Dragonborn
"Get off the street, you'll infect us all!" the man screams, throwing a bottle at Edgar's feet. Edgar grits his sharp teeth, his snout flaring with anger. He knows nothing good would come from retaliation. Whose side will the officers take anyway, the guy in the suit or the homeless dragonborn plaguing society. "Quarantining your kind was too good to you. They shoulda shot your kind down the moment they stepped off the ship". Edgar turns away. Just gotta ignore him, he's drunk. Edgar feels the heat raging in his chest. A heat he tries to cool down. "You know, I'm sure I could sell you to the next pirate captain that stops off for whoring and supplies. I've sold your type out before y'know. Best way to get you off of our planet". Edgar screamed, but there was no noise. No reaction, no cries, no drunk man. Just the charred remains of another bigot.
Many blamed the early human colonies for spreading the draconic virus to the local galaxies. They felt the humans pushed to far into the outer reaches, and when they returned they told stories of the scaled horrors and titanic beings that could lay waste to entire fleets. Over time, those same survivors and their offspring began to show deformations. An epidemic began sweeping through the galaxy, as it seemed no races were immune. It wasn't until the United Galactic Nations UGN best scientists created a vaccine to stop the spread, but could not cure the virus. The damage was done; the infected became ostracized, quarantine or simply discarded from their societies, forced to carve their own place in the world as a new "species", separate from the lineage they once belonged to.
A Viral Mutation
All Dragonborn look draconic in nature; Elongated dragon-like faces, sharp teeth, head-to-toe scales and sharp talons, but that is where the similarity ends. The virus manifests itself in different ways - sometimes even within ones own family - and so no two Dragonborn are alike. Some have horns, face shape varies, occasional reptilian patterns on the skin and their coloration spans the entire rainbow of possibilities. One predictable factor in the Dragonborn genetics is that physicality will often match that of the creatures original genetic lineage. A Dragonborn who has traced their gene back to the Orcish Empire would have a larger and bulkier frame, whereas one that traces back to the Elves would be more slender and lithe.
Ostracized and Cast Out
While the vaccine has stopped the remaining citizens of the galaxy from contracting the virus, and many Dragonborn maintain their vaccine chip (a small device macrodosing the vaccine to keep them from spreading it to less civilized planets), Dragonborn are still shunned and looked down upon in society. It has been hard for the discarded to climb back up societally after being outcasted, so many Dragonborn end up living in the dregs and ghettoes of the major cities. The lucky few may find a helping hand of someone willing to look past their prejudice, but success in a society that views them as a potential epidemic waiting to happen is an uphill battle. Some Dragonborn colonies exist, as a few may band together to escape for brighter opportunities, but it is rare that a non-dragonborn colony would be ok with having one amongst them.
A Right to a Home
The Dragonborn have no home planet, as they are not a "species" with a point of origin. The closest thing would be to trace back to the original Draconic species that spread the virus in the first place, which no one has been able to successfully do as it involves going further into the Universe than anyone has successfully done before. Like Humans within the UGN, most Dragonborn consider the planet they were birthed and raised as their home planet. This has been rough as even within their homes they often do not feel accepted and many look to leave without actually having the financial means to lift themselves up. Recently, the Dragonborn and many supporters have been fighting to earn them the right as their own species in the UGN, giving them a seat on the council amongst the other species which would go a long way towards representing themselves as more than a "plague on society" and even lead to being able to colonize and claim a homeworld under the UGN. This is an ongoing political debate that has broken apart families, caused unrest and at times even led to violence in the streets.
Reason to Travel
Dragonborn primarily want the opportunity to prove they are more than what society views them as. Many leave to escape an awful situation or for better opportunities in the wilder outer regions than they would get at home. Given their natural breath weapons, many pirates, criminals and "independent captains" like to have one as muscle, seeing it as an extra ace up their sleeve (this often feels like the Dragonborn is being used, but for many "work is work).
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Ancestral Traits
Your draconic physiology manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn.
Size. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Draconic Virus. You have the draconic virus, which is varied based on its color classification. Choose one type of virus from the Draconic virus table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance are determined by the type, as shown in the table.
Breath Weapon. You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation.
When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.
After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Draconic Virus Type
| Virus Color | Damage Type | Breath Weapon |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Acid | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Blue | Lightning | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Brass | Fire | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Bronze | Lightning | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Copper | Acid | 5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save) |
| Gold | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
| Green | Poison | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
| Red | Fire | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
| Silver | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
| White | Cold | 15 ft. cone (Dex. save) |
Damage Resistance. You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic virus.
Lifespan
Young dragonborn grow quickly. They walk hours after being born, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80 as the virus tends to shorten the lifespan of their kind.
Average Height
5'6" + 2d8
Average Weight
175 lb. x (2d6) lb.
Cultural Traits
Dragonborn culture tends to be an amalgam of other cultures, and it is most common to see Dragonborn take the cultural traits of other species groups. That said, those without a home or in great cities that already have an amalgam of cultures take the following.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
or
You may increase your Charisma by 1, and take any "Near Human" feat to represent coming from another genetic bloodline than the core playable species.
Alignment. There is no common alignment, but many view that the law as written has let them down so it is not uncommon to see Dragonborn veer towards chaotic.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one language of your choice.
Streetwise. Dragonborn communities are often forced to survive with very few resources. You have advantage on any Survival checks made in cities and civilization.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments