Owl-kin

Owl-kin are renowned for several traits: their unparalleled wisdom, their deep connection to the natural world, and their desire to be left alone by outsiders, whom they refer collectively as “walkers”.

Much of the Owl-kin fear of outsiders began even before the hybrid’s arrival in Layna, when Experiment H was still in its formative years. While some of this animosity is an innate and instinctual mistrust of the unknown, the majority of it can be attributed to their chosen sacred text, Hoot. The Caretakers intended this book, a novel about a group of human teens who fight to protect a natural habitat and the owls that lived within it, to teach the Owl-kin about reverence for nature and cooperation. It did both of these things, as the Owl-kin’s connection and respect for the natural world is almost unparalleled.

However, it also convinced them that humans were out to take their land and eradicate them from existence. They quickly developed a strong mistrust of the Caretakers, and began to whisper ideas of rebellion and escape among both their kind, and those that shared their ability to fly.

As Owl-kin tend to have a strong, even mystical, connection to nature, especially the skies above, they often become village elders, or Arch-Zephyrs, a position granted to those who lead the Avian worship of Welkin, the Sky Lord. From these positions of power they use make sure that Aviana is as self sufficient and as strongly defended as possible.

Owl-kin tend to be anywhere from five to six feet tall, but only weigh about 70 lbs. due to hollow bones that make flying easier. The have sharp talons on both their feet and hands, as well as a sharp, curved beak.

Owl-kin, like all Avian races, speak the melodic and beautiful language known as Birdsong. Unlike the other Avian races however, the Owl-kin dialect includes piercing shrieks and whistles that give it a noticeably angrier tone.

Owl-kin Traits

• Ability Score Modifiers: +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Owl-kin are educated and wise, but are also grumpy and lack social grace.
• Type: Owl-kin are Humanoids with the Avian subtype.
• Size: Owl-kin are Medium creatures and receive no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Speed: Owl-kin have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Senses: Darkvision. Owl-kin can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
• Welkin’s Chosen (Su): Only those selected by Welkin himself deserve to roam the skies. Owl-kin have a fly speed of 30 feet, with average maneuverability. This benefit applies only when they are wearing no armor, light armor, or medium armor, and not carrying a heavy load.
• Protector of the skies: Anytime an Owl-kin casts a spell with the air descriptor, they may add +1 to the DC for any saves that are required and +1 to rolls to penetrate spell resistance.
• Skilled Hunter: Owl-kin get a +2 racial bonus to Perception and Stealth checks
• Hollow Bones: Being graced with the ability to fly comes with a price. All Avian are born with hollow, brittle bones. They receive a -1 penalty to natural armor.
• Weapon Familiarity: Owl-kin are proficient with any weapon with the word “Owl-kin” in its name.
• Languages: Owl-kin begin the game knowing Common and Birdsong. Owl-kin with a high intelligence may also learn the following languages: Yipyap, Esparatu, High Cavy, Meowori

Owl-kin Favored Class Bonuses

• Alchemist: Add one extract formula from the alchemist formula list to the character’s formula book. This formula must be at least one level below the highest formula level the alchemist can create.
• Barbarian: Add +1/4 to the bonus on Reflex saves and dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps granted by trap sense.
• Cleric: Add+ 1/3 to the amount of damage dealt or damage healed when the cleric uses channel energy.
• Druid: The druid gains energy resistance 1 against acid, cold, electricity, or fire. Each time the druid selects this reward, increase her resistance to one of these energy types by +l (maximum 10 for any one type).
• Fighter: Add +1 to the fighter’s CMD when resisting a disarm or sunder attempt.
• Inquisitor: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks when casting inquisitor spells.
• Magus: Add +1/4 to the magus’s arcane pool.
• Monk: Add +l to the monk’s CMD when resisting a grapple and +1/2 to the number of stunning attacks he can attempt per day.
• Ranger: Add a +1/4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against the ranger’s favored enemies.
• Rogue: Add a +1/2 bonus on Bluff checks to feint and Diplomacy checks to gather information.
• Witch: The witch gains 1/6 of a new witch hex.
• Wizard: Add a +1 bonus on concentration checks made due to taking damage while casting wizard spells.