The list for characters in Dragon: The Embers and its new edition Dragon Rekindled.
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Methods
Oroboroi cannot reproduce like most species do; instead, new Dragons are created by consuming the Heart of previous ones, killing the original owner and acquiring their powers. The Method represents how a Dragon managed to gain his Heart, and serves to define his Ablutions (the abilities of his Dragon form) as well as the kind of Dragon he will be personality-wise. Oroboroi in general
Tropes applying to all Dragons:
- The Ageless: An Oroboros' aging process stops after her Metamorphosis, effectively making her biologically immortal.
- Big Eater: One of the primary mean for a Dragon to regain Breath is to eat things. And they can eat pretty much anything as long as it's combustible, even if it's something a living being shouldn't be able to consume.
- Blessed with Suck: As is the tradition in the New World of Darkness. Oroboroi are immortal, sapient, fire-breathing reptiles with insane powers who can disguise themselves as humans, the cost for all of this is a life of paranoia as you have to constantly make sure your Soul Jar won't be consumed by someone else, and your species is slowly dying out.
- Breath Weapon: We're talking about dragons, so this is a given. The most basic version doesn't allow them to actually breathe fire, but just hot air that inflicts bashing damages to the target. Various Ablutions allow to upgrade it to either actual fire or something else.
- Dying Race: Dragons who mate with humans will only give birth to human children, meaning the Hearts are their only way to reproduce, and they are not a renewable resources. It's pretty clear the Dragons are slowly dying out and will eventually go extinct.
- Kryptonite Factor: Jadeite, which can have particularly devastating effects on them. Jade is effective as well starting with Rekindled, albeit nowhere near as much.
- No-Sell: Starting with Rekindled, Dragons are completely immune to extreme heat, and only suffer bashing damages from fire, although it does burn away their human disguise to reveal their true form.
- One-Winged Angel: A Dragon who uses all his Ablutions at the same time will revert to his true form.
- Our Dragons Are Different: They originated from the Dreams of Humanity before clawing their way to the physical world, and the current generation, known as the Oroboroi, are humans who became Dragons by consuming the Hearts of the original Dragons. They have a human form, and can manifest their draconic abilities (known as Ablutions) individually, although using too many at the same time will gradually shed away their disguise and reveal their Draconic form. They have access to a magic known as Eddict (in the first and second edition) or Purview (in Rekindled), which allows them to enforce dream logic on the physical world. Jadeite is their Kryptonite Factor. And they can only reproduce by having new mortals consume their Heart, which isn't a renewable resources, so the species is slowly dying.
- Partial Transformation: Ablutions are various draconic abilities the Oroboroi can chose to use while still in human form, resulting in their body only partially shapeshifting. The more Ablutions they use at the same time, the closer they get to turning back into full-blown Dragons.
- Reality Warping: Eddicts/Purviews amount to a smaller version of this, allowing to influence specific aspects of reality by enforcing dream logic on it.
- Reptilian Conspiracy: The Oroboroi are intelligent, reptilian creatures capable of shapeshifting into humans to infiltrate our society, and actively try to make their way to positions of powers so they can rule us. The only real difference is that they aren't necessarly evil (or at least not more than any other supernatural in the New World of Darkness) and aren't aliens.
- Soul Jar: Dragons typically remove their Hearts and keep them hidden somewhere as this; as long as their Heart is safe, they will always be able to reform if they are killed. On the other hand, someone else consuming or destroying the Heart typically means this is the end for them.
- Was Once a Man: All the currently living Oroboroi were once regular mortals who were transformed into Dragons by consuming a previous Oroboroi's Heart.
Slayers
Those who got their Heart by killing someone, frequently but not necessarly the previous owner.
- An Ice Person: Their signature Breath Ablution allows them to deliver a blast of freezing air.
- Armed Legs: Their signature Weaponry Ablution, Raptor Scythe, give them large claws on the big toes, similar to velociraptors.
- The Big Guy: They're by far the most physically-oriented of the Oroboroi.
