Dragonborn
Born of dragons, as their name proclaims, the dragonborn walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Shaped by draconic gods or the dragons themselves, dragonborn originally hatched from Dragon eggs as a unique race, combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids. Some dragonborn are faithful servants to true dragons, others form the ranks of soldiers in great wars, and still others find themselves adrift, with no clear calling in life.
In Iosoth, the first Dragonborn were born to fight alongside the Red Dragon Endryss on Liyr's Day. As more dragons entered the material realm and spread across Iosoth and Vicunna, more Dragonborn were hatched. Over a century after Liyr's Day, Kundaliel began collecting dragons back to Iosoth and placed them in Boronaith. While in Boronaith, dragons stopped giving birth to Dragonborn and all true-blooded Dragonborn have died out leaving behind their descendants.
Self-Sufficient Clans
To any dragonborn, the clan is more important than life itself. Dragonborn owe their devotion and respect to their clan above all else, even the gods. Each Dragonborn’s conduct reflects on the honor of his or her clan, and bringing dishonor to the clan can result in expulsion and exile. Each Dragonborn knows his or her station and duties within the clan, and honor demands maintaining the bounds of that position. A continual drive for self-improvement reflects the self-sufficiency of the race as a whole. Dragonborn value skill and excellence in all endeavors. They hate to fail, and they push themselves to extreme efforts before they give up on something. A Dragonborn holds mastery of a particular skill as a lifetime goal. Members of other races who share the same commitment find it easy to earn the respect of a Dragonborn. Though all Dragonborn strive to be self-sufficient, they recognize that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. But the best source for such help is the clan, and when a clan needs help, it turns to another Dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races—or even from the gods.Basic Information
Anatomy
Dragonborn look very much like dragons standing erect in humanoid form, though they lack wings or a tail. The first dragonborn had scales of vibrant hues matching the colors of their Dragon kin, but generations of interbreeding have created a more uniform appearance. Their small, fine scales are usually brass or bronze in color, sometimes ranging to scarlet, rust, gold, or copper-green. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are strong, talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.
The blood of a particular type of dragon runs very strong through some dragonborn clans. These dragonborn often boast scales that more closely match those of their dragon ancestor—bright red, green, blue, or white, lustrous black, or gleaming metallic gold, silver, brass, copper, or bronze.
Genetics and Reproduction
Typically Dragonborn only reproduce with their own sub-type. When they reproduce with their own subtype and a child is conceived the female will lay eggs. If two Dragonborn of different sub-types reproduce and a child is conceived the female will have a child take root in the womb like a mammal. The child will have scales of both sub-types but will have the racial effects of the mother. These Dragonborn children are additionally sterile and often cast out from Dragonborn society. The reason for the mix in how children are bore is a result of the mixed souls within the Dragonborn.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dragonborn hatch from eggs, usually laid singly or, more rarely, in a pair. Hatchlings are quickly capable of standing and walking, but their teeth take a few months to come in. During this time, the mother nurses her offspring. She slowly weans the child to soft and then normal food, which for dragonborn is usually more meat than other edibles. By the end of the first year, a dragonborn hatchling has the mental and physical development of a 3-year-old Human child. A dragonborn matures quickly throughout his or her youthful development. At about 12 years of age, the dragonborn is a lanky version of his or her adult self. Over the next 3 years, he or she fills out into an imposing adult form. Most Dragonborn live to be around 75. However if one can resist the chaos and find sanity, it is said they can live for hundreds of years.
Additional Information
Social Structure
All this focus on clan comes from the fact that, while family bloodlines can be extensive, the dragonborn family unit is very small. The typical one contains only two dragonborn: a mated pair, or a parent and child.
Dragonborn wed to procreate. Although notable exceptions exist to this generality, wedlock ends as soon as the offspring from a union is 3 years old. If the parents have no reason to maintain proximity to one of them, usually of the same gender as the child, raises and trains that youngster in the ways of people, family, and clan.
