Lesser Dragons

Proto-Dragons are often confused with what is commonly known as a "drake", a distant cousin to the wyvern with a strong elemental heritage.

In truth, they have more in common with half-dragons than with dragons. Just as half-dragons, they are the product of a union between a dragon and a humanoid; However, unlike half-dragons, proto-dragons take mostly after their draconic parent in terms of appearance. They are also fertile, which has allowed them to form their own functioning race.

Outwardly, they are almost identical to a true dragon of the same colour, though they do not grow beyond the size of a young dragon. At around 18 years of age they are matured and look about the same as a young dragon, though significantly smaller. As they grow older or gain significant power, they still develop the distinct characteristics of older dragons, such as the prominent frills of an adault or ancient silver dragon.

In terms of mental development, they follow the pattern and capacity of a humanoid.

They have inherited the innate shapechanging ability of the true dragons, though normally it is strictly limited to their size. Some bloodlines have retained the ability to change into other forms, though they have to be very powerful to use this ability.

Children of Two Worlds

The mixture of draconic and humanoid essences has... interesting consequences.

Proto-Dragons often share the strong tendencies of their draconic parent, though they are muted in comparison. They still crave material possessions and build haords, though their's tend to be more mobile by necessity.

Unlike their draconic ancestors, though, they have no fixed inner morality. Proto-Dragons with the blood of a metallic dragon are not automatically good and chromatic ones are not necessarily evil.

That is not to say that a Green Proto-Dragon will not lie and scheme to their heart's content, you just don't know if it is just harmless fun or will lead to your untimely death. That is until you have known them for a while, at which point you should have a decent idea.

Exactly this uncertainty has earned them a mixed reputation. Established communities of proto-dragons are a known quantity, but lone examples are often regarded with some suspicion, as would a tiefling or a half-orc.

To reduce potential animosity towards them, they often travel with groups of humanoids and turn into a smaller size when talking or visiting a town. A red dragon is not nearly as intimidating when it only comes up to your knee.

Breath Attack

As an action in your draconic form, you can expend one use of this feature to use your Breath Weapon.

Any creature (or object) caught in the attack must make a saving throw. On a failed save, a target takes 3d6 damage, on a successful save they take half damage and suffer no additional effects. The damage type is that of your Draconic Element.

This damage increases by 1d6 per level in this class, as seen in the leveling table.

You can use this feature twice. This number increases by 1 each at 9th (3) and 14th level (4). You regain all uses when finishing a short or long rest.

Saving Throw

When a creature is forced to make a Saving throw in this context, the DC is calculated as follows:

Your movement speed increases by another 5 feet (20ft total).

On hit, you can do either of the following:

• Damage. You deal the regular damage of the weapon, but do not add your ability modifier.
• Hold. You grapple the target with the natural weapon you used for the attack (without making any additional checks or dealing any damage). The used weapon cannot be used for anything else as long as the target is still grappled. The target can use an action to try to escape the grapple as usual.
  
  

Your proto-dragon spell list contains all spells that are contained in the wizard spell list. You still only know a limited number of spells as seen above and explained below.

Blue Dragon

You are descended from a line of Bronze Dragons. As such, you are perfectly suited for your natural environment, coasts.

You are more interested in war and justice than other drakes.

When selecting this lineage at 1st level, you gain the following traits in addition to those of the Draconic Lineage feature:

Draconic Element. Your element is lightning.

Natural Swimmer. You gain a swimming speed equal to your movement speed.

Hold Breath. You can hold your breath for up to an hour.

Innate Spellcasting. You learn the Lightning Lure Cantrip, its range is increased to 30ft and they take the damage when they fail the Strength saving throw (instead of only when pulled to within 5 ft of you).

When you reach 3rd level, you learn Heroism and can cast it as a 1st-level spell.

When you reach 5th level, you learn Aid and can cast it as a 2nd-level spell.

You can cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot and without providing material components, regaining the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.

Charged Hide. Whenever a creature hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to deal 1d4 lightning damage to it. This damage increases at 7th level (1d6), 9th level ( 1d8) and 13th level (1d10).

Breath. Your Breath Weapon can take two forms. You choose either one when using your Breath Weapon.

• Lightning Breath. An area in front of you is covered in arcs of lightning.
• Repulsion Breath. Exhale repulsion energy in a cone (see cone-style). Each creature in the area must succeed a Strength saving throw or be pushed 60ft directly away from you and knocked prone. If a creature hits a large object (such as a wall, cart or another creature), it takes 1d6 damage for every 10ft pushed until that point.
  
