Dragonmarked house
Encyclopedia
Dragonmarked houses are organizations in the fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...

al Eberron
Eberron
Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...

 campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

 for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...

 role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

 that are based on bloodlines descended from families that first manifested dragonmarks. Not all members of the Houses have dragonmarks; nor is it an assurance of power. Talent is considered a better choice. Most common people have at least a small amount of House blood in their ancestry, usually unnoticed.

In the fictional world, the Dragonmarked Houses are the cornerstone of the economy of Khorvaire
Khorvaire
Khorvaire is fictional continent in universe of Eberron, a campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.The material plane of Eberron contains four major continents, of which Khorvaire is arguably the most well-documented in the various sourcebooks. The others are Argonnessen ,...

. Most banking, security, communications, transportation and fabrication are run by the Dragonmarked Houses. The Houses use their exclusive access to the powers of dragonmarks to sustain their economic empires that extend far beyond arcane powers of the dragonmarks themselves. The houses can attribute most of their success to their meticulously crafted reputations for standardization and quality that have elevated bearers of dragonmarks with a status that mundane wizards
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...

 and artificers
Artificer (Dungeons & Dragons)
An artificer is a skilled mechanic in the armed forces, chiefly British. It may also refer to:* A person who makes artifacts* Artificer Sergeant Major, an appointment held by a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers...

 cannot possibly match.

History

The source material states that each of the houses are not traced back to a single member bearing a certain mark, rather that certain marks manifested in certain regions on specific races and families. After several generations these families began to understand the significance of each individual mark and came to see certain marks as "true marks", marks that breed true in a bloodline. Aberrant marks are those that manifest as a consequence of interbreeding of bloodlines.

Ultimately the true bloodlines would wage war on those with aberrant marks in a conflict known as the War of the Mark. The results of this conflict would unite the true bloodlines officially into the current houses represented and lead to a founding of the council known as the Twelve. The Twelve would become responsible for codifying the traditions of the dragonmarked families and set forth the standards by which the current houses are governed.

Eventually a man who famously became known as Galifar I would succeed in uniting the continent together into the nation of Galifar, the house leaders would come together in the city of Korth and make arrangements with the would-be-king that would limit their political power in exchange for assurances of their continued economic strength. These would become known as the Korth Edicts and would last for a thousand years and were designed to prevent members of any of the dragonmarked houses from creating standing armies (excepting house Deneith to provide mercenary services), disallowing members of the houses from marrying into the aristocracy of Galifar, and insuring that no house could hold a grant of land.

By the time the Last War was in full swing, the Korth Edicts would be set aside allowing house enclaves to maintain forces and by the end of the war several houses now have large land holdings of their own. Many of the houses themselves were said to wield as much power as the nations themselves and it is doubtful any of the twelve new nations have enough power to enforce the terms or renegotiate the edict.

House Cannith

Mark of Making:

Tinkers Guild: repairs and maintenance

Fabricators Guild: construction and production

Race: Human
Human (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...



Heraldic beast: Gorgon
Gorgon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the gorgon is a magical beast that resembles a bull, covered in dusky metallic scales.-Publication history:...



Month/Moon: Eyre (Mid-spring, ~April, fourth moon)

The mark of making first appeared in the Eberron setting approximately 2500 Years before the foundation of the Kingdom of Galifar and has always distinguished itself as the leader amongst the other dragonmarked houses. They are considered to be the foremost experts in dragonshards and best known for the invention of everbright lanterns, lightning rail and the race of warforged. Their success is due to their ability to mass-produce magical wares at reasonable prices.

As of the current time period in the setting, the house is divided into three distinct factions that are vying for control of the house in the wake of the destruction of the nation of Cyre. Cannith South is ruled by Merrix d'Cannith from the city of Sharn, Cannith West is ruled by Jorlanna d'Cannith from Aundair, and Cannith East which is ruled by Zorlan from Karnnath.

Dragonmark Abilities: The Mark of Making grants the power to mend or fabricate material goods.

House Deneith

Mark of Sentinel:

Defenders Guild: Protection

Blademarks Guild: Hirelings and mercenaries
Race: Human

Heraldic beast: Chimera
Chimera (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the chimera is a large magical beast that appears to be an amalgam of several different creatures...



Month/Moon: Olarune (Late winter, ~February, second moon)

House Deneith operates under a strict military hierarchy. Since all houses have vowed to stay neutral in conflicts, House Deneith supplies to both sides of a conflict. It is also the only house allowed to maintain an active army.

Dragonmark Abilities: The Mark of Sentinel grants various powers related to personal protection.

House Ghallanda

Mark of Hospitality. 3200 years old.

Hostelers Guild: bars and inns.

Race: Halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...

.

Heraldic beast: Blink dog
Blink dog
The blink dog is a fictional magical beast from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an intelligent dog that has a limited teleportation ability known as Blinking. The blink dog was created for D&D, and appeared in every edition from the first supplement to version 4.0...

