Homebrew Elmrey Species Details

Half-Winged

Elmreys are a race of humanoids with pale, ashen skin, hair formed of feathers, and a large, single wing spread across their back. This wing is set horizontally between the shoulder blades, lacks a directional orientation, and is as long as the Elmrey is tall. It is often white, gray, black, or mottled gray or brown, much like their feather hair. It is less of a true wing and more of a feathered cape attached to the skin; while Elmreys are incapable of flying with it, it does lend itself to balance and can be used for gliding and slowing landings. The Elmreys are believed to have once possessed a full pair of wings, and ruled the skies in ancient times. Much like the Kenku, however, the Elmreys were stripped of their flight by an angered deity, and cast to the earth with only one wing left. Elmreys have since always longed to touch the sky and be free in the clouds, yet always restricted by their loss of flight. They have a phrase in memory of that loss: "Our kind dared to fly up to the heavens, and we were struck down." This is actually theorized to be the very reason the Elmreys were stripped of flight in the first place.

Elmrey Culture

Elmreys live free in nomadic cultures, usually putting their increased agility and boundless zest for life to use as travel guides, acrobats, and even thieves wherever they go. They are most often drawn to traversing high mountains where they can be reminded of what it's like to fly free, and will partake in daredevil feats of jumping in order to rekindle those ancestral memories. A rite of passage among Elmreys is the First Glide. A young Elmrey will climb to the highest mountain peak in the region and leap from it, slowing his or her descent with their wing cape until he or she arrives back at the Elmreys' camp. After that exhilarating experience, an Elmrey will always dream of returning to the sky, their true home. 

Elmrey Names

Elmrey names are very loose and nontraditional. Elmrey parents will simply refer to their child as their child, and fellow Elmreys will refer to a young Elmrey by the names of their parents. Examples being, "Hawk's Son" or "Arrow's Daughter." Upon completing the First Glide at age thirteen, the Elmrey chooses a name, often with suggestions and contributions from the other members of the flock. This nickname can be literally anything, from a simple word to a two-part tribal name to something translated from Elvish or another tongue depending on the flock. 

Nicknames: Blader, Whirlwind, Crossbow, Ember, Eagle's Bane, Skipping Stone, Owl Eyes

Elmrey Traits

Elmreys have traits primarily related to their half-winged physiology.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Age

Elmreys mature at the same rate as humans and can live for up to 150 years.

Alignment

Elmreys wish for nothing else but to be free to follow the beat of their own drum, but also bear no ill will towards others. Most are therefore chaotic good or chaotic neutral.

Size

Elmreys stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, and are usually wiry and lightweight due to their avian biology. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Daredevil Impulse

You gain a bonus +2 Initiative, and have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Dexterous Leap

When you make a high or long jump, you can choose to add your Dexterity score to the amount of feet traveled. You can use this feature three times per short rest. 

Gliding Prowess

You can use your reaction while falling to slow your rate of descent to 60 feet per round. The effect ends when you land, and you take no falling damage and can land on your feet. You can use this feature twice per short rest. While falling, you can choose to travel 5 feet horizontally for every 10 feet you fall.

Languages

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

Natural Acrobat

You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill.