Bird Maiden

Native only to the sunlit deserts and rainforest oases of Rabiah’s own Feywild, the bird maidens are a peculiar line of fey rarely found far from their home plane. Though capable of living and even flourishing in the layers of the Feywild which sit closer to other locations such as Faerun, these enchanting creatures prefer to spend as much time as possible on the Material Plane of Rabiah, rarely even venturing to their own Feywild home.   Waited on Hand and Foot Known best for being incredibly social creatures, bird maidens derive great enjoyment from being surrounded at all times by a variety of other creatures, competing with rival bird maidens to collect the most interesting companions. While a bird maiden’s companions might seem willing, most have fallen victim of the fey’s magical charm, which causes the creature to abandon their own goals and desires in favor of spending their time fawning over the fey and attending to their needs. Bird maidens seem incapable of grasping the moral issues that come with use of this ability, insisting that any creature which seems to enjoy itself as much their charmed companions must obviously be happy to serve.   Beauty and Grace The name bird maiden for these fey can be somewhat misleading. While all bird maidens outwardly resemble a female human, there are actually three different kinds- male, female, and genderfluid. The easiest way to differentiate between these are the style of a bird maiden’s wings. Bird maidens which are actually female have wings resembling those of a bird of paradise, such as a parrot or parakeet, with a rainbow of feathers including deep reds, vibrant blues, and shining greens. These bird maidens are the type most commonly depicted in popular art and literature, with their bedazzling feathers making for powerful focal points. The feathers of a male bird maiden are much less elaborate, coming exclusively in white and gold, more like the wings of a swan or cockatoo. Sometimes mistaken for angels, male bird maidens are otherwise identical to females. Genderfluid bird maidens are more difficult to accurately discern, but are best identified by the awe and reverence given to them by their peers. A genderfluid bird maiden is born with the ability to change their gender and the color of their wings at will, forming incredible patterns and color combinations exclusive to themselves. Bird maidens born with this ability are considered to be highly gifted, and the offspring of a bird maiden and a human is much more likely to have this gift.   Bright and Cheerful The personality of a bird maiden is almost always upbeat and happy without fail, but they can occasionally be prone to fits of frustration and sadness. The magical aura of empathy that surrounds a bird maiden can elevate the moods of their companions, but a bird miaden in a poor mood can accidentally send their company into an intense depressive state. The easiest way to re-energize a bird maiden is to bring them into the sunlight, which these fey rely on to live. The wings of a bird maiden are actually magical, and when spread out absorb sunlight, which also powers their magical flight, removing the need for a bird maiden to flap its arms to stay aloft. While a bird maiden is capable of flight indoors or at night, they are at their healthiest beneath the bright noonday sun of Rabiah, and many scholars speculate this is the reason they rarely choose to travel to other planes.