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February Q&A Mailbag (Patreon)

Published:
2026-02-03 16:54:09
Imported:
2026-02

Content

Hello, Everyone!

It's February and I've got my nose to the grindstone. The next Kundarak article will be posted tomorrow, and next up is HOUSE PHIARLAN! We’ll have two live streams this month:

Wednesday, February 11th at 6 PM Pacific—Deep Dive: Religion

Saturday, February 28th at 10 AM Pacific—Mailbag Miscellany

I still have a number of projects I'm just on the verge of being able to talk about, including Daggerheart news.

And now… 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

Minori Kaemon

When a Seeker cleric uses guidance or any other buffing spell, where is the magic coming from and flowing through? Is the magic flowing from the Seeker's inner divinity to the target or is the Seeker somehow invoking the target's own inner divinity?

Inquisitor Thomas

This less of a lore question and more of a running the game question: I've always kind of struggled with Detect Magic in Eberron, especially in places where the wide magic is going to be particularly abundant like Upper Sharn: How do you handle Detect Magic without it becoming "Oops all these various magic auras is creating too much noise here to actually determine anything useful." Alternate Question: How much legal responsibility does someone under the effect of a magical curse have? Like let’s say for example you’ve been cursed to become a bloodthirsty monster during the night, and you’ve killed several people while under the effect of that curse, but a group of adventurers break the curse. How liable are you for the murders? What if you have some degree of free will like you’re under a Geas to commit a murder, and the Geas will almost certainly kill you if you fail to comply?

Jesse

Really excited for the Phiarlan articles! My Changeling Menagerie actually has ties to House Phiarlan (mainly through the Entertainers Guild) so I've been looking forward to getting a deep dive on that house and their businesses! Also want to say I love the 2024 version of Exploring Eberron, many of the updates are just what I was hoping for, Focused Persona as an Origin Feat has me developing my Changeling's main 2 personas even more than I was before (going so far as to influence my selection of spells to represent persona specific skills). My question for this month is, do Travelers (as in the followers of the Traveler) see the other gods of the Soverign Host as aspects of the Traveler or as distinct dieties? I could see a take where they treat the Traveler like a "many faced god", like from Game of Thrones where the faceless men see all gods as different aspects/personas of one god, but I could also see reason for Travelers to keep the gods of the host distinct and separate individuals. Curious what your take is or if you've ever considered that perspective for Travelers.

Sims

Congratulations once again on the Exploring become DNDBEYOND approved! Currently finishing up Doom of Kings and reading thru the new Exploring, so these questions may be Dhakaani based more than others. 1A.) This one in particular is very try long and may be more of an IFAQ type of question if your train of thought ever has that fancy. In Doom of Kings, we hear about two Dhakaani dynasties. The one a Kuun became consort to before it fell and the Riis dynasty, which Danrak Riis was the 27th lord of but not the last. The implication is that the Dhakaani have had multiple imperial dynasties, which rose and fell like the Roman/Byzantines imperial families but rather than a century or two, likely multiple centuries. How did the Dhakaani succession work? What determines the new dynasties? Was their infighting in the empire? In Frontiers (but not re-updated in new Exploring), one of the Six Kings was Guul’dar. Have there been Guul’dar or even short-lived golin’dar dynasties? In Exploring, Jhazaal is stated to the be first Marhu; was her bloodline the first, or was the marhu and immediately abdicated? 1B.) Similar, but less. Again, in Doom of Kings, there is a rivalry of sorts between the gnome archaeologicalist and the Kech Volarr ghaal’dar duur’kala - a researcher of empirical facts and a storyteller of word of mouth. In multiple cases, the gnome either disproves the duur’kala tale or their combined knowledge confirms it. The ancient emperor Dabrak Riis did not know Kech Volarr, being born far before the Xoriat Invasion and the Kechs being - as described in Exploring - as armies founded in response of Dyrnn’s Kaapa’vola. While books are neither quite canon nor Kanon, it does pose the question of what do the duur’kala and Kech clans know of the empire of Dhaakan, as the formed in its death throes. Does the average Darguul know 5%, the Korranberg researcher 15 in an express area and the Kech Dhakaani 45%? The best comparison I might make is the Kech Dhaakan remind me of the Palaugious Byzantine Empire - they are still fundamentally and legally the heirs to Dhaakan and the Princeps but time as has passed. Darguun may be the Holy Roman Empire. 2.) Turakbar uses the title ‘Rhesh,’ as did his predecessors to at least Rhesh Tora. Rhesh is one letter away from the dar word lhesh, or warlord. The implication being that Rhesh is a barbarized version of lhesh. The question is, if true, how did this change in language happen? Are their other examples? 3.) Two parter but the least long winded. In new Exploring, there was some updates made to races/class/feats. If and when Frontiers get the Beyond treatment, will tieflings get an update, too? One thing I noticed that was weirdly missing was the Daanvian Tiefling, despite Daanvi having the Iron Ward? I would imagine they may resistance to force, mind sliver, command and mind spike as spells? Second was the Shavarath Tiefling. Rather than a resistance, they get proficiency with light and medium armor which always seemed underwhelming for the war world Tiefling. While the concept makes sense, I would imagine most such tieflings would be fighters, paladins, rangers or barbarians, which would made the ability redundant. I always thought a +1 AC would be universally better.

