Aarakocra
The Aarakocra are a skyborne people shaped by the winds themselves—avian humanoids with feathers in hues of cloud, storm, and sunlight. Their wings stretch wide from their shoulders, allowing most to soar through the skies with unmatched grace. Though their forms are birdlike, with taloned feet and beaked faces, they are no mere animals; Aarakocra possess a keen intellect, a deep sense of community, and an innate connection to the upper skies where few mortals dare to tread.
Born of the high air currents and the sacred winds that whisper above the world, many believe the Aarakocra were the first children of Vaeril, the God of Birds, shaped from his scattered feathers and given voice by the sky. Others claim they descended from ancient sky spirits or were once birds granted mortal form in an age when the gods walked openly among the mountains. Regardless of origin, the Aarakocra are seen as the messengers of heaven and the keepers of high places.
Most Aarakocra dwell in lofty aeries carved into cliff faces, hidden mountain ridges, and the peaks of the Stormcliff Heights or the Galecrest Valley’s tallest watchtowers. Their settlements are airy, built with woven nests, hanging platforms, and stone pillars etched with wind-glyphs. They prefer solitude or high winds to the bustle of the world below and often live as sentinels, sages, or skyward scouts. Some clans migrate with the seasons, following patterns of stars, wind, and ancient instinct.
Culturally, the Aarakocra prize freedom above all. To be grounded is to be caged, and many cannot bear long confinement indoors or underground. They sing to the wind as part of daily rites, hold sacred the act of flight, and often choose leaders based not on age or strength but the clarity and range of their “skyvoice”—the soul-borne call they emit at dawn, which carries their essence on the wind.
Spiritual by nature, Aarakocra often act as intermediaries between the heavens and the world below. Many serve Vaeril, but others revere Elemental forces or titans of sky and storm, especially Caelthys, the Air Titan. They believe omens ride on gusts, and they keep watch for falling feathers, cloud shapes, and wing formations as signs from the divine.
Despite their aloofness, Aarakocra are fiercely loyal to those they consider kin. In times of great strife, flocks will descend from their aeries in coordinated formations, launching deadly strikes before vanishing into the wind. Their warriors are swift and silent, favoring javelins, bows, and dive-based combat. Their shamans and windcallers wield air and weather as extensions of will, summoning tempests or carrying messages far and wide.
