Homebrew Dragon Species Details

Xelliren looked down on his visitors. He could tell that it was not greed that had driven them into these ruins; rather, a genuine curiosity and desire for adventure had lured them straight into his lair, something he could deeply appreciate. After all, it had been a mere 178 years since he himself had travelled the lands in search of knowledge and riches to gather a treasure worthy of being called a dragon's hoard, and it was probably the aura of his current home that had drawn the little mice into his lair, much like he himself had been some 400 years past…

Nonetheless, he would keep an eye on them – it would not do to let them unintentionally activate some of the more dangerous pieces in his collection and cause havoc, or make off with his hoard before he ever had the chance of producing a clutch of wyrmlings. No, Xelliren would not allow this, and so, he shed his guise of an eagle perched on top of the ruined belfry at the centre. As the sun glinted off the faceted mirror that were his silver scales and the rumble of his breath vibrated in the air, the bard, who was the leader of this group froze, just short of touching one of the treasures on display. And so, what do we have here? Little mice plundering the larder? Or fellow seekers of knowledge?

M. Ross, The Encounter

 

Legendary creatures from the dawn of ages, Dragons walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. They are of ancient lineage and terrifying powers. They are known and feared for their predatory behavior, cunning, wit, and greed. The oldest dragons are regarded as some of the most powerful creatures in the world. Dragons are magical creatures whose innate power gives them many preternatural abilities. Many creatures, including wyverns and dragon turtles, have draconic blood, however, true dragons are made up of two categories: chromatic and metallic dragons. Blue, white, black, green and red dragons are selfish, evil and feared by everyone and everything. Bronze, copper, brass, gold, and silver are noble, benign and highly respected by the wise people of their race. Although their goals and ideals vary tremendously, all dragons covet riches and strive to accumulate piles of coins, gems, jewelry and magical items. Dragons with great mountains of treasure hate to leave them for a long time, only venturing out of their dens to patrol and feed themselves. They can live for thousands of years, and while aging, they grow ever stronger and their treasure hoards grow ever larger.

Biology

Dragons are inherently magical beings, and in no case should dragons be considered reptiles, despite obvious similarities such as a scaled epidermis and reproduction by laying eggs. In fact, they are more akin to feline creatures than reptiles, particularly in regards to their posture and movements, as well as being inherently warm-blooded and an eye composition similar to felines, although far more complex. A good example of this is the placement of the legs: dragons also tend to place their rear foot where their front foot was previously, much like most stalking feline predators.

A dragon's diet is more of a sign of the lifestyle it wants, as in reality, there really isn't much a dragon can not eat. Dragons can gain substance from almost anything they eat, even things like rocks. Anything that can be broken down, gets digested in the stomach of a dragon, leaving no undigested matter in a dragon's stool. Though they may not have the most powerful digestive acid, at least in terms of speed of digestion, their digestive systems are basically only second to the Tarrasque.

Physically, dragons are extremely strong, agile, and hardy for their size. Given that dragons are large creatures that can fly, it is astounding that dragons possess such absurd physical abilities. Almost no other creature can do the things dragons can do. For example, while dragons are extremely strong, a dragon can also precisely control their strength to accomplish mundane tasks and not break delicate objects or hurt much smaller creatures.

Besides the dragon's physicality, a dragon's other defining bodily trait is their breath weapon. While it is known that the key abilities that allow a dragon to use its breath weapons are physical in nature, the speed and frequency at which dragons can release breath attacks have led many to speculate that the breath attacks may be in some part magic. Regardless, when released, these breath weapons can have devastating impacts on the creatures and environment around the dragon.

Society

Solitary by nature, dragons in general preferred to stay in their lairs and guard their hoard. However, the stories of dragons are a frequent tale among most humanoid societies. These tales may describe the past deeds of some dragon long slayed or the might of the currently living dragons. Despite the frequency of these tales, dragons in their true form are an incredibly rare sight. The few that see a dragon and live to spread the tale only serve to spread more stories of these legendary creatures that bring both fear and awe.

Despite typically being solitary creatures, when a dragon decides to not live a solitary life, they are a notable exception. For example, to further their own goals, dragons may form complex organizations. Most of the time, these organizations consist of numerous less powerful humanoid underlings with a dragon leader, but if dragons can put away their pride, a union between several different dragons may be formed. Regardless of the type of organization, these organizations usually control the trade of some sort of commodity, own large swaths of land, and are formed of a large number of individuals.

