There are several types of birdfolk in the world. Even though they are technically different races, they are grouped together here. Many traits are common to all birdfolk, but for ease, all are listed under each race.
Aarakocra
Sequestered in high mountains atop tall trees, the aarakocra 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
From below, aarakocra look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, aarakocra might reach 5 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that taper to sharp talons.
Feathers cover their bodies. Their plumage typically denotes membership in a tribe. Males are brightly colored, with feathers of red, orange, or yellow. Females have more subdued colors, usually brown or gray. Their heads complete the avian appearance, being something like a parrot or eagle with distinct tribal variations.
Sky Wardens
Nowhere are the aarakocra more comfortable than in the sky. They can spend hours in the air, and some go as long as days, locking their wings in place and letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying away.
On their native plane, they can fly for days or months, landing only to lay their eggs and feed their young before launching themselves back into the air. Those that make it to a world in the Material Plane find it a strange place. They sometimes forget or ignore vertical distances, and they have nothing but pity for those earthbound people forced to live and toil on the ground.
Avian Mannerisms
The resemblance of aarakocra to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Aarakocra display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary birds. They are fastidious about their plumage, frequently tending their feathers, cleaning and scratching away any tiny passengers they might have picked up. When they deign to descend from the sky, they often do so near pools where they can catch fish and bathe themselves. 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, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, aarakocra who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to 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.
Confinement terrifies the aarakocra. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few aarakocra can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountain top homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.
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 farther should game become scarce.
A typical colony consists of one large, open-roofed nest made of woven vines. The eldest acts as leader with the support of a shaman.
Great Purpose
Aarakocra enjoy peace and solitude. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an exceptional circumstance for an aarakocra to leave his or her 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 circumstances 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’s monstrous 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 defense against the agents of elemental evil.
Second, aarakocra are sworn foes of elemental earth, in particular 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 people 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. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing an aarakocra requires special consideration by your DM.
-
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength ability score, both current and maximum, is reduced by 2.
-
Age. Aarakocra reach maturity by age 3, and don’t usually live longer than 30 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 is 25 feet.
-
Flight. You have a flying speed of 40 ft. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor, nor can you be encumbered (i.e. carrying weight more than 5 times your Strength score). For the wings to be able to function, you must have a number of feet equal to your height free on both sides of you.
-
Talons. You have sharp talons on your feet, which deal 1d4 slashing damage on a hit.
-
Language. You can speak Aarakocra and Auran.
Kenku (Tengu)
Haunted by an ancient crime that robbed them of their wings, the kenku wander the world as vagabonds and burglars who live at the edge of human society. Kenku suffer from a sinister reputation that is not wholly unearned, but they can prove to be valuable allies. They are called Tengu in Oriental settings.
An Ancient Curse
The kenku once served a mysterious, powerful entity on another plane of existence. Some believe they were minions of Grazz’t, while others say that they were scouts and explorers for the Wind Dukes of Aaqa. Whatever the truth, according to legend, the kenku betrayed their master. Unable to resist the lure of a beautiful sparkling treasure, the kenku plotted to steal the item and escape to the Material Plane.
Unfortunately for the kenku, their master discovered their plan before they could enact it. Enraged, the entity imposed three dreadful curses upon them. First, the kenku’s beloved wings withered and fell away from their bodies, leaving them bound to the earth. Second, because their ingenuity and skill had turned toward scheming against their patron, the spark of creativity was torn from their souls. Finally, to ensure that the kenku could never divulge any secrets, their master took away their voices. Once the entity was satisfied that they had been sufficiently punished, the kenku were set loose on the Material Plane.
Since then, the kenku have wandered the world. They settle in places that accept them, usually bleak cities that have fallen on hard times and are overrun with crime.
Dreams of Flight
Above all else, kenku wish to regain their ability to fly. Every kenku is born with a desire to take to the air, and those who learn spellcasting do so in hope of mastering spells that will allow them to fly. Rumors of magic items such as flying carpets, brooms capable of flight, and similar objects provoke a great desire for the kenku to acquire the items for themselves.
Despite their lack of wings, kenku love dwelling in towers and other tall structures. They seek out ruins that reach to the sky, though they lack the motivation and creativity to make repairs or fortify such places. Even so, their light weight and size allow them to dwell in rickety structures that would collapse beneath a human or an orc.
Some thieves’ guilds use kenku as lookouts and messengers. The kenku dwell in the tallest buildings and towers the guild controls, allowing them to lurk in the highest levels and to keep watch on the city below.
