Dragonborn
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Dragonborn, (Draconic: Enixuim) are one of the major races of Nora with a proud and rich heritage. Though they no longer claim a homeland, the ancient dragonborn nation used to exist in southern Vatharond.

Dragonborn walk a lifestyle between spiritualism and warfare. Following tenants set forth by the ancient mystic, Sedeuses, the dragonborn value family, respect, obligation and self reliance.

Ancient dragonborn were known to command storms.

Talking of wizards, the Vanquisher also has his/her own group of casters that answers only to him/her.

History


When the midanian-empire began consorting with fiends and committing atrocities passing them for justice and entertainment, the neighboring dragonborn nation of Viresia could not accept inaction. Viresia rose up against the Midans and after many years of war, brought down their cities. It was the dragonborn that helped the humans build and govern the Aquarian Empire. Though even their intervention could not stop many horrible events that came to pass during its height.

The dragonborn founded anakondaia after the dragonborn migration away from the Aquarian Empire. After that, they scattered across Nora, finding their own way as individuals. However, interestingly, even today dragonborn never forget or disrespect their heritage and most take the time to practice some form of martial training to feel more connected to their great ancestors that took down an evil empire and built a respectable one.

For the dragonborn, in particular, this meant greater dissolution of national identity, as gatherings of anything larger than a small family clan were outlawed. Dragonborn clans were disassembled, and the dragonborn were sent to live in distant parts of the kingdom. Today, most communities contain a small number of dragonborn, and only a few small, dragonborn-only communities exist along the peripheries of current-age society.

A known figure in dragonborn history is Iracus, the King of Terror. A great and dark warrior-king who lead a campaign of blood and fear. He famously ascended as one of the Valori at the end of his life.

Culture


Caste System

Possibly due to the lack of any formal homeland, dragonborn families keep a strict social system common to eastern cultures. Each level of the order, or schemae, is broken into domos, or families. A domus rarely ever exists in two different schemae.

Philosophical orders

Warlike
Dragonborn warriors are geared towards war and power, answering to war chiefs who govern Dragonborn society equally with the religious leaders. They live by a complex code of honor and spend their lives defending their race. In combat, these Dragonborn show no mercy, often using ranged attacks from above and believing that others should know better than to create an enemy of a superior foe, such as themselves. They also view surrender to be dishonorable (for both themselves as well as their enemies), holding the idea that when a warrior draws blood, it is a promise of battle.

"For one of dragon's blood to not take up weapons, to not prepare night and day to slaughter any enemies that would come against them—it is unthinkable. It is—one who does such a thing, who believes the world will not be dangerous, will not strive to kill him… That is what we call insane."
— Embers

Peaceful
The other side of the Dragonborn society includes scholars, philosophers and artists. Intellectuals who believe in solving problems through reason and diplomacy, these Dragonborn spend much time researching magic and history, contemplating religion and worshiping, and producing art for the sheer joy of creation.

Tainted
The few Dragonborn who have lost their faith in society and life often former scholars who have had a traumatic event reshape their ideals and understandings of the world often turning to evil practices. The Tainted hold one ideal unquestionably true and that is "Trust no one, they can only hurt you".

Gender Rights and Polygamy

The duty of the dragonborn wife is to run the house in such a way that the family is well supported. Knowledge about herbs in order to make medicine for ill or wounded family members is highly desired.

The division between a female’s and male's domain is established at the door step. The outside work belongs to the male and the inside work belonged to the female. However, especially fit women can take on the cloth of armaments and be a warrior in the same way as the males. These females are called ignemfeles, or fire-cats.

Females are married away when they mature. It is then expected that she will be able to run the housekeeping and do the work belonging to females at a household.

A dragonborn's first wife is always arranged by the families of the groom and bride after he takes part in the alitura. However, the husband may then gain up to (but never more than) three more wives if he so chooses.

Vayemniri seems to have a lenient opinion about sexual preferences. There isn’t a strong stigma against same-sex relationships or extra-marital relationships, and the elders usually see those relationships as “hatchling stuff”. Contraception is available, and if someone got gravid before marriage, well, everyone wants more eggs for the clan (though, in some instances this can hurt the reputation of a clan, so it depends) . Relationships with members of other races are considered “exotic”, but aren't particularly frowned upon.

