Dragonkin
Type: Elemental
Dragons are enormous reptilian beasts with innate elemental powers. They once ruled the Earth, in ancient prehistory, and they’ve left a long lineage in the form of hybrid humanoid offspring. Collectively, this species and its offshoots are known as dragonkin. Though not entirely hidden, their community is deeply secretive.
- Abilities: A dragon’s most iconic ability is an elemental breath attack. Whether it be fire, ice, lightning, poison, or some other devastating element, every dragonkin will have some form of this. Their elemental mastery doesn’t stop there, however. All dragonkin are attuned to the element associated with their breath attack, and, with training, can learn to further command that element. As they grow more powerful, they may develop flight-capable wings, deadly claws and fangs, armored scales, and incredible strength. They also usually gain minor shapeshifting abilities, allowing them to conceal their more draconic features if they choose. True dragons are immortal unless they are killed.
- Origin: Dragons are native to a distant world. Whether their homeworld is another dimension or another planet is unclear, but they traveled to many others, arriving on Earth when it was still young. Long before recorded history, they ruled the Earth as tyrants, until they were overthrown. Later, most true dragons were either slain by the Templars during the crusades, or survived by retreating to Arcadia. Their hybrid offspring can still be found throughout the population of both Arcadia and Mundus, where they developed a conspiratorial religion to keep the truth concealed.
- Varieties: There are thousands of different dragon species, and bloodlines associated with them. The most common ones are associated with elements such as fire, ice, or lightning, or with environments, such as swamps, deserts, or oceans. There are also more exotic dragon types associated with metals, gems, and other planes of existence. In morphology, most dragons are winged quadrupeds, but there are two-legged, serpentine, and wingless varieties, as well as multiheaded species. A number of species are aquatic. Hybrids vary in terms of how draconic they appear, though most will be born more mundane-looking, and gradually become more visibly draconic as they age. If a hybrid can master their draconic abilities during their mortal lifespan, they will eventually finish their transformation into a true dragon and become immortal.
- Personality: Dragonkin have a reputation for being imperious and aloof. Due to the power they wield, these traits are often justified. Dragons are highly intelligent, solitary creatures, and their hybrid offspring share these traits, at least to an extent. As dragonkin hybrids come of age, their elders teach them of the secret history of their species, and the part they must play in it; a vast conspiracy stretching back to the dawn of the Earth.
- Visibility: Complicated. The general public views the dragons themselves as little more than a myth, but dragonkin hybrids are common enough to be undeniable. These hybrids are incorrectly thought to be a subtype of reptilian beastmen. This misconception is perpetuated by the dragonkin themselves.
Dragons are creatures of legendary power. Older dragons will likely be far too powerful to be allowed as player characters. As a reminder, the maximum size permitted for player characters is 30 feet. Plan accordingly!
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