Homebrew Ethereal Dragonborn Species Details

History speaks of a once shining city somewhere on the Ethereal Plane, populated almost exclusively by this sub-species of dragonborn. Dedicated to protecting the Material Plane from the elemental chaos that lay beyond, it is believed that the ethereal dragonborn made it their mission to maintain a strong defense against such threats. In addition to the city itself, the ethereal dragonborn claim to have had a line of defensive outposts, created to aid in this endeavor. All of this and more, until about thousand years ago when the devastation ripped through the Ethereal Plane and laid bare all of their protective enchantments, leaving them vulnerable to attack. Great elemental beings tore through the remaining barrier from their planes to lash out at the dragonborn fortifications, leaving them all in rubble. As a last-ditch defense, dragonborn wizards came together and sacrificed themselves by weaving an enduring enchantment across the entire Ethereal Plane, creating an impenetrable mist in which the elemental forces would be lost, and ultimately blocked from direct passage to the Material Plane. It is believed that this mist is what we now call the Deep Ethereal. Since that time, the few remaining ethereal dragonborn banded together and stepped through a portal into Zephyr’s Veil.

Physiology and Lifespan

The ethereal dragonborn species resembles the dragons from which their name is derived, having a mane of spiky scales along their head, shoulders, and down their spines, along their tails. Their scales have a pearlescent sheen to them, and their eyes range in color from pale to dark gray, and black. As a species, they mature at roughly the same rate as humans, though they can have lives that last several centuries or more.

Role in the World

Most dragonborn have immersed themselves within the arcologies and take up jobs and functions within the larger communities. A small number of ethereal dragonborn however, join an elite squad of protectors that are charged with patrolling the areas outside the Nexus within the Ethereal Plane. Acceptance into this group is the highest honor an ethereal dragonborn can achieve, if they so desire to put their life at risk on a regular basis. While the ethereal dragonborn acknowledge the existence of ethereal elves, it is taught that the dragonborn were an established species on the Ethereal Plane, while the elves were more migratory. That said, the two groups get along peaceably enough.

Ethereal Dragonborn Traits

Your dragonborn character has the following traits.

Ability Score Increase

Increase one ability score by 2 and one ability score by 1.

Age

The dragonborn reach maturity at the same rate as humans and can live 300+ years.

Size

You are a Medium Humanoid.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Breath Weapon

You can use your action to exhale a mote of destructive energy to a point you can see within 60 feet. It then blossoms into a sphere that encompasses a 10-foot radius. Each creature in the sphere must make a Constitution saving throw, taking 2d6 force damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. Whether the saving throw is successful or not, the affected area becomes heavily obscured by an ethereal mist until the beginning of your next turn. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to force damage.

Phase Step

Starting at 5th level, you can cast the Misty Step spell a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. Once you’ve cast it that number of times, you can’t do so again until you’ve completed a long rest.

Languages

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