Dragonborn Dragonborn ( also known as Strixiki in Draconic ; or Vayemniri , " Ash - Marked Ones " , in Tymantheran Draconic ) were a race of native to Abeir , Toril ' s long - sundered twin . During the Spellplague the dragonborn nation of Tymanchebar was placed where Unther had once been , creating the nation of Tymanther , where most dragonborn of Faerûn dwelt in the 15th century DR . Dragonborn had a strong hatred of dragon s , who had enslaved them on Abeir . Description . Standing on average around 6 ' 2 " – 6 ' 8 " ( 1 . 88 – 2 . 03 meters ) , dragonborn were impressively tall with a heavy weight to match , commonly possessing a mass of 220 – 320 lbs ( 100 – 145 kg ) . Dragonborn feet ended with three strong talon - like claws with a fourth claw in the back , while their hands were similar with three claws with a thumb replacing the rear claw . A dragonborn ' s head featured a blunt snout , a strong brow , and reptilian frills on the cheeks and ears . On the back of the head , a crest of hornlike scales formed what resembled a mess of ropy hair . Dragonborn eyes were usually red or gold in hue . Dragonborn resembled in many ways what their name suggests : humanoid dragons . Dragonborn exhibited many draconic features , including a scaly hide , a large muscular body , and the capacity to use a breath weapon . The scales a dragonborn wore were scarlet , gold , rust , ocher , bronze , or brown in hue , though they in fact bore little correlation to a dragonborn ' s breath weapon and the scale colors of true dragons . The scales were typically in their greatest concentration around forearms , lower legs , feet , shoulders , and thighs , with a very fine leathery covering over the rest of the body . With the proper training , dragonborn could learn to unlock more of their draconic potential , even to the point of sprouting wings with which to fly , like a dragon . Like dragons , dragonborn were often mistaken for reptile s , but were in fact warm - blooded draconic creatures . In fact , the internal body temperature of the dragonborn was warmer than that of most similar races , being so hot as to seem feverish to the human touch . While this might seem disadvantageous , the lack of hair and large mouth allowed the dragonborn to displace body heat at an effective rate , meaning dragonborn were comfortable in cold climates while remaining no more vulnerable to heat than humans . Growth . Young dragonborn , who hatched from eggs like their draconic relatives , grew at an impressively rapid rate , much faster than most other races , reaching the equivalent maturity of a human child of 10 by age 3 . However , this rate of maturation slowed dramatically within a few short years and they were not considered physically mature for another twelve years . Once they did reach adulthood , dragonborn could expect a lifespan identical to that of humans . Not all dragonborn developed a breath weapon but those that did usually obtained it during these years of growth . Dragonborn nursed their hatchlings for several months before teeth began to come in . A dragonborn would then slowly introduce soft food and then move towards normal dragonborn eating habits , which contained more meat than was typical of most other races . Abilities . Dragonborn had a number of abilities that set them apart . Dragonborn were both stronger and more charismatic than the typical humanoid , traits inherited from their draconic relatives . Dragonborn were also quite durable and when injured had an inner strength that could push them to accomplish even more than when they were at their best . Dragonborn also healed more easily than other humanoids . Most potent of all was a dragonborn ' s breath weapon , which , like that of a dragon , varied in nature , being acidic , cold , electrical , fiery , or poisonous . However , unlike with dragons , the skin color of a dragonborn did not vary depending on its breath weapon . Some dragonborn had additional abilities . For instance , while most dragonborn had vision comparable with humans , a number had enhanced vision more similar to that of an elf or eladrin . Other dragonborn could modify their dragon breath , acquiring two or more other damage types . Others learned to even mix one or more elements together to create a composite breath weapon . Some dragonborn learned to use the power " dragonborn zeal " , which gave gravely injured dragonborn the resolve to get back on their feet and keep fighting for a little longer . Personality . Dragonborn had a well - known dedication to honor , but how deeply rooted this trait was remains debatable . However , all dragonborn tended to view all living things , even hated dragons , as deserving of courtesy and respect . To dragonborn , honor was more than a word and was often considered more important than life itself . Cowardice was not simply undesirable among dragonborn , it was considered outright repulsive . Part of the roots of this honorable attitude lay in the dragonborn ' s drive for self - improvement . The draconic nature of dragonborn gave them a strong self - consciousness and a tendency for strong emotions . Both of these combined to make dragonborn particularly wanting for the approval of others . Dragonborn placed great value on the skill of an individual , including themselves . Failing at a task was anathema to dragonborn and as a result they could sometimes push themselves to unhealthy extremes of effort . This aspect of the dragonborn mind meant