- Blood Knight: They tend to be the most combative of the Dragons and the most inclined toward violence.
- Combat Pragmatism: Most Slayers consider defeating and killing the opponent more important than any form of rules, so they won't bother with pesky things such as honor.
- Klingon Promotion: They most frequently get their Heart by murdering the previous owner.
- Murder Is the Best Solution: They tend to believe the best way to solve a problem is by ripping it to pieces. Played up in Rekindled, where Slayers with high Hubris feel a compulsion to kill whenever someone tries to oppose them.
- Super-Strength: One of their Affinity Ablutions, Draconic Strength, grant them an increase in strength.
Challengers
Those who won their Heart in a competition or a challenge.
- Blade Below the Shoulder: Their signature Weaponry Ablution takes the form of a Wrist Blade.
- The Determinator: Aside from the fact they had to outmatch a Dragon back when they were humans, which suggest a spectacular force of will, one of their Ablutions, Impassionated Effort, allows them to boost the bonus granted by their willpower.
- Did You Just Scam Cthulhu?: Challengers typically got their Heart by outsmarting or outmatching the previous owner in a competition. In other words, they managed to outsmart a Dragon back when they were still mortals.
- Competition Freak: Their main weakness. A Challenger feels compelled to always prove he is the best, and cannot refuse a challenge at high Hubris.
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen: Unlike Slayers, Challengers care less about actually killing the opponents, and more about proving their superiority to the opponent. As such, if rules are defined, they will typically fight by them, reasonning they are good enough that they don't need to break them in order to win.
- Make Me Wanna Shout: Their signature Breath Ablution allows them to deliver a roar strong enough to cause as much damages as a tempest.
Finders
Those who found their Heart in research or treasure-hunting.
- Adventurer Archaeologist: A frequent profession, since many of them got ther Heart through treasure-hunting.
- Dragon Hoard: Their weakness in Rekindled; a Finders at high Hubris suffers a compulsion to collect something in particular, either material possessions or important pieces of knowledge.
- Fast Tunnelling: One of their signature Ablutions, Burrowing Body,allows them to dig through earth and minerals incredibly fast.
- Genius Bruiser: They have a reputation of being all-knowing and intellectual, but they are still Dragons, with all the abilities this implies.
- The Smart Guy: Usually the most intellectual and knowledge-oriented of the Oroboroi.
- Super-Intelligence: They get a bonus dot in Intelligence at character creation, and they get a lot of Ablutions allowing them to increase the Intelligence and mental skills.
Inheritors
Those whose Heart was willingly given, usually by the previous owner.
- Compelling Voice: One of their Ablutions, Crown of the Age, allows them to deliver commands which mortals will be compelled to carry out.
- Control Freak: Their weakness in Rekindled. Inheritors believe they have the right to command mortals, and at high Hubris, they are likely to react badly if someone defies their authority.
- The Face: As noted below, they specialize heavily in social skills.
- Hypnotic Eyes: One of their Ablutions, Mesmerizing Eyes, allows them to hypnotize and pacify people. It doesn't actually allows them to control the target, but it still makes it really difficult for them to act against the user.
- The Social Expert: Inheritors tend to be the most social-oriented of the Methods; their Ablutions are heavily social-oriented.
- Taking Up the Mantle: How they got their Heart; typically, they were approached by an elder Dragon who was tired of living forever and decided to hand over his Heart to someone he thought was worthy.
Tricksters
Those who got their Heart through a con or a heist.
- Animal Motif: They get a lot of Ablutions relating them to snakes.
- Calling Card: Their weakness in Rekindled; When at high Hubris, a Trickster cannot help but always leave some form of signature behind him after a con, potentially allowing people to track him down.
- Guile Hero: When they aren't Manipulative Bastards. They can get a bonus in Manipulation at character creation, and they get Ablutions enhancing their Manipulation and Subterfuge skills.
- Master of Illusion: They have an affinity for the Chameleon Ablution, allowing them to cast powerful illusions.
- Poisonous Person: A lot of their Ablutions are heavily poison-oriented.
