Aarakocra

Basic Information

Anatomy

Aarakocras resembled humanoid birds. The average specimen stood about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and had a wingspan of 20 feet (6.1 meters). Halfway along the edge of each wing was a hand with three human-sized fingers and an opposable thumb. An elongated fourth finger extended the length of the wing and locked in place during flight. The hands could not grasp while flying, but they were nearly as useful as human hands when an aarakocra was perched and its wings were folded back. Their powerful legs ended in four sharp talons that could unlock and fold back to reveal another pair of functional hands. These humanoids had hollow, fragile bones.

Biological Traits

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. 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 variations. They had gray-black beaks and black eyes.

Additional Information

Social Structure

aarakocras lived atop the highest mountain peaks in small tribes that controlled hunting territories and shared a communal nest. The eldest female served as leader, assisted by the tribe's shaman, as society deemed them far more controlled emotionally. These aarakocra females were chosen by democratic elections, and each ruled over one of over 100 extended families. Males were not forbidden from running for office, but society was strongly against their election.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

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.

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.

Relationship Ideals

They also were notorious romantic flirts, regardless of whether or not they were married

Major Language Groups and Dialects

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. They can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, and Auran.

History

The small colonies of aarakocra are insular and remote, and few aarakocra live away from their roosts. Aarakocras were generally peaceful creatures who cherished their solitude. They were known to be extremely claustrophobic. Male aarakocras tended to have very short tempers and had been known to fly into fits of rage when a perceived wrong occurred. No more than a few dozen aarakocra live away from the nests of their families. Those that do are usually rangers or fighters, constantly patrolling for outside threats. The dwarves were able to track them down, employing their recently developed air force in order to access the lands they lived in. Despite being a pacifistic culture, the aarakocra fought back against their attackers with a fair amount of success. Ultimately, however, they were no match for the sheer numbers and firepower of their opponents.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Many aarakocra tribes avoided contact with other species, and many individuals rarely, if ever, left their home territory. The aarakocras had strong ties with the avariels as they shared the same patron deity and had the same respect for nature.

EXTINCT

Origin/Ancestry

Avian

Lifespan

30 years

Conservation Status

Currently only one known Aarakocra exists

Average Height

5ft