Dragonshards

Weapons of the Split Soul Part 3

Here's the final (for now) part of my Split Soul Soulknife series: A paragon path and some feats.  Enjoy! 

Twin Soul Master

    Most split soul soulknifes who recklessly undergo the process of splitting their soul to have it manifest in two specific parts end up with schizophrenic personalities as their divided soul conflicts and wars within them.  However, for those who seek true mastery over the split soul style, the two souls must regain some of their former harmony and the ability to work together.  Their souls are two equal and powerful parts that form together into a dedicated whole.

   The Twin Soul Masters have dedicated themselves to achieving this serenity.  Their soul weapons sing in perfect harmony as they work together to decimate their foes.    They seem to move with inhuman grace, seemingly aware of more than what thier senses could normally focus on.  While many are still boisterous and flamboyant, they move fluidly and swiftly.  Watching a true Twin Soul Master can be baffling, as often the two blades spin at such speed that it's hard to tell where one ends and the next begins.  This confounds their enemies and makes it almost certain that at least one blow will connect.

   While most Twin Soul Masters have the Weapon of the Split Soul, it's possible for soulknifes who manifest other mind weapons to follow this path.  By developing a strong sense of identity, they can temporarily split thier souls without fear of the chaos and neurosis that typically accompany the process.

Twin Soul Master Features

Weapons of the Split Soul Part 2: Paragon and Epic Tier Powers

Paragon Tier Powers

Soulsteel Whirlwind Strike             Soulknife Attack 13
You follow up a strong strike with a spinning strike from your secondary weapon.
At-Will    -     Augmentable Psionic, Weapon 
Standard Action     Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC (main hand)
Hit: 1[W] damage and choose for the target to either take 1[W] extra damage (off-hand) or for another enemy adjacent to you to take 1[W] damage (off-hand).
Augment 1:
Special: Shift 1 square before or after the attack. 
Augment 4:
Hit: 1[W]+ Dexterity modifier damage and make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon  against each adjacent enemy.

Two Souls, Three Strikes               Soulknife Attack 15
Three swift strikes from one hand are insured by swift cuts from the off hand.
Daily          -    Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action        Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be weilding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One, two or three creatures
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, three attacks (main hand)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per hit.
Miss: Make a melee basic attack with your off hand weapon against the target.

Soul's Second Chance        Soulknife Utility 16
Your second soul corrects an error instinctively.
Encounter            -     Psionic
Free Action           Personal
Trigger: You miss with an attack with your main hand weapon while wielding two Mind Weapons.
Effect: Re-roll the triggering attack using your off-hand weapon.

Redoubled Effort                 Soulknife Attack 17
Your second soul fills in when the first fails.
At-Will            -   Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action       Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC (main hand)
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Miss: Make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon against the target.
Special: You may only augment this power once per round.
Augment 1:
Special: You may use this power in place of a melee basic attack when you charge.
Augment 4:
Effect: Repeat this attack against the target.

Thoughtless Devastation        Soulknife Attack 19
An off hand flick of the wrist sends your opponent's mind reeling.
Daily        -      Psionic, Psychic, Weapon
Minor Action        Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a mind weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. Will (off-hand)
Hit: 4[W] + Dexterity modifier psychic damage and the target is stunned (save ends).
Miss: Half damage and the target is dazed (save ends).

Epic Tier Powers

Soul's Guidance               Soulknife Attack 23
Your split soul touches the mind of your opponant, sending them reeling.
At-Will            -        Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action     Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be weidling a mind weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. Will (off-hand)
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier psychic damage.
Special: You may use this power as a melee basic attack.
Augment 2:
Hit: As above and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.
Augment 6:
Hit: 4[W] + Dexterity modifier psychic damage and the target is knocked prone and immobilized and dazed until the end of your next turn.

Trigger of Devastation                 Soulknife Attack 25
A strong blow from your main hand is all that you need to unleash hell.
Daily        -       Psionic, Weapon
Free Action               Close Burst 2
Requirement: You must be wielding a mind weapon in each hand.
Trigger: You hit with a melee attack with your main hand weapon.
Target: Each enemy in burst.
Effect: Make two melee basic attacks with your off-hand weapon against each target.

