Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Aarakocra

[@brosephnoonan223]

One of my favorite races, especially as a monk, barb, or fighter. Theres nothing quite like grappling something, and spinning pile-driving them into the dirt like you're straight outta street fighter.

[@Jameston]

I’m a complete DnD virgin, but I still love the lore. Safe to say I hit a goldmine with your channel. This is some great nerd dumping you’ve got going here! The art is also very nice to see all flavors of characters possible

[@JonathansCoffeeJournal]

As someone who is starting a campaign playing an Aarakocra cleric, this is immensely helpful! Thank you.

[@DCdabest]

In bird culture this is considered a good video

[@criminalelement7514]

This guy gets it

[@panacasummit5946]

Uhrrrr33r3c

[@panacasummit5946]

Keep i0

[@Dule810]

Maaad props for the name pronounciations love them!

[@xdean816]

Man having a stroke at the end was a real treat. Way to commit bro.

[@feathereddoggo7891]

I'd never had an aarocokra player till my most recent campaign. His character is a barbarian that got lost in the material realm after gargoyals ruined his home. Oh and his name is Ureekzeed.

[@BLOODKINGbro]

A lot of DMs used to have an issue with any PCs that could just outright fly

[@arcadianslife4493]

Thank you for all of these videos I watched all the dragon ones so far, and these a rly helpful for a understanding of the lore

[@StrixNebulosa_mk1]

Awesome video man. Thanks for everything you contribute to to D&D, and fantasy hobbies in general.

[@AJPickett]

Thanks Strix :)

[@purplehaze2358]

Any bird? That has so much potential for funny shit, oh my god.

[@draxthemsklonst]

Two days late for a lore video. Apologies. "In bird culture, this is considered a dick move" - Bird Person of Rick & Morty

[@AJPickett]

*regurgitates food into the guest feeding dish* I also enjoy this cartoon.

[@stevenpeterson8582]

"Do you want to live forever, Hawkmen? DIVE!!!!!"

[@ryn3872]

Good job with those ‘exotic’ sounds

[@powerhavengaming2854]

Man I laughed so much with the names, but it was great! Amazing video as always! 😁

[@willynthepoorboys2]

Your annunciation of the names at the end was fantabulous.

[@willynthepoorboys2]

Listen to the song Moondance by VanMorrison.

[@口口口口-n1c]

2:33 Would be nice to have a video on Lamassu lore. There does'nt seems to be much if any material on the subject same with Aearee for which I only found relevant references in: (The Grand History of the Realms)

[@mariaestrada4336]

I'm running an Aarakocra ranger right now, and I thought Aarakocra were friends to all bird things.. we're supposed to be searching for a gryphon and I keep rping that it's "big friend!" 😅 looks like I'm gonna have to rethink a few things to remain accurate to the lore.

[@AJPickett]

Indeed.

[@banaan3001]

Just because that's the general lore of the prewritten D&D worlds doesn't have to mean its the case for every world. That lore is just suggestions.

[@bitterzombie]

Maybe Aarakocra like birdlike things, but dislike catlike things. Their dislike of Griffins might come from their feline aspects, but I could see them domesticating griffins in a setting where they don't compete for food or territory

[@eisenfell2818]

Name Pronunciation made my day.

[@jesusofsuburbia8825]

In the lore for my home brew setting Pakul the aaracockra mainly live in the badlands because they can be left alone.

[@zacharyhawley1693]

Ah yes. The age old question of what does a feather duster look like as a pincushion?

[@NoLoveSouth1st]

I love this race for npcs, so many different flavors of Aarakocra (owl, eagle, songbird, peacock?) Also seems like a powerful ranged pc option!

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, considering this is the only avian race we have other than the Kenku, there is SO much room for variety, stand aside Tieflings and Dragonborn, the Aarakocra should be the king of the racial sub species!

[@moritzzumm9875]

@@AJPickett *cries in owlin*

[@DrFrankencelery]

Much respect for how you did the names

[@RichardPhillips1066]

There's something fundamentally funny about bird people when I see them in films etc , however they would be quite dangerous to annoy , that beak and talons in a human sized creature? , meh not a thing to piss off , Eagles are ruthless killers on a level with a panther

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, one does not take the anger of an Emu, Ostrich or cassowary lightly if one has a regular sized and fully functional sense of self preservation.

