I've got another sneak peek to take us into the weekend. Today we're going to look at some of the bird upbringings. We'll get the full chapter next week, spread over three updates - Birds on Monday, Lagomorphs hop in on Wednesday, and Lizards run in on Friday!
But just to whet our appetites, here's a sneak peek...
The world is vaster than the realms and the monarchies. Other species besides dogs (and cats and rodents) exist, each with its own culture and history. As pioneers brave Pugmire and beyond, the sight of these people becomes less unusual each day. Heroes, villains, and everything in between strive to achieve their personal goals.
This chapter details three other species: birds, lagomorphs, and reptiles.Players will find here the options to create their characters as one of these people, while Guides need look to further to obtain all the details needed to implement them and their society in any game. Making one of these characters is the same as making a character in Realms of Pugmire, unless otherwise specified.
Birds
For a species with little presence within Pugmire, the Monarchies of Mau, and the wilderness beyond, birds are remarkably well-known. Most dogs can’t point at an acquaintance that met a bird directly, but the fame of birds knows no boundaries. This reputation owes to many factors, but none as important as the beaked tradition of storytelling. It’s through storytelling that birds first touch Pugmire, long before they can feel its winds under their feathers. The bird travelers who venture into the realms and the monarchies are eager to add new chapters to their sagas, filling them with thrills, adventure, and exciting characters.
Bird Upbringings
Birds’ upbringings are known as nestes, and are based upon how close they’re considered to be to the Sky Kingdom, as indicated by how well they can fly. A bird’s neste is determined at the moment they hatch, though they usually inherit their parents’ neste, so it’s rarely a surprise unless the parents come from different nestes.
Crow
Regarded as the most intelligent birds, crows constantly seek new knowledge to add to their collection of lore. When they hatch, crows exhibit dangerous levels of curiosity, often getting into trouble before they even learn to glide. They learn caution as they age, but the quest for secrets never ends. They’re quieter than other birds, communicating as efficiently as possible whether they’re telling a story or warning of incoming threats. The exception is when their special interests come up in conversation, whereupon they cheerfully relate every fact they know on the subject. Their keen minds make them excellent teachers, tacticians, physicians, and researchers.
Crows use partial wings attached to their arms to glide, granting them great mobility wherever they can get a high vantage point. They make excellent scouts, quickly moving from high points down to where their allies await news.
Crows make fantastic augurs, both because their intelligence is well suited to spellcasting and because their desire for knowledge makes the secrets of the future irresistible. Their tendency to gather shiny objects and interesting trinkets frequently makes it difficult to determine whether a crow is an adventurous collector or just an ordinary crow.
Views on other nestes
Ducks: I can only imagine the wonders you’ve glimpsed in distant lands. I look forward to hearing all about them when you return.
Parrots: Your stories are wonderful, and I appreciate all the help you can give me. Please, tell me of your latest travels, and I shall write it down for posterity.
Sparrows: It’s not how high you fly that matters, but what you do while you’re up there. I respect your judgment, but it takes all of us to see the whole picture.
Crow Tricks
Crow tricks rely on quick wits and resiliency. They frequently rely on Intellect and Vitality.
Glide
Crows glide with ease, able to move at their normal walking speed without touching the ground for a single combat turn, or turns equal to their Vitality (minimum 1) if they’re gliding from a high enough starting point, allowing them to guide their falls safely to avoid damage. While gliding, crows gain a boon on Traverse checks and Agility tests. By making a successful Agility test while gliding, they may gain a boon on their next attack.
Thermal Ascent
The crow perfects a keen sense for air currents, gaining the ability to utilize thermals and other updrafts to ascend. By using their action and movement, the crow may ascend up to half their speed per turn. The crow may attempt a number of these ascents equal to their Vitality (minimum 1) before requiring a nap. Additionally, the crow adds their experience modifier to the number of turns they can glide, and their gliding speed increases by 15 feet.
Duck
The far-traveling ducks are outsiders even among other birds. More comfortable in the wilderness than in the looming walls of civilization, they seek companionship among other travelers, and few have a permanent place to call home. While some follow regular migration routes through the wild places, many seek new sights, only feeling content in unfamiliar locations. They’re trained from a young age to take advantage of the terrain around them when roaming, and their cartographers’ maps are among the most detailed.
