Aberrant Heir

”The fear of the dragonmarked houses is justified. We hold great power, power to shake the very five
nations. They should not scorn us so – we could be powerful allies instead of deadly enemies.”
- Ertain Tarkanan, aberrant heir of Breland.

Aberrant heirs are those rare individuals who happen to manifest increasingly powerful aberrant
dragonmarks, similar to those that were more common during the war of the mark. Prone to madness
and feared for their power, most aberrant heirs hide themselves away from normal society, ever fearful of
retribution from the dragonmarked houses.

Becoming an Aberrant Heir

The only common feature aberrant heirs share is the presence of an aberrant dragonmark. The ranks of
the aberrant heirs are filled with characters from every class and walk of life. They are largely self-taught
and trained, so they owe no allegiance to any nation or organization.

Entry Requirements
Feats: Aberrant Dragonmark
Skills: Any two skills 7 ranks

The Aberrant Heir Hit Die: d8

Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +0 +2 +2 +2 Aberrant insight, outcast
2nd +1 +3 +3 +3 Lesser aberrant mark, madness
3rd +2 +3 +3 +3 Aberrant boon, call to power
4th +3 +4 +4 +4 Greater aberrant mark
5th +3 +4 +4 +4 Aberrant Boon, aberrant ties

Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level): Bluff, Climb, Craft, Disguise, Forgery, Gather Information, Hide,
Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (Arcana), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Spot.

Class Features
The following class features reflect the aberrant heir’s mastery over his aberrant dragonmark and his
social stigma in regular dragonmarked society.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Aberrant heirs gain no proficiency in any weapon or armor.

Aberrant Insight (Ex): At 1st level, the aberrant heir gleans insight from his dragonmark. This insight
varies from aberrant heir to aberrant heir as each follow their own unique path. The aberrant heir gains a
+2 insight bonus to a single skill of his choosing. Once this choice has been made, it cannot be changed.

Outcast (Ex): An aberrant heir is forever an outcast in dragonmarked society, scorned by his more
fortunate brethren. An aberrant heir incurs a -2 penalty to all Charisma based checks when dealing with
a member of an established dragonmarked house who can see or knows about his aberrant dragonmark.

Lesser Aberrant Dragonmark: At 2nd level, an aberrant heir finally unlocks the secret of his aberrant
mark, increasing the size and power of his aberrant mark. His aberrant dragonmark nearly doubles in
size and becomes much more intricate. The Spellcraft DC to identify this new mark is 25. He may use
his aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability one additional time per day. In addition, he can choose third
level spell of the same school as his original aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability. He can use this spell
as a spell-like ability once per day. The caster level for the aberrant heir’s spell-like abilities is equal to
three-quarters of his character level (round down). If an aberrant heir wishes, he can select a first or
second level spell as his spell-like ability instead of a third level spell.
Madness (Su): At 2nd level, the increased power of the aberrant heir’s aberrant dragonmark begins to
cloud his mind. He is plagued with madness stemming from the raw power of the aberrant dragonmark.
Subtract 1 from all Wisdom-based skill checks (such as Listen) and all Will saves. Once per day, the
aberrant heir can act with the clarity of true madness. Add half his level to a single Wisdom-based skill
check or Will save. Choose to use this power before the roll is made.

Aberrant Boon (Ex): The power of the aberrant dragonmarks is mysterious at best and dangerous at
worst. Through long exposure to the magical power coursing through your veins, you gain a boon. Once
at 3rd level and again at 5th level an aberrant heir may choose one boon from the following list.
Bonus Feat: An aberrant heir may choose a feat that he qualifies for instead of taking a boon.
Danger Sense (Ex): Once per day the aberrant heir can reroll one initiative check. The aberrant heir must
take the result of the reroll even if it is worse than the original roll.
Fleet of Foot (Ex): The aberrant heir gains a +10 bonus to his base land speed. This benefit applies only
when he is wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor and not carrying a heavy load.
Heroism (Ex): The aberrant heir’s maximum action points per level are increased by 2. This boon can be
taken multiple times. Each additional time this boon is taken your maximum action points are increased
by 2.
Spell Power (Ex): The aberrant heir gains new spells per day and spells known (if applicable) as if he had
also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class. He
does not, however, gain any other benefits a character of that class would have gained (bonus
metamagic of item creation feats, bard of assassin abilities, and so on).

