Homebrew Eotúún Species Details

Occupying the south-western province of Eshos, the eotúún are considered mysterious and cunning. Originally created by Entia, Goddess of fates, the eotúún care little for the wider politics of Selis and the pursuit of power that many other species crave. They believe in the natural order of the world and rarely pursue "destiny" or "the greater good". Any action an eotúún takes is ultimately self-indulgent, whether they seek components, items or knowledge the end-goal is always to satisfy their own curiosity.

They are often revered as some of the greatest alchemists and artificers in all of Selis, as the single-minded pursuit of the own goals often leads them to take risks that others would not - unshaken by the dangers brought to themselves or others as a result.

Beak and Feather

The eotúún bird-like characteristics are reminiscent of corvids (primarily crows, ravens or magpies) and come in all shapes and sizes. Some appear mostly humanoid, with wings protruding from their backs with bird-like legs and talons, others have no wings at all and more human-like legs and feet, and some appear almost as great birds with their humanoid characteristics only noticeable as they walk across the ground. Standing upright, adult eotúún can reach up to 6 feet tall.

One thing all eotúún have in common is their bird-like heads. They may have feathers covering their entire bodies, skin in varying shades of grey or black. 

Falling in Style

While many variations of the eotúún have wings in some capacity, many others do not or their wings may not be well-suited for flight. Just like their bird counterparts, they do all have hollow bones, making them incredibly lightweight and nimble. This not only allows them to move faster than some other creatures of similar size, it also gives them a natural ability to adjust their position when falling from great heights to increase their wind resistance and slow their falling speed. This means they are also incredibly lightweight in comparison to other species.

Whether they are travelling on foot or by air, the eotúún's lightweight body makes them incredibly resilient against fatigue from their travels - they have been known to be able to walk for days without needing long rests, preferring to utilise their 'breaks' by tinkering with their experiments or collating the knowledge they have gathered on their journey.

 

Homelands

Most eotúún live in the south-western province of Eshos. The province consists largely of great cities amidst the treetops of the forests, while the flatter landscapes contain settlements crafted in the styles associated with other races - upon their travels, many eotúún became fascinated with the crafting styles and construction methods of other regions, so have created imitations as part of their pursuit of mastery.

Certain regions of Eshos have become renowned for particular skillsets. The northern forest cities are famed for their alchemy and apothecary skills, while the southern stone cities are more widely recognised for artificers and weapons-craft.

Leadership in these settlements is typically awarded by reputation amongst the locals. Only the most skilled or successful in their chosen discipline are likely to be elected into leadership. Rather than passing rule or enforcing laws, the eotúún look to their leaders and high-ranking elders for wisdom and guidance on how they might resolve conflicts or pursue their goals. The core belief of the eotúún is that if fate wills it, your endeavours shall succeed - every other choice is down to the individual.

Great Purpose

Eotúún crave nothing more than the freedom to explore their own path without limitations, meaning some may tread morally questionable paths. Many will choose to never leave the confines of their borders, instead choosing to spend their days in the laboratories and workshops that they have spent generations cultivating. Others feel the call to adventure, whether that be in the pursuit of hidden knowledge or long-lost treasures, or whether it be an anthropological endeavour to study the cultures and practices of others. Due to their self-serving nature, eotúún are known to be unpredictable and potentially risky travel companions.

Many veteran adventurers welcome eotúún into their party under strict tutelage as part of a mutually-beneficial contract. The revered skills and knowledge of the eotúún can be of huge benefit to adventurers, while the eotúún can expand their knowledge, learn about cooperation and begin to make informed decisions based on the potential consequences of the otherwise impulsive actions.

 

Eotúún Names

As with other aspects of eotúún culture, names are experimental and do not follow any typical traditions or conventions. Some may choose names based based on their chosen discipline, favoured components or minerals, or adopt names from other cultures. Examples include:

Discipline: Smithy, Tanner, Bru, Tink, Rob, Shadow, Forger, Doc
Components/Minerals: Agate, Ruby, Moss, Forest, Dew, Oleander

 

EOTÚÚN BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for eotúún include the anthropologist, artisan or sage

Depending on the individual's goals, and the lengths they are willing to go to achieve this - some eotúún take to the wider world as adventurers or even mercenaries. Those that do may often be criminals, fighters or mages.

Eotúún Traits

As an eotúún, you have certain traits in common with your people. Naturally hollow bones give all eotúún the trait of featherfall, rarely having to worry about the dangers of falling from great heights.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Eotúún reach maturity by age 10. Compared to humans, Eotúún don’t usually live longer than 50 years.

Alignment

Most eotúún are neutral and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Elders and leaders might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.

Size

Eotúún are between 4 and 6 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 70 and 90. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Languages

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

Featherfall

Your rate of descent slows to 60 feet per round. You cannot be wear medium or heavy armour to use this.