Homebrew Zurah Species Details

The blue-haired woman backed toward the cliff, still smiling, her dark eyes darting from one soldier to another. Her chin, marked by an orange line, trembled slightly. She was holding back her laughter. She gave a small jump, falling off the cliff, and although they already knew what they would see, her pursuers ran to the edge to locate her. And then the Zurah rose again, and where before her arms were, two great wings of blue feathers waved incessantly, making her gain height and away from her enemies.

 

Zurah, also known as the avian folk, or simply as bird men, are humanoids distantly related to the shifters, and who, in this case, descend from people who were cursed (or blessed) with the ability to transform into birds: maidens who, because of the spell of a powerful archmage, turn into swans if they leave certain lake; arrogant warriors that, by intervention of a fey, are condemned to be eagles during daytime; or sailors who, with the blessing of some sea deity, can visit their families in seagull form once each month. People like these have as offspring children who, although they lack the ability to completely transform into birds (normally), retain some of their abilities. The crossing between these lineages and other peoples have created the Zurah, an unique race with peculiar characteristics, more human than their ancestors, but with an unbreakable connection with their avian relatives.

Not all birds are the same

Zurah, to the naked eye, don’t appear very different from humans, but a closer examination points out the differences. To begin with, their blood, even if it mixed, makes each Zurah resemble a specimen of some species of bird, and this is reflected, first of all, in the hair: a raven Zurah will possess black hair and body hair, while those of a swan Zurah will have surprising whiteness, and a bluebird Zurah will show a bluish coloration in different shades. In addition, in some cases, the blood of certain species of birds alter the color of other parts of the body, such as the eyes, nails or different areas of the skin (for example, a Zurah woman with kingfisher blood will have an orange mark that descends from her lower lip to her chin, the same way a female kingfisher has the lower part of its beak orange). Zurah themselves embrace this chromatic display, and combine their natural colors with those used in their clothing or cosmetics.

The average height of Zurah tends to be somewhat shorter than that of a human being, and depending on the bird whose ancestry they manifest, they can show different complexions (a sparrow Zurah will be small and thin, and an eagle Zurah will be more muscular).

Cautious and grateful

Zurah are people who are well aware that in this world dangers abound in many places, and some of those are mystical in nature, and difficult to avoid. That is why some of them spend the main part of their lives as nomads, traveling from one place to another, making sure that wherever they settle, they and their loved ones will be safe, and always preparing to escape if necessary. In the same way, those who have a permanent home appreciate the security they have gained in their environment, and feel remarkably uneasy when this is disturbed by some exceptional event, or the arrival of strangers in their environment.

Although it is difficult for them to trust someone at first, and they even show aggressiveness when their space isn’t respected, whoever wins the friendship of a Zurah can count on it for life, and will have an ally for any business, as long as it doesn’t threaten the life of Zurah or their loved ones. Otherwise, whoever is responsible for the misfortune of a Zurah, or participates in a particularly traumatic event, can count on the individual in question to remember their face for a lifetime, and to react surprisingly viscerally to their mere presence.

The ideal place to nest

While some Zurah have a nomadic life, traveling alone or in small groups, a considerable number of them appreciate the benefits of a permanent settlement. Zurah tribes settle in places that offer them a certain level of protection and resources, be it a forest, a secluded cove on the coast, or simply lands they are able to defend. When they settle in places with trees, some come to build their houses in the crowns of the oldest and most robust specimens. They are a people who have no interest in excesses or accumulating unnecessary wealth, but who seek some economic comfort if they can afford it. In their communities it is common that, depending on the talents and interests that each one possesses, they dedicate themselves to different tasks (hunting, fishing, agriculture and harvest) in which they seek first to cover the needs of their tribe, and trade with the surplus. They are also known for their peculiar jewelry, made with humble materials (wood, stones, shells and glass), but worked and polished so that each piece is, in its own way, charming.

Zurah tribes don’t make distinctions between the different groups that compose it, and among all they choose a chief who will lead them in times of need and will be their representative when dealing with matters with people from outside their community. That chief will also be the one in charge of solving disputes between members of the tribe.

Zurah, knowing that they descend from individuals whose lives were radically changed by the action of some deity or magical entity, are very reserved with respect to their religious beliefs, being common that they lack faith, or, if they have it, they practice it in the privacy of their home. That is why their vital ceremonies are simpler: two Zurah (regardless of gender) marry exchanging small ornaments and living together in the same house, and they divorce by returning those presents; births are celebrated by the community, followed by the chief's promise to protect the child if the parents are absent; and when a Zurah dies, the body is cremated, and the ashes are handed over to their loved ones to dispose them as they wish.