[@RichardPhillips1066]

@@AJPickett yes highly intelligent too , and intelligent angry foe is way more dangerous than a dumb animal

[@MaximumSherman]

My friend and I are making a campaign where it's only non human beings trying to make their way in a humanoid world.

[@mechanicobra]

Huh, I wonder why they hate griffins. Honestly they sound like they’d be a match made in heaven to me.

[@AJPickett]

Because Griffins eat them and their eggs.

[@Maverick2736]

@@AJPickett It's very akin to how many dragonborn tribes view actual dragons as giant beasts of destruction they'd rather not mess with, or--better put--how most human towns view hill giants as monstrous and grotesque pests of terrible disaster, even though hill giants are physiologically very similar to a human.

[@benthomason3307]

Imagine an aaracockra pirate with a pet monkey on it's shoulder.

[@Potato-pn8sg]

i tried to imagine them in flight, but i ended up overthinking it and now all i can think of is an aaracockra with a monkey in a baby carrier.

[@benthomason3307]

@@Potato-pn8sg to be fair, you could ask the same questions about a human pirate with a parrot.

[@sirwilliam4128]

When this video spoke about Air Elementals it reminded me of Raptorans. Essentially, Raptorans are more humanoid than the Avian Aracockra. Also, Raptorans are dependent upon magic to fly because when their wings are properly mature the Shamans of their flock have to summon Air Elementals to bless their wings in order for them to gain the ability to fly. Otherwise, the Raptoran would only be able to glide or control their fall using their wings.

[@AJPickett]

Interesting! I would certainly say the Aarakocra are capable of that, it fits them like a glove.

[@Lurklen]

I've always liked the Aarakocra. I recently had a player pick one for the Tomb of Annihilation campaign, unfortunately they died when tangling with a group of Otyugh. I did run across something interesting though, I often draw my players characters or NPC's from our games, and when I started to draw my players Aarakocra cleric the position of the wings was really starting to bug me. I thought it was strange they had these big shoulders, but that connecting them to the wings was such a pain and always looked wrong because their arms were always in the way. Particularly because the wings would need greater muscle access than the arms considering what they use them for. In the end I decided to make the wings dominant and place the arms lower on the torso and have them be somewhat weaker and controlled by the upper abdominal muscles. It ended up looking both stranger and more natural. Now when I look at creatures with the classic angel design they just look wrong.

[@xdean816]

Subscribed and commenting for your pronouncing the bird names in lore accurate way.

[@rickeymariu1]

Cool A.J. never paid attention to these guys before. I'll keep them in mind next time my players are in some northern mountains.

[@sirwilliam4128]

Do Aracockra have dorsal thoracic wings or do they have modified avian brachial wings?

[@AJPickett]

They currently have dorsal wings, previous editions they had modified brachial wings.

[@sirwilliam4128]

FINALLY!!! Someone who speaks my language!

[@DyrgeAfterDark]

Akadi is the Fey aspect of Aiere (the silver bird you mentioned). She's an elemental who sided with the Gods in the Dawn war and was Later adopted by the Elven Pantheon

[@dragonballtalk8527]

The mini looked awesome.Keep it up I like this channel

[@stanchskate]

3:01 see i thought he said" dire corgis " and now exist in my world.

[@beastwarsFTW]

That sounds like a forest gnome's stead

[@efraim3364]

got Aviak's in Everquest 2. its clear where they got the inspiration

[@ufomanuap5290]

I'm hand drawing the whole monster manuals from 1977-1982... Monster Manuals 1 and 2 and Fiend Folio... These bird men were my first to draw...

[@danielieska8856]

I was wondering if you'd ever do a history and lore video on tibbits. Played a tibbit spell thief once, very interesting keeping my shape Change ability secret from the other characters.

[@AJPickett]

Did they think the Tibbit was a Tabaxi?