  

Truth Seer. You gain proficiency in the Insight skill. When you make an Insight check to determine the truthfulness of a creature's words, you double your proficiency bonus for that check.

You are descended from a line of Gold Dragons. As such, you are at home close to wherever civilisation is to be found, but still on the outside of it.

You have a strong sense of justice, but tend to be more secretive.

When selecting this lineage at 1st level, you gain the following traits in addition to those of the Draconic Lineage feature:

Draconic Element. Your element is fire.

Natural Swimmer. You gain a swimming speed equal to your movement speed.

Devourer of Wealth. Instead of food and water, you can consume valuable goods to sustain yourself.

Innate Spellcasting. You learn the Guidance Cantrip.

When you reach 3rd level, you learn Bless and can cast it as a 1st-level spell.

When you reach 5th level, you learn Arcane Lock.

You can cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot and without providing material components, regaining the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.

Turn up the Heat. You can use your bonus action to increase the temperature of your flames to unbearable levels. Until the start of your next turn, when you deal fire damage to any number of targets, you treat immunity to fire damage as resistance instead.

Breath. Your Breath Weapon can take two forms. You choose either one when using your Breath Weapon.

• Fire Breath. You cover an area in front of you in a wave of fire. Creatures make a Dexterity saving throw. Objects that are not worn or carried catch fire.
• Weakening Breath. Exhale weakening gas in a cone (see cone-style). Each creature in the area must succeed a Constitution saving throw or have disadvantage on Strength-based attack rolls, Strength checks and Strength saving throws for up to 3 rounds. A creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
  
  

Peacekeeper. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill. When making a Persuasion check to convince a sentient creature to refrain from violence, you double your proficiency bonus for that roll.

You are descended from a line of Red Dragons. As such, you are perfectly suited for your natural environment, the mountains of the world.

You are also more arrogant, competitive and impulsive than other drakes. You also tend to carry a grudge.

When selecting this lineage at 1st level, you gain the following traits in addition to those of the Draconic Lineage feature:

Draconic Element. Your element is fire.

Natural Climber. You gain a climbing speed equal to your movement speed.

Innate Spellcasting. You learn the Fire Bolt Cantrip.

When you reach 3rd level, you learn Command and can cast it as a 1st-level spell.

When you reach 5th level, you learn Shatter and can cast it as a 3rd-level spell.

You can cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot and without providing material components, regaining the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.

High Born. You are acclimated to high altitude.

Superior Wingspan. Starting when you gain it at 9th level, your flying speed is increased by 5ft.

Turn up the Heat. You can use your bonus action to increase the temperature of your flames to unbearable levels. Until the start of your next turn, when you deal fire damage to any number of targets, you treat immunity to fire damage as resistance instead.

Eye for Detail. You have advantage on rolls to determine the value of objects. You can remember the exact location of anything in your possession at any moment.

Breath. Creatures make a Dexterity saving throw. Objects that are not worn or carried catch fire. A creature that fails its save against your Breath Weapon by 5 or more has disadvantage on perception checks until the end of their next turn, as the heat has temporarily dulled their senses.

Tyrant. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. If you make an Intimidation check against a physically weaker creature or a creature that you know is hiding an object from you, you double the proficiency bonus for that check.

You are descended from a line of White Dragons. As such, you are perfectly suited for your natural environment, frigid places like the arctic or icy mountains.

You are closer to nature and your instincts than other drakes.

When selecting this lineage at 1st level, you gain the following traits in addition to those of the Draconic Lineage feature:

Draconic Element. Your element is cold.

Ice Walk. You can move across and climb icy surfaces without needing an ability check. Additionally, you ignore movement penalties caused by difficult terrain composed of ice or snow.

Death from Below. You gain a burrowing speed equal to half your movement speed, but only in ice and snow.

Ice Born. You are acclimated to cold environments.

Natural Swimmer. You gain a swimming speed equal to your movement speed.

Hold Breath. You can hold your breath for up to an hour.

Innate Spellcasting. You learn the Frostbite Cantrip.

When you reach 3rd level, you learn Hunter's Mark and can cast it as a 1st-level spell.

When you reach 5th level, you learn Pass without Trace.

You can cast each of these spells once without expending a spell slot and without providing material components, regaining the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.

Hunter's Senses. As a bonus action, you can make a Perception check to detect hidden creatures.

Breath. A creature that fails its save against your Breath Weapon by 5 or more has its movement speed halved until the end of its next turn. If you kill a creature with your Breath, it becomes a frozen statue.

Tundra Stalker. You gain proficiency in the survival skill. Your proficiency is doubled for any ability check you make using this proficiency if it is related to cold environments (including things like phenomenons or animals that inhabit it).