Homebrew Avian Species Details

Avians, The Bird Folk

Appearance

•(Bodies)•

Bodies

An Avians body is much like a human, their torsos, head and arms are human like, with their faces looking different depending on their climate and location. Some may have freckles and birthmarks on their bodies and some may have smaller feathers on their shoulders and cheeks. They have long, pointed ears which also sport feathers. Their skin colours range anywhere from pale to dark and some may even have vitiligo, although rare. Women and Men aren’t much different from each other as Avains don’t typically tie themselves down with frivolous things such as gender. They can have any natural eye colours such as Blues, Greens, Browns and Hazel.

Wings

The wings of an avian is just as Important to them as their heart and brain. The elders believe that the wings carry their souls in them, other believe their wings are a spirit of their own. Nonetheless, an avians wings are the most important part of an avian. Wing removal is the single most painful thing an Avian can experience, both physically and mentally, a fate worse than death itself. An Avian who’s had their wings taken from them are nothing more than a shell, often whimpering and trembling for the remainder of their life, as though their souls have been ripped from them. Wing shapes, colours and sizes vary depending on climate, larger, thicker, white wings of a snowy owl would be best for an arctic climate for example, but may slow down flight speed.

Tails

Their tails are long and sleek tail feathers, some tails drag on the floor while others are held slightly above the ground. Their tails help them with flight as well as balance for ground work.

Legs

Their legs resemble that of a birds, with four talkings for a stronger grip. They use their legs for attacking too, as they are strong and sport deadly talons that can easily rip through flesh. Avians tend to hang from trees with their talons or simply perch anywhere they see fit. Avians have special shoes made for their feet, to both protect their feet while also leaving room to grab and claw things with their talons.

Other features / Rarities

Avians can have certain rarities and conditions, such as smaller feathers on their cheeks and elbows, heterochromia, vitiligo and deformities. Some Avians are born with fragile wings that grounds them, some have misshapen or odd wings, some are born without a wing, but Avian medics are finding new ways to improve their lives and help them fly if they can.

 

•(Climate Types)•

Arctic

Avians of the arctic tend to be taller and more muscular, their wings and tails are by far the biggest and most dense. This makes their flying more silent, but also rather slow. Their skin tends to be more pale in the Arctic, but can vary. Arctic Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Snowy Owls, Arctic Terns, Sternidaes, Long-Tailed Jaegers and Gyrfalcons.

Coast

Avians of the coast are medium sized and stocky. Their wings are built for handling the unpredictable and strong wind currents of the coast. The wings and tails are sharper, narrower and lighter with a muscular build.  Costal Avians tend to be pale to tan in the coast but can vary. Coastal tend to resemble birds similar but not limited to;

Hooded Dotterels, Ruddy Turnstones, Puffins, Sea Gulls and Kestrels.

Desert

Desert Avians are smaller and rather muscular, with sun bitten skin. Their wings and tails are smaller and sharper with a muscular build. They are thin to better withstand the heat and have great speed. Desert Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Burrowing Owls, Collard SparrowHawks, Ospreys, Golden Eagles and Hawks

Forest

Desert avians are the most versatile in appearances, they can be small to tall with varying wing shapes and sizes, although your more popular wing types would be macaws and hummingbirds. Due to their versatility their skin complexion also varies widely here. Forest Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Parrots, Macaws, Barn Owls, Hummingbirds, Robins and Finches

Grassland

Grassland Avians tend to be medium sized with an average build, they have wider, rounded wing shapes and thin feathers. They have any skin complexion, leaning to more tan shades. Grassland Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Sparrows, Short-Eared Owls,  Larks, Sternellas, Sedge Wrens and Cercinaes

Swamp

Swamp Avians are taller and thinner, but more agile and quick. Their wings and tails however tend to be more round and thin, however still allowing the Avian to appear slim. They tend to be either very pale or very dark but can vary. Swamp Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Great Egret, Ducks, Ibis, Black-Necked Stilts, Cranes and Green Herons

Under Dark

Under Dark Avians are taller and lean, not particularly muscular, but strong nonetheless, they have a wide variety of skin tones, however tend to be more tan to dark. Their wings are the second largest, being long and rounded. Under Dark Avians tend to have wings and tails similar but not limited to;

Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Jackdaws, Jays, Treepies, Rooks and Nutcrackers

 

•(Ageing)•

Infant

Infants are live born and come out without wings. They are much like a human infant from infancy to toddlerhood bar their avian legs, feet and ears.