few of the race took a laid - back approach to any skill or ability , striving always to become the masters of a particular skill , and dragonborn respected those among other races who approached life in the same manner . As a result , most dragonborn adventurers came to their way of life through a desire to prove themselves and win respect from their brethren . Other races saw dragonborn as proud or even arrogant because of this dedication to excellence and high standards . It was true that dragonborn were typically proud of their race ' s accomplishments . However , dragonborn were also more than willing to recognize with respect the accomplishments of other races in turn , whether or not the race in question was an ally or enemy . Moreso than other races , dragonborn often wore their hearts on their sleeves , typically hiding neither anger nor joy . Dragonborn were enthusiastic about life , particularly success , and brooded about failure for only a short time before their disappointment was shaped into a strong drive for improvement . Only a handful of dragonborn actually demonstrated traits that might be considered timid or reserved , and the vast majority of the race had no qualms asking for what they needed or taking time to improve themselves . Trust was a major factor in the lives of all dragonborn and each expected others to be just as open and forthcoming with them as they were . Perhaps paradoxically , given the often rigid conditions of their society , dragonborn had a strong sense of independence and self - worth . Most dragonborn , however , did not view this as a need to break away from society as other individuals might , but rather to shape it for the better through their own unique strengths and weaknesses . Likewise , dragonborn saw themselves as responsible for those around them , with the group ultimately reflecting on the individual . In this way , the successes and failures of each dragonborn were the successes and failures of the group they associated with , giving dragonborn a very collective sense of self while retaining their individuality . Ultimately , dragonborn held themselves accountable for their choice of allies and poor judgment was considered no excuse for failing to uphold the standards all dragonborn held themselves to . Good dragonborn were fairly common , but dragonborn were as fallible to evil as any other race . The passionate nature of dragonborn could make the race brutal or vengeful and given to hasty choices that were morally compromising . The dragonborn sense of worth could likewise lead to greed and egotistic selfishness . But while dragonborn could turn to evil , most dragonborn villains retained the scruples and values that defined the race , including respect and courtesy to enemies . Culture . The dragonborn drive for honor carried on into the culture of the race . Among dragonborn , the most horrible crime was oath - breaking ; honesty was expected whenever a deal was struck . Commitment to a word was expected to be carried out to the letter and all parties in a transaction were held accountable and responsible for failings . Ultimately , those who fail to meet their word are expected to accept the consequences and , in fact , most dragonborn do . So widespread was this value of honor and honesty that it was commonly believed that dragonborn " never " broke their word . Dragonborn society in the nation of Tymanther , partially because of its martial origins , was extremely rigid in its organization , with hierarchical castes and strict laws . The nation was divided into large clans , each organized more like a military organization than a government . However , while the laws of Tymanther might be unforgiving , the nation was also highly meritocratic and Tymantheran leaders were those that had proved their ability for command . The dragonborn culture of Tymanther had a strong and abiding hatred of dragons , perpetuated by terrifying tales of draconic cruelty and retelling of the dragonborn struggle for freedom on Abeir . Though the dragons of Toril had nothing to do with this horrid past that haunted the race , the dragonborn were not particularly forgiving in this regard , and individuals who took up dragon - hunting for whatever reasons were honored as heroes among the Tymantherans . Many dragonborn also took up the life of a mercenary . However , though this hatred of dragons was strong , even carrying over to a condemnation of the worship of Bahamut , many dragonborn hoped that life on Toril would help them escape the tragedies of their history . In part because of their distrust of dragons , but also because of a general desire to forge a bright future for their people devoid of war , the Tymantheran dragonborn worked hard to earn the friendship of races around the world and few prejudices other than the hatred of dragons plagued the dragonborn race . Dragonborn efforts were partially successful but the sudden appearance of the dragonborn and the alien nature of their culture made many wary of their motives . Art and Leisure . Like dwarves , dragonborn were usually practical about the arts . Few items were created for purely artistic reasons , instead having a functional purpose behind them . Despite this , like the dwarves , dragonborn arts were not at all ugly or mundane in appearance and dragonborn craftsmen took time and care in creating new works . As pieces representative of the skill of a craftsman , dragonborn art pieces often possessed