Homebrew Feylark Species Details

The Feywild is home to many fantastic peoples, and the phoenix-folk of this mystical realm are no different, evoking amazement and wonder to the few that have laid eyes on them. Like their cousins of the Elemental Plane of Air, Feylark are powerful and proud, and are seen as alien and unknown to many inhabitants of the Material Plane. Even among the peoples of the Feywild, few have ever seen these incredible creatures, despite their flamboyant coloration and pyrotechnic abilities.

Beak and Feather

From afar, feylark look much like large tropical birds. Only when they move closer does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, feylark might reach 5 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.

Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes membership in a tribe or clan. Males are brightly colored, with feathers of a vibrant variety. Females have similar color pallets, but are more muted colors, usually with tones of brown or gray. Their heads complete the avian appearance, being something like a Parrot or Bird of Paradise, with distinct tribal variations.

Forest Guardians

Despite their lack of wings, feylark love dwelling in treetops, and other tall structures. Nowhere are the Feylark more comfortable than in the forests and jungles of the world. They can vanish into the tree line with ease, and some of those who wander to long to find them become lost. A young feylark may find amusement in catching a young adventurers attention before leading them on a wild goose chase, only for the adventurer to find that they've gone so far of f the trail, they have no idea which direction is which. In battle, they prove to be nimble and dynamic warriors, moving with remarkable speed and grace, jumping from tree to tree and lashing out at opponents with weapons or talons before turning and disappearing into the canopy.

Although willing to enjoy the luxuries of civilized life, feylarks yearn for the wilds, and are dificult to persuade to leave the comforts of the forests. On their native plane, they can stay up in the trees for days or months, setting foot on the ground for only the most dire of situations. Those that make it to a world in the Material Plane find it a strange place. They sometimes forget or ignore civilized culture, and they have nothing but pity for those who have never left the comforts of city living.

Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of feylark to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Feylark display many of the same mannerisms as other tropical birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up. Their preferred diet tends to include a lot of fruit, and the occasional insect or two. 

Many feylark punctuate their speech with squawks, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. A feylark might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; a feylark's remarks might be taken as a jest, or a mocking tone.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasures of the world and bring it back to their "nests" to beautify it. A feylark who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

Confinement terrifies the feylark. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned is a torment few feylark can withstand. Regardless of where one might find a feylark, they would be wise to avoid any attempts at entrapping them, or caging them up.

Fires of Life

Most feylark live in the Feywild, a land of deep, dense forest, and lush green vegetation. However, as the descendants of the noble phoenix, the feylark are able to wield the fires that burn within them. Accidents among young feylarks can cause great wildfires to break out, which is why many feylarks take to training their children to control their emotions and impulses at a young age. 

Once tribes of feylark settle in an area, they make it an effort to create a place where life can thrive, building the forest lands further, and making sure that the underbrush does not get out of control.

A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines. The eldest acts as leader with the support of a matriarchy. 

Feylark Names

As with much of their speech, feylark names include clicks, trills, and whistles to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, feylark may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

A feylark of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Auk, Chico, Errk, HeiHei, Ikki, Kagu, Margo, Ouss, Polly, Rawk, Rhea, Tiki, or Zeed. 

Feylark Traits

As a feylark, you have the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Feylark reach maturity by age 7. Compared to humans, feylark usually live longer, at about 140 years.

Size

Feylark are about 5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Sylvan, and Auran.

Talons

Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Fire Resistance

You have resistance to fire damage.

Phoenix Mantle

At 3rd level, as an action, you can cast set yourself ablaze. on the turn you activate your mantle, you have disadvantage on all rolls until the beginning of your next turn. on the following turn, all melee attack you make deal an additional 2d6 fire damage, and you heal 1d6 per turn. Additionally, every time an enemy ends its turn within 5 ft. of you, it takes 1d6 fire damage. This ability can be used once per long rest. CON is your spellcasting ability.