Dragonborn

The dragonborn, or Dray, as they call themselves, are a race of draconic humanoids that inhabit the world of Aetheria. Once the rulers of Arkhosia, one of the greatest empires in history, the dragonborn are now scattered across the world.

Physical Characteristics
Dragonborn resemble humanoid dragons. They’re covered in scaly hide, but they don’t have tails. They are tall and strongly built, often standing close to 6½ feet in height and weighing 300 pounds or more. Their hands and feet are strong, talonlike claws with three fingers and a thumb on each hand. A dragonborn’s head features a blunt snout, a strong brow, and distinctive frills at the cheek and ear. Behind the brow, a crest of hornlike scales of various lengths resembles thick, ropy hair. Their eyes are shades of red or gold. A typical dragonborn’s scales can be scarlet, gold, rust, ocher, bronze, or brown. Rarely do an individual’s scales match the hue of a chromatic or metallic dragon, and scale color gives no indication of the type of breath weapon a dragonborn uses. Most dragonborn have very fine scales over most of their body, giving their skin a leathery texture, with regions of larger scales on the forearms, lower legs and feet, shoulders, and thighs.

Young dragonborn grow faster than human children do. They walk hours after hatching, reach the size and development of a 10-year-old human child by the age of 3 and reach adulthood by 15. They live about as long as humans do.

Abilities
Dragonborn have a number of abilities that set them apart. Dragonborn are both stronger and more charismatic than the typical humanoid, traits inherited from their draconic relatives. Dragonborn also are quite durable and when injured have an inner strength that can push them to accomplish even more than when they are at their best. Most potent of all is a dragonborn's breath weapon, which, like that of a dragon, varies in nature, being acidic, cold, electrical, fiery, or poisonous. However, unlike with dragons, the skin color of a dragonborn does not vary depending on a its breath weapon.

Relations
Although the tiefling empire of Bael Turath was the enemy of the ancient dragonborn empire of Arkhosia, dragonborn recognize tieflings as worthy allies or opponents, admiring their strength and tenacity as friends or enemies.

Dragonborn tend to get along best with the dwarves, as the mountain folk can appreciate the dragonborn tendency to wear their hearts on their sleeves and their dedication to mastering skills and crafts, though the dragonborn do suffer from a relatively short lifespan, which makes becoming close friends with a dwarf difficult.

Dragonborn find it difficult to trust elves or catfolk, as they find it difficult to read either race's intentions. With the elves, this comes down to a general uneasiness with the fair folk's aloof nature, but can spark outright distrust for the Khajiit, with their reputation as thieves and scoundrels.

The dragonborn find the gnomish tendencies for flightiness and feverish multitasking unsettling, but appreciate the gnomes' forthright nature, even if the gnomes themselves are hard to keep up with.

Humans as a race are relatively easy for the dragonborn to deal with. Similar lifespans and an industrious nature makes the humans reliable friends, though the race's tendency towards moral neutrality can frustrate the more zealous dragonborn.

Alignment and Religion
Dragonborn are much more likely to choose sides in the cosmic war between good and evil than most of the common races. Dragonborn often tell the story of Io's death and the birth of Bahamut and Tiamat as a moral tale intended to emphasize the importance of standing on one side or the other.

More dragonborn choose Bahamut's path than Tiamat's, as the pathways of justice, honor, nobility, and protection are more conducive to society's smooth functioning that those of greed, envy, and vengance, but Tiamat has a strong following as well. Those who follow Tiamat's ways usually keep their choice quiet, worshiping the Chromatic Dragon in secret shrines while going through the motions of fulfilling social expectations.

Dragonborn recognize gods other than their draconic patrons as worthy of respect and worship, but very few dragonborn hold a deity in higher respect than Bahamut and Tiamat. Those who do worship other deities tend to honor both their chosen god and one of the two patrons of their race.

Adventurers
Dragonborn seek adventure for the chance to improve their worth, win renown, and perhaps become champions about whom stories will be told for generations. To win everlasting glory through mighty deeds, daring exploits, and supreme skill is the dragonborn dream.