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Hello Everyone! 

Next week I'll be at PAX Unplugged—my first convention in nearly two years. I'll post about this next week, but I'll be participating in four events and in the exhibitor's hall with my company Twogether Studios. Between travel and the work associated with it, and the subsequent holiday, it will be another busy month. But there are certainly articles I'd LIKE to write, and we'll have a poll a little later in the month. For now, let's get to some short questions. 

For those who are new to this process...

Given the volume of questions I receive, I limit myself to answering one question per patron per month. You can ASK multiple questions, because it may be one is easier for me to answer than another—but if you ask seven questions, I'm only going to answer one of them.

If I can answer a question in 2-3 sentences, I will answer it here (as a reply to your comment). If I can answer a question in 2-3 paragraphs, it may be answered as an IFAQ article, but I only have time to post 1-3 IFAQs per month. If it would take 2-3 pages to answer the question, that's a Dragonshard article, and I generally can only write one of those in a month. So in short, the longer and more complicated the question, the lower the chance that I'll have time to answer it.

If I would have to do significant research to answer a question, that increases its effective size. It may be that the question only takes a few sentences to answer—but if I'd have to do two hours of research and contemplation to answer it, it's going to get passed over.

I do the best I can, but I can't answer every question, If you asked a question didn't get answered in a previous month, you're always welcome to ask it again, though consider how these guidelines apply! There's always good questions I just don't have time to answer.

As always, thanks for your support!

Comments

Clio M

Hello hello! I (alongside my friend who is also an Eberron DM, and my Karrnathi warlock player) was wondering: What kinds of capital punishment are seen across Khorvaire, and does it vary significantly from nation to nation?

Joseph Meehan

What is the Dreamspace in your Eberron and how could we use it in a campaign? (You've answered in discord a while ago but not on the website)

Jarrod Taylor

I'll toss in for a hope of Palace of the Moon Archfey Dragonshard, but for a shorter question- you had mentioned once of possibly doing a spoiler article, is there anything previously unknown you can share about either the dragon known as Emerald Claw or Greykell ir'Ryc? Thanks, as always!

TK-421

Does Shadowlock Keep feature in any part of your upcoming Frontiers of Eberron book? If not, can you tell us an interesting or distinguishing detail about the Keep?

Matt Brady

With harems/polyamory common among the nobles, does that extend to the merchant and lower classes? The usual limiter of needing to provide for your spouse(s) dulls slightly in an egalitarian society where they aren't necessarily dependents.

Sunev

Do the sentira factories of Riedra require eldritch machines? Or is the process much further removed from what Khorvarians would consider 'typical arcane industry'?

Will Buck

There hasn’t been much written about the city of Starilaskur, despite it being the third largest city in Breland. We know it holds the Martial Temple of Dol Arrah as well as an Order of the Broken Blade monastery, and we know there’s a large Cannith enclave there headed by a viceroy rumored to be a vampire (Haldon). But I believe that’s mostly all we know. Could you tell us a little more about it?

Mariamow

Have you read all the Eberron novels? If so, what is your reading guide/ratings?

Earth Seraph Edna

What can you tell us about the Devourer of Dreams? We know that he is the kalaraq leader of the Dreaming Dark, that he is the closest to il-Lashtavar, and that Sharadhuna of the Thousand Eyes suspects an ulterior motive to his proliferation of hanbalani altas monoliths. What else is there to know about him? What can he do that other kalaraqs cannot, and how strong is he compared to other kalaraqs?

Matthew Booth

If we may expand on the comment; how would you handle an "entrapping" effect from a manifest zone in a city?

Andres Olan-Vazquez

What are some famous books in the world of Eberron? Texts that either most people read at some point or are at least aware of. We have Karrn the Conqueror's Analects of War, which I assume is in a similar position to Sun Tzu's The Art of War in the real world; most people won't have read it but a fair few at least have heard of it. You've mentioned both the Codex of All Mysteries and the Planar Codex in relation to Dorius Alyre ir'Korran; are these commonly known books or are they limited to scholarly spaces? (and I'd be interested to hear about fiction as well, as right now we mostly know about plays by Kessler and Luca Syara! but that could even be a separate question)

Syltorian

The Gatekeepers are best known for fighting aberrations, but we also know Vvaraak prepared them against an invasion from another plane that might be yet to come. There are some planes out there considered threatening - Mabar devours parts of worlds, Fernia will invade if you believe the Sulatar, Dal Quor did so in the days of the giants - but are the Gatekeepers considering Lamannia and Thelanis a threat? One represents nature, and has no sentient life that could plan an invasion. But it could still upset the balance. Thelanis has the fey who are powerful, if bound by their stories: the Greensingers worship them, but what do the Gatekeepers think about these extraplanar guests? From the local tree-spirit to the Lost Prince? Finally, do the Gatekeepers consider native outsiders, from rakshasas to tieflings and aasimar a threat? If too long a question, the part that interests me most is how they see the fey, who are often linked to nature without being truly natural.

Tim Edwards

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes includes “Blessed of Corellon” - elves who can change their sex in a short period of time. When including this in Eberron, beyond changing the name to remove the reference to a non Eberron deity, do you have any thoughts on any interesting ways the different elf cultures in Eberron might view this?

