Aberrant Dragonmarked A character theme for Eberron (4e)
We are the forgotten, the lost, the hunted, and the reviled. We are marked by prophecy; for what, we cannot say. But we will not lie down and die because of your fear and ignorance. Lord Halas Tarkanan Not all who bear a Dragonmark are members of a Dragonmarked House. Some live as outsiders, with strange marks that grant wild and terrifying powers. The live on the fringes, the edges, in the shadows, for they bear a mark so many fear: an Aberrant Dragonmark. There was a time when the so-called Aberrant Dragonmarked appeared with great frequency. At the height of this era, Lord Halas Tarkanan and the Lady of Plague raised an army of their cohorts and fought against the tyranny of the Dragonmarked Houses. Chaos reigned and Death stalked the lands. In the end they were put down at great cost, and the power of the aberrant marks dwindled. But it did not disappear. The Aberrant Dragonmarks still manifest. House Tarkanan, a shadowy organization credited with many nefarious deeds, formed in the ruins of Sharn and still exists to this day, a potential haven for those bearing a cursed mark. Humanoids of all shapes and sizes may bear one. The 13 houses still hunt down those bearing an aberrant mark; and the people of Khorvair still remember, through tale and legend, the horrors brought down upon them by Tarkanan and the Lady of Plague. You are one of the unlucky few who manifested an aberrant mark. Did it appear at birth? At puberty? During a time of great stress? Does anyone know about it? Friends, family, enemies? Are you on the run or are you living in constant fear of being discovered? Or have you embraced your power and sought out others like you? Are you part of a small cabal or a member of the shadowy House Tarkanan? Your mark comes with a heavy price, but it does grant you power. It is up to you to decide how to use it Prerequisite: Aberrant Dragonmark of (Contagion, Madness or Terror) feat Aberrant Dragonmarked Starting Feature: Living with your Aberrant Dragonmark and being on the run from so many has taught you a thing or two. You gain a +2 power bonus to Streetwise checks and the Least Aberrant Dragonmark power (see below). Aberrant Dragonmarked Level 5 Feature: Your time spent hiding your mark has paid off. You master the Conceal Dragonmark ritual as if you had the ritual caster feat, and you can perform it once per day without expending components. In addition, you gain a +2 power bonus to Bluff checks.
Aberrant Dragonmarked Level 10 Feature: You can now use Least Aberrant Dragonmark 2/day, and your Dragonmark grants you the following additional ability: Contagion +4 power bonus to Endurance checks; Madness +4 power bonus to Insight checks; Terror +4 power bonus to Intimidate checks. Powers Least Aberrant Dragonmark * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack You have learned to release the chaotic energy of your aberrant mark in a burst around you, assailing mind, body and soul. Daily * (Varies) Action Minor Action Area close burst 1 (2 at paragon, 3 at epic) Target creatures in burst Attack highest ability modifier +3 (+6 at paragon, +9 at epic) vs Fort (contagion), Ref (Terror) or Will (Madness) Hit 1d10 (2d10 at paragon, 3d10 at epic) + highest ability modifier damage and the target is pushed one square. Effect One creature (At paragon: two creatures. At Epic: all creatures) hit by this power gains the following condition based on your mark: Contagion: ongoing 5 poison damage (10 at paragon, 15 at epic) (save ends). Madness: ongoing 5 psychic damage (10 at paragon, 15 at epic) (save ends). Terror: ongoing 5 thunder damage (10 at paragon, 15 at epic) (save ends). Special Contagion: this power deals poison and necrotic damage and gains the Poison and Necrotic keywords. Madness: this power deals psychic damage and gains the Psychic keyword. Terror: this power deals thunder damage and gains the Thunder keyword.
Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark of Contagion * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 5 You draw energy from your mark, forming a ball of disease ridden filth in your hands. Hurling it at a foe, it burrows inside and explodes outward, harming all around the target. Daily * Necrotic, Poison Action Standard Ranged 5 Target one creature Attack highest ability modifier +3 (+6 at paragon, +9 at epic) vs Fort Hit 2d12 + highest ability modifier poison and necrotic damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 + ½ your level poison and necrotic damage and is weakened (save ends). Miss half damage and the target is weakened until the end of your next turn. Effect make a secondary attack: Area close burst 3, centered on the target Target creatures in burst Secondary Attack highest ability modifier +3 (+6 at paragon, +9 at epic) vs Fort Hit highest ability modifier poison and necrotic damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 + ½ your level poison and necrotic damage and is weakened (save ends). Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark of Madness * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 5 You let out an anguished mental scream, opening a window into your tormented mind. Anyone close enough to see your eyes is left disoriented by what they see. Daily * Psychic Action Standard Area Close blast 5 Target creatures in blast Hit 1d10 + highest ability modifier psychic damage and the target is dazed (save ends). Miss half damage and the target cannot make opportunity attacks until the end of your next turn. Aftereffect creature cannot make opportunity attacks (save ends). Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark of Terror * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 5 With a snarling roar, your dragonmark shines brightly with an unearthly glow, through clothes and armor alike. Those close to you are overwhelmed with horror and run away, cowering in fear. Daily * Fear, Thunder Action Standard Area Close burst 3 Target creatures in burst Hit 3d6 + highest ability modifier thunder damage, and the target is knocked prone and restrained (save ends both). Miss half damage and the target is knocked prone. Effect push the target up to a number of squares equal to your highest ability modifier. Greater Aberrant Dragonmark of Contagion * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 9 Your mark seems to roil and ripple, as if countless maggots writhed under your skin. Necrotic filth drips from your mouth, ears and nostrils and your breath comes as poison gas.
Daily * Healing, Necrotic, Poison, Stance Action minor Target self Effect Until the stance ends, any creature that starts its turn adjacent to you becomes slowed and weakened for as long as it remains adjacent to you. If it moves or is forced to move away from you it is slowed and weakened (save ends). Special while in this stance, you may use the following attack. Doing so ends the stance. Greater Aberrant Dragonmark of Contagion Attack You reach out and grasp someone affected by your contagion, drawing strength from their sickness. Action standard Melee 1 Target one creature Attack highest ability modifier +3 (+6 at paragon, +9 at epic) vs Fort Hit target takes 1d10 plus your highest ability modifier necrotic and poison damage and is slowed and weakened (save ends). You regain hit points as if you had spent a healing surge. Miss target takes necrotic and poison damage equal to your highest ability modifier. You regain hit points equal to your highest ability modifier. Aftereffect each time you hit the target with an attack, you regain hit points equal to your highest ability modifier (save ends). Special you can only target a creature currently under the effects of your Greater Aberrant Dragonmark of Contagion stance. Greater Aberrant Dragonmark of Madness * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 9 You assault the target s mind, driving it mad. They gibber and laugh and wail and lash out with no regard to friend or foe. Daily * Psychic Action Standard Ranged 10 Target one creature Hit The target is dazed and gains the following condition (save ends both): At the start of the targets turn, roll 1d4. 1: the target stands and does nothing on its turn. 2: the target acts normally. 3: the target attacks or charges the nearest creature with a melee basic attack (roll randomly if there are multiple targets that fit this criteria). 4: the target attacks itself with a melee basic attack. Miss the target takes 1d10 + highest ability modifier psychic damage and is dazed until the end of its next turn. Effect slide the target up to 5 squares. At the end of the move, it attacks the nearest creature with a melee basic attack. Aftereffect target is dazed (save ends). Greater Aberrant Dragonmark of Terror * Aberrant Dragonmarked Attack 9 Your dragonmark glows a fiery red as you exude an aura of absolute terror.
Daily * Fear Action Standard Area close burst 3 Target enemies in burst Hit the target is pushed up to a number of squares equal to your highest ability modifier and takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, grants combat advantage and will not attack or move closer to you until the end of your next turn. Miss the target is pushed up to a number of squares equal to your highest ability modifier. Effect you gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until the end of the encounter or until you are first bloodied, whichever comes first. Special you cannot use this power when bloodied. Sustain Standard Repeat the attack. *It is impossible to hide your Aberrant Dragonmark when using any of these powers. Any witnesses will know that you bear one. *The level 5 ability is shamelessly stolen from embertiger :) New Background Aberrant Dragonmarked As one of the unlucky few cursed with an Aberrant Dragonmark, your life has been shaped by prophecy since before you were born. When did it manifest? How has it affected your life? Your relationships? Did it drive you to adventure? And what part do you play in the great Draconic Prophecy? Associated Skills: Bluff, Streetwise You gain a +2 bonus on either Bluff or Streetwise checks. Alternately, you may pick Bluff or Streetwise: this skill is now a class skill for you.