Homebrew Avia-Ra Species Details

ANCIENT GOD-KINGS

Depictions of the avia-ra can be found in the ruins of ancient cultures throughout the galaxy. Often, but not always, they are portrayed as divinity manifest: godlike travelers from the heavens. Avia-Ra travel to more undeveloped worlds as evangelists of their solar religion—the Sun Above—and remain long enough to build an enduring civilization in their wake. Some species consider the avia-ra an ancient and wise people, committed to the tenets of their religion. Others cast them as charlatans and false prophets, who routinely prey upon low worlds and defenseless peoples. The truth depends largely on perspective, but the avia-ra themselves aren’t a monolith. Many have forsaken their faith or live agnostically, and the rest pledge varying devotion to the Sun Above.

WATCHERS OF THE CITADEL

The heart of the avia-ra’s religion is the Solar Citadel, which revolves close around the Sepulcher Star at the center of the galaxy. Most avia-ra make pilgrimage to this site at least once in their lives to bask in their holy sun, which (in their philosophy) gives light and meaning to all other stars. This worship is always directed at the Sepulcher Star itself, even if they are nearer to another star or no star at all. All other stars merely act as a metaphor, a symbol, of their holy sun. In contrast to their binary doctrines, their actual relationship to the star and the Sepulcher within it is more complicated. The Solar Citadel definitively ensures that the star remains under avia-ra control, but the being within the star—Old Un—has never spoken to the avia-ra directly. Despite the silence, the avia-ra continue to pray in reverence and make pilgrimage to the Sepulcher Star.

DEEP SYMBOLISM

Avia-Ra are inclined to view the events around them as omens of larger struggles between light and dark, good and evil, and law and chaos. All things have symbolic importance and a place in the grand allegory, even fundamentally objective things like science and mathematics. Most avia-ra hold dreams in especially high regard, for interpreted dreams can tell the future, lend insight into the past, or provide guidance for the present. Those with the gift to interpret dreams are honored as priests in the avia-ra and given elaborate titles, such as Grand Remembrancer or Dream-Teller Most High.

AVIA-RA NAMES

Avia-Ra names come in two-part cartouches, with one or both parts of the name being composed of the names of ancient avia-ra heroes and great ideals. Front Cartouche. Anubis, Apophis, Cani, Canopis, Helio, Horus, Ira, Isis, Nefer, Oculus, Terra, Verum Rear Cartouche. Amet, Bast, Haten, Hotep, Intef, Lux, Ma’at, Mose, Omet, Osiris, Ptah, Set, Thoth.

 

Avia-Ra Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid Size: Medium (about 4-7 feet tall) Speed: 30 feet

Avian Eyes

You have proficiency in the Insight or Perception skill. Additionally, you have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Blinded condition.

Blessings of the Sun

You know the Light cantrip. When you reach character level 3, you learn the Bless spell, and when you reach character level 5, you learn the Lesser Restoration spell. You always have these spells prepared. You can cast each of these spells once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast the spell in that way again when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast either spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level. Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose the ability when you select this species). 

Zealous

When you fail an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw, you can take a Reaction to roll a d4 and add it to the save, potentially turning the failure into a success.