Most dragons of the same type will seemingly ignore one another except when given a reason not to. However, not all dragons are the same. Although there might be reasons for discourse between dragons of the same type, that discourse pales in comparison to the more frequent disputes between chromatic dragons and metallic dragons. The rivalry between the two different types of dragons has led to chromatic dragons and metallic dragons detesting one another. Encounters between these two types of dragons are heated and often leads to either fights or grudges forming between the dragons.

The number of eggs a dragon lays each clutch depended on its race, but is usually low, between one and ten. Evil dragons of adult age often lay and abandon clutches of eggs, leaving the wyrmlings to work together to raise themselves until they are old enough to go their separate ways. Good dragons of adult age, and some more intelligent evil dragons, would form families consisting of the mated pair and their offspring.
The children generally leave the family by the time they reached young adulthood. These young dragons are more curious than any cat and often are more ambitious than any other known creature, being on the lookout for both a hoard that would give them standing/power and a lair to keep the same. This is also the most likely dragon an adventurer would encounter, often shape-shifted into a humanoid, second only to a metallic dragon cleric on a pilgrimage.

Thanks to their shape-shifting, dragons can also cross-breed with virtually any other creature, creating a half-dragon. The most commonly heard of are in the humanoid races, particularly with human and elves. Any combination was possible, however, even with devils or angels. Most of the time when dragons of different types cross-breed it resulted in no offspring. Whenever offspring did occur between different types, the offspring's biology will almost always favour one of the parent's "type" over the other and might display characteristic that varied from its norm. In very rare instances of crossbreeding yielding offspring, the resulting child's biology might favour neither parent. This might result in them being born as a new type or with albinism.

Dragon Names

The true names of dragons are almost unintelligible for most humanoids, being in the most ancient form of Draconian, and are more of a complete description of the being in question. Therefore, the names the humanoid friends and allies of a dragon are given to call them are more of a nickname, an extremely abbreviated version of their true name. The calling name of a Dragon often is a compound word in Draconic, consisting of an adjective/adverb and a suffix indicating likeness and sex.

Male Names: Arjhan, Balasar, Bharash, Donaar, Ghesh, Heskan, Kriv, Medrash, Mehen, Nadarr, Pandjed, Patrin, Rhogar, Shamash, Sedreth, Shedinn, Tarhun, Torinn, Xelliren

Male name suffixes: -ar, -dreth, -drak, -en, -esh, -gar, -ger, -gor, -hun, -iren, -iv, -kar, -rash, -ren, -reth, -shun

Female Names: Akra, Biri, Daar, Farideh, Harann, Havilar, Jheri, Kava, Karak, Korinn, Mishann, Nala, Perra, Raiann, Sora, Surina, Thava, Uadjit, Vaerith, Zanash

Female name suffixes: -aja, -ala, -ann, -ar, -ara, -deh, -dith, -erith, -ina, -ini, -ith, -inn, -jit(h), -nash, -ra, -rith, -terra

 

Dragon Traits

Your draconic nature manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragons of your type.

Armoured Scales

Born with a magical hide of scales, Dragons enjoy a natural armour rivalled by few creatures. Your scaled skin is better than any armour created by the other races. Your Natural Armour Class is 3+ your Constitution score.

(Your AC must be entered manually due to page constraints.)

Age

Young dragons grow fairly quickly, in order to survive, but afterwards, their growing slows considerably; it is equally dependent on age as it is on experiences. Unlike most other species, dragons never stop growing until their death.

Detailed Recording			Simplified Recording
Stage	Category	Years	Category	Years
1	Wyrmling / Hatchling	0‒5	Wyrmling	0‒5
2	Very Young	6‒15	Young	6‒100
3	Young	16‒25
4	Juvenile	26‒50
5	Young Adult	51‒150
6	Adult	150‒200	Adult	101‒800
7	Mature Adult	201‒400
8	Old	401‒600
9	Very Old	601‒800
10	Ancient / Venerable	801‒1,000	Ancient	801+
11	Wyrm	1,001‒1,200
12	Great Wyrm	1,201+

Note that chromatic dragons usually don't live as long as metallic dragons.

Your starting age is young adult: 100+1d100.

Your life expectancy is 2500 years if you do not have a hoard, and 3500 with a sufficient hoard. Subtract 10d100 if your alignment is any variant of evil.

Size

Even as children (called wyrmlings), Dragons are on a completely different size scale than most humanoids. As a young adult (the starting age), your size category is Large (14-15 ft ground to shoulder), and your weight is 1-2 tons.

Upon reaching Level 11, your size changes to Huge, and your weight is anything between 6-16 tons.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Draconic Nature

Dragons come in several variants that determine your nature and alignment. Choose one type of dragon from the Dragon Type table. Your breath weapon and damage immunity are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.