Stephen

In a world where divination magic widely exists (e.g., the spells augury, divination, and commune are all purchasable services), how does gambling work? For example, what stops someone from purchasing a Divination spell service from House Medani to determine the winner of the Race of the Eight Winds, and then betting large sums on the competitor they were told would win?

Micaerys

Thank YOU for all the cool stuff you post! Ok, my question: Given that the Eldeen Reaches have become independent less than a century ago, how did this change affect the fey-mortal relationships in Aundair? Some families and towns have bonds with the fair folk that come from before the Last War, so, did this shift in the political map altered those dynamics, given that Thelanian and Aundairian logic might not always align? Especially in regions like the Duskwood, which changed hands not once, but TWICE? Are the local fey there (such as Clever Dyran's kin) confused about why those mortals can't decide what they are? XD

MikeZ

Thank you for your awesome work! I haven’t had a chance to listen to the January Q&A yet, but following up on my question from last month about funeral traditions across different parts of Khorvaire, I wanted to ask about funerary traditions in Riedra. What do funeral ceremonies look like there, if they take place at all? Are there cemeteries or dedicated places of veneration for the dead, especially considering the beliefs about ancestral spirits that are said to be the source of the Inspired’s inspiration? I imagine such moments would also be a powerful opportunity to gather emotions for the needs of sentira. And finally, how do the burial practices of common people differ from those of the Inspired?

Kristen Farebrother

I've got a bit of a two-parter, cheeky I know but they're inter-related... How did the Dhakaani legal system work compared to the Code of Galifar and how much is it still reflected in modern day Darguun?

Jarrod Taylor

Religion Question: In the Talentan faith we have Bally-Nur, a halfling similar to Pyrine's Balinor. Is Orlasca treated as an analogue to the Keeper, or just a warning? Are there any hero-gods of the Talentans that take dinosaur form (shapechangers or just wholly seen as dinosaurs worthy of veneration)?

小绵羊海兔

Could you tell me if the thirteen moons of Eberron follow any astronomical laws, and if they do, what kind of impact they have on the world?

Dragonback Lancer

What kinds of sentient undead could serve as commanding officers or support staff in Karrnath's armies? Could there have been oathsworn mummies acting as chaplains or something of the sort?

hyperewok1

Why do the elves of Eberron have such long lifespans? (Or perhaps the question is why elves live fairly longer than gnomes, given their similiar origins.)

Patrik Malý

Hi Keith,I’ve been reading Exploring Eberron recently, and it got me thinking about creating an NPC for our game who is one of the survivors of Stubborn. It feels like a fascinating and emotionally charged backstory. I’ve been wondering what kind of life someone might have lived in Stubborn before 986 YK, but there isn’t much information about the fortress town itself. I always love reading how you imagine things in your Eberron, so I wanted to ask: would you be willing to share a few small details about how you envisioned the fortress town and the society within it? Thanks, and have a great day!

Sky_Flakes

What does Governor Xor’chylic want from the daughters of Sora kel and how might they make good on their promise?

Rat Queen

Not sure if I'll be able to make it to the live stream on the 11th, but I do have a religion question. For purely academic reasons, I'm studying the Dark Six, specifically the Shadow. I recall reading somewhere a (Cazhaak?) reinterpretation of its origin myth in which the Shadow predates (and created?) Aureon rather than the other way around. Do you know where such a myth can be found? I can't remember where I read it and I haven't been able to find it.

man-of-bvz1n3ss

What's the story behind the Badgers? You've used a particular adventuring party in all of your books for D&D Beyond. Is there anything you'd want to share about them? Classes, storylines, dynamics, ect.?

Eric Smith

If an airship has three elementals, and someone casts Dispel Magic on the containment, presumably it should affect only one. Would it be permanently released or would it just not be controllable for a period of time.

