Aarakocra
Sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, the aarakocra, sometimes called birdfolk, evoke fear and wonder. Many aarakocra aren't even native to the material plane. They hail from a world beyond - from the boundless vistas of the Elemental Plane of Air. They are immigrants, refugees, scouts and explorers, their outposts functioning as footholds in a world both strange and alien.
Beak and Feather
While aarakocra are far too large to sustain proper flight, the lighter aarakocra can still glide and vault through the air. Standing upright, aarakocra might reach 5 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.
Feathers cover their bodies. The plumage typically denotes the type of aarakocra. The stolid aarakocra are often duller in colour, usually brown, grey or white, while the dazzling aarakocra are brightly coloured, with feathers of red, orange or yellow. Their heads complete the avian appearance, being something like a parrot or eagle with distinct tribal variations.
Avian Mannerisms
The resemblance of aarakocra to birds isn't limited to physical features. Aarakocra display many of the same mannerisms of ordinary birds. They are dastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they may have collected.
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.
The idea of ownership baffles most aarakocra. After all, who owns the sky? Even when explained to them, the initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, aarakocra who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fruits and grains. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes. They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to beautify it. An aarakocra who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.
Homelands
Most aarakocra live on the Elemental Plane of Air. Aarakocra can be drawn into the Material Plane, sometimes to pursue enemies or thwart their foes' designs there. Accident might also send a nest of aarakocra tumbling into a world on that plane. A few find their way to such a world through portals on their own plane and establish nests in high mountains or in the canopies of old forests.
Once tribes of aarakocra settle in an area, they share a hunting territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe hunting in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging further should game become scarce.
Great Purpose
Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little intrest in dealing with other people. For this reason, it takes an exceptional circumstances for an aarakocra to leave their tribe and undertake the adventurer's life. Neither treasure nor glory is enough to lure them from their tribes; a dire threat to their people, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the aarakocra adventurer's chosen path.
Two other circmstances might call an aarakocra to adventure. First, aarakocra have historical ties to the Wind Dukes of Aqaa. Exceptional individuals honor that connection and might seek out the missing pieces of the Rod of Seven Parts, the remains of an artifact fashioned by the Wind Dukes long ago to defeat the Queen of Chaos' monsterous champion, Miska the Wolf-Spider. When plunged into Miska's body, the chaos in his blood sundered the rod and scattered its pieces across the multiverse. Recovering the pieces means gaining honor and esteem in the eyes of the vaati who forged it and could possibly restore a powerful weapon for defence against the agents of elemental evil.
Second, aarakocra are sworn foes of elemental earth, in paticular the gargoyles that serve Ogrémoch, the Prince of Earth. The Aarakocra word for gargoyle is loosely translated as “flying rock,” and battles between aarakocra and gargoyles have raged across the Elemental Planes of Earth and Air, occasionally spilling into a world on the Material Plane. Aarakocra on that plane might leave their colonies to lend aid to other humanoids committed to fighting earth cults and thwarting their efforts.
Aarakocra Names
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.
An aarakocra of either gender may have one of these short names: Aera, Aial, Aur, Deekek, Errk, Heehk, Ikki, Kleeck, Oorr, Ouss, Quaf, Quierk, Salleek, Urreek, or Zeed.
Aarakocra Traits
As an aarakocra, you have certain traits in common with your people.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence and Wisdom scores both increase by 1.
Age. Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3. Compared to humans, aarakocra don’t usually live longer than 60 years.
Alignment. Most aarakocra are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Tribal leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic.
Size. Aarakocra are about 5 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Aerial Vault. You gain a flying speed of 30 feet while you aren't wearing medium or heavy armour. You fall if you end your turn in the air.
Peak Dwellers. You're acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. You're also naturally adapted to strong wind, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, and Auran.
Subrace. Two subraces of aarakocra are found among the worlds of D&D: dazzling aarakocra and stolid aarakocra. Choose one of these subraces.
Dazzling Aarakocra
Dazzling aarakocra are brightly coloured and nible. Their lighter frame allowed them to nearly glide through the air. While this doesn't truely compete with actual flying, the dazzling aarakocra enjoy the feeling of gliding through the air, if only for a brief moment.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Light as a Feather. You are always under the effects of the featherfall spell while you aren't wearing heavy armour and are not unconcious or incapacitated.
Watchful. You gain proficiency in the Perception skill.
Radiant Plumage. You can cast charm person once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Your spellcasting ability for this spell is Intelligence or Wisdom, whichever is higher.
Stolid Aarakocra
The low aarakocra are muted in colour, and while still very light, are deceptivly strong. They act as warriors, guards and hunters for their tribe.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 1.
Aarakocra Combat Training. You have proficiency with the javelin, pike, spear, and quarterstaff.
Savage Attacks. Whenever you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
Strong Wings. You can use your Aerial Vault trait while wearing medium armour.
Credits
Detect Balance Score - Base Race
Trait Cost Ability Score Increase 8 Aerial Vault 5 Peak Dwellers 1 Languages 1 Subtotal 15
Detect Balance Score - Dazzling Aarakocra
Trait Cost Ability Score Increase 4 Light as a Feather 3 Watchful 2 Dazzling Plumage 3 Total 27
Detect Balance Score - Stolid Aarakocra
Trait Cost Ability Score Increase 4 Aarakocra Combat Training 2 Savage Attacks 3 Strong Wings 3 Total 27