.

Month/Moon: Nymm (Early summer, ~June, sixth moon).

Although most halflings are nomadic, the members of House Ghallanda operate an impressive number of entertainment institutions, all over Khorvaire
Khorvaire
Khorvaire is fictional continent in universe of Eberron, a campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.The material plane of Eberron contains four major continents, of which Khorvaire is arguably the most well-documented in the various sourcebooks. The others are Argonnessen ,...

.

Dragonmark Abilities: ability to manipulate arcane energy to generate shelter and sustenance

House Jorasco

Mark of Healing. 3000 years old.

Healers Guild: health.

Race: Halfling.

Heraldic beast: Griffon
Griffon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the griffon is a powerful, majestic and highly intelligent magical beast.-Publication history:The griffon was based upon the griffons of various mythologies.-Dungeons & Dragons :...

.

Month/Moon: Therendor (Early spring, ~March, third moon).

House Jorasco provides mundane health care services to the public, as well as magical healing to those who can afford it. Common people visit House Jorasco hospitals instead of churches, since clerics generally reserve their healing abilities for the faithful.

Dragonmark Abilities: healing; depending on the size of the dragonmark, the individual can be restricted to healing small wounds, or to curing major diseases, even regenerating lost limbs

House Kundarak

Mark of Warding. 2500 years old.

Banking Guild: money, loans and safekeeping.

Warding Guild: security and protection.

Race: Dwarf
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...

.

Heraldic beast: Manticore
Manticore (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the manticore is a large magical beast with the body of a lion, dragon wings, and a somewhat humanoid head...

.

Month/Moon: Vult (Early winter, ~December, twelfth moon).

Dragonmark Abilities: ability to lay magical alarms and traps.

House Kundarak operates out of the Mror Holds, running the banking and moneylending business in Khorvaire
Khorvaire
Khorvaire is fictional continent in universe of Eberron, a campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.The material plane of Eberron contains four major continents, of which Khorvaire is arguably the most well-documented in the various sourcebooks. The others are Argonnessen ,...

. With close ties to House Sivis, all kinds of coin exchange, credit and safekeeping services are provided by House Kundarak.

House Lyrandar

Mark of Storm. 2000 years old.

Raincallers Guild: provides good weather for farmers.

Windwrights Guild: transport over water or through the air.

Race: Half-Elf
Half-elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :The half-elf appeared as a player character race in the original Player's Handbook . The half-elf also appeared in the original Monster Manual...

.

Heraldic beast: Kraken
Kraken (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the kraken is a large, ocean-dwelling magical beast. It is akin to a squid the size of a house. It is almost 80 feet long and 60 feet tall and wide. Its body is similar to that of a squid, with a ring of tentacles surrounding a mouth connected to...

.

Month/Moon: Zarantyr (Mid-winter, ~January, first moon).

House Lyrandar members have the power to manipulate the weather, and have used that power to create an island paradise for themselves, off the coast of Aundair (called Stormhome).

Dragonmark Abilities: power over wind and weather.

House Medani

Mark of Detection. 1500 years old.

Warning Guild: protection with prescience.

Race: Half-Elf.

Heraldic beast: Basilisk
Basilisk (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the basilisk is a reptilian magical beast that turns creatures to stone by meeting their gaze.-Publication history:...

.

Month/Moon: Lharvion (Mid-summer, ~July, seventh moon).

Because the members of House Medani can see trouble coming, they are very effective in personal security. Its magic item inventions were instrumental in ending the War of the Mark.

Dragonmark Abilities: bearers of this mark can sense hidden threats, such as poison.

House Orien

Mark of Passage. 2000 years old.

Couriers Guild: postal service.

Transportation Guild: freight.

Race: Human.

Heraldic beast: Unicorn
Unicorn (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a unicorn is a mysterious, majestic magical beast. It resembles an imposing and beautiful white horse, with glowing eyes, a silky mane and tail, and the stereotypical spiraling, shell-shaped horn coming from its forehead...

.

Month/Moon: Aryth (Late autumn, ~November, eleventh moon).

Members of House Orien control the Lightning Rail and several caravan
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...

 routes.

Dragonmark Abilities: dependent upon the size of the mark, bearers may possess great speed, the ability to fly or even teleportation.

House Phiarlan

Mark of Shadow: 3000 years old.

Entertainers and Artisans Guild: entertainment.

Race: Elf
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...

.

Heraldic beast: Hydra
Hydra (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the hydra is a reptilian magical beast that has anywhere from five to twelve heads.-Dungeons & Dragons :...

.

Month/Moon: Sypheros (Mid-autumn, ~October, tenth moon).

Part of House Phiarlan split off recently, to form House Thuranni. According to rumour, the members of House Phiarlan also engage in espionage.

