Homebrew Aarakocra, Seagull Species Details

An Aarakocra Variant:

Aarakocra are a race of bird-like humanoids living in the Plane of Air. They typically resemble eagles or hawks, even owls. They are, usually, large birds of prey. They are a noble race who don’t know the meaning of ownership, protect law and order, and work for the Wind Dukes. 

However, this overview gives the reader a look at a possible Aarakocra variant: Seagull Aarakocras. 

Seagull Aarakocra appearance:

Seagull Aarakocra are a diverse type of Aarakocra, as there are many types of seagulls. However, seagull Aarakocra have a mostly uniform head shape; a curved beak and a sleek head. Their head can be grey, white, or black depending on the type of gull; their beaks can be red, yellow, or black. 

Their wings usually are grey, white or black as well. Seagull Aarakocra have webbed feet and talon-like hands attached to their arms. These talons are not nearly as sharp as other, fiercer Aarakocra.   

Seagull Aarakocra environments:

Seagull Aarakocra inhabit several types of environments: Urban areas and coastlines. They can be any kind of coastline, but certain seagull Aarakocra prefer different kinds, such as Sabine Seagull Aarakocra preferring rocky cliffs in cold environments. 
 
Seagull Aarakocra existed in the Frostfell, the place of ice between the planes of water and air. However, many have moved into the elemental plane of water, inhabitanting what little islands form in the vast oceanic plane. They develop small communities, tribes really, and live in the tropical environment. 

Seagull Aarakocra are social aarakocras, and live in large or small colonies. 

Seagull Aarakocra society and mannerisms:

Seagull Aarakocra live in colonies of several hundred up to a few hundred thousand. They form small family units that the elders, such as grandparents or parents, lead. Seagull Aarakocra usually don’t form dictatorial societies. Instead, the elders generally form councils that make decisions for communities. The larger the colony, the more different councils work together. Once a colony is large enough, the councils may form a more permanent form of government, such as an elected king who can be booted out. 

Although Seagull Aarakocras do listen their elders, they are mostly bold, curious, and are born adventurers and wanderers. It is easy for them to turn to piracy to collect shiny loot, although it is rare for them to have a blood lust. They like doing their own thing, and rarely listen to others who aren’t elders if they don’t want to. 

Seagull Aarakocra are more social than their larger brethren. Whereas a normal Aarakocra (lets say, one resembling an owl, hawk, or eagle) may meditate alone, a seagull Aarakocra would rather hang out with friends, chattering away. Seagull Aarakocra have strong familial bonds. Parents take care of their children, and their adult children may visit and help from time to time. Both parents share the responsibility of raising chicks. Siblings tend to have strong bonds or intense rivalries. Seagull Aarakocra even tend to have bonds with extended family and form coalitions. Family is importance to them. Seagull Aarakocra are monogamous, and they have elaborate courting rituals. 

Seagull Aarakocra are usually neutral, lawful neutral, or chaotic neutral. They look out for themselves and their kind, but don’t necessarily have ill intent towards others. They are omnivores and scavengers, and this makes them easy candidates for being sailors or adventurers. They are adapted to a life at sea. 

Because of their connection to both air and water, they can travel between both environments, but have a stronger connection to the plane of air due to not being able to breathe underwater. However, they do make connections with aquatic creatures and can serve as fine diplomats when required. As mentioned before, Seagull Aarakocra have a tendency to be adventurers and wanderers. This is partly because quite a few of them are migratory. 

Seagull Aarakocra tend to use bows, arrows, slings, or any weapon with a long reach. Their skirmishers carry swords, spears, and daggers. 

Seagull Aarakocra worship Aerdrie Faenya, an elvish goddess of the air, although she’s an elven goddess. Almost all Aarakocra (other than Penguin, ostrich, emu, kiwi, and other flightless Aarakocra) worship her. Seagull Aarakocra and all other Aarakocra also worship Syranita, the Aarakocra patron goddess and goddess of protection and watchfulness.

Other than this, seagull Aarakocra follow a wide variety of deities, usually dependent on their environment; tropical gull Aarakocras worship different than cold weather ones. They tend to pick up gods from other pantheons nearby to suit their needs, but migratory seagull Aarakocra can have specific gods for locations unique to their culture. 

Enemies:

Seagull Aarakocra do have their enemies. Evil elemental water and air creatures primarily. They can prey on an Aarakocra seagull community’s youth, appealing to their sense of adventure and luring them into a life of evil. The migratory seagull Aarakocra face tribal conflicts, such as returning after migration and seeing that in their absence, someone has moved into their territory. They also face evil elementals and even large predators. 

Cold Weather Variant: Gull variants such as Sabine Seagulls live in cold environments. They have resistance to cold damage. 

 

 

 

Aarakocra, Seagull Traits

As a seagull aarakocra, 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 aarakocra requires special consideration by your DM.

Survival Instincts

Seagull Aarakocras have advantage on investigation checks relating to smell; specifically, food. They can smell food up to three miles away.

Desalination:

Seagull Aarakocra can drink saltwater. They have a special organ in their beak that filters the salt out, and they snort it out of their nose. 

Underwater techniques

Seagull Aarakocra can hold their breath for up to ten minutes. 

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2. Your constitution 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.

Seagull Aarakocra lean towards a neutral alignment, being entirely self serving. Lone seagull Aarakocra lean towards chaotic alignments, whereas those living with others of their kind tend to be lawful neutral, but only over the laws of their elders. They don’t follow anyone elses rules, and can seem to be 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.

Languages

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