Homebrew Dragonborn, Sea Dragon Species Details

Dragonborn look very much like dragons standing erect in humanoid form, though they lack wings or a tail. The first dragonborn had scales of vibrant hues matching the colors of their dragon kin, but generations of interbreeding have created a more uniform appearance. Their small, fine scales are usually brass or bronze in color, sometimes ranging to scarlet, rust, gold, or copper-green. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more. 

The blood of a particular type of dragon runs very strong through some dragonborn clans. These dragonborn often boast scales that more closely match those of their dragon ancestor—bright red, green, blue, or white, lustrous black, or gleaming metallic gold, silver, brass, copper, or bronze.  But Your ancestry comes from the rare Sea Dragon, your scale coloration is similar to that of a blue dragon, but more of an aquatic blue.  Your hands and feet are strong, with smaller talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand; that are slightly webbed.

A little bit about Sea Dragons...

This aquamarine dragon has a shark’s head that tapers off into a sleek eel-like body. Its large fins double as wings.

Divine Dragons. Sea dragons are the children of the ocean, and believe they are semi-divine beings, worthy of worship. Given their size and power, they may be right; certainly, they are often companions or steeds to gods of the sea. Despite the solemn duties the sea dragons invoke thanks to their lineage, they are extremely whimsical. While these immense creatures are playful, their games can shatter hulls and drown sailors. The sea dragons course through the waves with tangible joy as they hunt whales and entire schools of tuna.

Sunken Hoards. Sea dragons love collecting treasure, especially prize the sunken treasure-filled hulls of ships lost to storm, battle, or their own handiwork. While they appreciate all wealth, they prefer hardy items that can stand up to long exposure to sea water. Precious metals and gemstones add a dramatic luster to the dragon’s lair when they catch stray beams of light. Sea dragons take any more perishable treasures and place them on a reef-altar, to dissolve in the sea as a tithe to the sea gods.

Sunken Memorials. A sea dragon’s lair is littered with meticulously arranged ships consigned to the deeps. These wrecks are often artfully smashed to allow the treasures in the hold to spill out onto the sea floor. It may seem haphazard, but it displays a complex aesthetic that only other sea dragons can truly appreciate. Because they arrange these wrecks so carefully, a dragon notices immediately if its hoard is disturbed.

Age: Young Dragonborn grow quickly. They walk hours after hatching, attaining the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3, and reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80 years old.

Alignment: Dragonborn tend to extremes, making a conscious choice for one side or the other in the cosmic war between good and evil. Most Dragonborn are good, but those who side with evil can be terrible villains.

Size: Dragonborn are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

Amphibious: You can breathe air and water. Since you are adapted to even the most extreme ocean depths, you ignore any of the drawbacks caused by deep, underwater environments.

Sea Dragon Ancestry: Your Sea Dragon ancestry gives you resistance to cold damage.

Tidal Breath: You can use your action to exhale a destructive blast of salt water, as either a line or a cone.

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 sibilance.

Dragonborn, Sea Dragon Traits

You are a rare Dragonborn whose ancestry comes from the equally rare and seldom seen Sea Dragon.

Strength Score increase

Your strength increases by 2

Charisma Score Increase

Your Charisma goes up by 1 point.

Dexterity Score Decrease

Your Dexterity score is decreased by 2 points.

Cold Damage Resistance

You take only half damage from all Cold damage

Breath Weapon

You can use your action to exhale a destructive blast of salt water. When you do so, choose one of the options below to determine the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation.

Knocked Prone  - 5 by 30 ft. Line (Strength save)

Bludgeoning  - 15 ft. cone (Dexterity Save)

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 the style of breath weapon you choose to use. The DC for this saving throw is 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus.  When using your Tidal Breath in a line, any creature in that area that fails their saving throw is knocked prone.  When using your Tidal Breath in a cone, any creature in the area takes 2d6 damage on a failed save and half as much on a successful one.  The damage of your Tidal Breath in a cone shape increases to 3d6 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.  After using your Tidal Breath, you can't use it again until you complete a short rest.