Homebrew Draconid Species Details
"Um, sorry, just a lot of people get really nervous when they see them [my scales]. I'm not diseased or cursed, or anything. Just, yeah I've.. I'm like..."
And she pushes the hair to her side, and adjusts the cloak, and you can see the whole left side is black dragon scales; and her hand is a draconic claw. And a black dragon tail kind of sweeps out from under the cloak.
"I'm like, a tenth (1/10) dragon, and some people get freaked out by that."
-Mark "Sherlock" Hulmes as 'Calianna', Critical Role
(Campaign 2, episode 21)
Misunderstood, often scorned, and powerful, Dragonkin are descended from members of the half-dragon race and members of other mortal races. They are gifted with ancestral draconic gifts, a strong connection to magic, and a keen instinct for survival. They often end up wandering the world as many other mortal races are very wary of the "cursed draconic blood" coursing through their veins. Most look for a place to call home; others seek the thrill of adventure having abandoned all hope of an easy, simple life in society.
Born of Dragons
Draconids are in a number of ways similar to the Dragonborn race, or half-dragon hybrids. In fact, they are half-dragon hybrids. Unlike half-dragons however, they are not born of a mortal and a dragon, but descended from the resultant half-dragon and other mortal races. If half-dragons are rare, then draconids are rarer, as its even less common for a half-dragon to find a spouse of a different race and create a line of offspring. If one does however, their descendants, the draconids might inherit the draconic appearance of their ancestor to varying degrees. Some range from showing near to no draconic features, to appearing almost fully half-dragon. Despite this wide variety in appearances, all draconids inherit some draconic power from their ancestor, including resistance to their ancestral element, an affinity for the magical arts, dark-vision, elemental draconic breath, and heightened reflexes.
Mystical Visage
Most draconids, regardless of their mortal parentage, show a number of physical draconic features. Some just have dragons' eyes. Some have scaly claws and faces and tails. On rare occasion some are born with wings that allow for short flights. Others even have the ability to change their appearance to fully mortal or fully draconic, but these two traits appear to be mutually exclusive. Due to the variety of mortal races that can produce draconid children, draconids have varying heights, skin tones, body builds, and racial attributes. Their scales however, if they possess them, are in the colors of the different dragons: red, black, blue, white, green, silver, brass, copper, bronze, or gold. Of course, those descended of chromatic dragons have more chaotic tendencies, whereas descendants of metallic dragons tend toward the orderly and lawful.
Because of their bizarre and often jarring appearances, most end up as vagrants, wanderers, and travelers. Some become mercenaries. Others take solace in religious practices. Some turn to magical studies, and others still become thieves and beastly slaves or subjects of entertainment for cruel wealthy lords. Many hide their so-called "deformities" so as not to draw unwanted attention but some wear their heritage with pride, and those who do find themselves to be charismatic, strong, and courageous in an otherwise suspicious world.
A Life of Self Doubt
Many people fear the appearance of draconids thinking them to be cursed, or worse, they connect the draconids to their dragon ancestor and grow fearful. Of course, fear can breed anger, then hatred, then suffering for all involved. As a result, most draconids hide themselves or try to escape from society fearing persecution, violence, and the fear they inspire. Many wander aimlessly through the world, avoiding people and contemplating their existence. Very rarely, one finds a place in a religious order. Following the faith of a god is a welcome concept to others, at once providing both acceptance and a home. But life for the draconids is frought with peril, and the Cult of the Dragon is never far behind.
It's Not Much, But...
Very few of the very few existing draconid have homes to speak of. At least, not as most people think of one. Given that most draconids move around, it is not odd for them to call tents, hollow trees, and caves home; at least for a day or two. On extremely rare occasion, one will settle in a town, or take up residence in a monastery or temple as a cleric or paladin. That's not to say all of them live in trees and holes in hills. Some build huts, or farms. Some live on the carts they travel with. some find themselves adopted into a band of merchants, or a circus where they can find an adopted family. Wherever they choose to live at any given moment, the most common theme of draconid living can be summed up by the phrase: "It's not much, but it's home."
Draconid Names
Draconid can be born to parents of any sentient humanoid race in the world. As a result, they tend to take names common to those races. Otherwise, their name will hearken back to their draconic heritage.
Draconid Traits
Your draconic heritage grants you certain special abilities.Dragon Sense
You sense any incoming attacks, allowing for a chance to dodge. In addition, you can overcome blindness within 5 feet of yourself for a minute.
Multiracial Heritage
You take upon you all of the traits of your parent race. This includes proficiency, ability score increases, and racial abilities.
These races include all variants and sub-races of any race, whether originating in the game itself, or homebrew.
Proficiency
Proficient in Arcana, Survival, and another proficiency of choice.
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Dragonkin age depends on the race of the mortal parent. They tend to live anywhere between 20 to 100 years longer than members of this race.
Size
Dragonkin height depends on that of their mortal parent. They tend toward the tall side of height for this race.
Speed
Base walking speed for a dragonkin is that of its mortal parent race with an addition of 5 feet.
Draconic Ancestry
You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.
Draconic Ancestry
| 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 ancestry 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 draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 1d8 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 2d8 at 6th level, 3d8 at 11th level, and 4d8 at 16th level. 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 the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write in common, draconic, and the language of your mortal parent race.
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