Dragonmarks
A halfiing healer touches a dying man; the mark on her
forehead blazes with blue fire as his wounds close and
vanish. A half-ore bounty hunter reaches out with the
power of his mark to find his prey. A human artificer
touches a creation forge, and the symbol on her hand
flares as the eldritch machine rumbles to life. Each of
these people possesses a dragonmark, a symbol etched
on the skin in colors more vivid than any tattoo, magical
power made flesh.
A dragonmark enhances the user's ability to perform
certain tasks. For example, the Mark of Making guides
the hands of the smith, while the Mark of Shadows
helps its bearer avoid enemies. The power of a dragon
mark can also manifest in more dramatic ways. The
Mark of Storms can scatter enemies with a blast of
wind, while the Mark of Shadows can weave illusions.
You can't buy or choose to develop a dragonmark;
each mark is tied to bloodlines within specific species,
as sμmmarized in the Dragonmarks and Their Houses
table. A dragonmark appears on a person around ado
lescence, though not every heir manifests the mark.
Long ago, the fa milies that carry the marks joined
together to form the dragonmarked h�:mses. Over the
course of centuries, these houses have used their gifts
to establish powerful monopolies. For example, only
House Lyrandar heirs with the Mark of Storms can
pilot airships. This control over vital services gives the
houses tremendous power.
In the past, the dragonmarked houses were held
in check by the united kingdom of Galifar. But in the
wake of the Last War, people wonder if ?ny nation has
the power to enforce its wishes on the houses.
ALL ABOUT THE HOUSES
Every dragonmarked house has traditions and secrets.
Here's a few fa cts that apply to most of the houses:
Enclaves. Most dragonmarked houses maintain en
claves in major cities. These serve as strongholds and
hubs for house businesses. A city may also have any
number of businesses tied to the house, but these are
simply providing services and don't have any direct
connection to house leadership.
DRAGON MARKS AND THEIR HOUSES
Names and Ranks. Any heir of the house who develops
a dragonmark is allowed to add the d' prefix to the
house name: for example, Merrix d'Cannith. Despite
the Korth Edicts' proscription against house mem
bers holding noble titles, regional leaders within
the houses are called barons. Most houses are led
by a matriarch or patriarch, though some are led by
a council.
Emblems. Each dragonmarked house has an emblem,
a distinctive symbol that fe atures on their heraldry, of
ficial seals, crafted goods, and anything else that war
rants the house's stamp of authenticity. Each house's
emblem appears along with the related dragonmark
on the following pages.
The Twelve. The Twelve is an organization that facili
tates cooperation among the dragonmarked houses.
Excoriates. Excoriates are dragonmarked heirs who
have been cut off from their houses.
Foundlings. Foundlings are people who have a dragon
mark yet have no tie to a dragonmarked house.
Test ofSiberys. Dragonmarks manifest around adoles
cence. Each house puts its heirs through a trial called
the Test of Siberys. The specific trials vary by house,
but they place the heir in circumstances where they
are likely to manifest the mark, if they have it. About
half of the members of a bloodline manifest the mark.
Korth Edicts. The Korth Edicts prevent the houses
from owning land, holding noble titles, or maintaining
military fo rces (with an exception for Deneith). The
edicts were established when the Five Nations were
united. Today, many in the houses fe el the edicts have
become obsolete in the wake of the Last War.
CREATING A
DRAGONMARKED CHARACTER
Dragonmarks manifest on certain members of a few
species, represented in the rules by variant race options:
- For humans and half-ores, a dragonmark is a variant
race that replaces traits associated with those races. - For half-elves, a dragonmark is a variant race that lets
you keep some half-elf traits and replace others with
the traits associated with your mark. - For dwarves, elves, gnomes, and halftings, the
dragonmark replaces your subrace.
Dragon mark House Race
Half-elf
Guild Specialties
Detection Medani
Finding Tharashk
Handling Vada I is
Healing jorasco
Hospitality Ghallan9a
Making Cannith
Passage Ori en
Scribing Sivis
Sentinel Deneith
Shadow Phiarlan
Thuranni
Storm Lyrandar
Warding Kundarak
Human, half-ore
Human
Halfling
Halfling
Human
Human
Gnome
Human
Elf
Elf
Half-elf
Dwarf
Bodyguards, investigation, risk management
Bounty hunting, investigation, prospecting
Animal training and breeding
Healing
Food, lodging, urban information
Manufacturing
Land transportation
Communication, translation, verification
Bodyguards, mercenaries
Entertainment, espionage
Entertainment, assassination
Air and sea transportation
Banking, storage, prisons
CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
37