Wizard

Arcane Tradition: Draconic Archivist

The dragons do not hoard gold. They hoard truth—and it is our sacred duty to transcribe it, even if the ink burns, and the ancient memories shatter the mind.
— A Draconic Archivist, meticulously etching draconically-derived glyphs onto a drakemetal tablet, a permanent tremor in his hand, his eyes occasionally flashing with primal elemental light.

Draconic Archivists are wizards who delve into the deepest, often forbidden, repositories of draconic lore, studying under ancient dragons or gaining privileged access to their vast hoards of accumulated knowledge. They master sigilcraft and ritual augmentation, drawing upon the structured, symbolic language of dragonkind—the true draconic script—to enhance their spellcasting. Their magic is precise, deliberate, and deeply encoded, manifesting as a language of power etched in raw elemental force and mythic memory. However, deciphering and wielding such primordial truths carries immense risk, for the knowledge of dragons is vast, often dangerous, and its raw power can leave indelible marks on the mortal mind and spirit.

Draconic Archivists are rare, often coveted for their profound knowledge in places like Kendron, where the Drakemetal Vanguard might seek their expertise on unique draconic applications of technology or ancient wards. Yet, their methods and the risks they take can be viewed with deep suspicion by the pragmatic Chiryu Sovereignty, who prefer predictable order. They often act as reclusive guardians of lore or as meticulous investigators unraveling ancient mysteries, sometimes risking their sanity to decipher the fragmented truths of the Dragonfall Crisis or the unsettling whispers of the Tro'Kai. Their pursuit of truth is a gamble with their own essence, and the world itself reacts to their daring.

Core Wizard Traits

TraitDescription
Primary AbilityIntelligence
Hit Point Die1d6 per Wizard level
Saving Throw ProficienciesIntelligence, Wisdom
Skill ProficienciesChoose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Religion
Weapon ProficienciesDaggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaffs, Light Crossbows
Armor TrainingNone

Starting Equipment You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

  • (a) a quarterstaff or (b) a dagger
  • (a) a component pouch or (b) an arcane focus
  • (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack
  • A spellbook

Draconic Archivist Features

Wizard LevelFeature
2ndHoardkeeper’s Script, Scholar of the Wyrms
6thBreath of the Archivist, Draconic Ritual
10thWyrm’s Memory Unbound
14thLibram of the Dragon Sovereign

Hoardkeeper’s Script (2nd Level)

You master the legendary draconic script—ancient, living glyphs of power said to have been scribed by the first dragons. When you inscribe spells from the Abjuration school or spells with the Ritual tag into your spellbook, you can choose to do so using true draconic glyphs. These particular spells become immune to being copied by creatures without proficiency in the Draconic language or draconic ancestry.

When you cast glyph of warding, alarm, or arcane lock using these draconic glyphs, the DC to magically or non-magically disarm or dispel them is increased by your proficiency bonus. Additionally, any creature attempting to disarm or bypass one of your draconic glyphs that fails to do so triggers a burst of primal fear; it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your wizard spell save DC or be frightened of you until the end of its next turn.

Scholar of the Wyrms (2nd Level)

Your intimate study of dragonkind and their hoards allows you to tap into their ancestral memory. You gain proficiency in the Draconic language and the History skill. When you make an Intelligence (History) check related to ancient draconic lore, artifacts, or puzzles of draconic origin, you can add your proficiency bonus twice to the roll.

Additionally, when you successfully make such a check related to a dragon's lair or hoard, you recall a relevant "wyrm-memory"—an anecdote, trap bypass, or magical effect known only to ancient dragons (DM's discretion). This might grant you advantage on a subsequent check, or bypass a minor obstacle.