Twin Blades            Soulknife Attack 27
For a second, you move in perfect harmony.
At-Will            -      Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a mind weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, two attacks (main and and off-hand)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per hit.
Augment 2:
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per hit.
Augment 6:
Effect: Repeat this power against the same target.

Halo of Blades            Soulknife Attack 25
Your mind weapons spin so fast that they form a halo of light around you.
Daily                   -         Psionic, Stance
Minor Action                 Personal
Effect: You assume the stance of the Halo of Blades.  Until the stance ends, while you are wielding two Mind Weapons when you hit or miss with your main hand weapon, you can make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon as a free action.

Soulknife Build: Weapons of the Split Soul 

Part 1:

  The #1 response I've gotten on my Soulknife is that it needs a two-weapon fighting build. MediumD looked at the problem through a simple feat, but I think there's enough space for a whole new build. The goal of the new build is to provide a play experience different from the original soulknife and other two weapons fighting build while remaining fun and balanced.  The build has themes of melee basic attacks with off-hand weapons and multiattacks that boost accuracy more than pure damage.  They should compare pretty well with the rest of the class and other balanced multiattack powers.  Please provide feedback on the discussion thread.

New Class Feature

 You may choose Weapons of the Split Soul as your mind weapon rather than the Pure Blade or Weapon of Light.

Weapons of the Split Soul

Benefit: You deal extra force damage on all attacks using your mind weapons equal to your Charisma modifier.  This damage increases to your Charisma modifier +2 at 11^th level and your Charisma modifier +4 at 21^st level.  Also, once per round, when you are wielding a melee weapon in each hand and you score a critical hit with your mind weapon, you may make a basic attack with your off-hand weapon as a free action.
 

New Heroic Powers

Grazing Flurry              Soulknife Attack 1
You strike quickly, delivering two minor wounds to your enemy.  By focusing your power, you can make those hits more substantial.
At-Will       -     Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action                 Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, two attacks (main hand and off hand)
Hit: Dexterity modifier damage per attack.
Augment 1:
Effect: If you miss with both attacks, you may make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon as a free action.
Augment 2:
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage per attack.

Subconscious Strike               Soulknife Attack 1
You swing your off hand weapon without thinking.  The split portion of your soul guides it past your foe's armor.
At-Will       -     Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action                 Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. Reflex (off hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Special: You may use this power as a melee basic attack unless you are charging.
Augment 1: 
Special: If you are weilding a thrown weapon in your off-hand, you may use this power as a ranged basic attack.  The weapon reforms in your hand after you use this power.
Augment 2:
Hit: 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.

Twin Soul Assault                Soulknife Attack 1
Focusing your soul energy, you move in a blur, your second soul weapon filling in when your primary weapon fails.
Daily       -     Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action                 Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One or two creatures.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC, two attacks (both main hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Miss: Make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon against the target.

Off-Hand Empowerment          Souknife Utility 2
Your dual focus allows you to manifest a larger weapon in your off-hand.
Daily        -      Psionic
Free Action        Personal
Trigger: You use Shape Mind Weapon.
Effect: You may shape any one-handed weapon with which you are proficient in your off-hand.  It gains the off-hand property until you dismiss it or use Shape Mind Weapon again.

Seconded Assault               Soulknife Attack 3
If one blade should fail, the second will perservere.
At-Will       -     Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action                 Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC (main hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Miss: Make a melee basic attack against the target with your off-hand weapon.
Augment 1: 
Miss: Make a melee basic attack with a +3 power bonus to the attack roll against the target with your off-hand weapon.
Augment 2:
Effect: Make a melee basic attack against the target with your off-hand weapon.

Fleeting Thought                Soulknife Attack 5
You push yourself for a split second, striking without even thinking.
Daily       -     Psionic, Weapon
Minor Action                 Melee weapon.
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creatures
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC (off-hand weapon)
Hit: 3[W] + Dexterity modifier damage.
Miss: Half damage.