Ivan Flis

I'm DMing a game for four Twelve magicians. The new Primus (in my Eberron, the name for the first among equals at the Committee of the Twelve) has announced a big international conference in Sharn, inviting all the Dragonmarked Houses and Thronehold nations to send representatives and debate the future of the Korth Edicts. The books mention tidbits about what that future might hold (the case of Lyrandars in Valenar, the Deneith/Tharashk conflict over mercenary troops, the potential Cannith split, etc.). I've spelled out the motivations for some of the relevant players in our campaign (the Primus, Brelish king and Aundairan queen, the three Cannith factions) and I'll let it play out as a grand public event with a lot of backdoor wheeling and dealing by all the usual suspects. What would be your suggestions, what would the different power players want from the re-negotation of the Korth Edicts?

Blinky

A bit of an InMyEberron situation, but I'm curious what the more "canon" approach would be: I'm running a game in which Cannith was experimenting with psionics during the Last War and effectively made an artificial Quori spirit in a sort of static mindblade. In a scenario sneakily reminiscent of "Whispers of the Vampire's Blade," that artificial Quori was able to effectively hijack an Inspired vessel, the hashalaq who got booted back to Dal Quor is understandably freaked out, and the PCs are trying to stop the renegade. The question is essentially: How would the Quori react to something able to do something like this? As a potential piece of technology they could use to bolster their numbers? As a risky, dangerous situation that must be destroyed because of the risk of bolstering the renegade Quori if they got a hold of it? Would they factionalize, or are the Quori typically on the same page, or at least willing to go along with whatever the Dreaming Dark decides? More broadly, should it be possible for another dream spirit to force a Quori out of their Inspired vessel, given the meticulous process of creating the Inspired? And how would the Inspired experience the conflict of two beings in their head and the possession by their non-standard spirit in such a non-voluntary way?

Jacob Jones

I'd be interested to learn more about the schools, especially the Five Demesnes. Since they're run by House Phiarlan, do they run a normal 4 years, or are they more on the scale of elf lifetimes where you study for years upon years? Do you actually graduate at some point or is it more of a training school where you just keep honing your skills? If it's not training in an elf style where you keep on doing the same thing over and over until it's perfected, then I wonder why the Phiarlans would feel it was useful? And if it is training in that style, why would shorter lived races go if they don't have long enough life spans for it to be worth it?

Inquisitor Thomas

Sorry my phone was acting up and I posted my question while trying to edit it to be less rambly. Certain monsters like Ogres and other monsters from Droaam are tolerated to live and work in humanoid cities like Sharn, but creatures like Demons and certain Undead are not, where do Aberrations fall in because are aware of at least one Mind Flayer that is a prominent public figure in Droaam. If another Mind Flayer or a Beholder was became a public figure in the 5 Nations like a Beholder Inquisitive would they be treated like an Ogre (Tolerated up to a point) or a Vampire/Demon (Kill on Sight)?

MajorTotoro

Hi! I was reading the Shadow Marches portion of the ECS from 3.5 and this bit caught my eye: "Most of the daelkyr cities are decrepit ruins halfburied in the mire." Somehow I had never thought of the Daelkyr actually building cities during the invasion. How many and how large do you think they were? Using the comparison of Daelkyr being a type of twisted-artist, do you think there is a Daelkyr Architect, creating weird/living structures instead of creatures? Thank you!

Elmer Tucker

What kind of notes would be present in the Caldyn fragments? Meaning, are there examples of notes or prose I could borrow from? I'm interested in teasing prophecy to my players and having the fragments involved in Xen'Drik, but I don't know how to represent them well in game.

Spike Hemphill

In previous article about obyriths, you said it was possible that Githeberron had it's own overlords and some of them might still exist. Could Githeberron had it's own version of the Silver Flame or some other sealing magic? If yes do you think this power might still be able to be tapped into by a player character?

Matthew Johnson

I had been playing a Bloodsails elf in a recent campaign. I tend to hide her appearance in case her unique tattoos clue people into her heritage. How famous would you say they are in Khorvaire? Are Bloodsail captains as infamous as say Blackbeard, or only to certain area or people?

Zed Bundershot

Have you played far enough into Rime of the FrostMaiden yet to have ideas about how to re-skin it for Eberron's northern areas?

Carter Sprogis

What is the actual method of propulsion that an elemental provides to an elemental vehicle? I've read the Dragonshard article detailing the systems of an airship in greater detail, and I don't seem to find a full answer there. Is it Newtonian, in that the elemental provides backwards thrust that propels the ship forward? Or is it more akin to a yoked animal, pulling the ship forward? I could see either being a good explanation for airships. Meanwhile, the elemental sea ships referenced in some sourcebooks and novels detail an air elemental ring that provides wind to fill the sails. That would seem to counteract Newtonian physics, in that you can't propel a ship forward by pointing a fan mounted on the ship at a sail on the same ship, as the forces cancel each other out. Unless the air elemental for this particular configuration summons a wind out of nothing, as a mage casting a spell. Could these inconsistencies be explained by different binding enchantments for different purposes? I fully realize that this should be something covered under suspension of disbelief in a world of magic, but it's always been a mental block for me. Thanks as always for taking the time to answer questions! =)

Ben

How would you say the Circle of Night in Quori? I assume something featuring "-var" based on il-Lashtavar and altavar both relating to "dark"?

