Abrian (5e Race)

Abrian

Physical Description

Rick Sardinha

To get the obvious comparison out of the way, Abrians look like ostriches who have had their wings replaced with a pair of small, featherless arms, which are stronger than they may appear, and a larger, curved beak, which is just as dangerous as it appears. On closer inspection, which few have ever made of a living Abrian without getting their eyes pecked out, their black and orange feathers are thicker and more conical in shape than normal birds. Those soft spikes ran up their flexible necks as short manes and puffed out off their rear as a flared tail. Underneath the feathers, Abrians have deathly pale skin and wide, sunken eyes. Like ostriches, Abrians are completely flightless without magical aid, but very fast runners. Unlike ostriches, Abrians have an intellect and sentience on par with most humanoids or demons.

Male Abrians are usually significantly larger than female Abrians.

History

No one is quite sure which plane the Abrians originate from, though the prevailing theory is Carceri or Hades, but regardless of where they started flocks of these vicious, flightless avians can now be found across the Lower Planes. Some more adventurous groups can also be discovered hunting on the Middle and Upper Planes as well, but their they risk drawing the ire of much stronger predators than themselves.

Abrians are vicious, nomadic hunters that wader about the planes, consuming all they can find from an area before moving on after killing anything they believe could pose a potential danger to themselves or their eggs.

Society

Abrians usually form into flocks of about ten, though sometimes circumstances or a particularly strong leader might be able to corral up to forty into a larger community. Flocks have no hierarchy beyond which Abrians are best at getting food for the flock, something that isn’t usually an issue since Abrians are communal hunters. Their usual tactic is to surround their prey, let out all their Hunting Shrieks at once, which has the added benefit of dealing sonic damage when the sound waves start building on each other, before pecking the dazed quarry to death. Despite this barbaric bloodshed and what many assume about them, Abrians are fully sentient and can be negotiated with if they think doing so would be more beneficial to their flock their hunting, but diplomats should be aware that typically Abrians will perceive the slightest insult as a betrayal and have no compunctions about killing and eating the messenger. Most of the time they deal with demons. While Abrians may fight amongst themselves for mates and food, such feuds are never lethal. If separate flocks get into conflict, they will settle their dispute with hunting competitions rather than direct conflict.

Abrian Names

Abrian names are usually demonic in sound and language. As such, they are fairly unisex.

Abrian Names: Asnortith, Hageltoc, Sezaltaru, Vashapo, Zulrun

Abrian Traits

Ostrich-like predators that roam across the Lower Planes, stripping any flora or fauna bare.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Strength score increases by 1.
Age. Abrians usually live up to 30-40 years, but some have been known to live for a few decades longer.
Alignment. Abrians lean towards a chaotic evil alignment
Size. Abrians usually stand 6 and 8 feet tall and weigh 200-300 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Beak. You can use your beak to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with it, the strike deals 1d6 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Demonic Taint. While not Fiends themselves, spells like detect evil and good or hallow and similar magical effects identify Abrians as Fiends. However, spells and other magical effects that deal extra damage to Fiends do not deal extra damage to them.
Momentum. When you use the Dash action, your walking speed increases by 10 feet until the end of your turn.
Sound-Absorbent Feathers. You have resistance to thunder damage and advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the deafened condition.
Swivel Neck. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Tiny Arms. You have disadvantage on Sleight of Hand ability checks and attacks using two-handed weapons. It also takes you twice as long to doff or don armor, other than shields, without assistance.
Voracious Shriek. As an action, you can emit a horrible shriek to disrupt all prey within 20 feet of you. All creatures other than you must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failure, a creature is incapacitated and deafened until the end of your next turn. You cannot use this trait while silenced and other Abrians automatically succeed on the saving throw. Once you use Voracious Shriek, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+2d12	200 lb.	× (1d4) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

Suggested Characteristic

For a lone Abrian to split off from their flock and pursue a life as an adventurer is practically unheard of. What led you down this path?

d8	Motivation
1	I want more of those shiny magical baubles I’ve picked off the corpses of previous adventurers and yugoloths.
2	Hunting with other Abrians was getting boring. I aim to pursue more interesting game.
3	I was exiled from my flock for daring to show mercy to stray Hollypant. What was that thing even doing in in the Lower Planes anyways?
4	I made a deal with a devil to help out my flock. Now I must leave them to honor or weasel out of my side of the bargain.
5	I seek to become a Demon Prince and get Abrians our own layer of the Abyss, elevating us to full demonhood.
6	I got separated from them and don’t know how I got here. I might have accidentally run through a tear in reality or open portal.
7	I seek to fly, but know that dream will never be if I stay among those so content to scrape the ground for scraps.
8	I’ve realized the immorality of how my people have been acting and understand I must make up for their savagery with what little power I have.

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