Difference between revisions of "Draconid"
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! Middle draconids | ! Middle draconids | ||
| align=center | [[Tortle | Tortles]] | | align=center | Dragonborn {{dot}} [[Lizardfolk]] {{dot}} Spellscales {{dot}} [[Tortle | Tortles]] | ||
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! Lesser draconids | ! Lesser draconids | ||
| align=center | | | align=center | [[Kobold | Kobolds]] {{dot}} [[Xulgath | Xulgaths]] {{dot}} [[Yuan-ti]] | ||
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! rowspan=2 | Ruma | ! rowspan=2 | Ruma | ||
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This is the Himraldan racial hierarchy. There are two main groups: the draconids and the ''[[ruma]]'' (non-draconids). The draconids are up top, and at the top of the draconids are, of course, the Himralda. The Himralda believe they are perfection. | This is the Himraldan racial hierarchy. There are two main groups: the draconids and the ''[[ruma]]'' (non-draconids). The draconids are up top, and at the top of the draconids are, of course, the Himralda. The Himralda believe they are perfection. | ||
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Ruma are not persons, they are chattel—livestock. They are to be fed to gerasaurs and pecaros, and used to fill potholes. The only difference between greater and lesser ruma is that the greater ruma are the most dangerous. | Ruma are not persons, they are chattel—livestock. They are to be fed to gerasaurs and pecaros, and used to fill potholes. The only difference between greater and lesser ruma is that the greater ruma are the most dangerous. | ||
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=== Other races === | === Other races === | ||
There are several races not included in the Himraldan racial hierarchy that warrant discussion, namely dragonborn and spellscales. They hold a strange position in Himraldan culture, because they're related to humans: dragonborn (in Marillia) are humans who've transformed themselves into draconic forms, and spellscales are humans with dragon-blood flowing through their veins. | There are several races not included in the Himraldan racial hierarchy that warrant discussion, namely dragonborn and spellscales. They hold a strange position in Himraldan culture, because they're related to humans: dragonborn (in Marillia) are humans who've transformed themselves into draconic forms, and spellscales are humans with dragon-blood flowing through their veins. | ||
These are strange edge cases for Himraldan racial theory. Luckily, the Himralda haven't had to think too hard about this, since there aren't many of any of | These are strange edge cases for Himraldan racial theory. Luckily, the Himralda haven't had to think too hard about this, since there aren't many of any of these races in their empire. That being said, what's their stance? | ||
Dragonborn are uniquely hated by Himralda. They're viewed as imposters. Imagine if some kind of racial supremacist met a person belonging to a "lesser race" | Dragonborn are uniquely hated by Himralda. They're viewed as imposters. Imagine if some kind of racial supremacist met a person belonging to a "lesser race" who surgically altered their body to resemble the supremacist's race—that's how Himralda view dragonborn. | ||
This might come as a surprise, but Himralda actually value spellscales. Spellscales are viewed in Himralda the way aasimar are viewed in [[Alicantian Empire | Alicante]]—someone chosen by the gods/God. They have the blood of the dragon flowing through their veins, and that's what's most important. Two thumbs up. | This might come as a surprise, but Himralda actually value spellscales. Spellscales are viewed in Himralda the way aasimar are viewed in [[Alicantian Empire | Alicante]]—someone chosen by the gods/God. They have the blood of the dragon flowing through their veins, and that's what's most important. Two thumbs up. | ||
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Yuan-ti are viewed ambivalently by the Himralda. On the one hand, the Himralda accept that the yuan-ti really do have the blood of the dragon flowing through their veins. On the other hand, the process by which they attained dragon-blood was clearly not natural. | Yuan-ti are viewed ambivalently by the Himralda. On the one hand, the Himralda accept that the yuan-ti really do have the blood of the dragon flowing through their veins. On the other hand, the process by which they attained dragon-blood was clearly not natural. | ||
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== Himraldan racial theory == | |||
So you saw the Himraldan racial hierarchy, but now you're wondering: How did the Himralda come up with this? What makes lizardfolk better than xulgaths? To understand this, we must understand Himraldan racial theory. | |||
The Himralda view themselves as superior because they are (allegedly) the closest creatures there are to dragons. They believe dragons are perfect divine creatures—literally gods. | |||
They believe there is a kind of "trickle-down effect" of dragon-blood among the reptilian races. They're at the top: they have the most dragon-blood, and are therefore the next best thing after dragons. Then come the middle draconids—lizardfolk and tortles—who have less dragon-blood. Finally, there are the "lesser draconids," such as kobolds and xulgaths, who have the least dragon-blood. | |||
This is why the Himralda view dragonborn and spellscales with a surprising amount of respect, in spite of the fact that dragonborn were once humans and spellscales ''are'' humans who have some dragon-blood. What matters is blood and closeness to dragons. | |||
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== List == | == List == | ||
Revision as of 21:33, 7 June 2023
Draconid is a term referring to sapient reptilians, amphibians, and related creatures.
