Dragonborn ((Draag-on Borne))
The ancestors of dragonborn hatched from the eggs of chromatic and metallic dragons.
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.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dragonborn resemble bipedal dragons in most respects, being covered with scales and having distinctively saurian facial structures. While a few rare examples of the race have been known to possess wings, the vast majority possess the standard four limbs seen in most other humanoid races. Members of this race often possess horns, spikes, and other bony protrusions that vary between individuals.
Biological Traits
Dragonborn resemble bipedal dragons in most respects, being covered with scales and having distinctively saurian facial structures. While a few rare examples of the race have been known to possess wings, the vast majority possess the standard four limbs seen in most other humanoid races. Members of this race often possess horns, spikes, and other bony protrusions that vary between individuals.
Dragonborn resemble in many ways what their name suggests: humanoid dragons. Standing on average 6 feet and 2 inches to 6 feet and 8 inches (1.9 to 2 meters), dragonborn are impressively tall with a heavy weight to match, commonly possessing a weight of 220 to 320 pounds (100 to 150 kilograms). Dragonborn feet end with three strong talon-like claws with a fourth claw in the back, while their hands are similar with three claws with a thumb replacing the rear claw
Genetics and Reproduction
As an oviparous species, dragonborn are born from eggs, which are usually lain in clutches that do not exceed three at a time. Clutches of larger varieties have been noted, with the largest in known history consisting of seven distinct eggs. The female dragonborn carries these eggs for up to two months after fertilization, allowing for the most vital period of development to occur without having to worry about the dangers of the outside world. After the eggs have been laid, they are kept warm with sun-warmed sand or packed earth, though some enterprising parents have been known to use magical means to keep the eggs at an optimal temperature. After approximately three months, the hatchlings emerge from their eggs. The hatching process is a strenuous process for the young dragonborn, though the mother and father only intervene if an egg fails to crack at all.
Dragonborn genetics are an interesting affair, with many traits seeming to be entirely independent of their parentage. Scale color is the most evident of these, as a child born to two white-scaled parents can just as often exhibit black or golden scales as it might possess the same color as its other family members. This extends across all color variations, with individual families often boasting a rainbow assortment of scale colors among them. When determining lineage other bodily features are more useful. Horn and snout shape, tail length, and size are all more commonly shared between parents and their offspring.
The ability of dragonborn to breathe a specific element is oddly enough seemingly tied to scale color and not to lineage. How such a massive difference can occur between members of the same family line is still not fully understood, though as dragonborn view this ability as a divine gift, they likely see such differences as nothing more than a whim of the gods.
Growth Rate & Stages
Young dragonborn, who hatched from eggs like their draconic relatives, grew at an impressively rapid rate, much faster than most other races, reaching the equivalent maturity of a human child of 10 by age 3. Dragonborn nursed their hatchlings for several months before teeth began to come in. A dragonborn would then slowly introduce soft food and then move towards normal dragonborn eating habits, which contained more meat than was typical of most other races.
Their rate of maturation slowed dramatically within a few short years and they were not considered physically mature until the age 12, when their bodies reached their adult height and appearance. Not all dragonborn developed a breath weapon but those that did usually obtained it during these years of growth.
Psychologically, dragonborn were considered mature as a human adult by age 12, and when they reached age 15 they were considered legally adults in dragonborn society. Once they did reach adulthood, dragonborn could expect a lifespan identical to that of humans.
Ecology and Habitats
Though they are typically found in arid and desert regions, dragonborn are hardy and adaptable, easily able to adjust to any environment.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Dragonborn are exclusively carnivores,Female dragonborn do not produce milk and newly hatched dragonborn are often fed small pieces of meat in their infancy.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Clan and family bloodlines are both preserved among dragonborn and are highly important to dragonborn culture as a whole. Both are different, though the distinction is subtle to non-dragonborn. Family refers specifically to actual blood relatives, as far as could be traced, whereas clan, in the dragonborn context, refers to a confederation of families united by mutual purpose in ages past, organized along military lines. Of the two, clan is usually considered more important and it was to the clan that dragonborn owed their most loyalty, particularly in Qyzharate of Duryad.
