Draconians

Draconians are a species of dragonkin created by magic. They are the products of spells cast onto specific dragon eggs to warp the development of the creature within. What form depends on the exact spell, and the exact egg. Only a few mages know the exact spells, and they likely don't know all of them. By doing this they can easily create a wide range of makeshift henchmen under their control, who cannot breed naturally. Though it is expensive and time consuming to carry out, the worst part is gaining the eggs. It is the main reason for it being so expensive.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Every draconian is variable depending on the egg used to create it. Some end up as foot soldiers, others dreadnoughts, while others are created as magic users, assassins & infiltrators. Each of them has a general look, usually with wings of some sort, colourings / markings of their parent dragon, scaly skin, and somewhat aggressive stance. If anything they look like a smaller bipedal dragon. Each also manifests a specific death throe when killed, and this seems to take the place of a breath attack.

Genetics and Reproduction

They are created by rare mages who have found the spells to create draconians, and managed to get a supply of dragon eggs. Each spell can only be used as a ritual, with a specific dragon egg type used while casting the specific spell. Any interruption or incorrect procedure can result in the spell not working, or some type of abomination being hatched instead.

Growth Rate & Stages

Growth rate is exceptionally quick, with the draconian requiring meat to be fed to it. In a few days the draconian is fully grown and instinctively knows where it fits in.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Draconians only really need livestock & water irregularly to keep alive. Many will raid or buy from farms to get what they need, or attack caravans transporting livestock, both to bring back to eat and to keep their fighting abilities up.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Different draconians are bred for different jobs. Many are bred for basic foot soldiers, some are infiltrators, others elite troops, some as commanders, and a few for magic users. The leaders are usually a mix of the commanders and magic users, though the latter also fills in as advisors depending on how they are organised.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

They are bred as forces by those with the means both magical & with access to dragon eggs for an army of soldiers. This way they are exploited by some less savoury types.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found throughout he world, the only place known to have little in the way with contact with draconians is Africa. Though not unknown there, it looks as if the rituals needed is only held by a few there. Very common, and a constant problem, in the Asian continent they can be found serving as military forces both for the authorities & for less savoury characters.

Average Intelligence

They are as smart as an average human adult, with some specific breeds being higher.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Draconians have all the standard sensory inputs of other bipeds though generally better hearing, sight and smell are better. Each generally has Darkvision on top of excellent vision.

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

Usually quite highly developed and supplied.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Draconic is spoken regularly, and usually the language of their master.

History

Some of the earliest accounts of draconians date back millions of years to the times of the dragons. It seems that many of the original dragons that existed in the time of Pangea had need of servants to deal with smaller day to day operations, and act as subservient henchmen to the dragons themselves. By stealing the eggs of their rivals, different dragons started experimenting with magical rituals to create the first draconians. Going along this path, many found it difficult and failed, rumoured at the same time to have created both the Dragonborn & the Kobolds, though no records exist to confirm this.
After some time the first draconians were created, and the successful experiments were recorded for posterity. When this happened the rituals were further refined, and certain egg types were found to be more useful than others in different rituals. Thought lost at one stage after a mishap with a portal scattered some information to the world known as Krynn, the use of the rituals were quite common place. Unfortunately came the wars with the first Giants that caused untold damage to many of the repositories of this knowledge, and the deaths of millions of the draconians. Devastated, especially after Pangea broke apart due to continental drift, it is now harder to find the rituals.
Some now search for these rituals, and have unearthed them. Usually found in the preserve of ancient temples and civilisations they are still hard to acquire.

Common Myths and Legends

Many myths & legends are found about groups of draconians fighting in wars throughout time. Usually led by powerful individuals, including those of other races, they always seem to be tied to battles involving major cataclysms in many Far Eastern stories.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

This depends entirely on who created the draconians in the first place.

"We discovered a layer in the dirt at the base of the cavern. It looked like there were bodies there. Many of them were crushed by rocks that had fallen from the roof, and nearly all had some type of primitive armour on them, weapons too. Looking closely, many had wings, and were bipedal. They seemed to have had some hand carts with them, and the remains of large eggs were lying smashed in these carts. Rocks were found in amongst them.
At the back of the cavern lay a barely visible opening and an oily black smoke could be seen gently pouring out. A rumbling and movement was observed down in there, appearing in flashes of a dark red, on top of the smouldering glowing ground.
We retreated at that point not wanting to try our luck at that part. We did snatch a partially ruined old cloth scroll there near the entrance. We can't tell exactly what it says, but it seems to be something to do with metamorphosis of the ancient one's eggs. We left that with the chamberlain to chase up with the sages, and mages of course. Last time I heard they are now travelling to the Tower of Emon Kanis via the Libraries of Baghdad to compare elements there."
Soong Wu, solder of the Wu Clan guard.

Origin/Ancestry

Artificially created