In the time of the ancient civilization the dragonborn were known far and wide, as the most devout and honorable race of the time. The original dragonborn were known to be humans who had ascended, by the grace of Io, to a state of body and mind that closely resembled the original image of the Five. These dragonborn excelled at all they did, becoming great heroes, community leaders, head of clergies and other research institutions of the ancient civilization.
By the end of the Great Dragon War, most of the dragonborn had been wiped out with many of the elder dragonborn bloodlines going extinct with their elder dragon brethren. After the reemergence dragonborns were a rare sight for villages and even some towns. Those that lived in cities were typically well respected noble families that could trace their heritage back to the ancient civilization. New dragonborns that weren't born from these families were almost unheard of. It was a rare occasion when a person of any race proved themselves worthy to an Aspect, and were granted the gift as a reward. In Tiamat's case, she lorded the ascension over her followers, only granting the gift to those who bring her priceless artifacts, great wealth, or progress her plans beyond her expectations. Those who fail her, or request the ascension, instead are typically turned into kobolds.
Dragonborn of any age have a well-known dedication to honor, but how deeply rooted this trait is remains debatable. However, all dragonborn tended to view all living things, even hated enemies, 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.
Dragonborn look very much like dragons standing erect in humanoid form, though they generally lack wings or a tail. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet tall and weighing 300 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are smiting, talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand.
The ancestry of a dragonborn can result in very distinct looks, making it easy to identify the type of elderdragon they are related to.
Draconic Ancestry: Alatreon
The alatreon dragonborn personality is matched only by its ability to harness the elements. They more often prefer to live in solitude, but are known to work with others or insert themselves into a situation when it benefits them. Their bodies are covered in reverse scales that they use to control the cold, fire, lightning, or necrotic elements. Atop of the alatreon dragonborn head are two large horns that act as a conduit for their elemental powers.
Draconic Ancestry: Amatsu
Amatsumagatsuchi dragonborn's head is adorned with large golden horns. Their scales are largely pale white and fins that stretch across all four limbs and back. Many of them are known to wear long flowing clothing, as a representation of Amatsumagatsuchi's webbing, while others use it as a means to hide the fact that their feet never touch the ground.
Draconic Ancestry: Chameleos
Chameleos dragonborn scales are purple, though their limbs and stomach are bare, showing off-white skin. They have long, elastic tongues, but unlike the Chameleos, the dragonborn's eyes do not resemble a chameleon's in shape. Instead, their iris and pupil simulate the look.
Draconic Ancestry: Dalamadur
Dalamadur dragonborn have a snake-like face, with bright red eyes, numerous fangs. Their body is covered in thick black and gray scales with many hook-like spikes along their body which start out clustered around their head and neck. When angered, their face and chest will glow red.
Draconic Ancestry: Kirin
The kirin dragonborn are the fairest dragonborns, whose beauty is often compared to that of the elves. Their bodies are sleek and slender, covered by fine white and dark cyan scales. The most prominent feature is their ability to grow majestic white hair that stands on end, as if charged with static when they get angry.
Draconic Ancestry: Kulve Taroth
Kulve taroth dragonborn are slim and muscular with dark blue and golden scales covered by a metallic mantle (typically gold). They have large spiraling horns that resemble lapis lazuli, when they aren't covered in gold plating.
Draconic Ancestry: Kushala Daora
Recognized by their two backward curving horns that blend in with the spikes lining their back and their organic metallic scales, the kushala dragonborn are steel willed defenders. Their mantra is "a cracked scale will lead to a dragon's downfall". So they train themselves and others to the best of their ability, to protect their beliefs. The Kushala dragonborn scales are almost a pristine silver when they are born and begin to oxidize, darkening and rusting, as they age. To counteract the rust, the dragonborn molts as it grows, like a snake, shedding its old scales and beginning the process anew. Until their elder years when their molting ceases and they slowly turn the orange-red brown color of rust over the entirety of their body.
Draconic Ancestry: Namielle
Namielle dragonborn have large needle-shaped teeth, like a deep-sea fish, and may have multiple long whiskers that resemble jellyfish-like tendrils. Normally their body is colored black and a deep sea blue, accented by a vibrant red while parts of their face and limbs glow with a bioluminescent light that pulses with the colors of the rainbow. When they haven't spent time in the rain or in water, their scales dry out changing to a milky tan coloring.
Draconic Ancestry: Shara Ishvalda
The shara ishvalda dragonborn are as mysterious as the elder dragon they share their lineage with. The dragonborn from this ancestry share a strange trait in which they always seem to be endlessly gazing at something that's just right past you. Although this gaze never meets your eyes, one can’t help but feel they're looking at the real you. Their bodies are lithe and athletic, boasting a variety of bright colors, mainly yellows, purples, and white. They are known to manipulate the earth to surround their body, using their innate ability to control vibration, though they are not as skilled as their elder dragon ancestors.
Draconic Ancestry: Velkhana
Velkhana dragonborn are elegant and slim. Their scales are a unique crystalline blue, and their head has a tiara-like crown of small horns. The velkhana dragonborn have the unique ability to summon ice to cover their bodies, providing additional protection. They also can use this ice offensively against those who attack them.
Draconic Ancestry: Valstrax
Valstrax dragonborn are typically slender and covered in gleaming silver scales with blue eyes. Their backs are lined with fin-like projections.
Draconic Ancestry: Nergigante
Nergigante dragonborn have a bristly appearance. Much like their elder dragon brethren, their scales are black with purple and orange accents and sport two bulbous horns atop their head. The regenerative properties of the nergigante still flow in the blood of this elder dragonborn, though at a much slower rate. Taking hours to regrow their spikes instead of seconds.
Draconic Ancestry: Nakarkos
Dragonborn only by name and silhouette, the nakarkos dragonborn are actually cephalopod-like humanoids. They have glowing yellow eyes and blue skin with spots of turquoise bioluminescence. The nakarkos dragonborn are able to secrete a sticky mucus from their pores, using it to adhere the bones of slain creatures to their body.
Draconic Ancestry: Vaal Hazak
Vaal hazak dragonborn's are typically slender and covered in silver scales, which are obscured by the fleshy red veil that covers most of their body. Similar to its elder dragon relative, the elder dragonborn vaal hazak, has the ability to transform the effluvium created by the bacteria on its body, into magic.
Draconic Ancestry: Fatalis
Fatalis dragonborn looks are fairly understated, with few distinct bodily features, except each day their scales change color. Few Fatalis dragonborn live within society, and when they show themselves, they tend to only show one color, or cover themselves almost entirely. Outcasts or those who lean towards evil, proudly show their heritage at all times.
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