Homebrew Cursed Dragon Species Details

The woman stands on the outskirts of the town, long black hair caught in the breeze and tangled around her horns. Around her was her family, small and not her blood, but her family. The woman cries as she hugs a small child she has raised as her own, as she says goodbye to the people that took her in and raised her, as she embraces the man she came to love as a brother. 

To those passing by the scene may mean nothing, but to the people gathered it is a moving on. Not so much a goodbye, but a farewell until another time. 

The woman turns to leave, brushing a strand of dark hair out of eyes and straightening her stance. She throws one last look over her shoulder before beginning to walk. Then run. Soon it appears as if she is leaving the ground. Her family watches as the woman they know shimmers and disappears, appearing in her place a massive blue dragon. As she flies into the sky, her midnight blue scales glisten in the sun for the first time in many, many years. 

— Janelle Cantorina, The Watcher

Originally dragons, the cursed ones have been confined into the body of a mortal to teach them a lesson about mortality. Many younger cursed are violent and volatile, their tempers as large as their true size while many older cursed ones are more docile, their tempers quelled as they have learned more about mortal life. The only way to break the mortal curse is by coming to an understanding and kinship with mortals. Only when this happens will a cursed dragon return to its true form.

Dragon at Heart

The mortal forms of cursed dragons are generally that of a humanoid with sharper features similar to their true, dragon-esque forms and many sport horns as well. There has been some confusion in the past between Tieflings and cursed dragons, but cursed dragons do not sport the vibrant skin hues that Tieflings have inherited from their demonic ancestors. In contrast, cursed dragons, aside from the horns, look very, very human. 

It is quite rare to encounter a cursed dragon as very few dragons end up being stuck in mortal bodies. However, though few in number, a cursed dragon will always recognize one of its kin. 

Freedom from the Curse

No cursed dragon was voluntarily put into its mortal form. Escape from the prison of mortality is a huge driving force for cursed dragons. Many cursed dragons become great mages to try and forcefully turn themselves back into their true form. Unfortunately, the nature of the curse does not allow the forceful removal of the curse. The only way a cursed dragon may return to its true form is by gaining a true understanding of mortality and gaining respect for mortals. This freedom is reached by few cursed dragons, but those who attain it return to their lairs less greedy and violent than before. 

Dragon Names

Dragon names are quite personal and they rarely share their true names. Their names hold great power, so when cursed they usually take on a name that has a more mortal ring to it.

Male Names: Aroenas, Davkoris, Elnan, Falfyr, Ilominar, Keverak, Norovar, Petorin, Tyrparin, Uaneneus, Wilcraeus.

Female Names: Arbellis, Arnys, Brenyra, Delthana, Elianys, Halymae, Kricery, Marrila, Prilynn, Tylnalore, Zinzira. 

BEGINNING OF THE CURSE

The first cursed dragon was a red dragon by the name of Maeronnia. Her greedy and violent tendencies brought the wizard Anthorin T'Ralle to her lair. On his way he was met by decimated villages still alight with the orange glow of fire. It was a long and hard battle between Anthorin and Maeronnia, but eventually Anthorin gained the upper hand. Rather than kill the magnificent beast, Anthorin decided to give her a taste of the life she so despised. Using nearly all his power, Anthorin placed a curse on 

Cursed Dragon Traits

Your draconic origin manifests in a lessened version of the power you possess in your true form.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 2, and one other ability is increased by one. This ability is based on the highest ability of your original dragon form. If the highest score is strength, use the second highest score as the ability you improve. 

Age

Cursed dragons age at a slowed rate, many can be stuck as mortals for around a 100 years. Their mortal forms take the appearance of their age in a rough mortal equivalent. 

Alignment

Cursed dragons tend to extremes depending on how long they have been in their cursed forms. Many new cursed dragons stray towards evil tendencies while more matured and weathered tend towards neutral or good. 

Size

Cursed dragons are generally taller than the average human, standing around and above 6 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Dragon Origin

Though trapped in the form of a mortal, you still have the ability to use your breath weapon. Find your type of dragon from the Dragon Origin table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance are determined by the dragon type, as shown in the table.

Dragon Origin

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 dragon origin 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 dragon origin type. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

Dragon Flight

Once per long rest you may access a small part of your dragon powers and access your wings. For one minute, wings of your dragon type appear and you gain a flying speed of 30ft. 

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.

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.