House Sivis Heir (Gnome)

For nearly thirty centuries, your family has worked to maintain order. Communication is the cord that binds civilization together, and your ancestors settled the disputes of sovereigns and helped the dragonmarked houses find a place in the world. Few people realize the influence House Sivis has had on the shape of the modern age — just as few know how often a royal adviser holds more power than the actual ruler. While the other dragonmarked houses fight for fame and recognition, House Sivis plays a long game of subtle influence behind the scenes, keeping order amid the chaos of unending intrigue.

A background lists three of your character's ability scores. Increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20.

Dragonmarks are mysterious and magical symbols that appear on the skin of some people across Khorvaire. The twelve established dragonmarks are tied to specific family lines, and the scions of those families work hard at consolidating the power of the marks in order to maximize the profit and influence they gain from them. The Mark of Healing, for example, has given the halflings of House Jorasco an edge in providing medical care; the house has exploited that edge to the point where it remains virtually the only provider of healing services. Dragonmarks typically appear for the first time in situations of stress or peril where the power of the mark could prove useful, heirs of the dragonmarked houses undergo a rite of passage called the Test of Siberys in adolescence. Each house's test is different, but they all involve some danger designed to evoke the power of the house's mark. Usually, a dragonmark appears during the test, if it ever manifests at all, but heirs sometimes manifest their marks years after failing the Test of Siberys.

You gain the following benefits.

Gifted Scribe. When you make an Intelligence (History) check or an ability check using Calligrapher's Supplies, you can roll 1d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check.

Scribe's Insight. You know the Message cantrip. You also always have the Comprehend Languages spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast it using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for this spell (choose when you select this feat). When you reach character level 3, you also always have the Magic Mouth spell prepared and can cast it the same way.

Spells of the Mark. If you have the Spellcasting or Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of Scribing Spells table are added to that feature's spell list.

Mark of Scribing Spells:

You gain proficiency in Calligrapher's Supplies.

Choose A or B:

• (A) Calligrapher's Supplies, Fine Clothes, Ink, 5 Ink Pens, Paper (30 sheets), Parchment (9 sheets), 8 GP
• (B) 50 GP