Homebrew Young Aquarian Dragon Species Details

The Sea. It and my people share a special connection unknown to most other species of dragon. I grew up loving the sea, playing in it along with all the other children, delighting in its hidden treasures, closed off from most other races. There is a simple pleasure in chasing down a nice fat tuna that I still enjoy. It wasn't until later in life that I came to understand that although the sea was a place I could frolick in, the sea had a hold on me and my people too. 

It wasn't until I came to New Alveri for the first time that I understood how different Aquarians were from other dragons. I felt awkward surrounded by their thin, lithe bodies so unlike my own, intimidated by their speed and natural ferocity. I was fierce too, just ask any shark in the bay, but I couldn't display my true strengths either on land or in the air. The Aquarian body was adapted for life in cold water where the other dragons species couldn't survive at all, but in the process of reaching that point, we'd made sacrifices in other areas that made me and my people seem clumsy, slow, and maladapted for combat in comparison. Judged and dismissed by others of dragonkind, I nearly gave up my dreams of becoming a Holy Knight, fleeing back to Damescara as fast as my wings could carry me, tail tucked between my legs. But that was only the first chapter of my story...

— Heliana Leventis, An Autobiography

Dragons are an ancient species, their origins on Nodalisk lost even to themselves in the distant past. Like the mortal races, dragons are not of one mind. Some still lead solitary lives in the wilderness while others form small clans which migrate across the continent or rule over small populations of peasants. Still other dragons have taken it into their mind to try to build a civilization for themselves alongside mortals. The cliffs beside the city of Damescara are the ancestral home of the Aquarians, an aquatic species of dragon. From time immemorial, they have excavated their cliffs to make homes for themselves and dove for fish in the coldwater bay. After the founding of New Alveri, the ways of coexistence with humanoid races slowly spread to other corners of the continent. The Aquarians allows humans to settle and build a city utilizing the natural harbor below their cliffs and there a port town eventually flourished which became a second home for the husky, scaleless dragons.

Coldwater Fisherdrakes

Aquarians are a robust subspecies of dragon specialized for a life of diving into freezing arctic waters. They have ever colonized cliff faces which provide shelter not only from the elements but other rival dragons as well. They tend to live in remote areas of the far north, but Damescara, a city founded at the base of a large cliffside colony of Aquarians, eventually grew large as the primary port city serving New Alveri which lies further inland on Nodalisk.

Aquarians have a shorter wingspan than average, about ⅔ the length of other dragons. The wings are smaller and more muscular, allowing the wings to be used both in the air and effectively in water as well. The tail also sports a dorsal and ventral fin, further assisting movement in water. Aquarians also boast a thick padding of blubber which insulates the body from the extremely frigid waters where they hunt for large fish, sharks, porpoises, and sometimes even whales. This blubber layer makes virtually all Aquarians appear extremely obese to the eyes of other dragons, even when they are at a healthy weight for their kind.

Family and Pragmatism

The lack of scales or breath weapon along with their soft appearance and ponderous gait all combine to make Aquarians generally regarded as inferior in combat ability to other dragons. There is some truth to that assumption, to the chagrin of the proud Aquarian race. Being the punching bags of land-dwelling dragons has led to a largely isolationist sentiment among most Aquarians, however. Most Aquarians live in tight-knit communities and are wary or even unfriendly towards outsiders. Generally, there is more warmth and trust between the various clans of an Aquarian community, including rivals, than there is towards any outsider, apart from another wandering Aquarian.

Isolationist and protectionist, Aquarians huddle in their communities and draw strength from each other against the outside world. Even with the steady traffic from the world flowing through the port of Damescara, this insular attitude has not entirely vanished from among the ruling Aquarians of the port city. They let the New Alverians know of their distrust by levying high taxes on imports and exports, but even that has never tampered the ever-growing flow of goods across the bay and to distant parts of the world.

Dragon Souls

For dragons, the soul is not a vague or etheric concept. Within the chest cavity of every living dragon, there exists a special crystalline organ referred to as a “soul.” The dragonsoul is the source of a dragon’s magic, vigor, and supernatural vitality. Through unknown means, the dragonsoul appears to create mana from nothing, infusing the rest of the body as blood passes through the organ as a secondary heart. The soul contains a secondary copy of the dragon’s intellect and persona. Most dragons are not consciously aware of their secondary loci of thought, but through deep meditation and self-communion, it is possible to become aware of one’s ‘other self’ while still alive. However, the true function of the dragonsoul is to preserve one’s awareness after death.

