Half-Dragon

A Half-Dragonism is a rare condition in which a specimen is turned into the amalgamation of a dragon and their original species. They are distinct from dragonborn as they are not true dragonfolk.

Transmission & Vectors

Half-Dragonism is not easily transmitted as it is not a bacterial condition. Rather, it is created from magical sources via manipulating those with draconic ancestry. For example, a sorcerer with draconic ancestry could have something go haywire with a polymorph spell and turn into a Half-Dragon through rapid mutation.
The only other way to become a half-dragon is through a process of heathen blood ritual. Though the specifications of it have been censored and banned by many mage colleges in Talamh, it's existence is known. The main idea is that a pool of dragon blood and a mixture of a magical component could be bathed in to force the transformation. After an hour-long, painful process, the bather is turned into a Half-Dragon. Again, this requires draconian blood to be present in the original host.

Symptoms

Once becoming a Half-Dragon, the mindset of the dragon takes over the victim. The Half-Dragon, depending on the color of the draconian ancestor, starts taking up personalities of the source dragon. I.E. a Green Half-Dragon would start being more clever and tricky than their normal species. They also find themselves covered in scales and their bodies are morphed to resemble draconic anatomy instead of their original species. This includes a tail, horns, scales, etc. They also become sterile due to corruption of genetics.

Treatment

Polymorphing spells are an excellent way to help get rid of the transformation. If the host desires not to lose the draconic form but to control impulses, magical influencing on psychology and enchantment magic is an excellent way to control draconian urges.
Alternatively, one could use disguising magic to hide their condition from the rest of society. If done through the heathen ritual, the latter is the only way to deal with it, as the humanity is lost.

Prognosis

If the host does not learn to control their draconian urges, they will continue to fall down the path of the dragon's personality until any semblance of their original thought, morals and philosophy is lost. It can even come down to the loss of identity if not careful, since the mind will begin to think like a different being altogether.

History

Half-Dragonism has been a condition actively sought after by some humanoids seeking more power than they deserve. It was not uncommon in the days of dragon lordship over mankind in pre-first millennium Talamh for some humans to have the transformation to gain political power. The practice fell out of use, however, when humans drove away dragon kind from their nations.
Still, some groups still seek to gain the knowledge of this forgotten condition. Cult groups related to Tiamat over the centuries are said to keep the practice to themselves. Books detailing how to even dabble in this magic have been burned by governments, like the Kingdom of Lysandus for instance, due to association with necromancy.

Cultural Reception

Most Half-Dragons are met with immediate fear, due to having near-identical looks to dragons. They are seen as abominations for turning themselves into such creatures. And, because of human sentiment hating dragons historically, they place that hate upon the victims of this condition. Some of it may be deserved, some of it completely fueled by prejudice.

Half-Dragon Veteran by Wizards of the Coast

Type

Genetic

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired & Congenital

Rarity

Extremely Rare