Homebrew Vulturan (Nook™) Species Details

Often sequestered in craggy cliffs, these birdfolk are primarily scavengers.

They are immigrants, refugees, scouts, explorers, and scavengers, their outposts functioning as footholds in a strange and inhospitable world.

Beak and Feather

From below, Vulturan look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, they might reach 6 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. Both males and females have more subdued colored feathers, usually brown or gray. Their bald heads complete the avian appearance, being something like a vulture with distinct tribal variations.

Scavengers

The Vulturan of the Cinder Wastes feed on the carcasses of whatever they can find, from unlucky adventures to dead salamanders from battles between their warring bands. After a large battle, their tribes can be seen fighting to defend their findings. After the fact, they bring the dead back to their homes to store them for months.

Their tribes usually consist of 6-20 in total, who have a pecking order of who gets to eat first. They will ration food without a second thought and the amount of food other humanoids eat is unusual to them.

Avian Mannerisms

The resemblance of Vulturan to birds isn’t limited to physical features. They 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.

Many punctuate their speech with hisses, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. They might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; a threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.

The idea of ownership baffles the avian cousins of these scavengers, but not them. They see that everything earned is owned, and if someone is strong enough to have earned ownership, they deserve it. They steal from those not able to defend themselves, though. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. A Vulturan who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

The water terrifies them. To be surrounded, unable to move in the dark, cold depths is a torment many can't withstand. They'll refuse to stay anywhere close to a large body of water.

Homelands

Once tribes settle in an area, they share a scavenging territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe scavenging in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging farther should game become scarce.

A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines. The strongest acts as leader.

Vulturan enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other races. For this reason, it takes an exceptional circumstance for one of their kind to leave their tribe and undertake the adventurer’s life. Neither treasure nor glory is enough to lure them from their tribes; a dire threat to their people, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the a Vulturan's adventuring path.

Aarakocra Names

As with much of their speech, Vulturan names include hisses, grunts and yaps, 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, Vulturan may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

A Vulturan of either gender may have one of these short names: Aap, Brn, Dar, Grg, Hez, Jip, Noz, Quat, Xiss 

AARAKOCRA BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for aarakocra include the outlander, the hermit, and the sage.

Vulturan (Nook™) Traits

As a Vulturan, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing a Vulturan requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

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

 

Age

Vulturan reach maturity by age 3. Compared to humans, they don’t usually live longer than 50 years.

 

Alignment

Most Vulturan rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos, good or evil. They do what they must to survive. Their tribal leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.

 

Size

Vulturan are about 6 feet tall when standing straight, but many are hunched. They weigh between 100 and 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30ft.

 

Flight

You have a flying speed of 40ft. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

 

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.

Languages

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

 

Scavenger

You are able to eat meat in almost all stages of decay. You are Resistant to Poison & have Advantage on Constitution saving throws. You gain Proficiency in the Wisdom(Survival) skill.