The Draconid Remembrance

NPC-ONLY FACTION - Not Playable (Event Encounters & Support Allies Only)

"We've seen this before. Three times before. History is cyclical. Knowledge is immortality." -The Petrified Inheritors

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Faction Overview

Philosophy	"Witness. Record. Endure." History repeats every 10,000-40,000 years. This is apocalypse #3.
Territory	Skyhold Archives (high-altitude fortress-library in the Dragon Peaks)
Population	~3,000 Draconids (last generation...no new births in 200 years, species going extinct)
Capital	Skyhold, the Last Archive (neutral ground, sacred library)
Role in Game	Quest-givers, lore keepers, temporary allies (mercenary support), optional bosses
Availability	NPC-ONLY - Can be hired as support units or encountered as events

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The Petrified Inheritors: Walking Fossils

Draconids are not D&D dragonborn. They are ancient dragon-descended humanoids who have been slowly calcifying into living Soulstones for millennia. They are walking fossils...exhausted immortals witnessing their third apocalypse, too old to care, too stubborn to die.

"Imagine an 8-foot-tall humanoid with skin like cracked marble, gemstone eyes that don't blink, jagged fossil horns jutting from skull, wearing tattered robes over ancient armor. When they move, you hear crystal grinding on stone. When they speak, their voice echoes like it's coming from a tomb. They look wrong...not alive, not undead, but something in between. Like museum exhibits that started walking." -Visual Identity of Draconids

Physical Traits: The Crystallized

Skin: Not scales...crystallized stone skin. Flesh calcifying over millennia. Looks like cracked geodes (skin splits to reveal glowing crystal underneath)
Eyes: Gemstone eyes...literal rubies, sapphires, emeralds embedded in eye sockets. Each eye color corresponds to draconic lineage (red=fire, blue=ice, green=poison)
Horns/Crests: Not decorative...fossilized dragon bone grafted into skulls. Remnants of actual dead dragons they've inherited. Horns resonate with nearby Soulstones (hum/vibrate)
Blood: When wounded, leak liquid crystal (molten gemstone, hardens instantly, seals wounds). Scar with crystal veins
Build: 7-8 feet tall, gaunt (emaciated but impossibly strong). Hollow bones reinforced with crystalline lattice
Voice: Echoing speech (calcified throats create harmonic resonances). Sound like speaking from inside a cave

Cultural Adaptations: Eternal Exhaustion

Hibernation Cycles: Sleep for decades to conserve energy. Most are 400+ years old but only awake for 100 of those years. Wake when history repeats
Memory Crystals: Instead of writing, Draconids crystallize memories. Horns grow new layers each century, storing knowledge like tree rings. "Read" a Draconid by examining horn rings
No Reproduction: Sterile...last generation. No new Draconids born in 200 years. Dying out and okay with it (they've seen enough)
Breath Atrophy: Ancient Draconids can't use breath weapons anymore (ancestry too diluted). Only youngest (300+ years) can still breathe fire/ice
Petrification: In 500 years, last Draconid will fully petrify into a living Soulstone (their "ascension"...become what they study)

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Origins: Witnesses to Three Apocalypses

Draconids are dragonborn descendants who have witnessed three world-ending Cataclysms. They remember the First Flood (Year -50,000), the Second Inferno (Year -10,000), and now the Third Sundering (Year 0 to present). They know this will happen again in 20,000-40,000 years.

"To the inheritors of ash: If you read this, it has happened again. The world has ended. Not for the first time. Not for the last. The cycle is thus: Mortals rise. Mortals discover power. Mortals believe they can master it. They cannot. The world burns." -Skykeeper Vyrnathrax, Year -9,148 (Inscription on Skyhold's Gate)

The First Cataclysm: The Flood (Year -50,000)

Elemental titans warred. Oceans shattered. 90% of landmass drowned. Dragons survived by flight. First Soulstones appeared...crystallized titan hearts exposed to primal chaos.