Toddler

When an Avian child reaches Toddlerhood, they become irritable and itchy on their backs and shoulders. By the age of one or two, small winglets will grow, they appear featherless until the age of four, where they will start to grow little fluff or downy feathers.

Adolescent

Avian children by the age of five, start to grow out their wings to their body size, this is when the proper feathers start growing in, however flying is still a far off ability for them as their wings are still fragile and their flight feathers have not grown in yet. By adolescence is when an avian child will develop their fail feathers, usually age five.

Teen

Teenage Avians between the ages of ten to fourteen will be ready for gliding lessons, usually perched atop a tall tree and dropping to the floor, most catching the glide on their second attempt. Teens will have fully fledged wings by age fifteen, a ceremony is held for their first proper flight as a right of way for an avian. Avians aged fifteen and onwards have fully developed wings and tails, and are able to fly at their leisure, most are kept on lessons to better understand flying. Teens are usually rambunctious and sloppy with their flying, but some excel and make great flyers by sixteen.

Adult

Adult Avians are fully grown, with wings two times their body height and tails that may drag on the floor. They are usually well rounded flyers and skilled at aerial combat.

Elder

Elders are frailer and tend to shrink a bit, their feathers moult quicker and their wings can no longer carry them, but Elders still prize their wings, preening them and getting the younger ones to help. Elders tend to be good story tellers.

 

•(Personality)•

General Personality

Avians are very playful and curious beings, they are never seen siting still on their own whim. They are very charismatic and hospitable, but that is not so say they can’t be nasty and rude. The majority of Avians are friendly and welcoming, with a warm and easy going vibe about them. Avians can also be quite blunt or rude depending on their life’s circumstances, as with anyone. Avians would tend to but are not limited to the alignment of Neutral Good or Neutral Chaotic.

 

Living and Life

•(Cultures and Traditions)•

First Flight Ceremony

First flight ceremonies are held on an Avians 15th birthday. Family and often community members join for the teens first flight with their fully fledged wings. These ceremonies are accompanied by a plethora of food and a good party. The avian teen will usually have their feathers painted after their flight and are given their first braid with a single blue bead.

Parting Ceremony

This is more of a small goodbye party when a child decides to ‘leave the nest’ this party consists of food and drinks with a few family members. Another braid would be added with two blue beads.

House Warmings

When an avian moves into a house, they often have family and friends over for a few drinks and food. It is seen as good luck to bring salmon to a housewarming party.

Day of the Phoenix

Day of the Phoenix is the single most important celebration of an avian, it is held annually on the first of August and celebrates their hero, Thistle, who fought against hunters who took the wings of their people. Elders say that when in dire need, Thistle will return with burning wings of fire and rise like a Phoenix from the ashes.

Jade Moon Festival

To celebrate the Jade moon, the Jade moon brings a fresh start and Avian folk go all out, inviting other peoples to join their celebration. The Jade moon symbolises freedom and the fresh start to a new cycle. Avians believe decorating with white lotus brings good luck and an excellent harvest. They dish out the streets with lanterns and offer traditional foods to others.

Leadership Ceremony

A ceremony to celebrate the becoming of a new leader, it’s a small one and often continued by the leaders close friends and family. However a large braid is added with two jade beads. Few of their feathers are often dyed blue and white.

Courtship

Courtship is very important to Avians, and as Avians are a friendly folk, often they have relationships with non-avians. Courting is often shown through preening feathers and braiding or preening hair. They will often add beads of jade and emerald as those are most cherished in the Avian community. Wearing the flight feather of an avian is to publicly announce that you are courting the avian of that feather. The feather is often worn in the braid and held in place with the beads.

Braiding and Preening

Braiding and preening isn’t always a courting act, it is also shared with close friends and family members. Certain braids mean certain things, especially when paired with beads of certain colours. Some being a coming of age, some meaning leadership, some being for fun.