[@danielieska8856]

We were all pretty new to d&d and path finder at the time. The DM said that the other characters and npc's would most likely assume the Tibbit to be a planes touched Halfling if they noticed an odd skin pattern or feline traits. I imagine Tibbits could be considered Were creatures, even though its the weave and not any other planes or viruses that have affected their genes. Or rather that's what our source material said. they er kind of strange in that they are cats that have the ability to change into a humanoid form.

[@Yuudaddy]

Now imagine if the Dragonborn could fly...

[@Birbucifer]

Włodzimierz Szyc They can with a feat, I’m not totally sure it’s official. Or they could be a draconic sorcerer.

[@DuskyPredator]

Good timing as usual, I was just looking up Aarakocra recently. The MM was kind of making it sound like they were more a elemental plane of air race, so I was thinking to put them with the relevant genie as on that plane. Any idea if they would be likely met in the prime material or the elemental plane? At least I know they like small shiny things, and females spend a lot of time crafting things out of simple light materials. Was then wondering if they traded for things of air elemental make that they could not make themselves. Them being lighter. But leaves me wondering where they gems from. Maybe raided from Earth elementals?

[@oldtechivychap4956]

Bob Worldbuilder showed me Bardy McFly, AJ Pickett showed me how to justify making him my next PC. Thank you Mr. Pickett!

[@mckenrom1]

Can they be any type of bird variety? I'm thinking of a penguin aarakocra

[@AJPickett]

Sure, Aquatic Aarakocra? Why not.

[@purplehaze2358]

Dodo Aarakocra, parrot aarakroca, chicken aarakocra, bird of paradise aarakocra....

[@beastwarsFTW]

@@talonus202 cassowary aarakocra.

[@jacobfreeman5444]

Terror bird aarakocra

[@andrewmorris9863]

female Aarakocra spend 8 months of the yr incubate eggs the yr is 8 months and 30 hr days

[@saeyabor]

"...spend an action to sit on the egg."

[@denislaloy5977]

@AJ Pickett : If the Aarakocra look like bird men, how can you tell the difference with kenku ?

[@AJPickett]

It used to be a lot more obvious, but these days, the Kenku look like Ravens (and a little like Dire Corbies)

[@NWLR-tv]

Kenji also are shorter and have no wings

[@twyztidbro3929]

New sub & binge watching :D when you said they worship the elven goddess Akadi..i may be wrong but Akadi is part of the human pantheon. Goddess of elemental air (like Grumbar for earth). :) still an awesome vid :D

[@AJPickett]

They worship Syranita as their goddess but also pay homage to Akadi and a few other gods on rare occasions.

[@NanoMayTry]

Already 2 minutes in- I thought I knew what bird people were, but I had no idea.

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Watch the kenku video

[@squibblets]

My Hobgoblin monk was just slain in battle with a Green Dragon and the druid that reincarnated me rolled my race as Aarakocra. Toying with so many ideas right now, primarily the fact that I probably wont be able to speak (having learned to talk with lips and now i have a beak), I wont be able to fly until I learn how, I now only have 5 years of lifespan left (assuming i’m still 25 years old) and I probably have no idea what an Aarakocra is. Very interesting predicament for my character to work through, but the racial stat bonuses and talons perfectly work out for my monk class.

[@noahegler9131]

Odds are that you won't even be using anything like your old biology to talk. Parrots talk using two vocal cords that can mix sounds together to make any sound we can make with our mouth, as well as many sounds we can't make.

[@marcosreed9894]

Great video. I have a special place in my geeky heart for the avian races and critters and have some fun lore in my/our home brew campaigns.

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

I seem to recall something about aarakocra being especially good-aligned though I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[@AJPickett]

Doesn't ring a bell with me. One thing often overlooked or outright ignored is their strong aversion to going into closed spaces, so, good luck dungeon delving with the bird folk!

[@TheMightyBattleSquid]

@@AJPickett this was all I could find on the dndbeyond page: "Alignment Most aarakocra are good and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. Tribal leaders and warriors might be lawful, while explorers and adventurers might tend toward chaotic."

