Oath of the Dragon

Forged Destinies

A flash of color. A whisper in the ear and a gust of wind. A baker’s child drops a case of biscuits as her eyes shine bright with green light. The hands of a nobleman’s second son freeze over in ice, feeling the weight of honor and duty tug on his heart. A Tiefling orphan is thrust into the hands of a hero and told of their fate.

Bringing destruction and desolation with every breath, the chromatic dragons have threatened the very existence of the Material Plane for millennia. Entire families killed, cities burned to the ground. Until the powers that be decided their lands had to be protected. It was time to take action. Five chromatic dragons were hunted down. Their hearts were harvested. And destinies were forever changed as the Dragonknights were born.

A Hero’s Call

Green. Black. White. Red. Blue. Yellow. Purple. Brown. Grey. Only a few born every 100 years, these individuals are the protectors of a generation. Instilled with the heart of a chromatic dragon, each Dragonknight is bound to duty and destiny, blessed with a power meant to save thousands and a reputation to change entire lands. Coming from varied backgrounds and whisked away from normal lives, they are trained by the elite of the land, mastering the arcane arts and the weaponry that would make them heroes. Some embrace their new duties, others flee from the burden. Rulers will heed their council. The common people greet them as kings. While the call of the Dragonknight is only instilled in those with a pure and good heart, they must fight the primal urges of their chromatic blood and are taxed by their abilities. Nevertheless, fate will guide the Dragonknight to change lives and embrace the call of destiny.

Dragonsoul

You are instilled  with the heart of a single chromatic dragon, creating an inseparable bond as its essence plucked your soul from the void. Your mind and his have merged. You have been granted supreme power, but it takes it toll. Constant exhaustion. Mood swings. A sudden and strong hunger for livestock. A destiny forged from fire is never easy.

Heart of a Black Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a black chromatic dragon. These intimidating creatures are exceptionally cruel, stalking their victims for miles before snapping their necks with a single bite. They are torturous beasts and inflict pain wherever possible. When fully rested, Dragonknights with this soul are smart tacticians and skilled hunters; commonfolk and noblemen alike will entreat them to snuff out threatening monsters. They are confident and outgoing, willing to try anything once. More religious than their counterparts, these Dragonknights seek to relieve the pain of others and clerics often become their closest friends. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts acid damage. You are resistant to acid damage and cannot be blinded. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the black dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Chaotic Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Blue Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a blue chromatic dragon. These fierce creatures are are swift and savage aerial fighters, making up in flexibility for what they lack in strength. Remarkably vain, they are fickle dealmakers, taking offense to any offering (preferably mirrors or large gems) that would sully their magnificent hoard. When fully rested, Dragonknights with this soul are talented crafters, known for dedicating countless hours to their works of art. Innate problem solvers, they may utilize their skills to fix a community well or improve the local farming system. While oftentimes shy, they are valued for their out of the box thinking and treasured input. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts lightning damage. You are resistant to lightning damage and cannot be stunned. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the blue dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Lawful Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Brown Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a brown chromatic dragon. These primal creatures were cunning, yet envious of their fellow dragons. Brown dragons were given smaller wings, stopping them from flying. However, they were also given webbed feet, allowing them to swim through the sands of the desert much like a shark would swim through an ocean. However, their eyes are always on the sky, envious of their brethren who take to the skies and always finding ways to attempt to join them. Towards most living beings, they'd gladly stab them in the back for their goals. When fully rested, Dragonknights are problem-solvers, always on their toes about how situations can be handled. As well, they tend to be very gracious and kind, letting their morals guide them. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts thunder damage. You are resistant to thunder damage and cannot be petrified. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the brown dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Neutral Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Green Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a green chromatic dragon. These cunning creatures are sly and calculating, using any means necessary to gain the upper hand. They are duplicitous beasts and enjoy taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable, preferring to corrupt others and to turn their enemies’ friends against them. When fully rested, Dragonknights with this soul are gleeful tricksters, known for pulling lighthearted pranks on their friends. They are equally adept at both magic and combat and often take up musical talents such as singing or poetry. They bind groups together and forge lifetime friendships with their optimism and joyful demeanor. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts poison damage.You are resistant to poison damage and cannot be poisoned. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the green dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Lawful Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Grey Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a grey chromatic dragon. These primal creatures were susceptible to seemingly random outbursts of rage and violence, even more than a red dragon. They typically spoke a small handful of languages, and they used this ability in order to negotiate their way out of situations that could result in difficult or even deadly battles. They were, for lack of a better term, psychopaths, having a certain charm about them while constantly having the urge to murder. When fully rested, Dragonknights are quite the charismatic charmer, most likely performers or poets. They don't enjoy violence, always tending to lean more towards talking their way out of certain situations. However, if they have to fight, fight they will. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts force damage. You are resistant to force damage and cannot be deafened. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the grey dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Neutral Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Purple Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a purple chromatic dragon. These primal creatures were known for their conniving and schemes. Living in the Underdark, purple dragons had many enemies, always being cautious and dangerously skilled in their perception of the world around them. As well, it's said that if a purple dragon found another living being in it's lair, they'd take their time torturing them before placing them in front of their caves as a warning for those wishing to enter. When fully rested, Dragonknights are logical and always thinking, able to analyze the world around them like no other. Silent yet knowledgable, they worked as advisors to kings and generals of armies. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts psychic damage. You are resistant to psychic damage and cannot be charmed. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the purple dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Chaotic Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Red Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a red chromatic dragon. These solitary creatures are prideful and egotistical, lording themselves over others with maniacal superiority. They are angry beasts -burning down entire villages over a single slight- and fiercely territorial. They crave subjugation and power. When fully rested, Dragonknights with this soul are fierce protectors and natural born generals, leading their men into battle with bravery and loyalty. They seek out balance in society, providing wisdom and guidance to those in power. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts fire damage. You are resistant to fire damage and cannot be grappled. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the red dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Chaotic Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a White Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a white chromatic dragon. These primal creatures are stone-hearted and savage, belittling and bullying any creature that comes across their path. Their long and detailed memories make them vengeful and they’ve been known to hold a grudge for decades over the slightest infraction. When fully rested, Dragonknights prefer the arcane arts, wielding powerful spells that can desolate battlefields. They are favored diplomats and, while they do not seek out power naturally, they are often granted it due to their knack for compromise and problem-solving. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts cold damage. You are resistant to cold damage and cannot be paralyzed. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the white dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Chaotic Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Heart of a Yellow Dragon

