Draconic
The earliest recorded history dates back thousands of years to a dark time when the great, chromatic dragon tyrants ruled the world. For millennia, they were the only sentient beings in what is now called Varris. The chromatic dragons were once regular beasts, but have since been infused with the elemental magic that grants them their breath weapons and intelligence. They believe that power to be a blessing from the forces of nature that they worship, marking them as superior to all other creatures.
The tyrants and their minions
Chromatic dragons are powerful and long-lived sentient reptillian creatures whose blood is infused with a specific type of elemental magic of the Material Plane. Though the terms "dragon" and "chromatic" refer to physical characteristics, the Draconic culture includes anyone affiliated with chromatic dragons, including kobolds, half-dragons, dragonborn, and even those without dragon blood who swore alliegance to a draconic tyrant.
Similarly, the Draconic language is spoken by dragons, their minions, and humanoids who wish to either communicate with the former or to channel the primal elemental magic that grants them their powers. Varran dragon riders favored Draconic for their most powerful spells. The Varra's history with the dragons also means that many modern dragonborn have a Varran heritage, similarly to tieflings.
A hostile world
Chromatic dragons once inhabited the entire world. After they lost the war against the Archfey and their elves, the dragons were forced to retreat. Centuries later, Varran wizards invented the bind dragon spell, which allowed them to hunt down and enslave many of the remaining chromatic dragons. Now, dragons can only be found in the deepest wilderness, untouched by humanoids – the tallest mountains and the frozen wasteland in the very north of Varris. Some found refuge on uninhabited islands, defending their lairs from any who dare approach.
When a chromatic dragon settles too close to humanoid dwellings, adventurers or soldiers are sent to kill it. Most dragons are content living far from settlements, where the humanoids' overwhelming numbers can pose a serious threat even to an adult dragon. Some even fear them, though are too proud to admit it. Others yet refuse to accept this reality and wish to reclaim their ancestors' land and authority over its people. These dragons amass an army of followers and find a defensible lair like an abandoned fortress or an underground cavern. Then, they slowly begin expanding their territory and terrorizing nearby settlements. A draconic tyrant with a well-protected lair and loyal minions can threaten a region or even destabilize an entire kingdom.
Names and titles
Chromatic dragons tend to have names that consist of two Draconic words, usually an adjective and a noun, separated by an apostrophe. These names are usually meant to strike fear in the dragon' enemies or emphasize their strengths. The dragon tyrant's heirs, whether they are dragons or half-dragons, tend to share this naming convention.
In the Varran age, most chromatic dragons living near settlements were afraid of letting their names be known, lest they be used by wizards for a bind dragon spell. However, no chromatic dragon wants tales of their power to be lost to time. As such, they adopted fearsome titles that they used in place of their names. Those could take the form of adjectives, nouns, or longer titles that combined the two. This tradition continues to this day. With the Varra gone, chromatic dragons typically use their true name along with their chosen title, for example "Vodrei'Xothr the Rampant".
Kobolds and part-dragons
Kobolds are a diminutive race with an unclear connection to chromatic dragons. Though their have reptillian features, they lack the dragons' chromatic blood. The dragons use this fact to justify their subjugation of them, as lesser creatures not granted the same kind of higher intelligence as them. This is not true, as kobolds are just as sentient as all other humanoids, as well as the dragons themselves. However, those among them who serve draconic tyrants behave unlike most other humanoids — this is the result of many generations of subjugation. Draconic tyrants accept only total obedience, so any kobolds who deviated from that rigid norm in the past were shunned or killed. In these inhumane conditions, kobolds have no names and form no meaningful relationships with one another — only those who accomplish great feats in battle are rewarded with fearsome titles akin to those of their masters. Even these kobold commanders, however, are for the most part not treated individually by the tyrants, who view them as a nameless horde of replacable pawns. The kobolds themselves view each other as such.
The kobolds usually fill the lower ranks of a draconic tyrant's army, as simple soldiers and servants in the dragon's lair. The highest positions are held by the tyrant's heirs. An heir is any child of a tyrant who is a part of their army. These heirs can be dragons or half-dragons, either sired or birthed by the tyrant themself. Some of these heirs are the offspring of the tyrant's soldiers or minions, others — of their captured enemies. Draconic tyrants have employed dominance and subjugation as a tool ever since their first war against the Archfey, and the modern dragons hoping to replicate their ancestors' success often emulate their tactics too.
A tyrant's heirs are usually sent out on various missions beyond their parent's territory, or tasked with leading their troops in battle. Some are content being their parent's enforcers, some seek to betray them, and others yet escape and find a new life among humanoids. Many among the latter become adventurers or mercenaries.
Draconic characters
Below is a rollable table of prompts for characters with a connection to chromatic dragons. Players can use them as inspiration for backstories and character concepts, while GM might benefit from them when making draconic NPCs.
| 1d6 | Draconic character |
|---|---|
| 1 | You are part of a cult that serves a draconic tyrant, seeking to hasten their arrival in the area. You were sent on an undercover mission to further this agenda. |
| 2 | You grew up in a village of kobolds who escaped from their tyrants. You want to become stronger to defend them. |
| 3 | You were raised to be the soldier of a draconic tyrant, but managed to escape from their army. Now, you are trying to start a new life as an adventurer. |
| 4 | Growing up on the streets of a Varszi city as a person with chromatic blood has both scarred and toughened you. Your fellow adventurers and outcasts are the only ones you trust. |
| 5 | Your parents were members of a fringe cult dedicated to elemental magic. After their death, you have trouble adjusting to the society you were isolated from. |
| 6 | You are the descendant or warlock of a chromatic dragon and were sent far away on an important mission. |
Heritage features
Below are the features your character gains after you choose the Draconic heritage. Heritage is a mechanic specific to the Varris setting.
Ruleset: 5e
Your heritage determines the languages your character knows. It can also be their background and grant them more features. Check the player primer for a list of available heritages.
Languages
You can speak Draconic and either Common or Varran.
Background features
Your character's heritage can double as their background. If you choose the "Draconic" background, instead of a base game background like Noble, Criminal, etc, you gain the following features:
Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation, Survival.
Tool Proficiencies: Thieves' Tools
Equipment: A set of rough common clothes fit for the climate you orignate from, a bag of 20 caltrops, a simple weapon of your choice, and a pouch containing 5d4 GP.
Feature: Martial Training. Whether you served as a draconic tyrant's soldier or grew up among kobolds or half-dragons, you had to learn how to fight to defend yourself and your community. You gain proficiency with either two simple weapons or one martial weapon of your choice.
Ruleset: Bludgeon
Your Heritage determines your character's first language and additional skill competency options. Your character can learn languages beyond their first one, as explained in the language checks rules. Check the player primer for a list of available Heritages.
Language
Your first language is Draconic.
Additional skills
When you select the Draconic heritage for your character, you choose one of the skills below to gain a +1 competency in. This is in addition to the skill competencies you would normally gain.
- Climb – This skill is from the base Bludgeon rulebook.
- Grovel – Not every foe can be deceived or persuaded. Sometimes cowering in fear and begging for mercy, whether genuine or not, is a more reliable approach.
- Intimidate – This skill is from the base Bludgeon rulebook.
- Track – This skill is from the base Bludgeon rulebook.