Cabaros (Owlfolk)

The race of owlfolk known as the cabaro is all but extinct. An event nobody can remember killed all but a few thousand members of the race, and it’s taken until the Age of Adventure to finally get their numbers back to a point where they can do more than stay safely out of danger for fear of disappearing forever.

While they have no memory of their past before the Age of Fire, the cabaro do have depictions of their kind to look back on. Ruined temples display grandiose images of cabaro visiting the dwarves, aiding the gnolls of their homeland, and ruling peacefully over the orcs back when the race was little better than the monsters they fought against. Most interestingly, however, is the Wall of Heaven.

The cabaro have spent actual ages studying the wall, trying to decipher the meaning behind the history it tells. They know that it somehow ties into the Fuschian Gift that affects the members of every race from time to time, but what exactly that link is may be forever out of their grasp.

Heritage Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2.
• Age. Cabaros reach maturity by age 15. They can live a little longer than humans, up to 160 years.
• Alignment. Cabaros are often good, or at least neutral. While there are certainly evil cabaros out there, they are usually exiled when found out in order to protect the rest of the still-recovering race.
• Size. Cabaros are just over 5 feet tall. Females and highborn have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds, but males are generally shorter and heavyset. Your size is Medium.
• Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
• Darkvision. The eyes of a cabaro are just like an owl’s. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
• Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, and Gnoll.

Culture

Choose one of the following cultures:

Highborn

Until recently, only one cabaro in a generation was considered highborn. Their population’s sudden resurgence during the Age of Adventure has been celebrated by the cabaro and watched closely by other cultures.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.
• Flight. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Lowborn

Since the Red Mourning, the lowborn cabaro have been the most prevalent of their kind, and even their numbers were greatly reduced by that event. It has taken over 3,000 years for cabaros to hold any significant place in society again.

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.
• Swiveling Head. You can turn your head up to 270 degrees before having to turn it back. Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being hidden from you or when flanking you.

Alternate Traits

Unless stated otherwise, these traits can be chosen by any cabaro culture to replace the traits normally gained by their heritage.

• Arrogance. Cabaros sometimes embrace their perceived status as better than those with other backgrounds. You have proficiency in the Intimidation skill. This trait replaces Darkvision or Keen Senses (your choice).
• Expert Hunter. A cabaro’s owl-like instincts come in handy occasionally, granting them greater skill when in the wilderness. You have proficiency in the Nature skill. This trait replaces either Darkvision or Keen Senses (your choice).
• Flightless. Some cabaros give up their ability to fly entirely, preferring instead to focus on making their bodies stronger. Increase your Constitution score by 1. This trait replaces Flight or Swiveling Head.
• Nightowl. Cabaros who prefer to sleep during the hottest part of the day are experts at hunting in and navigating the dark of night. This has three effects:
  • Your darkvision has a range of 120 feet.
  • You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
  • Your talons are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

This ability alters Darkvision and replaces Keen Senses.

• Opulent. Some cabaros love their brightly colored and shiny objects. You have proficiency in the Sleight of Hand skill. This trait replaces either Darkvision or Keen Senses (your choice).