Dragonborn
Noble in bearing, refined in thought, ferocious in battle. These are the highest virtues to the Dragonborn. The noble caste of the Dragonlands, the Dragonborn are renowned as some of the finest warriors in the known world, and are often sought out for their martial skill. But this storied people can also lay claim to one of the oldest and most influential philisophical traditions in the history, and it is nearly impossible to find a society that has not been influenced to some degree by Dragonborn art and learning.
Breath Weapon: You can use your 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 6th 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 short or long rest.
Damage Resistance: You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
Languages: You can speak Low Solar and Draconic. You may read and write any of these languages depending on your Background.
As a warrior aristocracy, the Dragonborn naturally gravitate towards martial pursuits. Dragonborn Fighters, Rangers, and Barbarians are some of the best in the world. There are also many Dragonborn monks, although these are mostly drawn from Sunjati monasterys (Sunjata himself having been a Dragonborn). Similarly, there is no concept of a Paladin in the worship of the Dragon Gods, but Shamsari has made great inroads in the dragonlands, and many Dragonborn have sworn oaths to Al-Shams, either as Brothers of the Moon, or as members of local orders. Magic is considered the traditional domain of the Kobolds, and the more clandestine pursuits are considered dishonorable by most Dragonborn, so spell-casters and Rogues are rare, though not unheard of, and more common among those Dragonborn who subscribe to a different faith than the Dragon Gods. However, art in general, and music in particular, are greatly valued by the Dragonborn, as they believe artistic pursuit makes one a better warrior. However, it is rare to see a pure Bard Dragonborn, it being much more common to multiclass.
Dragonborn Traits
Ability Score Increase: Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1. 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 to be around 80. 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. Draconic Ancestry: You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.| Dragon | Damage Type | Breath Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Acid | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex save) |
| Blue | Lightning | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex save) |
| Brass | Fire | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex save) |
| Bronze | Lightning | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex save) |
| Copper | Acid | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex save) |
| Gold | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex save) |
| Green | Poison | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
| Red | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex save) |
| Silver | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
| White | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Con save) |
History
The first thing to know about the "Dragonborn", is that the very term "Dragonborn" is so problematic as to border on completely useless. Indeed, the application of the label comes from a misunderstanding by the first Quanar diplomats to ever encounter this people during the time of the Second Shahdom. The diplomat thought he was asking for the name of his species, but lacking a nuanced understanding of both cultures, the translator asked the Dragonborn for the name of his people. And so the answer was given "The People Born From the Dragons" or, more simply, Dragonborn. What neither the elf diplomat, nor his translator understood, is that "The People Born From the Dragons" did not refer to one species, but to four distinct species who together formed one civilization. Each of these species fills a particular role in society, and according to their beliefs, the Dragon Gods made each of the four species to excel in that specific role. The species we call "Dragonborn" are known as the Pala (meaning Protectors or Guardians) in their own language, and serve as the warriors and rulers of The Dragonlands. According to their own histories, the Dragonborn origninally came to the Dragonlands from somewhere far to the north. They were led to their present home by the Dragon Gods, who they venerate as both deities and ancestors. Some have speculated that this mysterious original homeland may have been the same land from which the Quanar originated, given mentions in both cultures' earliest documents of cooperation between Elves and Dragons. However, some sort of division caused the Quanar to move west while the Dragonborn went east, and in later centuries the Quanar and the Dragonborn would become fierce rivals. However, unlike the Quanar, who have been united under one polity for most of their history, the Dragonborn have never been unified politically. Instead, the Dragonlands are divided into many different states of various sizes, ranging from single cities to grand empires, each with their own rulers bedecked with a multifarious array of titles. The social arrangements of Draconic society are extremely complex, with both species, region of origin, and ancestral clan ties dictating how every member of their society relates to one another, even across political boundaries. As the warrior caste, the Dragonborn are tasked both with military service and with governance. As warriors, the Dragonborn are feared and renowned throughout the world. They favor one-handed curved blades, called talwar, which are used in conjunction with large round shields, as well as the bow and arrow. The Dragon Lands are unsuitable for the raising of horses, so Dragonborn cavalry ride atop elephants in large saddle-baskets called Howdah, from which they direct the elephant and fire arrows into the enemy below. These war elephants are incredibly ferocious and are rightly feared by all, though their great size and even greater appetites means one rarely encounters them outside the dragonlands. The Dragonborn are also renowned for their Dragon-Steel, which they call wootz, which is harder, sharper, and more enduring than any other steel known. This Dragon-Steel is highly sought after throughout the known world, and pound-for-pound it is more valuable than silver.As a warrior aristocracy, the Dragonborn naturally gravitate towards martial pursuits. Dragonborn Fighters, Rangers, and Barbarians are some of the best in the world. There are also many Dragonborn monks, although these are mostly drawn from Sunjati monasterys (Sunjata himself having been a Dragonborn). Similarly, there is no concept of a Paladin in the worship of the Dragon Gods, but Shamsari has made great inroads in the dragonlands, and many Dragonborn have sworn oaths to Al-Shams, either as Brothers of the Moon, or as members of local orders. Magic is considered the traditional domain of the Kobolds, and the more clandestine pursuits are considered dishonorable by most Dragonborn, so spell-casters and Rogues are rare, though not unheard of, and more common among those Dragonborn who subscribe to a different faith than the Dragon Gods. However, art in general, and music in particular, are greatly valued by the Dragonborn, as they believe artistic pursuit makes one a better warrior. However, it is rare to see a pure Bard Dragonborn, it being much more common to multiclass.
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