Aaraki (Aarakocra, Falconfolk)
- Home Plane
- Vitaea
- Category
- Skyborn
- Ancestor Race(s)
- Sylvari-Vitae (True Sylvari)
- Home Region
- Zarriel
- Racial Abilities
- Intelligence, Dexterity
- Racial Features
- Talons, Eagle Eyed, Light as a Feather, Dive Attack, Call of the Skies, Wind Rider
- Years of Existence
- 40,000 years
- Average Lifespan
- 50 years
- Average Weight
- 75 lbs
- Average Height
- 5.5 ft
- Skin Tones
- Widely Varied
- Playable?
- Yes
- Extinct?
- No
- Size Category
- Medium
- Speed
- 25
- Movement Types
- Flying (Glide), Walking
- Hair
- Feathered
- Body Features
- Raptor-folk Humanoid, Winged, Taloned
- Divergence Cause
- Great Awakening
- Average Generation
- 10 years
- Vision Type
- Normal
- Vision Distance
- Unlimited
- Short Description
- A republican empire of proud humanoid eagle-folk with a far-reaching territory spanning many of the world’s high mountain peaks
- Languages
- Aethyrian Common, Auran, Aarakan
- Default Upbringing
- Familial: Raised by mother(s), and/or father(s), and/or sibling(s)
Full Description
Aarakocra are majestic, eagle-like humanoids who hail from the towering peaks of the world's highest mountains. With their sharp talons, powerful wings, and keen eyesight, they are well-adapted to life in the skies. Organized into a widespread republican empire, Aarakocra control a vast territory and exert influence over the lower-lying lands.
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. Aarakocra stand about 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of around 15 feet. Covered in feathers of varying shades of brown, white, and gold, they possess sharp beaks and talons reminiscent of eagles. Their eyes are typically amber or golden, gleaming with intelligence and pride.
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.
Once airborne, an aarakocra leaves the sky with reluctance. 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 mountaintop homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.
Homelands
The Aarakocra Empire is a vast and intricate network of aeries built on high mountain peaks. Governed by a republican system, each aerie is represented by elected officials who gather to debate and make decisions for the welfare of the entire empire. The Aarakocra are proud of their democratic traditions and hold a deep sense of duty towards maintaining order and justice within their territory.
However, not all is harmonious within the Aarakocra Empire. The Kenku, a race of flightless avian humanoids, inhabit the lower echelons of Aarakocra society. Once capable of flight, the Kenku have lost this ability over generations due to the oppressive conditions imposed upon them by the Aarakocra. The strained relationship between the Aarakocra and the Kenku is a source of internal tension and discord.
Relations with Other Races
Aarakocra are often viewed with a mix of awe and apprehension by other races. Their imperialistic tendencies and control over high-altitude territories can lead to territorial disputes and tensions. However, they are also respected for their disciplined society and the order they maintain in their realms.
While the Aarakocra maintain diplomatic relations with various races, their oppressive treatment of the Kenku is a blemish on their reputation. Some view the Aarakocra as tyrants, exploiting the Kenku and denying them the right to reclaim their heritage of flight.
Aarakocra Characters
Aarakocra characters are often proud, disciplined, and value their freedom above all else. They may be driven by a sense of duty towards their empire, a desire to explore the world beyond the mountain peaks, or a quest to address the injustices within their society. Regardless of their motivations, Aarakocra adventurers bring a unique perspective and set of skills to any adventuring party.
Aarakocra Names
As with much of their speech, aarakocra names include clicks, trills, and whistles to the point that other peoples 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.