Aarakocra

Aarakocras (&aelig;-ra-KO-kras ) were a race of avian monstrous humanoids.

Appearance
Aarakocras resembled humanoid birds. The average specimen stood about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall and had a wingspan of 20 ft (6.1 m). Halfway along the edge of each wing was a hand with three human-sized fingers and an opposable thumb. An elongated fourth finger extended the length of the wing and locked in place during flight. The hands could not grasp while flying, but they were nearly as useful as human hands when an aarakocra was perched and its wings folded back. Their powerful legs ended in four sharp talons that could unlock and fold back to reveal another pair of functional hands. These humanoids had hollow, fragile bones. Their faces combined the features of both parrots and eagles. They had gray-black beaks and black eyes. Plumage color varied, but males generally had red, orange, and yellow coloration, while females tended towards brown and gray.

Society
Aarakocras lived among the highest mountain peaks in small tribes that controlled hunting territories and shared a communal nest. The eldest male served as leader, assisted by the tribe's shaman. Aarakocras were known to be extremely claustrophobic.

Religion
Aarakocras almost all worshiped Aerdrie Faenya. She appeared to them as a giant white bird.

The small number of aarakocras living in the North mainly worshiped Syranita as their goddess, but also payed homage to Akadi, Remnis of the giant eagles, Stronmaus of the giants, as well as Aerdrie Faenya.

Known aarakocra settlements
They were an immigrant race to Faerûn from Maztica. Known aarakocra settlements in Faerûn were:
 * The Star Mounts in the High Forest. This tribe was almost totally slain by the green dragon Elaacrimalicros.
 * The Storm Horns in Cormyr.
 * The Cloven Mountains in the Vilhon Reach.
 * The Mistcliffs in Chult.

As of 1491 DR, the last settlement of the aarakocra was Last Aerie, on the slopes of the southernmost Star Mounts, near the headwaters of the Unicorn Run.