Homebrew Aarakocra (Dire Stork) Species Details

Typically found as solitary hunters in swamp, jungle or rain forest, the Dire Stork, sometimes called spade-bills, evoke fear.

Dire storks are carnivorous. They resist fear and are masters of Intimidation with seemingly unblinking, large eyes and a natural brow furrow. They have claw-hands at the front of the folded (at the elbow, unfurled) wings. each wing/hand can carry up to 5 pounds and can manage some crude mutual manipulation with the other hand, but they cannot SWING tools or weapons. They can make a stabbing attack. They excel at Stealth.

Many Dire storks aren’t even native to the Material Plane. They hail from a world beyond — from the boundless vistas of the Elemental Plane of Air.

Flight is not their normal condition, but they most often stand, walk or walk.

They are immigrants, refugees, scouts, and explorers, and not especially social, preferring to hunt for one, or an added mate and up to 3 chicks.

Beak and Feather

From below, Dire storks look much like gigantic birds with the largest wingspan among aarakocra kind.When they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their roughly humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, Dire storks might reach 5 and a half feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.

Feathers cover their bodies. Males are more darkly colored, with feathers of dull hue, or varying degrees of black and gray. Their heads have a terrifying appearance, like a that of stork or pelican with the roughly conical, slightly 3-sided beak that can be up to 9 inches long. They can swallow prey whole up to the size of a medium dog and can bite larger prey into "bite-sized" portions.

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.

Unlike the typical aarakocra, the Dire stork is territorial and possessive, as is natural for a solitary predator.

Homelands

Dire storks are not tribal. They hail originally from wetlands, jungle and rain forest.

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.

Aarakocra (Dire Stork) 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 1, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3. Compared to humans, aarakocra don’t usually live longer than 30 years.

Alignment

Most aarakocra are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Dire storks tend to be true neutral.

Size

Dire storks are about 5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 40 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Bill

Your bill is a formidable natural weapon you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d6+2 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

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