#saurien

Though they were made to be more humanoid, to follow intelligent order and command, and thought to be easily war-like, there was a degree of innocence in their rebellion, even if they were ignorant of it. The Sauriens of old did not care for the wasted effort of the Draconic wars against giants; they had none of the ambition of rulership of a dragon, or the sense to desire a kingdom or lay down roots. 

Unlike Nagas, who are motivated by a desire to experience something of the human element of their origins, a Saurien is focused on their own natural march. Some of them may move about between the seasons on paths that never see cities or settlements and live off the land, while others have possibly set up routes to intentionally stop near civilization, learning about new tools and enjoying the chance to indulge in the niceties of modern relaxation. 

Though many were rallied under the call of the Draconic rulers in the Tyrant Crusade, they were also frequently the first to abandon their posts when the Sovereign Culling began. Some of them may have bothered to carry threads of their history, but the majority only care for keeping track of what is most practical.

Appearance

Powerful jaws and thick legs, tails with plate-like spines or plumage, crests and frills upon the head and neck, with coloration that tends to be one that easily blends in the natural environment their lineage favors. 

This means soft greens and brown stripes in the forest and jungles, gray or gold patterns amongst rocky mountains and dried out hillsides, delicate blues or even whites amongst oceans and beaches, along with any coloration that makes sense in a dinosaur. The influence of their Draconic progenitors and their appearance by design is also a factor that still makes itself known in their genetic make-up; a Saurien may sometimes have vivid red scales, reflective black patterns with a tan underbelly, or another color like that of a chromatic dragon.

The two key types of Saurien are the Rex, a massive and predatory-looking figure that rivals the Gigan for size while sporting mostly scaly hide, and the Raptor, a wily little beast that will make up for its stature in numbers and have a propensity for feathers. Perhaps out of an instinct to peacock themselves, the more feathered a Raptor is, the more likely it is to prefer dressing up in humanoid-inspired fashion. It’s said that a Saurien Rex will almost always shun clothing in all but the most extreme of weather. 

SAURIEN TRAITS

Creature Type. You are a Humanoid. 

Age. Sauriens reach adult size by 10, but do not mature until they are closer to 20, with lifespans slightly over 100 years. 

Speed. Your walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed equal to your walking speed. 

Hold Breath. You’ve adapted to aquatic surroundings and survived environments riddled with dust storms. You can hold your breath for up to 15 minutes at a time.

Natural Armor. You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren’t wearing armor, your base AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Nature’s Intuition. Thanks to your historic connection to nature, you gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.

REX TRAITS

Size. A Rex can range from over 5 to just about 7 feet tall. Your size is Medium. 

Bite. You have a fanged maw that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with it, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Hungry Jaws. You can throw yourself into a feeding frenzy. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your Bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, and you gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

RAPTOR TRAITS

Size. The smaller of the Sauriens, Raptors stand 3-4 feet tall. Your size is Small. 

Claws. You have oversized claws on your hind feet that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with it, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier slashing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.