Explore and learn from the unknown

Zurah seek to build an environment that is comfortable for them during their lives, and in which they can feel safe. However, this doesn’t guarantee that they should stay at home. Even among the more urbanized and affluent, it is not uncommon that at some point in their youth (usually around the age of 15, when they are legally considered adults), a young Zurah feels the desire to leave the place where they grew up and travel, see how the world works, and have new experiences to learn from, beyond what the scholars in their community have taught them. Many Zurah use this experience to make their opinion about war, magic, and religion, regardless of what was instilled in their home, and some return having learned the art of the druids, monks, or clerics (although the latter are viewed strangely among their own, since such an open proclamation of faith is seen almost as indecent). These experiences also help the Zurah decide if they want to stay in their home tribe, or leave it to find a better place, or go on adventures on their own.

ADAPTABLE IN NEED

Despite their initial distrust of new individuals, especially other races, Zurah are rarely neutral to them, and after a period of trial, they position themselves for or against them. During the process, it is very common for a Zurah to assess the strengths and weaknesses of someone who has just met, quite objectively.

Aarakocra. “Strange, too much like birds, like Zurah whose curse has returned, and yet how comfortable they are with themselves! How much freedom they have flying through the skies!”

Halflings. “They are probably the best neighbors the tribe will ever have, kind and good-natured, very desirable friends, though… Such trust can be dangerous, it makes them seem naive.”

Humans. “You can find them easily, and you can always exchange news and trade with them. But the human race hides a dangerous ambition and desire for power. And those desires can get those around them in trouble.”

Reproduction

Zurah, despite their condition, are similar enough to humans to, theoretically at least, have offspring with the same races as them. However, unlike humans, the children of such unions can never be hybrids. If a Zurah woman and a human man, for example, have offspring, there is a 50% chance that the resulting baby will be a Zurah, and another 50% that it will be human. Zurah born from mixed relationships will have the same abilities as their Zurah  parent (beyond being more or less alike physically), and their offspring will have a 25% chance of being human. In the case of a human born of a mixed marriage, it would be the reverse, with a 25% chance that their offspring will be Zurah.

Although there are four different subraces of Zurah, it is very rare for any of them to refuse to relate to the others, with pairings based on affection and mutual attraction being common, and not the desire to perpetuate specific characteristics. When two Zurah from different subraces have offspring, two things can happen: if they are both associated with similar birds (for example, two different species of falcon), the resulting Zurah will show characteristics of a hybrid of both bird species; if, on the other hand, the two Zurah are associated with very different birds (for example, a parrot and an ostrich), the offspring will have the characteristics of one or the other bird, but will never combine both.

Finally, it is interesting to note that, in a Zurah tribe, orphanhood is never tolerated, and any abandoned or orphaned child will be taken firstly by the tribe chief, who will be in charge of determining which family will formally adopt the youth: those chosen are usually relatives with the necessary means to take care of one more member in their families, or couples who haven’t been able to have children and are willing to take in someone.

Zurah Names

In the first centuries of existence of Zurah, when they were a folk widely dispersed throughout the world and whose nature manifested itself in specific individuals and families, it was tradition that said families adopted surnames referring to the birds from which they descended. However, over time, after many generations and the marriage between different families, these surnames began to be redundant, and even ironic, when a Zurah was born and their species of bird didn’t correspond at all to that of their surname. Therefore, surnames that made reference to the place of birth or professions began to be used, and those descriptive names were given a new use.

Zurah lack a language of their own, as they arose in different places and communities. Therefore, the names that their sons and daughters receive come from different languages ​​and dialects. It is a common practice for the child in question to receive a name that honors a deceased relative, or if not, a loved one of the family. Some even resort to the name of the person who started their lineage, the person who obtained the transformation into a bird, although these cases are usually less common. Regarding the meanings, some tribes have retained the names that refer to different birds, giving the most appropriate according to the type of Zurah (thus, an owl Zurah, for example, will receive a name that refers to that animal in some way). Other tribes, especially those settled in mountainous areas or on the coast, name their sons and daughters in honor of meteorological phenomena, although in some places these names can be seen as ominous.