Call to Power (Su): At 3rd level, the raw power coursing through the veins of an aberrant heir becomes
harder to resist. When an aberrant heir takes more damage in a single attack than his Constitution score,
he must make a Will save with a DC equal to the damage dealt. If the aberrant heir succeeds on the Will
save, he may act normally. If the aberrant heir fails this saving throw, he must use his most powerful
aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability against the creature that damaged him. If the aberrant heir does
not have an aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability that is capable of targeting the creature that wounded
the aberrant heir, he must instead use his aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability on himself instead. If the
aberrant heir does not have any uses of his aberrant dragonmark spell-like abilities left, call to power has
no effect.

Greater Aberrant Dragonmark: At 4th level, an aberrant heir enhances the power of his aberrant mark
even further. His aberrant dragonmark grows in size and complexity, nearly doubling in size once again.
In addition the mark takes on a slightly unusual coloration, marking the aberrant heir as a truly powerful
individual. The Spellcraft DC to identify this new mark is 30. He may use his lesser aberrant dragonmark
spell-like ability one additional time per day. In addition, he can choose one sixth level spell of the same
school as his original aberrant dragonmark spell-like ability. He can use this spell as a spell-like ability
once per day. The caster level for the aberrant heir’s spell-like abilities is equal to his character level. If
an aberrant heir wishes, he can select a first, second, third, fourth, or fifth level spell as his spell-like
ability instead of a sixth level spell.

Aberrant Ties (Sp): Upon reaching 5th level, the aberrant heir comes into his full power and hones his
senses, enabling him to find and help others with an aberrant mark. The aberrant heir can make a DC 25
Gather Information check to locate a single individual that possesses an aberrant dragonmark within a
one mile radius. The aberrant heir need not know the individual and gains no knowledge about who the
individual is, other than the fact that he possesses an aberrant dragonmark. At DM discretion this ability
can be used to locate an individual who has recently come into his mark and is in need of help. This
process takes 1d4 hours.
In addition the aberrant heir can use aberrant ties to locate a single friendly creature that will hide
the aberrant heir for a period of 25 hours by succeeding on a DC 25 Gather Information check. This
process takes 1d4 hours.
Playing an Aberrant Heir
As an aberrant heir, you wield power not seen since the war of the mark. Your aberrant mark is much
more powerful than normal, enabling you to wield vast destructive power on the field of battle. Your
power is only tempered by your madness, which clouds your mind and makes it difficult to resist using
your mark.
Since the War of the Mark, aberrant heirs have been extremely careful to avoid detection, afraid
for their own lives. Some have flocked to House Tarkanan, hoping to find a place where they are
accepted and their aberrant marks can be used for personal gain.
Combat: Aberrant heirs have much more dangerous spell-like abilities than their dragonmarked cousins
and as such can use them in combat to great effect. Many of them have spell-like abilities that can deal
hit point damage, a great advantage in a fight. Because aberrant heirs come from nearly all classes, their
role in combat is usually determined by the class they held before becoming an aberrant heir.
Advancement: As you gain levels, don’t be afraid to use the power of your dragonmarks to the fullest.
Unlike normal dragonmarked characters, you can choose a wide variety of spells for your spell-like
abilities. Take great car in selecting your spell-like abilities, as they cannot be changed and must remain
useful throughout the levels.
In addition to your spell-like abilities, your aberrant boons can grant you additional versatility.
With a variety of choices at your disposal, you have a bit more versatility than other dragonmarked
characters. While you do not have as many spell-like abilities as a dragonmarked heir, you have
additional boons and abilities to compensate for the decreased spell power.
Be mindful that as you advance in level your larger aberrant dragonmark will begin attracting
more and more attention to yourself due to the size and coloration of your aberrant dragonmark.
Obtaining spells or items that can hide your appearance may help you hide your true power and identity.
Don’t overlook the disguise skill as well, as it can be used to hide your aberrant dragonmark.
Resources: Due to the stigma of dragonmarked society, aberrant heirs have little in the way of official
organization. The one exception to this rule is House Tarkanan, an organization in Sharn that welcomes
characters with aberrant dragonmarks. They can often provide help to those with aberrant marks,
provided they also aid the house. Other organizations or governments my secretly employ aberrant heirs
and provide them with some level of assistance.

Aberrant Heirs in the World

“I have seen firsthand the power of these aberrant heirs. I have little doubt that all of them are power
hungry at best and mad beyond repair at worst. I would not trust one and I fear that another war of the
mark may be on the horizon if these pitiful creatures are not eliminated before they grow too powerful.”
- Roland d’Medani, Dragonmark Heir of house Medani.

