Crocoborn are a distant branch of the dragonborn species.
Among the dragonborn ancestries, one of the lesser known are those born from a crocodile lineage - the crocoborn.
Biology[]
Like their dragonborn kin, crocoborn stand tall and have heavy-set, humanoid bodies. Their heads are long and narrow with powerful jaws and razor-sharp white teeth. Their small eyes give them a good field of vision to the sides but poor forward-facing sight.The only clear indication of their dragon, rather than crocodile, ancestry are the small horns which grow from the back of their heads. Though somewhat clumsy on land, and slow to react, they are powerful swimmers who can hold their breath for long periods. Despite their separate ancestries, most non-dragonborn are unable to distinguish crocoborn from other lineages, if they are even aware of crocoborn at all.
Culture[]
The great crocoborn families live on mighty estates in the swamps of the Lucidian Coast around the town of Stilben. Hunting and fishing were the most common crocoborn occupations in the past, but in more recent times most crocoborn are farmers on great rice plantations. Due to their familiarity with the water, many crocoborn work on boats and ferries throughout the wetlands and on rivers across northern and central Tal'Dorei. Some crocoborn have found renown as artisans and craftscrocs. They have a proud academic tradition and teachers of any sort are held in high esteem. Some crocoborn can read two books at the same time, one with each eye. They are rarely found in urban environments except to trade.
Crocoborn are generally friendly and benign, and strive for good relations both with the wider dragonborn community and other races. However, they are a feud-loving people and will not forget a slight, imagined or real, no matter how small. Countless crocoborn lineages have been ended in a vicious cycle of duels, assassinations, and all-out violence. Familial loyalty is everything to a crocoborn, at least in theory - in practice, feuds are constantly splitting and re-uniting families as different cousins fall out with one another or forge new alliances. In times past, the penalty for betraying one's family was slow torture and swift execution; nowadays, the punishment is exile, which is seen as the worst fate a crocoborn can suffer.
Notable crocoborn[]
- Belciar Myialtheshtealliac
- Flaggon Soulspring
- Tang Wishbone
- Felicita Wishbone
Traits[]
Hold Breath[]
Thanks to their crocodile ancestry, crocoborns have an extremely efficient circulatory system that maintains oxygen levels in their bloodstream for long periods. They can make sudden physical exertions without breathing at all. The crocoborn can hold its breath for 10 minutes.
Crocodilian Swimmer[]
With their powerful tails and limbs, crocoborn can move at ease through all kinds of water, but are a little clumsier on land.
Crocodile Jaws[]
The crocoborn can use its powerful jaws to attack a target, piercing the target with its sharp white teeth.