Valkarr (5e Race)
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Physical Description[edit]
Valkarr are tall, imposing humanoids whose heads resemble those of predatory seabirds. They have piercing yellow eyes and sharp, hooked beaks, as well as talon-like claws on their fingers and toes. Their bodies are covered in white feathers, often with grey or black patterning. Almost all are tough-looking and muscular, and many sport battle scars. Valkarr favour sturdy, functional clothing, and do not wear shoes.
History[edit]
The history of the Valkarr is patchy at best, as they themselves live very much in the present and they rarely stay in one place for long. It is said that they were once even more dangerous and free than they are today, soaring above sea and land on immense wings. Sources disagree as to what became of their flight, or even whether the myth is based in fact; the Valkarr themselves say they were cast down to the earth for mounting a raid on the gods themselves and devouring their divine feast.
Society[edit]
Valkarr live lives of adventure and bloodshed, wandering the coastlines and oceans of the world and raiding anything they come across for food, glory, and the fun of it. The inhabitants of a single ship or coastal settlement are referred to as a roost, and bear a certain grudging loyalty to one another; members of a roost scrap and steal among themselves almost constantly, but put aside their differences if threatened from outside. Valkarr believe anything they are strong or cunning enough to take is theirs by right and delight in material pleasures. In particular, they are infamous for eating almost anything they can fit in their beaks.
The Valkarr often tame giant seabirds and eagles in order to ride them into battle. They have learned to speak the tongue of these creatures, although it has no written alphabet. Stories are passed down of the days when they could fly themselves, and they attempt to recapture a part of their old freedom through their great sailing vessels and flying mounts. They are restless, seldom settling down for any longer than it takes to repair their ships and lick their wounds.
Some Valkarr are born with unusual size and endurance, resembling albatrosses more than seagulls. These are known as Albyr, while common Valkar are named Seakyr. They often become leaders, referred to as jarls, of their roosts due to their longer lifespans and towering bodies. Albyr jarls often expel potential competition from their roosts - these Albyr may become solitary wanderers or fall in with similarly rowdy crews of non-Valkarr.
To a Valkarr, the best death is in the heat of battle. Or, failing that, of overeating. They believe a glorious enough death will propel them back into the halls of their gods. There it is said they will join the crew of Aegir, the first of the Albyr, and ravage their way through the armies of heaven in order to steal back their wings.
Valkarr Names[edit]
Valkarr society makes little distinction between male and female. Valkarr bear the name of their roost, which is often the very name of the ship they were born on. In addition to this roostname, they choose a name for themselves when they shed their juvenile plumage and reach adulthood. Their roostname and chosen name can be given in either order, or in the format "Chosen Name of Roostname".
Roostnames: Thunderer, Great Shark, Storm, Bloody Beak, Heavyclaw, Whitespatter, Craw
Chosen names: Keharr, Sigrun, Heavy, Njor, Jormund, Yark, Gut, Aegir
Valkarr Traits[edit]
Valkarr are wild, greedy humanoids who resemble great seabirds. They travel the oceans of the world in great raiding parties, seeking plunder, glory, and food.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 2 and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Most Valkarr reach maturity at 6 and live around 40 years. Albyr may live to be as old as 70.
Alignment. Valkarr are free-spirited and impulsive, and believe anything they can take is theirs by right. They tend towards Chaotic and Evil alignments.
Size. All Valkarr are tall, and most are sinewy and muscular. Seakyr range from 6 to 7 feet in height, while Albyr stand at 7 to 8 feet. Your size is medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Aggressive. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed toward an enemy of your choice that you can see or hear. You must end this move closer to the enemy than you started.
Menacing. You are proficient in the Intimidation skill.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common. You can speak Giant Eagle.
Seakyr[edit]
Iron Stomach. Your body is accustomed to almost inedible fare. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you are resistant against poison damage.
Albyr[edit]
Unwearying. Your level of exhaustion increases every second time you gain exhaustion, rather than increasing every time.
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