Raptaer
Often sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, the raptaer, sometimes called aarakocra, evoke fear and wonder. From below, a raptaer looks like a large bird and only when they descent to roost on a branch or walk across the ground, does their humanoid apperance reveal itself. Feathers cover their bodies, with their plumage typically denoting membership in a tribe. Typically, males are brightly colored and females have more subdued colors, with their heads being something like an eagle or parrot.
Flight. You have large wings sticking out of your back that, when fully extended outwards, give you a wingspan equal to twice your height. All armor and back accessories must be tailored to accommodate your wings. You have a Fly Speed of 30 feet. To use this Speed, you can’t be Encumbered or 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 1d4 + your Strength modifier Slashing Damage, instead of the normal damage for an Unarmed Strike.
Beastfolk Origins
Beastfolk Origins
There are many species that call themselves Beastfolk, all of whom share the same origin that dates back to a single event: the Curse of Chimeron. Save for the beast-turned, scaledfolk, and fey people, nearly every being that is a mix of man and animal is a beastfolk. While some have successfully integrated themselves into the world, others live in secluded colonies, hidden from persecution.
Although modern day beastfolk are no longer cursed by Chimeron, they are born of the same ancestors that were. For long ago, some of humanity did not respect nature. They plundered lands for resources, slaughtered animals for sport, and burned its fields for simple enjoyment, all to an absurd degree. Among all the deities, Chimeron was by far the most outraged of this. Eventually pushed to the brink, Chimeron—with the assistance of Malinoth—cursed all these humans; as Chimeron put it, "they will learn to respect nature by becoming a part of it". They were cursed to transform into beastfolk, to be of simple minds, and to be unable to reproduce any offspring not of their own kind. As generations passed, Chimeron believed the beastfolk had finally learned from their past crimes, and lifted the curse. By then though, the beastfolk were already an entirely new species (the ones we know today).
Although modern day beastfolk are no longer cursed by Chimeron, they are born of the same ancestors that were. For long ago, some of humanity did not respect nature. They plundered lands for resources, slaughtered animals for sport, and burned its fields for simple enjoyment, all to an absurd degree. Among all the deities, Chimeron was by far the most outraged of this. Eventually pushed to the brink, Chimeron—with the assistance of Malinoth—cursed all these humans; as Chimeron put it, "they will learn to respect nature by becoming a part of it". They were cursed to transform into beastfolk, to be of simple minds, and to be unable to reproduce any offspring not of their own kind. As generations passed, Chimeron believed the beastfolk had finally learned from their past crimes, and lifted the curse. By then though, the beastfolk were already an entirely new species (the ones we know today).
Avian Mannerisms
Like other beastfolk, raptaers exhibit some of the mannerisms their avian counterparts do. One such mannerism is their infatuation or curiosity with the sky. Though there are some raptaers that prefer to walk instead of fly, like land raptaers, they all innately find the sky to be liberating to some extent. Many raptaers can spend hours in the air, and some go as long as days. In combat, raptaers move with remarkable speed and grace, using their wings to skip around the battlefield, or diving to lash opponents before turning and flying away. Some raptaers are so impassioned with the sky, that some are reluctant to leave it, landing only to lay their eggs or feed their young. Besides the sky, raptaers also have a habit of doing things like frequently tending their feathers and ridding them of tiny passengers they might have picked up. The idea of ownership also tends to baffle most raptaers, who are used to doing things like dropping from the sky and snatching livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes, making it also hard for them not to pluck such objects and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. A raptaer who spends years among other species however, can learn to control these impulses better. Confinement also terrifies most raptaers. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the unyielding earth is a torment few raptaers can withstand.Homelands
Most raptaers live on the Elemental Plane of Air. Those living in the Material Plane however, often prefer living in high mountains like those found in Seblin, on floating islands like those found in the Wildlands of Kerrios, or in the canopies of old forests like those found in the Badlands or Daboria. Once tribes of raptaers settle in an area, they share a hunting territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe hunting 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 eldest acts as leader with the support of a shaman.Raptaer Names
As with much of their speech, raptaer 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, raptaers may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names. Aarakocra Names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed.Raptaer Traits
Your character has the following traits.Raptaer
Ability Score Increase Dex +2; Wis +1
Size Medium
Speed 25 ft.*, Fly 30 ft.*
Alignment. Choose one of the alignments approved by your GM. Typical raptaers tend towards Lawful and Neutral alignments. Creature Type. You are a Humanoid. Size. You are Medium (about 4-5 feet tall), and weigh about 80-110 pounds. Speed. Your land Speed is 25 feet. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Auran. Life Span. Raptaers mature at around the age of 3, and live on average about 40-50 years.
Flight. You have large wings sticking out of your back that, when fully extended outwards, give you a wingspan equal to twice your height. All armor and back accessories must be tailored to accommodate your wings. You have a Fly Speed of 30 feet. To use this Speed, you can’t be Encumbered or 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 1d4 + your Strength modifier Slashing Damage, instead of the normal damage for an Unarmed Strike.
