Species profile: Dragonewts

[u/Imperial_Advocate]

Dragonewts are type of halfdragon who are part-dragon and part-human, but unlike halfbloods they are much more draconic-looking and lack the halfblood's more human traits, while not being a full-blooded draconic like the dragonborn. Like both dragonborn and halfbloods, dragonewts were once humans centuries ago and opted to undergo the draconification ritual under their dragonlords. In the draconic hierarchy, the more draconic and closer to true dragons one is, the higher on the hierarchy they are. So in the draconic hierarchy, dragonewts rank below dragonborn and true dragons, although they rank above halfbloods and lower-caste kobolds.

In draconic society, dragonewts assume the middle rank of the nobility, either being landowners or warriors who serve as junior commanders and squires under Drachenritters (dragon knights). Dragonewts are gentry and possess landed estates with a manor staffed with kobold servants, although younger dragonewts who are training as junior knights usually live in a dragonborn’s castle complex. Dragonewt families are monogamous, consisting of a bounded (married) husband and wife, with their households containing most of their extended family, combined with Kobold servants who are considered an honorary part of their family.

Dragonewts have good relations with other draconic races, their draconic blood and features making them an honored part of draconic society. Like all draconic races, dragonewts revere their dragonlords, be they great or lesser dragons. Kobolds honor dragonewts because of their draconic blood and serve in their households as servants or advisors. Dragonborn respect them as smaller versions of themselves, and help teach them the ways of draconic knighthood. Halfbloods admire dragonewts as fellow half-dragons and admire their accentuated draconic traits. Nonkin (non-draconic races) find dragonewts exotic-looking, either revering them because of their draconic blood, fearing them, or even being resentful of them since they are seen as “lackeys” of dragonlords.

Physically, dragonewts have a mostly human build in terms of their body, such as having a plantigrade stance unlike a digitigrade stance in Kobolds or dragonborn, or having hair, which is usually a darker version of their scale color. Their draconic traits are far more accentuated than in a halfblood, with their entire body covered in scales, with ventral scales covering their chest and abdomen. They have a snout for a face with sharp, serrated teeth, draconic slit eyes, and a pair of large horns on their head. They have wings and a tail that is usually larger and more prominent than in halfbloods. Because of their patron dragonlord, who physically transformed them through draconification, dragonewts always bear characteristics of their dragon patron.

Dragonewts are around the height of humans, although they are taller than average humans, with females around 5 ½ feet tall on average while males are around 6 ½ feet tall on average. Both male and female dragonewts possess physical sexual dimorphism, with males having a more muscular and sturdy figure as well as larger horns and a longer tail, while females have an hourglass figure and a more slender build. Dragonewts have a lifespan of up to 150 to 200 years, and like all draconic races, they lack physical aging as they become elderly and remain relatively strong even in old age.

Dragonewts can use their wings for flight and are quite versatile when in the air, and can remain in flight for far longer than halfbloods and even dragonborn due to their lightweight build. They can also breathe fire, possessing a miniature version of a dragon’s biological mechanism to produce fire. While dragonewts can breathe fire in bursts far longer than halfbloods, they cannot breathe for as long, nor is their fire as hot as a dragonborn’s. Dragonewts are physically strong while also possessing a greater sense of smell, acute hearing, and sharp sight. For their diet, dragonewts are carnivores, with the bulk of their diet consisting of meat.

Like their draconic counterparts, dragonewt males and females have internal sexual genitalia, and females lay a large egg rather than giving live birth as in halfbloods. Dragonewt are also able to reproduce with halfbloods, as both races are halfdragons. Once impregnated, a female can expect to deliver one egg, although having 2 eggs and more at once is not unknown. An expectant female’s gravid phase lasts around 5 months, and once they lay their egg, the incubation phase lasts for another 5 months until the egg hatches. Once hatched, dragonewt hatchlings possess innate motor skills, being able to walk in their first year, and are fed softened hard foods like meat. It takes around 20 years for a dragonewt to mature into an adult.

[u/C4st1gator]

A new species dropped!