All of this changes once a dragonborn has reached adulthood by Vayemniri standards (being over 15 years old and having fulfilled your obligatory service in the Lance Defenders and earned your status blade), as they have to fulfill their qallim agreement, a marriage contract. For Vayemniri, the main purpose of marriage is to get more eggs—and so, get new clan members—, and every individual needs to fulfill their qallim as a duty, regardless of their personal desires or opinions.

While Vayemniri can marry within their clans (though never with a member of their own bloodline—this means, their immediate blood relatives), this is something that happens in very rare instances. Vayemniri prefer to marry with members of other clans so that they can increase the status of their own clans or gain some other benefit from the marriage in addition to the eggs. The potential grooms or brides (qal in draconic; pl. qalli) are chosen by the clan’s elders from a pool of potential candidates (known as shuk-qalli, or "maybe- brides/grooms"), usually composed of individuals that the qal is fond of, or at least in good terms with. There are a few exceptions to this, however, such as instances where the qallim was arranged between two clans before the births of the qalli (old fashioned, currently), or when a couple decides to marry for love instead of letting their elders choosing their spouses for them (can earn you exile, though). In the homesteads and farms, marriage is taken more lightly than in the big cities, and usually the qallim agreements of farming clans are just to determine in which farm the children have to work on a given season.

Once a qallim agreement is accepted, there is no going back. Divorce doesn’t exist in Vayemniri society, and breaking a qallim agreement can affect the status of a clan, and therefore is frowned upon. However, as long as the agreement is fulfilled, the Vayemniri are free to do with their lives what they want (leave the city in search of adventures for a time, etc.)

There are two parties in a qallim agreement: the anurithominak (“under-clan”) and the svernominak (“over-clan”). The default assumption is that the svernominak has rights over the eggs—usually because they’re the more powerful of the two, or because they initiated the agreement (in cases where the two clans have the same status and influence). However, a few eggs are considered “koshqalli” (“cost of the bride/groom”, can be translated as dowry), and are set aside to the anurithominak . So, the percentages of how many eggs from each clutch are going to each clan, who gets to choose eggs, etc., are the bulk of the agreement.

All hatchlings stick with their parents in the svernominak enclave until they’re 10, old enough to get their clan piercings. The koshqalli then move into their lower-status parent’s enclave and become part of that clan.

Sometimes, one of the parents can re-negotiate a qallim agreement to ask for a child to be “transferred” from one clan to another, but those instances are rare.

While parents are the primary caregivers of their offspring, all of the clan is involved in the upbringing, so it’s not uncommon for uncles, aunts and cousins to watch over and taught their children communally.

