Template

The Draco Template ("The Fallen")

Basic first import from the rulebook — text and tables are in place; formatting is still being refined and design/RP notes may still be visible. Corrections welcome.

Template Cost: ~12 RP — Prerequisite: Any Humanoid race with 10 RP or less (e.g., Human, Elf, Dwarf, Orc, Halfling).

The Origin of the Draco

Great IO, the Ninefold Dragon, the Swallower of Shades, the Great Eternal Wheel, the Sire of All Creation, looked down upon the wild lands to see what realm his first, best children, the dragons, had quartered for themselves. His opalescent eyes widened. He had expected his children at the rightful head of creation, ruling a harmonious world. With their natural majesty and the boons he had given them, nothing less would he accept. Such gifts of size and claw and wing he had given them! Further, he had graced them with breaths of power, the might of spells, long life, and more. But there was a price to exact for the cost of these gifts, and when Great IO saw the lands below, he knew the price had not been met.

All dragonkind was scattered across the world, at odds with each other, immersed in Dragon War.

As the dragon shed the blood of the dragon, as the gold claw ripped through the red wing, IO gave forth a mighty cry. “If dragon blood must flow,” the Ninefold Dragon declared, “Then let it be mine!” The greater god extended his claws and sliced through the beautiful scales protecting his own belly. The claws cut deep, and flaming red blood flowed freely from his wounds.

The blood fell in great drops, plummeting toward the world from IO’s perch above the sky’s blue dome. The crimson rain splattered into the frozen waters of the Ice Sea, there to sizzle and cool as great clouds of steam filled the air. Blood fell in huge fiery beads, separating the Sea of Coral from the Blood Sea. The last red drops poured into the southern waters. So hot were these bitter pellets that their fire spread to the water where they fell. So was born the Burning Sea.

As the blood cooled and formed islands, IO sent dreams to the sages of dragonkind. In these visions, the Ninefold Dragon urged sages to take their particular dragon branch to these islands. For it was here, among the islands formed from IO’s holy blood, that the Concordant Dragon wished his first, best children to grow and flourish. Here they would learn to rule in harmony as he had intended all along.

But once the migration started, IO departed. He would not force his children to follow his dream for them, but neither could he bear to watch should they fail to do so. There were other worlds to visit, other spheres to view, and he left in search of them. For centuries at a time, Great IO immersed himself in these other lands.

Still others decided to abandon the islands given by IO, and their arrogance brought his final judgment. These rogues departed the islands in different directions and in different groups, yet their fate remained the same. No matter where they lay their heads to rest, they all awoke in the same place and in the same way. Shunned by their ultimate father, they were stripped of their draconic forms and left only with a lesser humanoid shell. The avatar of IO addressed them directly: “You are cast out, forbidden from speaking my name. I will not hear your prayer; you are cursed, and so are your lines. Never again shall you hold the form of greatness, never again shall you stand above others. You and your lines will walk this world in shame as lesser beings. Go now into this world and serve your penance.”

Dragons that have lost the favor of their god, and the form he once granted, are now outcasts trapped in humanoid form for the sins of their ancestors, walking each day in shame.

Physical Description & Society

Physical Description: The Draco appears as tall, muscular elves with noticeable scales along the back and forearms. Their skin comes in a wide variety of hues, including nearly every color of the rainbow. No Draco is merely one color; each displays a rich spectrum of variants on their main color. A Draco who is primarily green might have patterns of a deeper forest green over their body, fingernails and toenails of a slightly lighter green, and eye ridges and nostrils of a deep greenish aquamarine. The coloration is complex, making a Draco look far more elegant than other scaled humanoids such as kobolds or lizardfolk.