David Mitchell

Hi Keith. I was enjoying reading the nobility section of chronicles of Eberron and it got me to thinking about titles that are given to commoners. Is it fair to say (as a generalisation) that karrnathi commoners earn knighthood by martial acts of heroism or skill, thranish nobles bestow knighthood to people who display acts of piety or charity in the service of the silver flame, brelandish knighthoods are up for sale very much in keeping with political corruption (ie nobles bestow them for cash from mercantile sponsors)? So would Aundarian knighthoods go to arcane scholars, or feets of bravery involving wandwork, while Cyran knighthoods would be awarded by noble patrons to artists such as the British system of awarding the great and good of the theatre, art and literature worlds? Do similar accolades exists in the other khorvarian kingdoms and what dos nobility look like in places like Valenar, Dharguun, quabarra, zilargo, the mror holds and the lhazaar principalities?

David Mitchell

In relation to to the religion deep dive I’d love to know more about the cults of the dragon below. It seems a pejorative catch all term for those who follow none of the above in the main religions but they seem to worship a host of entities from overlords or lords of dust, Daelkyr, fallen angels, fey, planar entities and others. I’d love you to expand on this plethora of figures of worship

The Bard Himself

I noticed Jhorgun'taal were included in the updated ExE and would like some clarification. The specie only discusses the Marcher Half Orcs with Human and Orc blood, but Exploring Eberron also mentions the sterile half orcs of Droaam (being Orc and Shifter), and a few times in the past you've talked about Orcs being able to reproduce with species besides Humans. Has your current Stance on this changed? Or is it that you wouldn't use Jhorgun'taal to represent the Orc Shifters. Also, do you imagine there being Half Orcs Half Dwarves in the Ironroot Mountains?

Zachary Butler

Alright Keith, I'll bite. What are you reading at the moment?

Landon Grawrock

Hey Keith I had a question about chronology in Eberron. You described Eberron as being in the turn of the century similar to late 1800s to early 1900s in our world. What in your opinion does Eberron look like in the supposed late century similar to 1980s of our world? With the way magic technology is progressing what kind of magic tech do you think the nations or the Dragon marked houses invent?

Reighndragon

If my party would like to have an audience with governor Xor'chylic of Graywall, what would they need to do to receive an audience? I don't expect paperwork, but some other procedure or recommendation. As a second question if they would ask the locals in Graywall how they could get an audience, what would the locals answer them?

Patrick Reupert

Via the old rules, Artificers at a certain level where able to attune and use items while ignoring race and class requirements. With the revamped rules that is gone except for the Maverick in its newest iteration. While you aren't on the design team, I wondered if that ability used to be one you had viewed as important for artificers and their story on Eberron, or more a rare afterthought, you are glad got removed?

Matt Dance

Apropos of the current Kundarak essays: Does the Warding Guild extend property protection to natural hazards and calamities? I’m thinking of things like a modified alarm triggered by fire or flood, or an enhanced use of fog effects for fire suppression, etc. Or are these more likely to be just Cannith inventions? (Albeit perhaps working with Kundarak for key insights.)

Evan Sageser

What would you say are the principles by which a vassal is expected to live their life? Some faiths like the Silver Flame or the Blood of Vol have strong focuses about the principles their followers are expected to live their lives, combating evil or pursuing inner divinity or the like, which suggests way in which worshippers, both adventurers and ordinary folks might conduct themselves. (Purified train in martial disciplines, Seekers strongly cling to their communities while seeking to better themselves, etc) But the Sovereign Host's de-emphasis on an afterlife or specific ideology has sometimes left me a little at a loss at how to portray vassals. What exactly does a pious vassal look like, how is one expected to live in a way that would demonstrate their piety? There's at least some emphasis on emulating the sovereigns in some way but that seems like it would primarily be in the realm of more exceptional people or those with divine magic. For a perfectly ordinary commoner vassal, what would be the measure to illustrate that they are pursuing a pious life?

Leann Davis

Bit of a silly question that's entirely for the purpose of RP, but can you give some examples of Khorvairen idioms and colloquialisms, like their equivalent of "I've died and gone to heaven"? We recently got stuck trying to come up with an in-world version of that and we really couldn't decide on anything good, so I thought I'd ask the master :)

Ben

Religion question prompted by the excellent last episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms--What sort of religious oaths would a standard knight be expected to take in many of the Five Nations? Swear an oath to Aureon, the Dols, Galifar/the appropriate monarch, and their local lord?

Andy Zhu

I’d like to ask a question regarding music in eberron. A couple of the most defining themes of this setting are pulp and noir, and I was wondering when it comes to music in eberron, is there a certain type of music genre you can imagine fitting well with Eberron? For me, when I run campaigns or oneshots, I like to use soundtracks from different forms of media such as Fallout, Cuphead, Cowboy Bebop, or really old songs from the 1920s-1940s, especially if the story takes place in Sharn.

