Homebrew Aarakocra (Australian Wedge-tailed Version) Species Details

Sequestered in high mountains, by the rolling oceans or in forests among tall trees, the Wedge-tailed Aarakocra, sometimes called birdfolk, evoke fear and wonder.

They are scouts, hunters and explorers.

Beak and Feather

From below, the Wedge-tailed Aarakocra look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch, dive down to attack prey or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, Wedge-tailed Aarakocra might reach 6-7 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.

Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes membership in a tribe. They are generally a dark brown-black colour, sometimes with tribal markings painted onto their bodies. Their heads complete the avian appearance, being eagle in appearance with distinct tribal variations. 

Sky Wardens

Nowhere are the Wedge-tailed more comfortable than in the sky. They can spend hours in the air, and some go as long as days, locking their wings in place and letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying away.

Once airborne, an Aarakocra leaves the sky with reluctance. They can fly for days on end, landing only hunt, feed or to lay their eggs and feed their young before launching themselves back into the air. They sometimes forget or ignore vertical distances, and they have nothing but pity for those earthbound people forced to live and toil on the ground.

Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of Aarakocra to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Aarakocra 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. When they deign to descend from the sky, they often do so near pools where they can catch fish and bathe themselves.

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 baffles most Aarakocra. After all, who owns the sky? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, Aarakocra who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. An Aarakocra who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

Confinement terrifies the Aarakocra. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few Aarakocra can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountaintop homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.

Homelands

The Wedge-tailed Aarakocra are a variant that came into being after generations of Aarakocra lived on the material plane, they tend to nest in mountain ranges, by the ocean or in forests some even preferring to nest close to open grasslands.

Once tribes of Aarakocra 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 shaman. 

Great Purpose

Wedge-tailed Aarakocra can live in groups of up to 40 members but prefer to be solitary. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground unless they have to. Wedge-tailed Aarakocra enjoy traveling, while most will just stay within their hunting grounds, some will venture out to find potential new hunting or nesting grounds, or to seek adventure and treasure to bring back to their tribe.

 

Aarakocra Names

As with much of their speech, aarakocra names include clicks, trills, and whistles 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, aarakocra may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

An aarakocra of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed. 

AARAKOCRA BACKGROUNDS

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

The small colonies of aarakocra are insular and remote, and few aarakocra live away from their roosts. Those that do are usually rangers or fighters, constantly patrolling for outside threats.

Aarakocra (Australian Wedge-tailed Version) Traits

As an 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.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Wedge-tailed Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3 and can live about 50 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. Most Wedge-tailed Aarakocra tend to be more neutral deciding things in the moment they happen.

Size

Wedge-tailed Aarakocra are about 6-7 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 60 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Talons

Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

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

Ultravision

You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. Visual obscurities such as fog, heavy rain or snow do not affect your ability to see. Ultravision allows you to see the aura of magical items, spells or enchantments up to a range of 60 feet and can identify the school of magic used, if in daylight it might be too bright to see the aura from magic items, spells or enchantments.

Telescopic Vision

You have the eyesight of an eagle. You can see up to 1 mile away with no difficulty, able to discern even fine details as though looking at something no more than 50 feet away from you.