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May Q&A Mailbag (Patreon)

Published:
2026-05-04 17:12:54
Imported:
2026-05

Content

Hello, Everyone!

April went faster than I'd like and I'm still in the middle of a huge deadline, but have no fear—Jorasco is coming, and I can't wait to talk about the big thing I've been working on. In the meantime, we're going to have two live Q&As this month:

Saturday, May 16th at 10 AM Pacific—Deep Dive: Subject TBD

Wednesday, May 27nd at 6 PM Pacific—Mailbag Miscellany

POST QUESTIONS HERE. You can ask questions about anything: Eberron, my other games, game design in general, 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

Typherr

Hi Keith! I really love the concept and the mechanics of the Mastermaker Artificer presented in Dread Metrol:Into the Mists and I have a couple related questions: First, how would you adapt the subclass from DMItM to DnD 5.5e, considering the changes in Artificer mechanics, to Smite spells--which the Mastermaker makes apt use of--and the Martial Masteries? Second, what other formerly-Prestige Classes from Eberron do you personally enjoy, that you'd think would work well adapted to 5e /5.5e ? Not necessarily just Artificers, for this one :)

Axelle McNarrow

Hello Keith, is there any musical style practiced around Eberron that's similar or an equivalent to Rock'n Roll, Hard Rock or Metal ? And if it's the case is there instruments similar or equivalent to Drum kits ? (Any information on additional instruments is welcome !) Thanks in advance.

Ogiwan

Greetings to His Infernal Bovinity!

Ogiwan

The effects of a single plane's coterminous and remote effects are documented. But, what about when they double up? Example, it looks like every three years, there will be a week in Eyre where Irian AND Lammania are coterminous. What does that look like? What do people call it? What other twofers or threefers may there be?

小绵羊海兔

Hello, Keith. I would like to inquire as to why the Eberron setting incorporates such a multitude of conspiracy theory elements. What influences have steered it in this particular direction? Are these influences connected to films, television series, or other creative works? You have previously referenced the World of Darkness , but on this occasion, I am particularly interested in The X‑Files. Have you ever watched The X‑Files? Did any elements from that series find their way into your creative endeavors? Additionally, I am curious about another matter. When the Eberron setting was selected as an official Dungeons & Dragons setting, what were the other contenders that reached the final stage? Do you still recall your emotions and thoughts upon learning that your work had been chosen? Could you describe that experience for me?

Sims

Hello, Keith. Hope all is well! 1.) In James Wyatt’s Dragon Forge, the former Ghaas’kala, Vor, warns his companions what they should expect if the encounter the Ghaas’kala is the Labyrinth. Namely, that the Khuruk will attack, the Darvuks will tell you must die and pepper you with arrows and the Maruk will offer you a chance to join them and put down any who refuse. According to your Ghaas’kala article, there are FOUR distinct clans, but doesn’t go into the details of subcultures? What are the subcultures of the Ghaas’kala? Are these clans the clans? Are Khuruks more likely to be Zealot barbarians and Darvuks rangers and rogues while Markus are the most varied in terms of species, class and subclass? What of the fourth? 2.) To add onto the Draconic Prophecy references, the James Wyatt series features Gaven as the Storm Dragon; supposedly the return of the sixteenth Sovereign. While I thought this was a bookism, this is actually alluded to in the original 3.5 EPHB as the “Overthrown,” a nameless Darguun deity. According to a a Twitter post according to a Reddit post according to a cursory google search, you weren’t a fan of the concept. Is that still the same or is there a sixteenth forgotten Sovereign that the dragons “know” left a spot open? Or any other details? 3.) More of a theoretical question. Other than his sister and hilariously named brother, Gaius, Kaius III has no close heirs. If Kaius III is Kaius III and he and Etragani are indeed in love (to reference the multiple options from her article), what should a Khoravar heir mean for Karnnath’s future? Since Khoravar can live to 180, “Kaius IV” would likely outlive any predecessor, even if he doesn’t reach his max age. Even more apparent is that his mother would outlive him and he a possible regent for any of his children, or their children. Meaning an Aerenal elf would have strong influence over the affairs of Karnnath. What are some possible scenarios that might come to mind? Note, since Patreon makes it very difficult to scroll back up on mobile: I notice that no few of James Wyatt’s book characters are seen in the original EPBH (Gaven is seen, and Janik and Dania have quotes)

Dantels

If in a twist of fate some dragons were to attempt to free themselves from the daughter of Khyber by following a misinterpreted prophesy thread only to accidentally turn their whole species into brute animals (who still have their breath weapons, SLAs, and any sorcerer spells they could cast with silent metamagic or otherwise lacking complex verbal components). How long would the dragonborn on Argonessen and the nearby isles be able to hold out with their lords so badly changed? And similarly how well would other nations cope with hungry dragons replacing well positioned individuals all of the sudden? Assume thr Lords or Dust are also incapacitated to keep the scenario limited. Or for irony, they may actually NEED Sapient dragons for their own plans and want it fixed quickly.