The term originates from the Himralda. In their racial hierarchy, draconids are the highest caste. Within it are the subdivisions of greater draconids, middle draconids, and lesser draconids.
Related terms
The term "draconid" is related to the terms "Scaled Ones" and "scalykind." Both of these terms, as far as I'm aware, originate from the book Serpent Kingdoms (2004). They are racial categories devised by the sarrukh, that ancient culture of reptilian humanoids who were likely the first sapient beings to be born on Toril.
"Scaled Ones" is an umbrella term referring broadly to reptilian humanoids. It encapsulates the following groups: scalykind, lizards, serpent constructs, serpents, and serpentfolk. It is to be contrasted with "Scaleless Ones" (i.e., non-reptilian). Dragons are not considered Scaled Ones, presumably because they're not humanoids.
The definition of scalykind is as follows:
SCALYKIND
The term scalylkind includes all creatures with the reptilian subtype, as well as the following creatures from the books published for the D&D game.
Asabi, braxat, dragonkin, firenewt, frost salamander, khaasta, kobold, lizard king/queen, lizardfolk, pterafolk, sa-rkrith, stingtail, tren, troglodyte.[1]
Himraldan racial hierarchy
| Draconids | Greater draconids | Himralda |
|---|---|---|
| Middle draconids | Dragonborn · Lizardfolk · Spellscales · Tortles | |
| Lesser draconids | Kobolds · Xulgaths · Yuan-ti | |
| Ruma | Greater ruma | Aarakocra · Chshakas · Drow · Gith · Humans · Vedalken |
| Lesser ruma | Pretty much everyone else |
This is the Himraldan racial hierarchy. There are two main groups: the draconids and the ruma (non-draconids). The draconids are up top, and at the top of the draconids are, of course, the Himralda. The Himralda believe they are perfection.
They believe "middle draconids" are useful as clerks, bureaucrats, house servants, guards, tutors for small children, advisors, low-level priests, and low-level military officers. They're nice to keep around, so long as they understand their place. The exceptional among them can even rise up to become relatively important members of society.
Lesser draconids barely make the cut as draconids. These are good to keep as slaves and cannon fodder. They're only barely treated better than ruma.
Ruma are not persons, they are chattel—livestock. They are to be fed to gerasaurs and pecaros, and used to fill potholes. The only difference between greater and lesser ruma is that the greater ruma are the most dangerous.
Himraldan racial theory
So you saw the Himraldan racial hierarchy, but now you're wondering: How did the Himralda come up with this? What makes lizardfolk better than xulgaths? To understand this, we must understand Himraldan racial theory.
The Himralda view themselves as superior because they are (allegedly) the closest creatures there are to dragons. They believe dragons are perfect divine creatures—literally gods.
They believe there is a kind of "trickle-down effect" of dragon-blood among the reptilian races. They're at the top: they have the most dragon-blood, and are therefore the next best thing after dragons. Then come the middle draconids—lizardfolk and tortles—who have less dragon-blood. Finally, there are the "lesser draconids," such as kobolds and xulgaths, who have the least dragon-blood.
This is why the Himralda view dragonborn and spellscales with a surprising amount of respect, in spite of the fact that dragonborn were once humans and spellscales are humans who have some dragon-blood. What matters is blood and closeness to dragons.
Endnotes
- ↑ Source: Serpent Kingdoms, p. 5.
