Dragonborn

The Dragonborn are a Sympatic Lineage created by the Dragons of Erask to be their servants. They were later adopted into the lineal family of Aea, but reject any epithet but 'dragonborn' and resent the implication that they required such charity.   Each of the Dragons created their own dragonborn to further the ideals and works that were important to them. Down the millennia since their creation, the different cadres have interbred and most modern dragonborn display traits of several lines, as well as clear indicators of other lineages, but many still consider a young dragonborn's colour to be indicative of their temperament and vocation. While in the early years all dragonborn were equal, many families have come to take pride in their scale colour and heritage. This is especially true of gold, red and silver dynasties, who often arrange marriages for their offspring to preserve their colour, and consider those who leave the family business to be scale traitors or failures. Where a dragonborn does not display 'pure' colouring, they are often linked to a line by a distinctive mark known as a blaze.   Dragonborn live for around seven centuries, barring incident. A dragonborn couple are frequently engaged in childhood by parental arrangement and marry at 21 as part of their coming of age. Such unions are not formalise or consummated for many decades, however, as the couple travel apart to explore who they are before making a final commitment. If they find they are not well matched, the marriage can be dissolved with no dishonour. If formalised, a dragonborn couple will typically produce one or two eggs every 25-40 years, which hatch after a fifteen month gestation. Their elemental affiity is only confirmed at puberty (between 18 and 23 years of age) when their breath weapon comes in.   Dragonborn have the features of dragons in a humanoid frame. They have scaled skin, and 'pure' dragonborn have long-muzzled heads with long jaws, and a crest of spines and/or ridges around the brows and crown of their head. They do not have tails or wings. They vary widely in scale colour, and features like the texture of their scales, the number and size of any spines and ridges, and the length and shape of their tails. Those with non-dragonborn blood may have flatter features and a mix of scales and soft skin, while some of the most assiduously cultivated lines have developed congenital flaws including hunched spines, thicker scales and more pronounced jaws, teeth and claws. Dragonborn are larger than most lineages, averaging around six feet tall and 190lbs, but with individuals ranging from five to seven feet in height.   Although they are a sympatic lineage and able to form divine pacts, very few dragonborn have much time for Gods, considering them to be an inferior rank of divinity to the True Dragons and maintaining the radical position that authority derives not from divine mandate, but from the consent of the ruled. Religiously speaking, they were adopted into the lineal family of Aea, alongside Elves and Orcs, but have never fully accepted either this or any elemental epithet. The majority of modern Dragonborn live in Longharrow or Carif, but smaller numbers live the length of Erask, including the nomadic tribes of Arathist.  

Dragonborn of Fire

Those dragonborn who carry the heritage of the purified Otherfire are believed to be burdened with the surging passions and anger of the Fire Dragons who created them. Their scales range from deep maroon to almost white gold. Their eyes are usually green, grey or red, and their crests and brow ridges are spurred with small, thorn-shaped horns.   Fire dragonborn are seen as natural leaders. Those with dominant gold scales are expected to seek careers in law and advocacy, while red dominants are considered natural agitator and revolutionaries.  

Dragonborn of Ice

The heritage of water is held to bring cool under pressure and a calm, resolute warrior spirit. The dragonborn do not traditionally consider war to be a business for passion, but for deliberation. These dragonborn have pale, notably smooth scales, ranging from pearlescent white to metallic grey, with blue or grey eyes. Long, fine ridges of horn run back from their forehead and temples over their heads, with most ice dragonborn sporting three to five ridges by puberty, and adding another for every decade of life.   Ice dragonborn are considered warriors by birth. Silver dragonborn are looked at as the natural officer class, gifted in strategy, while white dragonborn are pushed into the role of soldier.  

Dragonborn of Tempest

Lightning in the blood is said to bring quick wits and insightful thinking, and a dominance of intellect over emotion. These dragonborn have dark scales ranging from midnight blue to a burnished bronze, red or brown eyes and heavy ridged brows and crests of horn.   Tempest dragonborn are seen as cerebral. Bronze dominance suggests fair but inflexible judgement and a calling to law enforcement. Blue dominance is associated with scholars and tinkerers.  

Dragonborn of Wind

The changeable nature of air is believed to give a dragonborn a mercurial nature and a powerful, flexible mind; deep thinkers, but somewhat prone to jumping tracks. The have green or copper scales, typically lighter than those of tempest dragonborn, with green or gold eyes. They often sport short antlers, or at least branching horn crests.   Wind dragonborn are seen as clever, but perhaps a little unreliable, and they are often distrusted by conservative dragonborn of all colours. Copper dominance is associated with cunning wordsmiths and devious negotiators, while green dragonborn are thought to be natural magicians and masters of illusion.  

Dragonborn of Stone

Conversely, the heritage of earth is seen as breeding solidity and dependability. These dragonborn have heavy builds, and their black or brass scales are darker than any others. Thye typically have blue or yellow eyes, and thick, curved horns as pronounced as any Tiefling's.   Earth dragonborn are widely trusted as a matter of course. Those with dominant brass colouring are frequently sought as mediators and recruited to act as the diplomatic face of Longharrow. Black dragonborn are seen as dependable bodyguards and sentinels.