Selerian

Are there any reasons why Dal Quor and Xoriat wishes to conquer the Eberron? I mean reasons that can be understanded by mortal mind. )

Joana

Hello, What are the gnomish funeral customs? More specifically, in Zilargo and the region around it?

Tyler Nelson

What is the nature of the Astral Plane in Eberron, and how would you set a campaign there? How could people actually get there without astral projecting?

Wandering Mage

Would Adaran settlements use lightning rods or something equivalent for protection when the psychic-driven storms roll in?

Caelan Scott

What are the differences between a mournland mutant and a Daelkyr twisted creature?

Inquisitor Thomas

Does Risia have any Good Aligned Native Outsiders or Regions? It seems like Exploring Eberron showed Risia as almost universally hostile, but is that due to the small roster of monsters in official 5e material that conforms with the theme of the plane?

Joseph Meehan

Question that came up in the discord: what was going on in eastern Khorvaire during the 9th century? We know that the West had both the lightning rail and the Silver Crusade/purge, but shockingly little on the rest of the continent.

Not Mordakhesh

Who are the Dreaming Dark most likely to send into Xen’drik to find ancient Dream War relics? Someone Riedra affiliated or would they keep those two spheres separate? Also, is it possible (even rare) for a lowly Changeling to become an empty vessel as opposed to the usual breed of empty vessel? (I’m asking because I’m trying to find a way to get the Dreaming Dark to steal the Staff of the Magma falls from the Sulatar, but since they can’t use dreams in elves, they’ll have to shapeshift their way in). And this brings me to my next point. Not empty vessels that are still loyal to Riedra such as ogre mages and changelings, would they make good agents to send abroad, or is sending them so far away from the reach of their monoliths too much of a risk for them? “Don’t let them see the real outside world!”

Not Mordakhesh

Also, I need a little DM advice. I’ve got a player who’s a Dragonborn from Q’barra whose whole purpose for coming to Xen’drik is to witness a piece of draconic prophecy unfold because he believes the final passage will mean “the feathered cousins will be lost no more.” He assumes it means hidden Couatls will be located and he’ll be able to bring one home and purify Rhashaak, but what if it didn’t mean that? What if the prophecy has been misread? What else could that passage mean? Yes I’m asking for you to use your imagination in lieu of my own.

Not Mordakhesh

Got it. Thanks for what you gave me already

Jamie Bernstein

What story is represented by the feyspire of Shae Joridal and its archfey, Taranel Tanaer?

gonzolikesmovies

I've been watching Pacific Rim lately, and have gotten the idea to create something similar for Eberron (nationalist war mechs definitely sound in theme). How would you design Khorvaire's jaegers, and perhaps even the kaiju that rise from the ocean? Would the daelkyr be the Inquisitors trying to engineer these creatures and terraform Eberron by tearing open a Xoriat portal in the ocean floor?

John_Doe_142857

Greetings, Mr Baker. You see, I am DMing a new campaign in Eberron, and the wizard of our group wished to keep some features of our previous campaign in Wildermount, namely the Dunamancy spells (basically Time/Gravity manipulation magic). We discussed how to implement it during session zero, and we opted for the path of innovation: in OUR Eberron, the wizard worked on the theory of her spells during her Arcanix days (and may or may not have been inspired/influenced by Sul Khatesh) and simply becomes able to uses those spells as she gains levels. That said, while we agreed on pioneering PCs, it was not the only option we though of. All this leads to my question: in YOUR Eberron, how would you implement/introduce Dunamancy? Anyways, thank you in advance and take care of yourself.

Castier GM and Actor

Hello Keith, I've gotten answers from you before on Twitter and only recently realized you had a patreon. Question: how does the world of Eberron connect with the multiverse? For instance My OC warlock patron Anarchis the Ever-changing depicted in beholder form in my profile is from a spherical city on the Plane of Limbo. Would he need to utilize spells like the Blue veil/ go through Sigil or is it simply that Limbo and another plane are the same infinite realm? I just like knowing how you consider the multiverse of D&D.

Reighndragon

In my campaign in Passage in Aundair one of my players is a cleric of the Blood of Vol and has a small temple in the city. I asked my players too come up with an NPC that was meaningful for his character. So he came up with a drow artificer which was cast out of his own community and was seeking shelter. He gave him shelter in his temple and taught him about the Blood of Vol and converted him to a seeker. Afterwards this NPC helped him with a magic item discovering the nearest creature with a pulse. So I told him drow are very rare and usually don't live on this continent. He said it doesn't need to be a drow, but someone of a race that was cast out his own society and would be generally feared and distrusted. For my campaign it would be interesting to let him originate from Droaam. Would it be possible for a gnoll to be an artificer capable of making such an object? Which tribe of gnolls have artificers and what could be the reason to cast out such a person?

Reighndragon

Thanks for your quick reply. I can work with this.