- Super Spit: One of their Ablutions, Acidic Saliva, allows them to spit acid at you.
Philosophies
Each Dragon usually choses a Philosophy, which serves to define how he intends to accomplishes his driving goal and use his power. They also define what form of Purview a Dragon will have affinity with. Ash
Originally the Philosophy of nihilism, who believed the world was crumbling around them with no other option than acceptance. In Rekindled, they have been revised into those who believe in destroying so something better will rise from the ashes.
- Bad Powers, Good People: In Rekindled. Sure, they have access to powers allowing them to destroy things, but most of them genuinely believe destruction is a necessary part of a cycle, either to eradicate bad things or so something better can rise out of the ashes.
- Decomposite Character: The Straw Nihilist part of their philosophy was moved to the Nihilists in Rekindled.
- Shatterpoint Tap: A weird variant. Their signature Purview, Ruins, allows them to create weak points in an object so it will break more easily.
- Took a Level in Idealism: They were Straw Nihilists in earlier editions. In Rekindled, they have been retooled into a more idealistic philosophy.
Blood
The Philosophy of honor, believing in rules, oath and justice.
- Berserk Button: Don't break a promise with these guys. Seriously, just don't.
- Code of Honour: The core element of their Philosophy. They strongly believe in honour, chivalry and honesty.
- Good Old Ways: They believe problems in the modern world are caused by people abandoning the old values of honesty and honor, and consider it their dutie to bring these values back.
- Knight in Shining Armor: Blood Dragons have a reputation of acting chivalrous and noble. One of the sample concepts suggested for them even is "Paladin".
- Magically-Binding Contract: Their signature Purview, Oath, specializes in forcing people to keep their word.
Bone
The Philosophy of second chance, Bone Dragons believe in fixing and putting things back together.
- All-Loving Hero: They have the reputation of being almost nauseatingly nice and cheerful, even willing to be tolerant toward vampires.
- Chronic Hero Syndrome: People's well-being tends to be their priority above everything.
- Healing Hands: Their main Purview, Hippocratic, focuses on healing.
- The Medic: Bone Dragons don't believe preventing sickness and disaster always is possible, but they do believe you can always try to heal or fix the damages.
Coins
The Philosophy of Materialism, introduced in Rekindled. They focus on materialism, particularly physical possessions and the flow of resources.
- Proud Merchant Race: They focus on economy and material goods, so this trope is a given.
Sweat
Originally the Philosophy of "hard-asses" who believed pain was the only true sign of life. In Rekindled, they are redesigned into the philosophy of effort and hard work, who value effort and drive, and tend to be into industry.
- Honest Corporate Executive: They tend to frequently orient themselves toward industry.
- The Power of Creation: Their signature Purview, Industry, allows them, among other things, to mass-produce things.
- Self-Made Man: The Philosophy of Sweat value effort and hard work above everything, so their ideal tend to be people who made their way through life like this.
Tears
Originally the Philosophy of carpe-diem, who were willing to do anything in order to free the world from the apathy they believed it was in. In Rekindled, they are retooled into the Philosophy of passion, who try to help people stay in touch with their emotions.
- Emotion Control: Their signature Purview, Passion, grants them power over people's feelings and emotions.
- Romanticism Versus Enlightenment: On the Romanticism end; they strongly believe in staying in touch with your emotions and you passions.
- The Shrink: The more well-intentioned Tears Dragons try to support people psychologically to encourage them to stick with their emotions.
- Warrior Therapist: Given their area of expertise is emotions, they are really good at using it.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: In earlier editions, where they were willing to do anything to free the world from its apathy.
Tome
The Philosophy of Knowledge, introduced in Rekindled. They focus on learning and teaching.
- Proud Scholar Race: Their hat; they focus on knowledge and learning, after all.
Void
The Philosophy of Nihilism introduced in Rekindled, chosen by Oroboroi who got their Heart without a driving purpose. The Nihilists are defined by their reject of responsability or goal, as well as the idea everything in the world is meaningless. They are the closest thing Dragons have from an "evil" Philosophy.
