Aquilen

The group collectively known as the Aviar exhibits a greater degree of biological diversity than most. It is comprised of three distinctly different species that coexist harmoniously: the hawk-like Aquilen, the mysterious Corven, and the renegade Aven. Little is known about how or why these three peoples evolved so differently only to come together later on, but they now share habitats in many flatlands and rivers.

## Aquilen Overview

Aquilen are hunters and warriors, using their powerful wings to climb the air currents above their territories and dive at startling speeds towards their prey. Due to their relatively diminutive size (most ever exceeding half the size of humans), it is difficult to see Aquilen warriors until they are close enough to strike. Those unlucky enough to be caught in a Aquilen flock have been nearly cut to shreds as the protective skirmishers dart and dive like hundreds of knives cutting the air. Though they normally use their four sets of claws to damage opponents, they commonly carry short curved blades to ward off stronger assailants. They are cunning and voracious, attacking relentlessly if their Corven compatriots are endangered.

With a strong military and athletic tradition, and regardless of gender, there are only two optional ‘styles’ considered appropriate. Either you are a warrior and dress in sashes, sigils, or sporting outfits, and train in the way of the blade. Or you admire soldiers, then you wear flashy, fancy coats, learn music and dance, and depend on trickery and distractions rather than any valour, and try your best to look as if you need a strong arm to cling to.

No Aquilen will think less of a female general or giddily fawning boy as long as they adhere to their chosen role. While acting out of synch with your chosen style is strictly taboo, swapping styles (and with them social expectations) is possible, although considered somewhat crude.

Aquilen warriors make up for their lack of size with an abundance of ferocity. Their uncanny ability to mimic speech allows them to repeat the battle cries of their foes. They typically wear a cloth belt with several hidden pockets for knives, seeds, and sharpening stones, and a simple waist sash emblazoned with the united Aviar sigil. Their fabric is rough and primitive. Aquilen fight with blades, enhancing their talons with sharpened, metallic sheen that can rival a Kamaitachi. It takes a true master of blades to be able to don so many without an accident.

The less martially adept individuals can instead look forward to learning entertainments and sleight of hand tricks, to both marvel their peers and to create distracting displays, allowing their allies a greater chance at a surprise strike! A coveted position in any arena is one who announce their allies and opponents with a flourish, using their chiming peals maintain the attention of a crowd, and perhaps catch the attentions of a renowned warrior. However, while it's not unusual to see a warrior courting a showman that they fancy, it's also common for a warrior to court another warrior, or a showman another showman.

Though encourage to pick up artistic pursuits, showmen are expected to be just as capable in everyday tasks, including the hunting of small game. Although agriculture and animal husbandry are rare for the Aviar, some Aquilen showmen have developed a way to lure herds into traps and enclosures for easy hunting.

Unlike the more omnivorous Corven, Aquilen tend to prefer a diet of fish. Commonly warriors travelling long distances will bring with them strings of tiny, dried fish. The amount of salt they use is almost offensive.

## Names

Less attuned to Modroben than their corven cousins, aquilen prefer to name their children for their role or physical traits. Because whether an aquilen would become a warrior or a showman is not clear at birth, they have a nest-name, a trainee name, and do not receive a proper adult name until they are deemed to be sufficiently competent at their role. Swapping their social role generally equates to changing their name, though this is not strictly enforced.

As a chick, they are referred indiscriminately as "fletchling" or "hatchling", and individuals are generally distinguished by their parents, such as "Sunstrike's hatchling".

They take on a trainee name once they have obtained a mentor, being typically mentored one-on-one by an established aquilen. The search for mentors begins from birth, and sometimes even while they are still eggs. They will go to live with their mentor once they are about a month old. Usually, the mentor will be someone outside their immediate family, though parents mentoring their children is not unheard of, especially if a more suitable mentor cannot be found.

These trainee names a simple and short. Examples include: Pippa, Blackie, Chip, Skipper, Zippo, Lucky and Happy.

Their full names are granted to them by their mentor once they 'graduate'. Because their readiness is determined by their mentor individually, the time they receive this name varies. Generally though, they will graduate a few years into adulthood, at around 7-9 years of age. While slightly outside this range is common enough, earlier than 5 is highly unusual, and would be considered prodigies. Later than 11 is considered quite late, and would be cause of concern. Warrior names are typically ferocious and related in some way to blades, whereas showman names are usually a description of some physical feature.

Warrior names: Surgestriker, Redclaw, Sharptalon, Sunstrike, Bladerush, Thornclaw, Stealthtalon, Jaggedscar, Steelbeak, Thunderstrike

Showman names: Dawnfeather, Whitetail, Echosong, Curlfeather, Snowtuft, Cherryfeather, Dapplewing, Nightwing, Longtail

## Racial Traits

* **Ability Score Increase.** Your Dexterity score increases by 2. **+8**
* **Age.**An Aquilen reaches adulthood around 7 years old and live to be about 70.
* **Alignment.** Aquilen tends towards neutrality.
* **Size.** 2.5’ - 3.5’. Your size is Small.
* **Speed.** Your base walking speed is 25 feet. **-2**
* **Wings.** You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor. While flying, if you do not move at least half your speed during your turn, you fall to the ground. **+16**
* **Languages**. You can speak, read, and write Common and Auran.
* **Subrace.** Choose one of Warrior or Showman

### Warrior

* **Warrior Training.** You are proficient in battleaxes, longswords, and scimitars. You also have proficiency in Athletics. **+3**
* **Talons.** You are proficient with your claws, which are natural weapons with Finesse and deals 1d4 slashing damage on a hit. **+2**
* **Brave.** You have advantage on saving throws against being Frightened. **+1**
* ***Score Total: 28***

### Showman

* **Showman Training.** You have proficiency with one type of artisan's tools or musical instrument of your choice. You also have proficiency in Acrobatics. **+3**
* **Mimicry.** You can mimic sounds and voices. A successful Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your Charisma (Deception) check allows a listener to determine that the effect is faked. **+2**
* ***Score Total: 27***

## Example Aquilen

Stormclaw, warriorBladedancer, warriorBlacktalon, warriorRazorclaw (formerly Greenwing), warrior, former showmanGreybeak, showmanBrindlewing, showmanMurkmirth, showmanPlainfeather, showman