You are instilled with the heart of a yellow chromatic dragon. These primal creatures were known to be solitary and secretive, forming no bonds with any creature, including other yellow dragons. Highly territorial, the only time they tolerated the presence of another yellow dragon was for mating. Mates did not live together. A mother raised her offspring but would not protect them from attackers. Offspring separated from their mothers as juveniles.When fully rested, Dragonknights are known for their dependability and feelings of responsibility. Many are known to be knights of themselves or smaller kingdoms, looking to raise themselves or those around them higher than their standings. At level 3, your Draconic Smite inflicts radiant damage. You are resistant to radiant damage and cannot be frightened. 

Once at exhaustion levels 2 or higher, however, the baser instincts of the yellow dragon begin to shine through your personality. At exhaustion levels 4 or higher, your alignment shifts to Neutral Evil until a Wisdom saving throw equal to your spell save DC is succeeded. The player may re-roll a failed save once every hour or at the end of each round if in combat. After making a number of saves equal to your character level + 2 you are considered to be in control of yourself once more.

Draconic Awareness

Your dragon heart has connected you spiritually to other dragons, allowing you to communicate and sense their presence, even out of visual range. Beginning at 3rd level, you can use your action and expend one spell slot to focus your awareness on the region around you. For 1 minute per level of the spell slot you expend, you can sense whether dragons are present within 1 mile of you. This feature reveals the dragons type and a general sense of where they are.

Draconic Smite

Starting at 3rd level, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can evoke the power of the dragons to deal extra damage to the target, in addition to the weapon's damage. The type of damage is determined by your dragonsoul. The extra damage is 2d8, with the damage increasing by 1d8 if the target is a dragon.

This ability can be used three times per long rest.

Dragonform

Beginning at 7th level, your dragonsoul has fully merged with your material body, allowing you to expend an action to change shape into a young chromatic dragon. The type of which is determined by your dragonsoul. You may use this feature 1+ half your level per long rest.

You can stay in a beast shape for a number of hours equal to half your Dragonknight level (rounded down). You then revert to your normal form, upon which you must make a constitution saving throw of DC=15. If failed, you gain 2 levels of exhaustion. If succeeded, you gain 1. You can revert to your normal form earlier by using a Bonus Action on Your Turn. You automatically revert if you fall Unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.

While you are transformed, the following rules apply:

Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the beast, but you retain your alignment, personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. You also retain all of your skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the creature. If the creature has the same proficiency as you and the bonus in its stat block is higher than yours, use the creature’s bonus instead of yours. If the creature has any legendary actions or resistances, you can’t use them.
When you transform, you assume the beast’s hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, the number of hit points you had before you transformed are reduced by half based upon the taxing nature of the transformation. Additionally, if you revert as a result of dropping to 0 hit points, any excess damage carries over to your normal form. For example, if you take 10 damage in animal form and have only 1 hit point left, you revert and take 9 damage. As long as the excess damage doesn’t reduce your normal form to 0 hit points, you aren’t knocked unconscious.
You may not cast spells, and your ability to speak or take any action that requires hands is limited to the capabilities of your beast form. Transforming doesn’t break your concentration on a spell you’ve already cast, however, or prevent you from taking actions that are part of a spell, such as call lightning, that you’ve already cast.
You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so. However, you can’t use any of your special senses, such as darkvision, unless your new form also has that sense.
You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space, merges into your new form, or is worn by it. Worn equipment functions as normal, but the DM decides whether it is practical for the new form to wear a piece of equipment, based on the creature’s shape and size. Your equipment doesn’t change size or shape to match the new form, and any equipment that the new form can’t wear must either fall to the ground or merge with it. Equipment that merges with the form has no effect until you leave the form.

Dragonhide

At 7thth level, your hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to twice your level as you meld further to the dragon soul within you. Whenever you gain a level thereafter, your hit point maximum increases by an additional 2 hit points.

Dragonform Upgrade

Beginning at 15th level, your Dragonshape has grown from a young chromatic dragon to an adult. At this level, you may take and utilize any traits of the adult chromatic dragon other than legendary actions.

Scaled Mind

At 15th level, your mind and dragon soul are finally at peace with one another. The physical transformation is no longer is as taxing and, if failed, the constitution saving throw (DC = 15) only inflicts 1 points of exhaustion. If succeeded, no effect occurs.

Draconic Spellcasting

Beginning at 20th level, you can cast many of your Dragonknight spells in any shape you assume using Dragonshape. You can perform the somatic and verbal Components of a spell while in a beast shape, but you aren't able to provide material Components.

Perfected Dragonshape

Beginning at 20 level, your Dragonshape is upgraded from an adult chromatic dragon to an ancient chromatic dragon. At this level, you may take and utilize any traits of the ancient chromatic dragon. You may utilize legendary resistances and actions.