Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

May Q&A Mailbag! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-05-05 20:01:43
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Hi everyone!

There's a lot of things in motion. Tomorrow I'll post the next piece of the Medani article, and I'll be posting polls to determine the next house we'll be covering and the subject of the next Q&A. Speaking of which, this month we'll have two live Q&As:

Saturday May 10 at 10 AM Pacific: Subject TBD. This will be a focused Q&A, but I don't have a topic yet. Post topic suggestions here or in the Discord, and I'll post a poll tomorrow!

Wednesday May 21 at 6 PM Pacific: Mailbag Miscellany. As usual, this will be where I'll answer questions on any topic from you.

POST QUESTIONS HERE. You can ask questions about anything: Eberron, my other games, game design in general, what I'm reading at the moment, or anything else. If I can answer a question in a few minutes, I might answer it here. Otherwise, I’ll answer the most interesting questions when I do the Mailbag Miscellany Q&A at the end of the month. As a general rule, I will only answer a maximum of one question per patron per month, so if you ask a lot of questions I'll only answer one of them!

The image here is Lady Undertow, a piece I commissioned from Matthew Johnson for the Atur game I ran at D&D in a Castle.

Thanks for your support!

Files

Comments

Earth Seraph Edna

Do you see any mortals other than giants and dwarves willingly emigrating to Risia (as opposed to, say, the Astral Plane) to eke out an eternal, stagnant existence there? I am interested in exploring the idea of mortals who have willingly emigrated to Risia's Frozen Sea, but I am not particularly interested in giants and dwarves for this particular gimmick. Perhaps Sarlonan humans, pre-Galifaran humans and Khoravar, mid-Galifaran humans and Khoravar, or Aereni elves?

Jarrod Taylor

Topic suggestion: Creatures like rakshasa, disguised dragons, hags, and Radiant idols in pre-Galifar cultures.

Dragonback Lancer

What would your ideal Eberron video game look like?

Jamie Gardiner

Hi Keith! Question about Creation forges this month! So as I understand it, the lore says a warforged body is built (presumably by some lovely Cannith chaps), popped into the forge and a soul is applied, kinda like D&D Build-a-Bear. So what happens if something else gets put in there? Say a young scion of the house puts their favourite teddy or dolly in there and manages to turn the thing on.... Would we get a doll with a soul? Are the souls "sentient humanoid" in origin and able to operate the body easily? Or could some be animalistic/bestial/aberrant etc? In fact, where do the souls come from? If a person were to enter, would they get another soul on top of theirs or would the original be replaced? Is there a Cannith ethics committee? What other Creation Forge accidents/combinations/scenarios could occur or have occurred?

Ben

On the Discord you were talking about how manual labor in Aerenal might involve the regular use of mage hand and unseen servants. What kind of magical transportation do you see in Aerenal? Roads with dragonshards to facilitate travel? Short or long distance teleportation between spirit totems? Ghostly forces moving folks along facilitated by the ancestors in the Undying Court through phantom steed or some other spell? All of the above depending on the family line?

Inquisitor Thomas

Since it's May the 5th at the time of writing: Let's say someone decides to take Eberron's Pulp Elements to it's logical extreme and builds a planet busting death laser, and blows up Eberron. What happens to all the immortals and the planes? Without a World to be a reflection of would they all disappear with world, or would Irian and Lammania start terraforming the new asteroid field?

Ender Darkos

How was life for your average Qabalrin ? Like how was childhood? Were the factions (Like the Shapers of Night and the Unspoken) entrenched so deep you were raised from birth into one? What did the average Qabalrin do as a life?

Nedgehog

If the Overlords were to be released, would their influence be limited to the same boudaries as the current location of their prison, or is it unrelated? What would some of those geographic domains be? I'm especially curious about Rak Tulkhesh, since his prison is scattered all over the place.