Draconic Nature

Dragon	Damage Type	Breath Weapon
Black	Acid	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Blue	Lightning	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Brass	Fire	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Bronze	Lightning	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Copper	Acid	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save)
Gold	Fire	15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Green	Poison	15 ft. cone (Con. save)
Red	Fire	15 ft. cone (Dex. save)
Silver	Cold	15 ft. cone (Con. save)
White	Cold	15 ft. cone (Con. save)

Breath Weapon

You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic nature determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your breath. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. You recharge your breath weapon after completing a short rest, or when in combat you roll a 5 or six on a D6 on your next turn.

Damage Immunity

You have Immunity to the damage type associated with your draconic nature.

Draconic Arsenal

Your teeth are stronger than anything but the toughest metals, your claws sharp enough to compete with the finest swords ever crafted, your tail strong enough to knock most people prone. In your natural guise, you may augment your unarmed strikes with your claws, use your powerful teeth and jaws to bite down on enemies or wipe them off their feet with your tail.

Attacks

You are proficient with all your natural weapons.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+ Strength modifier + Proficiency Modifier piercing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: reach 6 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + Strength modifier + Proficiency Modifier slashing damage.

Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + Strength modifier + Proficiency Modifier bludgeoning damage.

Frightful Presence. You have advantage on Intimidation checks and are proficient with the skill. If already proficient, double the proficiency bonus. Your modifier for the check is Strength. If the target of your intimidation attempt fails the saving throw while you are in dragon form, it becomes frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the next 24 hours. Against a creature immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence, you do not have advantage on intimidation checks, and your proficiency bonus counts only once.

Multiattack. You can use your Frightful Presence. You then make three attacks: one with bite and two with your claws. You cannot use the Multiattack again until you have performed a Short Rest.

Dragon senses

Built as a predator, you have been blessed with powerful senses that make escaping your notice a very difficult task. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Amongst your already keen senses, your sight reigns surpreme. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Draconic Vitality

Add 2d4 to your max HP each level to that of your class.

Winged Creature

Dragons have wings, and the muscles and magical power to use them to take to the air or stir it into mighty winds. However, artificial armour was clearly never a thing they wore - it would make them incapable of taking off, interfering with their magic as these things do.

In your true form, you are capable of Active Flight, as long as you are not wearing any armour, and have a base flying speed of 80 ft. At reaching Level 11, you gain the ability to whip the air into a Gust of Wind once until you have completed a Short Rest.

If you do wear armour, you can only glide, at a speed of 60 ft, and you cannot use Gust of Wind.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength, Constitution and Intelligence score increase by 1.

Shape Change

All dragons can shape-shift. Once a short rest, as an action, you may magically polymorph into a humanoid or beast that has a challenge rating no higher than your level, or back into your true form. You revert to your true form if you die, or are knocked unconscious. You can be any race you want, but you benefit from none of their racial features. Your base walking speed becomes 30 feet, and you lose all your features granted to you by your dragon form. You also lose any other bonuses to speed granted to you by your race.

You retain only your Darkvision and elemental immunity while under the affects of Shape Change. In your humanoid form, you can wield weapons, armour, and shields as normal, as well as carry things. When you shape change back into your dragon form, you choose if everything you carry and wear merges with you or not. When Dragons shape change, they generally stick to one persona. A dragon cannot shape change into another person that already exists unless they are dead.

Eye for Treasure

Whenever you make a Intelligence (Investigation) check related to gold, magical items, or gemstones, you are considered proficient in the Investigation skill and if you already proficient in the Investigation skill, your proficiency bonus is doubled for to the check.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Draconic. 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.

Alignment

True Dragons are split into two groups – the Chromatic Dragons created by Tiamat, and the Metallic Dragons of Bahamut. As Tiamat chose to side with evil and destruction, almost all Chromatic Dragons are any form of evil, while Bahamut's children, the Metallic dragons usually follow his edicts and side with good. Correspondingly, a dragon's alignment usually comes down to their type. However, there are exceptions in each group: some metallic dragons grew selfish and disillusioned about protecting the smaller races, and some chromatic dragons started recoiling in disgust knowing the terrible acts of other chromatic dragons.

 Your alignment is that of your chosen type of dragon, unless your DM allows otherwise.

Dragon type	Standard Alignment
Black	Chaotic Evil
Blue	Lawful Evil
Brass	Chaotic Good
Bronze	Lawful Good
Copper	Chaotic Good
Gold	Lawful Good
Green	Lawful Evil
Red	Chaotic Evil
Silver	Lawful Good