Scalekin (5e Race)

Scalekin

The last remnants of an ancient race of dragons, scalekin are a race of dragon-like people whose power has been long since sealed away, and who have long since forgotten their long and bloody history.

Physical Description

Koh Ihaan, Dormancy

Standing at roughly 5 feet tall and not much more, scalekin resemble humans more than any other race. However, they sport horns of varying size and shape, pointed ears similar to a half-elf's, and scaled, clawed hands. Their legs, much unlike a human's, are digitigrade, and are covered wholly in thick scales. They also often have tails, though not all do. Skin tones range the same as a human's, with the desert-dwelling scalekin tending towards darker tones, and mountain-dwelling scalekin towards lighter. Scales can take on any natural shade, though rarely do they resemble a metallic dragon's. The scalekin existed some time before even modern dragons, far in the past, and their scales resemble mostly those of a chromatic's, if sometimes entirely dulled. Other colors not equatable to traditional dragons also often include purples and yellows, and a range of blues and browns.

History

Thousands of years before modern times, an ancient race of dragons lived devoted to protecting those weaker than them. They lived alone, separate from society and hidden away in mountain keeps, pledging their might to the early countries of the world and forging powerful alliances with other races. Then, as peace settled, the mountain dragons faded into obscurity. They abandoned their dragon forms, and moved into the desert to live among humans, and as time passed they too forgot their heritage, and the power sleeping inside of them.

Society

Scalekin often slot into desert or mountain societies. They congregate together and blend into towns and cities mostly comprised of dwarves and humans. They are skilled tradesmen, skilled hunters, and skilled smiths. They are drawn to dwarven societies in particular, as their scales are entirely fireproofed, and scalekin make excellent forge companions. Many scalekin stay near to their ancestral homes, and few ever roam further than a few miles from where they are born.

Scalekin Names

Scalekin often take short names inspired by the dragons that came before them, and the desert and mountain cities that they have chosen to make their homes in. Occasionally, these include apostrophes.

First names: Koh, Alfred, Ishen, Ha'an, Versa

Surnames: Ihaan, Turi, Aryx, Charon

Scalekin Traits

Descendants of an ancient race of dragons.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. Scalekin reach maturity around the age of 20. They live to roughly 120 years.
Alignment. As upholders of the ancient laws and instinctive keepers of peace, scalekin usually fall into either lawful good or lawful neutral alignments. However, their pride may rarely push them towards evil and chaotic alignments when denied their birthright.
Size. Scalekin vary from 5 feet tall to 6 feet tall and weighing a bit more then most humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Heat Resistance. Your hands and feet are well protected from heat by your draconic scales. While this doesn't grant resistance to fire, ability checks made to interact with hot objects or move across hot surfaces are made with advantage. For example, a Sleight of Hand check to retrieve something from an heated stove or a Constitution saving throw to not drop an item affected by the heat metal spell.
Ancestral Birthright. You have an innate ability to understand hidden lore from your deep connection to dragons. Whenever you make a Intelligence (History) check related to dragons, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Noble Aura. Your presence gives off a protective aura. You are proficient in the Persuasion skill.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice. Scalekin will normally know Dwarven as they've been adopted into Dwarven society or Draconic to better connect to their birthright.
Subrace. Scalekin have no subraces inherently. They are a homogenous race of people, unless their ancestral power has been awakened. In this case, class your scalekin as a Scalekin (5e Class) and choose a classpath indicative of their subrace from Paladin, Scout, or Forged.

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