Honor demands that a parent teach a child well, and that adults care for the young. Through storytelling, tutoring, and demonstration, the parent instills virtues and skills in the child. Although this process serves to educate, it also gives the youngster’s fiery spirit a focus. Without such direction, the fierce nature of a dragonborn comes to the fore, resulting in feral savagery.
When rightly trained in dragonborn ways, however, a juvenile learns that honor requires respect for elders and other worthies, focused and sincere effort, reliability and fulfillment of oaths, and integrity. At an early age, he or she understands that chosen actions can bring credit or disgrace to self, family and clan, and even all dragonborn. Even dragonborn crafters and laborers grow up with discipline, play inspired by lessons and tales of derring-do, and an admiration for brave and principled deeds. All learn a thing or two about fighting and soldierly ways. They learn to be bold so that they can challenge themselves and those who misuse authority.
Where dragonborn are a small portion of the local population, which is the norm, such tiny families are common. But where an integrated enclave exists, the process is different, and some dragonborn claim, resembles what life was like in Arkhosia. In such a community, dragonborn foster children communally. Adults watch out for and teach the young, and the young enjoy a broader exposure to an array of dragonborn role models. A single parent still maintains authority and responsibility for a youngster, but in these situations, the other parent is often close at hand and has some influence as well.
Facial characteristics
Dragonborn have very draconic faces which typically carry the traits of large teeth, horns, and occasionally feathers/hairs.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Dragonborn can be found all over Iosoth and don't have a particular settlement for their kind. As a result most Dragonborn rely on keeping a good nature with the other races of Iosoth to stay in their cities. Currently the strongest Dragonborn clans are present on the Szoop Islands.
Average Intelligence
Dragonborn are typically no more intelligent than that of other races. Those that grow to the hundreds of years, however, are often scholars who delve into their studies in libraries.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Dragonborn have personal names, given at birth, as described in the Player’s Handbook. They can also have childhood names, family names, and clan names. All these come according to a dragonborn’s heritage and place in dragonborn society.
A childhood name or nickname is common. Such a name is usually descriptive, and it serves as a term of endearment or encouragement for a young dragonborn. The name might recall an event or center on a habit. It could derive from an ancestor that acted similarly to a child, or a favored toy or item might be the inspiration. Such names are seldom appropriate for adults. For anyone to use such a name without proper authority, such as that of a parent or elder, or without permission is a sign of disrespect. A dragonborn’s elders use a childhood name after that dragonborn becomes an adult only to indicate disapproval.
Childhood Names: Climber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, Little Kriv, Shieldbiter, Zealous.
Family names are Draconic words, much like given names, carried by a specific bloodline. They often come from the deeds of an ancient scion of the family line or an amalgamation of the names of notable ancient ancestors. A dragonborn seldom identifies itself by family name, unless specificity is required. Dragonborn keep their family names private except among close friends, and instead go by clan name.
Family Names: Alreja, Bhergav, Duggal, Garodya, Iyotar, Letrah, Mulhotra, Odeyar, Pradhu, Reddyar, Samanga, Tyagi, Ulharej, Vadula, Yadav, Zaveri. \
Clan names are ancient titles that are frequently taken from the names of dragon lords of Arkhosia. Those that aren’t dragon names are names of trade associations or martial cadres, much like modern guilds, arcane societies, or knightly orders. A dragonborn goes by his clan name, so his deeds are known to reflect on that clan. Members of a clan fiercely defend their clan name against misuse, and some dragonborn outlaws are stripped of the privilege of using the clan name.
Clan Names: Bloodbane, Drakerider, Flamebrow, Hammerwing, Loremark, Moonscale, Peaceblade, Redmark, Silverspear, Spellscale, Warbringer.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Dragonborn are known for being brought up in the language of whatever continent where they are born. Typically, Dragonborn are taught the language of dragons, Draconic, and their dialects change depending on the clan that raised them.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Lifespan
75
Average Height
6 - 7 ft.
Average Weight
225 - 300 lbs.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dragonborn are colored and marked as a result of their draconic ancestry. All dragonborn are descended spawns of ancient dragons and their scale color typically resembles these ancestral dragons. (i.e. Black Dragonborn descended from a Black Dragon).
Geographic Distribution
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