Homebrew Aer Species Details

Powerfully Built: 

The Aer are a tall, and heavily built people, well suited for their continuous struggle against the harsh environment of their homeland.  They stand around six feet tall on average, with well developed musculature.  They have features that make them stand out from other humanoids, in the form of their vestigial, membranous wings sprouting from a secondary scapula; thin, whip-like tails, often used in non-verbal communication; and the patches of small scales on their face and body.  Some Aer have horns, though these horns are considered spiritually significant and usually make their owner’s life much harder. 

They are a stubborn people, who wield law and bureaucracy with skill and ease that often discomforts other races.  And, their military prowess and efficiency strikes fear into those that have invoked their ire.  

Their skin comes in every conceivable color, usually matching the terrain of their ancestral homeland.  Metallic, matte, and opalescent sheens are also present, providing endless variety to the Aer.  Their hair is equally colorful, and kept in styles that suit the career of the wearer.

Persistence and Endurance:

The Aer live lives as long as Elves, reaching 700 on average, though some particularly stubborn members of the race have lived to nearly 1200 years.  This long life span provides the Aer enough time to shape the world around them to better suit the survival of their civilizations.  The advancement of technology, the domestication of wild animals, or the construction of grand cities are all seen as worthy goals, though military service is held to the highest levels of regard.

Individual Aer see their achievements as a form of immortality, and seek to pass their knowledge to the next generation to continue their work. 

Empire, Auxiliaries, and Tribes:

The Grand Soheman Empire spans most of their home continent, held up by laws, taxes and a powerful military.  Those who pay their monetary tax of gold, and service based tax of blood, are eligible for comprehensive social support, providing a guaranteed source of food, housing, and livable income.  The vast majority of Aer are members of the Empire, and are able to live quiet, comfortable lives after their years of military service.  

On the edges of the Empire, are those who refuse to bow to the rule of the Emperor:  the Auxiliaries and the Tribes.  Auxiliaries are more friendly to the Empire, providing service to the Empire in exchange for resources and land.  The Tribes are antagonistic to the Empire, and are their most powerful foe.  Mostly found in the far northern tundras, and the deep jungles of the south, the Tribes utilize their environment to prevent the Empire’s conquest and expansion, securing their freedom, and keeping the identity of their tribes free from the influence of Soheman culture.

Proving the Gods Wrong:

The Aer see their lives as a chance to disprove their gods, proving to the higher powers that they can stand against any of the challenges the gods can concoct.  They have little motivation to seek wealth or treasures, beyond academic pursuits, and often seek more dangerous adventures to try to prove their skills against dangerous foes, treacherous traps, and vile mysteries.  

Aer Names:

Aer have a complex naming structure, utilizing a given name, a parental name, and a familial name reflecting a famous relative or ancestor.  Male names end with a consonant sound, whereas female names end with a vowel sound.  Since the Aer have little concern for the identities of others, pronouns and perception is usually based on someone’s given name, and it is considered a personal choice. The Parental name is decided between the parents, and is usually either the mother’s name, or the father’s name, but feminized and preceded by a prefix to mark it as a paternal name. 

Female: Esiri[given] et’Amanti[paternal] of House Veritan[familial], Slyvi au’Valyia of Kythrin

Male: Tirren et’Amanti of House Veritan, Genvit ai’Neria of Talorian Monastery 

Aer Traits

Your Aer traits come from the needs of both cunning and endurance needed to carve civilization from the wild

Ability Score Increase.

Due to the needs of survival, Aer are more resilient as well as intelligent, giving them the chance to outwit the massive predators and persist through the powerful storms of their homeland.

Age

Aer reach maturity quickly, and age slowly, usually waiting till their 200th year before having children of their own.

Alignment

Existing in tight knit societies, struggling against a hostile world, lawfulness is almost a necessity.  

Size

Aer range between 5'6" and 7'0", from 150lbs to 300lbs, with heartlanders and northerners being the largest, and the coastal and southern Aer being smaller and slighter.

Speed

Aer walking speed is 30 feet, and their vestigial wings do not provide any extra movement.

Darkvision

The Aer’s predatory heritage gift you keen night vision.  You can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it was bright light, and in darkness as if it was dim light.  You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Terrifying Presence

Aer's predatory heritage and large size provide them with a natural talent at intimidating other races.

Battle Hardened

Whether fighting for the Empire, against the Empire, or merely against the beasts of the wild, the Aer face the horror of war with resilience and determination and are hard to shake in combat.

Military Training

Training for military life starts early for the Aer, and they ensure their children have a diversity of military knowledge before they leave home.

Forced Marches

Training in armor, tracking beasts in the wild, and living rough teach Aer how to rest comfortably in armor, allowing them to wake ready for combat at a moment's notice.

Languages

The Imperial trade language is written in an angular, vertical script on linear staves, the spoken language is sharp, with hard consonant sounds, and occasional guttural or snarled words.  However, it is a straightforward language, excellent for communicating scientific ideas as well as military orders.