The Mark of Shadow

“The illusions that I weave dazzle and deceive. Sometimes that deception eases your burdens, letting you forget your troubles for a moment. But I can also ease your burdens by ending your life.” — Lady Elara d’Thuranni, shadow dancer

The Mark of Shadows lets an elf weave illusions from shadows, crafting sounds and images to distract or delight. The mark also allows its bearer to draw on the shadows, making it an easy matter to avoid detection or even disappear while in plain sight. It is a valuable tool for an entertainer, a spy, or an assassin.

The Houses of Shadow

The elves have carried the Mark of Shadow for thousands of years. The families that carry the mark left Aerenal after the conflict that wiped out the Mark of Death and established House Phiarlan in Khorvaire. These elves are the finest entertainers in the land, giving them access to all manner of places and secrets. But the elves do more than entertain. There has always been an elite force of spies and assassins within the house. Common folk know nothing of this. Only special clients—powerful nobles, merchant lords, and the like—have access to these shadow-marked spies. Toward the end of the Last War, a bitter feud broke out between the major families of the house. Known as the Shadow Schism, it resulted in a split withinin Phiarlan—and the foundation of House Thuranni.
House Phiarlan continues to offer entertainment and espionage in the lands west of the Mournland, while Thuranni operates in Karrnath, the Lhazaar Principalities, and the eastern lands. As a rule, Phiarlan elves are the better spies and Thuranni agents are superior assassins. On the surface Thuranni and Phiarlan maintain a peaceful relationship, but rivalries run deep.

Dragonmarked Characters

Here are a few examples of characters who carry the Mark of Shadow.

House Agent Rogue

You’re a young agent in House Thuranni. You’ve studied the performing arts, but you’re far more interested in the darker side of the house. At the moment you’re building your skills and reputation as an observer and investigator, but once you prove yourself you hope you’ll get to be a player in the shadow war.

Bard Entertainer

You’re a rising star. Your performances have already earned you a name across the Five Nations, and your fame will surely only increase as you develop your talents. The house has helped with your career, and they’ve dropped hints to see if you want to get involved in the other side of the house, but at the moment you’re just in this for the music.

Mark of Shadow Traits

The Mark of Shadow only manifests on elves. If your character has the Mark of Shadow, this is their elf subrace.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Natural Talent. You gain proficiency with one musical instrument or the Performance skill. Gift of the Shadows. When you make a Charisma (Performance) or Dexterity (Stealth) check, you can roll one Intuition die, a d4, and add the number rolled to the ability check.
Shape Shadows. You know the minor illusion cantrip. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this trait.
Slip Into Shadow. You can use the Hide action as a bonus action, even if you have no cover or if you’re under observation. Regardless of whether you succeed or fail, once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.