Breath of the Archivist (6th Level)

You have learned to channel the mythic breath of dragons, infusing your spells with their elemental might. When you gain this feature, choose one of the following damage types from your Sigil of the Wyrm choice (Fire, Cold, Lightning, Acid, Poison, Necrotic, or Radiant). Your spells of 1st level or higher that deal damage of this type now gain a special property:

  • Elemental Overwhelm: When you cast a spell that deals damage of your chosen elemental type, you can invoke "draconic wrath." Once per turn, when you hit a creature with such a spell, you can force the target to make a Wisdom saving throw against your wizard spell save DC. On a failure, the target is frightened of you until the end of your next turn.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1) per long rest. This elemental burst is distinctively draconic, often accompanied by the faint sound of a roaring wyrm or a shimmering elemental aura.

Draconic Ritual (6th Level)

You can temporarily infuse a ritual spell with the essence of a dragon's lair. When you cast a ritual spell that protects or wards an area (such as alarm, glyph of warding, or magic circle), you may choose to shape its effect as if it were an extension of a dragon’s domain. For the duration of the ritual, you can create minor environmental lair actions (such as localized fog, echoing roars, or subtle ground tremors) at the DM’s discretion within the ritual's area. These effects are mostly aesthetic but can be used as subtle warnings or distractions.

Wyrm’s Memory Unbound (10th Level)

Your intimate bond to the dragon hoard of memory allows you to channel a fragment of a legendary dragon’s will, temporarily transforming your spells or presence. Once per short or long rest, as a bonus action, you may recall the memory of a specific dragon (chosen at the moment of activation, e.g., a furious ancient red, a cunning green, a wise silver). For 1 minute, you gain one of the following benefits:

  • Echo of the Tyrant: You gain advantage on Intimidation checks. When you cast a spell, all enemies within 10 feet must make a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or become frightened until the end of your next turn.
  • Echo of the Hoard: When you cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher, you or a chosen ally gain resistance to one damage type of your chosen dragon's element (fire, cold, etc.) until the start of your next turn.
  • Echo of the Oracle: When you cast a divination spell of 1st level or higher, you can ask an additional question beyond the spell’s normal scope or gain one cryptic “vision” (at DM’s discretion, a narrative clue or warning).
  • Echo of the Lair: Once per minute, as a reaction, you can create a 10-foot aura that counts as "difficult terrain" for your foes, flavored as shimmering, draconic warding magic.

After this feature ends, you must succeed on a DC 14 Intelligence saving throw or take 2d6 psychic damage as the clashing draconic memories briefly overwhelm your mind.

Libram of the Dragon Sovereign (14th Level)

You channel the absolute will of an ancient dragon lord, temporarily claiming the battlefield as your personal hoard. As an action, you unleash the full power of your dragon’s memory. For 1 minute:

  • Your spells that deal your Draconic Affinity element (chosen at 6th level) ignore resistance and immunity.
  • You gain blindsight to 60 feet, and your senses become as keen as a wyrm’s.
  • Whenever a creature enters or starts its turn in a 15-foot radius of you, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your wizard spell save DC or become frightened of you until the end of its next turn (immune for 24 hours if it saves).
  • As a reaction, you may cast counterspell or dispel magic without expending a spell slot, but only if the effect targets your “claimed territory” (within 15 feet of you).
  • After the duration, you must succeed on a DC 18 Intelligence saving throw or gain 1 level of exhaustion as the immense draconic memory burns through your mortal shell. If you fail this save by 5 or more, you also suffer a permanent scar (e.g., a patch of draconic scales, an eye that glows faintly with elemental energy, or a voice that echoes with a draconic resonance) and attract the attention of a powerful elemental entity or a Dragon Overlord (DM's discretion), who may seek to test your resolve or claim your power.

Design Notes

This subclass is deeply rooted in Novendragos lore, emphasizing the inherent risk and consequence of wielding primordial draconic truth. It’s ideal for players who want to feel like arcane scholars or dragon-taught sages who gamble with forbidden knowledge. It features ritual casting, spell preparation, and powerful draconic manifestations, making it a strong thematic counterpoint to the Dragocite Artisan. Its features directly interact with the Libram of Scales, dragon hoards, and the structured arcana of metallic and gem dragons, ensuring it feels distinct and truly impactful within the setting.

 


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