Aven (Birdman)

Anatomy

Aven are different species of birds in a Humanoid form, the most common being eagles, ravens, owls, and hawks, though many other species are known to exist. They all have wings (although some cannot fly), the chests and arms of Humans, and bird-like feet and talons. The keen eyes, shape of the beak, and coloring of the feathers are specific to the original species of the bird, but the torso and arms are usually a light to dark brown. Aven are usually slightly shorter than Humans and much lighter to allow flight.

Habitat

Most Aven prefer the rarefied air of the high altitudes: mountains, great forests, and sheer cliffs. They congregate in Aeries in the peaks and crags amongst the clouds, but mostly live in small tribes in the major cities of the Centerlands, often used as messengers and aerial archers.

Origin

As Beastien, the Avens were created before the Humans in the time after the Dwarves and Elves by the Feysurge. With their main civilization destroyed in the First Ruination, they spread around all of Creacia, forming small Aeries of no more than several hundred Avens.

Culture

Tribes, clans

Languages

Averian, High Common

Player Characters

Abilities

• +2 Wisdom, +1 Dexterity, +1 Intelligence, -1 Strength, -1 Constitution

• Sneaky: Aven gain a +2 racial bonus on Perception and Stealth checks.

• Glide: Aven receive a +5 racial bonus on Fly checks. At the GM's discretion, Aven can also use their wings to glide at 1st level, allowing them to make a DC 15 Fly check to fall safely from any height without taking falling damage, as if using feather fall. When falling safely, an Aven may make an additional DC 15 Fly check to glide, moving 5 feet laterally for every 20 feet he falls. At the GM's further discretion, an Aven with 6 ranks in Fly can hover, with 10 ranks they can fly unencumbered, and with 15 ranks they can fly with all their gear.

• Claw Attack: Aven have learned to use their claws as natural weapons. They gain two claw attacks as primary natural attacks that deal 1d3 points of damage, and are treated as having the Improved Unarmed Strike feat for the purpose of qualifying for other feats./li]

• Deft Swords: Some Aven learn dazzling blade techniques that allow them to use their weapons to protect against combat maneuvers. They gain a +2 dodge bonus to CMD while wielding a swordlike weapon.

Lifespan

80-120 years, mature at 20 years

Average Height

3.5-5 feet

Average Weight

40-90 lbs.

Klaiakik, Druid of Glomdal Wood

Duqa, Enchantress of Sarpus