Homebrew Drakenborn Species Details

 She gasped as the clouds parted, the moonlight lit upon the scene unfolding before her. What were indistinct masses of darkness only moments before were transformed into a glistening landscape of architectural wonder. The silent city gleamed as though lit from within, the moonlight dancing off every angle and curve, and it's promise of riches and glory beckoned to the lone adventurer. Here she had found what she had so long been searching for, a city built by the ancients and forgotten by time.

She lost herself for a moment, reveling in the sheer beauty of her discovery, and everything it would mean for her, all the secrets it had to tell. Suddenly, a small rustle of leathery skin shook her from her reverie. She turned, readying her weapon with a cry of surprise as she realized the city might not actually be all that forgotten. Flashes of scales, of teeth, a lash of a tail and the soft sound of leathery wings. Then, silence. The lone adventurer thought no more.— Distant Lands and Peoples, Unknown

Drakenborn are an ancient and proud race, elder kin of the Dragonborn that retained many more draconic traits than their young cousins. Drakenborn are strong of arm and mind, and are rarely seen outside their secluded homes, made in hidden mountain valleys and forgotten caves scattered in the furthest reaches of the world. When the do venture forth tot he civilized lands they inspire fear and awe in human and Dragonborn alike, and lone members of their race have been mistaken for full dragons on occasion.

Elder Kin

Drakenborn stand on two legs, much like Dragonborn, but their builds are such that they are equally comfortable running on two legs or four. All Drakenborn have tails of varying degree, and some few will sport wings as well, usually the bloodlines of Clan elders. Those members of Drakenkind who have reached a certain level of master either in martial or magical pursuits will also often gain the power of limited flight, provided they have wings with which to fly. The most talented and powerful of their race, those blessed by either Bahamut or Tiamat, will very rarely gain the power to fully transform into a small but true Dragon. This process is not dissimilar to Lycanthropy.

Drakenborn also take on the traits of the dragon type whose blood is strongest in their veins, similar to dragonborn. All drakenborn have vibrant, lustrous scales like that of the dragons, and their elemental abilities, resistances, and moral alignment will tend to follow the similar traits of like colored Dragons.

Drakenborn vary in size, from just under 5 feet to well over 7 feet tall, averaging close to 7 feet, and weigh between 100 and 400 pounds. Their limbs tend to be longer, with legs and sloping shoulders reminiscent of an upright lizard. They have 5 fingers and toes, all clawed and all sharp. Their tails range in length from 2 to 6 feet long. 

Home and Hearth

Drakenborn are suspicious and contemptuous of the wider world, and they rarely travel outside the bounds of their hidden strongholds. They protect the secrets of their holds and their lands fiercely, and they are not gentle with intruders wandering into their territory. Those who do not heed warnings of watchers and trail markers meet with a swift and occasionally painful end. Communities around Drakenborn strongholds will occasionally have rumors of people disappearing, and locals will generally hold that those who go into the forbidden areas never come out.

Despite a reclusive and hostile attitude, Drakenborn society is sophisticated and cultured, with every generation striving for more knowledge and skill than the last. As such, when a human (or other) settlement is lucky enough to earn the trust of the drakenborn they are often the gateway to a trickle of great knowledge and fantastic artifacts of both the magical and martial kind.

Drakenholds, as the few who know of them refer to the homes of Drakenkind, will often house several different clans, spread across separate holds. No one knows for sure how they travel or communicate between holds, but underneath the skin of the world a gentle flow of drakenborn pulses between each bastion of ancient civilization.

Drakenborn Names

Drakenborn names differ very little from dragonborn names, with the addition of a hold designation. They have personal names given at birth, but they put their clan names before them, and their hold names first. A childhood name or nickname is often used among clutchmates as a descriptive term or a term of endearment. The name might recall an event or center on a habit.

Male Names: Arjhan, Balasar, Bharash, Donaar, Ghesh, Heskan, Kriv, Medrash, Mehen, Nadarr, Pandjed, Patrin, Rhogar, Shamash, Shedinn, Tarhun, Torinn

Female Names: Akra, Biri, Daar, Farideh, Harann, Havilar, Jheri, Kava, Korinn, Mishann, Nala, Perra, Raiann, Sora, Surina, Thava, Uadjit

Childhood Names: Climber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, Shieldbiter, Zealous

Clan Names: Clethtinthiallor, Daardendrian, Delmirev, Drachedandion, Fenkenkabradon, Kepeshkmolik, Kerrhylon, Kimbatuul, Linxakasendalor, Myastan, Nemmonis, Norixius, Ophinshtalajiir, Prexijandilin, Shestendeliath, Turnuroth, Verthisathurgiesh, Yarjerit

Hold Names: Craghold, Stonehold, Mounthold, Firhold, Deephold, Frondhold, Snowhold, Seahold

Drakenborn Traits

Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn.

Drake's Gait

You can move more quickly when running on four legs, however you cannot make armed attacks. At 3rd level you gain 5 movement when you drop to all fours. At 6th level you gain 10 movement. At 12th level you are not slowed by difficult terrain when using this gait.

Dragon's Wings

When you reach 16th level you gain the ability to fly for twice your walking distance (on two legs) once a long rest. 

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Drakenborn grow relatively slowly, not reaching full adulthood until almost 50. Like their draconic elders they're long lived, often exceeding 500 years of age. 

Alignment

Drakenborn, like their young cousins and their elder kin, 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 will be aligned by clan with good, but there are a small few clans that follow Tiamat and leave destruction in their wake  

Size

Drakenborn vary widely in size, ranging from just over 5 feet to well over 7. Their weight is similarly variable, from 100 to nearly 400 pounds. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Draconic Ancestry

You have draconic ancestry. Choose one type of dragon from the Draconic Ancestry table. Your breath weapon and damage resistance and immunity 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 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.

Damage Resistance

You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.You have immunity to non-magical damage of the 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.