Dragonkin
Dragonkin are what's left of the ancient dragons, from drakes to drakonid, of the realm after the legend of the Scorched Earth. Since then, dragons have evolved, allowing for shifting to and from a human form in order to appear more civilized and less destructive, though still keeping to their dragon-like tendencies of possessiveness and hoarding. Nearly all dragonkin belong to one of the main dragon families that resided back in the age of Eldra, the first dragon. The origins of this race began in Eren, the first dragon making the cliff side above the jade valley her permanent home until her passing.
The race itself tends to be very antisocial, often preferring to stay in contact with other dragonkin. It's not uncommon for them to be secretive and withdrawn from other races in the world, though they have a comfortable lifestyle among the average wood elf, who share similar life spans and wisdom. They often view humans as small and weak, being short lived mortals and having watched centuries of history, empires rising and falling between them, never learning from their mistakes. It is also no secret that dragonkin likes to hoard things that most others would find worthless. Once they set their sights on something they want, rest assured, they will have it.
The appearance of a dragonkin can vary drastically, from natural skin tones like humans or colorful hues like that of a dragon. The most common characteristics of all dragonkin are their reptilian features, sometimes hosting scales or claws and sharp eyes and tails and less commonly adorning their talon-like feet. Dragon scales often have magical properties and are highly valuable to craftsmen. In even rarer cases dragonkin will have wings carried over from their dragon forms and are capable of flight. But one thing all dragonkin have in common no matter what, is their dragon rage.
Dragon Rage
It is said that all dragonkin are cursed due to the first dragon's mistakes-- that the original beasts were unruly and filled with red hot rage, laying waste to anything that stood in their path. The story goes that once Eldra, the first dragon, set fire to the great forest, and was punished for taking what was not hers. Now as a result, all dragonkin must pay the price until the race sees its last day.
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It burns…
When a dragonkin experiences the rage, their body temperature begins to rise and an uncomfortable, burning sensation begins radiating from their chest and up their throat. If a dragonkin is in their human form at the time of the rage, it won't take long before the heat consumes them and forces them to shift back into their natural state, a dragon. The burning has been compared to an irritant that quickly grows violent if the Ember Root is not consumed. (Every dragonkin player has Dragon Rage that must be subdued by taking Ember Root, but you can decide when it takes effect or if it ever becomes a problem, as it is mostly a plot device for the race.)
Ember Root
Ember root, native to the Eren jungle, is said to be a gift from the gatekeeper themselves, forged by their magic to create a remedy for the dragon's hostility. Ember root is most often ground up into a paste and fed to dragonkin in the form of a gritty pill, but can also be mashed even further into liquid form and taken that way. It is common for the root to be mixed with something to mask its dirt-like taste and spicy nature and texture, some people turning to fruit juices or alcohol. If any outside of the Dragonkin attempt to eat this herb it will result in severe heartburn and in very rare cases, burping up tiny flames.
Traditions
A Dragon's Pride
Although dragonkin have been forced to repress themselves to fit into modern society, being prideful in their own race is something they could never part with. For this reason they have a deep rooted connection and sense of pride for their dragon-like appendages even when they are in their humanoid repressed transformation. Dragonkin tend to size themselves up and inspect another’s dragon-like features as a judge of character and authority. Those with the bigger dragon-like appendages show one’s physical capabilities, such as strength and size, are a tall tale sign of a strong and large dragon. That being said, dragonkin take special care of their horns, wings, and tail, and groom them on a regular basis to ensure to keep them clean. Those that do not keep their dragon-like appendages clean are considered lesser than those that would have small ones. It is a show of disrespect and insult if one were to casually touch any of these appendages.
Eldrasol
An annual holiday that is to be expected of every dragonkin to uphold is the day of Eldrasol to commemorate the blessings and mercy she has bestowed upon them during their foolish past actions. A festival is usually held for the masses to celebrate, including song, dance, food, and union. A moment of good times to move past the bad ones so that a dragonkin may start out fresh for tomorrow. Once dawn begins to encroach, every dragonkin scales the highest mountain and perches themselves at the peak. As the sun rises over the horizon, the dragonkin begin their descent down the mountain by leaping off and taking flight as they approach the ground. This is meant to represent the fall and rise of dragonkin in their past, showing that even when one has plummeted so far in their lives, they can still rise and start anew.
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Death
As a dragonkin grows old, they begin to grow more aware of their imminent deaths due to age. Though they will never be too sure on when that day will be until the day actually comes, it is at that moment they know for sure that they will be passing away within those 24 hours. When this happens, the old dragonkin will feel compelled to fly out into the world to find a tranquil empty spot to spend their last moments in. This is a very vulnerable and personal moment for the dragonkin, as they are at their weakest, and for this reason it is an extremely rare case to see a dragonkin pass away. Though there are even fewer exceptions of those that they cherish greatly to be there with them until the very end. However, to every dragonkin, this act is seen as a beautiful and honorable thing to do. It is their way to give back to lands the dragonkin have destroyed in the past, as a way to right their wrongs, to enrich the ground with their nutrients so that new life may flourish in their passing. It is said through legend that when this happens, new fauna is born to the world, or desolate lands become inhabitable with greenery. Granting miracles to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.