Unbalancing Slash               Soulknife Attack 7
A strike from your off-hand weapon throws your foe off balance.
At-Will       -     Augmentable, Psionic, Weapon
Standard Action                 Melee weapon
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Target: One creature.
Attack: Dexterity vs. AC (off hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] + Dexterity modifier damage and the target grants combat advantage to adjacent creatures until the end of your next turn.
Special: You may use this power as a melee basic attack.
Augment 1: 
Hit: As above, and if you had combat advantage against the target for this attack they are knocked prone.
Augment 2:
Hit: 2[W] + Dexterity modifier damage and the target is dazed until the end of your next turn.

Spinning Soulsteel        Soulknife Attack 9
A solid strike from your main hand leads to a flurry of attacks from your off-hand as you spin around.
Daily       -     Psionic, Stance, Weapon
No Action                 Melee weapon.
Requirement: You must be wielding a Mind Weapon in each hand.
Trigger: You hit an adjacent enemy with an attack.
Effect: Make a melee basic attack with your off-hand weapon against each adjacent enemy.  Each target you miss takes damage equal to your Charisma modifier.
 

In my current campaign, the PCs have fallen in with some of the seeder aspects of society in Sharn and discovered a large amount of a drug called "Dragon's Blood" in a warehouse hideout of the criminal group named Daask.  "Dragon's Blood" is a drug that enhances magical power, but is dangerous and addictive.  I wrote some mechanics that I thought could be useful to others, as they can be easily adapted for other addictive substances in game.  Here they are!  Please feel free to comment below.

"Black Dragon's Blood"   Level 2 Uncommon Consumable
This flask contains a dark liquid of the mysterious and addictive substance known as "Dragon's Blood."
Consumable                       25 GP
Utility Power - Consumable (Minor Action)
  Effect:  You lose a healing surge and you regain the use of an arcane encounter attack or utility power of level 3 or less or an encounter power granted by a dragonmark related theme.  You contract Dragon's Blood Addiction (Stage 1, Level 2).  You may only benefit from one dose of Dragon's Blood per day.

 
"Blue Dragon's Blood"   Level 7 Uncommon Consumable
This flask contains a dark liquid of the mysterious and addictive substance known as "Dragon's Blood."
Consumable                       100 GP
Utility Power - Consumable (Minor Action)
  Effect:  You lose a healing surge and you regain the use of an arcane encounter attack or utility power of level 7 or less or an encounter power granted by a dragonmark related theme.  You contract Dragon's Blood Addiction (Stage 1, Level 7).  You may only benefit from one dose of Dragon's Blood per day.


"Red Dragon's Blood"   Level 12 Uncommon Consumable
This flask contains a dark liquid of the mysterious and addictive substance known as "Dragon's Blood."
Consumable                       500 GP
Utility Power - Consumable (Minor Action)
  Effect:  You lose a healing surge and you regain the use of an arcane encounter attack or utility power of level 13 or less or an encounter power granted by a dragonmark related theme.  You contract Dragon's Blood Addiction (Stage 1, Level 12).  You may only benefit from one dose of Dragon's Blood per day.

 
"Dragon's Blood" Addiction   Variable Level Disease
The mysterious drug "Dragon's Blood" offers power but its allure can grow ever harder to resist.

Special: If the target consumes a vial of "Dragon's Blood" of the addiction's level or higher, they ignore the effects of the addiction for the next 24 hours (although they still must make checks at the end of rests).  If a target is newly exposed to a higher level of the addiction while at stage 1 or greater, they are only subject to the higher version but they remain at the same stage of addiction.

Stage 0: The target recovers from the disease.
Stage 1: The target takes a -1 penalty to skill checks.

Stage 2: The target takes a -2 penalty to skill checks and will defense.

Stage 3: The target takes a -5 penalty to skill checks and will defense.

Stage 4: The target takes a -5 penalty to skill checks and will defense and will exclusively attempt to aquire an appropriately leveled vial of "Dragon's Blood" at any cost or risk to themselves or others unless physically restrained.

Check: The target must make an Endurance check at the end of each extended rest if it is at stage 1 or higher.