Here are some examples:

Male Names: Alarch, Bran, Callum, Corwyn, Dylan, Gale, Gawen, Halcyon, Jay, Kai, Lonan, Merlin, Neil, Nestor, Robin, Sahale, Whitern

Female Names: Audra, Ava, Branwen, Circe, Deryn, Fala, Isabeau, Jena, Kaera, Linette, Morgan, Noe, Odette, Rosella, Seryna, Thera, Vindra, Wren

Family Names: Adar, Bryn, Featherstone, Fisher, Greenwood, Hunter, Lake, Sterryn, Talphryn, Vogel, Wingfield

Subraces

The meeting and subsequent crossing of different types of Zurah, as well as their subsequent divisions over many generations, resulted in four different subraces. Each of them shares specific skills, and groups different species of birds in their lineage: flashwings, longaits, skychasers, and waterdarts. You can choose one of them.

 

Zurah Traits

Your Zurah character has certain natural abilities, due to their peculiar lineage.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Age

Zurah are quick to mature both physically and emotionally, reaching young adulthood at age 10-12. They tend to live between 60 and 70 years, and never more than 80.

Alignment

Zurah govern their lives by the rules they know work, being more focused on their own safety and preservation than on dilemmas about the world and its conflicts. They tend towards neutrality, although it is not uncommon for their codes of conduct to lead them to legality.

Size

Zurah range from 5 to almost 7 feet tall (1,5 m.  1,8 m.), depending on their subrace. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Change

As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance (more avian eyes, longer nails, growing feathers on forearms or face, etc.) This transformation lasts for 1 minute, until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. When you change, you have a +1 bonus to AC, and your walking speed increases by an additional 5 feet. You also gain benefits that depend on your Zurah subrace, described below. At 8th level, you obtain new benefits.

Once you change, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.

Ductile Essence

Traces of the power that made their ancestors turn into birds remain in the blood of each Zurah. These very traces drive your power of change, but also make you sensitive to external influences of the same nature. You have disadvantage on saving throws against Transmutation magic. In your enhanced state of change (8th level), any spell that alters your appearance will be successful.

Song of the Birds

You can recognize and understand in a limited manner the song of any bird.

Languages

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

Zurah Feats

You can choose to take a Feat when leveling up instead of an ability score increase (only in certain levels). As a Zurah, to that list of feats are added four of your own race:

• Falling in Style: You have enough knowledge of magic and nature to give your body the lightness of a true bird for short periods of time. Twice a day you can cast Feather Fall on yourself.
• Prodigious Voice: With practice, you have made your voice become a versatile and refined instrument, being able to excel in singing, speaking and imitation. If your voice is involved, you have advantage on Deception, Persuasion, and Performance rolls, being able to use each one once a day.
• Dive Attack: You have learned to surprise your enemies from on high and hit them more effectively. If you dive straight toward a target and then hit it with a melee attack, the attack deals an extra 1d4 damage per each 10 feet diven to the target. If your attack misses, you can make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 15 to take no damage on landing. If you fail, you take 1d6 bludgeoning damage for every 10 feet you fell, and you are prone.
• Softened Advance: You are able to exercise great control over your body and its movements, preventing unnecessary sounds from giving you away. You gain proficiency in Stealth. Starting at 8th level, your Stealth rolls if you are in the air have advantage.

The Last Change

Zurah have always had their origins very present in their history and culture. When they enter the forest and hear the song of birds, or when they see a raptor fly over a field in search of prey, they remember that once, powerful magics forced their ancestors to become those creatures, even temporarily. This is why many avoid attracting the attention of deities, and are very careful when using transformation magic. Nevertheless, some of that ancient power still lingers within them, and the most powerful Zurah can access it voluntarily.

Starting at 15th level, you can use your power to transform into your corresponding bird. In this form you have the characteristics of the bird in question, with the exception of Intelligence, which will be 10; you also retain your alignment, memories, and personality. Furthermore, any Condition triggered by a spell (enemy, ally, or your own) that has an effect on you is interrupted when changed, and spells like Scrying or Sending won’t be able to locate you if the user isn’t aware of your change nor possesses a part of your body in its new form (such as a feather), and you’re immune to the Locate Creature spell. Your team isn’t affected by this transformation.

To return to your original form, you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (at disadvantage if you have spent more than 1 hour in bird form) with a DC of 15. If you are successful, you will return to your original form and you won’t be able to use this ability again for 1d4 days. If you fail, or if your hit points are reduced to 0 in this form, you will be a bird forever, and you will be formally an Awakened Beast. The Moonbeam spell can harm you, but it can’t change your appearance. Only the True Polymorph and Wish spells can restore you to your original form.