Falconer

In this world, working alone can be tough. But finding allies you can trust (and that trust you blindly) can also be hard. Fortunately, there are ways to find accomplices that will trust you, be useful, and give you an edge in combat (as well as being disposable and incapable of ratting you out). Falconers master the art of taming a bird to help them hunt, scout, and, if need be, even steal. Despite the name, your bird accomplice does not have to be a falcon. Eagles, ravens, vultures, sparrows, turkeys, parrots, owls, etc. Any bird that can fly, if trained properly, can be an excellent accomplice in crime. But no matter how talented and trained any bird is... it is still very possible that your feathery friend may die. A well-shot arrow, an unforeseen trap, an inexplicable explosion are all things that can end your bird accomplice. While this is sad when it happens... rejoice! For no matter how many you lose, it is always possible to find another! In some cases, your accomplice may even die while protecting you or take the fall from a job gone south. How loyal your bird accomplice is depended on the bird (and how willing you are to let them die depends on you).

Falconry Training

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with animal handling and perception. 

Birds of a Feather

Starting at 3rd level, you can use your falconry skills to tame and befriend a bird from the wild. After succeeding on a DC 10 Animal Handling check, you can tame a wild bird that gains the following statistics: 

Bird Accomplice

Small beast, unaligned

Armor Class (10 + your proficiency bonus)

Hit Points (Level in this class * (your proficiency + CON mod))

Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft.

STR

6 (-2)

DEX

16 (+3)

CON

16 (+3)

INT

6 (-3)

WIS

16 (+3)

CHA

6 (-3)

Skills Perception +3 + your proficency 

Senses Passive Perception 13 + your profiency

Languages --

Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)

Keen Sight. The bird companion has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Flock Tactics. The bird companion can use the help or dash action as a bonus action.

Flyby. The bird companion doesn't provoke opportunity attacks when it flies out of an enemy's reach. 

Actions

Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 + your profiency to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d6 + your profiency) piercing damage. 

 

Your bird accomplice acts on your initiative (before or after your turn, your choice), but you may only have 1 bird accomplice at a time, and you may only successfully tame a bird accomplice once per long rest. Your bird accomplice may also use your sneak attack for the turn, if you haven't used it this turn already.

Birds-Eye View

Starting at 9th level, you have learned new ways to utilize your bird accomplice. As a bonus action, you may use your bird accomplice's senses instead of your own and on subsequent turns use your bonus action to switch back. If you can see your own body through these senses, all attack rolls gain disadvantage against you, as your accomplice makes it easier to foresee attacks and dodge them. 

In addition, your accomplice gains your evasion and uncanny dodge features.  

Fully Trained

Beginning at 13th level, you have expertly trained your bird accomplice. Whenever your bird accomplice makes an ability check, you may choose to do so with your own skill proficiencies. 

Take the Feathery Fall

Starting at 17th level, you have completely earned your bird accomplice's trust and loyalty (whether you deserve it or not). As a reaction whenever you take damage from another creature, if your bird accomplice is within its movement speed of you, you may call it to your aid to take the damage in your place. If the damage taken from this feature goes over your bird accomplice's remaining hit points, instead of making death saving throws, the bird accomplice automatically dies.