, this seems like too much effort. Elves already exist in Khorvaire/Aerenal, and they were the original bearers of the mark. You can easily use an elf without "forcing it", so to speak.
No elves manifested marks until they had colonized Aerenal. No humans were marked until they emigrated from Sarlona to Khorvaire. So on and so forth... This is said to be of great interest to the dragons, among others, that these marks are limited to this continent (and nearby island continent) of all the world's landmasses. It seems possible that dragonmarks spring, not only from heredity, but also from some factor or element present only on Khorvaire (and nearby Aerenal). This is why drow don't bear marks.
You can do whatever you want for your campaign. It's simply a matter of how much established canonical fluff you wish to ignore. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the limitations/boundaries placed upon dragonmarks were lessened or removed in the new ECG and EPG. I'm not necessarily in favor of such a thing, but it would open up a lot of possibilities such as the one you're thinking of using.
I'd use an elf. If you wish to use a drow, though, it's your game and not the end of the world.
Unless you're dead-set on this mark appearing on a drow, this seems like too much effort. Elves already exist in Khorvaire/Aerenal, and they were the original bearers of the mark. You can easily use an elf without "forcing it", so to speak.
No elves manifested marks until they had colonized Aerenal. No humans were marked until they emigrated from Sarlona to Khorvaire. So on and so forth... This is said to be of great interest to the dragons, among others, that these marks are limited to this continent (and nearby island continent) of all the world's landmasses. It seems possible that dragonmarks spring, not only from heredity, but also from some factor or element present only on Khorvaire (and nearby Aerenal). This is why drow don't bear marks.
You can do whatever you want for your campaign. It's simply a matter of how much established canonical fluff you wish to ignore. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the limitations/boundaries placed upon dragonmarks were lessened or removed in the new ECG and EPG. I'm not necessarily in favor of such a thing, but it would open up a lot of possibilities such as the one you're thinking of using.
I'd use an elf. If you wish to use a drow, though, it's your game and not the end of the world.
well, here's the thing: it's possible that some of the refugees from House Vol ended up in Xen'drik (or that Vol already had a clandestine presence there... doesn't really matter so much, I guess)
given the situation on Xen'drik, it's possible that a group of elves bearing the Mark or having its lineage could have been present there the entire time. you can have elves with the mark on Xen'drik, undetected, and they've just now made contact with the rest of the world. whether or not you want them to be subservient to Erandis is up to you--it could be that her people found them and they've pledged loyalty to her, or perhaps they are independent and she's trying to take over.
if you want to incorporate drow, it's easy to say that these elves have:
a) made alliances with local drow, so that drow/Vol elves have the same goals, leadership while being separate populations
OR
b) interbred with the drow, such that there are now drow bearing the Mark
OR
c) anything else you want
OR
c) anything else you want
This is pretty much what it all boils down to, in the end. Whatever you want to do, it's your game. You don't have to stick with canon, if your players are willing to accept the divergences. If you think it's going to ruffle their feathers or have them rolling their eyes, though, it's probably best not to toss canonical conceits aside.
It's your call to make.
What is the general alignment and outlook of the party? It sounds as if your character knows the true nature of the Blood of Vol religion, which means he is likely to be evil, and possibly working at cross purposes to the rest of the group. As with all situations like this, its probably best to make very sure that such a character will fit into the game.
What will your character actually believe? The Blood of Vol religion is based on the idea that there is divinity, and a route to immmortality found within everyone, and that undead are championing the cause of releasing that potential from the grip of the cruel gods.
The clued-in members of Vol's inner circles however, know that most of this is a lie, and that the church is a front for expanding Vol's influence and power. If your cleric is aware of this, from where does he think his divine power is granted him?
Given that bloodline of Vol was destroyed, ostensibly because "even a drop could destroy all living things", what is going to be the reaction of Aerenal to them reemerging? And what of Argonessan? Unless they know that it is a sham to begin with, that is the sort of event that could lead to extreme measures.
Given that bloodline of Vol was destroyed, ostensibly because "even a drop could destroy all living things", what is going to be the reaction of Aerenal to them reemerging? And what of Argonessan? Unless they know that it is a sham to begin with, that is the sort of event that could lead to extreme measures.
Indeed. Beware Deathguard Avengers and angry dragons.
One thing I would point out--everyone keeps saying that the marks only manifest on races on Khorvaire, but the first two marks were Death and Shadow, both of which manifested on Aerenal. Phiarlan didn't move to Khorvaire until other houses started coming into power there (can't remember, but I think it wasn't until after the War of the Mark).
Not everyone. I mentioned this before. :P
No elves manifested marks until they had colonized Aerenal. No humans were marked until they emigrated from Sarlona to Khorvaire. So on and so forth... This is said to be of great interest to the dragons, among others, that these marks are limited to this continent (and nearby island continent) of all the world's landmasses. It seems possible that dragonmarks spring, not only from heredity, but also from some factor or element present only on Khorvaire (and nearby Aerenal). This is why drow don't bear marks.
I believe it was said that Phiarlan left Aerenal in the years after House Vol's destruction. It was unsettling to see another House wiped from the face of Eberron. They maintain cordial, though not close, relations with their Aereni kin.