Result Less than Easy DC:   The addiction worsens by one stage.
Easy DC to Medium DC-1:  The addiction stays the same.
Medium DC or Higher: If the target has taken dragon's blood since the previous day's extended rest the addiction stays the same.  Otherwise it improves by one stage. 

Eberron Themes: Aberrant Heir

Aberrant Heir

Prerequisite: Any Aberrant Dragonmark feat

   Maybe you were a born of the forbidden union between members of different houses or maybe the draconic propecy just felt you were a good vessel for its dark message.  The cause doesn't really matter because ever since the jagged mockery of a dragonmark appeared on your skin, your life has been one difficulty after another.

   Deemed a dark harbinger at best and an abomination at worst, you face prejudice wherever you go.  Perhaps you took the oppertunity to take advantage of connection when it was offered and offered yourself up as an assassin for the rogue House Tarkanan.  Or maybe you prefer to go it alone, seeing the adventuring life as the one place you will be judged by your own merits rather than the mark on your skin.  In any case, you have a tough road ahead.

Aberrant Heir Features

Level 1 Feature

   You didn't ask for your mark and you can hardly control it.  By focusing its power, you can release a burst of dark prophetic messages but the surge is dispersed and impossible to control.  Still, the power it offers can be tantalizing.

Benefit: You gain the Aberrant Surge power

Aberrant Surge           Aberrant Heir Attack
Your aberrant mark pulses with power and sends a shockwave over your enemies.
Daily (special)       -   Arcane, Psychic
Minor Action      Close Burst 10
Target: Each creature in burst
Attack: Primary Ability modifier + 3 vs Will (Increase to +6 at Level 11 and +9 at Level 21). \
Hit: Primary ability modifier psychic damage and you may slide the target 1 square.
Special: At level 10, you may use this power twice per day.

Level 5 Feature

  It's a fact that the people of Khorvaire are afraid of aberrant marks and what they fortell.  You have learned to leverage this fear at times but there are still times where some normalcy is nice to have, however fleeting.  For this, you scoured arcane tomes for a means of disguising your mark and you studied the ritual to do it until you could perform it perfectly.

Benefit: You can master and perform the Conceal Dragonmark ritual as if you had the ritual caster feat and you can perform it once per day without expending components.  In addition, you gain a +2 power bonus to Intimidate checks while your Aberrant mark is visible.

Level 10 Feature

   Your dragonmark has grown larger, but you're not certain that's a good thing.  Its power seems to have grown, but it is no easier to control than it was before.

Benefit: You may use your Aberrant Surge power twice per day.

Aberrant Heir Optional Powers

Aberrant Determination       Aberrant Heir Utility 2
Your dragonmark aids your attack, but at a price.
Encounter    -     Arcane
Free Action          Personal
Trigger: You miss with an attack roll.
Effect: You may roll a d6 and add the result as a power bonus to the triggering roll but you are dazed until the end of your next turn.

Mindpoison Dragonmark        Aberrant Heir Utility 6
Your dragonmark pulses green and enhances your attack with a potent mental poison. Daily    -       Arcane, Poison
Minor Action        Personal
Effect: The next attack you make this turn targets Will instead of the defense it normally targets and deals ongoing poison damage equal to 5 + one-half your level (save ends) to each target on a hit.

Aberrant Fire           Aberrant Heir Utility 10
Your aberrant mark flares and wreathes you in purple flames.
Daily      -        Arcane, Fire, Stance
Minor Action         Personal
Effect: You assume the stance of Aberrant Fire. Until the stance ends, your attacks deal fire damage in addition to their other types and any adjacent enemy that attacks you takes ongoing fire damage equal to 5 + one-half your level (save ends).

Eberron Themes: Royal Agent

Royal Agent

Prerequisite: Must swear alligiance to your sponsoring crown

   The masses may believe that the Last War is over but you know better.  Despite the fact that the Day of Mourning shocked the nations into a ceasefire, the war in the shadows never stopped.  Each nation trained spies and assassins in the last war.  You are both of these, a member of a clandestine force of agents sworn to your crown and untraceable back to it.  You are empowered to infiltrate and kill to further your nation's cause, and you are relied upon to do so.

