House Orien is a human dragonmarked house found throughout Khorvaire, with its major enclave located in Passage, Aundair. The house specializes in courier services and land-based transport.[2][3][6][4]
Dragonmark[]
A human heir of House Orien with a dragonmark on her stomach.
House Orien possesses the Mark of Passage. This dragonmark grants various magical benefits that allow its bearers to control travel and teleportation.[8]
History[]
The Mark of Passage first appeared in Aundair around 1900 years ago.[1][6] Most of the humans who developed the dragonmark were experienced merchants, travelers, and teamsters who soon formed a group upon learning of their common bond. During these early years, the marked humans competed against each other, but they soon united when they realized what they could accomplish together. The newly established House Orien immediately began putting their efforts into the caravan business, delivering goods across Khorvaire. During these times, the roads were quite dangerous so Orien set out to secure safe passage for their vehicles by exercising their diplomatic powers and pure magical ability. As the house prospered, Orien invested in the development of new roads and upgrading the old ones. In the days before the House Sivis speaking stone network, House Orien ran a postal system that was used across the Five Nations.[6]
Jaunt, the eladrin daughter of explorers from Shae Loralyndar, decided to abandon her feyspire to explore Eberron, and ended up joining House Orien. She is a very respected wizard who uses traditional magic and her own innate abilities to unlock the secrets of teleportation.[9]
In 811 YK, the first lightning rail was constructed by House Cannith and the elemental binders of Zilargo. This technology revolutionized transportation and so it was only a matter of time before Orien involved itself with the business. Orien began to manage the lighting rail and soon was in control of where the lightning rails spread. Orien commissioned a group known as the Trailblazers, whose objective is to explore new routes for the rail to travel and lay the conductor stones for the rail to follow.[6][10]
The Last War adversely effected House Orien as bridges and rail tracks were often destroyed in order to slow down enemy advancements. To make matters worse, House Lyrandar began running the airship business toward the end of the war. House Orien's dominance over the field of transportation has never been so unsure. In an effort to regain control, the house has begun to focus on its teleportation business, though teleportation remains expensive.[6]
In late spring of 998 YK, significant avalanches in the foothills of the Seawall Mountains, Breland, blocked the lightning rail in several locations north of Sterngate, preventing travel between Starilaskur and Zilargo. House Orien organized teams of excavators to clear the debris; though they worked all hours, they estimated it would take at least two weeks to clear and repair the rail. They were also studying the cause of the unprecedented landslides. In Starilaskur, station master Laara d'Orien reported on the matter in the Dravago 22nd issue of the Sharn Inquisitive. She also announced compensation and the new Splendor Caravans service between Starilaskur and Sterngate to help stranded travelers.[11]
Activities[]
House Orien has a large stake in the transportation business and a dominance over the postal business. It separates these two businesses into two guilds: the Couriers Guild and the Transportation Guild. The Couriers Guild hires independent messengers and couriers to deliver letters and small parcels, whilst the Transportation Guild prepares goods for shipment, runs the lightning rail, and maintains trade roads. The Transportation Guild is the largest dragonmarked guild.[2][6][12]
The house also runs a teleportation business, though due to its perceived risk it has yet to become a mainstream form of transportation.[6]
Although House Cannith and House Orien developed the lightning rail,[13]
House Orien are the ones who operate and manage it.[2][6]
A recently introduced caravan service is Splendor Caravans, using luxury horse-drawn passenger coaches. Although slower than lightning rail—a journey between Starilaskur and Sterngate in Breland takes 10 days—they are just as comfortable and are marketed to those who feel the journey is as important as the destination. Initially unveiled in eastern Breland to make up for a damaged lighting rail line, Orien plans to roll out Splendor Caravans to other routes, especially those that don't yet having lightning rails.[11]
Membership[]
House Orien is a cosmopolitan organization and has by far the most diverse membership. Though it is a human dragonmarked house and only they carry the Mark of Passage, many half-elves and half-orcs are members, as well as a few changelings, shifters, and elves (including eladrin, due to their talent for teleportation). House Orien encourages its heirs to have numerous children and even accepts those born out of wedlock as fully fledged scions to the house, a practice that is rare for a dragonmarked house. Though non-humans within the house have no dragonmark to pass onto their offspring, they and their children have a home and future within the house. House Orien prefers that its members focus on skills and talents useful in day-to-day labor, or ones that enhance the powers granted by their dragonmarks. To that end, members of House Orien often become artificers, bards, fighters, magewrights, or wizards. They normally belong to one of the families of the house, which include Sequian and Throthenhome.[14][15]
- Keith Baker's commentary.
The main and founding families of House Orien and their respective specialties are Bayne (merchants), Cordamar (teamsters), Nhuli (missionaires and bards), and Thorn (messengers).[16]
Guilds[]
A House Orien caravan travels to Xandrar.
Notable Members[]
Classes & Paths[]
Appendix[]
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Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 225. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 235–236. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 58–63. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 61. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 224–225. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 225. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 David Noonan (2006/05/22). Repairs Interrupt Lightning Rail. Sharn Inquisitive. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016/11/01. Retrieved on 2021/08/03.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ Keith Baker (2025-04-28). House Orien: History and Structure (Blog). keith-baker.com. Archived from the original on 2025-04-29. Retrieved on 2025-06-05.
Further Reading[]
- Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. ?. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 0786966890.
- Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Dragonmarked. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 58–63. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
- David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- David Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb (2009). Eberron Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-5100-1.