Social friction against a 'reptilod'

[ungooglable]

Forgotten Realms
One of PCs is Dragonborn. It was more or less OK in the wilds, but now they entered a big civilized city, Berdusk

Locals should react in some way. Again there is a such thing as a city alignment in Forgotten Realms. And it's chaotic good for gods' sake
What would be some interesting reactions here?

 

[Stephan Hornick]

First of all, I would think about who would benefit from which reaction?
A GM usually wants to make the world as immersible and "realistic" as possible.
A Player on the other hand usually tries to personify (or even animate) his PC and to have as much fun as possible.
Most people are not very keen on experiencing stigmata and racism.

So, in case you try to make the clash of his race with other races something that the player (and the other players) and you might enjoy, go for it! But if it is just about making it more "realistic" or how it is "supposed" to be, then I would minimalize this whole experience in favor for other, more compelling experiences.

I didn't know about "city alignment". Nice idea. Again, first of all, this is probably a mean and there are probably many that do not fall into this alignment.
Standard reactions would probably be fear, awe, distrust, greed (who would help him if I robbed him?), curiosity, and disgust (or even hate).
In case, you want to show a CG city alignment, think about chaotic good gods and people for examples:
Goddess of luck and fortune Tymora, hero of the commoners Robin Hood, or just general anarchism for the benefit of the people, etc.

 

[ungooglable]

Chaotic goods means the race could be taken lightly, but nevertheless if people see an outright alien on the streets, it just couldn't be no reaction. I don't know who benefits, but the suspension of disbelief will suffer greatly for sure...

And yes, you are right, the player just wouldn't like to be on receiving end of racism and xenophoby

Disguising her could be fun. Maybe someone can give them a friendly advice to disguise her

Also an encounter with aggressive biggots can be a social trap. If PCs murderhobo them, they get arrested. If they just wait, gurads arrest the biggots or make them leave at least (and then party may decide to try to disguise)

 

[Stephan Hornick]

You should definitely not ignore that fact, but you shouldn‘t punish the player too much either. You can play it as an opportunity for the player to receiving limelight.
Biggots sounds great. Some who try to wield power over others. If the Deagonborn and its party show that they are more powerful, some underdog fraction of the town, disguised rebels of sorts, might help and then contact themto inquire their help to defeat the biggot party. Thus, you show two sides of the coin.

During the public fight with the biggots or their henchmen try not to word their xenophobia with insults and such, but show it. When each of the PCs faces 1 enemy, the Dragonborn faces 5. But they don‘t attack outright, they are afraid. He might be able to throw them away if he is strong and should also be able to frighten them away. Who would like to face a monster after all?! Their leader should stay in the back and encourage his henchlings to finish the job. You can use him to display and name their reasons for the attack. Maybe he just wants to sell the Dragonborn for bounty, because he is deeply in debt to that necromancer who will terrorize the town, if he doesn‘t get the money.

Just some ideas.