Drekko

Being a drekko means acknowledging its weakness in the face of a hostile world. It knows it is puny, bigger creatures will exploit it, it will probably die at a young age, and its life will be full of toil. Although this outlook seems bleak, a drekko finds satisfaction in its work, the survival of its tribe, and the knowledge that it shares a heritage with the mightiest of dragons. A drekko is clever, but can be excitable. Someone can fool a drekko with smooth words or a quick wit, but when the drekko figures out it have been tricked, it remembers the affront. If it gets an opportunity to do so, it will retaliate against that person somehow, even if in merely a petty way.
A drekko doesn’t like being cornered or alone. It wants to know it has a safe path for escape, or at least an ally nearby to improve its chances. A drekko without either of these options will be nervous, its behavior alternating between meek silence and hysteria.

Drekko

Ability Score Increase +4 Dex, +2 wiz, -3 Str, -3 Con (Dexterity can be raised to 24 by normal means, whilst Strength cannot be increased beond 14 without the aid of magic.)

Size Small

Speed 30ft

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Draconic uplift

Your species was uplifted from a Firegekko, this gives you certain abilities. Quick, clever and cowardly. You are skittish in nature and when engaged in combat and you take the dash action, you can disengage as a bonus action. You can do this a number of times equal to your dex modifier per long rest. This dash action must leave you further away from any hostile creature than when you started.
Hot blood, thin skin. You have resistance to fire damage. Drekko struggle to keep warm in cold climates and disadvantage against the effects of cold weather such as exhaustion. Exhaustion suffered this way goes away quickly if you find any means to heat up.
Climbing speed. Thanks to your heritage, your hands and feet adhere to surfaces. As long as your hands and feet are free (no gloves, equipment or footwear) you have a climbing speed equal to your movement speed and you can stick to vertical surfaces and roofs.

Drekko eyes

Low light vision. You have low-light vision and can see in dim light as if you were in daylight, although you see in shades of gray as colors become muted. Your eyes glow in the dark when illuminated by external light. Infravision. You can as a bonus action activate infravision to see in the infrared spectrum, while doing so you discern heat as colors but cannot discern regular colors. While using infravision you gain expertise in perception to spot living beings, but are prone to go blind if exposed to sudden spikes in heat such as from a fireball exploding. A lit torch is as dazzling as the sun.
Light Sensitivity. You have a disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. Additionally, you have a disadvantage on saving throws against blinding from bright light.

Languages. Draconic

Basic Information

Anatomy

Drekko was uplifted from Firegekkos by Meraiel and shares many traits but also gained a few. Drekko have 8 fingers and toes, with four central fingers and two thumbs on each side. Drekko hands and feet are covered in adhering pads which gives them the ability to climb without the need for handholds. The unique hand anatomy amongst humanoids gives them an impressive dexterity and grip. If they were as smart and independent as Gnomes they might really amount to something.
A drekko have roughly a hundred small sharp teeth, but weak jaws, and usually swallow food mostly whole.

Ecology and Habitats

Drekkos are cold-blooded and thus prefer temperate and tropical climates. Drekko tribes in colder regions tend to be smaller in population and more aggressive in their hunting, since food is relatively scarce in such areas. Partly out of fear and partly because their eyes are sensitive to sunlight, drekkos prefer the security of a cave to living in the open air, and can be found in any sort of terrain that can support tunneling. In a swamp or along a coastline where digging into the soft ground is problematic, drekkos entrench themselves in dense woods, hills, or large rock outcroppings, creating warrens above the waterline.
Drekkos reside most commonly in hilly or mountainous terrain. Such locations usually have natural caves suitable for living space, plenty of room to dig, and ready sources of food. Although lairing in these locations puts drekkos in competition with surface-dwelling humanoids, their ability to avoid detection often means their warrens go unnoticed by their larger rivals. If it’s lucky, a tribe of drekkos that is discovered by a group of larger humanoids might form a mutually beneficial arrangement, relying on the humanoids for protection from invaders and in return providing services such as excavating new living spaces and disposing of trash. If it’s unlucky, the tribe is enslaved by the other humanoids, and the drekkos serve similar roles but under threat of death.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Drekkos are omnivores but can't digest rough plant matter. They thrive mainly on high protein foods and have a special love for insects, bugs, and larvae. It's not unusual to see a Drekko go off at full speed on all fours to chase a large rodent or bug. Additionally they love hot spices.

Civilization and Culture

History

Dragon Servitors Drekko believes that they were uplifted from simple stupid lizards by a dragon — a view supported by their reptilian (they would say draconic) appearance. In every drekko tribe, the legend of the creatures’ origin is passed down from elder to hatchling, giving each individual and every generation a reason to feel pride and self-respect. The drekko prefer to run away than fight, to live off the scraps of others, and they are often dominated by larger humanoids, but they know that there is greatness within them and they are proud that they were chosen to be the blood-kin of dragons.
Drekko willingly serve Draconian and worship them as if they were demigods — mighty beings of divine descent. This isn’t a casual sort of worship or lip service; kobolds are awed in the presence of a Draconian, as if an actual avatar of a lesser deity were in their presence. Should a Drekko find itself in the pressence of a dragon it would fall all over themselves to obey any orders from it, even if they are dangerous orders.

Scientific Name

Draconic