Eberron Questions

[Vorput]

Is Eberron a globe? Does it say that anywhere? If so, can I just wrap my map around and get the approximate distance, or is there more space between khorvaire and Sarlona than the map shows?

I feel this should be an obvious question... but I haven't found an answer in my books.

Question the second: Where is the mark of death detailed? I know there a brief mention in the EBC around the other dragonmarks, and then a bit more under the Blood of Vol section- but is it described more fully anywhere else?

Thanks all!

Vorp

 

[Nightfall]

There's some stuff about the Mark of Death in I believe the Mark of Death series by WotC. I believe also the Dragonmarked book might have some more info on it.

 

[Vorput]

There's some stuff about the Mark of Death in I believe the Mark of Death series by WotC. I believe also the Dragonmarked book might have some more info on it.

Didn't see ANYTHING in the dragonmarked book when I looked actually, what/where is the Mark of Death series?

 

[Nightfall]

This the Lost mark series. Well the first book anyway...

It deals with the Mark of Death.

 

[Solarious]

Okay, Eberron is assumed to be a globe. The human-orc mixed tribes of the Shadow Marches, the Carrion tribes of the Demon Wastes, and some of the followers of the Binding Flame in the Labyrinth are all decendants of Sarlonian refugees fleeing wars and unrest the Quori invoked in their rise to power. The Barren Sea is probably larger than the Lhazaar Sea/Sea of Rage, sorta like a Eberronian equivilant of the Pacific Ocean, otherwise travel and commerce would involve the east coast of Sarlona and the west coast of Khorvaire, rather than the other way around (see the very end of the ECS for the map/globe of Eberron).

The Mark of Death is a DM device to be played with by DMs for the purposes of their story, much like things like the ultimate truth of the Mourning and other such campaign 'secrets'. It can be any kind of power, but please keep in mind Erandis d'Vol's mark is supposed to be more powerful than conventional marks on it's own: sorta like an Eldritch Machine of Dragonmarks, at least according to Keith Baker. You can also change this detail, however, since Eberron was ment to be very pliable to the game, and not the other way around.

 

[Glyfair]

IQuestion the second: Where is the mark of death detailed? I know there a brief mention in the EBC around the other dragonmarks, and then a bit more under the Blood of Vol section- but is it described more fully anywhere else?

Eberron has a lot of mysteries in the campaign setting. They tend to fall under two types of mysteries.

1) The "common knowledge" mysteries: These are the mysteries that are intended for the players to know (not necessarily the characters). These are mentioned in the source material and players can't help knowing the information if they play in Eberron a lot, read the novels, or read the sourcebooks. They help add to the feeling of the setting.

These include things like who is behind the Blood of Vol and the Emerald Claw, the secret of Kaius', where these new warforged seem to be coming from in Sharn, etc.

2) The "DM option" secrets: These are secrets that are left vague so that DMs can customize their campaign. Even these fall into two categories. DMs can create their own interpretation of the secrets for their campaign. They allow their players to explore the mysteries without any fear of stumbling on the answer in any source material.

The other variation on this sort of secret is the "secrets man wasn't meant to know." These are the secrets that are designed to make sure that everything isn't quantifiable. There are some things that no matter how deeply the PCs explore them they will never find the answer. The most common one I've seen usually adhered to is the "do the gods really exist, and whre are they" secret. I also think that the Mournland should usually fall in this category.

The good thing about Eberron is that any of these "DM option" secrets can fall into either category. The DM can explore the ones he wants to explore in his game, and leave the ones he doesn't "mysterious."

The Mark of Death is a DM device to be played with by DMs for the purposes of their story, much like things like the ultimate truth of the Mourning and other such campaign 'secrets'.

To tell the truth, I think the Mark of Death is much more of a "secrets man was not meant to know" direction mystery. After all, the last surviving member of the House is only surviving because they are undead, and thus can't use the mark.

Still, because it is the "Mark of Death" people just need to put their own spin on it because "death is cool." Even WotC isn't immune, exploring it in the aforementioned book series.

I'm actually surprised that the number of DMs who want to explore the issue on forums is pretty close to the number of players who want to know so their PC can have the Mark. To me, that's one that won't ever be official and will only matter if the PCs ever encounter Vol and ask her what it does. Even then it won't be "statted."

 

[Stone Dog]

There's some stuff about the Mark of Death in I believe the Mark of Death series by WotC.

As a fairly important aside, nothing in the novels is canon to the setting. The events in the Mark of Death series or Dreaming Dark trilogy or any of the other books are never assumed to actually take place in Eberron.

 

[Merkuri]

The events in the Mark of Death series or Dreaming Dark trilogy or any of the other books are never assumed to actually take place in Eberron.

Unless you want them to.

One of the things I liked about Eberron is how customizable it is. There are so many things that aren't laid out in the official material (like the Mark of Death) that a DM can do whatever they want with it. My group's Eberron may be completely different than your group's Eberron and neither of us could be doing it "wrong."

About the round thing, Eberron is referred to as a planet in the core book a few times (some being pg 129, 3rd paragraph and pg 130, 1st paragraph). I believe they also talk about Sarlona being both east and west of Khorvaire, but I can't find that reference right now. It's definitely round, but I don't think they come out and say it in those words.

 

[Doug McCrae]

These include things like who is behind the Blood of Vol and the Emerald Claw, the secret of Kaius', where these new warforged seem to be coming from in Sharn, etc.

My feeling is that GMs should change the answers to those mysteries if their players have read the ECS. My Order of the Emerald Claw is secretly controlled by King Kaius for example.

 

[Nightfall]

Stone Dog,

Eh? Then what's the point of writing a novel for D&D?! *actually knows but like to stir this pot on occasion*