Aarakocra
Skyborn, Birdfolk, Windcallers, Feathered Ones
Sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, the aarakocra, sometimes called birdfolk, evoke fear and wonder. Many aarakocra aren’t even native to the Material Plane. They hail from a world beyond — from the boundless vistas of the Elemental Plane of Air.
They are immigrants, refugees, scouts, and explorers, their outposts functioning as footholds in a world both strange and alien.
From below, aarakocra look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, aarakocra might reach 5 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.
Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes membership in a tribe. Males are brightly colored, with feathers of red, orange, or yellow. Females have more subdued colors, usually brown or gray. Their heads complete the avian appearance, being something like a parrot or eagle with distinct tribal variations.
Nowhere are the aarakocra more comfortable than in the sky. They can spend hours in the air, and some go as long as days, locking their wings in place and letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying away.
Once airborne, an aarakocra leaves the sky with reluctance. On their native plane, they can fly for days or months, landing only to lay their eggs and feed their young before launching themselves back into the air. Those that make it to a world in the Material Plane find it a strange place. They sometimes forget or ignore vertical distances, and they have nothing but pity for those earthbound people forced to live and toil on the ground.
The resemblance of aarakocra to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Aarakocra display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up. When they deign to descend from the sky, they often do so near pools where they can catch fish and bathe themselves.
Many aarakocra punctuate their speech with chirps, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures. An aarakocra might become frustrated with people who fail to pick up on the nuances; an aarakocra’s threat might be taken as a jest and vice versa.
The idea of ownership baffles most aarakocra. After all, who owns the sky? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, aarakocra who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.
They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. An aarakocra who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.
Confinement terrifies the aarakocra. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few aarakocra can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountaintop homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Aarakocra possess both humanoid and avian traits, with bodies covered in feathers and wings instead of arms. They stand upright, typically around 5 feet tall, and have elongated, slender legs ending in sharp talons. Their avian heads often resemble various bird species, especially raptors like hawks, eagles, or falcons, with curved beaks and keen eyes adapted for distance vision.
Genetics and Reproduction
Aarakocra reproduce similarly to other avian species, with egg-laying followed by a short incubation period. Their genetics carry traits from the Elemental Plane of Air, which provides them with an affinity for wind magic and a lightweight skeletal structure that enhances their flight capabilities.
Ecology and Habitats
Aarakocra prefer high-altitude habitats such as mountains, cliffs, and tall plateaus, where they can take advantage of the winds and avoid many ground-based predators. In Astrium, the Aarakocra have made their home in the mountainous district of Fallweld within the Lustrum Metropolis. Here, they live in woven huts across plateaus, harnessing the natural resources of the mountains and relying on steamforging, a unique blend of steam technology and elemental magic.
Behaviour
Aarakocra are often stoic and introspective, valuing freedom and the ability to wander. This cultural emphasis on independence makes them somewhat aloof, though they are deeply loyal to their community and allies. Their affinity with the wind gives them a philosophical outlook, often seeing life as a journey shaped by unseen forces.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Aarakocra have high intelligence, especially in areas related to navigation, craftsmanship, and elemental magic.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Aarakocra have exceptional vision, allowing them to spot movement and details from great distances, even in low light. This keen vision is essential for navigation and hunting from high altitudes. Their elemental heritage grants them an innate sense of atmospheric changes, enabling them to read air currents and predict weather, a skill that aids their flight.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Aarakocra names often reflect wind or sky imagery and are typically short and flowing, such as Zephyr, Gale, or Lyria. Family names are uncommon, though titles or honorifics may be added, like “of the Gale” or “Stormwatcher.”
Beauty Ideals
Plumage is a key factor in beauty, with more vivid or uniquely patterned feathers being especially admired. Aarakocra also value physical symmetry and well-maintained feathers, often adorning themselves with rare stones or feathers from other birds to signify skill or status.
Gender Ideals
Gender roles are minimal among Aarakocra, as they prioritize personal skill and community contributions over traditional roles. However, those skilled in flight-related tasks or crafting are highly respected.
Courtship Ideals
Courtship is a display of aerial skill and dance, often involving a sharing of crafted items or feathers as symbols of admiration. Pairs may perform a synchronized aerial dance, symbolizing unity and harmony.
Relationship Ideals
Aarakocra prefer bonds that respect individual freedom, allowing partners to pursue personal journeys. Relationships are based on mutual respect, and it’s common for partners to embark on joint explorations or flights to distant places.
Common Etiquette Rules
Aarakocra etiquette emphasizes subtle gestures, such as nodding of the head and folding of wings as a mark of respect. Eye contact is a sign of attentiveness, and interrupting flight or airspace without permission is considered impolite.
