Reptilian Heritage

Also known as dragonborn

Dragonborn are (c) Wizards of the Coast.

The dragonborn walk proudly through a world that greets them with fearful incomprehension. Some dragonborn are faithful servants to true dragons, others form the ranks of soldiers in great wars, and still others find themselves adrift, with no clear calling in life. Given that nearly every sane person fears true dragons, dragonborn gaians tend to engender the same kind of fear, or at best a wary sort of suspicion. However, those who have had more than a passing familiarity with a dragonborn know that they are in general an honorable and stalwart people that have a perfectionist bent.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dragonborn have digitigrade legs, long tails, and scaled bodies. Some have spined frills along the face, neck, spine, or limbs as well. Toes and fingers end in thick, sharp claws. Their faces are elongated and have mouths filled with sharp, pointed teeth. Like many reptiles, dragonborn have nictitating membranes on their eyes and lack external ears.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dragonborn have sexual dimorphism which includes breast-like structures, though these are vestigal and have no biological function in reproduction or child rearing. Male dragonborn tend to be larger and more colorful, while female dragonborn are more slender and have generally more muted colors. Males have interally-stored cloacal hemipenes, while females have a vent covered cloaca to receive males.
Female dragonborn lay a clutch of between one and five eggs each about half the size of a human newborn about 60 days after being fertilized, which will hatch 7 to 8 months later if nurtured properly. Dragonborn offspring take after their mother's coloration slightly more often than their father's.

Growth Rate & Stages

After hatching, dragonborn mature at the same rate as humans.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While all dragonborn are omnivorous, chromatic dragonborn (red, blue, black, green, and white) generally prefer carnivorous diets. Metallic dragonborn (gold, silver, brass, bronze, and copper) tend to prefer herbivorous diets, generally favoring starchy vegetables and larger fruits over leafy vegetables, legumes, and berries.

Additional Information

Social Structure

To any dragonborn, the clan is more important than life itself. Dragonborn owe their devotion and respect to their clan above all else, even the gods. Each dragonborn’s conduct reflects on the honor of his or her clan, and bringing dishonor to the clan can result in expulsion and exile. Each dragonborn knows his or her station and duties within the clan, and honor demands maintaining the bounds of that position.

Facial characteristics

Most dragonborn sport features that mirror true dragon features, particularly in the head area. Gold dragonborn generally have whisker-like tendrils, black dragonborn generally have forward-curved horns and a cranial frill, brass dragonborn generally have short chin tendrils and wide cheekbone frills in place of horns, etc.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Dragonborn have personal names given at birth, but they put their family names first as a mark of honor. A childhood name or nickname is often used among clutchmates as a descriptive term or a term of endearment. The name might recall an event or center on a habit.
Male Names: Arjhan, Balasar, Bharash, Donaar, Ghesh, Heskan, Kriv, Medrash, Mehen, Nadarr, Pandjed, Patrin, Rhogar, Shamash, Shedinn, Tarhun, Torinn
Female Names: Akra, Biri, Daar, Farideh, Harann, Havilar, Jheri, Kava, Korinn, Mishann, Nala, Perra, Raiann, Sora, Surina, Thava, Uadjit
Childhood Names: Climber, Earbender, Leaper, Pious, Shieldbiter, Zealous
Family Names: Clethtinthiallor, Daardendrian, Delmirev, Drachedandion, Fenkenkabradon, Kepeshkmolik, Kerrhylon, Kimbatuul, Linxakasendalor, Myastan, Nemmonis, Norixius, Ophinshtalajiir, Prexijandilin, Shestendeliath, Turnuroth, Verthisathurgiesh, Yarjerit

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

A continual drive for self-improvement reflects the self-sufficiency of the clan as a whole. Dragonborn value skill and excellence in all endeavors. They hate to fail, and they push themselves 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 recognize that help is sometimes needed in difficult situations. But the best source for such help is the clan, and when a clan needs help, it turns to another gaian clan before seeking aid from other species—or even from the gods.

