Aaracokra
A sapient species of humanoid birdfolk, Aaracokra are native to Auria and are notable for their powerful wings and notably varied physiology.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Aaracokra are bipedal, feathered, beaked or billed, and have a pair of wings growing from their upper back whose musculature is sufficient to lift them, but this is where their common features end.
Aaracokra may resemble almost any species of bird, from owls and other birds of prey to tiny songbirds or even waterfowl. A complete listing of their subtypes would require a wiki of its own. Their height and much of their anatomy varies accordingly, affecting colouring, whether the feet are taloned, webbed, or anisodactyl, and the shape and size of the beak, among other things.
Genetics and Reproduction
Aaracokra are an egg-laying species. The number of eggs in a clutch varies by Aaracokra, but is generally between three and eight.
Growth Rate & Stages
Aaracokra live less than one century on average, but they mature much faster than humans. Most Aaracokra are physically mature by age six. As they age, some Aaracokra may begin to lose feathers or pigment. Difficulty with muscle coordination and eyesight is also common in elder Aaracokra.
Ecology and Habitats
Varies by subtype.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Aaracokran societies are geriarchies, giving credence to the eldest members of their society and drawing from the wisdom of their experience to guide social decisionmaking.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Aaracokra originated in Auria, and their inherent, nonmagical, and ubiquitous flight ability allows them to thrive in the Realm of Air and Sky, but they can be found commonly almost everywhere, excepting subterranean realms such as Terra, Pandemonium, and the Underdark.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
While the Aaracokra do not enjoy any innate magic, many enjoy enhanced abilities resulting naturally from their anatomy. Owlin, for instance, fly completely silently, while eaglefolk can see further than almost any other creature and Aaracokra whose form derives from the Albatross can fly for days at a time without landing.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Due to speaking through a beak, the Aaracokra dialect of Aurian closely resembles bird calls, and are extremely difficult for most other species to pronounce. Therefore, Aaracokra with traditional Aurian names often create simplified, short forms that are easier to pronounce.
Aaracokra names are generally unisex and their meaning is most commonly derived from the child's nesting environment.
- Cri, Kwee, Araw, Rawk, Twee, Swioo
Beauty Ideals
The definition of beauty varies widely across Aaracokran subtypes. Basic hygeinic concerns such as cleanliness of one's feathers through appropriate preening are universal, but little else is. For example, a swanfolk Aaracokra might aspire to an entirely monochrome plumage, while a parrotfolk might take pride in the brightness of their feathers.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Aurian is the dominant language of Aaracokra communities, alongside a dialect known colloquially as Aara-Aurian that, while still Aurian, omits the phonemes difficult for beaked beings. A person who speaks Aurian can understand this dialect, but may miss some nuance, and, if they do not possess a beak, will likely struggle to pronounce it.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Originating in the same Realm, Aaracokran culture overlaps with Aurian in many ways, including a preference for loose, comfortable clothing that can accommodate wings without restricting them, veneration of the primordials of air, a positive attitude toward travel, wanderlust, and flexible thinking, and a similar heritage regarding traditions of arts and craftsmanship.
History
The exact details of Aaracokra creation are murky. An oral culture, few records of their earliest ancestors exist, but they were first spotted in The Vale of Aqaa.
Historical Figures
The The Wind Dukes of Aaqa were an ancient order whose population was almost completely Aaracokra, or at least, the ancestors of the species we now call Aaracokra. As the war the Wind Dukes waged against the forces of Chaos predates even the Dawn War, it is difficult to know how much resemblance the Dukes would bear to any contemporary Aaracokra, but their cultural impacts of standing for law and the security of the material realms continues to impact Aaracokran culture.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Most Aaracokra are raised to speak both Aara-Aurian and Standard Aurian, as a necessity for complex communication with their many non-beaked neighbours. Many Aaracokra, especially those who grow up outside their ancestral realm, learn Common instead of or in addition to Standard Aurian.
Ba'ti Nightfury, the Aarakocra Ranger. by Miss Reliah
Origin/Ancestry
Humanoid
Lifespan
75
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities