Homebrew Aarakocra Skywing (Arcanum-Bound) Species Details

Folk of Feathers

 Skywing are tied-- physically, spiritually, and artistically-- to the sky. As such, they bear all the distinctive markings of her denizens, such as wings, beaks, and talons. Skywing boast vibrant plumage all over their bodies, the exact color, pattern, and texture of which varies among subrace and family lineage. Males are generally more vibrant than females, although this isn't a strict rule. Their lightweight bodies are supported by disproportionately long, spindly legs that taper into razor-sharp talons. They often stand at roughly 5 foot and 90 pounds, although some get as large as 5'5 and 120. Their faces, though mostly avian, have subtle human-like qualities and expression behind their bird-like beak.

Their most unique asset is their tie to the air-- in place of arms, their shoulders spout wings that boast a massive 10-15 foot wingspan of beautiful feathers. While not outstretched for flight, their wings fold and their taloned hands are displayed, sat at the wrist of each wing and sprouting only 3 fingers and a thumb.

There is no exact bird that the Skywing resemble as they aren't truly related to birds, they only bear their features. Some subraces do share a stronger resemblance to some birds than others, but generally their appearance is somewhere between falcon and parrot.

Free Spirits

Skywing are graceful people filled with the spirit of the sky itself. They boast a very vibrant culture centered around the arts, with a special focus on song and dance. Most outsiders have heard only legends of Skywing dances, how they weave ground and sky together in the artistic twisting and rhythm of their feathered bodies. Skywing spread their history almost entirely orally through birdsong-- and since no race can replicate the harmonic sound of their language with their own tongues, their myths and stories are almost impossible to be known by the other races, even in Arcanum.

Those of less artistic spirit or talent are well sought after as couriers do to their dominance over the skies-- no messenger is better than a Skywing, and almost all mail in Arcanum is sent by their wing. The outer-lying regions, those possessed of less magic, rarely ever seen communication with Arcanum and as such have no such courier system.

Home To Roost

Skywing make their homes in the highest points of Arcanum-- generally around the floating mountains. Skywing live in large communities, often composed of hundreds of individuals of all ages and lineages, in massive cities of wood and thatch and vibrant dyes. These cities are full of song and dance at all hours of the day, making lively metropolises that few born without wings have or will ever behold. They aren't a naturally reclusive nor xenophobic, but the places they chose to dwell and the uniqueness of their language drives a perceived divide between them and the other races.

Many young skywing often feel a call to adventure, to leave their homes and make their own stories to sing along to the next generation-- but these birds of pilgrimage almost always find their way back home. Because they rarely strike out on their own their cities are very few-- instead of founding new cities, their existing ones are expanded and bleed together into sprawling cityscapes.

Skywing Names

Skywing language has lots of sirenic singing and avian trills and chirps, and this bleeds into their naming conventions. Lots of names have rolling rr's, long hoo's, and aprupt ch's. Additionally, Skywing names are unisex since their views on gender are very lax outside of mating.

Examples include: Cahool, Ch'qal, Dereek, Fach'ool, Lhooma, Rranch't, Rranek, Trriol, and Qoch'ip.

Aarakocra Skywing (Arcanum-Bound) Traits

Skywing have unique abilities not known to other races, such as flight. (And, more importantly, flight is revised to be both more balanced and more interesting.)

Ability Score Increase

Skywings are avians second, artists and story tellers first; Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Or, by the new rules, you may use the +2 +1/ 3 +1 system

Age

Although they are avian in nature, it is a common misconception that Skywing are hatched from eggs. They are born as most races are, although mature fairly quickly reaching adulthood at 5. Their feathers start to gray around 50, and most Skywing dont live past 60.

Alignment

Skywing are a gentle, peaceful people who love the frivolities life brings. They are almost all good aligned, and are generally lawful or neutral.

Size

Skywing Aarakocra are one of the shorter medium races, typically standing between 5-5'5. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 90 and 120 pounds. Their size is Medium.

Speed

Most Skywing are equally as fast in air or on foot-- their walk speed and fly speed are both 30.

Dancing Spirit

Skywing culture focuses much on song and dance; You are proficient in performance as well as one instrument of your type.

Talons

Skywing have a set of razor-sharp avian claws on each hand and foot. These claws are natural weapons-- they do 1d6 slashing damage, using strength as their modifier. Because they are also on the feet, they can be used to attack even in flight.

Skywing Flight

 

Skywing boast massive wings with a wingspan sat between 10-15 feet that grants them the benefit of flight, but it's not without drawbacks. You have 30 feet of fly speed, but: Your fly speed is reduced to 15 in medium armor and 0 in heavy armor; you need 5 feet on either side of you (15 feet total, counting your occupied space) to be devoid of walls, enemies, or other obstacles to take off; you need 10 feet of space above you in order to take off; you need at least 10 feet of space to move while flying (you occupy a 10x5 space while flying); because your hands are attached to your wings, you cannot use weapons or somatic spell gestures while in flight.

If you are hit in the air, you must make a dexterity save (equal to 14 or the damage taken, whichever is higher) or you will fall 15 feet downward; if this causes you to hit the ground, you become prone. You may add +1 to all dexterity checks/ saving throws while in flight.

 Additionally, you gain additional abilities at levels 3, 5, and 7

Level 3: You can cast gust of wind a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest, using charisma as your modifier, or; You can dash in flight as a bonus action a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus.

Level 5: You can shoot out feathers to attack at a range both in flight and out of it-- dealing 1d4 piercing with a range of 20/60 and a strength or dexterity modifier, or; You gain +10 to you your flight speed.

Level 7: You can double your proficiency bonus on dexterity checks, saves, and dexterity-based attacks while in flight, or; You can do a fly-by attack once per turn, not invoking an attack of opportunity as you leave an enemy's attack radius.

 

Languages

Skywing Aarakocra have a spiritual connection to the plane of air, and speak its language as their own. They can speak, read, and write Common and Auran.