Homebrew Avian Species Details

Avians

Physical Description

A birdlike race of humanoids hailing from the planet Avos, avians are significantly lighter, and typically lither than most races due to their hollow bones and adaptive genes. Covered in feathers, avian plumage can range from simple short designs of a single color to intricate and complex plumage resembling that of the most intricate of birds. Their feathers come in every color, some dull matt with others being a brilliant chromatic or pearlescent hue. In place of a common mouth, avians develop beaks that match their environments and dietary preferences.

History

Avian culture revolves around the worship of Kluex, the winged god of the Aether. Avians believe they were stripped of their wings as punishment for entering the mortal world and will only regain their wings in the afterlife should they achieve absolution through worship. Throughout their history avians have always been a primitive race, making little scientific progress. Avian numbers were beginning to dwindle when a superior race took pity and bestowed the gift of advanced technology upon them. This new found tech allowed the avians to flourish and spread across the universe, building temples of worship as they go.

It is unclear what happened to the race that gifted the avians this technology as the information and stories have been lost, or altered over time. Through careful retelling and rewriting of history by the Stargazers, most avians believe that it was Kleux who gifted this technology to their race. In doing so, the avians would have a means for a second chance to be faithful, and to earn their wings and take their place at Kluex’s side in the Aether.

Society

Avian culture is centered around the worship of Kluex, the "Winged God of the Aether". According to their religion, the avian once existed outside the mortal plane alongside their god, but grew jealous of the mortals' pleasures. The avians crossed into the material world, an act punished by stripping them of their ethereal wings, dooming them to be forever flightless. An avian can only be reunited with Kluex by shedding their mortal body while keeping the truest of faith in their hearts. Ceremonies to achieve this state of pure being include ritualistic sacrifices of captured enemies, and an elaborate procession that culminates in the most devout, chosen by the priests, climbing a tall tower and taking a leap of faith, their spirit breaking free of their mortal prison and flying into the Aether, as their now-discarded body plummets to the ground below.

This bloody theology does not sit well with all avians, however, and a growing number have rejected the words of the Stargazers and the divinity of Kluex. Calling themselves "Grounded", they have taken to the stars and formed their own colonies. Some have crafted terrestrial flying ships and make their lives in piracy, and many others have joined multi-racial organizations like the Terrene Protectorate.

Avians soldiers are trained from birth to be fierce warriors and will protect their temples at any cost. Avian weaponry may look primitive at first glance, but the incorporation of advanced technology makes them particularly formidable. Avian generals forge wings for themselves that function much like jetpacks.

Avians stone structures, simple clothing, deeply-religious nature and rather simplistic battle tactics (primarily consisting of "overwhelm the enemy with thousands of disposable soldiers") make them seem primitive at first glance. But the avian are very intelligent, and anyone brave or foolish enough to venture into an avian temple or tomb will find examples of advanced -and deadly- technology, powered by Avolite crystals. These enigmatic power sources are mined solely by the Stargazer priests on their homeworld, and power everything from simple lights to spaceships capable of interstellar travel.

Avian Traits

Strong and religious bird race from Starbound related to humans in many ways.

Ability Score Increase

Wisdom increases by 1. Dexterity increases by 1

Avian Training

You are proficient in two simple weapons and two martial weapons of your choice.

Sharp Eyes

You are proficient in the Perception skill. In addition, you can see as if you were looking through a telescope at any time.

Light Bones

Resistant to fall damage

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Avian, and one other language of your choice.

Ability Score Increase

Intelligence Increases by 1

Kalex's Faithful

You are proficient in the Religion skill.

Kalex's Favor

Once per day, when you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.