Caetano Luis

How advanced are the traditional sciences in Eberron? We know magic is treated as an arcane scientific discipline in Eberron, but what about knowledge beyond magic, such as physics, biology, or math?

Inquisitor Thomas

Hey Keith: 1. What’s your advice for making Sul Khatesh and the Court of Shadow scary? Sul Khatesh is the embodiment of the fear of magic, but how do you make Sul Khatesh stand out from a scary Hag or someone like Mordain the Fleshweaver or Lady Illmarrow who are both scary powerful magic users, but aren’t direct servants of Sul Khatesh? 2. With the New Ravenloft book coming soon with the Reanimator Artificer subclass I’ve been wondering, what kind of role would a flesh golem serve in Eberron? I don’t see the Vassals or Silver Flame making them because of the whole “corpse desecration” business, but also Flesh Golems seem like a “poor economic investment” for the Blood of Vol: “Wow, I can disassemble these perfectly good corpses that could go towards making a zombie construction crew so I can have one big strong guy who freaks out whenever it encounters an open flame?”

Earth Seraph Edna

Excuse me; I have some questions regarding the Carrion Tribes. How would you better implement Kathrik Mel (from James Wyatt's novels, and further detailed in James Wyatt's article in 4e Dungeon magazine issue #169) into your idea for the Carrion Tribes? Kathrik Mel is a very mysterious figure. He is a tiefling, yet has horns and a scaly tail (like a Kaluunite tiefling), rather than the tigrine appearance of the sakah. Kathrik wears plate armor, unlike the Carrion Tribes, who seem limited to hide armor at best (at least as depicted in the 4e Eberron Campaign Guide). Whereas Carrion Tribe blessed champions speak Common and Abyssal, he is fluent in Common, Draconic, and Supernal (again, in 4e, at least). He somehow sings reality-rending verses, and most unusually, plans on using those entropic songs to destroy the Gatekeepers' seals in the Eldeen Reaches... which is more of a daelkyr plot than a fiendish scheme. It would be interesting to try to integrate this with the following plot hook of yours from 4e Dragon magazine issue #416: "The Razor Wind tribe breaks through the Labyrinth and spills into the Eldeen Reaches. Empowered by fiends, this horde could carve a bloody swath across Aundair and the Reaches. Or it could surprise everyone by swearing allegiance to the Queen of Aundair—a move that would change the balance of power and further Aurala’s martial ambitions. How can the adventurers deal with an entire horde of barbarians? Can they keep Aurala from falling prey to Rak Tulkhesh’s influence, or will she start the true Last War?" But James Wyatt's Kathrik Mel is so strange, and his goals seemingly so unaligned with fiendish worshipers, that I am not sure he would slot in well. Also, in 4e Dragon magazine issue #416, you mention: "The barbarians [of the Razor Wind tribe] have excavated one of Rak Tulkhesh’s soul-shards and are carrying it with them; this object enhances their primal powers and enables them to manifest demons to aid them in battle." Do you mean primal powers as in primal magic, the kind with primal spirits? If so, how do these tribesmen manage to channel primal spirits despite being more associated with fiendish powers? Do they channel fiend-corrupted primal spirits of the Demon Wastes?

Selerian

I'm sorry, I may have missed the Tialaen’s Kiss gameplay mechanics. Can you, please, tell more about this magic item?

The Bard Himself

Frontiers of Eberron talks about how the Medusa of Cazhaak Draal primarily speak Serpentine, a language that incorporates the visual movement and the hissing of a Medusa serpent mane. Are the Medusa a chiefly Oral culture with limited script? And has the Cazhaak Creed existed mostly as an oral tradition that would have recently gotten a Goblin scripture?

Beoric

Hi Keith. Have you ever given any thought to Shadowlock Keep, whether it is a military, aristocratic or crown holding, role in the region, etc? NVM, I found something in the December thread.

Micaerys

Shit, I forgot to comment! Ok, if I'm not terribly late: how would you deal with werewyverns (draconic lycanthropes, essentially) and spirit dragons (dragons transformed by the magical historical energy of ruins that grow up to become obsessed by them) in Eberron? If at all, that is, the response "They aren't present in this world" is also acceptable!

