THE ILLUSIONS THAT I WEAVE DAZZLE AND DECEIVE.
Sometimes that deception eases your burdens, letting you
forget your troubles for a moment. But I can also ease your
burdens by endingyour life.
-Lady Elara d'Thuranni, shadow dancer
The Mark of Shadow lets an elf weave illusions, crafting
magic to distract or delight. It also allows its bearer to
sculpt shadows, making it easy to avoid detection.
THE HOUSES OF SHADOW
Leader: House Phiarlan, Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan;
House Thuranni, Elar d'Thuranni
Headquarters: House Phiarlan, the Demesnes (var
ious); House Thuranni, Regalport (Lhazaar Prin
cipalities)
Elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of
years. The mark's bearers left Aerenal after the conflict
that wiped out the Mark of Death and established House
Phiarlan in Khorvaire. These elves are expert entertain
ers, giving them access to all manner of places and se
crets. Known to few, there has always been an elite force
of spies and assassins within House Phiarlan. Only spe
cial clients-nobles, merchant lords, and the like-have
access to these spies.
Toward the end of the Last War, a bitter feud broke
out between the major families of the house. Known
as the Shadow Schism, it resulted in a split withinin
Phiarlan-and the foundation of House Thuranni.
House Phiarlan continues to offer entertainment and
espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while
Thuranni operates in the eastern lands. As a rule,
Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents
are superior assassins. Thuranni and Phiarlan main
tain a peaceful relationship, but rivalries run deep.
Baron Elar d'Thuranni is said to be responsible for
the Shadow Schism. Ruling the house from an enclave
in Regalport, he is always accompanied by a shadowy
pair, rumored to be embodiments of shadow itself. The
displacer beast serves as the young house's emblem.
The lands of House Phiarlan, known as the De
mesnes, are the foremost centers of the arts in the Five
Nations, each focusing on a specific artistic tradition:
the written word, movement arts, music, material arts,
and the arts of illusion, puppetry, oratory, and acting.
Baron Elvinor Elorrenthi leads the house from the last
of those, the Demesne of Shadow, which is located in
Sharn. The hydra serves as House Phiarlan's emblem.
Mark of Shadow 49 Central Plateau
If you're an elf with the Mark of Shadow, you have this
subrace, with the following traits.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score in
creases by 1.
Cunning Intuition. When you make a Charisma (Per
formance) or Dexterity (Stealth) check, you can roll a d4
and add the number rolled to the ability check.
Shape.Shadows. You know the minor illusion cantrip.
Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the invisibility spell
once with this trait, and you regain the ability to cast it
when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcast
ing ability for these spells.
Spells of the Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or
the Pact Magic class fe ature, the spells on the Mark of
Shadow Spells table are added to the spell list of your
spellcasting class.
MARK OF SHADOW SPELLS
Spell Level Spells
l st disguise self, silent image
2nd darkness, pass without trace
3rd clairvoyance, major image
4th greater invisibility, hallucinatory terrain
5th mislead
CHAPTER 1 I CHARACTER CREATION
49