Homebrew Avivol Species Details

Native to the lowlands of Fatastyx, the avivol are a curious race. In terms of physique, they are comparable to birds of the Pelecaniformes order. Apart from their size being bigger, they have wing-arms that allow them to fly short distances.

While they are often merchants, traders or fishermen, their large beaks can make for a surprise weapon in combat.

Beak and Feather

The avivol live in the swamps of Fatastyx, often removed from the rest of civilization. They look more similar to actual birds than any kind of humanoid creature, until you notice their wing-arms.
Standing upright on their long, slender legs, an avivol might reach 4.5 feet tall. The colour of their feathers often depend on their habitat, with males dawning a more vibrant plumage compared to the subdued colour of females. The shape of their beak depends on their place of origin, as many kinds of avivol are known to exist within Fatastyx. One may look similar to a heron, while another to a spoonbill.

Wetland Conquerors

Avivol are known for having conquered many of the wetlands found in Fatastyx, particularly in the Eastern regions. They are perfectly built to traverse swamps, and their beaks are often specialised for catching their prey of choice. While their wings may be small, they can fly short distances in order to flee or gain upper ground. Avivol often live in small communities of about 20, where they build small houses made of mud, wood and rocks to nest. Their young are first taught how to fish with their bills out of tradition, before given the proper tools. While they tend to stick to their habitats, many avivol become travellers, and sometimes even take to the seas.

Culture and Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of avivol to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Avivol display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up.
They tend to have excellent patience, akin to a heron waiting for a fish to swim by.
Avivol often have beautiful voices that can become monotonous the longer you listen to them speak. Their long necks will quickly move around when one is speaking to multiple people, making for a somewhat humorous sight.

Avivol have a particular interest in anything edible. They make a great deal out of a dish’s taste, as it is part of their culture to produce the best one can with the ingrediënts available. While some avivol suppress their culinary interests in the presence of other humanoids, others will judge even a slice of toast made for breakfast.
Food is the centerpoint of avivol culture. They often celebrate catches with festivals, for which they make the finest meals. Every community of avivol has their own traditions, but their interest in the culinary world is universal.

Homelands

Avivol inhabit swamps and wetlands. Up to three communities of avivol may inhabit such a region. They are quite peaceful towards outsiders, but will return with aggression if they are threatened. Most of the equipment they use is makeshift, or a result of trading with other communities and humanoids.

Each community has a housing area, and a large dock along the water where fishnets are deployed. Some communities actively hunt creatures, but this is only done out of culinary intrigue.

Great Purpose

Avivol are inclined to stay with their communities until adulthood, when they go out, trade and sometimes even go on adventures. While their primary interests tend to lie with the community they were raised in, curiosity may cause an avivol to take the request of an outsider.
Some adventures may start this way, while others start out of pure coincidence or self-interest.
It is not uncommon for an avivol to suddenly embark in the name of religion either. In the wetlands of Fatastyx, one may find ancient structures built for religious purposes, which may inspire young avivol.

Another reason may be to prove people wrong. Avivol were not always restricted to the wetlands of Fatastyx. Once upon a time, they were widely accepted within the cities of the East, but due to the disruption caused by a certain criminal empire, of which an avivol was a key member, they were seen as monsters by some and driven out. Their history may inspire avivol try and take revenge, or prove society wrong.

Avivol Names

Naming conventions for avivol change with every community, with each often having avivol with extremely similar names. They tend to have shorter names, with no more than three syllables.

Some examples include: Basé, Eron, Kara, Maraka, Nanka, Rufeh, Tern or Valao.

AVIVOL BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for avivol include the outlander, the hermit and the guild artisan / guild merchant .

Avivol communities are often found in wetlands between cities, from which individuals may emerge to offer up trade. Due to the small number of communities found outside of the Eastern wetlands, they are often outsiders, or come with a purpose.

Avivol Traits

As an avivol, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly at medium speed starting at 1st level can be effective in certain circumstances and dangerous in others. As a result, playing an avivol requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1, your Wisdom score increases by 1 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Avivol reach maturity by age 3. Compared to humans, avivol don’t usually live longer than 45 years.

Alignment

Most avivol are neutral and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Travellers may lean towards good or evil, depending on what they are trying to achieve.

Size

Avivol are about 4.5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 35 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.
Furthermore, you can only fly three times every short rest.

Beak Strike

Your beak can be a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal damage equal to 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier, and the type of damage is changed to whatever fits the shape of your beak, instead of what is normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

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