David Mitchell

How would you use thronehold in a campaign. It’s been given a heads up as a place for lots of noir intrigue but who has authority there? Is it lawless or heavily policed if so by whom?

Ben

Hey Keith, I’m curious how you’d see fiendish possession and celestial channeling as parts of the world since they’ve faded from having mechanics over the edition changes? Shulassakar channeling couatl? Silver Flame exorcists driving out possession by native fiends, or Jorasco doing the same for that matter? Many folks are likely unfamiliar with how prevalent they were in the original Eberron Campaign Setting.

Michael Langer

Keith... if you were DM'ing a campaign in Droaam where all the players were playing "monstrous" races (ie. not the average human/elf/dwarf/halfling), what would be the "dream team" you think would make for fun adventures?

Tom Steller

I want to use Rekkenmark Academy as a campaign starting Point. How Are non-karrnathi students treated? would it make sense to have adventurers starting out/graduating from there?

Jarrod Taylor

With the fallout of the Daelkyr invasion, orcs were corrupted in spirit with the Dragon Below, dar in mind with the Kapaa'vola and in body as dolgrims, dolgaunts, dolguul etc, and Sivis had to deal with the volaaganti... but with halflings we know that some May have been twisted into chokers- but ECS mentions they might have come from goblin Or halfling stock. What lingering effects did the Talentans suffer from the Daelkyr Invasion? How did they endure or deal with the threats?

Hudnofski Blue

Hello, Keith. I have two questions. A core aspect of the setting seems to be the idea that mortals have a leg up on immortals in at least one way: they are able to change and evolve. In my mind, the discovery of the Draconic Prophecy is a good example of such, as that was a development discovered by dragons. Do you think it would be in line with the themes of the setting for heroes in the modern day to discover/invent things with ramifications as large as the Draconic Prophecy? The second question has to do with Overlords and the spatial nature of demiplanes. The Overlords seem to generally have defined regions of influence. If I wanted to a have a story dedicated to, say, Tol Kharash beyond his usual locale, would it be reasonable to say there is an entrance to his heart demiplane beyond the Barrens?

Lotem

Hi Keith, I'm launching a Lhazaar Principalities pirating campaign, and would love to hear your ideas on some matters. 1. I envision House Lyrandar as a mostly-antagonistic force in the Principalities, as their inteterests clash with both pirates and merchant sailors (presumably non guild members). How open do you expect this conflict to be? Is it mostly political, or should my crew of not-quite-law-abiding-but-mostly-well-intended sailors view each Lyrandar vessel as a potential threat? 2. What are the relationships between Lady Illmarrow, the other Grim Lords, and the Bloodsails? Obviously the lore have changed across editions, but it seems even just 5/5.5e sources are not quite consistent. Do the Bloodsails serve Lady Illmarrow? If so, are they doing it willfully or reluctantly? Are they aware of her true identity and goals? 3. Are you familiar with the Eberron materials by Jamie Bernstein? What do you think about their Tempest of Ruin (storm-themed overlord bound under Tempest Island)? 4. Do you have any tips for running Eberron not in English? 5. And finally, one of my players wanted to play an anthropomorphized crab, so my Eberron now has arthropod-based shifters (in addition to the standard, mammal-based ones). No question here, I just think it's neat.

Herbert Helzer

Not to get too PG-13 here, but if a Radiant Idol of Joy inspires “bacchanalian revels,” can pregnancies be an inevitable result? Would the children of a Radiant Idol be…Aasimar? Planetouched? Subject to the same curse as the parent? Something different entirely? Would the prospect of dreaming without Quori manipulation be enough to tempt a Kalashtar into worshipping an Idol?

Matt Dance

Are any members of the Sovereigns and Six associated with concepts or ideals of beauty? Canon calls out Onatar as a god of craftsmanship and the Fury as a goddess of artistic inspiration; I can certainly see the former while the latter seems a little more problematic. But neither is really associated with the idea of beauty as such, akin to real-world deities like Aphrodite or Apollo or Freya. So are there any beauty deities in Eberron — deities seen as embodiments of bodily perfection or omnipresent sources of artistic or natural beauty? And if so who?

Jamie Gardiner

What is Tourism like in Eberron? With (expensive) access to the lightning rail and airships, are there common getaway destinations? Adventure holidays? All inclusive beach packages? Cultural and Historical destinations?

hyperewok1

This was offhandedly mentioned in the Karrnath deep dive, what is the (brief, given this format) story of the Prince of Wolves archfey?