Clans are led by wizened, aged clan-masters chosen for their ability to lead who are looked to for guidance by their lieges. Dragonborn do not forget the past, and ties to clan and family determine much about how one dragonborn is viewed by others. All clans have reputations, for good and ill, that often lasted for generations. A dragonborn's actions were expected to bring favor and good will to his or her clan, improving this reputation. For this reason, dragonborn typically went by their clan names rather than their family names, hoping to bring honor and glory to their clan. Dragonborn who worshiped gods were usually expelled from their clans because traditionalist dragonborn believed worshiping such beings was equal to selling themselves to dragon slavery again.
This pressure to either right the wrongs of the past or continue a clan's glory could define a dragonborn's life. Some dragonborn fled from the imposing responsibilities their clan put on them, choosing infamy over such a burden. Others accepted the responsibility or even turned it into an additional drive for their ambition, hoping to one day become the clan-master.
Overall, compared with clan ties, family was secondary and private to dragonborn, as reflected by the fact that most dragonborn family names were kept secrets shared with only the closest friends and other family members. The usual family unit was quite small, often composed of only two individuals: a mated pair or a parent and its child. Dragonborn marriages were arranged by the clan leaders along old pact lines. Dragonborn lacked the association of love with marriage that many races had, instead wedding purely for reproductive reasons. Once a dragonborn child reached 3 years old the wedding was typically dissolved, with the parent who was the same sex as the child rearing it for the remainder of its childhood.
The parent–child relationship during the formative years between the marriage's dissolution and the child's adulthood were incredibly important. Parents, along with other adults from the community, were expected to not simply act as loving caretakers but teachers as well, using storytelling and direct action to instill the virtues of society within a child. In addition to scholarly studies and moral lessons, parents were also expected to focus the drive of a child and teach them basic martial skills for the purpose of defense. Dragonborn believed this in-depth mentorship was necessary not only for the child's education but also for their morality. It was thought that without this imposed discipline, a dragonborn's fierce passions might give way to a feral savagery. Within a large dragonborn community, the parent maintained the position of authority, but other adults were allowed to act as surrogate parents and teachers, giving a young child multiple examples to learn from.
Facial characteristics
A dragonborn's head featured a blunt snout, a strong brow, and reptilian frills on the cheeks and ears. On the back of the head, a crest of hornlike scales formed what resembled a mess of ropy hair. Dragonborn eyes were usually red, green, blue, silver or gold in hue.
Average Intelligence
Most dragonborn are of average intelligence, not boasting any particular advantages over other humanoid races.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Dragonborn have personal names given at birth, this name is sacred in their culture and is only shared with those you truly conect with, family, friends loved ones.etc. to protect their names they often adopt a another name which is the name usaly used. A childhood name or nickname is often used among clutchmates as a descriptive term or a term of endearment. The name might recall an event or center on a habit.
Major Organizations
Beauty Ideals
While beauty is of course a subjective matter among any race or species, there are some norms which most dragonborn adhere to. Strength and power are still seen as attractive traits, not only for practical purposes such as producing stronger offspring, but also as a hold over from ages past when such qualities were valued above all else. As such, dragonborn value physical strength and a strong body across both genders. Following from this, a dragonborn's breath weapon is seen as a sign of virility, with those capable of producing a stronger elemental blast being seen as dominant over those with weaker abilities.
Aside from strength, dragonborn value a well-kept appearance, with special care needing to be taken for an individual's scales and horns. Scales with a uniform color and luster are seen as attractive, and brighter hues are seen as more exotic and desirable. Grooming of ones horns to ensure that there is no loose keratin or jagged edges is of tantamount importance, seen as an analog to the styling of hair among other races. While ornamentation is not especially common among the dragonborn, the display of gold or silver adornments is often eye catching and seen as desirable among wealthier society.
