Races of the Dragon.pdf - The Techno Jesus

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CHAPTER 1 DRAGONBORN OF BAHAMUT 14 in the Dragonfall War. On the other hand, it is perfectly acceptable to lose a battle if it costs the enemy more than she gains and infl uences the ultimate course of the war in favor of Bahamut and his chosen. SOCIETY AND CULTURE While still new as a race, dragonborn have started to form a culture. Some speculate that the Rite of Rebirth predisposes those who undergo it to adopt a particular mindset, instilling values and norms as innate instincts. Others surmise that the long ceremonial process includes specifi c training, indoctrinating the new dragonborn. These are the ruminations of outsiders. Those who have undergone the rite do not speak of it. They merely smile and shake their heads at all such theories, their eyes tinged with the burden of some indescribably beautiful sorrow. DRAGONBORN AND OTHER RACES “The Dragonfall War requires great allies because it is fought against great enemies.” —Ux Levethix tibur Human Carlton Wentworth Dragonborn take a strategic view toward other humanoid races. Anyone and everyone might be useful to the dragonborn cause. These folk can and should be employed in the fi ght against Tiamat’s spawn. In addition to exhibiting the general viewpoints that follow, a dragonborn tends to hold members of her original race in a place of high esteem and gentle affection. Having grown up as such a creature, she better understands them and their culture. Draconic: A dragonborn’s attitude toward a draconic creature depends greatly on the creature’s heritage. Someone with copper dragon ancestry might fi nd a ready welcome, while an individual with green dragon heritage might be viewed with distrust, if not outright hostility. That said, dragonborn do realize that a draconic individual is more than the expression of his racial heritage, and are generally willing to give at least one chance to those who seek to prove that their nature is not ruled by the blood in their veins. Dwarves: Gruff, doughty folk, dwarves are valuable allies when dragonborn seek dragon spawn in subterranean lairs. No other race has the innate skill with underground environs that dwarves display. In addition, they’re courageous and careful—excellent companions to have in a tight spot. Elves: These masters of the woodlands can be good friends in the fight against evil dragonkind. Their acute senses make them great scouts. In addition, elves’ propensity for wizardly magic makes them very powerful and versatile. Gnomes: Clever and skillful, gnomes offer an enormous diversity of talents, ranging from innate spell-like abilities to a knack for alchemy. Their natural enmity for kobolds, which are often the servants or slaves of evil dragons, is especially helpful. Half-Dragons: A half-dragon can easily fi nd himself classifi ed as either mortal enemy or long-lost ally. Dragonborn know what it is to be neither one thing nor the other, though they are often nonplussed by the diffi dent, aloof attitude many half-dragons have. Metallic-descended halfdragons are a cause of frustration and joy for dragonborn, depending on whether they can be convinced to take up the struggle of the Dragonfall War, while chromaticdescended half-dragons rarely get a chance to prove their good or evil intentions—although recruiting a chromatic half-dragon for the side of good is a great victory, no shame derives from simply making sure that creature does not turn his skills to Tiamat’s service. Half-Elves: While they lack the elves’ racial inclination for good, half-elves can be very useful in the Dragonfall War. They get along well with others and make excellent spokespersons. A half-elf can find out much valuable information to further a dragonborn’s goals. Half-Orcs: Extraordinarily competent in a fi ght, halforcs are outstanding front-rank combatants. Properly directed, their fi erce qualities make them formidable allies in combat against Tiamat’s spawn. Halfl ings: These wanderers have great talents in the subtle arts. Halfl ings have no racial proclivity toward good or evil. However, if a halfl ing with the proper skills can be enlisted in the struggle against Tiamat’s spawn, his stealth and guile can be very useful. Humans: It’s important for a dragonborn to be selective when it comes to acquiring a human ally. A great deal depends upon a group working well together. Good or neutral humans are eminently suitable for fi lling in gaps in a dragon-slaying group’s strengths. Kobolds: Dragonborn approach kobolds with guarded reserve. Kobolds display a racial tendency for evil, often allying themselves with evil dragons and dragon kind, even the warped spawn of Tiamat. Toward these kobolds, dragonborn show no mercy. However, the blessed of Bahamut understand that while kobolds are often malevolent, exceptions certainly exist. Good kobolds can prove to be unusual and welcome allies, able to infiltrate lairs of dragons who use kobolds as servants or slaves. Spellscales: Dragonborn view spellscales as distant relatives. Dragonblood by birth, these charming creatures make excellent sorcerers and can provide invaluable magical assistance. Spellscales can be dangerously amoral, though. Their actions and inclinations are difficult to predict, making them hard to direct. Nevertheless, a spellscale’s inventive tactics often surprise the enemy. True Dragons: Dragonborn look on metallic true dragons as respected elders. None are held in the same reverence as Bahamut, certainly, unless one has truly distinguished itself in the Dragonfall War. Even those dragons who choose a path of neutrality are given respect. Chromatic dragons are seen as tools of Tiamat, as little more than dangerously cunning animals in some cases. They are the sworn enemies of their lord Bahamut—no quarter is given or asked.
