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October Q&A Mailbag (Patreon)

Published:
2025-10-07 00:41:26
Edited:
2025-10-07 00:42:03
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Hi everyone!I just got back from Japan, where as you can see above, I embraced my inner quori. October is the month of HOUSE GHALLANDA, and the first Ghallanda article will be posted soon!

We're going to have two live Q&As this month:

Wednesday, October 8th at 6 PM Pacific—Deep Dive: House Tarkanan.

Saturday, October 25th at 10 AM Pacific: Mailbag Miscellany. As usual, this will be where I'll answer questions on any topic from you. And with that in mind...

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. 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, but you can always pose unanswered questions again next month!

Thanks for your support!

Files

Comments

Earth Seraph Edna

How are you feeling about the power level of the generic NPC statistics blocks in Forge of the Artificer? https://www.enworld.org/attachments/img_6668-jpeg.411460/ For example, a generic "Boromar underboss" is CR 8, while a generic "Tarkanan marauder" is CR 11, in a system where an enemy of CR X is significantly stronger than a PC of level X. CR 8 is equivalent to a chain devil, a frost giant, a green slaad, a tyrannosaurus, or a young bronze dragon. CR 11 is equivalent to a horned devil. In contrast, in 3.5 Sharn: City of Towers, we see: "A typical Boromar agent is a 2nd- or 3rd-level expert or rogue, though there are a handful of specialists of 4th or 5th level." "Saidan Boromar (NE male halfling rogue 8)" "The active members of House Tarkanan generally possess aberrant dragonmarks and 2 or 3 levels in a player character class." "Thora Tavin (LE female human expert 3/rogue 6)"

Jamie Gardiner

Right, going with the Quori. How much do the general populace of say Khorvaire, know about them? Are regular folk aware of the Kalashtar and Quori? How much of this would a Kalashtar fresh off the boat know? How likey (obviously player dependant but for NPC purposes...) would a Kalashtar be to be preaching the Path of Light and the Truth of the Dreaming Dark?

Chase Landrey

Hi Keith. Welcome back to Portland! It's definitely an interesting time to be here... I had a small question about the Mourning. I'm DMing a sort of prelude session for my players that will take place on the border of Cyre during the Mourning. As the dead-gray mist rolls in, what are some of the things that they would see happen or conditions they might struggle against? Any recommendations for negative effects the mist itself brings beyond just disorientation? I'm already planning on having some magic that they cast become living spells. If this has been already covered in any other book or blog article, I'm happy to go dive into that too. Thank you!

Zachary Butler

How would you distinguish fiends from the Iron Ward of Daanvi and Tol Kharash (other than appearance)? I'm thinking of an adventure in Droamm that features both, but I'm concerned that they would feel too similar as factions. I considered having them ally as a single devil-tyrant faction, but I don't know why either group would bother to help the other.

hyperewok1

What did the home front look for the Five Nations during the war? What was life like for people in places like Wroat or Sharn that weren't under immeadiate threat (aside from infrequent incidents of falling towers)?

Ben

What’s the history of the tradition of the Cairdal Blades? Since some elves who manifest the mark of shadow in the modern era are inducted into the group, are they a derivative of the overall Phiarlan tradition, a preexisting culture of elves before the founding of Aerenal, or a group created by one or more sibling kings since the nation state first was founded?

Kris Miranda

I'm curious about the Darkwood Watch, the Cannith wand adept force mentioned in Sharn: City of Towers. How much combat do they actually see? Would a Thuranni assassin lose any sleep about the idea of having to go through or around one of them? What sorts of things might a member of the Darkwood Watch get assigned to other than guarding forgeholds?

Dragonback Lancer

What Magic the Gathering color identities would you assign to each of the dragonmarked houses?

PT MacKim

I love the “fields of thought” entry in the Xoriat section of “Exploring Eberron”… as a group of 20th level adventurers prepares to journey into that terrifying realm to defeat their very long time arch-foe Dyrnn the Corrupter once and for all (at least for now) on his home turf, what horrors might they face? Has anyone written a high level adventure set here that I could draw on, or are there some particular encounters and challenges that would work well on their way to face Dyrnn?

James McAtamney

It's pretty easy to see how most 3e Heirs of Siberys would use their dragonmark powers to benefit their Houses, but Cannith heirs are harder to pin down given that True Creation can make pretty much anything. If Merrix, Jorlanna, or Zorlan had a loyal Siberys heir on the payroll, how would they most likely try to employ that ability? Have the heir conjure tons of adamantine to let that branch craft and sell lots of high-end armor, or assign them to special projects to create one-off components that are otherwise difficult or time-consuming to build, or have them take unique art and gear commissions from wealthy nobles as a PR stunt to show off the power of that branch, or...?

Simon

Can Medusa shorten/cut their hair? If you cut a Medusa's snakes is that like cutting off their arm or just breaking their arm and disabling them

Lily

Did the Gith have dragonmarks or something like dragonmarks on their world? If so, what were they like?

