Avian (5e Race)
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Avians[edit]
Physical Description[edit]
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| An avian [1] |
A birdlike race of humanoids hailing from the planet Avos, avians are significantly lighter, and typically lither than most races due to their hollow bones and adaptive genes. Covered in feathers, avian plumage can range from simple short designs of a single color to intricate and complex plumage resembling that of the most intricate of birds. Their feathers come in every color, some dull matt with others being a brilliant chromatic or pearlescent hue. In place of a common mouth, avians develop beaks that match their environments and dietary preferences.
History[edit]
Avian culture revolves around the worship of Kluex, the winged god of the Aether. Avians believe they were stripped of their wings as punishment for entering the mortal world and will only regain their wings in the afterlife should they achieve absolution through worship. Throughout their history avians have always been a primitive race, making little scientific progress. Avian numbers were beginning to dwindle when a superior race took pity and bestowed the gift of advanced technology upon them. This new found tech allowed the avians to flourish and spread across the universe, building temples of worship as they go.
It is unclear what happened to the race that gifted the avians this technology as the information and stories have been lost, or altered over time. Through careful retelling and rewriting of history by the Stargazers, most avians believe that it was Kleux who gifted this technology to their race. In doing so, the avians would have a means for a second chance to be faithful, and to earn their wings and take their place at Kluex’s side in the Aether.
Society[edit]
Avian culture is centered around the worship of Kluex, the "Winged God of the Aether". According to their religion, the avian once existed outside the mortal plane alongside their god, but grew jealous of the mortals' pleasures. The avians crossed into the material world, an act punished by stripping them of their ethereal wings, dooming them to be forever flightless. An avian can only be reunited with Kluex by shedding their mortal body while keeping the truest of faith in their hearts. Ceremonies to achieve this state of pure being include ritualistic sacrifices of captured enemies, and an elaborate procession that culminates in the most devout, chosen by the priests, climbing a tall tower and taking a leap of faith, their spirit breaking free of their mortal prison and flying into the Aether, as their now-discarded body plummets to the ground below.
This bloody theology does not sit well with all avians, however, and a growing number have rejected the words of the Stargazers and the divinity of Kluex. Calling themselves "Grounded", they have taken to the stars and formed their own colonies. Some have crafted terrestrial flying ships and make their lives in piracy, and many others have joined multi-racial organizations like the Terrene Protectorate.
Avians soldiers are trained from birth to be fierce warriors and will protect their temples at any cost. Avian weaponry may look primitive at first glance, but the incorporation of advanced technology makes them particularly formidable. Avian generals forge wings for themselves that function much like jetpacks.
Avians stone structures, simple clothing, deeply-religious nature and rather simplistic battle tactics (primarily consisting of "overwhelm the enemy with thousands of disposable soldiers") make them seem primitive at first glance. But the avian are very intelligent, and anyone brave or foolish enough to venture into an avian temple or tomb will find examples of advanced -and deadly- technology, powered by Avolite crystals. These enigmatic power sources are mined solely by the Stargazer priests on their homeworld, and power everything from simple lights to spaceships capable of interstellar travel.
Avian Names[edit]
The Avian's names are based on the Mesoamerican races. Avians have naming customs similar to ancient traditional Mayan naming practices. Additionally, among their own, an avian will often be granted a title based upon their accomplishments and cultural role.
Male: Yaoatl, Manitli, Tilzqui, Maloxoc, Xochic, Cencaca, Tiln.
Female: Zelextl, Tolli, Nextlal, Monya, Sacoatl, Cuhtl, Mizque.
Title: Windwalker, Starcaller, The Vigilant, Watcher of Kleux.
Avian Traits[edit]
Strong and religious bird race from Starbound related to humans in many ways.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Wisdom score increases by 1. .
Age. Mature at about the same age as humans, with a bit longer lifespan. Avians mature at 20, and are considered elders at 130.
Alignment. Due to their heritage, they commonly have lawful alignments, however, deserters, adventurers, and nonbelievers head more towards neutral, or chaotic.
Size. Avians are lithe and agile, their frames smaller and lighter than humans due to their hollowed bones. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Avian Training. You are proficient in two simple weapons and two martial weapons of your choice.
Sharp Eyes. You are proficient in the Perception skill. In addition, you can see as if you were looking through a telescope at any time.
Light Bones. You are resistant to fall damage.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Avian, and one other language of your choice.
Subrace. There are four subraces of Avian depending on their natural habitat: Choose a subrace from Grounded, Landrunner, Raptor, or Skysinger.
Subraces[edit]
Stargazer[edit]
Stargazer Avians are the most common form of avian, making up more than 90% of the race's population. Stargazer Avians are incapable of flight, however, have adapted strong religious zeal in the belief it will one day be gifted back to them. Their feathers range vastly in length, plumage, and color with no relation to the environment, social status, or hierarchical position.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Kleux’s Favor. Once per day, when you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.
Kleux’s Faithful. You are proficient in the Religion skill.
Landrunner[edit]
Landrunner Avians have fully adapted to the wingless society of current day avians. Built larger and hardier than their kin, Landrunner Avians are nearly twice the size of their more common kin. Landrunner Avians typically reach heights of 7-9ft tall. Using their thick, powerful legs, they can move at incredibly high speeds. Despite their large bodies and sharp claws, they are generally easygoing.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Iron Lungs. You gain proficiency in Athletics skill.
Landrunner. Due to your powerful legs, your base walking speed increases to 35 feet.
Raptor[edit]
Raptors are the apex of Avian kind. Raptor Avians are large eagle-or hawk-like avian subspecies. Their bodies are more similar to human bodies, in that they are not completely covered in feathers, but instead, bear resemblance to harpies. Though other subspecies are omnivorous, Raptor Avians are strictly carnivores. They are proud and difficult to please, an unusual trait among the generally amicable avians.
Raptor avians have patterned plumage, such as found on hawks or owls, and do not have the giddy colors of common avians or the simple uniform tones of Land Runner Avians. Raptor Avian wings are angled and are adapted to swooping and cornering. As Raptor Avians are purely carnivorous, their increased protein intake leads to their bodies being fuller and far less lithe in appearance. Raptor Avian wings have very long pinions, and these would likely make them even less dexterous than common avians. As hunters, raptor avians are strong and proud and are not as easily-impressed by other avians. Being a predator takes a degree of cunning and consistent knowledge of the terrain and situation, so raptor avians are typically more perceptive and cunning than their counterparts
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Raptors Legs. Due to primarily being in flight, your legs are weaker than the typical avian. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Raptor Wings. You have a flying speed of 20 feet. If you are wearing armor you are not proficient in or any medium or heavy armor, you may not fly.
Hunting Skill. You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Carnivorous Nature. Due to your carnivorous nature, you cannot eat plant matter, as it cannot be digested by you. You must eat meat to sustain yourself.
Skysinger[edit]
An extremely rare variety of avian who are viewed as signs of good fortune, a sign of Kleux’s favor, and even demi-gods and messengers of Kleus itself. Long ago, a group of Apex scientist were tasked with producing a breed of avian capable of flight to help aid intense diplomatic relations between the two races. After many years of research and diligent “experimentation” on countless local Avians abducted from settlements and towns, the Skysinger was created. Skysinger Avians were developed to have wings and proportionally smaller, petite frames allowing them to gracefully fly and dance among the clouds. These Avians are now especially well-known for their enchanting singing voices and exotic plumage.
With the experiment finally a success, the Apex began preparing to bring their findings to the Avians. Before being able to do so, however, thousands of elite Tombguard arrived on the small planet, meant to aid the avian population with their mysterious disappearances. Though well hidden, the Apex scientists knew their lab would eventually be found, and there was no way to transport their research off planet without discovery. Apex government officials acted quickly, sending a secret elite force to the planet to guide the avians to the lab, assist in eliminating all researchers involved, and frame racial tensions on the “renegade” scientists, a problem the Apex as a whole had been working to resolve all along. The results worked exceptionally well- all files and research expunged, each entity involved executed, and racial tensions alleviated. Unanticipated, however, the Skysinger Avians have begun to breed, becoming a tiny, yet stable subspecies to now roam the galaxy.
Size. Your smaller stature for flight means that you qualify as the size smaller. Your size is Small.
Luring Song. You can use your action to sing. Any sentient, or semi-intelligent creature of your choice within 30 feet of you that can hear your song that isn’t immune to being charmed must make a Wisdom saving throw. The DC is 8 + your Charisma modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed save, the creature is charmed until the song ends. You must take a bonus action on your subsequent turns to continue singing. You can stop singing at any time. The song ends if you are incapacitated.
While charmed by a Skysinger Avian, a target is incapacitated and ignores the songs of other Skysinger Avians. If the charmed target is more than 5 ft. away from the Skysinger Avian, they must move on its turn toward the Skysinger Avian via the most direct route. The targets don't avoid opportunity attacks, but before moving into damaging terrain, such as lava or a pit, and whenever it takes damage from a source other than the Skysinger Avian, a target can repeat the saving throw with advantage. A creature can also repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns. If a creature's saving throw is successful, the effect ends on it. A target that successfully saves is immune to this Skysinger Avian’s song for the next 24 hours.
Once you use this trait, you cannot use it again until after you finish a long rest.
Skysinger Wings. You have a flying speed of 20 feet. If you are wearing armor you are not proficient in medium or any heavy armor, you may not fly.
Random Height and Weight[edit]
| Base Height |
Height Modifier* |
Base Weight |
Weight Modifier** |
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| 4′ 10'' | +2d6 | 70 lb. | × (1d6) lb. |
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*Height = base height + height modifier | |||
References[edit]
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Races
