"The blood of dragons flows through their veins, but it is their souls that truly mark them as kin."
The Drakari are the draconic descendants of the ancient dragons, born from divine magic and forever bound to dragonkind. Towering, proud, and enduring, they possess both humanoid intelligence and the magical essence of dragons themselves. While they lack the overwhelming might of true dragons, every Drakari carries a fragment of draconic power within their soul.
Unlike most mortal races, a Drakari's greatest years lie ahead of them. As they age, they do not become frail—instead, they grow larger, wiser, and increasingly powerful, making even elderly Drakari formidable opponents.
Drakari stand between 6 and 8 feet tall, with powerful, muscular physiques covered in durable scales. Their coloration reflects their draconic ancestry, ranging from brilliant metallic hues to vivid chromatic colors.
Most possess horns, elongated snouts, slit-pupiled eyes, and clawed hands and feet. Some are born with muscular tails, though this trait is uncommon enough to be considered a blessing rather than a certainty.
While true dragons possess permanent wings, most Drakari cannot. Exceptionally gifted individuals may temporarily manifest spectral draconic wings, allowing short bursts of flight fueled by powerful magic.
The first Drakari did not evolve naturally. Following the Draconic Incursion around 300 AK, the Dragon God Drakzuriel sought to preserve the unbreakable bond between dragons and the mortal heroes who fought beside them. Through divine intervention, he fused the souls of dragons and their riders, creating an entirely new race. These first Drakari became the ancestors of all who followed.
Today, Drakari can come into existence in three ways:
Naturally born to Drakari parents.
Hatched from the eggs of certain ancient dragons.
Created through an ancient ritual in which a humanoid willingly bathes in dragon's blood while powerful draconic magic binds the soul to dragonkind. The ritual is extraordinarily dangerous and exceedingly rare, with many aspirants failing to survive the transformation.
Like dragons, Drakari hatch from eggs rather than being born live. They mature rapidly, reaching adulthood around 15 years of age, but continue developing physically and magically for centuries afterward.
Unlike nearly every other mortal race, Drakari experience ascending age rather than decline. Older Drakari become:
Larger
Stronger
More magically potent
More resilient
Though technically immortal through aging, they can still be slain through violence, disease, or catastrophic magic. Most Drakari reject the label of immortality, believing that true immortals—such as the High Fae or Vampires—exist outside the natural cycle in ways they do not.
Every Drakari inherits the legacy of a particular dragon lineage.
Often embody fierce ambition, passion, and individual strength.
Common ancestries include:
Red
Blue
Green
Black
White
Generally value honor, justice, wisdom, and protection.
Common ancestries include:
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Brass
Copper
A Drakari's ancestry grants them:
Resistance to their dragon's elemental affinity
A weakened draconic breath weapon
Minor magical traits associated with that lineage
Certain inherited personality tendencies, though free will always prevails
No two Drakari are exactly alike, and many spend their lives forging identities beyond the expectations of their bloodline.
Drakari society emphasizes honor, legacy, discipline, and mastery. Accomplishments are viewed as reflections upon one's ancestors, making reputation a treasured inheritance. Great heroes are remembered for centuries, while disgrace can stain an entire bloodline.
Unlike many humanoid races, Drakari rarely rush important decisions. Their long lives encourage patience and careful planning over impulsive action. They often become:
Knights
Dragon riders
Teachers
Paladins
Guardians
Military commanders
Scholars of ancient history
Nearly every Drakari reveres either:
Drakzuriel, the Platinum Dragon and Father of Dragonkind.
Vaelthryssa, the Mother of Dragons.
Many also pay respect to other deities, but their greatest loyalty almost always belongs to one—or both—of the draconic gods.
To a Drakari, dragons are not merely powerful creatures. They are revered elders, teachers, and the living ancestors of their race.
Drakari are uncommon throughout Arcainia. Most communities can be found in:
Many prefer mountainous regions where dragons once nested, constructing immense stone fortresses designed to withstand both siege and dragonfire.
"Every dragon begins as an egg. Every legend begins with someone willing to follow."
Kobolds are the smallest descendants of dragonkind, clever reptilian humanoids whose ingenuity often outweighs their physical strength.
While dragons regard them with amused tolerance, and Drakari often treat them like troublesome younger cousins, kobolds possess an uncanny talent for invention, traps, mining, and engineering.
Without strong leadership, however, kobold communities often descend into cheerful chaos.
Standing roughly 2 to 3 feet tall, kobolds possess scaled skin, elongated snouts, expressive eyes, and agile claws suited for climbing and crafting.
Most are wingless, though winged kobolds are exceptionally rare and are widely believed to be blessed directly by Drakzuriel or Vaelthryssa.
Kobolds naturally organize into clans centered around a respected leader. This leader may be:
A powerful Drakari
An ancient dragon
A tribal chief
An unusually brilliant inventor
Without guidance, kobold settlements tend toward disorder, with inventions appearing faster than anyone can safely test them.
Many kobolds worship:
Ancient Dragons
Drakari heroes
Some even revere living dragons or renowned Drakari as divine beings walking among mortals.
Unlike dragons and Drakari, kobolds are fully mortal. They typically live around 70 years, though they mature quickly and spend much of their lives tirelessly building, inventing, and expanding their clans.
Unlike dragons and Drakari, kobolds are fully mortal. They typically live around 70 years, though they mature quickly and spend much of their lives tirelessly building, inventing, and expanding their clans.