Aberrant Dragonmarks

To those versed in the lore and legends of the Five Nations, aberrant dragonmarks conjure up images of monsters in human form — terrifying creatures driven mad by their own powers, who can kill with a touch or control the forces of fire and fear. In Sharn, mothers still frighten their children with tales of the Lady of the Plague. Even the most reasoned people whisper that aberrant dragonmarks are signs of the Dragon Below, and that those who bear these symbols are cursed souls who spread misfortune wherever they go.   These mysterious marks have long been an enigma in the history of Khorvaire. So little is known in their history, but there are at the very least theories. They are rumored to have emerged between 650 - 550 BK, and while it is far from clear, the leading theory is that it resulted in inter-breeding between individuals with dragonmarks. For this reason, inter-House marriages have long been forbidden amongst the families.   The abilities associated with the mark are as enigmatic as their origin. Some could cast random spells, some claimed to hear voices, some could even heal wounds at will. They bear some similarities to their traditional counterparts — it appears as a mark on the skin that grows warm when its ability is used, and a mark that is damaged or removed eventually returns. The design of the mark is a sinuous pattern of lines, often with a vaguely draconic shape. However, that’s where the similarities end.   No two aberrant marks are identical. Certain standard patterns provide hints as to the powers they grant, but two aberrant marks that grant the same power can be wildly divergent in appearance. Aberrant dragonmarks come in a wide range of colors, including oily black, blood red, and vivid green. The flesh around an aberrant dragonmark is often covered with welts and boils, and marks related to fire sometimes leave scars or burns on the skin   To phrase is politely, a negative connotation began to associate with the mark. It grew to the point where in 500 BK, a campaign was launched to exterminate those with the marks, said to have been led by the most prominent paladins of the Sovereign Host — a blemish on the religion's history. Viscount Okeanos Tsitak has claimed (and proven, by his account) that this was, in fact, a merciliess genocide enacted by the Dragonmarked Houses themselves, claiming that the negative connotation was besmirching the name and reputation they had fought so hard to create. It took only a year before each person with the mark was said to have been slaughtered.  

Hidden History

Who was the first person to manifest an aberrant dragonmark? Did he consider his power to be a blessing or a curse? The answers will likely never be known. Over the course of centuries, archivists and bards have carefully compiled a one-sided version of history. The aberrants slain in the War of the Mark never had a chance to tell their story, and fact can no longer be distinguished from superstition.   Aberrant dragonmarks appear to have come into existence at the same time as the true dragonmarks. The first records of aberrant marks refer only to individuals as opposed to families. Scholars believe that aberrant dragonmarks appeared sporadically and were only rarely passed to children. Fragmentary histories paint a grim picture of the "children of Khyber," attributing all manner of depravity to the bearers of aberrant marks. Of course, these tales also attribute astonishing powers to the early aberrants, such as the story of one who burned down an entire thorp with a wave of his hand because he “desired warmth.” Whether these stories have any grain of truth or not, tales of aberrant activity grew more frequent over the centuries. Approximately fifteen hundred years ago, the appearance of aberrants reached an apex — and the bearers of the true marks decided it was time to act.  

In the Campaign

While the party was clearing out Shiksu's Mansion, there were several individuals found in her basement, where the ritual was completed. Most of the individuals were already dead, but each of them had the same strange mark. However, the party did encounter a human mother, Lasha, and her child, who managed to survive. With the help of Theobald and Torfe, the party brought the emaciated individuals back to the Loft, and helped rehabilitate them. After they were in a suitable condition, Lasha told them the following:

• Since the War of the Mark - an extermination that supposedly wiped out everyone with an aberrant dragonmark - the survivors had been living in the shadows, far from the notice of the public.
• Just in the past weeks, they’ve been rounded up all over Sharn, just weeks before Viscount Okeanos Tsitak publicly announced he had developed an aberrant dragonmark, and his campaign to learn about the mysterious mark.
• There’s something not right about his dragonmark. Since the War, the marks have almost exclusively been hereditary - a mother or father with a mark giving birth to a child with a mark. The only other supposedly known way is through inter-breeding of house marks, but he’s said nothing about his parents having been members of a Dragonmarked House.
• Most importantly, developing an aberrant dragonmark can make your life a living hell. Your body is wracked with pain, and your mind forms unintelligible thoughts that are agonizing to even try and comprehend. Developing one is usually not cause for pomp and circumstance.