Symbionts are the creations of the daelkyr of Xoriat. They are sentient organic items that are designed to attach themselves to hosts and be useful as weapons, tools, or armor for their hosts. Since the end of the Daelkyr War thousands of years ago, symbionts still remain scattered across Eberron.[1][2]
History[]
Symbionts were first created by the daelkyr thousands of years ago. Many symbionts seem to have originally been other organisms modified to the point of being unrecognizable by a daelkyr using a husk of infinite worlds. Through the ages, symbionts have been symbols for the daelkyr, wielded by them and their aberrant creations, or given as gifts to worshipers of the daelkyr and the Cults of the Dragon Below.[2][3][4]
Despite the alien nature of symbionts, some choose to use symbionts as weapons against the daelkyr. These individuals are sometimes known as impure princes. While most Gatekeepers reject the use of symbionts, the Gatekeeper druids of Green Spire are more accepting of using the tools of the daelkyr against them.[5][6] In recent years, some dwarf clans in the Mror Holds, most notably Clan Soldorak, have embraced the usage of symbionts as weapons against the daelkyr in their war over the Realm Below. Other clans, such as Mroranon , see symbionts as dangers that need to be destroyed.[7]
Personality[]
A symbiont can exist on its own for a length of time; however, it will seek a host as soon as one becomes available. In the hands of those other than the daelkyr and their followers, the symbiont's alien mind will often clash with that of its host, acting unpredictably or even attempting to take control of its host.[1][2] Only those with strong wills can overcome the mental invasion of the symbiont. Once the symbiont is subdued the first time, the symbiont will usually act cowed, subjecting itself to the host's wishes. However, the symbiont may try to take over its host's mind again if the host is especially weakened, or if the host tries to do something not in the best interest of the symbiont, like remove it or attack another symbiont. When the symbiont gains dominance, the symbiont is in full control of the host's actions, though it usually becomes apparent that the host is no longer in control of his or her body. Even in a cowed state, the symbiont may subtly influence its host, fanning the fires of rage or increasing a host's hunger for its own nourishment. Some hosts can be driven mad by the constant whispering of a symbiont in its mind.[1][8]
Types of Symbionts[]
Cerebral symbionts: a cerebral hood, mind leech, and psionic sinew.
There are many different symbionts in use today. Those include:
- Belashyrra's beholder crown
- Breed leech
- Crawling gauntlet
- Earworm
- Kyrzin's ooze
- Living breastplate
- Living gloves
- Shadow sibling
- Spellwurm
- Stormstalk
- Tentacle whip
- Throwing scarab
- Tongueworm
- Winter cyst
Notable Users[]
The most notable wielders of symbionts are the daelkyr themselves and their followers. For instance, Belashyrra, the Lord of Eyes wields an eye-amulet, a living breastplate, and a tentacle whip.[2][9] Daelkyr half-bloods are also born with a symbiont.[10]
Impure princes use the daelkyr's own creations against them.
Other notable individuals wielding symbionts include:
- Aal'drash, a hobgoblin traitor who turned on the Dhakaani Empire to side with the daelkyr, was given a tentacle whip and a tongueworm as part of his reward.[11]
- Aldred Enduru, a halfling aberration hunter.[5]
- Lord Malus Soldorak, a leader of Clan Soldorak who wields a symbiont breastplate and axe.[7]
- Members of the Mourning Circle, a Cult of the Dragon Below, possess symbionts. Led by daelkyr half-blood Erlomel d'Tharashk, the Mourning Circle all have a different symbiont created by Erlomel. Erlomel himself has a shadow sibling, while Bronwen Sor'ilah has a spellwurm, Antonin d'Tharashk has a tongueworm, Ghaarsh't has a crawling gauntlet, and Severin vil Orandor possesses a tentacle whip.[12]
- the Eberron novels.
- The Karrnathi army experimented with symbiont weapons after the close of the Last War, and came into possession of a crawling gauntlet, a shadow sibling, a stormstalk, a tentacle whip, and a tongueworm. These symbionts bonded to many members of the Outguard, including Elidyr Brochann, Lirra Brochann, Osten, and Rhedyn.[8]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 298–301. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Eberron Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 204. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 230. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22.123. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 73–77. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
- ↑ Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, & C.A. Suleiman (2006). Faiths of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Keith Baker, Jeremy Crawford, & James Wyatt (2019). Eberron: Rising from the Last War. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 120–122. ISBN 0786966890.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Tim Waggoner (2010). Lady Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-5625-9.
- ↑ Keith Baker, Bill Slavicsek, & James Wyatt (2004). Eberron Campaign Setting. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 278–279. ISBN 0-7869-3274-0.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Stephen Schubert, and Chris Thomasson (2005). Magic of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-3696-7.
- ↑ David Noonan, Rich Burlew, & Frank Brunner (2005). Explorer's Handbook. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 100–102. ISBN 0-7869-3691-6.
- ↑ Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Ari Marmell, & C.A. Suleiman (2006). Faiths of Eberron. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 132–133. ISBN 0-7869-3934-6.