a distinctive flair that was draconic or elemental in nature and they were often embroidered with jewels or precious metals . Not all dragonborn art was purely pragmatic in nature , however , and the dragonborn had a love for jewelry as well . Jewelers , gemcutters , smiths , and minters had a respected place in dragonborn society . Ironically , dragonborn often adorned themselves with baubles of all sorts in subconscious imitation of the very same dragons they resented . Like dragons , dragonborn had a craving for precious metals and jewels that could seem like hoarding , though most dragonborn possessed a culturally instilled restraint rather than engaging in the gross overindulgence that many wyrms did . Like the dragonborn approach to art , the race ' s attitude towards leisure activities was very practical , and when dragonborn weren ' t at work , they were often engaged in sports with a training component to them . Often competitive , these sports often lacked teams , with the most popular games ending in victory for one , clear winner . Many of these sports were also violent , particularly by the standards of many other races , and wrestling was extremely popular with the race , as were , to a more limited extent , blood sports such as gladiator games or pit fighting . Not all dragonborn sports were so physical , however , and the race was also fond of strategic board games , riddle contests , or improvised storytelling events . In all cases , the dragonborn emphasis for recreation was on the triumph of the individual and the improvement of practical skills . Clan and family . Clan and family bloodlines were both preserved among dragonborn and were highly important to dragonborn culture as a whole . Both were different , though the distinction was subtle to non - dragonborn . Family referred specifically to actual blood relatives , as far as could be traced , whereas clan , in the dragonborn context , referred to a confederation of families united by mutual purpose in ages past , organized along military lines . Of the two , clan was usually considered more important and it was to the clan that dragonborn owed their most loyalty , particularly in Tymanther . Clans were led by wizened , aged clan - masters chosen for their ability to lead who were looked to for guidance by their lieges . Dragonborn did not forget the past , and ties to clan and family determined much about how one dragonborn was viewed by others . All clans had reputations , for good and ill , that often lasted for generations . A dragonborn ' s actions were expected to bring favor and good will to his or her clan , improving this reputation . For this reason , dragonborn typically went by their clan names rather than their family names , hoping to bring honor and glory to their clan . Dragonborn who worshiped gods were usually expelled from their clans because traditionalist dragonborn believed worshiping such beings was equal to selling themselves to dragon slavery again . This pressure to either right the wrongs of the past or continue a clan ' s glory could define a dragonborn ' s life . Some dragonborn fled from the imposing responsibilities their clan put on them , choosing infamy over such a burden . Others accepted the responsibility or even turned it into an additional drive for their ambition , hoping to one day become the clan - master . Overall , compared with clan ties , family was secondary and private to dragonborn , as reflected by the fact that most dragonborn family names were kept secrets shared with only the closest friends and other family members . The usual family unit was quite small , often composed of only two individuals : a mated pair or a parent and its child . Dragonborn marriages were arranged by the clan leaders along old pact lines . Dragonborn lacked the association of love with marriage that many races had , instead wedding purely for reproductive reasons . Once a dragonborn child reached 3 years old the wedding was typically dissolved , with the parent who was the same sex as the child rearing it for the remainder of its childhood . The parent – child relationship during the formative years between the marriage ' s dissolution and the child ' s adulthood were incredibly important . Parents , along with other adults from the community , were expected to not simply act as loving caretakers but teachers as well , using storytelling and direct action to instill the virtues of society within a child . In addition to scholarly studies and moral lessons , parents were also expected to focus the drive of a child and teach them basic martial skills for the purpose of defense . Dragonborn believed this in - depth mentorship was necessary not only for the child ' s education but also for their morality . It was thought that without this imposed discipline , a dragonborn ' s fierce passions might give way to a feral savagery . Within a large dragonborn community , the parent maintained the position of authority , but other adults were allowed to act as surrogate parents and teachers , giving a young child multiple examples to learn from . Magic and religion . Because of their position as slaves of the dragon lords for so long , dragonborn did not have a tradition of magic , though they had a significant affinity for certain forms of it . The race ' s natural abilities were well suited for the path of a warlock , though few dragonborn were willing to actually take up the career since it forced them to deal with