History

Dragonborn are, as their colloquial name would suggest, similar in appearance to bipedal dragons. The dragons were a new and dangerous addition to Torar during the twilight years of the Elder Thing empire, and they spent a lot of time experimenting with admixing habilis and dragon. As exposure to magic slowly changed them over the millenia after the Elder Things fell, this clan of gaians found themselves even more splintered than other gaians, based on what type of dragon their ancestors had been spliced with.
For quite a while dragonborn were misunderstood to be half-dragons, or even perhaps shapechanged true dragons. It wasn't until after The Culling that dragonborn nature was understood, and even then there was confusion as to how they came about, with some of the wilder theories including normal human worshippers of the dragon god Bahamut being transformed and experiencing a 'second birth' via egg-like chrysalis.
Now dragonborn are known to be their own species, just like any other, and are lumped in with the other gaians as 'beastmen'.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Gaian

Scientific Name

Homo farrago reptilis

Lifespan

Dragonborn reach adulthood by 15. They live to be around 80.

Average Height

6 - 7 feet

Average Weight

200 - 300 lbs.

Average Length

3-4 feet (tail length)

Reptilian Heritage Traits

Ability Score Increase You gain an ability score increased of 2 in the ability associated with your selected color, as seen in the table below.

Size Medium

Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

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Your draconic identity manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn, as well as unique aspects based on your color.
Natural Armor. You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
Breath Weapon. You can use your action to exhale destructive energy. Your draconic ancestry determines the size, shape, and damage type of the exhalation. When you use your breath weapon, each creature in the area of the exhalation must make a saving throw, the type of which is determined by your draconic ancestry. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful one. The damage increases to 3d6 at 5th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 17th level. After you use your breath weapon, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest.
Color. In the same manner as true dragons, dragonborn are divided into a number of different colors. These colors fall into two categories, the chromatics — black, blue, green, red, and white — and the metallics — brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver.

Languages. You know how to speak, read, and write in Draconic.

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Dragonborn Color	Ability Score Increase	Draconic Ancestry	Special Ability
Black	Constitution	Your breath weapon deals acid damage in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to acid damage.	Brutal and Cruel. You add your Constitution modifier to the damage of your breath weapon.
Blue	Intelligence	Your breath weapon deals lightning damage in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to lightning damage.	Desert Predator. As an action, you can burrow yourself into sand or other loose soil. Creatures that attempt to detect you take a −5 penalty to their Wisdom (Perception) checks as long as you remain there without moving or taking actions.
Brass	Strength	Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to fire damage.	Boldly Talkative. You have proficiency in Persuasion.
Bronze	Constitution	Your breath weapon deals lightning damage in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to lightning damage.	Dragon of the Coast. You have a swim speed of 30 feet.
Copper	Charisma	Your breath weapon deals acid damage in a line 30 feet long and 5 feet wide. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to acid damage.	Good Host. You have proficiency in Performance, and can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.
Gold	Wisdom	Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a 15-foot cone. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to fire damage.	Reserved Companion. You have proficiency in Insight.
Green	Charisma	Your breath weapon deals poison damage in a 15-foot cone. Your breath weapon imposes a Constitution saving throw. You have resistance to poison damage.	Manipulative Schemer. You have proficiency in Deception.
Red	Strength	Your breath weapon deals fire damage in a 15-foot cone. Your breath weapon imposes a Dexterity saving throw. You have resistance to fire damage.	Arrogant Tyrant. You have advantage on saving throws to avoid being charmed or frightened.
Silver	Intelligence	Your breath weapon deals cold damage in a 15-foot cone. Your breath weapon imposes a Constitution saving throw. You have resistance to cold damage.	Hoarding History. You have proficiency in History.
White	Constitution	Your breath weapon deals cold damage in a 15-foot cone. Your breath weapon imposes a Consitution saving throw. You have resistance to cold damage.	Primal and Vengeful. You have proficiency in Survival.