The Second Cataclysm: The Inferno (Year -10,000)

Pre-human civilization weaponized fire magic. Magical arms race ignited the atmosphere. Global firestorms consumed everything. Dragons survived in deep caverns. Soulstones mutated into power sources.

The Third Cataclysm: The Sundering (Year 0)

Dr. Nikolas Theslar activated the Engine, tearing reality open. Void poured in. Civilizations collapsed. Dragons retreated to mountain peaks. "We told them not to. They didn't listen. As always."

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The Three Iconic Draconids

1. Skykeeper Vyrnathrax, The Chronicler (The Last Archive)

Age: 612 years old (awake for 180 years total) | Height: 24 feet | Role: Quest-giver, historian, neutral arbiter

Physical Description

Petrification: 70% crystallized stone. Can barely move. Sits in throne carved from dragon skull in Skyhold Archives
Horns: Massive spiraling horns with visible memory crystal layers (like tree rings). Each layer glows faintly when accessing those memories
Eyes: Empty sockets with floating sapphire gemstones that hover where eyes should be
Voice: Deep, echoing, sounds like speaking from inside a cave
Skin: Cracked marble texture, glowing cyan veins of liquid crystal visible underneath
Immobile: Legs fully calcified into stone floor. He IS part of the Archives now

Story Hooks

Quest: "Bring me artifacts from the Old World. I must record them before the cycle ends."
Information Broker: Knows everything...enemy weaknesses, Soulstone locations, Engine blueprints. Won't give info for free. Trade knowledge (lore discoveries, mission reports)
Neutral Ground: Skyhold Archives is sacred neutral territory. All factions respect it. Players negotiate truces here
The Final Record: Vyrnathrax is the only Draconid still conscious. Others in hibernation. He'll give players his memory crystal when he petrifies

Vyrnathrax's Counsel (Support Ability)

Cost: Trade knowledge (mission reports, artifacts, lore) | Effect: Players consult Vyrnathrax for perfect information...enemy weaknesses (reveals boss AI cards), Soulstone locations (marks on map), historical context (lore dumps)

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2. Emberscale Kalthor, The War-Witness (The Burning Sentinel)

Age: 487 years old | Height: 22 feet | Role: Combat support NPC, mobile artillery, boss fight (if betrayed)

Physical Description

Petrification: 50% calcified...still mobile but slow and deliberate (animated stone)
Horns: Short, blunt, covered in scorch marks (still uses breath weapon)
Eyes: Molten ruby gemstones that glow when about to attack
Armor: Dragon scales grafted onto calcifying skin
Weapon: Dragon bone greatsword (15 feet long, carved from dragon femur)
Movement: 2 hexes/turn (half speed), but hits like siege weapon

Unique Traits

Draconic Breath (Active): Can still breathe fire. AoE cone attack (6 hexes, 8 damage, ignores cover)
Fossilized Resilience: Takes half damage from physical attacks (stone skin is armor). Full damage from magic/Void
War-Scarred: Fought in Second Cataclysm (Year -10,000). Has scars from entities players never seen
The Last Warrior: Last Draconid who can still fight. Teaching others before he petrifies

Kalthor's Aid (Mercenary Support)

Cost: 500 Credits or 1 Favor Token | Effect: Kalthor appears for 1 mission as friendly NPC ally. Uses behavior deck, tanks damage, bodyguards players

Kalthor's Behavior Deck (Ally Mode, 10 Cards, HP: 60, Defense: 3)

