Dragonmark: Mark of Finding

It is believed that the dragonmark dates back to the very earliest days of the Eldar, and that the Eldar handed out the dragonmark to favored Firstborn or humans as rewards for excellent service. No Created have ever borne a dragonmark, and for many milennia, it was believed that no Hordesish race could bear one, but time has proven that to be a false assumption--at least, for those of mixed parentage.

Dragonmarked are generally "born wild" and, once known, often tracked down by either the Draconic Order or hunted by the Cult of the Wyrm, to either recruit or destroy. Dragonmarked are not part of a particular noble House, but bloodlines do carry through genetic lines (or so it seems), and many of the noble Houses carry the dragonmark within their bloodlines... as do most of the other races by this point in Azgaarnoth's history, although perhaps not as strongly as the nobility.

As a dragonmarked character grows in level, you can take the Greater Dragonmark feat to reflect the growing power of your dragonmark. This represents the evolution of a dragonmark--an exponential increase in both the size of the dragonmark and the powers it bestows. Only a fraction of dragonmarked ever develop a Greater Dragonmark. This brings attention to the bearer of the Mark--both wanted and unwanted.

Intuition Dice

A dragonmark improves your ability to perform a specific type of task. Each dragonmark has a trait that allows you to roll an Intuition die, a d4, when you perform an ability check with a particular skill or tool. You add the number rolled to the ability check. You don’t have to be proficient with the skill or tool to gain this benefit.

Feats, magic items, and other features may improve your Intuition die. This increases the type of die you roll by one size (d6, d8, d10) to a maximum of a d10. You can only roll one Intuition die for a check; if you receive Intuition dice from multiple sources, increase one die by one type and roll that one.

For example, if a dragonmarked trait and feat both grant intuition with Dexterity (Stealth) checks, you roll a d6, instead of a d4. Three instances would increase your Intuition Die to a d8, and so on.

Dragonmark Appearance

A dragonmark is a distinctive symbol that appears on the skin. There are twelve known dragonmarks, each unique in design and power. A dragonmark can appear on any part of the body. One half-elf could have the Mark of Detection across an eye, while another has it in the palm of their hand. Dragonmarks are painted in vivid shades of blue and purple and seem to shimmer or even move slightly. When used, they grow warm to the touch and may glow (though this doesn’t produce useful illumination). A dragonmark can’t be removed--even if a limb bearing a dragonmark is cut away, the mark eventually manifests on another part of the bearer’s body. All dragonmarks share the same initial appearance but a dragonmark can grow in size and complexity if a character takes the Greater Dragonmark feat or if the mark is tied to class abilities.

While dragonmarks share the same general appearance, your dragonmark could have a unique quality. If you’d like to explore this, roll on the Dragonmark Quirks table.

Dragonmark Quirks

1d6 Quirk
1 Your dragonmark is unusually small or remarkably large.
2 Your dragonmark slowly moves around your body.
3 Your dragonmark glows dramatically when you use it.
4 Your dragonmark tingles when you’re near someone with the same mark.
5 Your dragonmark tickles when you use it.
6 Your dragonmark is an unusual color but a normal shape.

The Mark of Finding sharpens the senses of those who carry it, guiding the hunter to their prey. It first appeared in the United Hordes, where Hordes scouts used it to find their prey. The mark helped unite humans and orcs in the United Hordes and brought House Thar'ashk to lead the Five Hordes for a time.

name = 'Finding Dragonmarked'
description = "***Dragonmark: Mark of Finding.*** A dragonmark is a distinctive symbol that appears on the skin. Dragonmarks are painted in vivid shades of blue and purple and seem to shimmer or even move slightly. When used, they grow warm to the touch. A dragonmark can’t be removed--even if a limb bearing a dragonmark is cut away, the mark eventually manifests on another part of the bearer’s body. The Mark of Finding sharpens the senses of those who carry it, guiding the hunter to their prey."

Traits

The Mark of Finding only manifests on half-orcs. If your character has the Mark of Finding, these traits replace the Ability Score Increase, Menacing, Relentless Endurance, and Savage Attacks given in the Player's Handbook. Despite their orcish blood, heirs of the Mark of Finding often resemble their human parents in appearance and temperament. When you create your character, decide if the signs of your orcish ancestry are obvious or subtle.

def level0(npc):
    quirk = random([
        "Your dragonmark is unusually small.",
        "Your dragonmark is remarkably large.",
        "Your dragonmark slowly moves around your body.",
        "Your dragonmark glows dramatically when you use it.",
        "Your dargonmark emits a soft hum when you use it.",
        "Your dragonmark itches when you’re near someone with a dragonmark.",
        "Your dragonmark tingles when you’re near someone with the same mark.",
        "Your dragonmark tickles when you use it.",
        "Your dragonmark is an unusual color but a normal shape."
    ])
    npc.description.append(f"***Dragonmark Quirk.*** {quirk}")
  • Ability Score Increase. Your Strength and Wisdom scores both increase by 1. In addition, one ability score of your choice increases by 1.
    npc.STR += 1
    npc.WIS += 1
    ability = choose("Choose an ability to improve: ", abilities)
    if ability == 'STR': npc.STR += 1
    elif ability == 'DEX': npc.DEX += 1
    elif ability == 'CON': npc.CON += 1
    elif ability == 'INT': npc.INT += 1
    elif ability == 'WIS': npc.WIS += 1
    elif ability == 'CHA': npc.CHA += 1
  • Hunter's Intuition. Your mark sharpens your senses and helps you find your prey. When you make a Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check, you can roll one Intuition die, a d4, and add the number rolled to the ability check.
    npc.traits.append("***Hunter's Intuition.*** Your mark sharpens your senses and helps you find your prey. When you make a Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) check, you can roll one Intuition die, a d4, and add the number rolled to the ability check.")
  • Imprint Prey. As a bonus action, choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is imprinted in your mind until it dies or you use this trait again. Alternatively, you can imprint a creature as your quarry whenever you succeed on a Wisdom (Survival) check to track it. When you are tracking your quarry, double the result of your Intuition die. When your quarry is within 60 feet of you, you have a general sense of its location. Your attacks against it ignore half cover. If you can't see the target when you attack it, your inability to see it doesn't impose disadvantage on the attack roll. Likewise, your quarry doesn't doesn't gain advantage on attack rolls against you due to being hidden or invisible. Once you use this trait, you cannot use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
    npc.bonusactions.append("***Imprint Prey (Recharges on short or long rest).*** Choose one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The target is imprinted in your mind until it dies or you use this trait again. Alternatively, you can imprint a creature as your quarry whenever you succeed on a Wisdom (Survival) check to track it. When you are tracking your quarry, double the result of your Intuition die. When your quarry is within 60 feet of you, you have a general sense of its location. Your attacks against it ignore half cover. If you can't see the target when you attack it, your inability to see it doesn't impose disadvantage on the attack roll. Likewise, your quarry doesn't doesn't gain advantage on attack rolls against you due to being hidden or invisible.")

def level3(npc):
    npc.traits.append(f"***Nature's Voice.*** You can cast {spelllinkify('locate animals or plants')} as a ritual.")