| #1NaethanylMar 16, 2010 23:22:02 | I had an ephinany after working on the Kaeltori. I was looking through my old books and came across Dragon Magic and found the feat called "Dragontouched". I remembered this feat, as one of my characters had this at one point in his life. Then, I read the feat description. "You have a connection to that of dragons, either spiritual or physical, and that connection flows in your veins." The idea came to me. How, would a person who was not a sorcerer, or not one with draconic descent have blood in their veins? Even more so, how would this character be changed by such a thing, being subject to the powerful impulses and passions due to their boiling blood? Well, I came up with an excerpt from my campaign guide.
"... The destruction of the empire of Arkhosia was one of great loss, not just in life, but in the vast amounts of knowledge that had been destroyed with its capitial city. Since the Draconic Civil war that tore apart the nation, very few pieces of medical, scientific, martial and arcane knowledge have found their way to the western nations. However, some Arkhosian scholars that escaped relayed to me of what they knew, and one dissertation that absolutely fascinated me was the idea of "Draconis Extraho" or the famed 'Draconic Transfusion'. Dragon's blood, as the scholar described to me, was an amazing curative and purgative of many diseases, espically that of the blood and mind, whether it came from a Chromatic or Metallic Dragon. Curiously enough, the dragon's blood could be universally donated to any recipient without any problems. The dragon, however, if it was even willing to do such a transfusion, would ask a price for it, usually in the form of a written magical pact or contract. It would eventually call upon the recipient or guardian thereof to fufill the promise of such a contract. If the recipient failed to live up to its end of the contract however, the consequences of such action would be... severe, as the scholar put it. If the contract was carried out, the recipient would be more resistant to disease, and stronger and healthier as a result. There are ... Side-effects of such an action, however. The recipent of the blood could contract many disorders as a result, such as increased impulsiveness, powerful passions and urges, and other emotional disorders, all mirroring the draconic donor. The most documented side-effect though, is what is known as "Boiling Blood". This is found amongst many creatures of draconic lineages, including trogdolytes, kobolds and even the mighty Arkhosians, or "Dragonborn" as westerners coin them. This disorder is a very severe one. The scholar described its effects first hand. '...The creature would feel its blood-pressure rise, breath become labored, pupils would dialate, and its skin become flushed and hot to the touch. The muscles would become noticibly larger, as veins dialated to increase blood-flow and eventually the creature would feel an uncontrollable rage rise within him, as if dragon's fire was rising from one's chest. This is would eventually block out any rational control as the eyes would litterally see red as blood flushed into them, and the creature would try to kill or incapacitate that which threatened it or one close to it. It would become an unstoppable force, completely unphased by injury or damage done to it. If and when such a rage subsided, it would physically deplete and fatigue the creature, if it did not kill it outright.' As life saving such a transfusion could be, and despite its intriguing nature, it's risks completely outweigh the benefits. Only a desperate person would engage in such a medical operation, and only a dragon with nothing to lose would be willing to do it. Besides, I doubt there is any being (Dragon or otherwise) who would know how to even to perform such an operation even if they escaped the destruction of Arkhosia in the first place..."
Master Chang, Medical Dissertations of the Arkhosians
(Master Chang is a well regarded scholar within the western nations, having mastered the arts of medicine, combat, history and many other academic studies).
I guess what I'm trying to create here is a Dragon Bloodline feat that gives access to new abilities for the creature, with "Boiling blood" being the ability power given to the creature. I just need some help with implementing it, as I know what I want.
Something like this:
Dragontouched Bloodline
Tier: Heroic
Prerequisite: Living Humanoid Race
You gain a +2 Resistance to Disease, Saving Throws against charming and paralyzing effects and an additional healing surge.
You also gain the Boiling Blood Daily power.
Boiling Blood Feat Power
As you and your friends reel from your enemy's blows, You feel rage rise within you, like the heat within a dragon's gullet. You begin to see red, and your muscles tense up and you roar as you release the dragon caged within you.
Daily * Stance, Weapon
Minor Action Personal
Requirement: You or an ally adjacent to you must be bloodied.
Effect: When in this stance, you gain a +1 bonus to attack and fortitude defense. Should you hit with your weapon, you deal an addtional [3W] of damage with your melee attacks and powers. The attack and Fortitude bonus increases to +2 at 11th and +3 at 21st. This damage bonus increases to + [5W] at 11th level and +[7W] at 21st.
Special: This stance ends when either you or your ally cease to become bloodied. When this stance ends, You are also fatigued for the rest of the encounter. Should you drop to 0 hitpoints or less while in this stance, you gain -2 on your saving throws to resist death.
So, here it is. Any Criticisms or Ideas? |