Prophecy Shards

The Draconic Prophecy is an ever-changing tapestry of fate, revealing keys to our past, our future, and even helping to understand many of the trials in our present age. The Draconic Prophecy is also a living thing, and through heroes the Prophecy can change the world in even greater ways…

Prophecy Shards are a re-working of the Hero/Action Points mechanic to add diversity and flavor to an Eberron game to give players chances to succeed even when their dice turn against them.

Prophecy Shards come in a variety of colors, each corresponding to a type of dragonshard and having a different benefit. The Shards are kept in a Cache that players draw from at the beginning of each session. Shards that are not utilized during a session are lost and return to the Cache (with the exception of specific shards).

At the beginning of each game, the DM will put 20 Eberron, 10 Khyber, and 5 Siberys shards into a pouch, plus any individual other shards if needed. Each player without looking draws as many shards as they are allowed, usually three.

Awarding Prophecy Shards:

• At the start of each session, each player draws three prophecy shards from the cache unless more have been allotted for a particular reason.
• Character story- writing more on your character's background, painting a mini or drawing a portrait can earn extra drawn prophecy shards.
• Faith- upholding the tenets of your faith or tradition can earn prophecy shards for thematic moments during a session.
• Heroism- true acts of bravery and heroics can be awarded prophecy shards. Moments like using a torrent of water to save your companion falling to his untimely demise to keeping your allies protected behind you while you face down a daelkyr abomination.
• Group service- prophecy shards may be awarded for out of game deeds like providing food or drinks for the players.

Using Prophecy Shards:

Shards may be spent at any time, and do not require an action to use (though using one may modify an action). You cannot spend more than one shard during a single round of combat.

Any prophecy shard may be spent to automatically stabilize your character if dying.

Eberron Shards:

Eberron shards vary in color but are usually pink or light pink. Eberron prophecy shards are the most common of the types of dragonshards, and can be used in the following ways-

• Reroll: You may spend an Eberron shard to reroll any one d20 roll you just made. You must take the results of the second roll, even if it is worse.
• Act Out of Turn: You can spend an Eberron shard to take your turn immediately. Treat this as a readied action, moving your initiative to just before the currently acting creature. You may only take a move or a standard action on this turn.
• Soak Damage: An Eberron shard may be spent to avoid making a Fortitude save for Massive Damage, or to convert 2d6 of lethal damage (including falling) into nonlethal damage.
• Shake it Off: A character may spend an Eberron shard to remove a minor condition such as dazzled, shaken, or sickened.

Siberys Shards:

Siberys shards are usually yellow. Siberys shards affect the magic within and can be used in the following ways-

• Inspiration: If you feel stuck at one point in the adventure, you can spend a Siberys shard and petition the DM for a hint about what to do next. If the DM feels that there is no information to be gained, the shard is not spent.
• Recall: You can spend a Siberys shard to recall a spell you have already cast or to gain another use of a special ability that is otherwise limited. This should only be used on spells and abilities possessed by your character that recharge on a daily basis.

Khyber Shards:

Khyber shards are typically blue. Khyber shards represent more forceful acts on behalf of a character, as well as the mysterious and esoteric. Khyber shards may be used in the following ways-

• Bonus: If used before a roll is made, a Khyber shard grants you a +8 luck bonus to any one d20 roll. If used after a roll is made, this bonus is reduced to +4. You can use a Khyber shard to grant this bonus to another character, as long as you are in the same location and your character can reasonably affect the outcome of the roll (such as distracting a monster, shouting words of encouragement, or otherwise aiding another with the check). Shards spent to aid another character grant only half the listed bonus (+4 before the roll, +2 after the roll).
• Extra Action: You can spend a Khyber shard on your turn to gain an additional standard or move action this turn.
• Cheat Death: A character can spend a Khyber shard to cheat death. How this plays out is up to the DM, but generally the character is left alive, with negative hit points but stable. The character can spend hero points in this way to prevent the death of a familiar, animal companion, eidolon, or special mount, but not another character or NPC.

The Heart of Eberron:

The Heart of Eberron is a rare, pure Eberron prophecy shard that is a richer red in color than the typical Eberron shard, and it is not included in the Cache at the beginning of the campaign. They’re added only when your party achieves a significant goal that earns them a reputation worthy of a bard's tale.

The Heart of Eberron may be used in any of the following ways, and is not returned to the Cache when spent-

• Special: You can petition the DM to allow the shard to be used to attempt nearly anything that would normally be almost impossible. Such uses are not guaranteed. Possibilities include casting a single spell that is one level higher than you could normally cast (or a 1st-level spell if you are not a spellcaster), making an attack that blinds a foe or bypasses its damage reduction entirely, or attempting to use Diplomacy to convince a raging dragon to give up its attack. Regardless of the desired action, the attempt should be accompanied by a difficult check or penalty on the attack roll. No additional shards may be spent on such an attempt, either by the character or its allies.

 

Other prophecy shards may be added to the Cache periodically. Like the Heart of Eberron, these will only be added one at a time and are not returned to the Cache when spent.

Lamannia Crystal:

A Lamannia crystal is an Eberron shard that has grown in a manifest zone to the Lamannia the Twilight Forest. The magics of the manifest zone have turned the shards into a deep emerald hue with swirling veins of lighter greens. Lamannian crystals enhance natural magic and can be used to tap into the primal power of the Twilight Forest, and can be used as follows-

• Primordial Power: You may spend a Lamannia crystal to cast one of the following spells on your turn; animal aspect, call lightning, thorny entanglement, or wall of thorns. Treat your character level as the caster level for purposes of casting this spell, except the spell is Maximized.
• Circle of Life: A Twilight Forest shard may be spent in lieu of any costly material component for any reincarnate or similar spell from the druid/ranger spell list. If a Lamannia crystal is used in this way, the character to be reincarnated my roll twice on any reincarnation table, taking either result.