Homebrew Corvus Species Details

 

Hidden in plain sight are the Corvid people. Most remain a mystery even to themselves and are cursed with the need for emotional control and balance in order to use their powers to their full potential. Plagued by indifference, most Corvid people are doomed to take their own life due to an inability to control themselves.

Bad News Has Wings

The Corvus looks like any other human naturally, the only difference being that their form of acne is small feathers growing out of their skin. All Corvid people have this trait, and it defines their identity. The more negative their mood, the more humanoid they become, the happier or calmer they are in themselves, and the more bird-like they look. However, all Corvid people struggle with this exact thing. They are genetically made to be indifferent and are predisposed to mental torment. No bird shows its pain to avoid looking vulnerable to predators, and so it internalises it until it is so ill that it cannot hide its symptoms any longer. A Corvus isn't even aware it is in pain until it gets to the point where it is in so much of it that it takes its own life, which is why this species has become so rare. Parents are unable to care for their young as they are unable to care for themselves, and many children grow up to not understand themselves. The species has therefore turned into legend, and those that remain are more likely to not even know about their own existence. 

Once gaining control of its emotions, however, and learning to allow positive feelings flow through it, a Corvus is able to sprout into the beautiful creature that it is. Its wings grow from its arms and its hair, too, becomes feathered. Its nails grow long and sharp and its ears lengthen, its hearing increases and its range of vision becomes more powerful. It is unable to fully shift into a bird, and only two in all of this creature's existence have been able to get close, but even in half-bird form, the Corvus is powerful. The Corvus is seen as a sign of bad luck in the human realm, a bringer of death, but many have healing properties in their touch. The Corvus takes the other creature's wound into itself to fully heal the other, and takes in all the pain and heals it internally with time. It is an energy-stealing process that takes a lot out of it, depending on the size and severity. Healing a paper cut it easy, whilst a larger wound could leave the Corvus needing a few minutes to once again gain its strength back after the ordeal.

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together 

Unlike most birds, the Corvid people are lonely creatures. They isolate themselves, and, at most, stick with one other Corvus. Two emotionally unbalanced Corvids are dangerous to each other and can stunt each other's growth. A pair of healthy Corvids, however, is extremely beneficial and can make both of the creatures more emotionally powerful and regulated, but the risks are too high, as a Corvus is always in danger of slipping back into old habits.

Nowadays, it is extremely rare for two Corvids to even meet, and therefore, if they do, it is unlikely they will recognise their similarities. This can be good, but also terrible if they decide to pursue any friendship or romance, as it'll leave the two in worse states than they are by nature. To improve, a Corvus must know of its own identity first.

Crow On The Fence, Rain Will Go Hence. Crow On The Ground, Rain Will Come Down.

The resemblance of Corvid people to birds isn’t simply physical. Corvids display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary birds. They clean their feathers with water (they really enjoy a good bird bath their size), and scratch themselves a lot (especially on the face. Not because of pests, but because of the way feathers feel on and in their skin).

Many Corvid people punctuate their speech and speak very clearly, however they lack emotion and tone in their voice, and if they have it, they sound irritated. Sometimes it even feels as though a Corvus is simply repeating sounds it overheard, rather than meaning what it's saying, due to its emotional detachment. A Corvus might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; a Corvid's threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership baffles most Corvids. They do not care for personal possessions. They. like shiny jewellery, however, that is all. Small trinkets are their favourite thing, but large sums of money or piles of gold mean nothing to it. Something small and sparkly means so much more to a Corvus than something large and glowing. It finds it hard not to pluck a small shiny treasure and bring it back to its settlement to clean it and then wear it. 

Confinement terrifies the Corvids. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few Corvids can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountaintop homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight. Most Corvid people are, therefore, claustrophobic.

You Can Cage A Bird, But You Cannot Make Him Sing

Most Corvid people lack a home. Due to their short lifespan and proneness to abandon their young, they grow up on their own or under the supervision of other creatures. They, therefore, lack an identity. A Corvus, therefore, grows to enjoy travel and doesn't like the feeling of being stuck to one area. Through monotony, a Corvus becomes even more depressed and it feels stunted, and will not be able to figure out why until it is forced to be on the move again. 

A POEM ABOUT THE CORVID PEOPLE

My friend, it's time to fly again, I never knew you well,

We have familiarity and meeting you was swell.

I'll never talk with you again, let's hope a second life

Gives us another chance, after succumbing to the knife.

I cannot speak with you for long, or else I'll never leave,

And never reach potential I was planning to achieve.

You're kind but you are bad for me, I hope you understand,

So let us never meet again on this acursed land.

We're both so healthy on our own, it'd be a shame to seize,

We're cursed to be alone or else our warmer moods will freeze.

I wish that we could talk some more, but that is not our fate,

So I must leave you quickly now, before it is too late.

Goodbye my friend, I'll spread my wings, and hope you live enough,

To see a few more suns and moons, whilst life becomes more tough.

We're plagued with a disease, my friend, I hope that you will heal,

But praying for a cure is just not possible nor real.

Corvus Names

Lacking an identity, most Corvid's are not named by their own people. As there is a genetic proneness to abandoning family, a Corvus is usually named by its foreign caretaker, and therefore takes on the identity of that race until they realise they are not alike.

Corvus Traits

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

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3. Compared to humans, aarakocra don’t usually live longer than 30 years.

Alignment

Most aarakocra are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Tribal leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.

Size

Aarakocra are about 5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 50 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, Aarakocra, and Auran.