  Organizations such as yours in each of the five nations.  Agents of King Boranel, king of Breland are known as Dark Lanterns, famous as an organization but with members much more elusive.  Queen Aurala may call on her Royal Eyes, agents of Aundair who often belong to arcane classes.  Agents of Karnnath are count a latge number of undead in thier ranks, expecially vampires and revenants.  The High Inquisitor of Thrane commands an elite force of avengers of the Silver Flame.  Every major city in Khorvaire has at least one agent from each of these organization, each acting in the interest of thier nation.

  Whichever nation you belong to, you are highly trained and act with a cool methodology.  You are as at home at a fancy ball maintaining a cover as you are sliking through the sewers to reach the inner sanctum undetected.  Although thier methods and orders are diverse, almost all Royal Agents act out of a sense of duty to their nation.  Those who turn traitor are ruthlessly hunted down by the very network that they once supported.

Royal Agent Features

Level 1 Feature

  Your patron nation has invested much in you and you have recieved specialized training outside of that that of the average member of your class.  You have picked up a skill that you rely on for your duties.

Benefit: You gain training in a skill of your choice from among Bluff, Perception, Stealth or Streetwise.

Level 5 Feature

   The intelligence networks maintained by each nation are vast and omnipresent.  You enjoy certain privledges as a royal agent, and you may call upon your nation's reasources in a variety of ways.

Benefit: Once per day, when you have acess to your country's spy network, you can call in for aid.  This aid comes in the form of your choice of a +5 power bonus to a single streetwise check, a common or uncommon consumable item of your choice of your level or lower, or the free casting of a non-creation ritual of your level or lower.  Generally it takes half an hour to meet with your contacts to use this feature.  If you ever leave your spy organization, this feature doesn't function until you rejoin it or a new organization.

Level 10 Feature

  Perfection is required of an agent, as one slip up could be enough to send the world into another war.  Your constant vigilance has led to a talent for seeing when something is about to go wrong, and correcting it before it can.

Benefit: Once per encounter, you may reroll a missed at-will attack roll or a failed Bluff, Pereception, Stealth or Streetwise check.  You must take the second result.

 

Royal Agent Optional Powers

Eberron Themes: Valenar Warrior

   I had some free time so I thought I'd fill in a few holes in my themes.  Here's the first of these attempts, an attempt at making a Valenar theme.

 

Valenar Warrior

Prerequisites: Elf, Valenar background

  During the last war, the nation of Valenar ripped itself away from Cyre, led by the spartan elf mercenaries that have grown to inhabit it.  Despite the youth of Valenar as a nation, Valenar Warriros possess a great amount of skill and tradition.  Each Valenar warrior believes himself to be an embodiment of a great warrior of the past.

  You were raised in this environment and you posess a fierce love of combat, a deep reverence for those who came before, and a skill for horsemanship that makes even House Vadalis jealous.  You believe yourself to house the spirit of one of your ancestors and you have modeled your entire fighting style on emulating him in every way possible.
  Yet something pulled you away from the familiar desert hills of Valenar to seek your fortune in the wider world.  Wherever you go and for whatever reason, you bring with you paramount combat prowess and a strong mercenary drive that will lead you to find sucess wherever you travel.

Valenar Warrior Features

Level 1 Feature

   The Valenar are famous for their paragon warhorses.  These horses are closely tied to their owners and no non-Valenar holds one for long.  You have trained yourself to fight in concert with your equine partner and it is your constant companion.

Benefit:  You gain the Mounted Combat feat as a bonus feat. 

     You also gain a Valenar Warhorse, whose statistics are provided below.  Your Warhorse possesses no healing surges, though you may spend one on its behalf if a power or ability would allow it to spend one.  Once per round, if your Warhorse would be reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, you may lose a healing surge as a free action to allow it to instead set its hit points at your healing surge value.  At the end of a short rest, your Warhorse regains all lost hit points. 

     If your Valenar Warhorse dies, as long as you still possess part of it, you may perform a secret Valenar ritual with no component cost during your next extended rest, which restores it to life at full hit points.  

