"One may find their origins an impossibility.. personally, I'm all for a Romeo and Juliet tale - that story exists here, right?"

—A foreign mage speaking to an annoyed professor.

History

The Runscales are a people whose lineage is derived from both giants and dragons. It is believed the first of these humanoids were spawned from a secret affair between a stone giantess and a silver dragon, both of whom were exiled and hunted by their respective people when their coupling was discovered. The Runescales receive similar animosity from both giants and dragons alike: their existence flies in the face of their ancient rivalry, a cruel joke against all those who were lost.

Meanwhile, most Runescales are forced into this conflict and more often than not try to pursue their own ambitions and relations. While some may find their presence imposing, the Runescales generally receive a similar treatment as to goliaths and dragonborn. Their innate strength and magic act as useful tools for physical labor and risky work, and thus many Runescales have pursued an adventurer's life.

Appearance

The appearance of Runescales differs depending on the type of giant and dragon in their lineage and how far back their coupling took place. In any case, their melded power gives the Runescales tall and strong physiques, dappled by patches of scales. Their tinted eyes, pointed ears, sharp fingers, and clawed feet point to their draconic nature; meanwhile, their hair and complexion often follow the giants, varying between shades of coal-black, slate-gray, and dirt-brown. Over the course of a Runescales' life, symbols will appear across their body, looking like tattoos. Beyond the natural wards and runic magic they bestow, their nature is unknown: it is believed they correlate with the esoteric speech of ancient giants and signify events in the Runescale's life.

Runescale Traits

Your Runescale character has the following racial traits:

Creature Type. You are a Humanoid.

Size. On average, Runescales are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 300 and 360 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Mighty Presence. You have proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Intimidation or Persuasion.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Scaled Wards. The endurance of the giants has fused with the elemental power of the dragons, producing protective symbols that interweave with the rest of your runes: Acid, cold, fire, lightning, and poison damage you suffer is reduced by double your proficiency bonus.

At 3rd level, you can spend a bonus action to touch a creature and inscribe the same runes onto them. For 10 minutes, they reduce the listed damage types they suffer by your proficiency bonus. You cannot use this feature again until your next long rest.

For example, a Runescale at 5th level would reduce the listed damage types by 6. A warded creature would reduce the listed damage types by 3.

Rune Magic. You know one cantrip of your choice from the sorcerer spell list.

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the longstrider spell with this trait. Starting at 5th level, you can also cast the enhance ability spell with it. Once you cast longstrider or enhance ability with this trait, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast either of those spells using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.

Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race). None of these spells require material components when you cast them with this trait.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Giant, and Draconic.

Ord Magicks

Prerequisite: Runescale, Goliath, or another race related to the giants

• Increase your Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You learn the Enlarge/Reduce spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. The 1st-level spell must be from the Abjuration or Transmutation school of magic. You can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat.

Draconic Magicks

Prerequisite: Runescale, Dragonborn, Kobald, or another race related to the dragons

• Increase your Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You learn the Dragon's Breath spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. The 1st-level spell must be from the Enchantment or Evocation school of magic. You can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat.

Racial Feats Available to the Runescale

• Dragon Hide (Xanathar's)
• Prodigy/Skill Expert (Xanathar's/Tasha's)

Credits

• "Half-Dragon" by mmmegh on deviantArt.
• "Runic letters elder futhark.svg" from wikimedia commons.
• "Agheel's Flame" from Elden Ring by From Software.
• Homebrew by LowertTheMoob.