Clans

  • Claudomoni is one of the main clans. Is the clan the dragonborn protagonist, Mehen, is a member of. Its basically one of the oldest dragonborn clans, if not the oldest. They took their name from the Battle of the Crippled Mountain (Claudomoni literally means "Crippled Mountain" in draconic), the decisive battle were the dragonborn slaves from Laerakond won their freedom in ages past. Once one of the most powerful clans, now in decline because the former patriarch was an abusive tyrant that destroyed the clan's reputation. The current matriarch is trying hard to restore the clan's good standing, but that isn't an easy task. Claudomoni are the guardians of an artifact known as the Eye of Blazing Rorn (seems to be related to the primordial Rorn of the Rages), that can create heat-waves powerful enough to kill a great wyrm red dragon that was for all intents and purposes the most powerful dragon of Abeir of his time (his title was the Tyrant of Tyrants). Thanks to Mehen, the dragonborn gained a reputation of honorable and skilled warriors in Cormyr (as Mehen was the bodyguard of Brin, the fiance of princess Raedra — currently Queen— in Fire in the Blood), and now all Cormyrian nobles want a dragonborn bodyguard (and a tiefling lover… Don't ask.
  • Dracomiles is the clan of the dragonborn protagonists of the first novels of the BotG series, Medrash and Balasar. The Dracomiles are one the most powerful and influential clans of Viresia, renowed for their physical prowess and battle accumen (to the point they are compared to Chessentans in their obsession with sports, military strategy and their love for battle in general). They are also the only known major clan that encourages dragonborn to worship the gods (though only because they see the gods as useful allies rather than supreme beings), making them to be looked down upon by the more traditionalist clans, that mistrust the gods because they believe the gods are not unlike the dragon tyrants or the Dawn Titans of Abeir.* Dracomiles is the only dragonborn clan that is famous across the Realms (because of Medrash and Balasar's victories in the dragon war of 1479 DR - heck, those two were vital to kill Skuthosiin, Gestaniius, Tchazzar, Alasklerbanbastos and a few other powerful dragons around the Sea of Fallen Stars).
  • Splendores is one of the minor clans from the BotG series. There is not much lore about them. We only know that they are among the most warlike dragonborn clans, something ironic seeing that their clan symbol is a flower. It seems that by 1486 they became an important clan, as they got the command of the military forces of Arx Kethendi (as per the Devil You Know).
  • Venenii is another minor clan from the BotG series. There is no lore about them. In Whisper of Venom is said they have both piercings on their left cheek, so I guess their diagram here is non-canon.
  • Ensignes is another main clan from the BA series, and is another of the older and most powerful clans of Viresia. Basically, they are the founders of Viresia, as it was a member of this clan, Viresia, who re-founded Arx Viresi in Faerûn (Arx Viresi means "Fortress of Viresia", in draconic). She was also blessed by Selûne, and some paragraph in Ashes of the Tyrant hints that she inherited the Black Axe of Nanna-Sin from Ningal (the genasi cleric of Selûne in the 3e FRCS). Their piercings are a reference of their covenant with Selûne. Ensignes is a really powerful and influential clan. I guess we can say that is currently the most powerful dragonborn clan. The fomer Vanquisher, Tarhun, was a member of this clan. Dumuzi, the first cleric of Enlil after the Second Sundering and current wielder of the Black Axe, is also a Ensignes.
  • Hostidaemonii is a new minor clan, founded post-Second Sundering in the BA series. Is the only clan exclusively made up of Mulani humans. These humans are Untherites who rebelled agaisnt Gilgeam in The Devil You Know, and helped the dragonborn to defeat Gilgeam's demon army when he tried to conquer Viresia. As a reward, they were allowed to become citizens of Viresia with full rigths, on the condition that they followed Vayemniri traditions. So, technically speaking, they are Vayemniri even if they are humans and not dragonborn. Hostidaemonii means "Enemies of Demons" in draconic.
  • Sulphurii is another of the minor clans from the BotG series. According to the novels, arcane spellcasters among the dragonborn were extremely rare in Abeir, becoming more common after they came to Faerûn. Yet their numbers are still quite few, and their arcane practices are so unorthodox that mages from other races would cringe only by seeing them (at least by 1479). Yet, they had potential to become really powerful spellcasters (in the novels, Ananta, a dragonborn wizard, was able to rival Brimstone (one of the dragons who beat Sammaster) in a magic duel). I guess is because of their draconic heritage. While there are a few dragonborn mages in all clans, Clan Sulphurii is the one that has the most numbers of spellcasters among their ranks, making this clan one of sages and lorekeepers.
  • Anguimarcates is another main clan. they are old (their ancestors fought at the Battle of the Crippled Mountain), and that they have secret teleportation rooms in Arx Viresi, so perhaps they were among the builders of the city?
  • Ecclesrexii is a minor clan
  • Donumes is another minor clan. They are a clan of farmers, fairly unimportant but really big. They lost many of their numbers during the Second Sundering, as most of the lands where their farms were located where displaced to Abeir the last time Toril and Abeir exchanged lands. But, there are a lot of Donumes out there in Faerûn, so the clan is in no danger of dying. The current Vanquisher, Kallan, is an Donumes, raising the clan status a little bit. However, the most infamous villain in recent story, Nala (the Tiamatan priestess in the BotG novels) was also an Donumes (though she was exiled for worshiping a dragon god).
  • Gyruluxes is another main clan from the BA series. Is also one of the oldest and powerful clans. They own a lot of establishments in Arx Viresi, have a lot of farms and ranches to breed the special Viresian warhorse, horses big and powerful enough to carry dragonborn in battle. Gyruluxes seems to not have a stigma agaisnt the gods, as they didn't exiled Patrin after he became a paladin of Bahamut in the BtoG novels. But this can also be because they really hate Tiamat. Gyruluxes are the guardians of the powerful artifact known as the Breath of Petron, that can control elemental earth (althought using it is usually fatal for the user). Arx Viresi (a fortress that awes even dwarven master architects) was built using the Breath of Petron. A few male Gyruluxes tend to use their chain piercings as fake, baddass beards.
  • Rimastrategii is another minor clan from the BA series. This clan is relatively new (by 1486 DR). They are also farmers and horse breeders. They also lost a few of their numbers during the Sundering.
  • Egocreoverbii is a main clan featured in both the BotG and BA series. Few is known about them, but it seems the have a big influence in the dragonborn army.
  • Protenes is a minor clan from the Living Forgotten Realms. They are farmers and staunch allies of Ensignes. They also have gained a reputation of smiths of great skill. Ludovick, a Protenes, studied under famous and skilled dwarven smiths and armorers in the Great Rift. Then he returned to Viresia and made a name for his clan and himself. Ludovican armor is still highly sought after by dragonborn and dwarves alike.
  • Morii. This clan is in charge of Ruinspoke, the village where the regional adventures centered in Viresia takes place, so its perhaps many people knows from the adventures. All this clan is made up of members of the Platinum Cadre, yet they are in good relationships with many clans, and the Vanquisher. Their clan piercing seems to be a copper dragon claw. Current patriarch is Morii Tuanek, a very old dragonborn. Clan Morii is a puzzle to me, because it contraditcs way too much was its said in the novels about Vayemniri culture—however, such contradictions make sense as the adventures were published two years before the novels were written, and the novel authors (Erin and Richard Lee Byers) didn't took into account anything from the adventures for the novels' backstory. So, it may be necesary to some homebrewing to fix it and make it felt more like a Viresii clan (or if anyone wants it, I can provide my fixed version from my campaign).
  • Aeriambulii. Once a powerful clan, it fell into disgrace for its relationship with the cult of Tiamat. Currently a den of criminals.

