The Gifted Birdfolk

This article is one of a series providing basic information for someone choosing to role-play a Birdfolk of the Gifted Culture in a TTRPG based in the World of Cartyrion. The series is designed to encourage preparation of a Player Character by focusing on the nature of the character without focusing on the game statistics.
The others of your nest may be members of any of the Awkwana Cultures, but you are of the Gifted because, for reasons known only to the gods, you have been shown special favor. That favor manifests as some form of minor but innate magical ability that you can wield at will.

Cultural History

The Gifted Birdfolk are not a regional culture or a separated enclave of individuals with unique tenets or customs. The Gifted were chosen by the gods from among the other cultures. It is your Gift that makes you a Gifted. It has marked you as different from the Birdfolk around you since the first time your gift manifested. The Gifted are not looked upon with awe or fear, nor are they treated with any special reverence as other races might treat their own "gifted" ones. Th Gifted, like any other Birdfolk, are expected to use their talents, find their place, and be a productive member of society.

A Gifted Awkwana with Hand Crossbow
Gifted within a city may gather together for study or leisure. in such gatherings, they show off their gifts to one another, and discuss among themselves the best ways to use their particular talents. But except for these infrequent meetings, they do not separate themselves from the rest of the prevailing societal culture in the place where they live.

Geographic Distribution

Gifted Awkwana may be found in any Birdfolk settlement or society, as this is "revealed" culture rather than a geography-based one.

Role-Playing a Gifted Birdfolk

Interacting with Other Birdfolk

Your relationship with other Birdfolk cultures is fairly straightforward. Typically, there is little or no friction among Birdfolk cultures, and you will not be alone as an unusual one that doesn't fully fit in. Your social and occupational circles will those of the prevailing culture, and may even include Affected or Truthseers. All of you expect the others to respect your independence, but they also expect you to keep the greater good of the community foremost in your mind. As long as these expectations are met, the idiosyncracies of different cultures are ignored.

Interacting with Folk of Other Races

The only race the Awkwana have a predisposed wariness of are the Kobolds, but it is merely wariness, not hostility. The Awkwana have known from the time of their Awakening that many other races have been spreading throughout Cartyrion for thousands of years. The world is as much theirs as it is yours. You will be fully tolerant of "foreign" customs, traditions, and worship styles - even if they are at odds with what you were taught was "correct". So as long as another's actions or beliefs are not a direct threat to you or your family and friends, then they are none of your business and will not bother you.

Folk of other Races have learned to read moods and temperaments from body language and facial expression. As an Awkwana, these nonverbal communication methods are not in your repertoire, for both cultural and physiological reasons. Thus others will not be able to read you - and may initially distrust you. Similarly, until you've had the opportunity to practice, their body language and expressions will mean nothing to you.

Interacting with Your Adventuring Party

Party members that have not dealt with Birdfolk much will probably be slightly put off by your lack of body language and facial expression, and their inability to read your mood. And if you are not used to interacting with non-Birdfolk, you won't understand their body language or expressions either. Misunderstandings - and some initial distrust - are possible, but this should ease as discussion and demonstrated action become more important in shaping relationships.
Traditions and Taboos
You have been given a gift by the gods; it is now your duty to develop and use that gift. That can be done in either of two ways. One option would be for you to seek out a profession in which you can use your special gift to be more useful... more productive. Alternatively, you can devote your life to the pursuit of knowledge and developing your gifts even further.

You will never permit written knowledge of any form or source to be destroyed. This includes books, scrolls, and tablets, but it also extends to the inscriptions on buildings, stele, obelisks, etc.

Likely Professions
Gifted Birdfolk may be found in any profession, but those that are actively seeking to improve the understanding and mastery of their "gift" will be attracted to more studious callings. Many become Acolytes and pursue divine studies; others become scholars, and eventually sages. Still others use their gifts as Entertainers, and the unscrupulous few may use as Charlatans.

Preferred Gear
Most of your pursuits are likely not combat-related, but if you must wear armor, it will likely be simple leathers or padding.

Like all Awkwana, you are already equipped with a sharp beak for a weapon, and you know how to use it. Otherwise, you will prefer the lighter, smaller bladed weapons that take advantage of dexterity as much as strength - as all Awkwana do. Your fascination for mechanical things may make the hand crossbow your favorite weapon.
In all probability, you are adventuring in order to find the place that your special gift intends you to fit into the world. You will, therefore, use your gift enthusiastically and often as you try to determine if this is indeed "your place". Party members that are unused to magic, or who prefer to see magic wielded with more thought, may find fault with you for this. If the subject is discussed, though, you are capable of seeing their reasoning and curbing your future enthusiasm somewhat.

Naming Convention

The Birdfolk generally go by a single name which is given at hatching. Typically the name translates into a simple phrase that identifies a dream or desire that your parents had for you. The name you were given will likely be used for life. An example of one of the more pronouncable Birdfolk names is Aanarakka, the young female Awkwana who was the first of the Birdfolk to sail beyond the Sea of Storms. Her name, given by her parents at birth, meant "reach the stars" - a goal she reached by learning to use the stars to navigate at sea.

Sometimes, though, a Gifted will take a new name to reflect fame for achieving or becoming something rare or important. In Aanarakka's tale, her mentor was named Kakkarah. This name translates as "spell teacher", or "magic teacher" - not likely to have been a name assigned at birth.

When you become involved with an adventuring party that consists of Folk other than Birdfolk, you will typically give the Common translation of your name rather than expect your party-mates to be able to properly pronounce your name in Awkwan. They most likely won't be able to properly pronounce it anyway.


Banner background by TC Perch from Pixabay
Banner portrait and other character images by RPGDinosaurBob on Heroforge

Comments

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Dec 27, 2020 20:44 by Dr Emily Vair-Turnbull

Oh I like the idea of them using their powers a lot in an attempt to find their place.

Emy x
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