Micaerys

Hi, Keith! I hope you're having a nice day! Since the Lhazaar Principalities has received travelers from basically everywhere and some of their resident communities have a lot of elves and half-elves from different backgrounds... Would you say it's there where it becomes evident for them that their language has actually a supernatural element connecting them? I can't help but imagine how the reaction would be if a drow corsaire and an eladrin from Port Cairn met each other expecting nothing, and despite all odds their two versions of the language are compatible XD

hyperewok1

Is there any factual basis to any aspects of the Path of Inspiration?

dirDav3

Hey Keith, been a while. I'm currently running a game based on the article you wrote last year about mortals that are sent to or reborn in the Bitter Shield and forced to fight in the fiendish battles there to earn their freedom. My question is open ended. I have infernal war machines, but what comes to your mind about demonic mounts and monsters, beyond just typical Nightmares? I'm thinking like demon Owlbear and dinosaurs, that kind of thing

Vixenlover42

Antus ir'Soldorak was created before 5E introduced the idea of certain Mror clans, Soldorak included, using symbiotes and other Daelkyr creations. Do you see this new development potentially influencing how you might depict him and the Shadow Cabinet nowadays?

man-of-bvz1n3ss

While I know you have Eberron as separate from the other campaign settings of D&D, if characters from a different setting- say, the Forgotten Realms 'cause it's the vanilla setting- were to appear in Eberron, what sort of interesting interactions between the characters do you imagine would take place?

LordMiles

I would really love to know a bit more about your thoughts on the connections between the Draconic Prophecy and the Silver Flame. The main use of the prophecy that I have seen is that of The Chamber vs. The Lords of Dust and freeing the Overlords. The Silver Flame was made specifically to bind the Overlords, so if that is what the Prophecy is mostly about, then it seems like there should be some overlap? Does the Prophecy have some special relation to the Flame, or is that just sort of coincidence? The Prophecy being about way more, but those most familiar only using it to tease out paths for a specific path, i.e. anything to do with the Overlords.

Simon

Questions about the Kalarassa(Big fish monster cities from Exploring Eberron) of Thelanis. Why are Saughin unable to establish a city there or at least pilfer useful resources(what could be taken if anything- would the Thelanis Kalarassa reflect all stories or just the ones around

The Bard Himself

What is YOUR vision of The Ashen Spire? The mountain overlooking Atur. My players will be hiking up their next session and I'm trying to write for the trip. What sort of communities, wildlife, and influences can you expect from the Spire?

David Mitchell

Further to your comments on residents of Thelanis. I’ve always enjoyed the feyspires as one of the best additions to the setting from 4E. Although seemingly an excuse for Eladrin characters to become more playable in Eberron, I love the story ideas thrown up by these Brigadoon style Thelanian cities that have found themselves become permanent beachheads in the material plane since the mourning and have had to adjust to the varied environments they found themselves in (love the one under siege in Darguun and the Fortress of the Fading dream particularly). Originally we had the initial 7 feyspires. which were inexplicably all in Khorvaire (bar 1). These have varying amount of Canon and Kanon. Since then you have suggested there may be more with aquatic ones such as the Golden Reef in the Lhazar sea and a possible Feyspire in Everice. How would you explore feyspires in these varied regions and others such as in Riedra, Aerenal, Xendrik or Argonessen, the oceans, the demon waste or other areas that could be unusual (a moon of eberron?) or would you rather broadly keep to the original 7. Are there any examples of eberron inhabitants mounting a reverse invasion of Thelanis through a Feyspire. Would all Feyspires be Eleadrin and Gnomish or would you see any other interesting creatures (fey or otherwise) ruling these domains? I accept this could be a larger contribution than a Q&A topic. But even some broad brush strokes of ways to create new ones or whether you would would be interesting.

Zuruve

What does Lady Illmarrow think of the dragonmarked houses? I imagine she resents Phiarlan and Thuranni for not siding with her family, but what about the others?

Patrick Reupert

A question I came to mind recently was... The Names of Siberys, Eberron and Khyber, are they used worldwide and if so, how have they come to be? Like where there proto humans who just... Named it, was it Dragons declaring the names and spreading it?

Andre Soares

What was the Twelve called before there were twelve dragonmarks?

GalguthSpoon

I have read that Forge of War’s timeline and coverage of the Last War often conflicts with other lore and/or contains incorrect dates and times. Is there any chance of an updated Last War history at some point?

hostileeldritch

my characters are currently in the Demon Wastes and working with the Ghaash'kala, who have been said to not let outsiders that enter the Wastes leave. would being effective defenders and assistants be enough to persuade them to leave? would they be willing to make deals (do x or find y and we'll let you leave via the labyrinth)

Jaxson Lueb

In my Eberron I have had the Twelve meet up at Thronehold for a large meeting of the leaders of each house. So they can discus the last year, and plan for the next one, together. This also provided some NPCs to gather and make pleas to the Twelve as a whole, one such was a Daughter of Sora Kell to convince them to boost development of roads and ports in Drooam. I am curious if you would have something similar and where you would put it?