Aliendile

Hello Mr Baker Maybe I m late for the question, if so, no problem, I ll wait for next month. My question is about Erendis possible “ascension”. In one of your post, you proposed that one of the outcome could be that Erendis becomes the Raven Queen. Would you have other ideas that would be less “happy” ? And in a world that doesn’t have “incarnated” gods … would she be the first ? Thanks for your time

Parker Wimberly

Hi Keith, my question is about Autognomes. What you have said on your blog applies to players, but I want to use Autognomes as an NPC, and I was wondering what the different prototypes are doing. Is Merrix keeping them a complete secret? Are they working within the house (like does Merrix have an Autognome administrative assistant), or is he selling them to the highest bidder?

Earth Seraph Edna

I am well aware that you do not have a high opinion on The Forge of War. All the same, what do you think of its depiction of Thranish atrocities, such as the bombing of Rekkenmark in 974 YK (supposedly, there were many civilian casualties), which the Thranish military boasted to be payback for the burning of Shadukar in 961 YK? The Forge of War claims that Krozen was newly invested in 976 YK. Would he have authorized further black ops or other morally dubious operations? Or maybe they were not even black ops at all; would he have been fine with Thrane openly engaging in ruthless military activities?

Beoric

Hi Keith. My question is about adventure development during the 4e era. I don't think I have ever seen a 4e adventure that didn't have a skill challenge. That being said, there are a number where the designers didn't bring their best game to the SC design, and I often get the impression that they didn't like the mechanic. I'm wondering, was there a WotC rule that required at least one SC to be in every adventure?

Spike Hemphill

In your Eberron, what do Hask Malevenor and Count Vedim ir' Omik think of each other? If I remember correctly they made incredible breakthroughs in necromancy working together during the last war. However they seem to be polar opposites in personality and morality. Would they willingly work together in the future?

Zuruve

The "Eberron Campaign Setting" stated the Shadow is sometimes depicted as a shadow dragon. "Faiths of Eberron" continued that association with the Black Effigy, a magic item tied to the Shadow that has the form of a shadowy draconic figure (with gold eyes). But, in describing the Shadow, "Rising from the Last War" doesn't give them the shadow dragon as a symbol. Was that intentional or was it an oversight? Do you consider the Shadow being portrayed as a shadow dragon to still be canon?

Ender Darkos

Have there been any noble houses in the Five Nations who owned lands in multiple nations, like it often happened in irl feudal societies (Duke of Brittany and Earl of Richmond, for example, or the whole Plantagenet dynasty)? Like John ir'Something as count of Somewhere in Karrnath AND duke of Elsewhere in Breland? If so, how was it handled after the Last War?

Ethan Hunter

I’m DMing an Eberron campaign and my players decided they wanted a “shared dream” to be the cause for the party coming together. So naturally, I’ve decided to run a Dreaming Dark campaign where the players are uunaware they’re being manipulated. Do you have any good idea hooks for how to proceed? Thanks

Jeremy Callister

A recent conversation came up about a friendly dhampir character trying to legally purchase blood (assuming no access to BoV community donations), and it brought up a bit of an argument about blood transfusions as medical treatment. We did find the 2020 article on medical science, but opinion is still divided between transfusions being something still useful, with Eberron being more modern in general, and so it would be something Jorasco would be involved in on the regular, while the other side views a world of magical healing as having other methods to deal with similar issues without needing to deal with the various risks of infusions, such as blood type matching and spreading diseases (even more of a concern when it comes to all the different DnD species). So, what place do you think blood transfusion has in the medical magical science of Khorvaire? Is it unknown? Something that has been thoroughly researched over a couple thousand years, being either embraced or rejected?

Ethan Hunter

I love those ideas, thank you so much for replying. They’re definitely the type that would enjoy a huge twist, which is why I was envisioning it being a secret manipulation. I’m hoping I can seed them with just enough hints that they’ll eventually realise they’re being manipulated and start working against the Dreaming Dark instead of accidentally alongside. But that’s just my first draft idea at this point.

Carlton Anderson

Following the deaths of Kings Kaius and Boranel IME, Aundair recently violated the Treaty of Thronehold and it is presumed IC that other nations will likely begin doing so in response. Other than Aundairan attacks on the Eldeen Reaches and/or Thrane (particularly Thaliost), increased Droaamite incursions into western Breland, and the Valenar generally being the Valenar, what are some other, less obvious moves you think might occur in such a scenario? Are there any particular curveballs you'd consider throwing into the mix, either from an unexpected nation or faction?