All the clans have their own “war bands”, private small armies composed exclusively by clan members under the command of their clan leader. A few of the dragonborn that didn’t become a permanent Lance Defender usually takes up the path of the professional soldier within their own clan. These war bands act on behalf of their clans instead as on behalf of their country, and many of them also are posted to watch over the clan’s proprieties or to act as bodyguards for important clan members. They also serve as a police force, investigating and prosecuting crimes within their own clans.

Each clan polices their own, and when a dragonborn goes rogue is left to the clan leaders to deal with them as they see fit, as it’s assumed they can decide a fitting and just punishment for their own people. If there is a crime that a clan cannot solve for itself, or involves more than one clan, or implies a danger for Viresia as whole, then the Adjudicators will take care of the situation.

There are also a few private forces that don’t belong to the Viresii government, but act on their behalf, such as adventuring bands and mercenary guilds, and the like. Canonically, we have information about just one, the Platinum Cadre. These Bahamutan cultists may be scorned and reviled by many among the Vayemniri, but there is no denying that they are one of the best military forces in Viresia. They have a lot of seasoned warriors (exiles from many clans, many of them veterans of the Dragon War of 1479), as well as a huge advantage in their access to the divine magic provided by Bahamut, thus making them a great asset to the Viresiaan military forces. That’s why some cunning Vanquisher granted their cult legal status despite the loathing of the clans (Mehen blames Tarhun for this, but I'm not sure if it was Tarhun the one who gave them the legal status in Viresia).

After the Dragon War of 1479, the Platinum Cadre was taken into the protection of Clan Dracomiles (as Medrash was officially made their protector), thus making Dracomiles perhaps the most powerful clan military speaking.

Despite their private status, all of the irregular military forces of Viresia are under the ultimate command of the Vanquisher, who has the right to call them to arms during times of war.

Sacred Turtles

The turtle is considered a true dragon that has reached a perfect physical form. Turtle shells continue to hold a central place in religious rituals. In honor of their exalted status, all forms of turtle, even dire tortises, often roam free in communities. In some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before breakfast. It is considered a major taboo to kill or injure a turtle.

Timekeeping

Dragonborn invented the Eorik calendar that was used in the eastern provinces prior to the Aquarian Calendar. It is still used by some domos especially for honoring traditional festivals.

Anigma and Ave

Sedeuses discovered the meaning of Anigma, the soulfire. The energy that dragonborn tap into to recall their breath whether it is fire, ice or anything else. It is the vital and life sustaining energy of all living things.

Ave is a common spoken greeting or salutation among dragonborn. This word is spoken at the beginning of written or verbal communication. In fogari, Ave is said to mean "The fire in me honors the fire in you," as spoken by all participants before the game begins.

When spoken to another person, it is commonly accompanied by the two greeters to touch (or nearly touch) their heads together in a manner of trust and to share the anigma. The gesture can also be performed wordlessly and carry the same meaning.

It is said that when one's Anigma grows great enough, it can consume the material body of the mortal and cause an ascention to a sort of godhood. These individuals who have achieved this immortality are known as the Victori.