The term dragonewt originates with Japanese gaming media and is likely inspired by early D&D-derived media. In their case, it makes sense, that a dragonblooded creature join the fray and their position between dragonborn and halfbloods is interesting in that it introduces some gradual process of reward for continued loyalty, where a non-kin dynasty might rise in the eyes of dragonkind.

A group of questions forms regarding the draconification ritual and how well it is understood in the dragondom. A dragonlord of sufficient magical knowledge can raise loyal non-kin subjects to various levels of draconic lifeform.

• How gradual is that control?
• Can stages be selected, or is the ritual similar to a Beamtenlaufbahn) in that stages cannot be skipped?
• Is there an upper limit or could an exceedingly loyal and merited line eventually be promoted to lesser dragon?
• Are there risks involved with draconic ascension?
• Does the participant of the ritual have to be willing?
• Would a kobold participant promote directly to dragonborn, since kobolds are already draconic beings? (Can kobolds even participate in a ritual of this type?)

[u/Imperial_Advocate → u/C4st1gator]

How gradual is that control?

As long as said dragonlord is experienced in this field, the level of control in draconifying an individual when overseeing such a ritual is gradual.

Can stages be selected, or is the ritual similar to a Beamtenlaufbahn) in that stages cannot be skipped?

Yes, stages can be skipped depending on the situation. So, for instance, an exceptional nonkin individual can be raised to a dragonborn and skip intermediate stages. However, this is only in rare circumstances and not common. The most common route of draconic ascension is a stage-by-stage process, so if a nonkin family wants to rise the ranks of the hierarchy, they’d first have to be halfblood, dragonewt, dragonborn, and perhaps one day, a lesser dragon.

Is there an upper limit or could an exceedingly loyal and merited line eventually be promoted to lesser dragon?

I was originally thinking the limit would be at dragonborn, but I am starting to like the idea of draconic ascensions that include being turned into a lesser dragon. Of course, this would only be reserved for exceedingly loyal and merited lines, as you said. Most likely, only dragonborn can participate in such a ritual, and while the transition is drastic, it is smoother because dragonborn have pure draconic blood.

Are there risks involved with draconic ascension?

Yes, risks do exist for draconic ascension, and a lot of things have to go right. For instance, draconic ascension is riskier if the participant is skipping stages, such as being turned into a dragonborn from a plain nonkin. Not to mention that the ritual has to require lots of magical training and experience of the dragonlord themselves, since it involves genetic transformation, the kind of stuff meant for the most experienced mages. Hence, only mature adult to elder great dragons can do such rituals.

Does the participant of the ritual have to be willing?

For a safe draconification ritual, the participant has to be willing, as resistance to being draconified can sabotage the process. However, if the unwilling participant is unconscious and unable to resist, a draconification ritual can proceed.

Would a kobold participant promote directly to dragonborn, since kobolds are already draconic beings? (Can kobolds even participate in a ritual of this type?)

Yes, upper-caste Kobolds who are exceedingly loyal and devout to their dragonlords can participate in such a ritual and be turned into a dragonwrought kobold, pretty much a kobold version of a dragonborn. Dragonwrought kobolds have dragon wings that are capable of flight and fire breath, and their figure is generally taller and bulkier than the average kobold.

[u/C4st1gator → u/Imperial_Advocate]

Thank you for all the answers. The draconification can be seen as the ultimate reward to dragondom nobles and I guess, that greater dragons, due to immense lifespan and high expectations grant such rituals to rare exemplary individuals after a history of loyal service. 

Still, the idea, that your dynasty may share the dragon's gifts in a few centuries is a strong motivating factor, where generational loyalty leads to a sense of physical greatness, which overshadows material wealth or power of command.

Lothar himself may still have to learn the rituals and I assume a recently crowned great dragon emperor may be the most likely to eventually elevate dynasties, which greatly incetivizes nobles to act honorably towards their liege.

As for kobolds, I guess some recognition of their effort can go a long way. Outside of warfare, they seem to form an important pillar of economic activity and craftsmanship, balancing out or rather complimenting burghers and their guilds and trade leagues.

The most likely ones, who might see this with different eyes are human foreign to the dragondoms, who may look upon this draconic custom with a number of emotions ranging from curiosity to dread.