Aarakora

!	This article cannot be used in play!
	This article is unfinished lore for something that is not straightforward. Its contents are only referenceable by name and cannot be used to obtain or acquire anything tangible. If referenced in a story, then the story will be treated as unreliable narration if anything changes, correct at the point of release.

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 possess 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

// How do their bodies function? Is their blood a different color? Do they have two hearts? Can they breathe water, or maybe they don't need to breathe at all? What is their diet? Anything else that describes how their bodies work.

Psychology

// How do they think? Maybe they are aloof and thing of themselves as superior to all other races. Or perhaps they are a shy and timid race that barely raise their voices above a whisper. They could be brash and reckless, or thoughtful and cunning. Note: this is just what is typical of that race. There can be outliers that act differently from the typical members of their race.

Culture

// Beyond what each individual acts like, what is their culture as a whole? Maybe they value honor, or perhaps it's the strongest survive. Do they form large sprawling cities, or are mostly solitary creatures?

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, 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 at this stage, but their parents start to train them to defend themselves as well as to 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 depart 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 have the ability to 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.?