Common Dress Code
Clothing is minimal and designed for aerodynamics, often made of lightweight materials like linen or woven grasses. In colder climates, they wear tunics with open backs to accommodate wings, decorated with natural or metallic elements.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Skyborn Awakening
Description: Skyborn Awakening is a sacred holiday celebrated by the Aarakocra people of Fallweld, marking the arrival of the season when the winds shift and the skies clear, allowing for ideal flight conditions. This day is a reverent celebration of the Aarakocra’s deep connection to the skies and their belief in renewal, freedom, and the guiding spirits of the wind.
At dawn, the Aarakocra take to the air in a ceremonial mass flight, spiraling upward in intricate formations that symbolize their unity with the winds and their ancestors. The highlight of the day is the Rite of Wings, where young Aarakocra come of age by participating in their first communal flight, marking their official acceptance into adulthood.
Throughout the day, there are feasts and songs of the wind's blessings, with the elders sharing stories of their people's origins among the clouds. In the evening, lanterns made of delicate, feather-like materials are released into the sky, symbolizing hopes, dreams, and the renewal of the spirit. Skyborn Awakening is a day of joy, freedom, and unity, celebrating both the flight of the body and the soaring of the soul.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Aarakocra cherish their connection to the Elemental Plane of Air, often passing down tales of the Wind Dukes of Aaqa and the honor of having been their emissaries. In Astrium, they maintain the legacy of steamforging and share stories of their role in the Pandora War, fostering a sense of duty to protect Astrium.
- Windwake Festival: A ceremonial event where Aarakocra gather to honor the winds and their ancestors, marked by aerial acrobatics and the crafting of wind chimes.
- Storm Vigil: A ritual performed during storms, where they meditate in elevated areas to attune with the elements, offering prayers for guidance and protection.
- Featherbinding: A rare bonding ceremony between close friends or partners, symbolizing unity and trust, where they exchange a primary feather from each other’s wings.
Common Taboos
- Grounded Conflict: Fighting or arguing on the ground is considered dishonorable, as it goes against their nature and their connection to the skies.
- Breaking Feathers: Destroying another’s feathers intentionally is a grave insult, seen as an attack on their very identity.
- Disrespecting the Winds: Flying carelessly or ignoring wind conditions is considered a sign of arrogance, as they believe the winds should be respected and followed.
History
The Aarakocra people originally came to Astrium after tears in the elemental planes during an event called the Shattering, an event in 3 A.D. an event during the Pandora War that caused the elemental planes to tear in places around Astrium. The first Aarakocra coming from the elemental plane of air, did not take long to establish themselves in the skies.
Even though they helped in the first Pandora War, the Aarakocra were displaced with a place of mistrust occuring as they only appeared while the Sins were in power. They have been striving to help the people of Astrium with their peace and prosperity.
In the year 700; Kelirc, the leader of their people along with the rest of the nomadic tribes settled with the stray races on top of a mountain. Within the newly announced Lustrum Township.
Today, Aarakocra can be found all over using the winds of Astrium to guide them where there hearts desire. Many stay in Fallweld in order to keep their traditions alive.
Common Myths and Legends
Aarakocra were integral in establishing the skybound court - a mythical council that controlled the skies
Aarakocra – The Wind Wardens
The Aarakocra, known as the Wind Wardens, were swift and agile avian beings who served as the primary enforcers of the Court’s will. With their ability to navigate the winds and skies with ease, they patrolled the vast expanses of Astrium’s heavens, ensuring the balance of the elements and protecting the world from aerial threats. The Aarakocra had a deep spiritual connection to the wind itself, believing it to be the breath of the sky gods.they served as the primary scouts and messengers. Each cardinal direction was guarded by an Aarakocra sentinel, who watched over the flow of the winds and reported any disturbances in the skies. They were also the court's eyes and ears, ever vigilant against threats from both the terrestrial and celestial realms
Role: Guardians of the sky’s currents, tasked with maintaining the flow of winds and ensuring safe passage for all beings of flight.
Symbol: The Feathered Gale, a wind-blown feather that represented their mastery of the air.
- The Song of the First Flight: A story of the first Aarakocra who ventured into the skies, taught by the Wind Dukes themselves, symbolizing the gift of flight and the spirit of freedom.
- The Starbound Messenger: A tale of an Aarakocra who flew so high that they reached the stars, returning with wisdom from the heavens, symbolizing the quest for knowledge and exploration.
- The Fallen Wing: A cautionary story of an Aarakocra who defied the winds and lost their ability to fly, teaching humility and respect for the power of nature.
Scientific Name
Aves Volantis
Lifespan
60-80 years
Average Height
5 feet
Average Weight
80-100 pounds
Average Physique
Lean and wiry, built for agility and speed. Their wings are powerful, but they have a relatively slender frame.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Feathers are commonly in shades of brown, gray, white, and black, with some bright colors like red or yellow on their wings or crests. In Fallweld, some Aarakocra display unique metallic or iridescent feather sheens, a result of exposure to the magical forges.
Geographic Distribution
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