Hopeless Plagiarists
As, a result of their lack of creativity, kenku function comfortably as minions of a powerful master. Flock leaders enforce discipline and minimize conflicts, but they fail at effective planning or crafting longterm schemes.
Although unable to speak in,their own voices, kenku can perfectly mimic any sound they hear, from a halfling’s voice to the noise of rocks clattering down a hillside. However, kenku cannot create new sounds and can communicate only by using sounds they have heard. Most kenku use a combination of overheard phrases and sound effects to convey their ideas and thoughts. _ By the same token, kenku have no ability to invent new ideas or create new things. Kenku can copy existing items with exceptional skill, allowing them to become excellent artisans and scribes. They can copy books, make replicas of objects, and otherwise thrive in situations where they can produce large numbers of identical items. Few kenku find this work satisfying, since their quest for the freedom of flight makes them ill-suited to settle into a routine.
Ideal Minions
Kenku gather in groups called flocks. A flock is led by the oldest and most experienced kenku with the widest store of knowledge to draw on, often called Master. Although kenku can’t create new things, they have a talent for learning and memorizing details. Thus, ambitious kenku can excel as superb spies and scouts. A kenku who learns of clever schemes and plans devised by other creatures can put them to use. The kenku lack the talent to improvise or alter a plan, but a wise Master sets multiple plans in motion at once, confident that underlings can follow orders to the letter.
For this reason, many kenku make an easy living serving as messengers, spies, and lookouts for thieves’ guilds, bandits, and other criminal cartels. A network of kenku can relay a bird call or similar noise across the city, alerting their allies to the approach of a guard patrol or signaling a prime opportunity for a robbery.
Since kenku can precisely reproduce any sound, the messages they carry rarely suffer degradation or shifts in meaning. Human messengers might switch words or phrases and garble a message inadvertently, but the kenku produce perfect copies of whatever they hear.
Kenku Adventurers
Kenku adventurers are usually the survivors of a flock that has sustained heavy losses, or a rare kenku who has grown weary of a life of crime. These kenku are more ambitious and daring than their fellows. Others strike out on their own in search of the secrets of flight, to master magic, or to uncover the secret of their curse and find a method to break it.
Kenku adventurers, despite their relative independence, still have a tendency to seek out a companion to emulate and follow. A kenku loves to mimic the voice and words of its chosen companion.
Kenku Names
Given that kenku can duplicate any sound, their names are drawn from a staggering variety of noises and phrases. Kenku names tend to break down into three categories that make no distinction between male and female names.
Kenku thugs, warriors, and toughs adopt noises made by weapons, such as the clang of a mace against armor or the sound made by a breaking bone. Non-kenku refer to the kenku by describing this noise. Examples of this type of name include Smasher, Clanger, Slicer, and Basher.
Kenku thieves, con artists, and burglars adopt animal noises, typically those common in urban settings. In this manner, kenku can call out to each other while those who overhear them mistake them for common animals.
Non-kenku use names that refer to the sound made or the animal a kenku mimics, such as Rat Scratch, Whistler, Mouser, and Growler.
Some kenku turn their back on crime to pursue legitimate trades. These kenku adopt noises made as part of their craft. A sailor duplicates the sound of a fluttering sail, while a smith mimics the clanging of a hammer on metal. Non-kenku describe these folk by their trade sounds, such as Sail Snap, Hammerer, and Cutter.
Kenku traits
As a kenku you get a some traits that you share with the others of your kind.
-
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength ability score, both current and maximum, is reduced by 2.
-
Age. Kenku have shorter lifespans than humans. They reach maturity at about 12 years old and can live to 60.
-
Alignment. Kenku are chaotic creatures, rarely making enduring commitments, and they care mostly for preserving their own hides. They are generally chaotic neutral in outlook.
-
Size. Kenku are around 5 feet tall and weigh between 90 and 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.
-
Speed. Your base speed is 30 feet.
-
Expert Forgery. You can duplicate other creatures’ handwriting and craftwork. You have advantage on all checks made to produce forgeries or duplicates of existing objects.
-
Kenku Talent. Add the following skills to your class skills: Acrobatics, Stealth and Sleight of Hand. Additionally gain 1 additional skill point to spend on one of the skills.
-
Mimicry. You can mimic sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds you make can tell they are imitations with a successful Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your Charisma (Deception) check.
-
Languages. You can understand Common and Auran, but you can speak only by using your Mimicry trait.
Roleplaying a Kenku
If you’re playing a kenku, constant attempts to mimic noises can come across as confusing or irritating rather than entertaining. You can just as easily describe the sounds your character makes and what they mean. Be clear about your character’s intentions unless you’re deliberately aiming for inscrutable or mysterious.