Victori (or Valori?)

Next, we have the ancestor stories. These are songs about certain deeds of a revered ancestor that shaped the clan’s history or even the Vayemniri culture as a whole, some stretching as far as back to ancestors who weren’t actually part of a clan yet, such as the dragonborn rebels who founded Tymanchebar (the original nation of the Vayemniri in Abeir). The Vayemniri tell their hatchlings with such stories since an early age (the translation into common is “nursery tales”), to instill and reinforce “omin’iejirsjighen” (we will get into this in another post). Those stories are crude and hard, and shape the identity of a Vayemniri on a fundamental way. All of what they do and will do is influenced by those stories.

The few stories that we have in canon sources (scattered in Fire in the Blood, Ashes of the Tyrant and The Devil You Know) are mostly about ancient ancestors, but this is not a rule. A more recent ancestor can also have a song about his or her deeds. Kepeshmolik Thymara, for instance, has one. I’m pretty sure Daardendrien Medrash must have one by now (1490+), as in Whisper of Venom he is compared with the “dragon-killing rebels who shaped the history of the dragonborn". And Namshita, the founder of the Khotararirilim, will have one in the near future as well, for having saved her people from certain death at the hands of Gilgeam and his demons.

There should be at least a song for Nerifar Who-Would-Be-Kepeshmolik (a female, according to the novels) and for Mirichesh Who-Would-Be-Ophinshtalajiir, who fought at the battle of the Crippled Mountain as well (and Mirichesh had killed a dragon tyrant known as the Frostborn Duke before that), as they are also mentioned in the Tale of the Crippled Mountain. There is also Nilofer, another notable Kepeshmolik ancestor, who was good with the bow. And Akkadi, another Kepeshmolik ancestor, who was Tarhun's notable ancestor. And there is also Caysh, who is the ancestor of Mirichesh and therefore the first notable ancestor of the Ophinshtalajiir.

Namarra is one of the notable ancestors from Clan Prexijandilin.

Nerinal is another Yrjixtilex notable ancestor.

Assilyath, an Ophinshtalajiir notable ancestor.

Garshabin is a Daardendrien notable ancestor. Garshabin is the ancestor of Turan, current patriarch of the clan, meaning is also Medrash's ancestor (as Medrash is said to be Daardendrien's scion***)

Abinirash is a notable ancestor of clan Churirajachi.

Members of the Platinum Cadre are said to have been "claimed by the line of the Platinum Dragon". I guess that means their religious rites may include ancestor stories about Bahamut.

The Alitura

When a male dragonborn comes of age he is expected to go on the alitura. It is a pilgrimage where he leaves his parents home and sets out on a journey out in the world. A special Sacos short sword, called a calxius, is crafted for the alitura. This journey ends when he reaches the sea and casts the sword into the waters, a gift to the dragonturtles who live there.

Glory

Glory is won by winning battles, though this can be metaphorical. The more glory one has, the closer to becoming a Victor they become.

Winning glory is a driving motivation for many dragonborn adventurers, as well as dragonborn in other walks of life. The dragonborn caravan guard seeks to earn fame by driving off bandits, the dragonborn artisan hopes to gain renown by creating goods known far and wide for their quality and artistry, and the dragonborn adventurer hopes to win glory by slaying terrible monsters, acquiring great treasures, and fighting back the darkness that threatens to swallow the last remnants of civilization.

Dragonbone

Sacos, otherwise known as dragonbone, is made from the teeth, shells and horns of draconic creatures, including turtles.

Another aspect of the dragonborn identity is the size of their swords. According to the Captive Flame (from the BotG series), all dragonborn carry swords. No matter if an individual dragonborn is a mage or if she is proficient with another weapon, they also carry a sword. If the piercings are the clan identifiers, the swords are their rank identifiers. Those swords are oficially named "Status Blade", and (according to Ashes of the Tyrant — from the BA series), a dragonborn gains his or her Status weapon only after reaching legal adulthood* (as opposite to biological adulthood).

The sizes are:

  • Fullblade: Only the Vanquisher can carry this super big sword.
  • Greatsword: For lord (equivalent) rank. All clan leaders are of this rank, though this rank is not exclusive for them. Decorated heroes and important dignataries (as ambassadora) also earn this rank.
  • Broadsword: For knight (equivalent) rank.
  • Longsword: For squire (equivalent) rank. Traditionally, you needed to kill a dragon, or help to kill one, to earn this rank, but since dragonborn came to Toril, this is not necessary. You need to do some kind of adventuring instead (kill a dangerous beast at the farms, or an ash giant, and the like).