 

•(Home and Lifestyle)•

Homes

Avian homes are typically comfortable, with shiny Knick knacks around the place for visitors to see, they often have a spare room for visitors to stay and always have plentiful food at the ready. Most avian homes sport a fireplace and comfortable furniture, which has been modded to accommodate their wings such as couches and table seats having spaces to put their wings through comfortably. Their beds are large and circular to support their wings.

Family

Most avian family’s have up to three children, avian families are close and typically stay in contact for their lives. Family is held together through traditions, celebrations and understanding. Although, not every family is close, and not every family is well off.

 

•(Naming)•

How they are named

Avian names are typically nature based, although not limited to. Most names denote from nature such as different weather, plants, animals, seasons and so forth. Names can also be generic, however it is less known. Due to avian names being nature based, they typically are gender neutral names, leaving the avian up for presentation, presenting fem, masc or androgynous.

Names

Names include but are not limited to;

Breeze, Zephyr, Thorn, River, Twig, Rain, Clout and Dew

 

•(Speech / Language)•

Speech

Avian speech is mostly in common however they use clicks, whistles and chirps to exagérate their speech. They often use these sounds on their own as emotive gestures and sounds. They often speak quickly making it hard for people to keep up with what they’re saying. Avians often use household lingo which others may not understand, such as insults and threats which may be taken as a joke, or a joke taken as a threat.

Language

Avians speak fluent in common and Aarakocra, however can learn other languages. Avians used to have their own language, however over the years they have lost it, wing used to speaking common.

 

•(Belief)•

Avian Goddess

The Avians believe in the same goddess as the Wolven, being Lupe. Lupe is the Goddess of the moon, wind and sky. Lupe is often depicted to appear as a white dove to the Avians, often in dreams.

Avian Heroine

Thistle is the Avians beloved heroine, who had taken out a chunk of the hunters on one moon cycle, she sacrificed herself and disappeared after her wings where taken. Elders say that when in dire need, Thistle will run with burning wings of fire and rise from the ashes like a Phoenix.

Avians Reaper

Avians believe that when it is their time to go, a pure white barn owl will visit and take them to the afterlife, where they will fly as the bird they resembled in life, free from the restraints of hunger, boredom and fear, never again will they feel tired.

 

•(Origins)•

Lore

No one knows when the Avian first appeared, it started with few, then there where many. The avians are a kind and playful folk and got along with many, and where readily accepted in most, if not, all communities. Their celebrations often brought light to wherever they went.

They became part of every city and town in every climate and kingdom, bringing play and fun wherever they went. The avians told stories about their people, telling people of their wings, and how precious their wings are to them, describing them as their souls. Hey welcomed people into their homes, which they set up in any town, heir homes where cozy and comfortable.

As years went by the avians developed featured according to their climate, sir bodies and wings adapted and changed, they became versatile and plenty, no one Avian looking the same as another.

Everything was sound for the Avians, they thrived wherever the went, but within the inner city however, a strange and horrifying ordeal was taking place, what started as an inner city ordeal spread like wildfire. Poachers. Hunters who sought after Avians wings, after all, an avian’s wings where so pretty and would make for stunning wall piece. Avians where being taken to have their wings ripped from them, left to suffer the after effects.

A strange little avian from Wolvenden rose to fight against the hunters, forming an alliance with the Wolven to fight against the hunters, taking their hands as punishment. This little Avian was Thistle, small with sharp and narrow wings and rusty red feathers. Thistle was dubbed the leader of this operation to rid the hunters and, for the most part it was working, hunters where backing down, however in the midst of it all, Thistle was struck down, and the hunters had cut off her wings.

She disappeared after that. But avian folk say that when in dire need, she will appear with wings of fire. To this day, the Wolven fight against hunters in her honour, and Avians celebrate The Day of the Phoenix.

The Avian folk today celebrate often, they cherish their loved ones, they cherish their comfortable lives and they are thankful that the hunters are less.

Avian Traits

As an Avian, 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 an Avian requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Avians live slightly longer than Humans, living to about 100-120yrs

Alignment

Most Avians 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

Avians avarage about 5 feet tall, however can vary in heights between 4’-8’. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium to Large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 45 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.