Dragonmarks
Dragonmarks are arcane symbols marked on the skin seven of Khorvaire's common races. They are more intricate than a birthmark and more distinct than a tattoo. Dragonmarks are weaved of blue, green, and purple streaks so vivid, that they seem to glow even without producing light. Scholars still aren't sure as to the origins of Dragonmarks, yet their effect on the world is undeniable. Of the thirteen true dragonmarks that once existed, twelve remain. As marks manifested on the peoples of Khorvaire, they did so exclusively in specific bloodlines. Each of these bloodlines has since joined with other of the same mark to form a house. With the power of their marks, these houses control large pieces of the economy of Khorvaire. Though each house is bound by the laws of the Korth Edict, in the wake of the last war these laws are being tested. If you bear a mark, it is up to you to decide how you relate to these powerful dragonmarked dynasties.
Dragonmark Bloodlines
Dragonmarked Houses have organized themselves around a hierarchical family structure because of the bloodlines that inherit the magical power of the house. Before the start of the game, you should determine what House you are a part of, even if you do not take the Least Dragonmark at 1st level. Houses have a great taboo about crossing the bloodlines of different dragonmarks since it has always produced an aberrant dragonmark.
| Dragonmark | Ancestry |
|---|---|
| Mark of Detect | Half-elf |
| Mark of Finding | Half-orc |
| Mark of Handling | Human |
| Mark of Healing | Halfling |
| Mark of Hospitality | Halfling |
| Mark of Making | Human |
| Mark of Passage | Human |
| Mark of Scribing | Gnome |
| Mark of Sentinel | Human |
| Mark of Shadow | Elf |
| Mark of Storm | Half-elf |
| Mark of Warding | Dwarf |
Unknown Bloodlines
If your character is not from a bloodline that manifests dragonmarks, there is still a chance to manifest one. The first, and most likely, reason is you are from a bloodline that branched off and did not produce a mark for several generations. A House keeps tabs on children born to one parent with dragonmarked ancestors since they have a chance to pass on the magic. But it is not guaranteed. After a several generations of not producing a mark in the branch, the House will stop tracking. The other reason could be the dragonmark spontaneously manifesting. Most houses believe this to only be a fictional tale told to children who have no hope of producing a mark, but the half-elf houses know this can happen.Shared Ancestry Feats
Below are the Dragonmark ancestry feats that any character with the dragonmark trait can take.
Least DragonmarkFeat 1
dragonmark
Prerequisites You have the dragonmark heritage trait
You manifest a dragonmark, a sign you are connected to the Draconic Prophecy. Drawing on this power gives you the ability to cast dragonmark spells. You gain the least dragonmark focus spell from your mark and a focus pool of 1. You gain the Trained proficiency in dragonmark attack rolls and DCs. You gain the dragonmark trait, the trait specific to your mark, and access to that marks ancestry feats.
The rules for dragonmark spells are summarized in the Key Terms section on the dragonmark page, and the full rules for focus spells appear here.
Dragonmark WhipFeat 1
dragonmark
You have learned how to manipulate your dragonmark to separate from your body to some degree. You spend 10 minutes focusing your marks magic, imprinting it with the potential of a bladed scarf, flail, meteor hammer, spiked chain, or whip. When you have a free hand, you can spend a single interact action to cause your dragonmark to separate from your body, forming the weapon in your free hand; a second interact action returns it to tattoo form. Your dragonmark weapon functions as the imprinted weapon and can be etched with runes or affixed with talismans as normal, which are suppressed when the weapon is in tattoo form. It also becomes an arcane focus.
You can only have one dragonmark weapon prepared at a time. If you prepare a second one, any runes on the previous weapon that are valid for the new weapon are transferred between them at no cost, but you lose any inapplicable runes.
Dragonmark AdeptFeat 3
dragonmark
You gain a focus spell from your mark's additional focus spell list of a level you can cast. You can retrain this spell with a week of downtime.
Dragonmark CantripFeat 3
dragonmark
You gain the dragonmark cantrip spells associated with your mark. These cantrips are modified like other dragonmark spells; losing certain traits and components. A cantrip is automatically heightened to half your level rounded up.
Lesser DragonmarkFeat 5
dragonmark
Prerequisites Least Dragonmark
Your dragonmark grows in power. You gain the Lesser dragonmark focus spell appropriate to your mark. Your proficiency in dragonmark attack rolls and DCs increases to Expert. You also gain the lesser dragonmark trait.
The rules for dragonmark spells are summarized in the Key Terms section on the dragonmark page, and the full rules for focus spells appear here.
Greater DragonmarkFeat 9
dragonmark
Prerequisites Lesser Dragonmark
Your dragonmark grows in power once again. You gain the Greater dragonmark focus spell appropriate to your mark. Increase the number of Focus Points in your focus pool by 1. You also gain the greater dragonmark trait.
The rules for dragonmark spells are summarized in the Key Terms section on the dragonmark page, and the full rules for focus spells appear here.
Grand DragonmarkFeat 13
dragonmark
Prerequisites Greater Dragonmark
Your dragonmark expands across your body, swelling with power. You gain the Grand dragonmark focus spell appropriate to your mark. Your proficiency in dragonmark attack rolls and DCs increases to Master. You also gain the grand dragonmark trait.
The rules for dragonmark spells are summarized in the Key Terms section on the dragonmark page, and the full rules for focus spells appear here.