Dragonmark Abilities: powers over illusion, deception and scrying.

House Sivis

Mark of Scribing. 2800 years old.

Speakers Guild: diplomatic services and translation.

Notaries Guild: notary services.

Race: Gnome
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...

.

Heraldic beast: Cockatrice
Cockatrice (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the cockatrice is a small avian magical beast. Any creature that a cockatrice bites can be permanently turned to stone.A cockatrice is not particularly intelligent, and is always neutral in alignment....

.

Month/Moon: Rhaan (Early autumn, ~September, ninth moon).

The members of House Sivis guarantee the authenticity of documents. It is known for its impartiality, and is relied on to send sensitive information securely. It is also known for its bureaucratic red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...

.

Dragonmark Abilities: power over written and spoken word. Through use of dragonshards, can communicate over vast distances with the speed of the wind.

House Tharashk

Mark of Finding. 1000 years old.

Finders Guild: finding.

Race: Human and Half-Orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...

.

Heraldic beast: Dragonne.

Month/Moon: Barrakas (Late summer, ~August, eighth moon).

The members of House Tharashk are highly skilled trackers and bounty hunters. They are also in the mining business, and control most of the trade with Eberron dragonshards.

Dragonmark Abilities: can track things that are lost or hidden through use of their mark.

House Thuranni

Mark of Shadow. 25 years old.

Race: Elf.

Heraldic beast: Displacer beast
Displacer beast
A displacer beast is a fictional creature from the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Publication history:The displacer beast was inspired by the coeurl, a feline-like creature from the 1939 science fiction story "Black Destroyer" by A. E...

.

Month/Moon: Sypheros (Mid-autumn, ~October, tenth moon).

Like its parent, House Phiarlan, House Thuranni is in entertainment business. The members left Aerenal and travelled to Khorvaire
Khorvaire
Khorvaire is fictional continent in universe of Eberron, a campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.The material plane of Eberron contains four major continents, of which Khorvaire is arguably the most well-documented in the various sourcebooks. The others are Argonnessen ,...

 around the time of the destruction of House Vol.

Dragonmark Abilities: power over illusion, deception and scrying.

House Vadalis

Mark of Handling. 1800 years old.

Handlers Guild: breeding.

Race: Human.

Heraldic beast: Hippogriff
Hippogriff (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a hippogriff is a magical beast based upon the hippogriff of various mythologies. It is part eagle and part horse, and sometimes regarded as part griffon and part horse...

.

Month/Moon: Dravago (Late spring, ~May, fifth moon).

The members of House Vadalis breed any number of animals, mostly mounts, but also animals used in offense or defense, or pets. House Vadalis operates out of the Eldeen Reaches.

Dragonmark Abilities: animals bred by those bearing the Mark of Handling are more intelligent, stronger, faster and more powerful than those bred and/or trained by those without the aforementioned mark.

House Tarkanan

Aberrant Marks. Age unknown.

Race: Any race capable of bearing a dragonmark.

Heraldic beast: Beholder
Beholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....

.

Aberrant marks can be created when two dragonmark bearing people, each of whom has a different dragonmark, have children. They are considered an abomination by the trueborn houses. Sometimes aberrant marks spontaneously appear on members of races that can bear dragonmarks.

House Tarkanan is not an official house recognized by governments or other dragonmarked houses. It was founded by Thora Tavin, a former Brelish spy who worked as part of a group of Aberrant Marked spies. Near the end of the Last War she recruited several of the spies and fled Brelish service. She named her organization "House Tarkanan" as a mockery against other dragonmarked houses - Lord Halas Tarkanan was a leader of Aberrant Dragonmarked people during the War of the Marks. It currently exists as a loose criminal association of people bearing aberrant dragonmarks, hiring its services for robbery and assassination. It has a presence in Sharn
Sharn
In the Eberron campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Sharn, often called "The City of Towers", is the iconic metropolis of the setting....

.

House Vol

Mark of Death. 3300 or more years old. Extinct.

Race: Elf.

One of the first dragonmarks to manifest, the Mark of Death was also the first dragonmark lost. The lich
Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lich is an undead creature; a spellcaster who seeks to defy death by magical means.-Dungeons & Dragons :...

 Erandis Vol is the last known bearer of the mark, but its powers have become dormant since she is no longer technically alive. Several times it has allegedly re-surfaced but they were either all hoaxes or Aberrant Dragonmarks. In a novel set in Eberron, a young elf named Espre is believed to bear the Mark of Death, and Vol's forces pursue her. Vol's priests claim Espre is a descendant of House Vol and bears the actual Mark of Death, although it's possible it is an Aberrant Dragonmark.

Dragonmark Abilities: literally the power over death itself. Depending upon the size of the mark, a bearer of the Mark of Death can kill either through physical contact or, if the mark is large enough, by sight or even simply through thinking of the target.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK