Aarakocra

Aarakocra are majestic creatures that hold supreme command over the skies. These avian humanoids, also known as birdfolk, evoke wonder and awe in those that are lucky enough to encounter them.

Beak and Feather

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 an eagle or a hawk with distinct tribal variations.

Sky Wardens

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. They can fly for days or months, landing only to lay their eggs and feed their young before launching themselves back into the air. 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.

Avian Mannerisms

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.

5e Racial Stats

• Ability Score Racial Traits: Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.
• Type: Aarakocra are humanoids with the avian subtype.
• Size: Aarakocra are medium.
• Speed: Aarakocra have a base speed of 25ft.
• Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common, Auran, and Chiripi.

Aided Leap (1) (Ex)

Even when you cannot use your wings to fly, you can use them to aid you in your jumps. As long as you are not encumbered or otherwise suffering from the Burdened condition, you can determine your jump distance with your Dexterity, you do not take a penalty for not taking a running start to jump, and your jump distance is doubled.

Flight (2) (Ex)

You have large wings sticking out of your back that, when fully extended outwards, give you a wingspan equal to twice your height. All armor and back accessories must be tailored to accommodate your wings. You have a flying speed of 50 feet. In order to fly, you cannot be over-encumbered or wearing medium or heavy armor.

Insulating Feathers (2) (Ex)

Your feathers protect you from the cold. You have resistance to cold damage.

Keen Senses (1) (Ex)

You have proficiency in the Perception skill. Should you later gain proficiency in Perception, you instead gain Expertise.

Mountain Born (1) (Ex)

You’re acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You’re also naturally adapted to cold climates.

Talons (1) (Ex)

You are proficient with your unarmed strikes, which deal 1d6 slashing damage on a hit.

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

Base	Intuitive	Self-Taught	Trained
3 years	+1 year (4 years)	+1d2 years (4 - 5 years)	+1d4 years (4 - 7 years)

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Young	Middle Age	Old	Venerable	Maximum Age
under 1 years	12 years	21 years	30 years	30 + 2d4 years

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

As with much of their speech, aarakocra names include clicks, trills, and whistles to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, aarakocra may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

An aarakocra of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed.

Average Physique

Gender	Base Height	Height Modifier	Weight	Weight Modifier
Female	4' 8"	+2d4" (4’ 10" – 5’ 4")	65lb.	+3d4*4lb. (77 – 113lb.)
Male	4' 6"	+2d4" (4’ 8" – 5’ 2")	60lb.	+3d4*4lb. (72 – 108lb.)

Related Organizations

• The Chosen Empire of Elderia
• The Yokugan Marquisate