Society: Dracos place a strong emphasis on the individual, even above the community. They hold self-realization as a major motivation. The world offers so much to experience, to learn, and to feel. Draco philosophy states that since every individual is born with the sins of their ancestors upon them, everyone is responsible for their own redemption. No single individual can redeem the whole of society or the race. Dracos practice daily meditation and seek redemption through their actions, knowing that everyone stands alone during their final judgment. Dracos extend this philosophy to the social, emotional, and intellectual dimensions of their society.

Relations: Draco judge most races on their history and treat most as if they are responsible for the sum of their race’s actions.

Alignment and Religion: Draco can be of any alignment. All Draco seek redemption through whatever means they have adopted; one might pursue it through combat, while another seeks it through prayer. Most worship Lendys, the dragon god of balance and justice, who metes out justice during a dragon’s life rather than after death. Others worship the dragon gods Aasterinian, Bahamut, Chronepsis, Falzure, and Tiamat. It is forbidden for any Draco to speak the name of IO the Ninefold Dragon, nor may they touch his holy symbol.

Creating a Draco Character (The Template)

To create a Draco, choose a Base Race (Human, Elf, Dwarf, etc.). You retain all racial traits of that base race (Ability Scores, Feats, Skills, etc.) except where noted below. Then apply the following modifications.

1. Type & Senses (3 RP)

Type: You gain the Dragon subtype. You count as both your base race and a Dragon for the purpose of spells, effects, and abilities.
Senses: You gain Darkvision 60 ft. and Low-Light Vision. If your base race already has one of these, there is no additional benefit and no discount.

2. Defensive Traits (4 RP)

Draconic Immunities: You are immune to magical sleep effects and paralysis effects.
Hardened Scales: You gain a +1 Natural Armor bonus.
Energy Resistance: You gain Energy Resistance 5 based on your Draconic Heritage (see table below).

3. Offensive Traits (4 RP)

Powerful Build: The draconic blood in a Draco’s veins grants them a presence larger than their frame suggests. When subject to a size-based modifier for Combat Maneuver Bonus or Combat Maneuver Defense, a Draco is treated as one size category larger whenever that is advantageous. A Draco may also wield weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. Their actual space and reach remain those of a creature of their true size. These benefits stack with the effects of spells, powers, or abilities that alter the character’s size category.

4. Ability Score Modifiers (1 RP)

Draconic Might: +2 Strength, +2 Charisma, −2 Dexterity. Apply these modifiers in addition to your Base Race modifiers.
Example (Human): +2 Any (Base) + 2 Str, + 2 Cha, − 2 Dex.
Example (Dwarf): +2 Con, +2 Wis, −2 Cha (Base) + 2 Str, +2 Cha, −2 Dex = Final: +2 Str, +2 Con, −2 Dex, +2 Wis.

Draconic Heritage Table

Sample Draco Characters

The Scale-Born Human (Human Draco)

Base: Human (10 RP) + Template (~12 RP) = ~22 RP

Ancestry: A human whose bloodline was touched by dragon magic generations past.
Total Stats: +2 Any (Base) + 2 Str, +2 Cha, −2 Dex (Template).
Features: Bonus Feat, Skilled, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision, Draconic Immunities, Hardened Scales (+1 Natural Armor), Energy Resistance 5, Powerful Build.
Flavor: Patches of iridescent scales across the neck and shoulders; eyes that shift color with emotion.

The Ironscale Dwarf (Dwarven Draco)

Base: Dwarf (10 RP) + Template (~12 RP) = ~22 RP

Ancestry: A dwarven clan descended from exiles who sheltered a fallen dragon.
Total Stats: +2 Con, +2 Wis, −2 Cha (Base) + 2 Str, +2 Cha, −2 Dex (Template) = Final: +2 Str, +2 Con, −2 Dex, +2 Wis.
Features: Stonecunning, Slow & Steady, Darkvision 60 ft., Draconic Immunities, +1 Natural Armor, Energy Resistance 5, Powerful Build.
Flavor: Stone-gray scales beneath a full beard; low rumbling voice that echoes faintly of thunder.