Homebrew Giant Duck Species Details

 

Often hidden in wooded forests and near unknown water bodies, the Giant Duck,  are a wondrous species, having the body of a duck and the intellect of an average human. They can be found in the wild and act similar to a wild duck, or (rarely) are sophisticated and within human communities. Most giant ducks that live in cities and kingdoms explore the world around them as adventurers, immigrants, and explorers. 

Waddles and Feathers

Giant ducks are strikingly similar to normal ducks, having a stout body and a relatively long neck. They also have a slightly flattened and rounded bill.  Their feet are webbed and their legs are typically set far back on their body, which makes them ungainly on land but gives them more power when swimming and diving. On average, they grow to a height of 5 foot (152 cm) and weigh about 100-120 lbs. (45-54 kg)

Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes that they derive from a specific type of duck. Males are brightly coloured, with feathers of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Females have more subdued colors, usually brown or gray.

Water and Sky

Nowhere are giant ducks more comfortable than in the sky and water. They can spend hours in the air locking their wings in place and letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying away. They are also admiral swimmers, being able to hold their breath for long durations and swim incredibly fast. 

Avian Mannerism

The resemblance of giant ducks to ducks isn’t limited to physical features. Ducks display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary geese or duck. They are meticulous about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up. When they deign to descend from the sky, they often do so near pools where they can catch fish and bathe themselves.

Many giant ducks punctuate their speech with quacks, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. A giant duck might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; a giant duck’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership baffles most giant duck. After all, who owns the sky or water? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, giant ducks who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. A giant duck who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

Confinement terrifies any giant duck. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few giant ducks can withstand. Even when drifting in a pond or at rest in their nests, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.

Homelands and Nests

Most giant ducks live in swamps, plains, and forests, anywhere near a water body. 

Once tribes of giant ducks settle in an area, they share a hunting territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe hunting in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging farther should game become scarce.

A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines. The eldest acts as leader with the support of a shaman. 

Purpose

Giant ducks enjoy peace, and having some or little company. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples, but some tend to enjoy it. For this reason, it normally takes an exceptional circumstance for a giant duck to leave his or her tribe and undertake the adventurer’s life. Neither treasure nor glory is enough to lure them from their tribes; a threat to their family , a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the giant duck adventurer’s chosen path.

 

Giant Duck Names

As with much of their speech, giant duck names include clicks, trills, and whistles or quacks to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, aarakocra may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

An aarakocra of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed. 

GIANT DUCK BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for the giant duck  include the far traveller, the hermit, and the sage.

The small colonies of giant duck are insular and remote, and few giant duck live away from their roosts. No more than a few dozen giant duck live away from the nests of their families. Those that do are usually adventurers or fighters, constantly patrolling for outside threats or exploring the world.

Giant Duck Traits

As an Giant Duck, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly and swim at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing an Giant Duck requires consideration.

Keen Sight

The duck has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Dark Vision

Within 60 ft. a giant duck with darkvision can see in darkness as if the darkness were dim light, so areas of darkness are only lightly obscured as far as that creature is concerned. However, a giant duck can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Age

Giant Ducks reach maturity by age 10. Compared to humans, Giant Ducks don’t usually live longer than 60 years.

Size

Giant Ducks are about 5 feet tall. They have stout, strong and lean bodies that weigh between 100 and 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 15 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 65 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Talons

Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Auran.