Bahamut is widely considered to be an ultimate force of good, even amongst those that do not actively worship him. He is compassionate, and has boundless empathy for the weak and downtrodden. He urges his followers to promote good, but to let people fight their own battles when they can, providing healing, information, or temporary safe refuge rather than fighting alongside those who can fight for themselves.
This dogma make Bahamut one of the most generous deities of any pantheon, but moreso toward the most avid of his followers. Regardless, when his presence is truly needed, he makes it known, and in doing so, typically leaves behind a token or engine of his will. These items and entities are boons to some and invaluable to others, depending on the magnitude which Bahamut's initial presence was made.
Gleamscale
Raw platinum can be blessed by a specific draconic ritual in the name of Bahamut and transformed into a magical substance known as gleamscale. Gleamscale bears striking resemblance to dragon hide, both in texture and hardness. It is easier to fold than shape (its melting point is extreme even by smithing standards), and as such, is often used to coat surfaces expected to receive frequent wear and tear. Gleamscale's partly-arcane composition makes it immune to the effects of the heat metal spell, and it has moderate electromagnetic potential.
Gleamscale is rarely found outside of temples of Bahamut, and is only distributed by the most sacred and watertight of propositions. It has no exact material worth inside these places of worship, but in black markets, it has an exchange rate several times that of ordinary platinum.
Any individual with a strong connection to Bahamut can conduct the ritual to turn platinum into Gleamscale. By meditating on their connection to the Platinum Deity or praying to his holy symbol, 200 gp worth of platinum is converted to gleamscale over the course of 1 minute. Any contiguous amount of platinum can be converted at this rate of 1 pound per minute in a single ritual. At this speed, 1 action can transform up to 2 ounces of platinum.
These same individuals can also infuse gleamscale into ordinary metals using a similar ritual, at Bahamut's whim. The metal item cannot be Cursed, associated with infernal powers (such as a Hellfire Weapon), or sentient for this ritual to take place. The transformation takes 1 minute per pound which the targeted metal item weighs, and requires an equal amount of gleamscale to complete. For example, turning a longsword (3 lbs.) into a gleamscale longsword takes 3 minutes and requires 3 pounds of gleamscale.
Gleamscale Coating
Generic Variant, Uncommon
This magic item is immune to the effects of the heat metal spell and reduces all incoming radiant damage the user takes by 5. Only one instance of damage reduction from Gleamscale Coating can apply at one time.
Base Items: Metal weapons and ammunition, all armor, shields, and any equipment items that are partly metallic
Gleamscale-Infused Weapon
Generic Variant, Rare
This magic item is immune to the effects of the heat metal spell. In addition, the weapon deals an additional 1d4 radiant damage. Once per short or long rest, the wielder can replace this static bonus with the effects of branding smite at 2nd level.
Base Items: All weapons and ammunition.
Gleamscale-Infused Armor
Generic Variant, Rare
This magic item is immune to the effects of the heat metal spell and reduces all incoming radiant damage the user takes by 10. Only one instance of damage reduction from Gleamscale Infusion can apply at one time. In addition, once per short or long rest, the wearer can use a reaction after taking damage to cast the word of radiance spell as though it were on their cantrip list, using Charisma as a casting ability and not requiring material components.
Base Items: Medium armor, heavy armor, and shields.
Draconic Ancestry: Platinum (Dragonborn)
The platinum dragon is mythical in itself, with Bahamut being the only known specimen. As such, the birth of one amongst dragons and dragonborn alike is seen as an insignia of prosperity to come in the whelp's lifetime, and Bahamut's smile upon the family to which his next of kin was born. Some pessimistic oracles, however, would argue that dour times are ahead, since the almighty Bahamut needs more of his kind to do battle against a coming evil.
The damage type for your Damage Resistance feature is radiant. Your Breath Weapon deals radiant damage in a 15-foot cone and invokes a Constitution save. Alternatively, you may expend your Breath Weapon feature to touch a creature with divine energy. When you do, a creature within 5 feet of you is healed for an amount of hit points equal to the damage roll of your Breath Weapon attack.
Draconic Bloodline: Platinum (Sorcerer)
Similar to the appearance of a platinum dragonborn, a child (of any race) born with a platinum shimmer is heralded as a specter of the Platinum Dragon's presence, for better or for worse.
When you choose the Draconic Bloodline Sorcerous Origin, you may choose the platinum dragon as your ancestor, whose associated damage type is radiant. As an added bonus, at 6th level, you may add your Charisma bonus an additional time to any healing effect you invoke.