The dragonsoul can be retrieved from a dragon’s corpse after their demise and the soul continues to think and feel as the dragon once did, retaining a copy of the now-deceased dragon’s persona. Typically, these dragonsouls are collected and enshrined by dragons of the relevant clan, creating repositories of live ancestor soul gems. The gems do not speak aloud, but can communicate telepathically with other nearby gems or any other living being receptive to magical communication. Dragonsouls continue to generate mana after death, albeit at a greatly reduced rate compared to when they were alive. Some especially eccentric dragonsouls elect to have construct bodies created for them so that they can move around and act on their own, though the mana produced by a single gem is insufficient to power a construct body larger than a cat. Most dragonsouls prefer the quiet dignity of being enshrined by their clan.

Dragonsouls can endure indefinitely, however, some fall into quiet depression over the centuries, perhaps growing apathetic of mortal life. Dragonsouls stricken by depression or madness can fade over time, eventually becoming inert mineral and losing their consciousness forever. For this reason, a need to commune with Ancestors regularly is instilled in young dragons, both to perpetuate their wisdom through time, and to give immobile Ancestors greater reason to continue existing.

Dragon Names

Most Dragons have personal names given at birth, but they put their clan names first as a mark of honor. 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.

Male Names: Kajin, Nakuu, Spresingire, Intramoe, Sukamun, Gradge, Dolsum, Vielunsue, Aposh, Rash, Boul, Edipth, Urthek, Luth'Alye, Trodin, Baphle, Phaleix, Da'Vid, Hoinhun, Moshai, Izackeial, Kaba'da'Ono, Grentron, Traic, Covu, Zik

Female Names: Darzja, Tarjira, Warphst, Pyror, Hildra, Cahlum, Ashisyro, Uni'sonmena, Ipadrany, Vezino, Niximull, Feithrid, Ingrado, Ozzireak, Moeho'ein, Rikkou, Yevion, Quoah, Wilthus, Eahjuzai, Lilore, Jukoon, Macdason, Naoklin, Paprdai

Childhood Names: Climber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, Shieldbiter, Zealous

Clan Names: Clethtinthiallor, Daardendrian, Delmirev, Drachedandion, Fenkenkabradon, Kepeshkmolik, Kerrhylon, Kimbatuul, Linxakasendalor, Myastan, Nemmonis, Norixius, Ophinshtalajiir, Prexijandilin, Shestendeliath, Turnuroth, Verthisathurgiesh, Yarjerit

Young Aquarian Dragon Traits

Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Dragons are precocious compared to human infants, able to hunt for insects and other small prey only hours out of the egg. Mentally, they mature at a similar rate to humans, gaining the ability to speak in early years and are able to make decisions for themselves by the time they are teenagers. Depending on social status, some dragons will seek out an adult life for themselves as early as 20 years, though it is not uncommon for an adventuring dragon to come forth from the sheltering wings of their clan as late as 80 years. Some dragons remain sheltered for centuries, unwilling to take risks with their lives until centuries have passed and they reach the fullness of their physical potential, but this is viewed as craven behavior by even the most privileged dragons.

Aquarian dragons become sexually mature at about 120 years and reach their full size around 180-200 years. Past the fifth century, Aquarian dragons begin a long senescence with few living to see 800 years, though some have been rumored to have been around longer than a millennia... 

Robust Physique

Your body is more substantial than most breeds. The added bulk gives you a bonus of 1 Hit Point at level 1 and 1 bonus hit point at each additional level in addition to your other hit point gains.

Size

Dragons are taller/longer and heavier than humans, and Aquarian dragons are much heavier than most dragons owing to their protective blubber layer. Aquarian dragons are about 6 feet long from nose tip to the base of the tail and average over 700 pounds on their round frames. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You can also fly at up to 25 feet and swim at up to 30 feet. You can hold your breath to dive underwater for up to 10 minutes plus 2 minutes for each point of your constitution modifier

Salt Tolerance

You may sustain yourself on salty water at no penalty.

Insulating Blubber

You have a robust physique made for diving into the coldest waters. You are resistant to Cold damage and may dive into freezing waters or live at temperatures down to -50 C without penalty. You weigh about twice as much as otherwise stated and have a portly or even shockingly obese appearance to other breeds of dragon or ignorant humanoids. You are less comfortable but can still tolerate traveling in warm climates.

Natural Weapons

You have claws and fangs and can use them to defend yourself in battle as natural weapons. Your Bite does 1d8 + STR piercing damage. Your Claw does 1d6 + STR slashing damage. You are proficient with your natural weapons.

Venomous Harpoon

Your tail ends in a fin which is used for swimming, but hidden amongst the frills is a deadly weapon often used for hunting or self-defense. Two venomous spurs line either side of your tail at the end and can be injected into an enemy with a tail attack. The harpoon is small and this attack uses Strength for its attack roll and damage bonus and deals 1d4 piercing damage. This weapon has Reach and one of the harpoons breaks off after making a successful attack. Any creature who is dealt damage by this attack must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 10+Con Modifier), taking 2d6 poison damage on a failed save and becoming Poisoned for 1 hour. The target receives half as much damage on a successful save and is not poisoned.

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.