Grek and Weyroc's Eberron Homebrew

[Grek]

Expanded Dragonmarks
This is intended as an alternate system for dragonmarks, to be used instead of or in addition to the Dragonmarked feat in UA Eberron. The premise is simple: A character with a dragonmark exchanges their magic item attunement slots for access to dragonmark powers which are on par with (but distinctly different from) the magic item they could have otherwise attuned.

In order to have their character gain a dragonmark and the ability to manifest one of these powers, a player should ask the DM for permission. If permission is granted, one of the character's magic item attunement slots is permanently replaced with a dragonmark manifestation slot, which is exactly the same as a magic item attunement slot, except that it allows you to attune manifestations of a certain dragonmark instead of allowing a character to attune ordinary magic items. Certain magic items, known as dragonmarked items, can be attuned by dragonmark manifestation slot for a specific mark and only by such a slot. These represent items which require a mark to use, such as the Cannith creation forges, the Sivis sending stones and the Orien lightning rails.

Attuning to a dragonmarked item works precisely as attuning to a normal magic item, save that it requires a dragonmark manifestation slot of the appropriate level and suppresses the natural manifestation of that dragonmark for as long as you are attuned to the item. Altering the manifestation of a character's dragonmark is possible, but typically requires access to Siberys stones, traumatic events or prefereably both at once. This is the basis for the Test of Siberys employed by the dragonmarked houses.

Note that the potential to manifest a dragonmark is not the same as having already done so. A character who switches out their magic item attunement slot for a dragonmark manifestation slot does not immediately gain a dragonmark power. Instead, the DM decides when the power manifests. Since a dragonmark manifestation is equal in power to that of a magic item, the DM should treat them as such when deciding when they manifest. If a character manifests a dragonmark power, other members of the party should gain magic items to attune, for the sake of fairness. A DM should feel in no way pressured to have a character manifest a dragonmark power at the first possible opportunity if doing so would lead to a disparity in the party. The player of the character in question should determine whether their lack of a dragonmark power indicates that they have not yet manifested their dragonmark at all (and appear to be a normal member of their race) or whether they have a dragonmark, but do not yet understand how to use its powers.

Also note that simply having the potential to manifest a dragonmark power (or even having had manifested one) is not the same as being a fully accepted scion to a dragonmarked house. Simply having a dragonmark does not, mechanically, give a character any special privilege or rank. Instead, players are strongly encouraged to take a background suitable to their mark, shuch as Noble or Merchant. This isn't a strict requirement, but DMs should keep in mind that if a character has a dragonmark, but is not a member of a dragonmarked house in good standing, that means that the character has done something during their background to put themselves in bad standing, and should be treated as such. To put it as simply as possible, having a dragonmark is not a ticket to gaining a free background feature.

You may only ever have one least, one lesser and one greater dragonmark manifestation slot at a time. A character must be of at least 5th level to gain a lesser slot and at least 9th level for a greater slot. The manifestation of siberys or khyber mark requires no dragonmark manifestation slots itself, but does require that all three magic item attunement slots be replaced with dragonmark manifestation slots. Essentially, if you have a siberys or khyber mark, you must also manifest least, lesser and greater powers whether you want to or not.

Some dragonmark manifestations grant proficiency in some skill or item. This proficiency is lost after the mark is unattuned, but does allow you to teach yourself the skill using the usual training costs. In this case, the gold cost is spent on training materials rather than paying an instructor. Other dragonmark manifestations may call for a saving throw as a result of their use. This is always equal to 8 + heir's proficiency bonus + modifier from heir's highest mental attribute.

New Feats and Feat Options

Spoiler: Feat: Heir of Siberys

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Prerequisite: 8th level or higher. This feat has no benefit until you are level 9 and have exchanged all three of your magic item attunement slots for dragonmark manifestation slots. You may not take this feat if you have an aberrant dragonmark.

You have manifested a Siberys Dragonmark. This magical, body-covering symbol grants numerous magical magical abilities, including not only the extraordinary powers of the dragonmark, but also certain nearly miraculous applications that can change the face of Eberron. The manifestation of this mark is a momentous occasion, viewed as an omen by many and can send shockwaves through the dragonmarked houses, for good or ill. Speak to your DM about whether this feat is suitable to your campaign. Details on the properties of Siberys marks can be found under the Siberys heading in the manifestations section for your mark.

Spoiler: Feat: Child of Khyber

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Prerequisite: 8th level or higher. This feat has no benefit until you are level 9 and have exchanged all three of your magic item attunement slots for dragonmark manifestation slots. You may not take this feat if you have any dragonmark other than an aberrant one.

You have manifested a Khyber Dragonmark. This warped dragonmark covers your entire body. Rumor holds that it spreads madness and pestilence anywhere it is found. There are no credible reports of this mark having been seen in recorded history, although rumour has it that it may have manifested briefly in Sharn during the War of the Mark. This is a rare, extremely stigmatized form of dragonmark. Speak to your DM about whether this fits your campaign. Details on the properties of Khyber marks can be found under the Khyber heading of the Aberrant Marks section.

Spoiler: Feat: Feat Revision: Dragonmark

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Under this system, the Dragonmark feat from UA Eberron undergoes some thematic revisions:

• Rather than granting a dragonmark, this feat now requires a dragonmark. Having a dragonmark is a roleplay choice which shouldn't be based on liking the spell selection a feat gives you. It doesn't actually require that you gain any dragonmark manifestation slots, but it does require that you declare that your character have a dragonmark somewhere on their body.
• Rather than representing the innate powers of the dragonmark, it represents you receiving training in how to cast spells using your dragonmark as a source of magical energy.
• The feat is renamed Dragonmark Initiate under the new theme. You are, in effect, a specialized form of Mystic Initiate.
• Aberrant marks are now allowed! Add the following to the list of Dragonmarks allowed under the Dragonmark Initiate feat:
• Aberrant Mark: House Tarkanan, which runs numerous criminal syndicates. Least: Vicious Mockery, Chromatic Orb. Lesser: Alter Self. Greater: Bestow Curse. Your spellcasting ability modifier is Charisma.