"Fossilized Bulwark", Adjacent allies +2 Defense. Kalthor intercepts 1 attack targeting ally within 2 hexes
"Dragon's Breath: Flame", AoE cone 6 hexes, 8 damage, ignores cover (once per reshuffle)
"Greatsword Slam", 6 damage, push 2 hexes, knock prone
"Ancestral Roar", All enemies within 4 hexes -1 to hit (fear). Lasts 1 round
"Calcified Strike", 5 damage, ignore 2 Defense (stone fists)
"Petrified Endurance", Reduce all damage by 3 this turn (min 1). Cannot move
"Memory of War", +3 damage next attack (recalling ancient battles)
"Protective Stance", Adjacent allies can't be pushed/pulled/moved
"Tail Sweep", 3 damage to all adjacent enemies, push 1 hex
"Inevitable March", Move 3 hexes (double speed, sacrifices defense)

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3. Duskwind the Fatalist, The Sleeper (The Dream-Lost)

Age: 731 years old (oldest living Draconid) | Height: 26 feet | Role: Mystery NPC, hidden lore source, potential final boss

Physical Description

Petrification: 90% petrified...looks like statue. Only head remains semi-mobile
Location: Hidden in Sibarian Wastes, sitting cross-legged in meditation. Players must find him (secret encounter)
Horns: Absolutely massive, glowing with every memory witnessed. Looking at them causes visions of apocalypses
Eyes: Empty sockets leaking liquid diamond (crying crystal tears)
State: Eternal hibernation. Asleep for 300 years. Must complete ritual to wake him (or leave sleeping)

Unique Traits

Prophetic Madness: Witnessed three apocalypses, dreamed of fourth. Gone insane from knowledge
The Fourth Ending Theory: Believes only way to break cycle is cause Fourth Ending NOW (destroy Engine completely)
Dream Manipulation: If woken, can alter perception (debuff attacks, confusion, mind games)
Final Petrification: If woken, completes calcification within 24 hours. Has one day to pass knowledge before becoming statue

Story Hooks

Hidden Lore Boss: Finding Duskwind is secret quest chain (translate texts, follow map fragments, explore dangerous Wastes)
Moral Choice: Wake him (get critical lore, but he dies) OR leave sleeping (potential ally for future, but miss lore)
Dangerous Knowledge: Reveals Theslar Engine can be reactivated for controlled Fourth Ending (restart cycle cleanly vs. letting it rot)
Final Boss Variant: If pursuing "Fourth Ending" route, Kalthor and factions try to stop players. Duskwind becomes ally

Duskwind's Vision (One-Time Support)

Cost: Duskwind dies (petrifies) after | Effect: One-time vision of future...shows outcome of choices, warns of ambushes/betrayals/failures (cryptic but accurate)

Duskwind's Behavior Deck (Boss Mode, 12 Cards, HP: 80, Defense: 5, Movement: 0)

"Reality Fracture", AoE 5 hexes: all units roll 1d6 [1-2=attack ally, 3-4=attack self, 5-6=skip turn]
"Petrifying Gaze", Stun 1 target for 1 turn (calcify briefly)
"Crystalline Cascade", Ranged 6 hexes, 4 damage, create 3 hexes difficult terrain (calcified ground)
"Ancestral Summons", Spawn 3 Dragon Echo adds (3 HP each, 2 damage)
"Prophetic Dodge", Negate 1 attack completely (saw it in dream)
"Memory Overload", Force 1 player discard 3 cards (mental assault)
"Fossilized Resilience", Reduce all damage by 5 this turn (becomes statue briefly)
"Dream Manipulation", Swap positions of 2 player Caskets (reality distortion)
"Diamond Tears", AoE 4 hexes, 3 damage, targets gain 1 Taint (liquid crystal)
"Fourth Ending Vision", Show vision of failure (all players -2 to hit for 2 turns, fear)
"Cycle Breaker", 8 damage, ignore all Defense (desperate finisher)
"Final Petrification", At HP 0, turns to stone. Drops memory crystal (legendary loot)

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Draconid Loot & Rewards

Kalthor's Drops (If Killed, Players Betray Him)

Dragon Bone Greatsword: 6 damage, ignore 2 Defense, +1 Taint per mission
Fossilized Scale Armor: +3 Defense, immune to fire, cannot use movement cards
Kalthor's Memory Crystal: Quest item, reveals Draconid history

Duskwind's Drops (If Killed or Woken)

The Dreamer's Prophecy: Scroll, reveals "Fourth Ending" campaign option
Duskwind's Memory Crystal: Legendary quest item, contains all three apocalypse recordings
Liquid Diamond Tears: Consumable...heals all Damage cards, removes all Taint (1 use)

Draconid Trade Goods

Draconids don't use Credits. They trade in knowledge and artifacts...currencies that survive apocalypses.