     When you are not mounted on your Valenar Warhorse, it takes no actions except to move to the nearest closest square to you and use total defense.

Valenar Warhorse            

Large Natural Beast (mount)

Initiative: Equal to yours       Senses: Perception Equal to yours,

HP: Equal to your bloodied value            Low Light Vision

AC: 15 Fortitude: 13 Reflex: 13 Will: 10

Special: Add your level to the Warhorse's Defenses

Speed: 10

Standard Actions

(MB) Hooves -At-Will

Attack: Melee 1 (one creature): Your Level +5 vs. AC,

Hit: 1d6 + one-half your level damage.

       Level 21: 2d6 + one-half your level damage.

Str 20      Dex  14     Wis  10

Con 14     Int  2        Cha 6

Level 5 Feature

You are an expert horseman and can perform feats that make others marvel in wonder.

Benefit: While mounted on your Valenar Warhorse, it gains a +2 power bonus to Athletics, Endurance, Acrobatics, and Stealth checks.  You may also roll twice on saving throws to prevent yourself from being dismounted and take the better result.

Level 10 Feature

Your Valenar mount has reached maturity and has finally realized the full swiftness that it was bred for.

Benefit: Your Valenar Warhorse gains a +2 bonus to speed.

Valenar Warrior Optional Powers

Valenar Summons                Valenar Warrior Utility 2

With a word of ancient elven magic, your horse appears below you.

Daily  -

Minor Action                    Personal

Requirement: Your Valenar Warhorse must be alive and on the same plane and you must not be mounted.

Effect: Your Valenar Warhorse is summoned into your space and you are mounted on it.

Valenar Mobility               Valenar Warrior Utility 6

You move with the swiftness of the winds across Valenar.

Encounter     -

Move Action             Personal

Effect: Shift your speed.  If you are mounted on your Valenar Warhorse, it may instead shift its speed.

Ancestral Avatar      Valenar Warrior Utility 10

Your features fade into those of your revered ancestor as you directly channel their might.

Daily  -    Polymorph, Stance

Minor Action               Personal

Effect: You enter the stance of the Ancestral Avatar.  Until the stance ends, you gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls and all defenses.

Eberron Themes: Scion of Vadalis

   Yay!  Finally to the last of the dragonborn houses.  House Vadalis was challenging to design since I tried to make each theme fit the abilities of the dragonmark.  The Mark of Handling only gives bonuses to mounts and beast companions and its paragon path is exclusive to beast rangers.  My objective was to open it up to other classes and give it some abilities to boost the companion's power level which is stunted in the early 4e design.  Hopefully the theme didn't end up too unbalanced, this seems like it might be overpowered but I'd have to see it in play or get someone with more beastmaster experience.  Share thoughts on the discussion thread.

Scion of Vadalis

Prerequisites: Mark of Handling, Membership in House Vadalis

   The humans of Vadalis are true masters of beasts.  All in Khorvaire recognize the value of their magebred mounts and livestock.  Growing up amidst breeding farms and animals has given you a special affinity for nature.  You have always had a way with the natural creatures of the earth and this ability was only compounded with your dragonmark.

   Yet there was something in the farming lifestyle that felt unfulfilled.  You longed to see more of the world.  So, you set out into the world to seek your fortune.  Did your elders approve of your departure or did they pressure you to stay and help breed the animals with the rest of your kin?  Whatever your deeds, you are the future of House Vadalis and you carry the power of the Mark of Handling wherever you go.  Perhaps you will use its powers in ways others can't even imagine.

Scion of Vadalis Features

Level 1 Feature

  You have raised a magebred companion since birth, slowly nurturing it with the power of your dragonmark until it learned to fight in tandem with you.  This companion follows you wherever you may go and demonstrates perfect loyalty and impressive intelligence.

Benefit: You gain the Ranger's Beast Mastery class feature.  If you are a ranger with a Ranger Fighting Style, this is in addition to that feature and you do not lose your Prime Shot class feature.  Also, you count as a ranger for the purpose of qualifying for the Vadalis Griffonrider paragon path.

