Marking Bone

[Jason Tetezlaff]

Is there anymore writeen on the Ivory Marking Bone?

The only places that I found it were;

“Koveren the Lawspeaker received the ivory marking bone, which could mark signs of power upon anything.” HotHp pg71

and

“First was a marking bone, which could mark signs of power upon anything…Lhankor Mhy the Lawspeaker, received the ivory marking bone.”

Since this was just given to Lhankor Mhy, is is something that a worshiper could take an ability to use? Any input on what that would look like and what it would do?

Thank You!

[Charles]

A hero could take Ivory Marking Bone as an ability. I’d suggest what it could do is best left to be ambiguous and explored in play.

[David Scott]

I don’t think that there’s anymore written, but plenty more to be read between the lines. I would suggest that a player just not be able to write it on their sheet as an ability – there’s clearly a whole adventure attached. First it had to be made – who makes them. Marking bones from the name seem to be normally made of bone (bear in mind the bones of the gods are rune metals as well), but ivory is specifically mentioned here, so this is special. Real world ivory comes from a specific animals:
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Ivory is a hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals, that is used in art or manufacturing. It consists of dentine, a tissue that is similar to bone … Elephant ivory is the most important source, but ivory from mammoth, walrus, hippopotamus, sperm whale, killer whale, narwhal and wart hog are used as well.

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According to the Guide, Fonrit and Teshnos have elephants and Kralorela, the Four-Tusk Elephant People. The Praxian nomads had an elephant clan but they’ve died out – perhaps turned into Ivory marking bones! I thing that the city of Banglangko holds the best clue to the source of ivory:
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Banglangko (small city): Here resides the demigod elephant Lang (an immortal white elephant), dispensing wisdom to the assembled priests of Somash from his Elephant Palace.

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– There are elephant Gods. The Ivory Marking Bone is made from the tusk of a dead elephant god. I like the idea that “an elephant never forgets” and the Lhankor Mhy scholars hoarding knowledge are given an elephant tusk marking bone.
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So an adventure to meet a dead elephant god – this is HeroQuest. Now you have the tusk, it needs crafting or magically transforming (maybe by someone with a change rune). Then it gets presented. Then your player does as Charles says – gets it as an ability at 13, or a breakout from an appropriate rune like Law or communication. Then you explore it’s ambiguous nature.

Don’t forget that you could always have the Bronze Marking Bone, the Truestone Marking Bone, or any other rune metal or magical substance – someone just has to go and get it..

[Roko Joko]

A small wand, one end narrowing to a point of lead, the other end sheathed in tin and crowned with rubber.

[Author]

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