Varient Avariels + Modified Winged Template

[Andion Isurand]

VARIENT: Avariels exist not as a subrace, but manifest seemingly at random among normal elves.

Much in the same way that dwarven thunder twins, a four-armed sahugain or a blue goblin is periodically born, there is a small chance an elf will develop avian traits during puberty, becoming an avariel at adulthood. Elves that become avariels aquire the winged template. One in a hundred elves, never including sea elves or drow, develop these traits by the time they reach maturity.


MODIFIED WINGED TEMPLATE
"Winged" template is an inheritated template that can be added to any corporeal creature (except elementals, oozes and plants) that doesn't already have a fly speed. A winged creature has all the base creature's characteristics except as noted here.
Size and Type: Animals become magical beasts.
Speed: A winged creature gains a fly speed equal to twice its base land speed with Good manuverability.
Special Qualities: A winged creature gains the special quality described below.
Improved low-light vision. If the base creature already has a form of low-light vision, that ability improves by two steps instead (to a maximum of Superior low-light vision).
Abilities: +4 Dex, +2 Wis
Skills: A winged creature gains a +4 racial bonus on Balance, Jump and Spot checks.
Feats: A winged creature gains the benefits of the Altitude Adaptation and Cold Endurance (Frostburn, pg. 45) feats.
Challenge Rating: Base creature's CR +1
Level Adjustment: +2

Sight distances among those creatures with low-light vision:

Low-light vision (x2 distance)
Improved low-light vision (x3)
Greater low-light vision (x4)
Superior low-light vision (x5)


The feats help with high altitude flight... I wanted the template to outfly similar LA templates that grant flight, but don't focus primarily on it.

Also, having avariels emerge in this manner has a few benefits:

gives you more choices for your avariel
removes it from the "menu" of the Alter Self spell
Avariels won't die out as long as surface dwelling elves remain
these Avariels will live longer due to having a different age chart


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Thoughts? Suggestions? Similar ideas?

The wording in blue is done to prevent chaos shuffling.

[Harperfan7]

I like the idea.

Is the +4 dex added on top of an elfs +2?

[Andion Isurand]

The orginal Avariel gets +4 dex, -2 con, +2 int and +2 wis... which is like a sun elf (-2 con, +2 int) being given the winged template...

...so yes, the template bonuses are in addition to what the creature already has.

[Harperfan7]

What are the fluff reasons for avariels being random births, and what percentage of births are they?

[Andion Isurand]

It could be a blessing bestowed upon them by Aerdrie Faenya... or an effect of race-altering high magic along the same vein that first altered the dark elves into eventually becoming the drow (FR)... though done with different intent.

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The odds of a four armed sahugain being produced is 1 in 200.

So I'd say the odds of this kind of avariel would be 1% to make for a clean 1d100 roll in the case a DM makes you roll for it.

[hamishspence]

Hmm- maybe one elven faction allied with the last remnants of the Aaeree (avian creator race) and as a result, had magic bestowed on them to grant them wings.

After the devastation of the avariel aeries by dragons, most fled, merged with the ordinary elven population, interbred, and now "avariel genes" are spread across the world.

Occasionally, they manifest themselves in an elf with avariel ancestry- and a new avariel appears.