The Mark of Scribing

“Communication is the foundation of civilization.” — Lysse Lorridan d’Sivis, House Matriarch

The Mark of Scribing deals with communication—both the written and spoken word. A gnome who bears the mark can feel words as though they are living creatures, struggling to make their meaning known. The mark provides a range of gifts. It translates languages, but it also allows its bearer to communicate with others at a distance.

House Sivis

The gnomes of House Sivis facilitate communication. This is seen most literally in speaking stones, magic items allowing a Sivis heir to send a short message to another speaking stone; House Sivis's network of message stations is the backbone of long-distance communication. But Sivis also trains and licenses scribes, notaries, interpreters, cartographers, barristers, heralds, bookbinders and more. House Sivis has an especially close relationship with House Kundarak, as Kundarak letters of credit must be notarized with a Sivis arcane mark.
House Sivis has taken great pains to maintain the trust of its clients and takes a position of absolute neutrality in all disputes, whether between houses or nations. Gnomes have a natural love of intrigue, and the different families within the house often engage in subtle schemes and feuds, but these are never allowed to threaten the house as a whole. Sivis gnomes are typically friendly, curious, and engaging; but that kindly exterior may conceal a scheming mind.

Dragonmarked Characters

Here are examples of characters who carry the Mark of Scribing.

House Agent Bard

The Draconic Prophecy is one of the greatest mysteries of all. You’re an observer tasked to keep your eyes open for any sort of manifestation of the Prophecy. You are part detective, part spy. Always keep your eyes open for leads and see where they take you.

Sage Wizard

You started out as a scribe and discovered a talent for arcane magic and a love of history. You’re eager to explore ancient ruins and lost civilizations, and you’re especially interested in uncovering old records, spellbooks, and ancient lore.

Hermit Warlock (Great Old One)

The Mark of Making allows you to read the code of reality itself, to understand voices no one else can hear. You have no interest in the business of your house; you are on a grander quest, unraveling a secret that lesser minds can’t comprehend. Your patron could be a daelkyr or your mark may truly be connecting you to some primordial force.

Mark of Scribing Traits

The Mark of Scribing manifests exclusively on gnomes. If your character has the Mark of Scribing, this is your gnome subrace.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Gifted Scribe. You are proficient with calligrapher’s supplies and forgery kits. When you make an ability check using either one of these tools, you can roll one Intuition die, a d4, and add the number rolled to the ability check.
Scribe’s Insight. You can cast comprehend languages once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
Whispering Wind. You know the cantrip message. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability when casting it.
Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.