Much of the influence of the dragonmarked houses is based on a simple principle: it’s easier to amplify an existing magical effect, such as that of a dragonmark, than to create the same effect from nothing. Taken on their own, the powers granted by dragonmarks aren’t overwhelmingly powerful. However, over the course of centuries, House Cannith and the Twelve have developed items that focus and enhance the powers of the mark to produce powerful, reliable effects. In many cases—such as the storm spires of House Lyrandar and the creation forges of House Cannith—the Arcane Congress has been unable to duplicate the effects of these powerful focus items for non-dragonmarked creatures. Other items have since been reproduced in forms that anyone can use, but an item that requires the user to possess a specific dragonmark is always easier to create and less expensive than one that produces the same effect for anyone, giving the dragonmarked houses an important advantage.
This chapter provides several new dragonmark focus items. In addition, you could have a dragonmark focus item that produces the same effect as an existing magic item from the Dungeon Master’s Guide—except it can’t be used or attuned unless you possess a particular dragonmark. House Lyrandar is working on a version of a broom of flying for dragonmarked heirs, though they haven’t perfected it yet. House Ghallanda is developing a portable inn—a version of the instant fortress— but it’s proven difficult. It’s always up to the DM to decide if there’s a dragonmark focus item that replicates the effects of any given magic item, and if so, how readily it’s available.
The Dragonmark Focus Items table provides examples of focus items, along with the item whose effects they reproduce and the mark required to use or attune to the focus item. A focus item’s rarity is generally less than a similar item that anyone can use, reflecting the relative ease of manufacture. However, this doesn’t mean they are readily available; dragonmark focus items are rarely sold in stores. They can only be created using proprietary tools, and are produced exclusively by House Cannith and the Twelve for use by trusted agents of the dragonmarked houses. So while many Medani inquisitives wear Medi spectacles, they acquired them through service to the house, not by purchasing them with gold.
While a dragonmark focus item usually has the same general appearance as the item whose effects it duplicates, it bears the image of the required mark somewhere on the item, and often carries the sigil of the associated house. Siberys dragonshards are a vital component of focus items, most including a shard in some form. With that said, a focus item’s design can differ from the usual magic item’s form—the serpentine mirror has a similar effect to a crystal ball, but it’s a flat mirror as opposed to an orb.
Source: Exploring Eberron
Ideas
- Guardian's Circlet - Position Switcheroo when friendly is under attack by Deneith
- Madeths' Magical Musician - Calm Emotions music box by Ghallanda
- Benefactor Armor - Jorasco healing boost
- Stern Handler's Wraps - Feral Heart invention for handling dangerous abominations
- Chainreach Weapon - Chain that enables long-range attack made by Cannith
- Resolute Armor - Deny forced movement
- Coverbreaker Weapon - Tharashk search & destroy weapon
- Amulet of the Diplomat - Sivis Protect against charm/authentication
- Tempest Fan - Lyrandar implement
- Forgemaster's Gloves - Protection against fire
- Inquisitive Goggles - Medani see through illusions
- Tenebrous Shroud - Become invisible after getting hit
- Ring of the Warforged - Allow user to wear warforged components
- Sandals of the Temporal Step - Orien gotta go fast fast fast
- Channeling Wand - lets you cast mark spells and/or improve
- Dragonmark Channel, Dragonmark Reservoir - cast mark spells
- Helm of the Sentinel - Contingent Counterspell, Protection from Energy, or Shield of Faith
- Rod of Wild Dominion: Dominate beast, improved Vadalis