An aberrant dragonmark is a gift of mystical power, though it can be a painful and distressing curse to bear, and its powers might even be difficult or, in some cases, impossible to control. The legendary Lady of the Plague was responsible for the deaths of thousands before she learned to control her abilities. Even an ability that duplicates a spell as simple as fire bolt can be devastating to the individual, and a person who possesses such a mark could have killed friends or even destroyed city blocks in a fiery blaze before mastering this power. This has led the common people to fear those who carry aberrant marks, paranoid that all of them could be murderers, mad, or both. The progenitor dragon Khyber is said to be the source of all things monstrous and evil, and those who carry aberrant dragonmarks in adolescence are called Children of Khyber.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two skills.
- Tool Proficiencies: choose one tool.
- Languages: Choose one language.
- Equipment: one trinket of special significance, and a pouch containing 10 gp
Whether it occurred the first time an aberrant mark manifested or before mastery of its forgiveness is often as fraught as the mark itself. You can use the Defining Tragedy table as a source of inspiration to determine the tragic past of your character. Work with your DM to finalize the details of your personal tragedy and to understand how it could play a role in your ongoing story. Be sure to consider the nature of your mark as you develop your story. It’s easy to see how the burning hands spell could be responsible for a death, while a generally harmless and more subtle mark containing the charm person spell could still have unexpected consequences, like triggering a riot or pushing an individual to the brink of madness.
| d6 | Defining Tragedy |
|---|---|
| 1 | Betrayal. The manifestation of your mark turned someone you care about against you. This could have been a lover, a child, a comrade-in-arms. Whoever it is, they now fear and despise you, while you hope that you can someday regain their affection. |
| 2 | Death. Your aberrant mark caused a tragic death. This could have been someone you cared about, such as a lover or sibling, or you could have killed someone you hated, a tyrannical officer, a corrupt noble. Either way, you needed to flee from the consequences of that unintended murder. |
| 3 | Massacre. You were responsible for the deaths of a large number of people. You may have triggered a riot or set fire to a crowded building. Do you feel personally responsible for each death, or do you not even know how many people died? |
| 4 | Public Humiliation. Your mark manifested during a public and important event. You could have been giving a performance, negotiating a treaty, or conducting a sermon. Whatever it was, it ruined the event and you are now well-known as a Child of Khyber. |
| 5 | Rift. The manifestation of your aberrant mark caused a deep rift between you and an organization you were once part of. You may have been excoriated from your dragonmarked house, banished from your family home, or dishonorably discharged from the military. Beyond the broad enmity of the organization, you could have a specific rival within the group. |
| 6 | Ruin. Your mark caused the destruction of something that was extremely precious. You could have destroyed your home, an important document, an arcane research project, or something else that was extremely valuable to you or to others. |
You gain the Aberrant Dragonmark feat from Eberron: Rising fron the Last War. In addition, choose one background: Charlatan, criminal, outlander, or urchin. You gain the background’s feature, but not its proficiencies or equipment.
Suggested Characteristics
Every Child of Khyber has faced hardship because of their mark. In creating a Child of Khyber, start by defining your life before you developed your aberrant dragonmark. You might have been a popular entertainer, from a respected noble family, or a devout acolyte of the Sovereign Host. Whatever path you followed, you had a good life once, but now adventuring is all you have left. Whatever your life was, it changed when you developed your aberrant dragonmark. Work with your DM to find inspiration in some of the other backgrounds, and adapt their story to suit the life you now lead, especially when starting a campaign at zero level. How have you dealt with your aberrant mark? What have you been forced to do?
You can choose the suggested characteristics from a different background that you and your DM agree is appropriate for your character.
Previous Versions
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9/29/2023 9:33:20 PM
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