Level 5 Feature

  Your dragonmark grants you affinity for all beasts.  You have learned to harness that power to briefly command the loyalty of a hostile animal.

Benefit: You gain the Vadalis Command power.

Vadalis Command          Scion of Vadalis Attack

You gaze into the eyes of a beast and cow its will with your dragonmark.

Daily     -     Arcane,  Charm

Standard Action              Close Burst 5

Target: One beast in burst.

Attack: Primary Abiltiy Modifier +3 vs. Will (Increase the bonus to +6 at Level 11 and +9 at Level 21)

Effect: The target is dominated until the end of your next turn.

Level 10 Feature

  Your dragonmark's power has grown and with it the power of your beast companion.  Its attacks are made even more deadly and precise.

Benefit: Your beast companion gains a +2 power bonus to attack rolls and a power bonus to damage rolls equal to your primary ability modifier.

Scion of Vadalis Optional Powers

Magebred Recovery           Scion of Vadalis Utility 2

Your dragonmark enables your companion to recover from injury.

Encounter       -         Arcane,  Healing

Minor Action              Close Burst 5

Target: Your beast companion in burst.

Effect: The target can spend a healing surge and regain extra hit points equal to your highest ability modifier.

Vadalis Lore           Scion of Vadalis Utility 6

Your knowledge of animals is formidable.

Encounter     -     Arcane

Free Action         Personal

Effect: You gain a +5 power bonus to the next nature check you make before the end of your next turn.

Dragonmarked Growth       Scion of Vadalis Utility 10

The power of your dragonmark flows into your beast companion.

Daily        -        Arcane, Healing

Minor Action      Close Burst 5

Target: Your beast companion in burst.

Effect: Until the end of the encounter, the target's size increases by one category and it gains Regeneration 5 until the end of the encounter.

Eberron Themes: Scion of Tharashk, Scion of Thuranni

  Here's Tharashk and Thuranni.  These two were actually pretty easy to write, though they changed a lot from my first brainstorming session.  It's pretty easy to represent finding and shadowy stealthiness in 4e.  I really like the contrast in the way that Thruanni and Phiarlan use the Mark of Shadow's ability differently.  Scion of Tharashk seems powerful but in a fun and subtle way.  PEACH in the discussion thread.

Scion of Tharashk

Prerequisites: Mark of Finding, Member of House Tharashk

   House Tharashk, composed of Orcs, Half-Orcs, and Humans, is both the most diverse and the most savage of all of the dragonmarked houses.  Originating with a skilled tribe of Orcs, the Mark of Finding has stayed with the family even as it mingled with humans.  Your exposure to the diversity of your family has given you increased sensitivity to racial differences and you do not tend to judge based on surface appearances.

   Tharashk frequently produces adventurers, as the Mark of Finding is a great help for expeditions and hunts of all kinds.  Upon manifesting your dragonmark, the elders saw great potential in you and gave you their blessing to go out into the world to find your destiny.  Do you take after your brutish orc ancestors or have you developed a more civilized sense?  Wherever your dragonmark guides you, you relish the journey and the thrill of the hunt.

Scion of Tharashk Features

Level 1 Feature

     The Mark of Finding has a talent for showing you and your allies what you need to see.  When you turn its power against an enemy, they find their every weakness revealed.

Benefit: You gain the Dragonmarked Advantage Power

Dragonmarked Advantage        Scion of Tharashk Utility

You touch your dragonmark and it causes every weak spot in your opponent's defenses to be amplified.

Encounter  -      Arcane

Minor Action     Close Burst 5

Target: One creature in burst.

Effect: The target grants combat advantage to you and your allies until the end of your next turn.

Level 5 Feature

   Your dragonmark can attune itself to whatever it is that you seek.  You've developed that talent from a vague feeling to actual guidance that helps you in your hunt.

Benefit:  During an extended rest, you may focus one individual, location, or object.  For the next day, you gain a +2 power bonus to all skill checks made in pursuit of finding that person, location, or object.

Level 10 Feature

    You woke up one night to find that your dragonmark had grown.  Since then, you find that it works within you subconsciously, augmenting and perfecting every weakness you sense in your foes.