Gender Ideals
Both male and female dragonborn are accepted in all parts of modern society, and each is welcome to pursue his or her own path in life. However, due to the history of the race there are certain roles which favour one gender over the other. Due to the their naturaly copetitive nature, males are more often seen in positions of leadership in the clan. In addition, the larger size and comparatively higher strength of males leads to more of them being present in Duryad's military as foot soldiers, while females are seen more often in positions of religious leadership and overseeing logistics.
The dragonborn's long history of selective breeding has been a female dominated field ever since its inception, with there being a long held belief that those who give birth have greater insight into how life is created and altered. Due to this, most areas of scientific study are female led within dragonborn society, with males providing assistance. However, even with history behind these roles they have continually become looser as time has marched on.
Other than their preferred careers and social positions, there are few ideals that separate male from female dragonborn. Each is still expected to be strong and loyal to their community, and the lack of either quality is seen as undesirable in either gender. Dragonborn society tends to place more value on the accomplishments of any individual than on the attributes of the individual who performed them.
Courtship Ideals
Bronze dragons mated for life, and took their duties as parents with the utmost seriousness. They would have protected their eggs and their wyrmlings at any cost. Dragonborn courtship is a simple affair, with the male more often than not being the one to ask for the female's hand in union. Such relationships usually occur early in a dragonborn's life, typically beginning sometime between the late teens and early twenties. Though later relationships are not uncommon, a female's ability to produce viable eggs rapidly decreases after the age of thirty, leading most families and matters of courtship to be cemented before that age. Regardless of the age that courtship begins, a courting period of several months is usually engaged in before cementing the relationship. Though regional differences do exist across Qyzharate of Duryad and among dragonborn in general, there are a few ideals which are held throughout.
Due to the emphasis that dragonborn culture places on strength, a suitor often pits himself or herself against a potential mate in ritual contest. These trials, involving feats of physical prowess, mastery of one's breath weapon, and matters of knowledge and craftsmanship are all undertaken, with the families of both parties overseeing and judging the affair. By comparing each member in the relationship, both the potential couple and their extended families can see the compatibility and equality that a potential union could bring. Such a well matched pair is important in dragonborn culture, as each member of a family is expected to be able to provide for the other, with no one side shouldering too much of the burden.
Provided that both the couple and their families are satisfied, the final task is the exchange of tokens to symbolize the new lovers' union. These tokens, commonly golden rings or other jewelry, are treasured possessions, and it is up to each potential partner to have such an item personally forged or crafted. Upon their exchange, the new couple is officially recognized in a brief ceremony among a gathering of friends and family.
Relationship Ideals
Equality between partners is of great importance in dragonborn culture, and this ideal that is measured during courtship is expanded upon during life together. While females are obviously the only members in a relationship that can lay eggs and produce children, both parents are expected to care for unhatched eggs and hatchlings in equal measure. In order to provide for a growing family, both partners are expected to perform some kind of work, allowing for the best possible livelihood for themselves and their offspring.
Most dragonborn relationships are monogamous, and infidelity is often met with shame and derision by the community. Likewise, separations are not viewed favorably, with priesthoods needing to be consulted to officially dissolve a union. Typically, a dragonborn couple will remain together for the rest of their lives, caring for each other throughout old age and providing a watchful eye for the hatchlings of their own children. Dragonborn that survive the passing of their partner are not expected to form other romantic relationships, but instead to nurture the growth of the hatchlings of other families as a revered member of the community.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Draconic is thought to be one of the oldest languages and is often used in the study of magic. The language sounds harsh to most other creatures and includes numerous hard consonants and sibilants.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Dragonborn have a well-known dedication to honour, but how deeply rooted this trait remains debatable. However, all dragonborn tend to view all living things, even hated enemies, as deserving of courtesy and respect. To dragonborn, honour is more than a word and is often considered more important than life itself. Cowardice is not simply undesirable among dragonborn, but it is considered outright repulsive. The dragonborn drive for honour carries on into the culture of the race. Among dragonborn, the most horrible crime is oath-breaking; honesty is expected whenever a deal is struck. Commitment to a word is expected to be carried out to the letter and all parties in a transaction are held accountable and responsible for failings. Ultimately, those who fail to meet their word are expected to accept the consequences. So widespread is this value of honor and honesty that it is commonly believed that dragonborn never break their word.