(RP tip: there is no rank for the short swords given in the novels, but I guess those weapons can be given to apprentices or a similar lower-rank)

Dragonborn without a rank cannot carry swords of any kind (by law); they can only carry short bladed weapons (such as small daggers or knives) or blunt weapons (the Captive Flame).

Education and Lorekeeping

Dragonborn are traditionally steeped in literary tradition and are one of the earliest cultures to have a written alphabet. It is required for dragonborn of both genders to be literate and educated in history, mathematics, martial arts, and science.

Libraries are historically important for the dragonborn. The crafting of traditional scrolls and modern books are highly prized.

Drama and Theater

Saeri is a unique style of epic theater that date back to ancient Viresia where a narrator stands with the actors and tells the tale, usually one verging on the fate of the world, while the heavily costumed actors wordlessly play out the actions. It is accompanied by music and singing by a small offstage chorus.

Martial Arts

Steeped in martial tradition, dragonborn have given birth to many different martial art styles. Donec, for example, is a style that specializes in sweeping and take-downs.

Dragonborn also have historically practiced Fogari.

Common weapons are chakrams and the starknife.

Religion

Their relationship with the gods is complicated. They do not understand the gods, as is something to be expected. They lived in a world that before the Spellplague had NO gods at all (or at least, the gods there didn't care for mortals at all until that point). So, they have some misconceptions about the gods. Some mistrust them, others cannot understand why someone will shackle themselves into the service of another being that can potentially be a tyrant as well, in exchange for something you can do on your own (healing magic? Dragonborn have a really good medicinal body of knowledge—it should be better than any medicinal science in the rest of the Realms, because they didn’t rely in magic. Protect you from your enemies? They freed themselves from slavery, thank you). Others simply cannot understand the concept of the gods at all (to the point that they didn’t understood the difference between the power of Tiamat and Bahamut until a dwarf explained it to them in 1479; not even Patrin, a paladin of Bahamut, understood such difference!).

This doesn’t mean that dragonborn go around saying that the gods don’t exist. They don’t deny their existence. That’s stupid, the gods are clearly there. So they acknowledge and respect their existence and power. But they don’t have any interest in them. They are the closest to a real world atheist the Realms can get. Mehen describes the gods at one point as being like beggars—you give them a little attention and they’ll be after you and your coin purse for all your days. So, they don’t worship them as a societal norm. Becoming a god-worshiper usually means exile from your clan (this is why Daardendrien stands out: they encourage god-worshiping and don’t exile theirs because of this, something that the other clans frown down upon; Daardendrien call this flexibility, the gods are useful allies to have around).

Which means most dragonborn ought to end up on the Wall of the Faithless.**

A few Vayemniri, however, choose to believe in the gods because that gives them a sense of purpose many of them feel they lack. Usually, they follow war-like gods such as Torm, Tempus or the Red Knight, though a few revere Kelemvor (they care a lot for their dead, so it makes sense that they’ll be interested in the god of the dead). A significant group of them revere Tiamat, due to the influence of Untherite survivors that were members of a group known as the Knights of the Five-Thorned Rose (this cult is secretive, and at some point tried to steal the Breath of Petron but epic failed at it and the cult of Tiamat got declared illegal in Tymanther). However, the largest group of god-worshipers in Tymanther is the Platinum Cadre.

These Bahamutan cultists believe that dragonborn are the children of Bahamut*** and that not all dragons are tyrants, that at least the metallic dragons of Toril are good guys, and that the Vayemniri should become, if not allies, at least friends with them. This is blasphemy, of course, to a people that hate dragons because of thousands of years of history of enslavement and other abuses. Not only they are god-worshipers but also wyrm-lovers! These Bahamutan cultists receive the scorn of the traditionalist Vayemniri not only because they willingly shackled themselves to the service of a god, but also because this god happens to be a dragon (the same applies to the worshipers of Tiamat). So, becoming a member of the Platinum Cadre (or a Tiamatan) means your exile is almost guaranteed (that’s why is surprising that a traditionalist clan such as Shestandeliath didn’t exiled Patrin when he became a paladin of Bahamut).