Changelog

Spoiler

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V a.2.0: Posted Making and Passage
V a.2.1: Revised Greater Making #1 to give you a helmed horror instead of a golem. A golem is way too strong, what was I thinking?
V a.2.2: Guess who forgot to give a price for the helmed horror. Hint: It is Grek.
V a.2.3: Added additional Siberys Passage option requested by Weyroc.
V a.2.4: Moved Spider Climb from Lesser to Least in passage, replacing expertise in Forced Marching. New Lesser ability added to replace it.
V a.2.5: Replaced Shillelagh in Making 1.4 with Tenser's; replaced Magic Weapon and Heat Metal in Making 2.4 with Magic Aura and Continual Flame.
V a.2.6: Find Steed becomes Phantom Steed in Passage 2.4
V a.2.6: Revised wording on .4 abilities to clarify that no, you cannot qualify for the extra prepared spells manifestation by dent of being able to cast spells through your dragonmark. You need actual spell slots.
V a.5.1: Added Healing, Hospitality, and Aberrant marks.
V a.5.1: Had accidentally swapped #1 results on Terror and Madness variant tables; now fixed.
V a.5.2: Making 3.4 loses Elemental Weapon, gains Flame Arrows. We really screwed up the spells on this one, didn't we?
V a.5.3: Spellcasting stat for Aberrant Marks now specified to be charisma.
V a.5.4: Text of Passage 3.3 revised; you can no longer spend an afternoon to just learn all the sigil sequences.
V a.5.6: Terror mark loses Fireball and gains Fear. How did we not include Fear for the TERROR mark?? Also daily limits for Healing 3.3.
V a.6.1: Mark of Shadow added.
V a.6.2: Fixed spell level numbering in Mark of Shadow.
V a.6.3: Fixed Changelog numbering for above numbering fix. Siiiigh. Also, swapped Darkvision for See Invisibility in Shadow 2.4 when it was pointed out that many races naturally have darkvision.
V a.6.4: CHANGELOG NUMBERING. Not Changeling.
V a.6.5: Reworded Siberys Healing.
V a.6.6: Request Granted! Aberrant Mark of Seduction added.
V a.6.7: Corrected spelling of "breath weapon"
V a.6.8: Specified how exactly you're supposed to roll for Aberrant marks. Apparently I left out the d6 -> d12 -> d20 progression!
V a.6.9: Added clarifying example, cleaned up a few "Dragonmark Attunement" vs. Dragonmark Manifestation" typos.
V a.7.1: Mark of Storm released! Also, we hit the character limit for the OP, so we've moved things into three posts.
V a.7.2: Hospitality revisions.
V a.8.1: Mark of Sentinel posted.
V a.8.2: Mark of Sentinel Least manifestations almost completely revised. Prior version left in post #16 for posterity/to remind us of our eternal shame.
V a.8.3: Massive changes to the system in general: There are no longer any feat prerequisites to gaining dragonmark manifestation slots. It only ever costs magic item attunement slots.
V a.8.4: More Sentinel revisions.
V a.9.0: Warding up.
V a.10.0: Scribing up.
V a.10.1: Clarifying edit to the section on gaining a dragonmark, specifying that if you have no dragonmark powers you can either not yet have had your mark appear, or you can have it appear but not know how to use it yet.
V a.10.2: Even more sentinel revisions.
V a.10.3: Various copypasta errors fixed.
V a.11.1: Detection up.
V a.11.2: Detection detected as being on holiday with the halflings down in post #7. Weyroc has been chastised and Detection moved into the proper location.
V a.12.1: Finding found.
V b.1.0: Handling done. That's the last of the 12 marks, meaning that we're now moving into beta. This includes: playtesting, writing introductions for each mark and proofreading. Please let us known when (not if) you find embarrassing spelling mistakes, missing words or bad grammar.
V b.1.1: Adjusted proficiencies on Handling. In retrospect, it was silly not to give everyone with the Handling mark proficiency in animal handling.
V b.1.2: Introduced first introductory sections, Medani and Vadalis.
V b.1.3: Altered Handling (swapping strength and con boosts around) and Detection (specified they learn which proficiencies) slightly to make their powers more economically viable.
V b.1.4: Revised Lesser Making 2.
V b.2.0: Removed 4s, 5s from all true dragonmarks due to those being boring and obnoxious to balance. Added universal dragonmark manifestations (including one which replaces the #5 options). In the future, we may include an expanded Dragonmark Initiate which adds the spells from the #4s as alternative options for your sla pick.
V b.2.1: Intros done through to Orien, rest are forthcoming.
V b.2.2: Added "Houses, Hirelings and Holdings" to the essays section.
V b.3.0: New Handling revision up, including new introduction.
V b.3.1: House Sivis introduction up.
V b.3.2: House Deneith introduction up. Also fixed the Wisdon typo in Sentinel Least 1.
V b.3.3: Deneith intro is no longer a pastebin link to the draft version. Thanks to Weyroc for catching that!
V b.3.4: Phiarlan/Thuranni intro up.
v. b.3.5: Lyrandar up.
v. b.3.6: Kundarak up.
v. b.3.7: Re-added Aberrant Mark general mechanics. because apparently I never ported those over from the old thread.
v. b.3.8: Tarkanan up. That's all the intros! Next, another editing pass.