Aarakora

Introduction

NOTE: Aarakora are due for a Major Revision converting them into Spirits; they will be able to Apparate into Air. You can play one, but consult with one of our support staff to be clued in on what the revision will entail.

Appearance

Aarakora, commonly known as "Birdfolk," resemble smaller avian species. They are large, with an average height of 7 to 9 feet, sometimes reaching 11 feet. Their plumage varies in color, including white, gray, brown, black, or a mixture. They possess sizable raptorial beaks and stand on two sets of talons. Unlike harpies, their arms are humanoid, and their wings extend from their backs with a wingspan of nearly 20 feet. Their eyes, usually yellow but possibly other hues, have a sharp and piercing gaze, seldom blinking, giving them a stern appearance.

Physiology

avian traits. Their dense feathers provide insulation against the cold and enhance their aerodynamic and hydrodynamic capabilities. A small crop is located near their necks, serving to store food before it reaches their stomachs. This organ plays a vital role in nurturing their offspring, as its walls secrete a thin, nutrient-rich fluid called crop milk. Both males and females produce this milk to nourish their young before they can digest solid food. Their hollow bones reduce their overall weight, aiding in their ability to remain airborne.

Psychology

Aarakoras take pride in their freedom and view their flying ability as making them superior to other bipedal races. Their superiority stems from pity rather than other emotions. Despite the availability of flight technology among other species, they scorn such innovations, favoring traditional locomotion, weapons, and tools. Nevertheless, certain Aarakoras, departing from their isolated mountain communities, seek to assimilate into broader society and discover the advantages and marvels of technology.

Culture

Aarakoras typically reside in small mountain-side communities. Despite being part of a community, they prefer solitude and seldom interact unless in need. They highly value freedom and self-sufficiency, preferring caves over constructed buildings. Their beliefs are almost tribal, focusing on worshipping natural phenomena like wind and rain. They are steadfast in their customs, reluctantly adopting tool and weapon crafting out of necessity to safeguard themselves and adapt to the changing world they resisted. These beliefs are instilled in them from a young age, making it challenging for those who leave to shed them when integrating into more established societies.

Life Cycle

Egg

Every Aarakora starts life as an egg. Aarakoras lay eggs in clutches of 5-7, with only 3-5 likely to hatch. They create nests from sticks and scraps of cloth, often roosting in mountain caves for protection against the wild elements of their environment.

Hatchling

Viable eggs hatch after approximately 67 days, roughly two months, of incubation. Aarakoran parents sometimes wait an additional three days before discarding unhatched eggs, as these have lower chances of hatching past the average incubation period. At this stage, the hatchlings' feathers are undeveloped, and they need continuous monitoring to prevent freezing or predator attacks. Both male and female Aarakoras produce crop milk for feeding the young. While the female primarily cares for the offspring, occasional brief switches enable the male to bond with the hatchlings.

Nestling

A newly hatched Aarakora quickly progresses to this stage. Typically, within a few months, they display initial flight traits. Their softer feathers shed, replaced by emerging flight feathers. They start to try to fly, helping to develop the necessary muscles.

Fledgling

The duration of this period varies among Aarakoras. Generally, at about three years old, the nestling reaches a stage where they can attempt their first flight. However, their flights are short glides rather than sustained ones. During this phase, parental care continues to be necessary. They transition from crop milk to solid food during this stage.

Juvenile

Aarakoran young are considered juveniles at 11 years old and begin to leave the nest. They start to develop plumage and look more like their adult counterparts. They are still vulnerable, but their parents train them to defend themselves and hunt. They start learning how to survive and become more independent.

Adult

When they are 18, Aarakoras have fully developed their adult plumage and are now sexually mature. They may live in their parent's nest slightly longer but soon leave to find their own place to nest. Aarakoras typically live in small communities, with each mated pair of Aarakoras in their own nest, so it is more than likely that the young stay close to their parents.

Creating an Aarakora

Aarakoran Names

Aarakoras tend to have short and harsh names favoring the letter 'k' in males, though female names softer with leading 'ql' and 'cl' being common. They do not possess family names.

Male: Kle, Crekkis, Hukkik, Grik, Khurk, Kheeriek

Female: Qli, Yua, Qu, Clilaf, Gace, Hucce

Aarakoran Traits

Age

Aarakora typically age at a similar rate as humans do but do not live as long. They reach the age of maturity at 18 and usually live until 60.

Size

Aarakora typically stand at 7 to 9 feet tall. However, they can reach 11 feet tall. Height ranges between males and females of the species do not differ other than that females typically land on the smaller side of that range.

Abilities

Aarakora can fly, but due to the strain on their wings, they cannot fly while too heavily burdened. Their vision is on par with that of birds of prey. Due to being trained from a young age on how to hunt, they are comfortable using their talons and hands in a fight.

Languages

They typically speak their language, Vilishin, known as Aarakoran in the Common tongue. This language sounds similar to birdsong. It has a lot of chirping, trilling, and clicking of the speaker's beak. Aarakoran sounds foreign and strange to most other species who hear it. Additionally, those who venture into the world often learn Common to communicate with other species.

Playing an Aarakora

You can choose to play as an Aarakora without needing prior permission. Aarakoras tend to be reclusive and not very visible in communities, so people from other races might be curious or surprised to see them. They don't belong to any particular nation, but they also don't face widespread prejudice. Aarakoras aren't very familiar with modern technology, and their customs might be quite different from those of races in more established societies.

As an Aarakora, you begin with a bonus +25 XP in Flight.

NOTE: Aarakora are due for a Major Revision converting them into Spirits; they will be able to Apparate into Air. You can play one, but consult with one of our support staff to be clued in on what the revision will entail.

Antarok Handbook

Forum Links [ Back to Antarok · Character Sheets · Ælheim · Support Forum ]