Arrison Warner

Hello Keith! Longtime Eberron Fan recent patron here. I have somewhat connected questions: 1. What is the state of the Textile industry in Eberron ? 2. What is the state of organized labor movements within the more industrial workforces in Eberron?

Harvey Clarke

Hello! Thinking recently about the principle that "magic is a science": Does Khrovaire have any man-made arcane disasters from history which are particularly well known; similar to industrial, chemical, and radiation disasters in our own history?

Carlton Anderson

Korth has famously never fallen to besiegers. Leaving aside more dynamic moments such as the magical sealing of Holygate and Moranna's march from Atur, what elements of the city's defenses do you credit with Korth's ability to successfully withstand not one, but three separate sieges during the Last War alone?

Rat Queen

Here are two questions re the Dragonmarked Houses. Feel free to answer either one. Why was the Tower of the Twelve built in Korth when the institutuion was the brainchild of House Cannith (from Metrol) and/or House Sivis (from Zilargo)? Was it because Karrnath was the the only fully fledged nation at that point in history? Why would all the Houses submit to Galifar ir'Wynarn's demands (the Korth Edicts) before he had united the Five Nations? How did he have the authority to impose restrictions on (and grant power to) the non-Karrnathi Houses (Cannith, Ghallanda, Lyrandar, Medani, Orien, Phiarlan, Sivis, Vadalis) if he only ruled Karranth (Deneith and Jorasco) and maybe Metrol (Cannith and Phiarlan) at the time the Edicts were signed?

Zachary Butler

In the Karrnath Deep Dive you mentioned the Taarka Nasaar, the lumber lords, and that you would place Tul Oreshka in the Nightwood, all of which I think we're mentioned for the first time. That surprised me because I wasn't expecting any new lore there. What has been your relationship to thinking of new Eberron lore since the setting was first created? Do you have 20 years of thoughts scribbled in a notebook, or do you prefer to only write when you have some sort of project to work on (like the Dragonmarked articles)? Were these Karrnath topics things you've had for a while or were they made specifically for the deep dive?

FabianF

Hi Keith! I was wondering were you would put mimics in Eberron.

Erik Saulness

A question about House Tarkanan’s history. When they were a covert “suicide squad” for the Citadel… do we know anything about what sort of missions they did? Any examples of things they accomplished during the war? Do we know any NPC’s who were involved with that project, do we know whose brainchild it was? Was Boranel aware of it or did the Citadel make sure he had deniability? Anything in Canon or Kanon? If not, what sort of things would you do in your Eberron? My new game which just started features one player who is the mixed mark child of Jorlanna d’Cannith (not that he knows who his mother is) who thought he was going to serve in House Deneith but after failing the test of Siberys and manifesting an Aberrant Mark… well let’s just say he’s been recruited to serve Breland under unconventional circumstances. The first few levels is a prelude story taking place during the last few years of the last war, and NPC’s include Thora and Bal and other future Tarkanan’s before their disastrous final mission and desertion to form their “house.” I’d love any esoteric bits of information for this if it’s out there. If not I’ll happily produce my own (and am doing so) but I try to stay close to Kanon and Canon (in that order) whenever I can. This is my players first exposure to Eberron and I’ve been itching to get them to play in my favorite sandbox for years now. Trying to give them the total package. Thanks in advance!

Erik Saulness

I’m always hoping to hear more about Q’barra. Especially since you talked about your earlier Frontiers/Deadwood style game there. Any and all information on that game setting would be welcome. Also, why is it called Q’barra? Who names it? Why isn’t it on maps as “New Galifar?” Why is it not just considered the southern end of the already eclectic Lhazar Principalities if it’s just a region and the principalities are already a grab-bag of freakish diversity. Enlighten us.

Spike Hemphill

How do see you traveling mages carrying Orb Arcane Focuses ? I really like the mechanics you added for the arcane focuses in Quickstone, especially for orbs and crystals. I often imagine orbs like crystal balls or Lord of the Rings "Palantír". Those orbs while super cool however, seem more cumbersome than wands and rods . They look difficult to carry in your hands or even in a bag. Orbs are more expensive than other arcane focuses in 5.5 and probably more fragile. ( I could see myself accidentally dropping one and cracking it ). So are wands more like arcane laptops while orbs are more like home computers? They are better if you have table and are mostly stationary ? Do they have special cases ? Do they float in your hand so they are easier to carry? Maybe small ones are attached to chain like jewelry or gloves? Or do you imagine them like softball or baseball size ? Something smaller perhaps. I would appreciate any of your thoughts on Orbs.

