Draki (Duh-Ra-Kee)

Draki use the Dragonborn statblock. The physical appearance of the Draki (crystal, metallic, or matt) also dictates which subclass from FToD the character uses (Crystal, Metallic, Chromatic). Or the player can ignore all this and use the Critical Role statistics. Whatever works.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A Draki is a bipedal humanoid with two arms, a head placed on a neck above the torso, and a similar muscular structure to Humans. Their bones are made of a non-Newtonian fluid that de-solidifies under extreme pressure, reforming afterward. They also have a tail, at the center of which is a bone structure.

Genetics and Reproduction

Draki reproduce in the same manner as most mammals. A notable difference from other humanoids is that the Draki have no sexual dimorphism. Each Draki is born with the organs required to both fertilize and birth a Draki baby. They cannot have a child with themself.

Growth Rate & Stages

A Draki will reach maturity around the age of 23, slowly shedding scales through their childhood until they are fully grown. This usually involves a major shift in colouring, however, the finish of the scales will remain consistent.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Draki are omnivores. The only difference between Draki omnivores and Human omnivores is that Draki require a base amount of arcane energy in their diets, derived from some of the flora native to the Sotteran caves they inhabit.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

A Draki's face is largely taken up by a snout, with two large nostrils at the end and a fanged mouth. Their eyes are all one dark colour, such as brown, purple, blue, or black. Their head, like the rest of their body, is covered in scales.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Draki are found near exclusively in the Deep Caves of the Sotteran. Many migrate or travel, however the only place to easily find one is in the Deep Cities such as Nazzerath.

Average Intelligence

Draki are sentient beings, on the same level as every other.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Draki use sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing, and a sixth sense known as planiarity. Their first five function on similar levels to Humans, excepting a significantly more sensitive taste sensor. Planiarity is a sense that allows the Draki to detect shifts in other layers of reality, specifically those in which magic works. A Draki could sense the emotions being absorbed by a Lati, the waves created by a telekinetic push, or the sizzle of enchantments or curses placed on an object.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Names are generally 3 to 5 syllables. Names are chosen by the Draki themselves at 20 years of age, and until then they use a 1-2 syllable name given to them by their parents.

Beauty Ideals

Draki value the beauty and clarity of one's scales. The more lustrous one's scales are, the more beautiful they are considered. This leaves metallic and gem-like Draki as being considered more naturally beautiful than their brethren with a matt finish.

Relationship Ideals

Draki relationships tend to be monogamous, and they generally last a decade or two. Most Draki have several half-siblings. UNtil its dissolution, Draki relationships are about mutual trust and support, with no one taking precedence.

Average Technological Level

Draki, due to their lack of settlement, have a limited cultural understanding of civil engineering or other practices that would only be relevant to a settled people. They have unparalleled magical prowess, however, specifically in fields revolving around interaction with living beings. Their capabilities in bending and twisting reality, morphing magic and living beings, that many Lati alchemists and mutators (the less xenophobic ones) will honorarily induct Draki Mage-Weavers into their orders as thanks for any assistance offered, or techniques taught.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Draki culture is dedicated to magecraft. Their villages, all near reactive gemstone veins, have many renowned artisans capable of enchanting and cursing any object with the aid of their gemstone focusses. The Mage-Weavers of the nomadic tribes are extremely adept at morphing and mutating the fauna and flora to best suit a Draki environment. As such, there is a reverence for anything that is magic, so a visiting Lati would be held in high esteem, as is anyone else who uses magic regularly. Every Draki knows some spells that are helpful on a daily basis, passed down through cultural tradition.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Once a year, on its last day, the tribes that can will all gather with each other, and release a mutated owl into the Sotteran. This owl is the result of the Mage-Weavers binding a Daemon into the owl after turning its entire morphology into living crystals, of a similar material of Crystaline Draki's scales. It is an annual testament to the species' cultural abilities, and unity through adversity.

History

Draki believe themselves to be the result of a cursed Dragon. In the eons past where Dragons would gather in large groups, one annoyed a powerful god, hero, or priest, getting themselves cursed. The details are lost to history, as well as any evidence of this legend, however, many believe that they were cursed to be shaped like the creatures they previously hunted, and to never see the sun. The tribe lived underground for millennia, as their former brethren were slowly driven away or killed off by their prey. When the tribe grew so large as to be unsustainable, three figureheads rose to propose solutions, each backed by a group of supporters.

The first, Istallycos, proposed ending their nomadic lifestyle and settling into small villages, using crystals in the Sotteran as focussing lenses to channel magic, all to keep them safe from the people above they believe wanted them dead. The second, Chromos, suggested splitting into warbands to violently expel the other humanoids from the Sotteran, thus providing the tribe the safety to split off into different branches and continue their lifestyle. The third, Talikitis, suggested moving deeper into the Sotteran, as it would be safer to split into smaller tribes there.

An elder named Raeton mediated, and the solution was found to establish some communities at the top of the large ravine. From there they would send exploring parties to find land for them to flee to, and war parties to defend their territory. This satisfied everyone and the elder was proclaimed the unofficial leader of the species. This legend is very clearly a tall tale, however, it does explain how Mage-Weaving came to prominence. Raeton was said to be an expert Mage-Weaver, and their elevation would have raised the art to species-wide attention, where previously it was a niche hobby.

The Draki slowly spread out to encompass most of the Sotteran under the Eastern Continent, and some even braved the surface. Now their tribes wander about, trading their goods with settled peoples and generally living a peaceful life, in great contrast to the rest of Diyu. Well, as peaceful a life one can live in the Sotteran.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Draki can only reproduce with other Draki.

Scientific Name

Humanoid

Lifespan

120 Years

Average Height

2 meters

Average Weight

140 kg

Average Length

1 meter

Average Physique

Most Draki are muscular yet lean, with thick tails. Draki have three-toed reptilian feet, but humanlike hands.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Draki scales can be any and every colour, with a metallic, translucent, or matt finish. The translucence is not actually there, more just a visual effect that imitates gems and other precious stones. Most Draki colouring is either one colour, or a gradient between two colours, sometimes three, very rarely four.

Related Organizations

• Kingdom of Pulva Ark