Homebrew Dragonfolk Species Details

 

The Grace of Dragons

While dragonborn exemplify the raw power of dragons, dragonfolk exemplify the grace and intellect of dragons. Dragonfolk are humanoid-sized dragons who walk upright and have a graceful, sinuous look. They come in a wide variety of colors and features depending on subrace, region, or heritage. They sport very dexterous hands which they have mastered in crafting and the arcane arts. These boons however are countered with the relative fragility of dragonfolk due to figure and hollow bones, and they have lost their innate breath weapons over time. Dragonfolk dress tends to be minimal, but can vary by the local culture, usually dragonfolk dress is limited to ornate jewelry, light armor, and accessories, but there are those who dress more. Their jaws are not as strong as a dragonborn's, so they prefer not to bite when attacking, but they still have their claws and if their tails have metal adornments, they can use it as a lashing weapon to those who dare sneak behind them.

Cities Aloft

Dragonfolk most likely have their origins shared with other dragons. Most dragonfolk do not distinguish themselves as a people different from dragons as a whole. Some dragonfolk lore does suggest that dragonfolk descend from dragons who wanted to mingle with the humanoid races without a disguise, other lore suggests that dragonfolk were dragons whose growth and power was severely stunted and so they decided to make up for it by creating their own civilization. Dragonfolk cities are mostly secluded to mountaintops and floating islands, of which there is very limited land space. These places are also hard to reach without airborne transportation, thus these cities have been relatively isolated from most humanoid races for many centuries, only within the past few centuries has there been constant trade and contact.

Culture and Settlement

Dragonfolk society is aimed at intellectual pursuits. They often learn their first cantrips in childhood. Dragonfolk travel easily, so they are also natural-born explorers who have mapped their surroundings well. Dragonfolk do not reproduce often due to the small spaces they occupy and their long lifespans. When a dragonfolk city begins to be overcrowded, dragonfolk then move to make another settlement, sometimes coming into conflict with other races that live in the skies like. More recently, dragonfolk have been moving in cities with humanoids and blending in, or settling on the ground where there is far less competition for land. Most metropolitan areas and academies welcome them with open arms for their link to the great dragons and advancements in science and magic.

Dragonfolk mostly speak a dialect of Draconic that sounds less harsh and more refined.

Dragonfolk names

Dragonfolk use Draconic names that are not strictly gendered but there are some names that are given morso to female and moreso to males based on how they sound (use your own judgement on this).

Names: Aeoron, Auir, Irden, Ingeir, Jalan, Klauth, Mornagham, Sierrhal, Syrrth, Tarra, Vaeros, Zorralth

Dragonfolk Traits

Being a dragonfolk you have a natural ability to fly, but your ability to fly is easily obstructed by what you carry. As a result consider this race only after consulting with your DM.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2.

Age

Dragonfolk mature slowly like most other dragons. They reach adulthood by 40 years of age and usually live up to 600 years, but it is not unheard of for some of them to even reach a thousand.

Alignment

Dragonfolk tend to be less extreme in the viewpoints, typically they are found to be neutral in terms of law and chaos and prefer more case-by-case thinking than anything dogmatic.  This is the cultural norm, so there are many dragonfolk with chaotic and lawful alignments. 

Size

Dragonfolk stand at about five to six feet tall, but usually somewhere in the middle. They have thin, lightweight bodies around 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Flight

Your base flying speed is 30 feet. You cannot fly if you are wearing medium or heavy armor or carrying the equivalent weight of your Strength score multiplied by 5.  At level 5, you may use Medium armor without restriction and your carrying capacity for flight becomes your Strength score multiplied by 10. 

Claws

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit. 

Languages

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

Dragon Type

You count as both a dragon and humanoid for anything that specifically targets or excludes dragons and humanoids. 

Subrace

Pick one from Arcane, Hardened, Shadow and Tatsu.