Polar Owl (5e Race)

Polar Owl

Physical Description

Polar owls are large white owls that range from just under 4 feet tall to a couple inches over 7 feet tall. They have wing spans that correspond directly to their snowy owl counterparts, about double their height. These owls have sharp talons on the end of their legs to grip onto perches or prey. Although polar owls are almost always white, they can be speckled in an assortment of different colors, especially females and particularly in the summery months. Their feathers seem to shine white in the sunlight, and light blue in the moonlight; they have been traded as ingredients for wizard spells and potions in the past.

Polar owls are, as their name alludes, highly resistant to cold as they exude an excess amount of body heat. This makes cold environmental conditions ideal, and even necessary to some as long exposure to hot weather can kill a polar owl of weak constitution. Polar owls have been known to thrive in icy habitats otherwise deemed unlivable. Flaming polar owls have bodies more acclimated for a variety of climates outside the cold, whereas the snowy subrace is virtually only found in the cold.

History

The polar owls originally came from the Paraelemental Plane of Ice, from whence they fled the wars between archoelemental Cryonax and the dragon Albrathanilar. Many migrated to the coldest regions of the Prime Material Plane using portals, which they had the power to open at will. This power faded once they left their home plane however. They are believed to be a more beast-like cousin of the more anthropoid owlfolk.

Some roosts of polar owls have managed to escape to the Material Plane, where they are treated as food, but it is better than how they were treated prior. Polar owls have a long history involving almost every creature that has ever existed. They dislike the sun elves as they were caught trying to roast a group of polar owls and denied in right away. They are good trade partners with the dwarves and have set up portals to the elemental plane of air near them to make trade easier. The gnomes do not like the polar owls because they think that the polar owls are to full of themselves and think of their race as superior to anyone else. The polar owls and dragonborn absolutely hate each other. The dragonborn accuse the polar owls of turning the high elves against them. The polar owls accuse the dragonborn of turning the genasi against them.

Society

Polar owls live in roosts, the equivalent of a human town or village. These roosts are easily mobile. The leader of the roost is called the Rooster, or Chief Polar Owl as they prefer to be called. The Chief Polar Owl is dressed in a silky gold robe. They generally live in a larger building in the roost and have friends that help them out, like servants but they are willing to and knew the polar owl before he became the Rooster of his roost. The Chief Polar Owl is easily distinguishable among common polar owls, even when wearing common clothing. They have 5 inch horns coming out of both sides of their head that curve up. The polar owls and quarterlings currently do not like each other. The polar owls think that the quarterlings are planning a secret attack on the polar owls so there can be a war. Polar owls also feel the need to fit in with others. When fighting, polar owls favor spell casting and ranged combat, because they do not like to get their feathers dirty.

To polar owls, precision and accuracy are the most important things after history. Once they catch a creature that they consider unreliable, they will remember them forever, and will forever hold a grudge against that creature that is unknown to it.

Polar Owl Names

Polar Owls are named after their most prominent traits. These words are then twisted slightly to sound more like an actual name.

Male: Bruker, Bater, Sliter

Female: Grendor, Furallia, Stalia

Polar Owl Traits

Polar owls are large owls that are quick to move and aren't physically strong, but mentally strong.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
Age. Polar Owls often live to be 500 years old as they need to see as many historical sites as possible, or even current events that will greatly impact the future.
Alignment. Polar owls often have a need for sensibility and logic, often agreeing with balance, or at least those with authority.
Size. You are bigger than a normal owl. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Flight. You have a flight speed of 30 feet, and can not fly higher than 30 feet. You must not be wearing medium or heavy armor to use this speed. Starting 5th level, you can fly higher than 30 feet.
Precise Reading. Your virtues of precision apply to how you gauge others. You are proficient in the Insight skill.
Heat Sensitive. You have disadvantage in saving throws against fire damage.
Languages. You can speak, read and write in Common and Auran.
Subrace. Choose either the flaming or snowy polar owl.

Flaming Polar Owl

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Talons. You have strong talons for gripping and ripping which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier.
Buff Build. You are the most fit species of owls. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Snowy Polar Owl

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Being of Cold. You are a being of cold, though not elemental. You come from the coldest of places. You are unaffected by the effects of Extreme Cold. However, you have disadvantage in Constitution saving throws while in Extreme Heat. Both environmental conditions are detailed in chapter 5 of the DMG.
Smarter Half. You are the smarter half of the race. You have advantage in Intelligence (History) checks to recall information from anything you've seen or read within the last year.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
5′ 6''	+1d10	80 lb.	× (1d10) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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