What's it like being 'adopted' into a house? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's it like being 'adopted' into a house?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
TheLoneCleric
Mar 10, 2009 10:11:38 One aspect of the Dragon Marks that has been talked about a little but draws out my curiosity is what is it like to be inducted into one of the main houses when your Dragon Mark manifests.

Have you ever roleplayed this intoductory period? The seperation from your previous family, the training in the Houses polices and ways, the indoctrination, the slow investure of power and prestige. Meeting other of your 'generation' and forging of alliances. Your first power strugle among your new peers. The first cross-house act of diplomicay. Etc.

Just curious if you've played with this concept in your game and how it effected your characters.
#2
PJammaGod
Mar 10, 2009 20:27:08 I've had two dragonmarked characters in all of my Eberron campaigns (for some reason my players avoid the dragonmarks). Both of them were normal house scions, born and raised by the house in general. They both went through the Test of Siberys (an unmarked member is put through a series of stressful tests to force the mark to manifest) and passed with flying colours. In other words both were very "normal" members of their respective houses.

One of them worked with Lyrander and as such went with the flavour of a Khoravar (half-elf) that favoured his races blending of human and elven abilities as the best around. The other was a grim Karrnathi from Deneith who did everything by the book and was about as lawful as you could get (quite a fun character I might add). The players added their own spice to the characters they had crafted in the here and now rather than focus too much on their past.

But you do raise an interesting point LC. Background, especially for marked house scions, is quite important for such players.
#3
Nived
Mar 10, 2009 22:58:33 You have three things colliding in a Dragonmarked house. Politics, Business, and Family. A foundling, (using Dragonmarked's terminology here, could have wildly different reactions depending on what face of the house he's dealing with.

If the foundling tries to get into the politics of the house, the fact thaat they weren't raised in the house would be a handicap. They haven't 'earned' their place. The hardcore political elite of the house would, at worst see them as undeserving of any political power. However, we have some evidence supporting that established members of the house who discover foundlings and bring them into the fold can gain standing by doing so. In a best case scenario, if the foundling is looking into the politics of the house, they'e been brought in by someone with power already. The foundling's allegiance and loyalty to this patron gives them a way in, and someone with clout to pull favors. Such a foundling would be better off on the political stage of the family than someone who showed up one day on their own with a D'mark. Sure they've been welcomed into the family, but they'd have no political power.

On the other hand you have the business face of the house. The house members who are primarily concerned with the nuts and bolts of the family business would probably react favorably to foundlings because they have a valuable talent that can be put to use. This wouldn't be throwing them into a sweatshop, but rather someone to be taken and taught the craft. you probably wouldn't get an apprenticeship with the best artisans of the house (see politics), but you'd have an in. Of course this is likely the least likely scenario in a game because PCs don't sit in shops learning their craft... they go out and beat up monsters.... which does have higher profit margins but strains insurance premiums.

Finally we have what Dragonmarked specifically called 'Scions', "A dragonmarked character who embraces their heritage but keeps their distance from the administration of the house." These marked characters aren't truely part of the family business, and they're not involved with the politics, but they do use the house as an extended family. The type adventurers most often are. The type that show up with a bunch of scruffy looking buddies looking to crash in the local enclave for a couple of nights for some minor house related work. The big difference between a foundling and a raised in house scion would be knowing what's expected of them when they lean on family. Helping with the bookkeeping at a Sivis station, stabling the horses at the Orien waystation... that sort of thing.

Biggest problem there would be overstaying one's welcome or not doing what's expected of them. That would come in time though.
#4
TheLoneCleric
Mar 11, 2009 4:48:22 Nived, what you've laid out amounts to 3-4 different Background options that I think could be expressed using the upcoming PHB2 mechanics. "Foundling", House Insider, House Craftsmen, Scion of the House. More or less.

It's just a starting point I'm looking at for future Eberron games. I'm working on something for when my Pirates of the Astal Sea game.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 TheLoneCleric Mar 10, 2009 10:11:38	One aspect of the Dragon Marks that has been talked about a little but draws out my curiosity is what is it like to be inducted into one of the main houses when your Dragon Mark manifests. Have you ever roleplayed this intoductory period? The seperation from your previous family, the training in the Houses polices and ways, the indoctrination, the slow investure of power and prestige. Meeting other of your 'generation' and forging of alliances. Your first power strugle among your new peers. The first cross-house act of diplomicay. Etc. Just curious if you've played with this concept in your game and how it effected your characters.
#2 PJammaGod Mar 10, 2009 20:27:08	I've had two dragonmarked characters in all of my Eberron campaigns (for some reason my players avoid the dragonmarks). Both of them were normal house scions, born and raised by the house in general. They both went through the Test of Siberys (an unmarked member is put through a series of stressful tests to force the mark to manifest) and passed with flying colours. In other words both were very "normal" members of their respective houses. One of them worked with Lyrander and as such went with the flavour of a Khoravar (half-elf) that favoured his races blending of human and elven abilities as the best around. The other was a grim Karrnathi from Deneith who did everything by the book and was about as lawful as you could get (quite a fun character I might add). The players added their own spice to the characters they had crafted in the here and now rather than focus too much on their past. But you do raise an interesting point LC. Background, especially for marked house scions, is quite important for such players.
#3 Nived Mar 10, 2009 22:58:33	You have three things colliding in a Dragonmarked house. Politics, Business, and Family. A foundling, (using Dragonmarked's terminology here, could have wildly different reactions depending on what face of the house he's dealing with. If the foundling tries to get into the politics of the house, the fact thaat they weren't raised in the house would be a handicap. They haven't 'earned' their place. The hardcore political elite of the house would, at worst see them as undeserving of any political power. However, we have some evidence supporting that established members of the house who discover foundlings and bring them into the fold can gain standing by doing so. In a best case scenario, if the foundling is looking into the politics of the house, they'e been brought in by someone with power already. The foundling's allegiance and loyalty to this patron gives them a way in, and someone with clout to pull favors. Such a foundling would be better off on the political stage of the family than someone who showed up one day on their own with a D'mark. Sure they've been welcomed into the family, but they'd have no political power. On the other hand you have the business face of the house. The house members who are primarily concerned with the nuts and bolts of the family business would probably react favorably to foundlings because they have a valuable talent that can be put to use. This wouldn't be throwing them into a sweatshop, but rather someone to be taken and taught the craft. you probably wouldn't get an apprenticeship with the best artisans of the house (see politics), but you'd have an in. Of course this is likely the least likely scenario in a game because PCs don't sit in shops learning their craft... they go out and beat up monsters.... which does have higher profit margins but strains insurance premiums. Finally we have what Dragonmarked specifically called 'Scions', "A dragonmarked character who embraces their heritage but keeps their distance from the administration of the house." These marked characters aren't truely part of the family business, and they're not involved with the politics, but they do use the house as an extended family. The type adventurers most often are. The type that show up with a bunch of scruffy looking buddies looking to crash in the local enclave for a couple of nights for some minor house related work. The big difference between a foundling and a raised in house scion would be knowing what's expected of them when they lean on family. Helping with the bookkeeping at a Sivis station, stabling the horses at the Orien waystation... that sort of thing. Biggest problem there would be overstaying one's welcome or not doing what's expected of them. That would come in time though.
#4 TheLoneCleric Mar 11, 2009 4:48:22	Nived, what you've laid out amounts to 3-4 different Background options that I think could be expressed using the upcoming PHB2 mechanics. "Foundling", House Insider, House Craftsmen, Scion of the House. More or less. It's just a starting point I'm looking at for future Eberron games. I'm working on something for when my Pirates of the Astal Sea game.