The aberrant heir prestige class is a good choice for characters who wish to improve the power of their
aberrant dragonmarks. Most aberrant heirs find it difficult to make new friends because of the past social
stigma attached to aberrant dragonmarks. They rarely adventure with members of the thirteen
dragonmarked houses, fearful of retribution from the houses.
Daily Life: Since the War of the Mark, aberrant heirs have been rare and often hunted. As such, they
rarely have easy lives and most of them live in seclusion or under assumed names and identities. More
and more aberrant heirs are flocking to House Tarkanan for the protection and acceptance they offer.
Others have been quietly living their lives, always hiding their marks from those they work with. A few
have managed to find acceptance in other areas of government, working as elite agents who use their
aberrant marks for king and crown. The only common feature of daily life is the constant struggle to find
acceptance from the dragonmarked houses and the need to stave off the growing insanity brought on by
the aberrant mark.
Notables: The most notable aberrant heirs were lost during the war of the mark. The Lady of Plagues
was perhaps the most well-known aberrant heir, though all that remains is her memory. The most well
known living aberrant heir is Wyram Tarkanan (N Human Rogue 4/Aberrant Heir 5), known for his great
love of fire. He currently works with the Tarkanans, but he hasn’t forgotten the life he led before finding
his adoptive family. He has been known to seek out those who carry aberrant marks and counsel them
on how to control and contain their power.
Organization: Aberrant heirs have little in the way of formal organization beyond house Tarkanan.
House Tarkanan is the largest organization that accepts aberrant heirs and often serves as a good place
for aberrant heirs to gather. They have the power and size to offer protection to fledgling aberrant heirs
and often treat them quite well. However house Tarkanan uses methods that many good aberrant heirs
find distasteful, so most good and some neutral aberrant heirs must make their way in the world alone.
Sometimes small groups of aberrant heirs gather and form their own groups based around their
individual philosophies. While some of these groups claim that they want nothing more than to be treated
as equals in society, most of them have reputations as killers and madmen. These groups are usually
hunted down and killed by members of the dragonmarked houses. On a whole, aberrant heirs have little
organization and must make their way in the world alone.
Recently some evil organizations have been actively courting aberrant heirs for their power. The
Order of the Emerald Claw and the Cults of the Dragon Below both have places for the aberrant heirs, so
long as they do not mind using their abilities in less than legal ways.

NPC Reactions
Average citizens of Khorvaire cannot readily discern the difference between someone with an aberrant
dragonmark and an aberrant heir. In general, aberrant heirs are treated like any other person who carries
an aberrant dragonmark. Some may be fearful for the aberrant heir, while others may not give it a
second though.
This does not extend to the dragonmarked houses, which see aberrant heirs as anathema at best
and a danger to society at worst. Most members of the dragonmarked houses will have little if nothing to
do with an aberrant heir and if any member of a dragonmarked house who actually manages to discover
that the aberrant heir holds a truly powerful aberrant mark the aberrant heir might very well be hunted
down and killed. If a marked member of a dragonmarked house can openly see an aberrant heirs
dragonmark and succeeds in interpreting it correctly, they have a starting attitude of unfriendly at best,
possibly even hostile.

Aberrant Heir Lore

Characters with Knowledge (arcana) can research the aberrant heirs to learn more about them. Dungeon
masters should read or paraphrase the following results
DC 10: Aberrant heirs all possess aberrant dragonmarks that are different than normal.
DC 15: Aberrant heirs are all insane and many of them feel driven to use their powers as often as
possible.
DC 20: Aberrant heirs can manifest and a lesser and greater aberrant dragonmark and their magical
abilities are much more varied than other dragonmarks.
DC 25: Many aberrant heirs can detect the presence of other individuals who possess aberrant
dragonmarks and some of them seek them out others who possess aberrant dragonmarks in order to
train them.
DC 30: House Tarkanan welcomes aberrant heirs into their ranks. Aberrant heirs start going insane
when they manifest their lesser aberrant marks and they feel drawn to use their powers when they are
badly hurt.

Aberrant Heirs in the Game

It takes a dedicated individual to seek the path of an aberrant heir. The social stigma and mental illness
inflicted upon aberrant heirs can be difficult to cope with. While aberrant heirs come from all walks of life
they tend to stick together out of simple necessity, as most others will not work with them. Also keep in
mind that aberrant heirs are mistrusted and often despised by the dragonmarked houses, as this is a
common bond between all aberrant heirs. Aberrant heirs can also make unique and powerful villains who
work for any variety of evil organizations.

Adaptation
The aberrant heir can be adapted to any game world where the aberrant dragonmark feat is used. With a
small amount of work this class can be reworked to use other feats that grant spell-like abilities. They
need not have a connection to any of the Eberron organizations and can be affiliated with any group you
wish.