dragon-magic-oef

CHAPTER 2
DRAGON
ASPIRANTS
36
Illus. by E.M. Gist
Detect Dragonblood (Sp): Starting at 8th level, you can
detect nearby dragons at will; their blood seems to sing to
you faintly. See the detect dragonblood spell, page 65.
Double Synthesis: Starting at 10th level, your soul is
such a welcome home for your ancestors that you can have
two ancestor dragon spirits active at the same time, gaining
the full benefit of each. If you call a third ancestor, the spirit
that has been with you the longest departs to make room for
the newcomer.
PLAYING A DRAGON
DESCENDANT
You know that you are part of a long
line of dragons, even if the details
of your genealogy are revealed
only gradually, and that heritage
is important to you. Whenever
you call an ancestor spirit to
share your soul, that connection
deepens.
The scholars of the First Scroll
(see page 141) share many of your
values, such as an interest in the
power of dragon bloodlines and
the potency of draconic magic.
They teach the meditation
techniques that open your
soul to your ancestors. Likewise,
some dragons know
these techniques
and can teach them
to students. Certain
dragons go so far as to
watch their human relative from a
distance, revealing the true “family history”
when the character reaches adulthood.
Thus, it’s not uncommon for a dragon descendant to learn
the techniques of the class but grow horrified by the evil acts
of the dragons that teach them. Fortunately, once a dragon
descendant learns the meditation techniques, he subsequently
needs only solitary practice. The path to ancestral
enlightenment doesn’t require constant study with dragons
or the First Scroll.
Combat
The most important choice you make in combat is which
ancestor spirit you want.
• The rampaging ancestor is always a solid choice in melee;
no one looks askance at bonuses on attack rolls and damage
rolls.
• The subtle ancestor is useful when infiltrating and attacking
with surprise, but it’s less helpful if your foes are aware
of you.
• The eldritch ancestor has only one benefit, but it’s a big
one: a ranged attack no monk can match. Combined with
Lauthus Thulcher,
a dragon descendant
your monklike maneuverability, it makes you an elusive
foe.
• Choose the enduring ancestor when you’re trying to occupy
a monster’s full attention while your allies do something
else.
• Call the ancient ancestor in climactic fights to the death
with a major enemy.
Advancement
Most dragon descendants learn the
necessary meditative techniques
from a dragon or from members of
the First Scroll. As you gain more
levels in this class, First Scroll
researchers might ask for your help.
On the other hand, a chromatic
dragon might tempt you with power
and an alliance, bringing you face to
face with the truth about your heritage—there
are powerful evildoers
in your past.
After you’ve learned how to
connect with your ancestor spirits,
advancing as a dragon descendant is
mostly a matter of solitary practice
and meditation. Once you enter
the class, your instructors have no
further insight to provide, and they
can’t prevent your advancement
even if you spurn them.
At every oddnumbered
level,
you become able
to connect to a new
ancestor dragon spirit.
The first time you do so is during an extended
meditation not unlike a seance. You converse with
your ancestor, and thereafter that same ancestor spirit will
return whenever you call. Some dragon descendants revel
in the connection with their ancestry and treat the spirits
as friends. Others hold them at a serene distance, and a few
smile as they force the evildoers of the past to make amends
by using their power for good.
When you gain access to a new ancestor, take some time to
think about who that dragon was in life. It’s more interesting
to plead, “Aid me, oh Kur-i-yah of the Howling Mountains”
than to simply say “I call my rampaging ancestor.”
Resources
Because dragon descendants are solitary in nature, individuals
provide little if anything in the way of resources for
one another. Unless you are affiliated with an organization
such as the First Scroll (see below), it is likely that the only
resources you have access to are those that you procure for
yourself.