Avian

The Avians are a race inhabiting the region of Aves, known for their anthropomorphic avian appearance and graceful aerial prowess. With their bird-like features and varying heights, Avians navigate the skies and the ground with equal elegance, their freedom and aerial abilities central to their way of life.

Physical Characteristics

Avians bear a striking resemblance to large birds when viewed from below, with feathers covering their bodies and narrow legs ending in sharp talons. However, their anthropomorphic appearance is revealed when they descend to roost on branches or walk on the ground. Their heights vary by subrace, ranging from the smallest songbirds at just 3 feet to the tallest Ostrich reaching up to 8 feet. Plumage patterns differ among subraces and individuals, showcasing a diverse array of colors and patterns.

Behavior and Mannerisms

Avians are fastidious about their plumage and frequently tend to their feathers to maintain their desired aesthetic. They are meticulous in grooming, cleaning, and fluffing their feathers to perfection. Despite their humanoid form, Avians prefer the freedom of the skies and often only descend to the ground temporarily for purposes such as eating or bathing, before taking flight once more. Flightless Avians, however, are a notable exception to this behavior.

Flight and Aerial Prowess

Flight is central to the Avians' way of life, allowing them to soar through the skies with grace and agility. Their wings, adapted for powered flight, provide them with unmatched aerial prowess, enabling them to traverse great distances and navigate complex aerial environments with ease. Flight is not only a means of transportation for Avians but also a source of freedom and expression, embodying their connection to the open skies. (Again, with the notable exception of Flightless Avians, and to some degree Waterfowl Avians who equally enjoy spending time in water).

Fear of Confinement

Regardless of subrace or background, confinement terrifies the Avians. To have their wings clipped, trapped underground, or imprisoned is a torment few of this race can withstand. The open skies represent not only their natural habitat but also their sense of freedom and autonomy, making any form of confinement a source of profound distress for Avians.

Cultural Significance

Avian culture revolves around themes of freedom, flight, and communal unity. They celebrate their aerial heritage through rituals, ceremonies, and festivals that honor the skies. Avians place a high value on individual autonomy and collective harmony, fostering strong bonds within their communities and advocating for the preservation of their natural habitats.

Subraces:
Raptor
Waterfowl
Songbird
Flightless

Genetic Descendants

• Flightless
• Raptor
• Songbird
• Waterfowl

Related Historical Events

• 5420 DE/ME
  Temple of Eevet is Founded
• 5368 DE/ME
  Founding of Aves

Avian

From below, Avians look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their anthropomorphic appearance reveal itself. Their height varies by subrace, with the smallest songbirds standing at just 3 feet and the tallest Ostrich reaching up to 8. Their long narrow legs end in sharp talons. Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage varies by, and often within, their subrace as well.
Avians display many of the same mannerisms as Earth birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and fluffing to their desired aethetic. When they deign to descend from the sky, it is often for a temporary purpose, like to eat or bathe, before they are aloft again. The notable exception, of course, are the flightless Avians.
Regardless of subrace or background, confinement terrifies the Avian. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned is a torment few of this race can withstand.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Any

Size: Medium

speed: 20ft Walking, 40ft Flying

Languages:

sub races:
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Raptors

Raptors such as Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons have plumages ranging from white to browns to yellows to blacks. They tend to be stronger members of the Avian species and have a natural tendency for fighting that makes them effective warriors, guards, or monster hunters. Personalities of Raptors vary, but the stereotypical Raptor is aggressive, short-tempered, and combative.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Any

Size: Large

speed: 20ft Walking, 40ft Flying

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 90 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Silent Feathers

You have proficiency in Stealth.

]
[blocklink:

Waterfowl

Waterfowl Avians spend as much time in the water as they do in the sky. Their webbed feet make them effective swimmers and their waterproof plumage give them a natural resistance to water damage. Arguably the most social of the Avians, Waterfowls almost always live in large multi-family groups and are known for their strong familial ties. Although their is a range of personalities as in any species, the stereotypical Waterfowl is friendly, loyal, and trusting - sometimes to a fault.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Usually good or neutral

Size: Medium

speed: 20ft Walking, 40ft Flying, 40ft Swimming

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Adept Swimmer

As much at home in the water as in the sky, you are an adept swimmer with a swimming speed equal to your flying speed.

Waterproof

Your waterproof feathers give you a natural resistance to cold damage.

]
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Songbirds

The most common of the Avian subraces, 'Songbirds' includes birds such as Robins, Orioles, Sparrows, Parrots, and Bluebirds. The males have bright vibrant colors while the females tend to have more muted hues. Members of this group have a natural affinity for music and song. They are also strong flyers. Songbirds range in size from small to medium.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Usually good or neutral

Size: Small

speed: 20ft Walking, 40ft Flying

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:

Overwhelming Positivity

Your radiating personality and song seem to have a lasting impact on those that meet you. You have proficiency in the Persuasion skill and may double your proficiency bonus when making Persuasion skill checks on creatures that are currently in a negative emotional state such as depression or anger.

]
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Flightless

Flightless Avians include Penguins, Ostrich, and Emu, among others. Penguins are stout with strong swimming abilities. The other flightless tend to have long muscular legs and are well known for their stamina and speed. Flightless Avians are the rarest species and tend to reside in like groups instead of intermingling with their flighted cousins. At one time they were looked down upon by other Avians for their inability to fly but over time these species quickly proved themselves to have invaluable skillsets and are admired for their other abilities.

ability score increase:

age:

alignment: Usually good or neutral

Size: Medium

speed: See Features

Languages:

parent race: ]

race features:
Choose one of the following sets of Flightless Features:

Penguin

Adept Swimmer

You are an adept swimmer and have a swimming speed of 40ft. You can hold your breath twice as long as average.

Arctic Native

You have a natural Cold Resistance being accustomed to living in tundra environments.

Ostrich

Rapid Dash

You are naturally fast and have the ability to use your reaction to move up to half your movement speed without provoking opportunity attacks. Your Dexterity score is increased by 1 (to a max of 20).

Strong Kick

Your muscular legs pack a powerful punch---well, kick. Your unarmed strikes dealt as kicks deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on a hit. If you aren't wielding any weapons or a shield when you make the attack roll, the d6 becomes a d8.
At level 5, your die increases to a 1d8 (1d10). At level 11, your die increases to a 1d10 (1d12). At level 17, your die increases to a 1d12 (2d6).

]

race features:

Keen Sense

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Flight

You have the ability to fly (unless you choose the subrace "Flightless" - see subrace for more details). To fly, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor, or be overencumbered.

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.