You might say, “Snapper makes the noise of a hammer slowly and rhythmically tapping a stone to show how bored he is. He plays with his dagger and studies the Lords’ Alliance agent sitting at the bar.” Creating a vocabulary of noises for the other players to decode might sound like fun, but it can prove distracting and could slow down the game.
Birdfolk Class Options
Birdfolk approach some classes a bit differently than that of other races. When you select one of these classes, it is modified as follows:
-
Alchemist
Kenku can become very good alchemists. Obviously they are very bad at using alchemy in new, creative ways, but they are extremely good at duplicating the work of other alchemists.
As a kenku, whenever the alchemist class description mentions your Intelligence modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Barbarian
Raging birdfolk behave more like an animal than humanoid, completely giving in to their animalistic side. While raging, you can peck, scratch, rip and tear as if you had a natural weapon dealing 1d4 piercing or slashing damage. You can use either your Strength or Dexterity for those attacks. If attacking only with natural weapons while raging, you may make an additional attack using a bonus action as if wielding an off-hand weapon.
-
Bard
Aarakocra have beautiful singing voices, and kenku can mimic any sound, so birdfolk can become excellent bards.
Whenever the Bard class description mentions your Charisma modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Cavalier
Birdfolk normally do not use mounts.
-
Cleric
Aarakocra follow their elemental lords, who has the power to imbue the aarakocra shamans with divine magic. If you are a cleric with the Tempest domain, then whenever the cleric class description mentions your Wisdom modifier, you may instead use this modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower.
Kenku usually follow the pantheons of their human neighbours.
-
Cursed
As a kenku you are already cursed, but life is unfair and you are doubly cursed. Whenever the cursed class description mentions your Intelligence modifier (i.e. for spellcasting), you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Druid
Aarakocra have very strong ties to the natural world. Whenever the Druid class description mentions your Wisdom modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Feyblood
Birdfolk can become feyblood if their egg is affected by fey energies before hatching.
-
Fighter
Aarakocra are fierce fighters. When calculating AC and initiative, you may use instead use the appropriate modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower.
-
Inquisitor
The religious practices of aarakocra are usually not focused on things outside their own communities, so the inquisitor role is mostly nonexistant.
Kenku on the other hand often imitate their human neighbours, and might become inquisitors if growing up in an religious environment. Whenever the Inquisitor class description mentions your Wisdom modifier, you may instead use this modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower. In addition, you may use the same modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity when attacking. Make this choice at level 1 and it cannot be changed later.
-
Paladin
Paladins are embodiments of the heroic ideals for their race. As the most common race that becomes paladins are humans, the archetypical behaviour of paladins is the ideal for humans.
This often confuses people when they first meet a birdfolk paladin, as they follow the ideals of their race, which might be similar, but can also be completely different from humans.
Kenku have access to the Oath of the Wing Seeker. If you choose that oath then whenever the class description mentions your Charisma modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
In addition, whenever the class description mentions your Strength modifier, you may instead use that modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower. This also applies to attack and damage rolls. Make this choice at level 1 and it cannot be changed later.
-
Professional
Birdfolk professionals fill the same niche in their communities that professionals do in other racial communities. However, generally birdfolk tend to prefer and value the more practical fields.
-
Ranger
Aarakocra have very strong ties to the natural world. Whenever the Ranger class description mentions your Wisdom modifier, you may instead use this modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower. In addition, you may use the same modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity when attacking (attack and damage). Make this choice at level 1 and it cannot be changed later.
-
Rogue
Kenku are often found among the criminal underworld in the human cities, and commonly adapt well to life in the shadows. Whenever the Rogue class description mentions your Dexterity modifier, you may instead use this modifier +3 or your proficiency bonus, whichever is lower. In addition, you may use the same modifier instead Dexterity when attacking (both attack and damage).
-
Sorcerer
Sorcerers are just as rare and varied as within other races.
Whenever the Sorcerer class description mentions your Charisma modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Swashbuckler
Birdfolk that choose to take the path of swashbuckling tend to more clever than calculating.
Whenever the Swashbuckler class description mentions your Intelligence modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Warlock
Taking shortcuts to power is just as common among birdfolk as any other thinking creature.
Whenever the Warlock class description mentions your Charisma modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.
-
Wizard
Kenku have an excellent memory and can duplicate spells with ease. You may add one additional spell to your spellbook everytime you gain a wizard level.
You do not need to use a physical spell book to prepare spells. Instead you keep all your spells in memory. In addition, whenever the wizard class description mentions your Intelligence modifier, you may instead use your proficiency bonus.