Nikodaemon

Did you hear anything about Oni’s Right Hand in Japan? (Not my question, just curious) Question: If there were ever an Eberron movie (mentioned this during writer’s strikes, whenever that was, sounded like a scab at picket lines, apologies for that), would you watch it? (Like if so) And what would you hope to see in this depiction? Came out as 2 questions, truly final ask most important . Ty as always, love your content. Hair style fits/looks good.

Zuruve

Compared to the unique deities created for the setting, like the Progenitors and the Sovereigns, the Dragon Gods stand out. What motivated the inclusion into Eberron of gods from the Great Wheel cosmology?

Jarrod Taylor

For House Tarkanan, Magic of Eberron gives us spells like Detect and Suppress Dragonmark, while Dragonmarked includes spells like Mask Aberrant Dragonmark... do you think all of these were created during the War of the Mark, or are there any newer tools that have been discovered (or rediscovered) as the aberrant scions of Tarkanan are growing in number and power? What kind of foci might they use to evade the scrutiny of Medani?

Micaerys

Hi, Keith! I had a question about Jarot, since his mention in your Cannith article caused a small debate between me and my friend: It is about what was Jarot’s title before taking the throne (we know he wasn’t the Prince of Cyre because Mishann’s uncle and mentor had that one). My friend insists that Jarot’s obsession with war and the fact he had a Karrnathi tutor are clues of him being the Prince of Karrnath. Me, on the other hand, think that Thalin’s ambitions might have been justified if he had the title his father used to have as Prince of Thrane, and your own lore drop about his opinion about the Silver Crusade made me think about it again. Could we humbly ask for your wisdom about this subject? Thank you in advance, and thank you for such amazing articles!

Felix Shafir

Hey Keith, your May article on House Medani's history said that the "Khoravar of pre-Galifar Wroat largely lived in poverty and squalor. Barred from most guilds and universities, they lived in the shadows of the Throne City, surviving through work both honest and otherwise." Was this anti-Khoravar attitude limited to Wroat, and when did the attitude towards Khoravar improve? (Sorry, I originally posted this by accident in the September mailbag.)

David Armstrong

Ghallanda... Nice! Perfect for the month of November and the bountiful harvest. Oh wait... this is October. Nevermind, forget I said anything...

Beoric

Hi Keith. I don't think you have ever gone into any detail on the Skyraker Forest. Would I be right in assuming the name stems from the trees being tall? And are they tall due to a Lamannia manifest zone? Or maybe something more unusual like a Syrania manifest zone with the Unburdened property, on the theory that trees can grow taller if gravity has less of an impact on them? Or something else entirely?

Giuseppe Taverniti

Did the ancient dwarves of Sol Udar practice some form of necromancy?

Michael Hughes

Hi Keith, I understand that you're working on several projects currently. Of the Eberron books, was Expanding / Exploring (Sorry, I can't recall the exact title) still coming out this year, or will it be later? I'm meant to put together a Christmas list :)

Ender Darkos

I've wondered about that! How would Sarlonan history be different if the Quori had not interferred? Would some kingdoms have fallen? Would Ohr Kaluun have been eventually united? How would it look now in 998YK?

Sergei Lakissov

One thing I noticed with Eberron is that you often take some mechanical features from DnD, and then build upon them and how they are reflected in the world. Even when editions changed, you took some effort to explain the changes and harmonize them with the lore (in many cases, resulting to amendments of the existing lore). My question is: are you doing something like this for the new setting that you are creating for Daggerheart? Basically, are there some things from the game system that are going to influence the setting - or are you making it purely system-agnostic?

Benjamin Tucker Marcus

What sorts of transgressions would an immortal have to commit to be condemned to the Inescapable Prison? Would they have to simply commit great evil, or would it need to simultaneously be in violation of their Plane’s innate concept as well.

LM

Do the Grim Lords of Farlnen include only those of Elven ancestry, in the same way as the Court does in Aerenal, or do they generally accept any powerful undead in their ranks regardless of how they were in life? I ask since they seem more relaxed than their Aereni counterparts in judging who can earn their undeath.

The Bard Himself

In your vision of The Wardens of the Wood, how well do they function as the governing body of the Eldeen Reaches? They act as the spiritual advisors and military of Eldeen, but seem to have little expirience governing a nation. Who facilitates relations with the other nations and Dragonmarked Houses? who oversees the export, import and regulations of goods? And what are other factions and groups within Eldeen that want to and can help with ruling and governing?

man-of-bvz1n3ss

There's three voices in Thrane's Silver Flame: Tira Miron, Bel Shalor, and the couatl that guided Tira. We generally know what the first two do: Tira, the Voice in the Flame, guides the faithful towards virtue and tells them to fight supernatural evil, while Bel, the Shadow in the Flame, tells humans to be suspicious of each other for any sign of evil. But what's Tira's couatl like? Does it guide worshippers like Tira? Or did it just completely merge with the other couatls in the Flame to go silent?

