Dragonborn: Revised
Her father stood on the first of the three stairs that led down from the portal, unmoving. The scales of his face had grown paler around the edges, but Clanless Mehen still looked as if he could wrestle down a dire bear himself. His familiar well-worn armor was gone, replaced by violet-tinted scale armor with bright silvery tracings. There was a blazon on his arm as well, the mark of some foreign house. The sword at his back was the same, though, the one he had carried since even before he had found the twins left in swaddling at the gates of Arush Vayem.
For all her life, Farideh had known that reading her father’s face was a skill she’d been fortunate to learn. A human who couldn’t spot the shift of her eyes or Havilar’s would certainly see only the indifference of a dragon in Clanless Mehen’s face. But the shift of scales, the arch of a ridge, the set of his eyes, the gape of his teeth—her father’s face spoke volumes.
But every scale of it, this time, seemed completely still—the indifference of a dragon, even to Farideh.
— Erin M. Evans, The Adversary
Born of dragons, as their name proclaims, the dragonborn walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Born from the love between a dragon mother and a humanoid father, dragonborn originally hatched from dragon eggs as a unique race, combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids. Dragonborn were often born in large clutches having up to 100 brothers and sisters born with them. Some dragonborn are faithful servants to a deity and travel the world on a holy mission, others form the ranks of soldiers in great wars, others become mages and harness a vast well of arcane magic, and still others find themselves adrift, with no clear calling in life.
Dragon Kin
Dragonborn look very much like dragons standing erect in humanoid form. The blood of their mothers runs very strong through dragonborn. Dragonborn often boast scales that closely match those of their dragon mother—bright red, green, blue, or white, lustrous black, or gleaming metallic gold, silver, brass, copper, or bronze. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are strong, talon like claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.
Chromatic: Greedy and Alone
Chromatic dragons usually make poor parents, caring for their own wellbeing over their child’s. This leads to their children learning these same traits. Most chromatic dragonborn leave their clutch by adulthood to forge their own path in the world, often harboring the same traits as their parent: Greed and selfishness.
The well-known greed and selfishness of chromatic dragonborn means that they as a whole are not accepted by society and often find themselves aimlessly traveling the world in search of whatever they can garner for themselves.
Metallic: Clan-Oriented
Metallic dragons usually make exceptional parents, doing everything they can to keep their children safe. This leads to close inter-family connections. Metallic dragonborn often form clans with their clutch as well as any other clutch their parents may have, often even incorporating other metallic dragon’s clutches into their own clans. This leads to very large cities of metallic dragonborn. These cities are often self-sufficient and most metallic dragonborn strive for self-improvement to ensure the self-sufficiency of their clans and their cities, often learning a craft that can help their city or clan thrive..
Though all dragonborn strive to be self-sufficient, they recognize that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. But the best source for such help is their own clan, and when a clan needs help, it turns to another dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races—or even from the gods.
Dragonborn Names
Dragonborn have personal names given at birth, but metallic dragonborn put their clan names first as a mark of honor. A childhood name or nickname is often used among clutchmates as a descriptive term or a term of endearment.
Male Names: Arjhan, Balasar, Bharash, Donaar, Ghesh, Heskan, Kriv, Medrash, Mehen, Nadarr, Pandjed, Patrin, Rhogar, Shamash, Shedinn, Tarhun, Torinn
Female Names: Akra, Biri, Daar, Farideh, Harann, Havilar, Jheri, Kava, Korinn, Mishann, Nala, Perra, Raiann, Sora, Surina, Thava, Uadjit
Childhood Names: Climber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, Shieldbiter, Zealous
Clan Names: Clethtinthiallor, Daardendrian, Delmirev, Drachedandion, Fenkenkabradon, Kepeshkmolik, Kerrhylon, Kimbatuul, Linxakasendalor, Myastan, Nemmonis, Norixius, Ophinshtalajiir, Prexijandilin, Shestendeliath, Turnuroth, Verthisathurgiesh, Yarjerit
When Creating a Dragonborn
Though Metallics and Chromatics are generally separated, maybe your metallic clan brought in roaming chromatics. Maybe you were the chromatic that was brough in. Maybe you are a wandering chromatic that didn't adopt the greed of your parent and are seeking acceptance by society. Though the ideas for metallics and chromatics are generally true, they are not always true and feel free to think outside of the box with your character creation.
Dragonborn Traits
Your character has the following traits
Ability Score Improvement. Your Strength score increases by 2.
Age. Young dragonborn grow quickly. They walk hours after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach Adulthood by 15. They live well over 400 years.
Alignment. Dragonborn tend to extremes, making a conscious choice for one side or the other in the cosmic war between good and evil. Most dragonborn are good, but those who side with evil can be terrible villains.
Size. Dragonborn are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in Darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in Darkness, only shades of gray.
Draconic Resistance. You have Resistance to the damage type associated with the color of dragon you descend from.
Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.
Draconic Resistance
| Dragon | Damage Resistance |
|---|---|
| Black, Copper | Acid |
| Blue, Bronze | Lightning |
| Brass, Gold, Red | Fire |
| Green | Poison |
| Silver, White | Cold |
Subrace. Dragonborn manifest different traits of their draconic ancestors. These traits could be wings, a tougher hide and thicker scales, the ability to cast magic and knowledge of the arcane, or even the ability to breathe the element of their ancestors.
Ironscale
Strong Scale Dragonborn manifest the sharp claws and thick hide of their draconic ancestors. Often making very formidable warriors and fierce hunters.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Dragon's Hide. You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Draconic Toughness. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.
Lightscale
Aero Dragonborn manifested the wings of their ancestors. With it comes the freedom to go where they will. Aero Dragonborn often have cities that float in the sky, that are only reachable by flight.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Dragon's Wings. At 1st level, While you are wearing light or no armor you have a flying speed of 10 feet, but must end your movement on the ground. At 5th level, your flying speed becomes 15 feet. Additionally, you can fly without needing to end your movement on the ground. At 9th level, your flying speed becomes 30 feet and you can still fly even in medium armor. At 13th level, you can fly regardless of armor.
Wing Attack. As a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you, you flap your wings vigorously causing dust and sand to fill the air. In this confusion you may move up to your fly speed away from your attacker. This does not provoke attacks of opportunity. This exhausts your wings and you cannot use this feature again until you finish a short or long rest.
Primal
Ability Score Improvement. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Breath Weapon. You can use your bonus action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation.
When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 5th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.
After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a Long Rest.
| Dragon | Breath Weapon |
|---|---|
| Black, Blue, Brass, Bronze, Copper | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Gold, Red | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
| Green, Silver, White | 15 ft. cone (Con. save) |
Breath Infused Bite. Your fanged maw is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Additionally, your bite attacks deal an extra 1d4 damage of the same type as your breath weapon.
Spellblood
Illusive Dragonborn manifested the innate casting of their ancestors and the ability to hide their true forms and cause fear in others. These dragonborn often manifest even more magic in the form of sorcery. Some even take to religion, often worshiping draconic deities.
Ability Score Improvement. Your Charisma score increases by 1.
Draconic Casting. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Cause Fear spell once as a 2nd-level spell with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a Long Rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Alter Self spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a Long Rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Arcane and Divine. You have proficiency in the Arcana or Religion skill.
