Noctera
Big eyes blink at you in the dark, catching and reflecting all the light they can to illuminate the world around them. You see the nose next, scanning for anything lurking nearby. Two big ears swivel independently, picking up the sounds too small for your own ears to notice.
These senses belong to the noctera, bat-folk who spend their waking hours in the dark while other species are resting. They can fly through the air on their leather wings like the avian species, but they're distinctly mammalian, and perfectly adapted to take to the sky after the sun sets.
On Leather Wings
Noctera are unique among mammalian species: they have wings that enable them to fly. Though the structure is slightly different from avian species - wings of leathery skin rather than feathers - they can swoop about the sky the same way an aarakocra or otus can. When on the ground and using their hands, the wing is tucked comfortably under the arm, leaving their movements unimpeded. When they take flight it stretches out as they extend their arms to full length, ready to catch the air underneath. For this reason, noctera attire, like much avian clothing, is typically sleeveless to allow for flight without having to change clothes. In the cold winter months of their homeland, Ikarell, it's not uncommon to see noctera sporting puffy, woolen vests and hats.The Nightlife
Though other species may feel at home during the night, the only ones who truly thrive in it are the noctera. In fact, they're so well adapted to it they barely function during the day. Their eyes are suited to low light like the moon and stars or the streetlamps of a city. The sun is overwhelming, and quickly blinds them to their surroundings. Noctera venturing out at midday wear hoods or goggles to protect their sensitive eyes from the sun's light. Their peculiar ear structure aids in nighttime navigation too, and is almost entirely unique among species. The sounds of voices, footsteps, or even rain hitting cobble can bounce around the environment, and a noctera's ears can tell exactly which direction it came from and how far away it was. The typical noctera waking hours are entirely flipped from those of most species - preferring to sleep when the sun rises and wake when it sets. This means most people hardly ever meet noctera, even their own neighbors, and it can likewise be difficult for noctera to make friends outside of their species. Those looking for a late night drink or bite to eat will find noctera businesses waiting to meet their needs.Headline 3
Fluff Table introNames
names intro Female Names: Ceres, Eos, Minerva, Nike, Rhea. Male Names: Apollo, Atlas, Helios, Somnus, Vulcan.Noctera Traits
Your noctera character has the following species traits: Ability Score Increase Your Wisdom score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1. Age Noctera live slightly shorter lives than most species, reaching old age in their 50's. Alignment Noctera lean towards neutral or chaotic alignments. Size Your size is small or medium, chosen when you pick this species. Speed Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Flight Thanks to your leathery wings, you have a flying speed equal to your walking speed. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor. Echolocate You have blindsight up to 60 feet. Your blindsight cannot be used if you are deafened or muted. In addition, you have advantage on all Investigate and Perception checks that rely on hearing. Bite Your teeth are a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Dexterity modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Vampire Bat As a bonus action when you use your bite attack, you can deal damage as normal and recover HP equal to the damage dealt. This trait can't be used again until you finish a long rest. Language You speak Common and Echolo.(Barely) Bloodsuckers
A handful of noctera communities who live in colder regions regularly drink blood and consume it as part of their diets - all from livestock or wild game, of course. This tiny portion of overall nocteran cuisine has become vastly blown out of proportion among herbivorous species, who see the practice of cooking with blood as a step beyond the habits of their other meat-eating neighbors. In reality, most nocteran cuisine consists of fruits and vegetables, insects, honey, small game, and fish. Prized Giant Yellowgrubs are a favorite, with a rich, meaty texture when grilled. Noctera from Dorun have been cooking with cactus fruit for years, and these recipes are beginning to catch on in other regions.Bunches of Bats
Noctera bodies and faces come in an astonishing variety of shapes and sizes. The smallest noctera can be tinier than a timus, while the largest can nearly look a tabaxi in the eye. Some have long snouts and short ears, making them almost resemble a shorter vulpine, while others have scrunched up faces and massive ears. Their fur is likewise as varied, with short fine fur, thick wooly coats, and everything in between seen across the variety of noctera populations. A noctera character's build, appearance, coloration, and facial features can be as varied as any bat species you can think of.
Comments