Aarakora

Introduction

History

// General history of how the race came to be. Where they came from, what they have accomplished? Any struggles or monuments moments?

Appearance

Aarakora are commonly referred to as “Birdfolk” due to their similarities to the far smaller avian species. They are quite large, standing on average around 7 feet to 9 feet in height, but have been known to grow up to 11 feet tall. Covered head to talons in feathers, such plumage can be almost any color, but is more commonly one of the following: white, gray, brown, black, or a mix of the previous. They have large, raptorial beaks, and stand on two sets of talons. Unlike their more monstrous cousins, the harpy, they have humanoid arms. Instead, their wings grow out from their backs and have been known to reach almost 20 feet in wingspan. Their eyes, typically yellow but possibly other colors, are sharp and piercing. They rarely blink, giving them quite the steely visage.

Physiology

Generally, their bodies work similarly to most other humanoid races but blend avian traits in with them. They are covered in dense feathers that insulate their bodies against the harsh cold of their homes, while also allowing them to be quite aerodynamic and hydrodynamic. At the base of their necks, they have a small crop. This crop allows them to store a bit of food prior to it reaching their stomach. This organ also has a rather key role in raising their young. The walls secrete a thin, nutrient-dense, fluid commonly referred to as crop milk. Both males and females produce this, and it is used to feed their young before they are capable of digesting solid food. Their bones, like avians, are hollow. This makes them far lighter than one might think them to be, helping to making it easier for them to stay airborne

Psychology

Aarakoras pride themselves on their freedom, seeing their species as superior to the other bipedal races on account of their ability to fly. Though, this is more-so due to pity rather than any other emotions. Though other species have begun the fly with the use of machinery, they sneer at such technology, preferring to stick to more traditional methods of locomotion, weapons, and tools. This isn’t to say that no Aarakoras use modern technology. In fact, many Aarakoras who leave their more isolationist brethren in the mountains try to integrate into the rest of society, find comfort and benefits in the wonders of technology.

Culture

Aarakoras typically live in small communities on the sides of mountains. However, even though they might be a community, they tend to stick to themselves. They don’t often go to each other unless they really need help. They value freedom and self-reliance. They rarely construct any buildings, preferring to simply live in caves. One might describe them as almost tribal in their beliefs as well. Many of their objects of worship being related to natural phenomena such as wind and rain. They are quite stuck in their ways, having only reluctantly picked up the crafting of tools and weapons on account of a growing need to be able to protect themselves and expand amidst the constant change that they have vehemently fought against. Many of these beliefs were ingrained in them since they were hatchlings, and those who leave find it quite hard to shake them once they get to other, more established, societies.

Life Cycle

Egg

Every Aarakora begins life as an egg. Aarakora eggs are laid in clutches of 5-7, of which 3-5 are expected to be viable and hatch. Their nests are most often built out of sticks and scraps of various bits of cloth. They most often roost in caves within the mountains where they live to help protect against the various wild elements of their home.

Chick

After an incubation period of around 67 days (about 2 months), the eggs that are viable hatch. Aarakoran parents often wait up to 3 more days before tossing any unhatched eggs out of the nest. Such eggs are far less likely to hatch once the normal incubation period has passed. These hatchlings are called chicks in common, another reference to the more common avian species that Aarakora look like. At this age, their feathers are not developed much, and they require constant monitoring to make sure that they do not freeze and are not eaten by predators. The parents feed them crop milk, which both males and females produce. While the female Aarakora is typically the one expected to look after the young, occasionally they will switch briefly to help the male develop a bond with the young.

Nestling

It doesn’t take long for a newly hatched Aarakora to reach this stage, typically after only a few months an Aarakora begins to show some flight characteristics. They begin to lose their softer feathers, and flight feathers start to emerge. They start to try to fly, helping to build the muscles that they need to do so.

Fledgling

This period varies from Aarakora to Aarakora. Typically, around the age of three years old, the nestling will have developed enough to take their first flight. They cannot fly for long, tending to glide. During this stage, they still need to be looked after by their parents. During this stage, they stop being fed crop milk, and start eating solid food.

Juvenile

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

Adult

At the age of 18, Aarakoras have fully developed their adult plumage and are now sexually mature. They may live in their parent’s nest for a little while 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 do not travel far from their parents.

Creating an Aarakora

Aarakoran Names

// Some examples of names to help players think of names that are consistent with the conventions of the race. Male/Female/Family/Gender Neutral/Etc.

Aarakoran Traits

Age

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

Size

Aarakora typically stand at 7 feet to 9 feet tall, however they can reach 11 feet tall on occasion. This is not different between males and females of the species, besides the fact that females typically land on the smaller side of that range.

Abilities

Aarakora have no innate arcane abilities, but some have managed to train it, so the arcane is not out of their reach. They can fly, but due to the strain on their wings, they cannot fly while too heavily burdened. Lastly, their vision is on par with that of birds of prey.

Languages

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

Playing a Aarakora

// What should the player keep in mind while playing this race? Any restrictions imposed on them? Anything that is discussed previously that still needs to be put in game terms? Can they start at a certain age, do they need to spend merits, etc.? Template:Playable