Homebrew Avien Species Details

Flying through the beautiful skies of Modia, the Avien are seen as the "warmer" and "more friendly" version of the Aarakocra. The Avien were created alongside the Miqo'te and humans, but saw themselves as imperfect compared to them, and decided to hide themselves away in the perilous mountains and deep valleys south of Kalmard. They traveled and lived in secrecy for centuries, until one day a brigade of Miqo'te travelers perilously combing through the mountains happened upon an Avien outpost. The Avien were fearful of ridicule at first, but instead were praised for their natural ability to fly and survive close to the heavens. After a few flown messages across several outposts, the Avien now felt the confidence to properly introduce themselves to society, in which they were met with open arms.

They are scouts, messengers, and providers, their outposts functioning as footholds for winged folk alike to take respite during their constant travels through the skies.

Feathers and Beaks

At a glance, you may mistake an Avien for just an Aarakocra with it's wings down or maybe even a human wearing tribal clothing. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their more human appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, an average Avien reaches 5 feet tall, and they have slightly narrow legs that taper to dulled talons. Avien size varies wildly, with some growing to be the size of a small room. Those who reach that stature supply themselves as transportation for flightless beings, willing to use their strength to carry people across the continent.

Unlike the Aarakocra, Avien are more human-like than bird-like. Feathers only adorn their wings, which are connected to their arms. Male feathers are cooly colored, with feathers of blue, or violet. Females have more warm colors, usually brown or orange. They are accented with white feathers either way. Their heads combine the avian and human features, sporting a round human face with a small, parrot-life beak. Their hair is usually long with stylized braiding or layering, and all Avien sport two braided strands of hair that extend down in front of their pointed ears their

Masters of the Sky

Nowhere are the Avien more comfortable than in the sky or the mountaintops. It's normally hard for the Avien to take flight, which is why all Avien go through extensive flight training during their teenage years. Nowadays they fly as easily as the Aarakocra, although due to their anatomy lose the ease of using weapons in the sky. The Avien have created their own special air maneuvers to get past this hurtle, being able to keep their altitude while loosing arrows or spells. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with their weapons before turning and flying away.

Beaked Mannerisms

The resemblance of Avien to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Avien 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 may bathe themselves.

Many Avien 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 Avien is usually warm and playful, jesting constantly and unconsciously making jokes in situations that others may find disturbing. Avien live to liven a room, even if it may not be the best time to do such.

Confinement terrifies the Avien. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few Avien can withstand. Although, the Avien are also fine with being on the natural earth, and gracefully taking flight never gets old to them. Avien are most at peace when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountaintop outposts, where they appear relaxed, with collected minds and bodies ready to take flight.

Homelands

The Avien are a mostly nomadic race, living where they last job ended or where their next one may start. The few Avien who have settled down choose to live on mountaintops or in the flying city of Sunburst, anywhere that is closest to the clouds. Avien use their abilities to travel effortlessly through the skies and across the continent to complete jobs and find work.

If small groups of Avien settle in an area, they choose to share their resources and live together as one large family, even if their blood is not related. A handful of Avien outposts might even have members of another race living among them, choosing to adopt the Avien lifestyle but forgoing the wings.

A typical outpost consists of one to four large, open-roofed towers made of dark wood and bright rock. Each floor contains different amenities for travelers and people seeking sanctuary.

A Fine Purpose

The Avien enjoy peace and community. Most of them have great interest in helping other people with their problems but less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes a small effort for an Avien to take a job or undertake the adventurer’s life. Although small treasures and feeble glory may be enough to occupy them for a short amount of time; a dire threat to their people, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the Avien adventurer’s chosen path.

Even though the Avien are not directly related to Aarokocra, they see them as fellow brothers and sisters in arms. The only thing that makes the Aarokocra different in an Avien eye's are their looks, which isn't enough to stop their love and care for their people. Although Aarokocra may be terse to their "fellow birds," the Avien continue to shower them with love and care even if it isn't returned.

Avien Names

Avien names follow conventions that lead to warm and lovely names. Most names may reference a certain family's love for something, or a word in Common that means something nice. Names may also reference something about their bird-like lineage. Some families may also choose to adopt aarokocra names if their connection is that deep.

An Avien of either gender may have one of these short names: Harp, Hearth, Horwell, Komali, Medley, Owlan, Quill, Roost, Regali, Valoo

Avien Traits

As an Avien, you have certain traits that go beyond normal human capabilities. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and another ability score of your choice increases by 1.

Age

Avien reach adulthood in their late teens and have greatly varying lifespans, ranging from anywhere from one to two centuries.

Alignment

Most Avien are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Messengers and outpost leaders are considered more lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.

Size

Avien vary wildly in their size. Some only reach 5 ft. at their most mature, while others can reach up to 10 ft. Your height will be between 5 and 7 ft. and your size is considered Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 40 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing heavy armor. Any medium armor that imposes disadvantage on stealth checks also cannot be worn while flying, although those that do not impose disadvantage can be worn.

Beak

Your beak is a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing 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 also have the ability to talk to birds.

Keen Navigator

Due to your times in the skies, you have obtained the skills of a great navigator. You have proficiency in the Perception and Survival skills and you gain advantage on any checks to determine direction and weather conditions.

Airborne Maneuvers

Due to the Avien having their wings connected to their arms, they must make special maneuvers to handle attacking and flying simultaneously. While flying, you may cast a spell or use a ranged weapon using 20 ft of your flying speed per attack. If you make a melee attack in the air, or if you cast a spell with no somatic components in the air, you will not use any of your flying speed. In addition, when you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one of the attacks with a divebomb attack using 15 ft of your flying speed. You need to be at least 15 ft above and at least 15 ft away from your target. You have disadvantage on the divebomb attack if your target is size Small or smaller and if they are behind any cover. Hit or miss, you will end the attack 5 ft. away from your target, above and behind them.

After landing a successful divebomb attack, you can chose to make a grapple attempt without using your action. On a success, you will grab the target, glide with them into the air, then slam them into the ground head-first, dealing 1d8 bludgeoning damage. You may use this ability once per short rest.