Homebrew Dragondshade Species Details

During the Great war of good and evil between Dragonborns, followers of the evil goddess Tiamit learned a dark ritual that let them taint the eggs of basic colored dragons, producing evil Dragonshade called Taints. Five types of Taints, corresponding to the five types of basic dragons, fought for Tiamit in the War of Good and Evil: Pitch(Black), Undertow(Blue), Decay (Green), Bloodbathed (Red),  and Bone-breaker (White). In place of their dragon breath weapons, they have unique even deadlier breath abilities. In order to combat this great evil, followers of the good god Bahamut learned to tint these eggs that were tainted to make good Dragonshade, called Tints. Five types of Tints corresponding to the five types of basic dragons, fought for Bahamut in the war against evil: Obsidian (Black), Lagoon (Blue), Moss (Green), Heart (Red),  and Porcelain (White). These dragons abilities are created to protect instead of kill. This ritual is also commonly known as the Shading.

 

Proud Dragon Kin

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. Dragonshade scales vary from normal dragonborn, Taints colors are darker than normal and Tints scales are lighter than normal. 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. Their hands and feet are strong, talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.

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.

 

Self-Sufficient Clans

To any dragonborn, the clan is more important than life itself. Dragonborn owe their devotion and respect to their clan above all else, even the gods. Each dragonborn’s conduct reflects on the honor of his or her clan, and bringing dishonor to the clan can result in expulsion and exile. Each dragonborn knows his or her station and duties within the clan, and honor demands maintaining the bounds of that position.

A continual drive for self-improvement reflects the self-sufficiency of the race as a whole. Dragonborn value skill and excellence in all endeavors. They hate to fail, and they push themselves to extreme efforts before they give up on something. A dragonborn holds mastery of a particular skill as a lifetime goal. Members of other races who share the same commitment find it easy to earn the respect of a dragonborn.

Though all dragonborn strive to be self-sufficient,  they recognize that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. But the best source for such help is the clan, and when a clan needs help, it turns to another dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races—or even from the gods.

Dragonshade clans are special in the fact that they are centered around war, constantly battling against their opposing force i.e. if you are a Tint you are constantly at war with Taints. They NEVER request help from their opposites, NEVER create alliances with them, and NEVER create some sort of both with them. Skill in battle is the only thing that is heavily valued by clans, cowards are swiftly changed or exiled.

Ascension

When the gods tampered with the dragonborn eggs they did much more than change a few minor traits. When they created a new egg, a new type egg was placed inside each and every Dragonshade. Soon that egg will hatch, and when it does a new type of creature will be created, a creature like no other, a creature with no bounds, a demigod.

Once the Dragonshade ascend Demigod status they will gain many more traits that were not originally intended for them, their eye color will always glow the color of their Draconic Ancestry, they will receive their wings, and they will become a force to be reckoned with. One that no mortal will be able to stop alone. 

Dragondshade Traits

Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn, as well as the ablities you gained during the Shading.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

 

Young dragonshade grow slower than normal dragonborn. They walk weeks after hatching, attain the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 7 1/2, and reach adulthood by 17 1/2. Dragonshade live way longer because of the change they went through at birth, living exceedingly long life spans of 150 years.

Alignment

Dragonshade tend to extremes, making a conscious choice for one side or the other in the cosmic war between good and evil (represented by Bahamut and Tiamat, respectively). Most dragonshade are naturally whatever side they were born on, but those who are not risen with thoughts of their side may turn out to be the opposite side they were born for. Those who may be converted can easily be turned back to the side they were born for.

Size

Dragonshade are taller and heavier than normal dragonborn, standing well over 7 feet tall and averaging almost 300 pounds. Your size is Medium. Once you reach lvl13 and reach your demigod status you will grow in size becoming over 10ft tall gaining the respective weight amount. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Once you reach Demigod status your speed will increase slightly as well, becoming 40 feet as your walking speed.

Draconic Ancestry

You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. Your breath ability and damage resistance are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.

 

Draconic Ancestry (Tints)

DRAGON	RESISTANCE TYPE	BREATH ABILITY
Black	Acid	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save-Allies that pass through screen are immediately camouflaged and stay that way until they attack, and camouflaged/invisible enemies/objects are revealed)
Blue	Lightning	Self (Dex. save-Lightning screen/shield is cast on themselves, granting a bonus 2 AC and dealing 1D6 lightning damage to those that contact the shield, even with weapons)
Green	Poison	15 ft. cone (Heal any touched creature 2D6)
Red	Fire	5 by 30 ft. line (Dex. save-Create an impassable flame wall, that only allies can pass through)
White	Cold	Range (0/60) (Con. save-Launch projectile that freezes target in place (If misses due to roll, ground becomes slippery 10ft around target instead causing them to fall if they move and be knocked prone)

Breath Ability

You can use your action to exhale destructive/constructive energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and effect of the exhalation. When you use your breath ability, 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 the full effect of your ability on a failed save, and half as much effects on a successful one (Effects that this applies to are underlined). By the time you have reached 13th level you have ascended to Demigod status, mastering not only your normal ability, but also the ability of your opposite, i.e. you are a black taint and gain the black tint ability. After you use your breath ability, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest, until when you ascend to Demigod status where you can then use each breath ability 1 per long or short rest.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with the dragon breed that you were originally at birth, before the shading.

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. Taints were also born with the ability to understand Abyssal, while Tints gained the ability to understand celestial.