Excoriate

An **excoriate** is a dragonmarked member of a Dragonmarked House who has violated the laws of the house. Originally, the punishment for violating the laws of the house resulted in the lethal flaying of the dragonmark from the culprit. However, in modern times, excoriates are cast out of their house, forced to give up anything they own and are shunned by their house and their family.

## History

For thousands of years, magical dragonmarks began manifesting on the bodies of the various inhabitants of Eberron. While the most powerful of these marks were from specific bloodlines (known as the Dragonmarked Houses), others were manifesting into lesser powerful marks. These marks became known as aberrant dragonmarks, most of which were the results of the intermingling of blood from two separate Dragonmarked Houses. Fifteen hundred years ago, the Dragonmarked Houses joined forces to begin the War of the Mark, wherein it sought out and purged all of the aberrant dragonmarks it could find.

In the wake of the war, the twelve Dragonmarked Houses created codified rules around their co-existence with each other. One such concept coming out of these new rules was the concept of excoriation. Having seen the proliferation of aberrant dragonmarks, the twelve houses banned the mingling of dragonmarked bloodlines. Any marked member of a house found to have mixed blood with another house (whether a marked member or not) was "excoriated", a term which mean that their dragonmark was to be flayed from their skin and, should they survive, they would be banished from the house forever. Most times, excoriation was intentionally lethal, for the dragonmark could grow back with healing.

Over time, the lethality of excoriation diminished. In current times, an excoriate does not have their dragonmark skinned from their body. Now, an excoriate faces full dismissal from their house. They are forced to surrender any property they have identifying them as a member of the house (such as a signet ring). They must give up any property or any rights that may have been open to them as a member of the house. They are no longer allowed on any house property. They are no longer allowed to carry the name of their house (such as d'Cannith). They no longer fall under the protection of their house, and thus can be bound by the laws of the nations of Galifar. Their likeness is circulated to all house enclaves and holdings, and all members of the house must refuse excoriates any aid. Other houses will often also shun excoriates from houses not their own, though there are those that make exceptions.

Excoriates are frequently to continue to live their own lives, and to continue to use their dragonmarks. Some even take new surnames. Others have been known to join the aberrant House Tarkanan. There are also times when an excoriate gives birth to a child that also manifests a dragonmark. This child is considered a foundling. Most foundlings are welcome to return to their marked house; however, exceptions are made of the children of especially infamous excoriates. Unfortunately, though, some excoriates are still castrated to prevent the continuing of bloodlines through an excoriate's blood. It is possible, though highly rare, for an excoriate to be re-accepted into their house.

 File:Paelion.jpg  During the Shadow Schism, the head of House Phiarlan, Elvinor Elorrenthi d'Phiarlan, named an entire bloodline excoriated: after the treachery of the Thuranni bloodline, the entire line was to be excoriated from House Phiarlan. This bloodline created a new dragonmarked house: House Thuranni. The rivalry between Phiarlan and Thuranni continue to this day, with any member of House Thuranni considered shunned by members of House Phiarlan; the other dragonmarked houses, however, have recognized the legitimacy of House Thuranni and do not shun this house of excoriates.

## Notable Names

* **Aaren d'Cannith**, the House Cannith creator of the warforged, was excoriated from his house in 970 YK by his father, Merrix d'Cannith the First, after Aaren protested on behalf of warforged rights. Aaren disappeared shortly afterward.
* **Failin d'Orien** was once a House Orien courier. The reason for his excoriation is unknown, but he currently makes a living in the Bloody Market of Rhukaan Draal in Darguun.
* **Gaven d'Lyrandar** was excoriated from House Lyrandar for his involvelement in the Shadow Schism between House Phiarlan and House Thuranni. he was captured and sentenced to Dreadhold prison, though he later escaped.
* **Jura d'Cannith**, later called **Jura Darkhart** was excoriated from House Cannith for marrying a darkwood dryad from Aerenal. After his wife's death, Jura had hopes of returning to House Cannith.
* **Koulton d'Lyrandar**, a former member of House Lyrandar who stole an airship to become **Prince Koulton Brightwind** of the Wind Whisperers in the Lhazaar Principalities. In addition to being an excoriate, Koulton also has a price on his head from House Lyrandar.
* **Lei d'Cannith**, a female artificer and survivor of the Day of Mourning, was excoriated by Merrix d'Cannith of House Cannith in order to help consolidate his base of power. Baron Merrix also excoriated Lei's parents **Aleisa d'Cannith** and **Talin d'Cannith** after their deaths as a symbolic gesture.
* **Mordain d'Phiarlan**, later called **Mordain the Fleshweaver** was excoriated after his illegal research into the aberrant magics of the daelkyr. He currently resides in Droaam, with no desire to return either to his dragonmarked house or to society altogether.
* **Tasker d'Sivis**, a former member of House Sivis who was excoriated, yet continued to document his findings from all over Eberron.

## Note

An excoriate of the Dragonmarked Houses should not be confused with an Excoriate, one of three ranks within the Flayed Hand, a monastic order that worships the Mockery.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 ***Dragonmarked***.
Keith Baker, Ari Marmell, Michelle Lyons and C.A. Suleiman (2006). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3933-8.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ***Player's Guide to Eberron***.
James Wyatt, Keith Baker, Luke Johnson, Steven Brown (2006). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3912-5.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 ***The City of Towers***.
Keith Baker (2005). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3584-7.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ***Eberron Campaign Guide***.
James Wyatt and Keith Baker (2009). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-5099-4.
5. ↑ ***Dragonshards: The Warforged, Part 1***. Keith Baker (June 27th, 2005). Wizards of the Coast.
6. ↑ ***Shadows of the Last War***.
Keith Baker (2004). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3276-7.
7. ↑ ***Storm Dragon***.
James Wyatt (2007). Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-4710-1.
8. ↑ ***Dragonshards: The Lhazaar Principalities, Part 2***. Keith Baker (May 16th, 2005). Wizards of the Coast.
9. ↑ ***Dragonshards: Masters of Magic***. Keith Baker (July 25th, 2005). Wizards of the Coast.
10. ↑ "**Dragonmarks: Sorcerers in Eberron**" (January 2007) by Keith Baker. *Dragon Magazine* issue 351.
11. ↑ ***Dragonshards: Monastic Orders***. Keith Baker (December 13th, 2004). Wizards of the Coast.