James McConnell IV

Hey Keith, as always thanks you for this opportunity to ask you questions: ) One of the things I love about Eberron is that a lot of the villainous NPCs are not *all* bad. I wondered if any of them had benign hobbies to help them pass the time, ie playing games, bird watching, spectating, crafts. I was thinking specifically Lady Illmarrow, The Lord of Blades, any of the warlords of Droaam, etc

Michael Hughes

Hi Kieth! A while ago, I had asked about a reading order for Eberron, as someone getting into the setting. I’m finally getting around to reading up on a setting I’ve been fascinated by for years. I’ve gotten: Rising, Exploring, Chronicles, Frontiers, and pdfs of the canon books. I’ve also gotten several Eberron Community pdfs on the Dmsguild based off of the recommendation post on your website (I may have gone a little overboard haha!). I’ve been on the Patreon for awhile, and know there are Q&As (like this one), recordings, a podcast?, and occasional opportunities to play in a game. I also know there are years worth of articles on your website. You had advised Rising from the Last Ware→ Exploring Eberron (Chapters 1-3) → Chronicles of Eberron (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 13, 15, then perhaps 9 & 10). After that, you then said go with what I want to use in my campaign. With all of these in mind, what would you recommend after finishing the order you recommended? I plan on trying to reading / watching / listening to everything eventually, but a recommendation for after that wouldn’t hurt. I’m currently reading through the Eberronican to get a quick overview before Rising.

Dan Smith

I’ve got a few questions so feel free to take your pick. 1. What is the origin story/myth for the Titans/Giants? We know the dragons claim to spawn from Siberys’ blood mixed with Eberron, but what did the titans believe about their creation/place in the world? I realize that’s a repeat and probably requires a more in depth answer, but I love giants so I’m curious what the Kanon myth is. 2. Does the Brelish Parliament have any restrictions on membership for those who are members of dragonmarked houses? Maybe better stated, would being an heir in a Dragonmarked House prevent someone from holding office? 3. In one of the Medani articles on the Basilisk’s Gaze you mentioned they have the authority to go after war criminals from thronehold nations. What about war criminals from non-thronehold nations? I’m thinking of both Cyre and Droaam in particular. 4. Less a question and more a request, but I’d love to get your thoughts on what you think is key in a Riedran Rebellion campaign. Similar to how you’ve written about themes and roles for a Silver Crusade, Spelljammer, or Q’barra/frontier campaign.

Matt Dance

Hello, Keith! I love the “psychologically lawful” take on goblinoids that you’ve written about. It seems pretty clear how it works for the Dhakaani and the Heirs of Dhakaan. To what extent does it apply to the more modern goblinoid cultures, given the impact of the Daelkyr invasion? How does that biological drive or psychological impulse toward “lawfulness” manifest itself in the Ghaal’dar? the Marguul? Droaamish goblinoids? city goblins?

Spike Hemphill

(More of a general world building question) How do you determine which mysteries in a campaign world to reveal to players and which keep to secret? I know sometimes some things don't need clear answers. I like your confidence in not revealing truth about the Mourning in any of games you run but I don't know when secret of a world is that important to keep unknown. As game master I like giving answers to things but I know that shouldn't reveal everything. My best tool right now is players' interest in a topic. Any other tips?

Jaxson Lueb

This might be a bit of a meta question, but I am very curious. Do you have plans to write more 'Thorn of Breland' books, or continue her story at this time, or have you set her down for now to tell other stories? A less meta question would be in Chronicles of Eberron, you mention that there are other Overlords and that no such full list should exist. What baseline characteristics would you say an Overlord would have to have? Must they embody a fear humanoids have like that of the unknown and magic gone mad? Can overlords form from Khyber from newer fears, or would newer fears just be funneled into existing Overlords? Like, would the possible fear of a class revolt if the Houses start demanding more of their workers, and the unionized create a new Overlord or go under the brand of a old one?

Will Thibault

I’m rereading my Eberron novel collection, and I started with The Dreaming Dark. On page 202 of The City of Towers, the party is playing a card game called Three Stones. From context clues it sounds like it’s played with a standard four-suit deck of cards, albeit using the elements as suits. Was Three Stones a renamed existing card game, and if not did you put any thought into its rules?

Benjamin Tucker Marcus

Thank you for your answer to last month's radiant idol question, and no worries on the Oni one! For this month, do you see Shavarath having any manifestations of the concept of mercenaries?