Spike Hemphill

USpooky Niche Quori Questions for Halloween for you to pick one from 1. What type of dreams would Tsoreva, the spiteful mindblades create? Spite is the desire to harm, offend, or annoy. So would it be like the petty cruel fantasies people imagine.Like doing a epic prank on a teacher for giving too much homework or telling an annoying boss how you really feel about them? or is it something else? 2. Some Quori have titles like Karalaq be called Eyebinders or Du'ulora being known as Blackfuries but where do these titles come from ? Do the quori come up with them or is it name some past mortal cultures gave them ? Or does Karalaq translate into "eyebinder" in the Quori Language? 3. I like creating original Quori types but I really struggle with giving them good quori names. Despite how alien and fantastical Du'ulora or Uspvana look, they feel like real words. A friend recently suggested taking unrelated parts of words I already know and combine them in weird ways. Is that good start? An example being "Tresspella" for Quori that torments dreamers with songs of their secret shames ,taking "tress"from distress and "pella" from A cappella.

Matt Dance

Thoroughly enjoyed the Tarkanan deep dive! So, with reference to it, as well as the Medani articles a few months back: In your view, given their history, does House Medani ever protect, or even employ (covertly, perhaps?), aberrants in the present? And either way, what kind of interactions or relationship do they have with House Tarkanan (if any)? Just curious as to your thoughts! So many great ideas here.

小绵羊海兔

In Five Nations, it is written that the Voice of the Silver Flame will converse with Jaela Daran. What might they discuss? Would the Voice of the Silver Flame offer Jaela Daran advice on matters of daily life? For instance, might it suggest that a certain individual is a good sort and that she ought to cultivate friendship with them?

Herbert Helzer

Are all the twelve moons tidally locked to Eberron, or do one or more rotate on their own axis? Has anyone — sages, dragons, etc. — figured out the ascendant moon brightness phenomenon that aligns an ascendant moon with the month named for it?

Carlton Anderson

Following the recent deaths of King Kaius III and Regent Moranna IME, Kaius and Etrigani's unborn child is currently next in line for the throne of Karrnath. Assuming the child's legitimacy is accepted (which could take some doing) and that the babe survives long enough to eventually ascend the throne, how big an issue would them being the first(?) half-elven sovereign in Karrnath's traditionally human monarchy be? And, assuming Etrigani would not be considered a suitable Regent due to her foreign birth, how do you think Karranth would change with Kaius's brother Gaius as Regent given the time he spent in Thrane and his resulting Flamist inclinations?

Alex Franklin

How common are sentient magic items in Eberron, and how does this inform people's perspective on the Warforged?

Will Thibault

This is less of a question and more a request for help locating something: the question Keith answered on the Miscellany Q&A this month about alt-history Sarlona reminded me that he once wrote something to the effect that an early, pre-publication draft of the setting had significantly more countries, particularly off of Khorvaire to make a sort of “old world”. I wanted to find that to see if there were any ideas to mine, but I can’t locate it. Does anyone know to what I’m referring?

Matt Dance
>>192011151

I don’t recall that he wrote about this (though he very well may have), but I know it’s mentioned in at least one episode of the Manifest Zone podcast. I’m pretty sure it comes up in the Darguun episode, where I believe that human colonization of Khorvaire was discussed. Possibly also in the Riedra episode. Maybe others.

Earth Seraph Edna

How do non-dragonmarked transportation services, like non-Lyrandar ships and non-Orien wagons, manage to compete with their much faster Lyrandar and Orien counterparts in any way? It seems like only those on a very tight budget would bother with non-Lyrandar, non-Orien transportation.

keithbaker
>>192101310

So first of all: Non-dragonmarked services generally don't manage to compete with dragonmarked counterparts. This is why the Dragonmarked Houses have near-monopolies and wield incredible power. However, the point is that there are services even within their spheres that the houses don't offer because of limited demand. If you're trying to get to a small village off the beaten path, House Orien may not have coaches that run there, but Old Steve will take you there. One example of this is actually in Shadows From The Last War: the adventurers need to contract a non-house coachman (admittedly an Orien excoriate) because there is no Orien service to their destination. Non-house servers will want to find niches they can fill, which may be quite narrow. Keep in mind also that not every Lyrandar ship is an Elemental Galleon, just as not every inn is run by a Ghallanda heir. The Windwright's Guild licenses non-Lyrandar captains. Their ships aren't as fast as a ship manned by a Lyrandar crew, let alone an Elemental Galleon, but they MAY BE ALL THAT'S AVAILABLE -- and the license of the Windwright's Guild tells you that they are reliable. But the ultimate answer to your question is that the market in the Five Nations IS NOT COMPETITIVE. The Dragonmarked Houses hold monopolistic power over their spheres of influence, and businesses not aligned with a Guild or House have to find a specific niche if they are going to thrive.