Aberrant Marks

The twelve true dragonmarks are central to life in Khorvaire. Even those who have never seen one firsthand know of the dragonmark powers and the exploits of the heirs who carry them. However, few know that not all the dragonmarks of Khorvaire fit within the hierarchy of the twelve houses—and those who do know have reason to keep such knowledge to themselves.

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.

Dark Reflections

On the surface, aberrant dragonmarks are similar to their true counterparts. An aberrant mark allows its bearer to make use of a spell-like ability once per day. 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. The true dragonmarks have a standard form. Two characters with the lesser Mark of Passage have exactly the same design on their skin, and each mark is drawn in lines of vivid blue and green. A child of two dragonmarked heirs has a good chance of manifesting a mark, and all dragonmarks of a particular type bestow the same range of powers on those who bear them.

None of these things holds true for aberrant dragonmarks. 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.

This has contributed to the dark reputation of aberrant dragonmarks, with observers often mistaking such disfigurement as a symptom of disease. However, this scarring is usually confined to the mark, and has no adverse effect on the bearer. The child of aberrant parents might develop an aberrant dragonmark, but if so, it could bestow any of the aberrant powers. There is no Mark of Fire or Mark of Fear, and this lack of a clear lineage is a defining element of the aberrant marks.

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, the archivists and bards of the dragonmarked houses have carefully compiled a onesided 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 fi fteen hundred years ago, the appearance of aberrants reached an apex—and the bearers of the true marks decided it was time to act.

The War of the Mark

The War of the Mark transformed the dragonmarked houses into their modern form. It solidified the early influence of House Cannith and House Deneith, both of which brought signifi cant military force to bear in the struggle. House lore presents the war as a bold struggle to eliminate the deadly threat posed by those bearing aberrant dragonmarks. A close study of historical documents suggests that aberrant dragonmarks began to appear in far greater numbers in the century prior to the war, and that many of these marks carried great destructive power. However, revisionist scholars claim that the so-called war was largely fought to secure the power and prominence of the true dragonmarked bloodlines, and to eliminate a possible source of competition.

Whatever the rationale behind the conflict, its first few years were one-sided. Spread across the Five Nations, the aberrants were hunted down and exterminated by their better-organized and well-disciplined foes in the dragonmarked houses. The war might have ended then if not for Halas Tarkanan. Tarkanan organized the surviving aberrants into an army. Under his leadership, the aberrants proved a surprisingly resilient foe.

Tarkanan, known as “The Earthshaker,” possessed a dragonmark with great influence over natural forces, but his strategic brilliance often played a greater role in battle. His consort, an enigmatic woman known only as The Lady of the Plague, was considered an even greater threat. Though she is commonly depicted as a monster in folktales, many scholars have observed that she seems to have used her powers only when forced to, and might even have despised her gift—facts carefully omitted from the official Sivis histories.

Though Tarkanan’s efforts extended the confl ict, the aberrants fell in the end. Tarkanan himself was trapped in the siege of Sharn, where the last of his forces had taken refuge. When it became clear that he and his followers were doomed, Tarkanan and his lieutenants unleashed the full power of their aberrant dragonmarks—power sufficient to destroy the entire city. Earthquakes shattered its towers, hordes of vermin rose from the depths, and terrible plagues ravaged those who ventured too close to the ruins. Many think that The Lady of the Plague’s death-curse still lingers in the depths of Sharn, the source of creatures such as the feral spirit, roach thrall, and rancid beetle swarm.

Aberrant Dragonmarks in the Modern Day

After the fall of Tarkanan and the aberrant armies, aberrant dragonmarks were all but lost to history. The houses strictly forbade any liaisons between their members, and children of such pairings were often killed at birth. The number of aberrant dragonmarks appearing among the general populace dropped dramatically. In the aftermath of the War of the Mark, the propaganda of the dragonmarked houses depicted aberrants as terrifying monsters. Many aberrant children among the general population are thought to have been killed by their own parents.

The rise of the Kingdom of Galifar placed limits on the power of the dragonmarked houses. Over the centuries, the nobles of the Wynarn line forbade the killing of aberrant children, and it soon became clear that the aberrant dragonmarks of the present day lacked the power or malign influences of their predecessors. An aberrant heir might possess the power to feather fall or detect secret doors—a far cry from the power to spread plague or destroy a city.

The old superstitions remain, but they are losing their power. Few believe the old claim that the aberrant dragonmarked are the children of the Dragon Below, as the horrors of the Last War have driven such concerns from the mind of the common folk.

However, change is in the wind. For over a thousand years, aberrant dragonmarks have been weak and trivial things. Now the marks are appearing more frequently, and rumors speak of aberrant dragonmarked with unusual and potent powers.

These new aberrants are often drawn to the Cults of the Dragon Below, providing a significant boost to the power of these fringe sects. Meanwhile, an organization known as House Tarkanan combs the land for aberrant heirs, training them in the use of their abilities. Even as it builds power in the criminal underworld, House Tarkanan combs ancient ruins for aberrant treasures: the weapons and tools wielded in the first War of the Mark.

To date, no child of Khyber has manifested powers on a par with Halas Tarkanan or the Lady of the Plague, but the leaders of House Tarkanan believe that it is only a matter of time. They believe that a second War of the Mark is inevitable. This time, they intend to be ready.