Benefit: You gain a +1 power bonus to attack rolls against creatures granting you combat advantage.

Scion of Tharashk Optional Powers

Dragonmarked Navigation           Scion of Tharashk Utility 2

Your dragonmark can guide you through even the most unfamiliar lands.

At-Will     -    Arcane

Minor Action           Personal

Effect: You determine which way is North.  You also may roll twice on your next skill check to navigate.

Find the Answer          Scion of Tharashk Utility 6

Your dragonmark helps turn failure into success.

Daily      -   Arcane

Free Action           Personal

Trigger: You miss with an attack or fail a skill check or saving throw.

Effect: Reroll the triggering roll with a bonus equal to your highest ability modifier.

Flesh-Finding Stance   Scion of Tharashk Utility 10

You touch your dragonmark and find every weakness in your foes' defenses.

Daily      -    Arcane, Stance

Minor Action         Personal

Effect: Until the stance ends, you gain combat advantage against all enemies.

Scion of Thuranni

Prerequisites: Mark of Shadow, Member of House Thuranni

  A house of assassins, the elf house of Thuranni is the newest of Khoirvaire's dragonborn houses.   You likely still remember when your family was a branch of the House Phiarlan.  The split swept you to the cold north, where your house lives in stark conditions.  Many members of your families resent House Phiarlan for this and consider themselves to be the true heir of the Mark of Shadow.  You might agree with them.

    Ever since you were young, you were trained in the art of killing.  After your mark manifested, you became one of Thuranni's young scions with the greatest potential for greatness.  However, no assassin gets to be the best by mere training, so you set out into the world to test your skills.  Do you embrace your life as a killer or do you secretly long for a more peaceful existence?  The way before you is dark and shaded, but you don;t mind.  The shadows are your closest friends.

Scion of Thuranni Features

Level 1 Feature

  Every assassin worth his blades knows how to kill from hiding.  With the help of your dragonmark, you have honed this skill to an art, often killing enemies before they are aware of your presence.

Benefit: You gain the Thuranni Backstab power.

Thuranni Backstab         Scion of Thuranni Attack

Your dragonmark helps you deliver death from the shadows.

Encounter        -      Arcane,  Necrotic,  Shadow

No Action                Special

Trigger: You hit an enemy with an attack while hidden.

Effect: The enemy takes 2d8 extra necrotic damage.  Increase this extra damage to 3d8 at Level 11 and 5d8 at Level 21.

Level 5 Feature

  Your experience has grown.  You have learned to harness the Mark of Shadow to muffle your footsteps and allow you to move freely even while hidden.

Benefit: You take no penalty to stealth checks from movement.

Level 10 Feature

   Your Mark of Shadow has grown across your skin and it grants an additional power.  You may call upon its power to darken the shadows around you, allowing you to hide with even the slightest medium.

Benefit: Once per encounter,you may make a stealth check to hide without needing total concealment or cover (you still require partial cover or concealment to remain hidden).

Scion of Thuranni Optional Powers

Always Hidden             Scion of Thuranni Utility 2

Your dragonmark always helps you catch your foes off guard.

Encounter      -      Arcane,  Shadow

No Action           Personal

Requirement: You must have at least partial cover or concealment.

Trigger: You roll initiative.

Effect: You may make a stealth check to hide.

Thuranni Darkness       Scion of Thuranni Utility 6

Sinister darkness seeps from your dragonmark, surrounding you and your adjacent foes.

Encounter       -     Arcane, Necrotic,  Shadow,  Zone

Minor Action           Close Burst 1

Effect: The area of the power becomes a zone of darkness that lasts until the end of your next turn.  The zone blocks line of sight for all creatures except for you.   In addition, your attacks agianst enemies in the zone deal 2 extra necrotic damage.  This extra damage increases to 4 at Level 11 and 6 at Level 21.

Mantle of Shadow          Scion of Thuranni Utility 6

You touch your dragonmark and it exudes shadows around you.

Encounter       -      Arcane, Stance, Shadow

Minor Action           Personal

Effect: Until the stance ends, you gain partial concealment.