Secrets of Xen'drik -- who has it?

[Hellcow]

a) a race of elves (Qabalrin) who were better at magic than the giants? No thanks. Sounds like somebody wanted some "super elves" but they just don't fit into the overall mythos of the setting to my mind.

Actually, the Qabalrin have been around for quite some time. The computer game Dragonshard is set in the ruins of Qabalrin civilization. In terms of being better at magic than the giants, that's a matter of opinion. Their magic was FEARED by the giants... but that can as easily reflect the fact that they were involved in unsavory practices (such as necromancy) as magic beyond the reach of the giants. In Firefly, one of the horrifying things about the Reavers is that they fly around with no containment on their reactors. It's not terrifying because their ships are BETTER than their enemies - quite the reverse. It's disturbing because they are doing something no sane person would do.

The Qabalrin were an advanced magical civilization; from a metagame perspective, this also provides a source of things like scrolls, spellbooks, and wands sized for humans and elves instead of made for giants (a giant's spellbook can be quite a pain for a human to deal with!). They were powerful enough and disturbing enough that the giants chose to shun and ignore them instead of trying to conquer them. But that in no way means they were MORE powerful than the giants.

b) warforged originally designed by Quori? Just seems so far removed from their modus operandi.

I've already commented on this in spoiler blocks above. But, as others have said, that's because the Quori of the present day AREN'T the Quori who were involved in the Xen'drik incursion. The two cultures have nothing in common, and the modern-day Quori are actually very interested in learning about the Quori of the past and why they did what they did. The Quori of the last age were destroyed; the Quori of the current age seek to avoid that fate.

 

[Hellcow]

Plus, Magic of Eberron also states that elemental binding is rightfully the monopoly of the Drow, who will one day send ninja assassins of doom to punish the Zils for their most blasphemous crime against Drow Kewlness. Sigh.

Right... which again, to my mind, is a half-truth. The Sulatar culture has maintained the elemental-binding techniques of their giant masters. However, they have specifically focused on fire elementals, and there's no indication that they have anything on the scope of the full airship. As such, the Zil gnomes - having explored additional elements, developed water and earth vessels, etc - have shown a level of innovation the drow don't appear to possess. The drow are the ones who are really just continuing to use the tools and techniques handed down by the ancients; the Zil are developing new things based on ancient inspiration.

And while I could certainly see Sulatar angrily attacking a gnome vessel that crosses their territory, the idea that they are aware of anything going on in Khorvaire seems fairly unlikely to me. With that said, consider: a party of adventurers with a gnomish wizard or artificer (or a member of another race who's learned Bind Elemental) is called in by an agent of the Trust. There have been a series of mysterious murders - deaths of the top elemental binders of the nation. The PC may be on the list. As the mystery unfolds, we discover it's a cult of mysterious, fire-wielding dark elves, who consider the actions of these foreigners a violation of their Promise of Fire. This may rile people's dislike of "kewl drow"... but at the same time, it certainly sounds like a good pulp serial plot to me.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I've already commented on this in spoiler blocks above. But, as others have said, that's because the Quori of the present day AREN'T the Quori who were involved in the Xen'drik incursion. The two cultures have nothing in common, and the modern-day Quori are actually very interested in learning about the Quori of the past and why they did what they did. The Quori of the last age were destroyed; the Quori of the current age seek to avoid that fate.

Ok, you've blown my mind. Is this stated in the ECS?

 

[Kishin]

Ok, you've blown my mind. Is this stated in the ECS?

Its explained in the Kalashtar section of Races of Eberron, and possibly again in the PGtE. It has to do with the Turning of the Ages and the way Dal Quor itself works, and as far as I understand it, this is how it goes.

At the heart of Dal Quor is the Quor Tarai, the Dream of the Age, which is derived from the dreams of the people dreaming on Eberron. The present Quor Tarai is its third incarnation, and learned Quori believe that inevitably, the Quor Tarai will pass on. When this happens, the Age Turns and Dal Quor implodes, then explodes into a new Quor Tarai. This wipes out all the Quori of that Age, but since everytime a Quori a replacement (albeit one with a different personality and clean slate of memories) is spawned from the Quor Tarai, the first thing the new Quor Tarai does is spit out a whole new batch of Quori. Thus, the Quori of this Age are as Keith said, completely different entities.

This also is the impetus behind the struggle between the Kalashtar and the Dreaming Dark. The Kalashtar believe the next Age will be an Age of light and joy, and thus want to accelerate the Turning of the Age and bring about that utopia. Meanwhile, since the current Quor Tarai is il-Lashtvar/The Dreaming Dark, the Dreaming Dark wants to prevent the Age from turning, thereby maintaining their power in Dal Quor.

