Homebrew Aarakofling Species Details

 Talons and Feathers

From below, aarakoflings look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, aarakocra might reach 6 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons. Feathers cover their bodies. The colors of these feathers often change with the species of the tribes that their aarakocra parent descended from.

Infernal Bloodline

Aarakoflings are derived from tiefling bloodlines. Their infernal heritage has left a clear imprint on their appearance. Aarakofling have large horns that take any of a variety of shapes: some have curling horns like a ram, others have straight and tall horns like a gazelle’s, and some spiral upward like an antelopes’ horns. Their canine teeth are sharply pointed, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, but also include various shades of red. Their hair, cascading down from behind their horns, is usually dark, from black or brown to dark red, blue, or purple.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Aarakoflings subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns, often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect.

Lacking a homeland, aarakoflings know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when a aarakofling’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the aarakofling learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a aarakofling gives someone loyalty, the aarakofling is a firm friend or ally for life.

Avian Mannerisms

Much like their aarakocra ancestors, the resemblance of aarakoflings to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Aarakoflings 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. 

Many aarakoflings punctuate their speech with chirps, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. An aarakoflings might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; an aarakofling’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership baffles most aarakocra. This carries on into aarakoflings. After all, who owns the sky? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, aarakoflings who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. An aarakofling who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

 Names

Aarakofling names fall under the same groups as their ancestors. Tieflings born into another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Infernal language, passed down through generations, that reflect their fiendish heritage. On the other hand, as with much of their speech, aarakocra names include clicks, trills, and whistles to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, aarakocra may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names. An aarakofling could have name traits from either parent. Like tieflings, some aarakoflings adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept and then try to embody that concept. For some, the chosen name is a noble quest. For others, it’s a grim destiny.

Male Infernal Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai

Female Infernal Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta

“Virtue” Names: Art, Carrion, Chant, Creed, Despair, Excellence, Fear, Glory, Hope, Ideal, Music, Nowhere, Open, Poetry, Quest, Random, Reverence, Sorrow, Temerity, Torment, Weary

An aarakofling of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed. Much like their aarakocra ancestors. 

MET WITH MISTRUST

Ignorant people tend to be suspicious of Aarakoflings, assuming that their infernal heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that a tiefling bloodline doesn’t affect their personality. They are gifted with magic from the infernal realms but chart their own course in life.

Aarakofling Traits

Aarakoflings share certain racial traits with their aarakocras and tieflings because of their bloodline.

Ability Score Increase

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

Flight

You have a flying speed of 50 feet. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Talons

Your feet are sharp talons. 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.

Age

Aarakoflings mature at around age 10 and live for about 70 years.

Size

Aarakoflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your infernal heritage, 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.

Hellish Resistance

You have resistance to fire damage.

Infernal Legacy

You know the thaumaturgy cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the hellish rebuke spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the darkness spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, Auran, and Infernal.