#spellscale

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Tiny War criminal :')

Theme Humanoid (Spellscale)

Prompt list

Creature Codex art challenge

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Simple work here playing with only five dark colors. Back to working on faces. While I lacked the room for proper runes I think the white worked well for them and the eyes. I wanted to work with just a simple bust rather than building out a full body. Love the skin tone and I think I'm getting better at expressing it.

Couldn't put a lot of time in due to work coming up but its still pretty good.

Palette picked

“Half-Dragon” © deviantArt user mmmegh, accessed at her gallery here

[The spellscale originally appeared in Races of the Dragon, a D&D 3.5 book devoted to dragon-influenced PCs. It was the third of three player races, the other two of which have long shadows. One was kobolds, cementing them mechanically as “little dragon people” to go with the flavor introduced in the 3.0 Monster Manual. The second were dragonborn, which reappeared in both 4e and 5e as a core race. The spellscales were not nearly so popular.

Why? Two reasons. First, they’re mechanically dumb. Their signature mechanic is that they can meditate on different dragon gods every day and pick from between twelve different bonuses. Too bad that all of these bonuses are good for spellcasters only, and most of them aren’t any use until high levels, since they grant metamagic feats. Second, their flavor text is quite frankly offensive. They are painted as an entire species of camp gay stereotypes. Which is not helped by all of the art for them being androgynous and purple skinned.

So this is an in-name-only conversion. The basic idea of magically talented dragon people is a good one, but pretty much only that core remains. And new art for dragon people is easy to come by on the internet. The trick is finding some that isn’t overtly pornographic.]

Spellscale CR ½ CN Humanoid (reptilian) This powerfully built humanoid has a small pair of horns growing from her head, claw-like fingers and toes, and a fine layer of silver scales for skin.

Spellscales are to dragons as tieflings are to fiends or aasimar are to celestials—they are humanoid descendants of draconic bloodlines. Many dragons are capable of interbreeding with other creatures, and their magical nature imbues humanoid lineages for countless generations. Ironically for being descended from such long-lived creatures, spellscales have lifespans equivalent to those of humans. This (relatively) short lifespan gives most spellscales a level of drive and ambition not seen in their dragon ancestors, and most try to make an impact on the world around them.

Spellscales are typically magically gifted and curious, frequently innovating with new spells and magic items. Even those without levels in spellcasting classes possess some magical talents. They tend to live in larger mixed race settlements, rather than sequestering themselves in their own communities. Most spellscales delight in trying as many novel sensations and experiences as possible, and spend at least part of their lives as adventurers. They get along well with other cultures with strong magical traditions, like most gnomes and elves

Spellscales vary in appearance with their levels of draconic traits. All have their namesake scales, but some have clawed feet, tails, horns or other physical markers of dragons. Despite what some prejudiced folk may think, the color of a spellscale’s scales has no reflection on their alignment—metallic spellscales can be evil, chromatic ones be good, and many spellscales have patterns and colors not reflected by true dragons at all. They tend towards chaotic alignments, but even spellscale monks and paladins are not unheard of.

Spellscales as Player Characters A spellscale does not have racial Hit Dice and advances by character level. Spellscale characters have the following traits +2 Str, +2 Cha, -2 Con Spellscales have powerful muscles and personalities, but lack stamina Medium size A spellscale gains no penalties or bonuses due to their size Normal speed A spellscale has a land speed of 30 ft. Darkvision 60 ft. Spell Ward A spellscale gains a +2 racial bonus on all saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities Magical Gift A spellscale gains a single cantrip from the sorcerer/wizard list as a spell-like ability usable at will. It uses its HD as its caster level, and the save DC (if any) is Charisma based. Shrewd A spellscale gains a +2 racial bonus on all Appraise and Spellcraft checks. Languages A spellscale begins play speaking Common and Draconic. A spellscale with an Intelligence bonus may pick any language as a bonus language, except for secret languages such as Druidic.

Alternate Racial Traits Claws Some spellscales have clawed fingers. A spellscale with this racial trait gets two claw attacks that deal 1d4 points of damage. If a spellscale with this trait takes the draconic bloodline or any other class ability that gives them claws, their claws deal damage at one die higher. This trait replaces magical gift.

Imperious Some spellscales are imbued with draconic mastery over fear. They gain a +2 racial bonus to all Intimidate checks, and the DC to intimidate them increases by 2. This trait replaces shrewd.

Dragon Immunities Some spellscales have the immunities of the dragon type instead of a general protection from magic. A spellscale with this trait is immune to sleep and paralysis effects. This trait replaces spell ward.

I’ll provide a brief overview for anyone not familiar with the Spellscale. In the artwork, they look rather like purple or blue-skinned elves. They also aren’t really a race since they are born from two sorcerers even if the sorcerers are a human and a half-orc or something. They get a +2 bonus to Charisma and a -2 debuff to Constitution. They can see in low light conditions. They are considered dragons for racial effects. Their preferred class is Sorcerer and they have something called a “Blood Quickening” which is basically a daily devotion to a draconic deity that grants them some sort of bonus for the day (based on which draconic deity they prayed to that day).

In order to rework them for 5e, I’ve created a new origin story for them that actually makes them a race and not the happenstance of a double dose of inherently magical genetics. I’m also altering their appearance somewhat and giving them a few subraces. I am keeping the Blood Quickening (which seems to me to be the biggest distinguishing feature of the race) but changing the bonuses to make the Spellscale a more versatile race. I would be grateful for feedback from more experienced players on my draft (below).

SPELLSCALE (5e)

Legend has it that the first of the Spellscale race were the three sons of two exceedingly vain and evil sorcerers. Entirely too pleased with their own features and cruel behavior, their monstrous natures were written into the appearance of their children. Appalled at seeing their own villainy reflected back at them in the faces of their offspring, the sorcerers gave the infants to one of their soldiers along with the order to take them into the woods and slaughter them.

However, the soldier had recently lost a child and could not bear to kill the innocent babes. He consulted with his wife and they agreed to leave the three boys at a temple though they knew their lives would be forfeit if the deceit was discovered. The soldier travelled a full day, hoping that leaving the children at a further temple would lessen the chances of their survival being discovered. He left them in a temple of Bahamut where he hoped their draconic features would be celebrated rather than reviled.

The three infants were found by devotees of Bahamut and, as the soldier had hoped, their appearance was believed to be a blassing from the Platinum Dragon. The boys were given the names of Ornoth, Aurixoth, and Uxmolik and raised in the ideals of Bahamut. They grew to be fine young men and eventually went out into the world to seek their own fortunes. Despite their parentage, they each had an affable and easygoing disposition that allowed them to make friends and lovers easily.

+2 Charisma, Darkvision, speed 30 ft, medium sized. Considered adult at 40 years and live to be about 450 years. NO breath weapon or damage immunities.

Subraces: Ornoth - skin in shades ranging from dark purple to very pale blue with elongated pointed ears. They have vertical slit pupils (like a cat) and their darkvision range is 30ft and they can detect shades of red even in low light. They tend to eat meat-heavy diets. Aurixoth have skin in shades from pale yellow to dark orange (almost red). Their ears are shorter, closer to the head and not as pointedTheir eyes also have the vertical slit pupils and 30ft dark vision but cannot see colors in low light. They are more omnivorous than the Ornoth, however, and have a +1 to perception checks relying on smell. The Uxmolik are slightly larger than either the Ornoth or Aurixoth with skin in shades of grey or brown, often with a metallic sheen. Their ears are small and rounded, little more than a raised ridge of scaled skin around the entrance to the ear canal. Their eyes have more rounded pupils with 30ft darkvision but cannot see colors in low light. They have +1 to perception checks relying on hearing.

Blood Quickening - a 10 minute medidation on the draconic deity of their choice. May include doing something the chosen deity would appreciate, such as leaving a gold piece in a hidden spot for Astilabor. A successful meditation grants the following bonuses based on which deity was considered. No one deity can be called on more than once in a three day period. DM decides if meditation was successful, player decides which boon is granted.

Aasterinian - +1 to Deception OR Sleight of Hand checks for the day OR 1 use of Message (1st level spell).

Astilabor - +1 to History checks for the day OR 2x payout on any money earned today such as rent or wages (does not affect portion of treasure or loot).

Bahamut - 1 use of Channel Divinity OR 1 use Detect Evil and Good (1st level spell) OR do 2d6 additional radiant damage to one enemy.

Chronepsis - +2 to Perception checks for the day.

Falazure - +1 to Religion checks for the day OR 1 use Inflict Wounds (1st level spell)

Garyx - +1 to Survival checks for the day OR 1 use Burning Hands (1st level spell)

Hlal - +2 to Performance checks for the day OR 1 use Hideous Laughter (1st level spell)

Io - +1 to Strength checks for the day OR 1 use Create or Destroy Water (1st level spell) OR 1 use Goodberry (1st level spell)

Lendys - +2 to Concentration OR Insight checks for the day OR 1 use Identify (1st level spell)

Tamara - +2 to Medicine checks for the day OR 1 use Cure Wounds (1st level spell) OR 1 use Healing Word (1st level spell)

(damn I’m rusty)  ANYWAY, slightly late, kinda hasty, birthday present for @xain-russell of his favorite Dungeons and Dragons races (Kobold, Dragonborn, & Spellscale) as his favorite class (Bard).  the DrgnBrn chick is a reference to this humorous masterpiece http://samsantala.tumblr.com/post/170041845490/everyones-been-getting-into-dnd-and-i-wanted-to and the Kobold lass was an idea I had bouncing around of the smaller races using drums practically as large as they were as a portable stage as well as an instrument.