The Mark Of Death is one of the rarest and most feared Dragonmarks in the world of Eberron, historically tied to the elven House Vol, which was exterminated for its connections to necromantic magic and dark forces. The Mark of Death grants its bearer power over life and death itself, making it a coveted yet dangerous ability. Although the Mark is believed to have been lost, some remnants of House Vol's bloodline may still carry this mark, and its reappearance could shift the balance of power across Eberron.
Prerequisites:
- Half-Elf, Elf, or another DM-approved ancestry with a connection to the ancient House Vol bloodline.
- Dragonmarked: You cannot take this feat if you already have a different Dragonmark.
- You must consult with the Dungeon Master (DM) to determine how this mark manifests in the campaign, as the Mark of Death is an exceedingly rare and significant power.
Feat Description:
You carry the ancient and feared Mark of Death, a Dragonmark tied to necromantic power and the cycle of life and death. The magic of this mark grants you dark, potent abilities that allow you to manipulate life force, summon the dead, and wield necromantic energy.
You gain the following benefits:
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Increased Constitution or Charisma:
Increase your Constitution or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20. -
Spells of Death:
You gain access to a set of necromancy-themed spells tied to your Dragonmark. You can cast each spell once without expending a spell slot. After casting a spell in this way, you cannot cast it again until you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.- At 1st level, you learn False Life.
- At 3rd level, you learn Ray of Enfeeblement.
- At 5th level, you learn Animate Dead.
If you already know one of these spells, you may choose a necromancy spell of equal or lower level from the wizard or cleric spell list.
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Touch of Death: As a bonus action, you can use your Mark of Death to sap the life force from a creature you touch. When you make an unarmed strike, instead of dealing damage, you can force the target to make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). On a failed save, the target takes necrotic damage equal to your level and you gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage dealt. You can use this ability once per short or long rest.
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Death’s Grasp: You can use the power of the Dragonmark to manipulate the balance between life and death. You can target one creature within 30 feet of you and curse it with Death’s Grasp. As a bonus action, you choose one of the following effects:
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Wither Life: The target must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier). On a failed save, the target takes necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1) at the start of its next turn.
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Death’s Pull: You can pull the life force from a creature that is at 0 hit points but not dead. The creature automatically fails one death saving throw, and you regain hit points equal to twice your proficiency bonus.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
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Mark Of Undeath (Optional, DM's discretion): As a reflection of your deepening connection to necromantic energies, you gain advantage on saving throws against effects that would cause you to be charmed or frightened by undead. Additionally, you have resistance to necrotic damage.
Mark of Death in Eberron’s World
Carrying the Mark of Death will mark you as a figure of great significance, possibly drawing the attention of secret factions, ancient enemies of House Vol, and others interested in necromantic power. The Blood of Vol, a cult that reveres death and seeks immortality, may see you as a harbinger of their dark prophecies, while others, like the Undying Court of Aerenal, may view you as a dire threat.
How you choose to use these powers—whether for personal gain, dark ambitions, or to fight against your bloodline’s legacy—will shape your journey in a world where death itself is often just the beginning.
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