DRAKELINGS

"Like the goblins of Janabair and Koliska, Esora's diminutive reptilians are a parasitical race oft relegated to the gutters of society. Indeed, it seems they'd rather remain in place than aspire to something greater." - Historian Ausae Norrek, Lorebound: Exploring Esora p.145, The Serial Historia

Drakelings are a small, reptilian race native to the desert steppes and canyons of southern Hershav on the continent of Esora. Though separated into self-contained settlements and villages, drakeling society is bound through a complex system of matriarchal ancestry, shamanistic faith, and material trade. Well suited to survival in harsh environs, for millennia they scraped a meager life from the rocky, barren landscape through raiding and limited agriculture, but then the Hershavita Drakeling Treaty of 973 U.R. ushered them en masse into civilization. Adaptable and eager, drakelings have continued to feed off more ambitious races through cunning negotiation, endearing personality, or sheer tenacity.

Drakelings innately gravitate toward provision - this leads many to leave their desert villages for the unbidden opportunity of civilization. They're also possessed of an irrepressible need to prove themselves and a willingness to try anything. Adventuring is a natural conclusion.

Though small and unfit as hand-to-hand combatants, drakelings possess an aptitude for education similar to humans and can excel in most other areas. Those who pursue martial paths often practice as rangers or range-based fighters. In cities, bards and rogues are common and one might find an occasional gunslinger or swashbuckler along the coast. Most drakelings eschew clerical faiths for their traditional shamanistic faith and practice as oracles, shamans, or witches. And though few drakelings possess the financial and societal resources to become true wizards, drakeling druids, sorcerers, and summoners are all common.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Similar in stature to a human child, drakelings resemble anthropomorphic bearded dragons.  Covered in tough scales which range from faded green to yellow to brown, some drakelings also have patterns of bright desert colors.  Though their hands and feet are clawed, these claws are dull and rarely used as weapons, instead meant for cracking open tough desert food such as eggs and insect carapaces.  Drakelings also possess a short neck frill which can be opened intentionally or in response to varying emotional stimuli.

One of the shortest-lived sentient races, drakelings reach maturity at ten years of age and live for a mere thirty to forty years.

Lifespan

30 - 40 years

Average Height

3'9" - 4'5"

Average Weight

45 - 60 lbs

Drakeling Racial Traits

+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma, -4 Strength: Drakelings have quick feet and silver tongues but are quite weak.

Drakeling: Drakelings are humanoids with the reptillian subtype.

Small: Drakelings are small creatures and gain a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a -1 penalty on their combat maneuver checks and to Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.

Normal Speed: Drakelings have a base speed of 30 feet.

Darkvision 60 feet: Drakelings can see in the dark up to 60 feet.

Xenophobic: Drakelings begin the game speaking only their native language (usually Drakanic). Drakelings with high intelligence scores can learn up to two additional languages.

Armor: Drakelings have a +1 natural armor bonus.

Fleet-Footed: Drakelings receive Run as a bonus feat and a +2 racial bonus on initiative checks.

Desert Runner: Drakelings receive a +4 racial bonus on Constitution checks and Fortitude saves to avoid fatigue and exhaustion, as well as any other ill effects from running, forced marches, starvation, thirst, and hot or cold environments.

Silver Tongued: Drakelings gain a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Bluff checks. In addition, when they used Diplomacy to shift a creature’s attitude, they can do so up to three steps rather than just two.