[@AJPickett]

@@TheMightyBattleSquid Wishy Washy Weak Sauce is Wizards of the Coast's flavour these days unfortunately. If there is one thing I have noticed about Large Birds, generally, its that those things are INTENSE. Eagles don't hesitate. They don't second guess.

[@chrisgriffith9252]

​@@AJPickett Why do these 5e aarakocra appear like the 2e kenku while the 5e kenku look like raven men?

[@adamwelch8445]

I like when you say stay a while and listen

[@isaacbankston1396]

I’ve never liked the creator races from Toril. It doesn’t make sense when you look at any other settings. if you want to run a plainscape or spell jamming game it doesn’t work because it makes everything too Toril centric.

[@houselemuellan8756]

Jarnathan

[@hyrumhanson3390]

I don't think flight is that game braking, add archers and fall damage, if you think it's being abused, however let the player know and be fair, remember it's a game.

[@skylermaves7272]

Another one of my favorite player races.

[@Greenscyth22]

Flyby attacks galore!!!

[@atlasdivide640]

There is a VERY nerdy part of me who just really wants to create Raven Beak from Metroid Dread. Go artificer, maybe throw some battle master in there. Feels like it would be fun to make and play if I can find the right way to go about making him lol.

[@gargoyle7800]

Hey, I dont remember you covering Gargoyles, if you do can send a link?

[@iGuttsi]

If he had I haven't seen it either, might be one on his list or one that's gonna be coming from patron

[@Ryan-mm5yg]

Where do you find all the little extra bits of info i never find all this when I'm looking is there alot in dragon magazine?

[@AJPickett]

ryan hoage I have detailed files.

[@Ucceah]

i just heard something about dire corgies around 3 minutes in. ... and i refuse to accept any other truth! (or rewind)

[@ernestlam5632]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_corby

[@Demolitiondude]

Harvey birdman, attorney at law, and you are?

[@fluffinn]

Why do the Aarakocra hate Griffons?

[@AJPickett]

Same reason pigeons hate hawks. Try yelling out loud "A lion eagle ate my baby!" In Aarakocra.

[@pauljinkerson6359]

Ooo. So griffons hunt them. Now it makes sense

[@captainkuddlez]

Running Tomb of Annihilation and one of my players is an Aarakocran Monk. Only at Fire Finger in the Campaign but he seems to be the one doing most of the thinking in the party xDD

[@indignantlamentation6307]

Nephyr is fun to play if he's rescued on firefinger. I did a real nasally nerdy voice for him and the players loved him.

[@Swarthy144k]

Do you actually die (suffocate) though, when you go into space in d&d, or do you just turn into stone until you can get breathable air again?

[@draxthemsklonst]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3ilgKeGhLudjac

[@draxthemsklonst]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oH6yZnWEgr-hbKs

[@draxthemsklonst]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nIeypo2QhaZ8mq8

[@draxthemsklonst]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5K0aZSDo9R0Y6c

[@draxthemsklonst]

That was 2 of AJs spelljammer vids, WebDM and MrRhexx spelljammer episodes. Dying in space i's covered in AJ's (if I am remembering correctly). Either way, the others give more perspectives on the space topic. I think it's they turn to stone when the spacedeath happens, or that's a common/fun house rule. That is, unless it's a campaign where that is part of it's angle/direction, and everyone has to be something like air genasi or have Power Armor (for example) from Lab of Kwalish release to be spacin-it.

[@robbarker9359]

Says aarkokra can't smile as he shows a aarkokra smiling

[@agsilverradio2225]

I would think an aarakocra would br physicly unable to smile, because of their beak aren't flexable enoguh.

[@jameswilliams2075]

Some birds look like there smilingly its just how there beak rests

[@bobbyrayok]

at 15:10 what weapon is that

[@AJPickett]

It's a polearm, probably the same (properties) as a Halberd.

[@bobbyrayok]

@@AJPickett see thats why i like you your good people

[@perkeyser2032]

I was literally playing Diablo LoD when the video started and I heard "So stay awhile and listen...". :)

[@vadoe8534]

How do you spell the name of their creator race

[@ernestlam5632]

Aearee

[@Dule810]

Hey, where can I find info on the father god of the aarakocra and how do you spell his name (Krocar?)? I thought Syranita was their patron god.

