Dragon Blood

Millenia ago, when the kingdoms were nothing more than a few small tribes, dragons were common place in the skies of Azenoth. People grew to both revered, fear, and, in some circles, worshipped these majestic flying beasts. As tribes began to grow and trade between tribes increased, the presence of dragons became an increasing inconvenience as they would attack caravans and mutterers transporting livestock. This presented further issues since this was, and continues to be even today, part of the peace conditions at the end of a fierce war; or they would be used as dowries for inter-tribal marriages. Because these caravans in particular were attacked, wars would reignite or betrothals would be considered broken, all of which meant that the age of dragons was a chaotic one indeed.

Townships and tribes began training or searching for particularly skilled warriors to either kill or drive off the dragons from their lands, paying more if they could drive the dragons into a rival's territory. Because the warriors would just drive the dragons into other realms so they could receive a higher reward, a number of tribes and petty kingdoms crumbled from the destruction that the dragons caused, and then the subsequent invasion from their rivals armies. This period of draconic displacement began to backfire on some tribes (now kingdoms) however, as while the territory would be conquered by a new kingdom, they would still have the same dragon to deal with and thus often began to keep warriors on retainers, sending them in shortly after the invasion forces to make sure the dragons were once again forced out of the territory.

Four factions began to form during this time: The Butchers of Hell, The Scale Hunters, and The Order of the Sacred Flame.

The Butchers of Hell were a guild of warriors and spell casters who specialised in killing or driving of dragons from their lairs. As time progressed, and dragons became extinct, the guild turned its focus to clearing other lairs of troublesome beasts, all for a price of course. The Butchers of Hell, often known as the Hell Butchers, were named because a dragon's flame was often described as, and felt like, the flames from hell itself. While most commoners feared dragons, they also respected them almost as if they were demi-gods themselves, and so as these warriors told more tales of the dragons they killed rather than those they drove off, the public often perceived them of butchers of nature; enough so to be given their name.

The Scale Hunters emerged after many dragons were displaced to the point that they started to crowd around a one or two mountain ranges. The dragons that were outcast from their Thunder had no choice but to made their home at ground level, making them easier prey for the hunters to poach and sell off. Hunters could be identified by the dragon scale necklaces they wore, made up of scales collected from their first hunt. As the dragons were hunted and captured, the began to go extinct in the wild. Sometimes nobels would hire the hunters to capture dragon wormlings to keep as pets but would often have to call on the Hell Butchers to deal with them once they grew to adulthood. Eventually when dragons became extinct, so did the Scale Hunters. Some of them turned to hunting other fierce beasts, and a Scale hunter would often charge a higher fee for their services, identifying themselves with their dragon scale necklace. The last know Scale Hunter was a female half-elf named Arlynn Emberbrook. Dragon Scale necklaces are sometimes found in ancient crypts, tombs and vacant dragon lairs and sell for a hefty sum, however most have been lost to time.

The Order of the Sacred Flame was composed of the small circles of society who already worshipped dragons, as well as citizens (adventurers or civilians alike) who view the hunting and killing fo dragons as an offence to nature. While dragons were alive the order would try to obstruct Scale Hunters and Hell Butchers alike. When it became evident that dragons are likely to go extinct, the order shifted its focus to preserving future dragon life, and believed one day dragons would return to the world in an even they called The Promised Inferno. To ensure the Promised Inferno could take place, the order began to either rescue eggs from the hands of rulers of poachers and either return them to their lairs or create new lairs to hide the eggs.

Knowing that eggs will eventually cease to be produced, The Order of the Sacred Flame began to experiment with infusing dragon DNA with that of other creatures. When combined with a humanoid creature of intelligence the experiment would result in Dragonborns; when combined with a less intelligent species the experiment often resulted in Kobolds or some form of abomination. As Dragonborns began to populate the world and interbreed with other species, a few individuals in each generation would inherit a higher percentage of dragon DNA but retain their humanoid appearance. These individuals were said to have Dragon's Blood.

Transmission & Vectors

Dragon's Blood appears in a few individuals each generation. It is rarely directly inherited (i.e. a parent with Dragon's Blood wont pass it on to their child), however half a dozen known cases have been recorded since the disease appeared. Dragon's Blood is caused when an individuals DNA has a high percentage of dragon versus their humanoid DNA. Almost all lineages have a Dragonborn ancestor so most of the world's population could be born with Dragon's Blood

Causes

In order to ensure the future or the dragon species, The Order of the Sacred Flame began to experiment with infusing dragon DNA with that of other creatures. When combined with a humanoid creature of intelligence the experiment would result in Dragonborns; when combined with a less intelligent species the experiment often resulted in Kobolds or some form of abomination. As Dragonborns began to populate the world and interbreed with other species, a few individuals in each generation would inherit a higher percentage of dragon DNA but retain their humanoid appearance. These individuals were said to have Dragon's Blood.

Symptoms

Individuals with Dragon's Blood can present itself subtly in children but is usually only recognised once the individual is a young adult.  Symptoms include:

• a higher body temperature than others and struggle to operate in colder conditions; 
• fevers;
• eyes shift to become yellow with an elongated pupil; 
• quick and hot tempers, becoming very territorial and become aggressive easily; 
• an insatiable apetite
• prone to kleptomania and hoarding
• natural ability to understand draconic
• Irrational obsession or fear of dragons

Treatment

There is no treatment for Dragon's Blood. Children with suspected Dragon's Blood were sometimes baptised in ice water lakes of the northern or southern territories, but this only served to traumatise individuals, often resulting in wilder temperaments than is normally expected

Prognosis

The physical toll that the body is put through means individuals with Dragon's Blood rarely live past the age of 30

Sequela

Eventually individuals will experience pain, often complaining that their blood is boiling, and they start losing hair as their skin starts to become rough and scaley

Affected Groups

Dragonborn are more likely to suffer from Dragon's Blood. Dragonborn often have a naturally chaotic temperament so many people are naturally wary of them, however a Dragonborn with Dragon's Blood is truly a destructive composition due to the fact that Dragonborn have their natural breath weapon to cause mayhem.

Epidemiology

The disease is random in the population as most lineages can be traced back to a Dragonborn ancestor

History

It is unknown when Dragon's Blood first appeared, but it is known that Dragon's Blood appeared after the creation of the Dragonborn. As such, people in certain regions of the world are wary of Dragonborn and see Dragon's Blood and Dragonborn as one and the same.
Throughout history there have been a few notable rulers that are believed to have Dragon's Blood. They live in infamy as tyrants and their reigns were short and bloody.

Cultural Reception

Individuals with Dragon's Blood are usually feared, shunned or ignored all together. Some individuals become bandits or mercenaries while some a born poor and exist in the back alleys of cities. Rulers with Dragon's Blood are often tyrants or warmongers and often die young either through battle, self-destruction or assassination. A very small number of lineages that don't have a Dragonborn ancestor try to keep their bloodline pure from the disease and will avoid procreating with that race.

Type

Genetic

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Chronic, Congenital

Rarity

Extremely Rare