Feel free to correct any errors in my reading. Far be it from me to claim total understanding or insist I hold the only 'correct' viewpoint.

 

[Hellcow]

Ok, you've blown my mind. Is this stated in the ECS?

It may not be. It's described in detail in Races of Eberron. The description of Shira in SoX discusses it some, as do The Dreaming Dark novels.

Kishin, it's not so much that the Quor Tarai is specifically derived from the dreams of mortals - IE, this is a bad age because the mortals are somehow bad people - as it is that the dreams of mortals can influence the turn of the age. Hence, the overall plan of the current quori is to create a stagnant, stable world and surpress creative thought, in the hopes that stability on Eberron will be reflected by a stable Dal Quor. Otherwise, right on.

And yes,the Quori of the present age know nothing about the Quori of the past... and if the age turned again, while there would be a new host of quor, they who have no knowledge of the Dreaming Dark. While evil, the present-day Quori are, in their view, fighting for survival (as were the Quori who fought the giants... and failed).

 

[Kishin]

It may not be. It's described in detail in Races of Eberron. The description of Shira in SoX discusses it some, as do The Dreaming Dark novels.

Kishin, it's not so much that the Quor Tarai is specifically derived from the dreams of mortals - IE, this is a bad age because the mortals are somehow bad people - as it is that the dreams of mortals can influence the turn of the age. Hence, the overall plan of the current quori is to create a stagnant, stable world and surpress creative thought, in the hopes that stability on Eberron will be reflected by a stable Dal Quor. Otherwise, right on.

Ah, thanks for the clarification, Keith. As a follow up, does this imply that the opposite of the quori plan (Encouraging the profileration of creativity and free thought, as opposed to supressing it) serves to hasten the turn of the age? If so, wouldn't the Kalashtar be out encouraging this sort of behavior in order to achieve their goals, rather than just waging a secret war on all things Dreaming Dark? Granted, I suppose Kalashtar conceit and innate sense of superiority to mortals is a factor here, but still, one might think at least a few would be willing to swallow their pride for the good of all.

Also opens up the door for some very interesting possibilities amongst Kalashtar, though. What if one of them gets into their head that chaos and discord goes a long way toward facilitating the turning of the age, and that sowing continued strife throughout Khorvaire is the best way to do this? Sounds like the makings of a pretty intriguing villian/villianous group.

 

[Kishin]

Ugh, double post. Sorry folks.

 

[Hellcow]

As a follow up, does this imply that the opposite of the quori plan (Encouraging the profileration of creativity and free thought, as opposed to supressing it) serves to hasten the turn of the age?

It certainly may. At the same time, most kalashtar are also concerned about the dignity and comfort of other beings, so most won't cause pure chaos if it places innocents in danger. But supporting art and innovation, certainly. And as you say, a pure anarchist Kalashtar movement would make a fine group of unexpected villains.

In general, I see the Kalashtar as following Tommy Lee Jones' philosophy in Men in Black. Why not reveal this secret war to the world? Because it would cause panic and chaos, and because - in their admitedly arrogant perspective - the common people are not equipped to help in the struggle. This is a battle between quori, and protecting the innocent from knowledge of it is one of their duties. Thus, they MAY support creativity and free thought, or outright chaos - but that doesn't mean that they'll explain their purpose in doing so to the people they work with.

Although, again, not all kalashtar agree with this; your anarchist group could certainly find a place in the world. .

 

[Dark Psion]

Dark Psion, could you say what the prereqs for this is?

thanks!!

Mike

Scorpion Wrath is a 5 level PrC with steep requirments

BAB: +4
Skills: Hide 8 ranks, Knowledge (Nature): 4 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks
Feats: Blind Fight, Inproved Initiative
Special: Must have Wild Empathy
Must be trained in Xen'Drik by a Scorpion Wraith

They get Poison Use, Sudden Stike, and various Darkness powers.
(And a very nice picture)


The Scorrow are a race (CR 7), not just some Drow who pissed off a godess. They are very predatory and migrate all over Xen'Drik, so think of them as very big Army Ants.

 

[SnowRaven]

And while I could certainly see Sulatar angrily attacking a gnome vessel that crosses their territory, the idea that they are aware of anything going on in Khorvaire seems fairly unlikely to me. With that said, consider: <snip>This may rile people's dislike of "kewl drow"... but at the same time, it certainly sounds like a good pulp serial plot to me.

How about we just have the Trust wipe out the drow to protect the elemental secrets?