[@AJPickett]

She is, Krocaa is a lesser god of theirs (from The article "The Wings of Eagles" by J.E. Keeping from Dragon #124 published August 1987) but, before the Aarakocra were created, the Aearee-Krocaa founded Viakoo on Mount Havraquoar in the west (Viakoo was the capital city of the Aearee empire. It was located south-west of Phwiukree, although where this corresponds to in modern times is unknown. So Krocaa may have been adopted by the Aarakocra as a divine figure, but this was back during the Dawn War, so details are sketchy at best.

[@kairos5382]

Does the beak factors in to eating habits or it's just decoration

[@AJPickett]

kairos they don't have a peck attack. They have a mostly predatory diet but also eat berries and some greens.

[@kairos5382]

AJ Pickett thanks for answering question but I don't know peck has to any of this. I think factor made you think of pockemon

[@johnobrien7626]

Thanks again dude, very informative

[@ccw139]

I recently got into DnD and wanted to create an Aarakocra rogue but my friend said they arent an "official" race, but instead are homebrew. Is that true?

[@saeyabor]

If he means that he wants to keep the game "Adventurers' League-legal" and there's currently no official player character template for them, he's right. But as for homebrewing it, uh... Wood Elf druid with a flight speed?

[@AJPickett]

No that is not accurate.

[@saeyabor]

@@AJPickett Which book has the current PC Aarakocra?

[@belshanaar6317]

@@saeyabor Elemental Evil Players Companion

[@JadeNoByakko]

Please do a lore video on The Far Realm.

[@brosephnoonan223]

Yes, but do the wholevideo in unintelligible noise, screaming and zalgo text-to-speech

[@stonerguru4246]

Correction, Birds can Smile! 😊

[@mikeedmondson8917]

Fly pelicans fly

[@tatsusama3192]

haha, The picture you chose as the thumbnail looks like either an 80s panel van mural or a heavy metal album

[@AJPickett]

Excellent!

[@kieranhodge6463]

Lmfao when my sister comes down JUST when you start making weird bird noises. Smh.

[@devinm.6149]

kieran hodge what does smh mean?

[@kieranhodge6463]

Shake my head, haha

[@devinm.6149]

kieran hodge ah.

[@donkyendorfans3173]

Why did the dragons attack them?

[@saeyabor]

My dog never needs a reason to try to chase a bird.

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

I am curious, what would be the conversion rate of gems - gold? (If you would happen to be privy to such information.)

[@cameronscott9399]

Different gems have different values, kinda like in real life, I've seen it been usually between 10 and 100 gp tho

[@vernonhampton5863]

Yeah, my next one-shot will have bird people. Thanks for the video.

[@Daimon-X]

Bird people. Never heard of them before thx for info.

[@codywood9852]

I don't know if you take suggestions here but if you do, it would be cool to see a video on Vecna and his cult. I'm playing a Death Cleric/ Undying Warlock for a one shot and I really want to get the vibe right.

[@BoojumFed]

Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJPXlWOHd6mdoNk

[@DM-MilkMan]

The end of this video. Are you okay AJ?

[@AJPickett]

Are you talking about the names they have? :)

[@DM-MilkMan]

@@AJPickett Aye, had me in stitches listening at work.

[@pbr-streetgang]

Thanks for the vid sir.

[@That80sGuy1972]

Speaking as a former gypsy (American nomad, not typical "gypsy" culture), these are innate cultural and biological gypsies in biology and attitude.

[@AJPickett]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZjOioFphs93a68

[@That80sGuy1972]

I love that song, AJ.

[@jasonsantos3037]

Bird person Rick and Morty funny quotes yeah, these guys interesting

[@jarrodreaves243]

Bird person lol

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Are the aracoca welcome in the yawning portal.What if a warforged a dragonborn and a arakokra went in the 23 level mega mad mage dungeon.What if they pissed off durnan first

[@saeyabor]

I'm surprised anyone who can fly is allowed in YP because the might fly up or down the well without paying.

