Dragonborn

**Dragonborn**, while relatively rare, can be found anywhere there is civilisation. They are a solitary people, wandering alone from one place to another and rarely staying still for long. It is said that they were the offspring of ancient winged beasts that inhabited Ygdren (of which archaeological evidence has been unearth in Almeras), born as slaves to serve at their whim, but since there has never been a live dragon sighting in recorded history, this remains unproven and hotly disputed.

## Description

Dragonborn look very much like drakes standing erect in humanoid form, though they lack wings and only some have tails. The first dragonborn had scales of vibrant hues matching the colours of their drake-kin, but generations of interbreeding have created a more uniform appearance. Their small, fine scales are usually more subdued versions of their ancestors; typically brass or bronze in colour, sometimes ranging to scarlet, rust, gold, copper-green, or any of the chromatic or metallic colours. They are tall and strongly built, often towering over humans and elves, and weighing much more on average. Their hands and feet are strong, talon-like claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.

## Culture & Society

Solitary and nomadic, dragonborn often adopt the culture of the place where they feel the most comfortable and identify as the closest place to home they will have. Often, their tendency to wander and to shun the culture of civilised society will make them outcasts even in such places, but dragonborn care little for the opinions of others. Instead, they focus on their own betterment, striving always to improve.

This continual drive for self-improvement reflects the self-sufficiency of the race as a whole. Dragonborn value skill and excellence in all endeavours. They hate to fail, and they push them selves to extreme efforts before they give up on something. A dragonborn holds mastery of a particular skill as a lifetime goal. Members of other races who share the same commitment find it easy to earn the respect of a dragonborn.

Though all dragonborn strive to be self-sufficient, they recognise that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. But the best source for such help is their own kind, and when any dragonborn needs help, it turns to another dragonborn before seeking aid from other races, or even from the gods.

Throughout history, sightings of dragonborn are uncommon. They prefer to avoid the larger cities and societies of the world, but are more frequently found in the less densely populated regions of the Old World. On the rare occasions that they venture into towns or cities, they are hard to miss, and superstitious folk will often avoid them, believing them to be unlucky foreshadowing of darker times. For their part, dragonborn rarely trust anyone else, though they are more likely to find kinship amongst their own kind.

## Subraces

### Scaleskin Dragonborn

Scaleskin Dragonborn have the most humanoid features, with round ear frills on the side of their faces, rounded eyes and pupils, and vestigial horns that can grown from their foreheads or the base of their lower jaws. They typically have similar proportions to humans. Like other dragonborn, they don't grow body hair, and have instead thick tentacle-like tendrils that grow down to their shoulders, looking akin to dreadlocks. They have lizard-like non-prehensile tails of average length that they use for balance and powerful explosive movement.

### Draconblood Dragonborn

Draconblood Dragonborn have more reptilian features than their kin, with pointed ear frills on the side of their faces, narrower slitted eyes, and patterns of horned crests and ridges on the edges of their skull structure. They are typically more slender and elegant than other dragonborn. Like other dragonborn, they don't grow body hair, but the tentacle-like tendrils on their heads are incredibly fine, and can be mistaken for hair. They have long slender tails that they have some control over to maintain balance in precarious situations.

### Steadfast Dragonborn

Steadfast Dragonborn have broad and stout features, and are often well-muscled and thick-skinned, with longer spiny ear frills on the side of their faces, almond-shaped eyes, and short stubby horns and bone ridges that outline their facial features. They are typically much more heavily built than other dragonborn. Like other dragonborn, they don't grow body hair, but have short tentacle-like tendrils of average thickness, that often jut out backward in times of peril like a mane. Their tails are little more than short and vestigial stubs, offering no physical or cosmetic benefit.

## Properties

### Scaleskin Dragonborn

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Strength score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***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 are determined by the type you choose, as shown in the table.
* ***Damage Resistance.*** You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
* ***Breath Weapon.*** When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of a magical energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. Each creature in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. This damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (3d8), 11th level (4d8), and 17th level (5d8). You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Vengeful Assault.*** When you take damage from a creature in range of a weapon you are wielding, you can use your reaction to make an attack with the weapon against that creature. You can use this trait twice, and can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

### Draconblood Dragonborn

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Intelligence score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***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 are determined by the type you choose, as shown in the table.
* ***Damage Resistance.*** You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
* ***Breath Weapon.*** When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of a magical energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. Each creature in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. This damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (3d8), 11th level (4d8), and 17th level (5d8). You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Forceful Presence.*** You can use your understanding of creative diplomacy or intimidation to guide a conversation in your favour. When you make an Intimidation or Persuasion check, you can do so with advantage. You can use this trait twice, and can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

### Steadfast Dragonborn

* ***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
* ***Size.*** Your size is Medium.
* ***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 are determined by the type you choose, as shown in the table.
* ***Damage Resistance.*** You have resistance to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry.
* ***Breath Weapon.*** When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of your attacks with an exhalation of a magical energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. Each creature in the area must make a Dexterity saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d8 damage of the type associated with your draconic ancestry on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. This damage increases by 1d8 when you reach 5th level (3d8), 11th level (4d8), and 17th level (5d8). You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
* ***Draconic Warding.*** Starting at 3rd level, as an action, you can channel your draconic energies to protect yourself. For the next 10 minutes, you become immune to the damage type associated with your draconic ancestry. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.