Growing Stronger
Dragonborn, being a people that honor strength, see molting as a sign of one's growing power by growing larger, and thus stronger. Molting is looked at as a reason to celebrate, and the molting
dragonborn is encouraged to spend this time at rest and leisure. Once the molt is complete, the newly molted
dragonborn has an
Hatchling Day, where they are considered a hatchling for a day, free from the concerns of their life and station. After that day, the
dragonborn is visited by a clan or family
scalescribe who applies clan markings, rank insignia, and badges of affiliation and loyalty to the
dragonborn's scales. The markings of their past deeds are now gone with their old skin, which encourages the newly-molted
dragonborn to seek out new deeds to mark themselves with. Scarring from deeds and battles usually remain for years after, and these are also reapplied with scalestain, as these are "earned" deeds which no symbolic rebirth can remove.
New Beginnings
Dragonborn and Kobolds seeking to apprentice to a new profession often do so after a molt, and these aspiring apprentices spend the day after Hatchling Day seeking out and negotiating with an artisan or teacher. This must be done quickly, as clan
scalescribes are busy people, and it is rude to keep them waiting.
Nobles
A noble
dragonborn experiencing the molt is treated to time away from their duties so that they may attend a
spa town. There the
dragonborn noble is treated to scrapings, baths, and massages to assist and encourage the shedding of their old scales. This lasts from a few days to a few weeks, depending on their rank. The noble
dragonborn will then spend their
Hatchling Day in and around the spa town.
Peasants
Peasant
dragonborn can rarely afford to go to a spa town for their molting. Instead, these
dragonborn spend their molt at rest in their family or clan hold, scraping and bathing themselves. They also usually observe an
Hatchling Day, after which a family or clan
scalescribe will reapply any markings needed, and then it's back to their duties the next day. When they can afford to go to a spa town for their molt, this is considered a great honor, as
dragonborn from all levels of society may be there and the rules against fraternization are relaxed while there.
Criminals
Dragonborn who were sentenced to wear
Fool's scalestain for their transgressions look forward to their next molting, when they can come back into the fold of their family and clan, and start anew as they shed their motley scales.