Vencyl's Vigils

"Unlike dragons who explore the magic of undeath for power, some metallic dragons see undeath as a means to pursue a noble purpose. For the sake of protecting an artifact or fulfilling an oath, a dragon might transform into a hollow dragon, accepting undeath until that purpose is fulfilled. As the name suggests, a hollow dragon is the husk of a metallic dragon’s hide, filled with radiant energy. Depending on the dragon’s original kind, that energy might take the appearance of flames, lightning, or misty vapors. Hollow dragons don’t suffer distractions from their undying purpose. So powerful is their drive that their bodies reconstitute if destroyed. When they fulfill their purpose, most hollow dragons embrace the death they have staved off for so long. But others seek new tasks to sustain themselves—or cling to undeath out of sheer stubbornness or habit." I've been wondering how they'd manifest in Eberron given the role of dracoliches in Eberron. A friend suggested them as Guardians of the Pit of Five Sorrows, I wondered if Argonessen tried to replicate the necromancy of the Undying Court to a far lesser degree. Do you have any thoughts?

James McAtamney

Got a couple of random questions, feel free to answer whichever you'd like: 1) It kind of feels like Thelanis has gotten somewhat more attention and support than other planes in Q&A threads and sourcebooks since you started expanding the planar lore. Would you say this is because of all the 4e Feywild stuff being retrofit into "core" Eberron by way of Thelanis, or because more monsters were given the Fey type in 4e and 5e, or because it's your favorite plane, or because it simply gets more exposure thanks to Aundair having a particular affinity for it, or something else? (Or am I crazy and just imagining things?) 2) Somewhat related to the above, Aundair has its strong Thelanis connection, Karrnath has lots of Mabaran manifest zones, and Aerenal has lots of Irian zones. Do any other nations lean strongly toward one or two planes in particular, and what effects might that have? 3) Can you talk a bit about your out-of-game inspiration for the kar'lassa and what kinds of in-game explanations you might offer for their origins? The "esoteric biopunk" themes around their exploitation by the sahuagin feel fairly daelkyr-ish, but they also reminded me a lot of the draeden from BECMI and Planescape, and I was interested in hearing more about the thought process behind them. 4) My current game has been going on long enough in-setting that the calendar will soon be flipping over into 1,000 YK. How do the people of Khorvaire generally celebrate the new year (assuming they do), and what kinds of major events do you think might happen at the turn of the millennium, for good or ill (a once-a-century festival, an arcane Y2K Bug equivalent, etc.)?

Zuruve

Normally, khoravar children born to dragonmarked human and elf parents won't develop their parents' dragonmarks. Does that mean such pairings won't produce mixed marks? Or is it one of those situations in which the Prophecy defies expectations and those children *can* develop mixed marks?

Griffin T.

I'm running a political intrigue/hex crawl campaign across Droaam and the Shadow Marches. The premise is The Daughters have temporarily left Droaam to pursue a source of incredible magic, causing chaos in their absence. I justify this decision to myself by saying Sora Teraza foresaw the player characters advancing Droaam along the correct path in The Daughters' absence (allowing the players freedom in their choices). Sorry for the preamble, but my real question is if the Daughters temporarily left Droaam, who would they put in charge in their stead and who among the greater powers in Droaam would be the first to learn about The Daughters' absence?

Ender Darkos

Hi Keith! Was wondering, how do you imagine Riedra would look like if quori had Sundered and United Khorvaire instead?

Jeremy Callister

There has been debate with a friend about whether or not Thaliost was the "previous capital of Aundair". Going strictly to canon sources, it is true that Thaliost was the largest major city of the region, and the region was named after it, similar to Wroat or Metrol, and after the unification it was renamed Aundair. We also know that Fairhaven was established as the capital of Aundair, but we don't have concrete evidence in the canon text for whether this happened when Aundair was established, or if there was a period of time after the unification where Thaliost remained the capital and the government seat was later moved. This might only really matter for some of the flavor around the current conflict over the ownership of Thaliost, but it sparked quite the debate. So, in your opinion, was Thaliost once the capital of Aundair, or was it only ever the capital of the region of Thaliost?

hyperewok1

Given that Wrogar ir'Wynarn had originally supported Mishann's claim to the throne, when did (presumably) one of his descendents decide to push their own claim instead? Was there a specific incident that led to the split from supporting Cyre?