Ave

More Than a Featherweight

Basic Information

Anatomy

These species has a few different lineages but their commonalities stem from all being bird-folk with a beak, two wing-like arms, and anisodactyl feet (3 toes in the front, 1 toe in the back). Some lineages have talons, some don't. An incredibly wide variety of feather coloration exists across the lineages. Aves posses more strength is in their legs and feet than their wing-like arms. Aves will use their feet for manipulating heavy objects or for holding and manipulating objects in flight but will generally revent to using the 8 feathery, finger-like digits on each wing's "hand" for more dextrous, intricate, and/or basic tasks as well as holding light to medium weight objects when not in flight.

Unique Physiology by Ave Lineage

Hawkish/Chickadeeish
Height: 2'0" - 3'6"
Highest capacity for flight.
Owlish
Height: 4'6" - 5'6"
Mid-range capacity for flight.
Ravenish/Heronish
Height: 6'0" - 7'0"
Lowest capacity for flight.

General Features

• Languages: You know the common trade language, one of the Ave languages (choose from Hoot, Song, and Caw), and any other language of your choice..
• Ability Score Increase: Increase your Intelligence and Wisdom stats by 1. Also increase your choice of either Dexterity or Charisma by 1.
• Handsy: You have two sets of "hand-like" appendages: the feathers at the tips of your wings are dexterous enough to manipulate fine objects but are lacking in raw strength while your talons can be used to grip items strongly but lack fine motor control. While on the ground, you can use objects with one or both of your feathered hands and/or one of your clawed feet. While in the air you can only used items with one or both of your clawed feet.
  If using your feathered hands to wield a Heavy weapon, you are at Disadvantage when using that weapon.

Variant Features

You must choose one variant.

Hawkish

• Size: You are a Small creature.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. You can't use your flying speed while you wear medium or heavy armor. (If your campaign uses the variant rule for encumbrance, you can't use your flying speed if you are encumbered).
• Hawkeyed: You have proficiency in the Perception skill. In addition, attacking at long range doesn’t impose disadvantage on your ranged weapon attack rolls.

Chickadeeish

• Size: You are a Small creature.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 25 feet. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. You can't use your flying speed while you wear medium or heavy armor. (If your campaign uses the variant rule for encumbrance, you can't use your flying speed if you are encumbered).
• Nimble Flight: When you fall, you can use your reaction to make a Dexterity saving throw (DC 10) to stop falling and fly in place until the start of your next turn.

Owlish

• Size: You are a Medium creature.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a flying speed of 20 feet. You can't use your flying speed while you wear medium or heavy armor. (If your campaign uses the variant rule for encumbrance, you can't use your flying speed if you are encumbered).
• Silent Feathers: You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.

Heronish

• Size: You are a Medium creature.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You can use your bonus action to temporarily summon enough energy to fly for up to 1 minute. For the duration, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed and can hover. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.
• Hunter's Intuition: Whenever you make a Wisdom (Perception) or a Wisdom (Survival) check, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the total ability check.

Ravenish

• Size: You are a Medium creature.
• Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You can use your bonus action to temporarily summon enough energy to fly for up to 1 minute. For the duration, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed and can hover. Once you use this trait, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.
• Birdbrained: You can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any Intelligence check you make that doesn’t already include your proficiency bonus.

Civilization and Culture

History

The Aves are a race that first started out as five distinct species/cultures, each originating from a unique moon orbiting the gas giant Sowali IV in the Esquar system. Although each species cannot interbreed, there are an incredible amount of physiological similarities between the different kinds of Ave. Some anthropologists are attempting to verify legends about Yesk manipulation of a precursor race of birdfolk that may have led to the origins of these distint species.
Aves are, by and large, a very regal race with many of their cultures priding themselves in proper etiquette, poetic speech, and intricate decor and architecture. Even many Aves who are not well-off will tend to strive to maintain appearances in some way or another. Many of the galaxy's most well-renouned artisans are of the Ave race and many of the current state-of-the-art metalworking and materials science processes were developed by Ave agencies and corporations.
Generally speaking, Ave cultures prioritize a natural look to their civilizations and try to avoid the garish industrial look of mundane technologies or the increasingly unnatural constructs that seem to arise out of a heavy use of symbiotic technology. That isn't to say that they do not use these types of tech, but more so that Aves have mastered more subtle implementations of technology that they are able to blend into their organic and opulent aesthetic.
As one of the oldest known civilizations in the galaxy, the Aves were instrumental in founding the Galactic Coalition and were the most influential of Coalition races for centuries until the rise of the Vinuulae in politics. Known for being team players, Aves tend to maintain respectful relationships with most species and planets in the galaxy but have long been concerned with the expansionist policies of the UFFR and, some factions at least, are also keeping a close eye on the expansion of Vinuulae as well.

Lifespan

Hawkish/Chickadeeish: ~75 standard years
Ravenish/Heronish:~110 standard years
Owlish:~160 standard years