Aarakocra

Summary
With avian beaks, vibrant feathers, taloned limbs, and keen eyes, Aarakocra are splendid winged creatures, both beautiful and wild. While the average Arakocra is equal in height to most humans, they can stand anywhere from four and a half feet to just under 6 and their porus bones make them incredibly light; from 40 to 110 pounds. Their bodies are covered in feathers, and the colors and patterns of plumage vary wildly - though some similarities tend to exist between parent and child. Vibrant reds, yellows, and blues, pale palettes of soft oranges, pinks, and greens, and high contrast browns, purples, whites, and blacks all appear on feathered crests, mottled tails, and barred wings can all be found. Aarakocra care for their feathers well, and may adorn them with beads, shells, and ribbons. It can often be hard to tell apart the sexes of Aarakocra as they are avian in nature and possess little sexual dimorphism, however they frequently express their gender explicitly in one manner or another be it through fashion, voice, or personality. They have large wings on their backs, powered by their large and impressive chest and back muscles which can be used to fly great distances. Their lower arms and legs each possess four talons and are free of feathers, instead being covered in tough, leathery skin. Aarakocra have incredibly fast metabolisms and live very short lives, maturing at age 7 and barely living into their 40s.
Aarakocra have no civilization of their own. Rather, Aarakocra live wild: their ancestors’ flight peopled nearly every island on Orentia and they live in small familial groups that subsist on a hunter/gatherer lifestyle. It is considered good luck to have an Aarakocra on your ship, and so many modern Aarakocra have turned to sailing and piracy rather than the traditional life of finding a mate and raising a family on an island.
Aarakocra culture is incredibly diverse and many different language groups can be found across the islands, but its pervasive sense of independence tends to eschew the oaths and contracts of paladins and warlocks. Aarakocra culture tends to romanticize exploration and adventure, and so it is not uncommon that Aarakocra leave their nests as soon as they come of age and never return, living fast lives of romance and danger. It is uncommon for an Aarakocra to stay in one place for very long unless they are settling down with a mate. Aarakocra standards for mating (their closest analogue to marriage) and gender norms differ significantly from the rest of the races of the world.
Concerning mating, a mate (romantic and sexual partner) is often a short, non-monogamous relationship. A long term, monogamous commitment is considered a completely different type of relationship reffered to as being "Nest Mates." A nest mate relationship is defined primarily by building a home and raising children together. The nest mates build or buy a permanent residence (the only time that most Aaracokra will have a permanent residence of any kind) with a large communal bed (referred to as a nest), fertilize and lay one or more eggs, and raise the fledglings until they come of age and leave to live on their own. After the fledglings leave the nest, it is common for the nest mates to terminate the relationship and separate. Some Aarakocra nest with up to four separate nest mates in their lifetime, others none, and still others mate and nest repeatedly with the same partner. Concerning gender, Aarakocra males are generally expected to be loud, flamboyant, and beautiful. Dancing, singing, drawing attention to oneself, behaving recklessly, wearing cosmetic paints around the eyes and beak, and adorning one’s feathers are all considered very masculine in Aarakocra culture, and a male seeking a mate may puff out his feathers and shake his limbs and head slightly as he talks to accentuate his masculine features. Aarakocra females on the other hand are generally expected to be quiet, controlling, and intelligent. Leading conversation, commanding the respect of others, being responsible, and dressing in form fitting, conservative clothing are all considered very feminine in Aarakocra culture, and a female seeking a mate may smooth her feathers down, move in a smooth, deliberate manner, and pointedly pretend to ignore her suitor or take control of the conversation.

Aarakocra Traits

Ability Score Increase: Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.
Size and Speed: You are medium size and have a base walking speed of 25 feet.
Wings: You have a fly speed of 50 feet while wearing no or light armor, and a fly speed of 15 feet while wearing medium armor. You cannot use this speed while in tight spaces or while wearing heavy armor.
Languages: You speak a standard language of your choice and Trill, a strange, diverse language with many regional elements that sounds like a bird call, contains few consonants and includes noises only Aarakocra can make with their avian physiology. It is a cousin of the wild language of birds, and Trill speakers can often make out a few vague details when birds communicate with eachother.

Raptor Aarakocra

You come from a family of hunters and fishermen who have never shied away from using their natural predatory gifts in place of traps and nets. You have inherited their sharp and well kept talons, and are familiar with their use in combat.
Ability Score Increase: Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Hunter’s Talons: You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on hit. If you would gain an ability that modifies your unarmed attacks, you may still deal slashing damage while using those rules.

Migratory Aarakocra

Your family have always been frequent and prolific travelers, seeking their fortunes as they sailed or flew across the sea. You have inherited their keen eyes and good instincts, and not much gets past you.
Ability Score Increase: Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Eagle Eyed: You have proficiency in the Perception skill, and can make out details such as faces, writing, and symbols at great distances with ease.