Homebrew Geococcyx Species Details

 Beak and Feather

The geococcyx being tall for the species is also a bit heavier than their cousins. Standing up to six feet and can weigh nearly three-hundred pounds. Wehn they run they will flatten the body out with the head inline with the tail feathers giving them a length of around eight feet. The legs are long and slender aiding them in the speed at which they run. The walking speed is forty foot over open field. They are adept at moving through rough terrain with each but have to take it a bit slower. (minus ten to movement) The talons are zygodactyl they have two talons facing forward and two facing rearward. Each ends in a claw that can readily puncture armor. The head has feathers that tend to stick upwards with which the geococcyx can move them. The eyes are dark orbs which is a trait they share with their cousins. From the eye moving to the back of the head is a patch that lacks feathers. The patch is of eye width. From the eye the color of the skin is blue to white and than to orange. The orange sometimes is harder to see to feather growth. The males have less blue  tending to be just behind the eye. The beak itself is long and slender. It can also be used as a weapon.

Home

They do come from the elemental plane of air but dwell on the ground. They are found in plains areas that tend to have higher temperatures. The geococcyx has little trouble navigating other areas but prefer the open so they can run. 

Land Wardens

  Geococcyx are ground based with limited ability to fly. They are often used as scouts and shock troops. They will also stand as guards of nesting sites for others. The geococcyx are viewed as being honored bound to the land and air which has put them at odds with others. The geococcyx view this with disdain. 

 

Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of geococcyx to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Geococcyx 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. They clean often using a dust bath when water isn't around. 

The geococcyx like many aarakocra 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 aarakocra might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; an aarakocra’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership doesn't seem to bother them due to they mate for life which is why they tend to get along with others around them. They might protect a farm from predators for payment. 

They will bring treasure back to the nest but tend but use such items that are more practical like weapons.

Homelands like 

Most aarakocra live on the Elemental Plane of Air. Geococcyx can be drawn into the Material Plane, sometimes to pursue enemies or thwart their foes’ designs there. Accident might also send a nest of geococcyx tumbling into a world on that plane. A few find their way to such a world through portals on their own plane and establish nests in deserts or in the grasslands.

Once tribes of geococcyx settle in an area, they share a hunting territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe hunting in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging farther should game become scarce.

A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines. The eldest acts as leader with the support of a druid. 

Great Purpose

Geococcyx like many Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples but will do so when the need arises and leave his or her tribe and undertake the adventurer’s life. Neither treasure nor glory is enough to lure them from their tribes; a threat to their people, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the Geococcyx adventurer’s chosen path.

Two other circumstances might call an geococcyx to adventure. First, geococcyx have historical ties to the Wind Dukes of Aaqa. Exceptional individuals honor that connection and might seek out the missing pieces of the Rod of Seven Parts, the remains of an artifact fashioned by the Wind Dukes long ago to defeat the Queen of Chaos’s monstrous champion, Miska the Wolf-Spider.

When plunged into Miska’s body, the chaos in his blood sundered the rod and scattered its pieces across the multiverse. Recovering the pieces means gaining honor and esteem in the eyes of the vaati who forged it and could possibly restore a powerful weapon for defense against the agents of elemental evil.

Second, geococcyx are foes of elemental earth, in particular the gargoyles that serve Ogrémoch, the Prince of Earth, and will support their cousins without hesitation. The Aarakocra word for gargoyle is loosely translated as “flying rock".

Geococcyx Names

As with much of their speech, geococcyx names include coos, squeals, and chattering 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 many use nicknames or shortened forms of their full names.

 

GEOCOCCYX BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for geococcyx include the outlander, the hermit, and the sage.

The small colonies of geococcyx are insular and remote, and few geococcyx live away from their nests. Those that do are usually rangers or fighters, constantly patrolling for outside threats.  Those that show magical traits tend to be druids.

Geococcyx Traits

As an geococcyx, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to run at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing an geococcyx requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Geococcyx reach maturity by age 3. Geococcyx don’t usually live longer than 30 years.

Alignment

Most geococcyx 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.

Size

Geococcyx are about 8 feet in length while they stand upright they tend to be about six foot. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 150 and 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet but when you run that is where the geococcyx excels.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 20 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor. Flight can only last for a couple of seconds.

Talons

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit.

Languages

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