Honor

Finally, we’d talk about the Vayemniri Code of Honor. Is encompassed in three key precepts:

Omin’iejirsjighen (roughly translated in common as “Blood commands unity, clan earns it”):

The things dragonborn owe to their clans because they were taught their importance as children, such as defending your country or being a good host. Some would say this is the purpose of ancestor stories—to reinforce omin’iejirsjighen.

Omin’iejirkkessh (“What the clan writes in your blood”):

The things Vayemniri owe to their clans that don’t need to be taught because they are an intrinsic part of their culture, such as respecting your clan elders and knowing the importance of traditions.

Throtominarr (“The clan repeated”):

The honor individuals show to their ancestors by improving on what they did, such as increasing their clan’s status without undoing what their ancestors had made. The key point here is to add and improve, not to damage the clan’s reputation.

Failing at the second is worse than the first, and the third is kind of a specific application of the first two.

A curious way Vayemniri show their dedication to their code of honor is by criticizing or insulting without openly speaking ill of someone else. When they want to criticize something, they arrange their compliments in such a way that the insult somehow is omitted (such as congratulating a warrior who has bad writing about their “good penmanship”, because talking about their swordsmanship is a waste of time). They call this “art” the “sjashukri” (shadow speaking).

As the rest of the people in the Realms don’t practice this kind of subtlety, Vayemniri can be annoyed when talking with the “Maunthreki” (non-dragonborn). A Cormyrian adventurer may find that his dragonborn companion becomes very insulted by something he didn’t actually said or annoyed that he didn’t pick up on a critique the dragonborn deployed too subtly—but most understand that non-dragonborn don’t understand this way of speaking. They may abandon it altogether, use it solely when they want to insult someone but not damage a friendship, or over emphasize their honesty to make certain they don’t accidentally do it.

STUDENT OF THE NINEFOLD PATH

In ancient Viresia, a society of sorcerers called the Order of the Ninefold Path codified and propagated the arcane teachings of the dragonborn. The sages of this order lived as mendicants, owning nothing but the tomes they could carry and relying on the support and hospitality of the citizenry as they traveled from city to city. They traveled in pairs, one master and O/ile student. As the student's knowledge grew to equal the master's, they would seek out new students in the cities they visited, thus passing on the secrets of the order. A few scattered masters of the Ninefold Path remain in the wake of Viresia's fall, but students willing to accept their tutelage are few and far between.

Nine arcane tomes defined the core teachings of the arcane Order of the Ninefold Path. The tomes are certain to lie hidden in ancient ruins, where they were taken as spoils of war.

Dragonborn names


Dragonborn have personal names given at birth. A childhood name or nickname is often used among clutchmates as a descriptive term or a term of endearment. The name might recall an event or center on a habit.

Names are [given name] gens [clan name], son/daughter of [your parent from your clan], of the line of [notable ancestor]

For non-dragonborn, they aren't as formal. Just [given name] gens [clan name]. The full name is for other dragonborn, trusted friends, or super formal occasions.

For the humans/humanoids that are joining the Veresian ranks, they will said "claimed by the line of" the dragonborn that allowed you into his or her clan, instead of "of the line of".

Verthisathurhiesh Farideh, daughter of Mehen, claimed by the line of Khorsaya.

Exiled dragonborn usually go by their names, without mentioning ancestors or parents. If they need to be formal they add Thrikominaki (clanless, in draconic) as a preffix.

Thrikominaki Mehen
Thrikominaki Nala

Unthlatu Dragonborn


There are two major clans of unthlatu: the kUakUa (k-OO-ahkh-OO-ah), or “lizard” clan, and the cUngId (cuh-OO-ng-EED), or “poison water” clan. Marrying a member of the opposite clan used to be forbidden, but in recent years these restrictions have eased somewhat.

Unthlatu wear elaborate beadwork clothing including shirts, loincloths, and aprons. However, these items are for decorative purposes only, since an unthlatu’s body is naturally armored, and they lack external genitalia. Males also wear headbands decorated with feathers, and females wear beadwork circlets — this is the only way most mammalian races can tell the difference between a male and a female unthlatu.

The unthlatu dislike direct confrontations, preferring guerilla tactics. Their weapon of choice is the Nyamban throwing knife, which they typically poison with noxious substances found in the swamps.

Hereditary half-dragon chieftains rule the unthlatu. Chieftains are always accomplished sorcerers, and though all sorts of dragons are represented, most have black-dragon blood in them.

Notable Dragonborn


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