A selection of different aberrant dragonmarks.
Aberrant dragonmarks, also known as aberrant marks, are a more dangerous and destructive form of dragonmark that can appear on any race regardless of bloodline. No two aberrant dragonmarks are alike, and they can range in power and appearance. The most common way aberrant marks manifest is when two people from different dragonmarked families have a child together. Because of this, unions between different dragonmarked houses are forbidden by the Twelve.[1]
History[]
War of the Mark[]
Five hundred years before the formation of Galifar, aberrant marks were more common, more powerful, and more dangerous. The first Sharn was destroyed in an earthquake by the powers of aberrant leader Halas Tarkanan, while another aberrant leader called the Lady of Plague commanded hordes of vermin to destroy cities with disease. In an effort to eradicate these dangerous individuals, the dragonmarked houses united in the War of the Mark and hunted down those with aberrant marks, significantly reducing the numbers of those with such marks and those with marks had much weaker powers.[1][2]
Recent History[]
Those with aberrant marks are no longer being hunted down and killed as in the days of the War of the Mark, but a general superstition and fear of the aberrant marks persists. During the Last War, Breland trained a group of aberrant-marked individuals to carry out a series of suicidal black-ops missions. Eventually the group went rogue and fled to Sharn, forming the group known as House Tarkanan.[3] Since the Day of Mourning, the number of aberrant dragonmarks has begun to increase.[1]
Appendix[]
Mechanics[]
Aberrant dragonmarks have been a feat option for players in each edition of D&D since they were introduced in 3.5.
- 3.5 Edition
- Aberrant Dragonmarks first appeared in the Eberron Campaign Setting as a feat for player characters, and were only available to core races that didn't have a dragonmark. Dragonmarked later presented additional feat options for players to improve their mark. The aberrant dragonmark has no single power and instead has a list of spells players can choose when they take the feat.[4][5]
- 4th Edition
- Aberrant Marks first appeared in the Eberron Player's Guide.[6]
- 5th Edition
- Aberrant Dragonmarks appeared as a feat for player characters in Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron and Rising from the Last War. Unlike in 3.5 edition, any race could take the feat, the only prerequisite being not having an existing dragonmark. In addition to the feat, there is an optional rule for gaining additional aberrant powers for 10th level or higher characters.[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 52. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 253. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 136. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 86–87. ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.