RELIGION “Honor any god not of wicked purpose. Serve only Bahamut.” —Dragonborn credo Dragonborn view Bahamut simultaneously as their deity and their father. They accord him honor and worship. (See page 151 for more information on Bahamut.) The relationship between dragonborn and the Platinum Dragon is familial and liberal enough that dragonborn can and do honor other gods. Some dragonborn clerics continue to worship and gain spells from deities such as Heironeous or Yondalla. Bahamut condones this behavior as long as the other deity is not evil and has no affi liation with Tiamat. LAW AND CHAOS, GOOD AND EVIL Although all dragonborn serve Bahamut’s cause with sincere, heartfelt devotion, not all of them employ tactics that he himself would use to accomplish their noble goals. In the confl ict with Tiamat, Bahamut turns a forgiving eye toward slightly immoral actions but doesn’t tolerate any form of evil. All the children of the Platinum Dragon share the commitment to fi ght against evil dragonkind. Their methods vary greatly. HOLIDAYS In most cultures, holidays have ancient roots, evolving naturally from shared experiences and the joys and tribulations endured by a united people. Dragonborn are a relatively new race. They have no ancient traditions. Instead, they have a few days of particular importance to them as individuals. DAY OF TRANSCENDENCE The day that a dragonborn breaks herself free from the symbolic egg of the Rite of Rebirth holds special significance. Yearly anniversaries of this “birth” day are times of great celebration. On this day, any dragonborn able to do so seeks out a temple of Bahamut. There she is celebrated, her sacrifice is acknowledged, and Bahamut’s choice is honored. NIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE At sunset on the longest night of the year, a dragonborn gathers her friends and allies about her. She hosts a formal gathering in which she tells the story of the preceding year and encourages others who were there to tell their part of the tales. Battles fought and foes overcome in the previous year are woven into the stories. In the case of a greatly accomplished dragonborn, this recitation can last from dusk to dawn. On this night, the dragonborn also offers gifts and accolades to her companions in her struggles against the spawn of Tiamat. It is customary for her to present each of her allies with a small offering that epitomizes the talents and prowess each one displayed. Such a gift is always useful, usually intended as both a serviceable item and a memento of a past challenge. To a wizard who constantly endows her with bull’s strength, a dragonborn might give a scroll or item containing that spell or a thematically similar one, such as Tenser’s transformation. A rogue ally might get a wand of web in honor of the time when he used a tanglefoot bag to make a young black dragon’s wings so sticky it couldn’t fl y. The occasion also has a solemn aspect, as those present honor fallen comrades with tales of their valor. HISTORY AND FOLKLORE The ancient tales valued by dragonborn are those told of Bahamut, or Great Dragon Father, as his children sometimes refer to him. Since dragonborn are so new as a race, stories about them are not numerous. Three legends that have gained a great deal of exposure in the world at large are detailed below. BAHAMUT’S FIRST CHILD Marlow Rodan was a human born into the village of Larkspur at the base of the Camdelline Mountains. A beautiful child, he looked at the world with wonder and delight. Larkspur was a wonderful community to grow up in. Although it was a largely human settlement, it was near enough to a dwarf hold and an elf village to provide a diverse experience. Marlow loved hearing the tales told pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs TARNISHED DRAGONBORN most hideous of crimes, the dragonborn is first given a warn- As an individual dedicates her life to Bahamut’s cause and ing by the aspect and instruction in the proper course of action. becomes a dragonborn, she is committing herself to fighting If she is penitent, the dragonborn must perform a redemptive against Tiamat’s spawn. She must do this to the best of her act to prove her reform, often in the form of a quest to slay a ability. Reasonable breaks from this activity for gaining allies, particularly villainous spawn of Tiamat or to aid the cause of recuperating from battle, and gathering resources are permit- one of Bahamut’s allies. ted, but any form of evil behavior is not. If the dragonborn refuses to atone for her evil ways, Bahamut The Platinum Dragon does not tolerate wicked deeds on the renounces her as his child and takes back the dragonborn form part of his children. A single instance might be overlooked if the he granted her. A tarnished dragonborn feels her skin crack, dragonborn immediately makes good through an atonement peel, and slough off. Her limbs twist, and her form distorts. spell. Indulging unrepentantly in iniquity, committing repeated This painful process of transformation reversal lasts for a forbidden acts, or converting to an evil philosophy provokes number of rounds equal to her Hit Dice and deals 2d6 points Bahamut to anger and action. of damage per round. At the end of this change, regardless of In these situations, an aspect of Bahamut (see page 152) whether she survives, the dragonborn returns to her original appears to chastise the transgressor. In cases of all but the race and form. pqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqrs CHAPTER 1 DRAGONBORN OF BAHAMUT 15
Page 2 and 3: C R E D I T S DESIGNERS GWENDOLYN F
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CHAPTER 6 CHARACTER OPTIONS 98 PROF
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CHAPTER 8 EQUIPMENT 130 If you have
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CHAPTER 9 CAMPAIGNS OF THE DRAGON 1
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CHAPTER 9 CAMPAIGNS OF THE DRAGON I
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APPENDIX: THE DRACONIC LANGUAGE 146
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APPENDIX: DRAGON DEITIES 152 Bahamu
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* See page 55 of Dungeon Master’s
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spikes. Small targets (gnomes in pa
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Alignment: Any, although predominan
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