The narrow partial wings attached to ducks’ arms don’t bring them any closer to the sky, but they do grant them greater propulsion and mobility in the water. Many ducks also possess webbed feet, contributing to their comfort in watery environments. Ducks often serve as guides to other travelers, enjoying the opportunity to show off the valuable knowledge gained through their adventures.
Being the hardiest of birds, ducks are more likely to put themselves into physical peril over the course of their adventures. Many become raptors, as there’s often no other options for protection available when danger looms in the distant wilds. Others seek to uncover threats before they become a problem (augurs), but regardless of their calling, ducks wish to see new wonders and live to tell the tale.
Views on other nestes
Crows: I bring news from far away to add to your stores of lore. Perhaps you can help me make sense of what I’ve seen.
Parrots: You tell your story, then I’ll tell mine. Maybe you can give me some tips to liven it up a bit.
Sparrows: No matter how far you see from up there, you haven’t witnessed half of what I have. I wouldn’t trade my experiences for yours.
Duck Tricks
Ducks are hardy, resilient birds. Many of their tricks rely on Vitality.
Strong Swimmer
The character has mastered aquatic environments, gaining a boon on Traverse checks when swimming. Their swimming speed is 20 feet more than their walking speed, and they may hold their breath for twice as long. Additionally, natural adaptations to acidic waters have rendered the character (though not their possessions) resistant to corrosive damage.
Trek
Ducks travel deep into the harshest environments, doubling their experience bonus when using the Traverse skill and maintaining their full speed even in water. They also add their experience bonus to their Vitality when determining how long they can hold their breath. Their insulating waterproof feathers render them ice resistant.
Sparrow
Graceful and quick-thinking, sparrows are often treated like nobility among the birds. While the truth varies from bird to bird, sparrows are often considered haughty due to their ability to fly. This gift makes them excellent messengers, as they can freely dart from one place to another on the winds. Their swift minds allow them to quickly collect and analyze information, which they distill into solid advice. Because of this, they’re frequently leaders and judges, though even the most serious sparrow enjoys singing a sweet song.
Sparrows’ wings extend from their back, leaving their arms free to carry light objects even while flying. While walking, they tuck their wings behind them to avoid banging them into their surroundings, though many unfurl them at dramatic moments. Most sparrows feel claustrophobic in tight spaces or in buildings designed for other species, knowing their wings will do them no good when deprived of space to move.
Sparrows are skilled at improvisation and most possess beautiful singing voices, allowing them to excel when performing (rimers). Their perspective, both literally and figuratively, gives them a talent for spotting omens and dangers on the horizon (augurs). Regardless of their calling, sparrows prefer to take advantage of their wings to approach situations from an unexpected angle.
Views on other nestes:
Crows: Some of the facts you give are fascinating, while others are merely useless trivia. I believe you can learn the difference between the two.
Ducks: To have wings and still be denied the sky seems so unfair. I’m genuinely glad to see you’ve found a way to adapt.
Parrots: I wish you could see as I do. I can only imagine what you could do with your incredible stories if you shared my perspective.
Sparrow Tricks
Soar
Sparrows enjoy true flight, allowing them to move swiftly and gracefully through the air. While airborne, they maintain their full walking speed, doubling their Agility for defense when they’re able to move up out of reach. They gain a boon to Traverse rolls, and never fear falling as long as their wings are unencumbered. While engaged in strenuous activity, sparrows may only fly for a number of turns equal to their Vitality + their experience modifier (minimum 1) before landing. Sparrows may attempt a number of such flights equal to their Vitality (minimum 1) before needing to sleep.
Swift Flight
The sparrow has truly mastered the air, increasing their maximum flight speed by 10 feet. They add their experience modifier to the number of flights they can utilize while engaged in strenuous activity, and double it for determining the number of turns they can remain airborne.
While unencumbered and not engaged in other strenuous activities, the sparrow may fly for a number of hours equal to their Agility (minimum 1) before requiring a nap.
We'll dig deeper into our bird friends on Monday! Until then, let's continue to unleash the Pugmire support!