powers beyond their control . Some dragonborn warlocks did exist , usually social outcasts or those who had justified it as a form of individuality . Dragonborn arcane spellcaster s were , however , far more often wizard s or sorcerer s , attracted by the often secretive and eccentric ways that both paths involved . Having come from Abeir , dragonborn had a very different approach to religion than the other races . On Abeir , divine influence was rare and mysterious , contrary to Toril where it had been relatively common in past ages . Since Abeir was dominated by the primordial s who were , according to myth , driven into hiding by the mighty dragon lords that reigned over most of the planet , the dragonborn felt less beholden to gods than the members of other races . For this reason , many dragonborn were entirely agnostic , with no strong feelings one way or another about the gods . Dragonborn who did embrace religion , however , were well - suited to the path of a paladin . Making the creed and commandments of a god a code by which they could live was in many ways attractive to dragonborn , so long as they were able to get past their natural aversion to faith . If they did join the faithful , dragonborn could become quite devoted in their chosen church , craving the direction and purpose it gave them . Likewise , paladins , unlike cleric s , represented an almost martial career path and one that blended well with the militaristic culture of the race . History . Origins . The origin of the dragonborn race was uncertain and shrouded in myth . While the origin of the Tel ' Quessir as Corellon ' s children was well known and dwarves firmly believed in their stony origin , dragonborn were unsure whence they came . Some legends of Abeir told that Io , the first and greatest of the dragon gods , created the dragonborn as servants for the first dragons . These stories related that the dragonborn , like dragons , were formed from the essence of both the Astral Sea and the Elemental Chaos , though their nature overall favored the elemental over the astral , just like dragons . A slight variation on this was common among the dragonborn of Tymanther , who believed they were bred by the dragon lords of Abeir for a cruel fate as slaves . The Platinum Cadre posited an alternative theory in their efforts to spread the worship of Bahamut , that the dragonborn were the ancient creations of the Platinum Dragon . However , most of the order was ridiculed or even openly persecuted for their beliefs since , to the dragonborn of Tymanther , the idea of a good dragon , let alone a good dragon god , was completely alien . Yet another , less popular tale told that Io was killed in the war between the gods and the primordials and that the dragonborn sprang from his spilled blood . However , dragonborn were in fact related to the dragonborn of Bahamut , but only a handful of old dragons knew about that . Ancient history . Regardless of the origin of the race , dragonborn had been the slaves of dragons for millennia . Occasionally clans would rise in rebellion but only a few , such as the nation of Tymanchebar , were ever successful . Modern history . However , during the Spellplague ( beginning 1385 DR ) , Tymanchebar was believed destroyed , wiped out following the transplantation of its center from Abeir to Toril . Despite this tragedy , the Abeiran expatriates of the new nation of Tymanther remained strong , and by 1479 DR formed a strong and steady homeland for the dragonborn of Toril that began to see acceptance among its neighbors . Some dragonborn migrated from Tymanther to other lands on Toril , though most that were not a part of the nation remain enslaved by dragons , either on Abeir or within the new continent of Returned Abeir . Lands . Dragonborn were most commonly found on Abeir , where the vast majority of the race dwelt . There , as well as in Returned Abeir , dragonborn were enslaved by draconic overlords who ruled over much of Toril ' s lost twin . However , some dragonborn nations did exist that had wrested themselves away from draconic rule . The largest of these was Tymanchebar on Abeir , whose center of power was wrested away from Abeir by the Spellplague and transplanted to the ruins of Unther . Most dragonborn believed that Tymanchebar had been destroyed and reconquered by the dragon lords of Abeir , no longer having the protection of its mighty citadels and armies . By 1479 DR , Tymanther , the dragonborn nation formed from this expatriate of Abeir , was the strongest center of dragonborn culture , at least on Toril . Relations . Other than their well - known hatred of dragons , dragonborn had few definitive relationships with other races . The dragonborn of Tymanther had a known tolerance for races of all kinds , extending their courtesy even to races who were generally disliked , such as tiefling s . This tolerance did not , however , equate to equality before the law and only dragonborn were allowed to participate in Tymanther ' s authoritarian government . The strongest friendships the dragonborn forged were with the human s of Chessenta and High Imaskar , even though both nations were traditional enemies . The Tymantherans were , however , distrusting of two of their neighbors , the genasi of Akanûl , with whom they had a long - standing grudge , and the dragon lords of Murghôm , whom they viewed as no more deserving of friendship than the tyrants whom they had fought to free themselves from on Abeir .