Part of the roots of this honorable attitude lay in the dragonborn's drive for self-improvement. The draconic nature of dragonborn gives them a strong self-consciousness and a tendency for strong emotions. Both of these combine to make dragonborn particularly wanting for the approval of others. Dragonborn place great value on the skill of an individual, including themselves. Failing at a task is anathema to dragonborn and as a result, they can sometimes push themselves to unhealthy extremes of effort. This aspect of the dragonborn mind means few of dragonborn take a laid-back approach to any skill or ability, striving always to become the masters of a particular skill, and dragonborn respect those among other people who approach life in the same manner.
Though all dragonborn strive to be self-sufficient, they recognize that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. 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.
Dragonborn society in the nation of Duryad has a strong and abiding hatred of Genies, perpetuated by terrifying tales of Efreeti and Dao cruelty and retelling of the dragonborn struggle for freedom from the Dhômm'ahssid Empire's constant Expansion and tyrrany. Despite all this animosity the Dragonborn of Duryad brought with them when they made landfall on the continent, the Genies of Naghron has nothing to do with this horrid past that haunted them, the dragonborn were not initially particularly forgiving in this regard, and individuals who took up binding genies for whatever reasons were honored as heroes regarded with a healthy mix of fear and awe among the Duryadi. They have since ended this practice and ended hostilites. Good aligned genies and genasi by extencion are with the same respect they are afforded.
The Duryadi dragonborn work hard to earn the friendship of races around the world and few prejudices other than the distrust of genies plagued the dragonborn race. Dragonborn efforts are partially successful but the sudden appearance of the dragonborn and the alien nature of their culture make many wary of their motives.
Like dwarves, dragonborn are usually practical about the arts. Few items are created for purely artistic reasons. Usually, items have a functional purpose behind them. Despite this, dragonborn arts are not at all ugly or mundane in appearance and dragonborn craftsmen take time and care in creating new works. As pieces representative of the skill of a craftsman, dragonborn art pieces often possess a distinctive flair that is draconic or elemental in nature and they are often embroidered with jewels or precious metals. Jewelers, gemcutters, smiths, and minters have a respected place in dragonborn societies. Ironically, dragonborn often adorn themselves with baubles of all sorts in subconscious imitation of the very same dragons they resent
Common Taboos
The dragonborn drive for honor carried on into the culture of the race. Among dragonborn, the most horrible crime was oath-breaking; honesty was expected whenever a deal was struck. Commitment to a word is expected to be carried out to the letter and all parties in a transaction are held accountable and responsible for failings. Ultimately, those who fail to meet their word are expected to accept the consequences and, in fact, most dragonborn did so. So widespread was this value of honour and honesty that it was commonly believed that dragonborn never broke their word.
Historical Figures
Dahrmuyahd I "the Magnificent" el Zinad
Shamyhr yhl Jehir-Ymbaroul Orion Salicar Ybn Balaur Yhl-Duryadh
Qyzharah Haylymah Asherah yrb Bhalaur Yhl-Duhryadh
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Other than their well-known hatred of dragons, that oppose their heritage, dragonborn had few definitive relationships with other races. The dragonborn of Qyzharate of Duryad had a known tolerance for races of all kinds, extending their courtesy even to races who were generally disliked, such as tieflings.
Scientific Name
flegotherium sapiens
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
1.88–2.03 m
Average Weight
100– 145 kg
Average Physique
Dragonborn are typically tall and stout, possessing muscular builds that indicate their above average strength. Females are typically smaller than the average male, but generally just as large as males of other races such as humans.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
The scales a dragonborn wore are Black, Blue, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Green, Red, Silver, White in hue dragonborn has scales resembling those of true dragons. The color of their scales bore a correlation to a dragonborn's draconic heritage, black, blue, brass, bronze, copper, gold, green ,red, silver and white. The scales were typically in their greatest concentration around forearms, lower legs, feet, shoulders, and thighs, with a very fine leathery covering over the rest of the body.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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