Siberys DragonmarkFeat 17
dragonmark
Prerequisites Grand Dragonmark
Your dragonmark expands across your body, swelling with power. You gain the Siberys dragonmark focus spell appropriate to your mark. You gain Legendary proficiency in dragonmark attack rolls and DCs. Increase the number of Focus Points in your focus pool by 1. You gain the siberys dragonmark trait.
The rules for dragonmark spells are summarized in the Key Terms section on the dragonmark page, and the full rules for focus spells appear here.
Dragonmark Focus Spells
All dragonmark focus spells are considered to be of the arcane tradition. When you gain a dragonmark focus pool, you may choose to use intelligence, wisdom, or charisma. This choice cannot be changed. Dragonmark focus spells follow all the rules for focus spells that appear on page 300 of the Core Rule book, including heightening, refocusing, and multiple point sources. Dragonmark focus spells don't require spell slots, and you can't cast them using spell slots. Certain feats can give you more dragonmark focus spells and increase the size of your focus pool, though your focus pool can never hold more than 3 focus points. It costs 1 focus point to cast a dragonmark focus spell. You refill your focus pool during your daily preparations, and you can regain 1 focus point by spending 10 minutes using the refocus activity to meditate on your dragonmark. Dragonmark focus spells are automatically heightened to half your level rounded up. You can't cast a focus spell if its minimum level is greater than the maximum heightened level of your dragonmark focus spells. Many dragonmark focus spells require the dragonmark component. This component is supplied by the dragonmark itself, and so long as nothing is interfering with the dragonmark's powers, the component is automatically provided for the casting of the spell. When the dragonmark component is provided, it is evidently visible as the dragonmark glows with a dim light and shifts about on the caster's skin.
Shared Dragonmark Focus Spells
Below are the Dragonmark focus spells that any character with the dragonmark trait can select as part of the Dragonmark Adept feat.Banish Dragonmarkfocus 4
abjurationdragonmarkincapacitation
Cast dragonmark (least), somatic
Range 30 feet; Targets 1 creature with the dragonmark trait
Saving Throw Will; Duration varies
You utter a harsh incantation as you attempt to seal the power of a dragonmark. The target must attempt a Will save.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is stunned 1.
Failure The target's dragonmark trait is suppressed, making it unable to use any feats, magic items, or spells requiring the trait for 1 minute.
Critical Failure As success, but for 1 hour.
Lesser Dragonmark The target suffers a -1 status penalty to the saving throw if they do not have the lesser dragonmark trait. Greater Dragonmark The target suffers a -1 status penalty to the saving throw if they do not have the greater dragonmark trait. Grand Dragonmark The target suffers a -1 status penalty to the saving throw if they do not have the grand dragonmark trait. Siberys Dragonmark The target suffers a -2 status penalty to the saving throw if they do not have the siberys dragonmark trait.
Manifesting a Dragonmark
Despite the rigorous study of dragonmarks, it is not entirely understood how marks manifest. Children are not born with their marks. Rather, a dragonmark most often appears in response to a stressful situation in which the powers of the mark could prove useful. A Deneith heir feels her dragonmark flare to life as her best friend would take a mortal wound. A Lyrandar scion instinctively dashes across the ropes of a stormtossed ship, and in an instant of burning pain, their mark appears. However, this is not exclusively the case. Sometimes marks will appear later in life, or even never manifest. If a dragonmark does appear, often the mark will manifest first as the least mark. Through study and focus the bearer increases their power, and the dragonmark similarly increases in size and complexity. As their power grows, the marks channel not just stronger powers, but additional abilities. There are stories of either long lost bloodlines suddenly manifesting a dragonmark after centuries of none. Rarer still are legends of those who have no connection to the bloodline manifesting a mark. In both cases, the houses will attempt to fold these individuals into the house's holdings. This brings them new blood and lets them keep an eye on those who's very existence represents the house.
Dragonmark Traits
Dragonmark Feats, Items, and Spells with this trait are powered by your least dragonmark and require that you have the dragonmark trait to interact with them. Creatures with this trait have manifested a least dragonmark, which is usually the size of a handprint. Lesser Dragonmark A more powerful version of the dragonmark. You can interact with items and spells with this trait. The mark is around the size of a cat. Greater Dragonmark A more powerful version of the dragonmark. You can interact with items and spells with this trait. The mark covers about half your body. Grand Dragonmark A more powerful version of the dragonmark. You can interact with items and spells with this trait. The mark covers the majority of your body, making nearly impossible to hide it. Siberys Dragonmark A most powerful version of the dragonmark. You can interact with items and spells with this trait. The mark covers your entire body, there is no mundane method to disguise the mark. Aberrant Dragonmark This trait can manifest on any dragonmark bloodline, usually when two bloodlines of separate marks have a child. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Detection This trait is unique to the Mark of Detection bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Finding This trait is unique to the Mark of Finding bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Handling This trait is unique to the Mark of Handling bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Healing This trait is unique to the Mark of Healing bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Hospitality This trait is unique to the Mark of Hospitality bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Making This trait is unique to the Mark of Making bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Passage This trait is unique to the Mark of Passage bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Scribing This trait is unique to the Mark of Scribing bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Sentinel This trait is unique to the Mark of Sentinel bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Shadow This trait is unique to the Mark of Shadow bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Storm This trait is unique to the Mark of Storm bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits. Mark of Warding This trait is unique to the Mark of Warding bloodline. You may only select feats, interact with items, and cast spells with this trait if you possess this trait as well, in which case you ignore any other specific mark heritage traits.
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