Sensing a Pattern?
As a general rule for DMs, if you are to place platinum dragons in your campaign alongside non-holy dragons, replace any old draconic functions (such as red's affiliation with fire) with associated to radiant damage. Situationally, you can add healing effects as well to display the divine blessings of the platinum dragons.
Bahamukin
Bahamut has no pretense regarding those he does and does not favor. It should be obvious to someone if she has the Platinum Dragon's favor, and it is even more obvious to other deities and those in close contact to Bahamut himself. Oftentimes, he will bless those willing and deserving with his own life force as either a reward of their faith or to heal them from a great injury. In metallic dragonborn, this manifests in their scales becoming platinum, but in other races, it completely alters their biology into something distinctly draconic.
Untrue Draconism
Only those familiar with draconic traits would be able to distinguish a Bahamukin's status as an vehicle of holy power. In subtle cases, a Bahamukin may simply have a natural platinum-like sheen to them; in extreme cases, a Bahamukin may be indistinguishable from a platinum half-dragon. Whatever the case, a Bahamukin lacks the true ancestry of a dragonborn, but knows that they have a stronger connection to dragons than anyone without true draconic blood.
Bahamukin Names
A Bahmukin's name is often derived from Draconic words or phrases, such as Hwokh'Tue ("Treasure") or Ghoruht Tchrey ("Fallen Angel"). However, because not all Bahamukin were born into their blessings, it is entirely possible to distinguish one's original race based on its preferred name.
Bahamukin Traits
All true Bahamukin share a handful of distinct features.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom and Charisma scores are increased by 1.
Age. The blessing of Bahamut bestows a long, healthy life of 300 years for a lucky Bahamukin. A Bahumukin anointed before adolescence begins maturing around 12 years of age and takes about a decade to become a full-fledged adult.
Alignment. Bahamukin that lose sight of the Platinum Dragon's purpose are driven to madness by the deity himself. As such, there is little fluctuation between lawful good and chaotic evil amongst Bahamukin.
Size. Bahamukin with major draconic features may be larger overall than those without them, but their size is consistently Medium.
Speed. You have a walking speed of 30 ft.
Heavenly Body. You have resistance to radiant damage.
Introspection. As part of a short or long rest, you may meditate on Bahamut's purpose for you and grant yourself a deep-seated motivation to succeed. Until your next long rest, you may roll a single skill check with advantage.
Platinum Hide. While you are not wearing armor or a shield, your Armor Class is increased by 2 (Base AC = 12 + Dex). Unintelligent creatures such as goblins and kobolds may act aggressively in hopes of harvesting your shiny-looking flesh for themselves.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Celestial, and Draconic.
Subrace. There are two variants of Bahamukin, Minor and Major, which determine how heavily Bahamut has influenced your appearance. Choose one.
Minor Bahamukin
Minor Bahamukin are not obviously connected to any sort of dragon. They may have traits that give them an uncanny appearance, but it would take some insight to prove their connection to inhuman powers. They are more adaptable than those chosen to bear a more striking resemblance to the Platinum Dragon, and are likely to have traits of another ordinary race.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score is increased by 1.
Sacred Magic. You know the word of radiance cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the shield spell once per long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can also cast the prayer of healing spell once per long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
Skill Versatility. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choosing.
Major Bahamukin
Major Bahamukin have blatant affiliations with dragonkind. Thick and lustrous platinum scales cover their bodies, making them obvious enemies of those who detest Bahamut and his following.
Ability Score Increase. Choose any ability score to increase by 1.
Improved Heavenly Body. You have resistance to both radiant and necrotic damage.
Sacred Breath Weapon. Once per short or long rest, you may spew a blast of holy light from your maw as an action. All creatures in a 15-foot cone must make a Constituion saving throw against your Charisma DC. A creature takes 2d6 radiant damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.
Variant: General Subrace
If you want to have Bahamut's blessing manifest in your character without altering their actual race, you may include a variant of the Bahamukin race as your character's subrace. Dragonborn should choose Platinum ancestry instead of this subrace, but GMs may permit a Bahamukin Dragonborn under certain circumstances. The Bahamukin subrace provides the following features:
- Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score is increased by 1.
- Blessed Spirit. Choose two from Heavenly Body, Introspection, or Platinum Hide to take on as racial traits.
- Extra Language. You gain proficiency in either Celestial or Draconic.
Credits
- Created by MrIpsilon
- Inspired by Verrold/Spartan and the Spellscale from Fey Rune Labs
- Cover Image from Wolfpack Legends