Homebrew Albatross Species Details

Wise and Charismatic

Albatrosses are solitary folk, preferring to be alone than around others. They are a migratory race, spending about 80% of their life flying between islands. Albatrosses live the longest of any other race in their world, so they are the storytellers and messengers. On top of that, Albatrosses are viewed as holy and have only one gender, that of Folk (xe/xir).

Appearance

Albatrosses are tall and slim folk, averaging at a height of 2.26 m (7' 3"). They have pale skin, sharp and curved front teeth, with ridged back teeth. Albatross is white or pale colors, and does not grow past the shoulders. The hair is often kept very short and they have small straight noses. They wear black or dark makeup. When flying, this makeup is on the cheeks to prevent light reflection directly into the eyes, and when not flying, their traditional makeup consists of a line from their waterline horizontally to their ears. Instead of ancestral cloaks, Albatrosses wear necklaces with wooden beads and the feathers of the leaders of other races they visit in between them. In the center is the feather of the head Albatross. Albatross wings are long and white with black tips. Because of how long their wings are, when they stand on the ground, their wings drag on the ground. When coupled with their feet designed for perching and grabbing prey, they find it uncomfortable to walk on the ground. Albatross eyelids are clear, and Albatross close them when flying through storms or other hazards.

Society

Being solitary folk, their culture and society revolve around traveling. Albatross are considered holy Folk and are expected to be diplomatic with all other races and never get aggressive with them. Albatrosses killing other races is seen as the ultimate evil they can commit. An Albatross' life (200 years) revolves around sharing information and traveling. Their sense of direction is mythical, and they always know which way is north. Albatross are expected to visit other races' societies at least once a year and to return to The Nest, a large island where all the races gather, once every 10 years. The Albatross have a religious leader who they meet with every 10 years at the Nest. Albatross clothing is typically tight to their body and made of insulating but thin furs of animals they hunt which float on or in the Fog. Albatrosses do not go under or into the Fog, merely catching creatures from close to the top of the fog from above. There is only one gender among Albatross, Folk (xe/xir), and anyone who has a different gender is exiled or treated with caution. Albatross travel light, often only having food rations, a knife, and the clothes on their back with them. They are carnivores and eat their meat raw.

Family

Albatross live 200 years on average and mate for life. Albatross pairs will only raise 1 child at a time. When they have a child, they’ll find a secluded small island to land on and hatch their egg. For the first 10 years after hatching, one parent is with the child at all times. After those first 10 years, they leave the child to fend for itself for longer and longer times until it can fly and follow them. Once the Albatross child reaches adulthood at 30, they are expected to leave their parents and set off on their own. Albatross couples don't travel together when not raising a child, instead meeting up at set locations as they travel. 

Albatross Names

Albatross names are chosen by the child once they are old enough to speak. They only have one name, and do not carry a family name with them. 

Albatross Traits

Your Albatross character has a variety of natural abilities.

Airborn

You are able to fly over open Fog for up to a week at a time even while trancing, but walking for more than an hour hurts you.

Ability Score Increases

Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Albatrosses reach adulthood at 30, and can live up to 200 years old.

Size

Elves range from 7 to 8 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 20 feet, and your flying speed is 30 ft.

Long Memory

You have proficiency in History and Performance skills.

Holy Ancestry

You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep.

Trance

Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such meditation is “trance.”) While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Elvish. Elvish is fluid, with subtle intonations and intricate grammar. Elven literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires.