Avariel
Avariels came dangerously close to extinction long ago, and it has taken them thousands of years to recover to the point where they don’t have to worry about the fate of their race. Only recently have they begun to expand back into the world, sending explorers, diplomats, and merchants into other lands. Avariels are free spirits who would like nothing better than to simply soar on the currents high above the ground, taking in the views the world has to offer. They possess an irrepressible zest for life. Even in the darkest, most desperate situation, an avariel remains cheerful. Unfortunately, while friendly to those they consider their equals, avariels also tend to be condescending and even downright rude to landbound races. The avariels are usually unaware of this; it’s just their natural reaction to treat landbound races as lesser creatures. Given time and enough exposure to other cultures, avariels can overcome their natural bias.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Civilization and Culture
Average Technological Level
Avariels tend to focus on the magics of Conjuration, Divination and Transmutation. Their cities showcase this focus in both building style and lay-out.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Warlike avariels have a complex code of honor that they use to guide and temper their militaristic activities and training. These avariels spend their lives defending their kin. Their lives are geared toward war and power, and they answer to their war chiefs, who share responsibility for ruling the society with the religious leaders of the peaceful avariels. The martial avariels are proud and hearty, and they form eternal friendships with those who earn their respect and trust. In combat, warlike avariels have little pity or remorse about cutting down their enemies. The concept of surrendering is highly dishonorable to these avariels, both for themselves and for their enemies. Once lethal combat begins, few avariels break off until they or their enemies are dead. Drawing blood from an enemy is nothing less than a promise to honor the enemy with one’s skills in combat and not humiliate him by leaving him alive to dwell on an embarrassing defeat. The act of slaying an enemy is viewed simply as delivering on that promise. Warlike avariels prefer to use ranged weapons, and they aren’t above using wings to gain an advantage over landbound enemies. This is supported by their code, which allows them to cut down an enemy from an unassailable distance in the skies above. After all, those who cannot defend themselves against an attack from the skies should know better than to make an enemy of a clearly superior foe.
The peaceful avariels focus mainly on arts and the intellectual aspects of life. When faced with conflict, a peaceful avariel relies on her brains and diplomatic abilities—and often on her magic power. Peaceful avariels are artists, philosophers, and researchers who spend their lives studying the world and its history and creating works of art simply for the sheer joy of creation. The peaceful avariels are also responsible for providing their society with food, entertainment, and education. Many peaceful avariels are also very religious and spend much of their time contemplating the ways of their deity.
Despite their divergent personalities, these two subcultures interact surprisingly well. Young avariels typically spend time immersed in each subculture, learning from both warriors and priests. These exchanges, which often last for a decade or longer, allow avariels raised in one subculture to learn how the other subculture lives.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Avariels love having birds and other winged creatures as pets or companions. However, these creatures are always free to come and go as they wish: avariels detest cages.
RPG Datasheet
Winged elves combine a tradition of vigilance and skill at arms with a joyous reverence for the sheer peaks and open skies of their homelands. Many become fighters, rangers, or clerics. Avariel civilization is old and established, so avariel barbarians are mostly unheard of. Winged elves lean toward the divine rather than the arcane, but a small number take up the study of wizardry and generally excel at it.
+4 Dexterity, –2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom. Avariels have hollow bones and, as a result, are more fragile than humans. At the same time, they are gifted with a keen intuition and intellect, and an almost otherworldly grace.
Keen Sight (Ex): Avariels gain a +4 racial bonus on all Spot checks; this replaces the standard +2 racial bonus that most elves gain.
Avariels gain a +4 racial bonus on Jump checks. They are strong for their weight.
Proficient with either rapier or longsword; proficient with lasso and bolas. This replaces the standard elven weapon proficiency with longswords or rapiers and proficiency with shortbow, longbow, composite longbow, and composite shortbows.
Flight (Ex): Avariels have a flying speed of 50 feet with average maneuverability, as long as they do not carry more than a Medium load, are not wearing Heavy armor, and are not fatigued or exhausted. Avariel wings have a span of 12 feet on average; they cannot fly in an area that does not allow them to fully extend their wings. An avariel may make a dive attack. A dive attack works just like a charge, but the avariel must descend a minimum of 30 feet and attack with a piercing weapon; if she hits, she deals double damage. An avariel can use the run action while flying, provided she flies in a straight line. For more information on flight, see the Tactical Aerial Movement section in Chapter 3 of the DUNGEON MASTER’s Guide.
Automatic Languages: Common, Elven, Auran
Favored Class: Cleric
Prestige Classes: bladesinger, arcane devotees, loremasters, divine champion and divine disciple
Level Adjustment: +1. Avariels are more powerful and gain levels more slowly than most of the other common.
Racial Feats: Flyby Attack (see Monster Manual), Hover (see Monster Manual), Improved Flight (Races of Faerûn), Rapid Flight (Races of Faerûn)
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