Dragonstar Half-Dragon Racial Template

122 points

Attribute Modifiers: ST+2 [20]; IQ+1 [20]; HT+2 [20].

Advantages: Charisma 1 [5]; Damage Resistance 4 (Tough Skin, -40%) [12]; Hyperspectral Vision [25]; Innate Attack 3 (burn) [15]; Social Regard 2 (Respected) [10].

Disadvantages: Selfish [-5].

Type, power, modifiers—and cost—of the Innate Attack vary, depending on the dragon parent.

In an empire ruled by dragons, half-dragons are the pampered offspring who don't have a prayer of ascending to the throne. Most half-dragons spend their days either wasting or abusing what power and riches they have by virtue of their birthright. But there are those few who strike out on their own, whether out of greed, boredom, or a true sense of adventure.

Personality: Half-dragons are usually spoiled rotten. They've been catered to their entire lives, and they've come to expect that tradition to continue uninterrupted. Some (the children of Qesemet) actually do their best to use their positions for the betterment of themselves and those around them. Others (the spawn of Asamet) are only out for themselves, often chafing at the fact that they can never rise as high as their dragon kin.

Physical Description: Half-dragons vary a lot in appearance, depending on the color of the dragon parent and the race of its mate. Powerful dragons can change their shape and can mate with just about anything—they've been known to produce some bizarre matches. The dragon often reveals its true nature after the mating—if then—by which time it's too late for the unwitting partner to do anything about it.

Half-dragons always have scales, a snake's slit eyes, huge teeth and claws, and elongated faces. They sometimes have tails and they may also have wings, but these are usually vestigial. A half-dragon's wings are not powerful enough to permit her to fly unless the non-dragon parent's size category was Large or greater.

Relations: Half-dragons are feared and even respected throughout the Dragon Empire. These bastard offspring are often the beneficiaries of trust funds set up by their dragon parents to keep the product of their dalliances in a comfortable lifestyle.

Since half-dragons vary so much in their parentage, it's difficult to make generalizations about them as a race. The non-dragon parent usually raises the half-dragon child, and this does more to determine the half-dragon's prejudices than her draconic nature.

Alignment: A half-dragon tends to follow her dragon parent in terms of alignment, but this isn't always the case. The non-dragon parent usually takes on most of the duties of raising the child, so that parent can influence the half-dragon even more. The tension between the two sides of a half-dragon's nature can lead to serious emotional conflict.

Half-Dragon Lands: Half-dragons do not have their own lands. Not surprisingly, there are more half-dragons found on the throneworlds of Asamet and Qesemet than anywhere else. There are neighborhoods in the capital cities of these planets in which half-dragons tend to congregate, forming bonds based on their shared heritage. Most half-dragons on a given planet tend to have dragon parents of the same clan, which only helps to strengthen such friendships.

Religion: Half-dragons worship any of the deities in the great pantheon. Most honor the patron god or god- dess of their House. There are few half-dragon Dualists, as followers of the heresy often suffer a loss of status and respect among the conservative dragon aristocracy.

Language: Half-dragons speak Draconic as well as the native language of their non-dragon parent. Most speak Common as well.

Names: Half-dragons are usually named by their non-dragon parent. Most are named in the tradition of the non-dragon parent's race, although a few are named after their dragon parents, perhaps in an effort to establish stronger ties.

Adventurers: Some half-dragons feel they have a lot to prove, just to show that their strange birth isn't the only thing that defines them. Others simply wish to attract the attention of an absent dragon parent, to gain his approval or possibly make a claim on an inheritance. Most half-dragons have idle but comfortable lifestyles, but not all are able to tolerate this unfulfilling existence.