Homebrew Avilin Species Details

The Evolution of Avilins

While the first generation of Avilins were made and not born, the newer generations have adapted to their changing forms as they grow older. From the outside young Avilins are seemingly human but there's a darkness that creeps up on the child as it grows older. It feels as if a churning dark ocean is growing larger until a dark gunk clogs the child's throat and dark purple sludge is coughed up in their early teens as they finally shift into their cursed form for the first time. The process is incredibly draining on the youngling and weaker Avilins usually fall into a deep sleep after shifting out of their crow form for the first time. Parents or guardians usually help the child through the unstable process of puberty and teach them to control the transformations. While unable to control the transformations they are predisposed to bouts of violence and often attack with their talons. Some Avilins have been known to lose control of their shifted form in their old age because of the dark magic in their veins. 

Their ability to shift into a crow form comes with some skill advantages and access to other abilities. The skill advantages include being able to, when shifted, to roll with advantage on Insight and Perception skill checks. Other abilities include having a talon attack which works the same as a claws attack when referring to Tabaxi, and being able to fly with a speed of 30ft. But they also have disadvantage on Persuasion checks and Animal Handling while shifted. 

Symbol of Fear

Avilins are often othered by the rest of Moringarde. Many see them as a threat because of the Wizard's dark magic coursing through their veins. This gives them advantage on Intimidation checks, while they are unshifted and while they are shifted. They have an intimidating presence by the nature of the dark magic in their veins, whether someone knows they are Avilin or not.  

Avilin Names

Avilins were once human and have become a race of their own. Since they have their own language they use to communicate with each other while in their shifted forms. They have different names in their crow forms that are typically just a sound a crow could make, regular people who are unable to speak Avilish have no way of identifying them. When in their human forms they go by regular names that can be found in any society.

 

Avilin Traits

Your Avilin has the following traits.

Age

Avilins are humans that have been warped genetically by a dark wizard. They have the same approximate life span and maturity rate of humans. They mature into adulthood during the tail end of their teenage years and live less than a century. 

Alignment

Avilins are unpredictable. The dark magic coursing through their veins may have warped their moral compass or they could be generally the same as when they were turned. There are exceptions for this in Avilins who are born genetically to Avilins, they have more of the dark magic in their system so they tend to be closer to the chaotic, neutral, or evil side of the spectrum. 

Size

Just like humans, Avilins vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Ability Score Increase

You receive +1 to Dexterity and Constitution. You also receive +2 to Wisdom.

Intimidating Presence

Avilins have advantage on Intimidation checks.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your flying speed is also 30 feet when in your crow-human hybrid form.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. 

Crow Shifting

As a bonus action, you can assume your crow-human form This transformation lasts for 1 hour, until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. When you shift, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). You also gain additional benefits that are described below.

Once you shift, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Benefits

Talons - You have access to an unarmored attack with your talons. 

Flying - You are able to access your flying speed which is 30ft. 

Insight & Perception - You have advantage on Insight and Perception when you are in your crow shifted form. 

Downsides

Persuasion - Disadvantage on Persuasion checks in crow form.

Animal Handling - Disadvantage on Animal Handling checks in crow form. 

 

Languages

The Avilins are a people that speak Common and Avilish, a language unique to Avilins, as well as Auran. Avilish is a mixture of crow-like sounds and something that has been unheard before but is recognized as being an unholy sound.