What They Want:

Pre-Cataclysm texts (any condition...value is preservation)
Artifacts from previous Cataclysms (Flood relics, Inferno ash-glass)
Stories (unique experiences, tragedies worth recording)
Soulstones with unusual properties (research)

What They Offer:

Ancient Maps: Old World ruins, Soulstone deposits, hidden vaults
Artifact Identification: Instantly know what items do
Prophecy: Duskwind's visions (70% accurate, 30% self-fulfilling)
Dragon Heart Shards: Superior Soulstones (+1 to any stat permanently)
Archive Access: Research any topic, gain lore advantage

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Campaign Integration: Using Draconids

Early Game (Missions 1-3)

Rumor Hooks: Tales of "dragon-men in mountains" who know forbidden secrets. First Encounter: Players stumble upon Skyhold Archives. Vyrnathrax gives quest (retrieve lost artifact). Reward: Access to basic lore.

Mid Game (Missions 4-6)

Kalthor Mercenary: Players can hire Kalthor for 500 Credits (1 mission support). Vyrnathrax's Counsel: Trade knowledge for enemy intel. Choice Point: Ally with Draconids (lose Church favor) OR reject them.

Late Game (Missions 7+)

Duskwind Discovery: Secret quest chain unlocks Duskwind in Wastes. Fourth Ending Revealed: Duskwind's plan to trigger controlled apocalypse. Final Choice: Help him (reset cycle) OR stop him (preserve broken world).

Endgame Scenarios

Defense of Skyhold: If allied with Draconids, defend Archives from hostile factions
Assault on Skyhold: If opposing Draconids, storm Archives to stop Fourth Ending
The Final Petrification: Vyrnathrax completes calcification. Players must choose: Take memory crystal (preserve knowledge) OR leave it (let history die)

"We've watched civilizations rise from ash three times before. We'll watch you do it again. Or we'll watch you fail. Either way, we'll be here to record it." -Duskwind the Fatalist

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Design Philosophy (GM Notes)

Why NPC-Only?

Draconids are too powerful as playable (Dragon Heart Soulstones, Breath Weapons, 600+ year lifespans)
Their fatalistic philosophy doesn't fit player-driven heroism ("Why fight? Cycle repeats anyway.")
Serve better as quest-givers and lore dispensers than protagonists
Rarity preserves mystique and impact...every Draconid encounter is memorable

Thematic Role: The Watchers of Endings

Draconids as Arbiters: Skyhold is neutral ground...factions negotiate truces here
Draconids as Tragedy: Watch Vyrnathrax slowly petrify over campaign. Final cutscene: becomes statue holding memory crystal
Draconids as Secret Option: Finding Duskwind unlocks "Fourth Ending" campaign branch (controversial...some factions support, others oppose)

Visual Identity: Not D&D Dragonborn

Aspect	Generic Dragonborn	Penance Draconids
Skin	Colorful scales	Cracked crystallized stone (geode flesh)
Eyes	Draconic pupils	Literal gemstones embedded in skull
Horns	Natural growths	Fossilized dragon bone grafts (hum near Soulstones)
Blood	Red dragon blood	Liquid crystal (hardens instantly)
Culture	Proud warriors	Exhausted archivists witnessing apocalypse #3
Goal	Reclaim glory	Record everything, then peacefully go extinct
Breath Weapon	Constant power	Atrophied (only young 300+ can use)

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