[@elmerfuddgantryii8256]

"Harvey" would be a good name for an Aarakocra.

[@devinm.6149]

Could someone give me the spellings of all the names please?

[@iGuttsi]

Devin M. Check the annotations

[@devinm.6149]

FlyingAxblade no, not those names, the race names and god names.

[@sirwilliam4128]

What is this discord server of which you speak, Sur Aj?

[@AJPickett]

discordapp.com/invite/HP8wgrq

[@iGuttsi]

How would you handle a PC having a flying ability at that low a level.

[@danieldeihl8237]

chase green that's what bows are for

[@iGuttsi]

Daniel Deihl I'm talking about limiting their flying ability, not killing them.

[@besaidknight]

Limit the Duration of Flight, Mess with their Flight Speed or Ceiling, Limit it's uses per day, keep them airborne for only as many rounds as they have constitution to flap, make them flap with their arms and leave only their legs for actions and combat, make them practice how to fly so they can stop crashing into things... oh yes, and teach them a HEALTHY respect for fire spells... Fireballs do wonders on feathers.

[@danieldeihl8237]

^ what he said

[@trequor]

Mate it's called Dungeons and Dragons. Dungeons inhibit flight and Dragons are the sharks of the sky. Make them well aware of the dangers of falling if they go unconscious. You dont need to add in all the artificial bullshit that other guy suggested. The game is supposed to be FUN after all

[@joshuazane3210]

I bet they taste like chicken.

[@AJPickett]

More like Turkey.

[@BoojumFed]

Longduck

[@Taemikeemt]

I made one on D&D Beyond named Space - he's a kick ass pirate archer.... not sure how but he has a high AC at level 6 - anyone know why the Dex makes AC higher??? with this class I mean

[@AJPickett]

Well, you get a dex bonus with lighter armor types, if you have a high enough dexterity to have a bonus, it represents your characters reaction time, how fast they can either get out of the way or move to interpose their armor between themselves and the attack.

[@scruffypuppet8633]

I hate aarakocra with arms...

[@tatsusama3192]

Nice try, Professor Pickett. You almost convinced me to play one of these as my first ever character. However I'm still going with Air Genasi... Probably... Sh!t

[@Delathers2651]

One questions...Tail feathers?

[@AJPickett]

Artwork seems to say no...

[@Delathers2651]

@@AJPickett But how do they air control?

[@leosciotti1389]

@@Delathers2651 legs mostly, after all they are humanoid...

[@ernestlam5632]

Half-Aarakocra

[@Morfalath]

So quarterhuman?

[@ernestlam5632]

Have this idea a combination human horse and bird. the torso of aarakocra and the body of a pegasus.

[@krispalermo8133]

Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

[@besaidknight]

Do you want to fly in the sky? Need a Scout whose senses can put Legolas to shame? Don't want to express your inner Furry? You need an Avariel! Yes, these Winged Elves do it all! Natural Elven Class Progression leaves few questions as far as adapting your Avariel for gameplay, and their lack of Metal Weapons makes upgrading their gear both easy and cost effective (They're pretty, but Glass Swords like to break). Admittedly, they're not as sturdy as your standard elf but I like to think it's a small price to pay for the *Power of Flight*!!! So what are you waiting for? Place your order for an Avariel Today!!! AvarielElvesNotAvailableInFaerun. (Note: Avariel Elves have the shortest lifespans of Elfkind with exception of the Drow, thus Distributors are NOT responsible for premature deaths. Distributors are also not responsible for any panic attacks while underground, nor are they responsible for any freak outs next to fire, or hostility towards your party's mage for using fire magic.)

[@jtb6737]

The not knowing of domesticated animals gives a good hook, for non-murder hobos groups.

[@wailandkarisma4279]

Bullxhit playable races.

[@erikgilson1687]

I’ve never played D&D and just watch stuff for the lore and world building and even I can tell this damn thing would be game breaking as a PC lmao

[@BLOODKINGbro]

@@erikgilson1687 It is having fly by default at level 1 can be a hassle for any DM

[@griffingamer8624]

I wonder why bird people hate bird beasts? Whatchu got against us dudes?!