- Decomposite Character: They incorporate many of the darker elements the Philosophy of Ash had in the previous edition.
- Mind Rape: Their Purview allows them to force their point of view on other people.
- Straw Nihilist: Their entire hat is that they believe there is no such thing as a meaning to life and the world.
Antagonists
Deep Ones
Creatures from the Dreamtide who occasionally bargain with the Oroboroi.
- Characterization Marches On: Earlier editions were rather vague on what the Deep Ones exactly were, aside from the fact they bargained Oroboroi for their organs.
- Deal with the Devil: This was their hat in earlier editions, where they would show up whenever a Dragon was in need of something and offer to help in exchange for an organ. Downplayed in Rekindled.
- Eldritch Abomination: They have a completely alien morality even compared to Oroboroi, and they tend to look like a chaotic amalgam of several creatures, giving a serious Lovecraftian vibe.
Knights of the Bloody Chalice
An ancient order of humans dating back from the time of the Dominion, who are capable of keeping themselves immortal through a ritual where they bath in blood. Any blood can do, but supernatural's is more potent, especially if it is coming from a Dragon. This has made them a recurring and dangerous enemy for the Oroboroi even in present day.
- Ascended Extra: They were a secondary antagonist of only vaguely defined origin whose entry only made a few paragraphs in earlier editions. In Rekindled, they have been given more background, their motivations and abilities have been fleshed out and they are significantly more of a threat to the Oroboroi.
- Blood Magic: The whole basis of their immortality ritual is a blood bath.
- The Dark Arts: Whatever is the nature of the ritual they use to keep themselves immortal, it most definitely is morally dubious, and is confirmed in Rekindled to systematically degrade their morality, turning them into ruthless sociopaths.
- The Dragonslayer: Part of what they are.
- Glamour Failure: While their blood sweating is useful to find new victims, it also makes it easy for those well-informed to find them.
- Immortality Immorality: Both types; not only do they stay immortals by killing living beings and bathing in their blood, but the ritual always turns them into ruthless sociopaths.
- Irony: In Rekindled; the Knights of the Bloody Chalice use this unholy ritual because they don't want to turn dragons, wishing to preserve their humanity and identity. But the rituals they use turn them into selfish sociopaths with no regard for life, essentially making them inhuman in a completely different way.
- Humans Are the Real Monsters: They are quite possibly one of the most amoral antagonistic groups in the book, yet they are completely human, to the point even supernatural senses register them as such.
- Join or Die: People who witness their activity and get caught are offered the choice of either joining the order or being used as ritualistic sacrifices. Also, starting with Rekindled, they will offer this choice as well to any Hunter who managed to survive a fight with a dragon.
- Life Drinker: They keep themselves immortal by sucking life out of their victims' blood.
- The Mole: In Rekindled, it's revealed they make a habit of recruiting new members by infiltrating Hunter Cells, manipulating them into hunting Dragons, and after the fight offer those who survived to join their order. This is particularly dangerous for Oroboroi, as even one Knight can turn the most incompetent, harmless Cell into genuinely deadly dragon slayers by giving them the right information.
- No Immortal Inertia: A Knight who fail to accomplish the ritual in time will see his body decaying at an accelerated rate. It is slow enough that they get a few month to do the ritual, but pass that time they are dust.
- Powered by a Forsaken Child: They keep themselves immortal by bathing in the blood of supernaturals, sometimes humans if they can't find the former.
- Supernatural Sensitivity: They possess a strange supernatural sense allowing them to sweat blood whenever a supernatural creature is near, which comes in handy to find new subjects for their rituals.
- Took a Level in Badass: While they always were dangerous, they were at best a minor threat in earlier editions, and had no supernatural ability beyond their immortality and blood-sweating sense. In Rekindled, they have become powerful Dream Sorcerers with many special abilities of their own, and their mysterious founder, the King of the Bloody Chalice, is powerful enough that he is The Dreaded to Oroboroi.
