Homebrew Dracopteryx Species Details
The dracopteryx are most well known for being part of other races' superstitions and tall tales- "Wear a clove of garlic around your neck, to keep the dracopteryx away," "Knock thrice on a tree before you rest against it," and other sayings. They have existed for ages as outsiders and myths, considered monsters by most, but in modern times some are beginning to take a more academic look at them and their culture.
Living in forests and savannas, the dracopteryx are reclusive and stealthy hunters, staying out of sight whenever possible. This tendency is helped by them having feathers that blend in with their surroundings. They have few fixed settlements, their societies wandering through their home ranges over the seasons. Most clans of dracopteryx will keep to themselves. But in times of famine- as the stories tell- they will pillage and plunder without discrimination.
Being cautious of outsiders, few dracopteryx willingly draw attention to themselves, and being able to go about your business quietly is one of their chief ideals. Their families are very close, their young staying with their parents until adulthood, and many staying in the same range afterwards. So, dracopteryx society is centered on the hunt, and being able to provide for one's family- primarily with martial prowess, but in some cases with crafts or medicine. Dracopteryx charms and herbal remedies quietly make their way into many frontier communities of other races, though trade is normally done through an intermediary, as dracopteryx do not freely trade with most.
In the wider world, dracopteryx are being recognized more and more for their adventurers: watchful wardens of wilderness, eagle-eyed experts of execution, maternal but menacing mystics, and more. They appear strange to many- being quadrupedal and avian but having an upright torso, like a centaur- but that bit of mystique and quiet competence have proven to be invaluable to some. Whether you are on a personal quest to aid your clan or a curious youth venturing out for the first time, as an adventurer you are sure to have a unique presence that will leave a mark on your allies and those you encounter.
Size
The dracopteryx, from their front feet to the top of their heads, stand a little over 6' tall. Their bones are light and strong and their muscles lean and wiry, but due to their quadrupedal lower body they weigh around 300-340 lbs.
Appearance
The dracopteryx have humanoid upper bodies and torsos and quadrupedal lower bodies, similar to centaurs, though they are overall avian and uniform in appearance. They have bird-like heads with beaks, having brown, or gold, or amber or green eyes, and longer feathers on the back of their heads and necks. The feathers on their arms and chests are a little longer and fluffier, though the skin on their hands(and feet) is bare. Their quadrupedal lower body is also feathered, and dracopteryx have long tail feathers, which they will use to send non-verbal signal when they need to be silent, or in some of their dances. Both their hands and their feet end in sharp talons, which they will slash with when provoked. Their skin is a golden honey brown, and their feathers can be shades of white, black, grey, or brown, usually mottled with a darker color; their head and tail feathers have stripes near the ends.
Age
The dracopteryx mature much faster than humans do, becoming fully grown at around 13 years of age. In optimal conditions and with good health they can live to be 80 years old or a little longer, but most dracopteryx are considered to be elderly in their late fifties.
Alignment
While dracopteryx in most places are nomadic hunters, they are not bent on destruction. They are efficient and industrious, making use of as many parts of their captures as they can, and their close-knit clans highly prize individual effort. As such they lean towards Neutral in many areas, and in general they respect the authority of their family members and close friends, making taking on a Lawful bent not uncommon. There have been dracopteryx of other alignments, but they are less commonly Evil and still less commonly Chaotic.
Language
The dracopteryx are able to speak Common, as well as Pterysian, their native language. Pterysian is a descendant of Sylvan and shares many features, though it does include tones and a creaky voice register. Over the ages is has also been influenced by Common, Giant, and Elvish, and though closer to Elvish than the others Pterysian is not mutually intelligible with any of them. Grammatically, it is known to be highly agglutinative, but little has been recorded of the inner workings of the language.
Names
Dracopteryx adventurers will often just have a single name, usually borrowed from Elvish or Common. Within their own communities they will have a given name, as well as a clan name and title, but they very rarely share these with outsiders.
Dracopteryx Traits
Dracopteryx abilities and traits:Darkvision
You have sharp eyesight, even in poor lighting and at night. You have Darkvision out to 60 ft.
Quadruped
Being quadrupedal and also having a humanoid torso has many benefits and drawbacks.
- You have disadvantage on Athletics checks made to climb.
- You count as a size larger when determining your carrying weights.
- You can carry a Medium or smaller creature on your back, but doing so gives you disadvantage on Acrobatics and Stealth checks.
- You require more armor than only quadrupedal or humanoid creatures to be fully armored, and as such attack rolls against you have advantage. Armor made for the lower quadrupedal part of your body must be modified for you, as with barding.
- Your sharp senses and intuition give you a Wisdom modifier bonus to your Armor Class.
- Having four feet and quick reflexes give you advantage on saving throws against being knocked prone.
Natural Weapons
You have sharp and strong talons on both your hands and feet, which can function as weapons on their own, dealing 1d4 Slashing damage. Being quadrupedal in addition to having a humanoid torso means that even while holding a weapon in your arms, once on your turn you can make an unarmed attack as a bonus action.
Camouflaging Feathers
The patterns and colors of your feather are well-suited for stealth, meaning you can attempt to hide even when only lightly obscured by vines, falling snow, undergrowth, or other natural phenomena. You also have proficiency in Stealth checks.
Ability Score Increase
Your sharp senses and athletic body give you +2 to your Wisdom score, and a +1 bonus to either your Strength or Dexterity score.
Weapon Proficiency
Your heritage and upbringing give you proficiency with Shortbows, Longbows, Glaives, and Javelins.
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