Jarrod Taylor

A reincarnated character keeps their dragonmark, but does not pass along their true mark. Are such individuals more likely to procure cross-ancestry aberrant marks the way mixed marks do, or are there too few reincarnated individuals to be able to tell? Can reincarnated individuals manifest dragonmarks of their new ancestry if they were previously unmarked or is it still a gnome soul in a human shell? Side note, the reincarnation tree mentioned in a Places of Prophecy article seems to be an outlier, do the people reincarnated it ever manifest the Mark of Scribing?

Carlton Anderson

Hi Keith! IYE, what are the plane-related limitations to what a quori can do with its powers and abilities in Dal Quor vs Eberron? I realize the canon answer will almost certainly vary by edition, but I'm curious what your personal opinion is on a conceptual level. For example, could a quori with a psionic version of the Modify Memory spell use that power to alter the memories of a dreamer it encounters in Dal Quor? What about a mortal vessel (willing, Inspired, or otherwise) it is actively possessing, or beings said vessel encounters on Eberron while the quori is possessing it? Similarly, do kalaraq mind seed their victims directly from Dal Quor, through vessels they are possessing on Eberron, or are both options? Your perspective on this would be very much appreciated!

Trying my best

Keith, given that the silver crusade was limited to Khorvaire (I assume) is lycanthropy more of a bug deal in other continents? Are shifters more common? Or not so much because the Wild Heart's prison is in Khorvaire, so it was the only continent to actually "need" a crusade?

James McAtamney

What exactly are creation patterns, and how exactly do they work? ECS just says they let someone "replicate an item faster and with less effort than someone working without a pattern," but are they meant to be foci that reduce time/gold/XP costs for building items, or doodads that can fulfill some prerequisites for making a given item, or semi-sentient magic items that can carry out some steps of the crafting process for a magewright or artificer, or repositories of alternate crafting "recipes" that are simply faster and cheaper than the by-the-book ones, or...? And how do the schemas that make up creation patterns fit into things? Magic of Eberron says individual schemas have their own powers, but the adventure series featuring Xulo the sentient creation pattern says its constituent schemas don't do anything until the pattern is fully assembled; which is closer to the kanon take on them?

Earth Seraph Edna

I am interested in implementing the historical figure Darya Blaze into my game. What details can you offer on her, other than that she was an aberrant-marked of the War of the Mark with fiery powers?

Earth Seraph Edna

Canonically, one of Mordakhesh's personas is a Platinum Concordian who runs the five Voices, propaganda newspapers. From the Aurum's perspective, even if they know nothing about the Lords of Dust, are they (particularly the Shadow Cabinet) aware that a Platinum Concordian is running the five Voices and ginning up a war?

Earth Seraph Edna

What does Tirashana actually do while in her primary Inspired vessel? If her specialty is mind seeding, is Tirashana not better off in Dal Quor, concentrating on doing that? What use does she possibly have for a dedicated Inspired vessel?

shinnya matsubara

In The Queen of Stone, Zaeurl said "Many innocents were killed in your war, I lost my first family at the hands of the Pure Flame." Assumed her family was skinchangers of evil strain, it is unlikely they were "innocents", especially in the first half of the crusade. I like the fact while she is evil lycanthrope, her grudge is righteous. Maybe she was born after the rebinding of Wild Heart? She thinks her family was not threatening eastern people at least in latter half of the crusade?

Triin

What's your advice for the spells of the Mark of Death that are in line with the other dragonmarks in 5R Eberron UA?

Sims

Late to the questions this month, but this one is inspired by the Necromancy article. 1.) Can a Seeker be a Templar? Seekers work toward the behalf of the common person, while Templars of the Silver Flame fight for the common person. Could, therefore, a Seeker have access to the Silver Flame as well? I. The Q&A to that articles, you mention that the Silver Flame presence in Karnnath is minor, but could they have split slightly off? Or could it be a whole other movement like the Ghaas’kala? 2.) Is there any mixing of the cultures or faiths in Eberron that interest or would interest you? Similar to the above question, but more broad. For example, the Restless Watch reveres both the Keeper (Dark Six) and Aureon (Sovereign Host). Is there an ogre clan in Western Droaam who fights with the Silver Flame, potentially led by a Bel Shalor Oni line? A Breland industrialist descended from Druids and can cast Awaken and has made self-moving carts where each piece is a living organism?