Path of the Dragon (2024)

“When dragons attack, the only thing you should seek to stand behind is your own sword.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

Some barbarian tribes learn to loose themselves to their frenzy and rage, while others seek to emulate beasts of the wild, enhancing their senses and heightening their natural skills and fighting prowess. A few others choose a different path. Barbarians who follow the Path of the Dragon seek to rival, and perhaps even surpass the creatures who they believe are the true apex predators of the land. The majestic and deadly, true embodiment of death from above. Dragons.

Blood & Breath of the Dragon

BLOOD OF THE DRAGON

When you reach 3rd level, you undergo an obscure supernatural rite, receiving occult knowledge handed down through generations by the tribe's shamanic elders. This elaborate ritual involves the consumption of blood from a young dragon, in a very specific manner, (ritual specifics may be fleshed out by DM and player). This ritual succeeds only if the dragon’s blood comes from a true dragon, and the killing blow must be dealt by your hand, (young dragons are usually captured and prepared with help of the tribe, readying them for the testing ritual). Blood from any other type of dragon kin, such as a wyvern, results in the ritual's failure, as well as shame and potential injury or even death to the aspiring dragon barbarian.
At the ritual's culmination, the dragons's blood becomes one with your own blood, quickening within your veins and imparting on to you a fragment of the dragon's mighty essence. This blood merging presents itself differently on different barbarians. While some may manifest scale like patterns on their skin, others may grow elongated fangs, some may even develop talons or slight horn like ridges over their heads. This transformation forecasts the beginning of the changes you will undergo as you begin to embody the raw power inherent to all dragon kind.
You may repeat this rite every time a dragon of a different kind (blue, gold, green, etc.), is slain by your hand (killing blow). As your evolution continues, you are drawn to seek out and challenge dragons of different types and of greater age. Every success allows you to absorb and manifest a greater range of their formidable draconic abilities.

BREATH OF THE DRAGON

At 3rd level, following the Blood of the Dragon ritual, you begin to manifest draconic abilities related to the type(s) of dragon(s) you have slain and assimilated through the ritual.
Whenever you enter a rage you may choose a Dragon type (whose blood you've consumed through the Blood of the Dragon ritual). During your rage, you may use a bonus action to manifest a minor version of the dragon's breath weapon (as shown on the list below). 

Breath weapon save DC = 8 + Constitution modifier + Proficiency modifier. 

• Athasian: Psionic Blast in a 15 ft. Cone (Wisdom Save).
• Black: Acid in a 5 by 30 ft. Line (Dexterity Save)
• Blue: Lightning in a 5 by 30 ft. Line (Dexterity Save)
• Brass: Fire in a 5 by 30 ft. Line (Dexterity Save)
• Bronze: Lightning in a 5 by 30 ft. Line (Dexterity Save)
• Copper: Acid in a 5 by 30 ft. Line (Dexterity Save)
• Gold: Fire in a 15 ft. Cone (Dexterity Save)
• Green: Poison in a 15 ft. Cone (Constitution Save)
• Red: Fire in a 15 ft. Cone (Dexterity Save)
• Silver: Cold in a 15 ft. Cone (Constitution Save)
• White: Cold in a 15 ft. Cone (Constitution Save)

You may only choose one known dragon type to channel per rage, and you may use its breath weapon once per rage. 
This breath weapon deals 2d6 damage (half damage on a successful save).
This damage increases by 1d6 when you reach 5th level (3d6), 11th level (4d6), and 17th level (5d6). 

• [species]Dragonborn[/species] gain an additional 1d6 damage added to their Breath Weapon attacks, if the dragon type choosen during their rage is same type as their lineage.
• Athasian born (Dark Sun setting), or characters who possess psionic abilities and choose the Psionic Blast breath weapon, also gain a additional 1d6 to their damage.

Enhanced Breath Weapon

• At 19th level the range of your Breath Weapon doubles in size to a 30 foot cone or a 60 foot line.
• At 20th level, Breath Weapon damage increases to 6d6 and while raging you can use the draconic breath weapon limited only by your ability to recharge it.
• To recharge you roll a 1d6 at the start of your turn and succeed with a result of 5 or 6. 

Aura of the Dragon

At 6th level, you gain the ability to channel the legendary fear that all dragons instill on their prey.

• As an action, choose one creature that can see and is within 60 feet. That creature must make a Wisdom Saving Throw or becomes frightened until the end of your next turn.
• The DC = 8 + Charisma Modifier + Proficiency bonus.
• You can use a bonus action to extend the duration of this effect until the end of your next turn.
• This effect ends if the creature ends it's turn more than 60 feet from you, or out of your line of sight.
• A creature who successfully saves against this ability may not be affected again by it for 24 hours.

Aspect of the Dragon

By 10th level, your connection to the draconic essence within grants you uncanny awareness and presence in combat.

• Blind-sight: You gain blindsight to a range 30 ft. while raging.
• Draconic Courage: A variation of a dragon fear, but palpable only by allies within 15 ft.
  Allies in range gain advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Wings of the Dragon

At 14th level, you reach the pinnacle of barbaric dragonhood. You become Death from Above, proving equally deadly in the air as you are in the ground.

• While Raging, you sprout a pair of large draconic wings from your back, granting you a fly speed equal to your normal movement speed.