The taiven are perhaps the most pious people ever to
walk the world, but they are not wholly of the world.
TAIVEN
“Tell me again,” the wizard said, “About your
plan for getting down from here.”
Rex grinned. “Relax, Erenor. Alirah will be
here soon.”
Erenor huffed. “So you say, but this spire is
sheer rock – the world’s most talented burglar
would need hours to climb it. I fear that the
harpies will be back before your friend arrives.”
“Oh, she’s no burglar,” said Rex. “More like a
warrior priestess.”
The wizard rolled his eyes. “That makes me
feel so much better.” He drew breath to start a
rant, but the sound of great wings interrupted
him. Erenor braced for a harpy attack, but the
woman who landed was much prettier than a
harpy – not to mention better smelling.
“I apologize for my lateness, Rex,” the winged
woman said. “I had to dispatch three guards
instead of two.” She turned to Erenor and said,
“So, friend of my friend, are you ready to fly?”
They are proud of the celestial blood that flows in
their veins, and prouder still of what they have
accomplished because of it.
Beautiful Wings
Taiven look exactly like humans – including having
the same range of skin, hair, and eye colors – with
the addition of feathered wings. An individual’s
wingspan is at least half again her height. Taiven
wings appear in a variety of colors. Hair is usually
the same color as or complementary to the plumage.
Celestial Soldiers
The taiven, like the jitara, are products of the Dawn
War, but the taiven are not creations of the gods.
When the jitara first took the field to slay celestials
the angels realized that they needed mortal soldiers
who could compete with the four-armed ones. The
reclusive (and supposedly now extinct) Angels of Life
infused humans with angelic essence to create flying
shock troops. The plan worked; the taiven effectively
neutralized any advantage the primordials would've
gained from fielding the jitara. Taiven lore doesn't
quite state this as evidence that the taiven won the
Dawn War, but it doesn't stop far short of that claim.
When the war ended the angels rewarded their
winged troops with land where they could settle and
make lives for themselves. As the angels planned,
the taiven built temples as well as towns to serve as
earthly beachheads for the gods’ use if the need ever
arose. The taiven don't mind. They see themselves as
stewards of the world in the gods' absence, and they
plan to take good care of their charge.
Lives of Faith
Religion is very much a part of everyday taiven life.
Taiven communities usually begin and end each day
with communal prayer – most often at the family
level, but some entire towns pray together in public.
Taiven enclaves within communities of other races
make no effort to conceal this practice. Taiven don't
force anyone else into their ways, nor do they judge
anyone for being less pious, but they don't back
down from their beliefs for anybody. A taiven who
has abandoned faith in the gods is more pitied than
hated by her fellows, for she has denied much of
what makes her who she is. Taiven respect all gods
regardless of alignment, but each community or
family has one god to which they are particularly
devoted. There are even devotees of evil gods.
 There is no gender-based discrimination among
the taiven. They discriminate on the basis of
competence instead. Those who are good at their
jobs are given preferential treatment, while those
who are not are encouraged to try their hands at
something else. Taiven have great respect for those
who are called into the direct service of the gods (i.e.
divine classes), but other than that they have no
regard for any one profession over another. To the
taiven a farmer is as good as a fighter, but a paladin
or cleric outranks them both.
Paragons of Virtue
Taiven pride themselves on their honor and their
honesty; they regard liars and oathbreakers as the
lowest of the low, and they aren't the least bit shy
about voicing that opinion. This does little to endear
them to rogues (of which almost none are taiven),
politicians, or dishonest merchants. Members of
other races frequently think of taiven as a race of
paladins and clerics because taiven adventurers of
other classes are uncommon.
Enmity Remembered
The Dawn War has been over for millennia, but the
taiven still remember who their enemies were. They
don’t precisely hate the jitara, but for most taiven the
first reaction to meeting one of the four-armed ones is
to prepare for an attack. This isn’t out of a sense of fair
play or any desire to avoid hitting first. It’s about
awaiting proper justification for striking down an
ancestral enemy with extreme prejudice.
Taiven Names
Taiven names are typically 2-4 syllables long. Male
names end in "el," "iel," or "ch," while female names
end in "a," "ah," or "et." "Ch" is always pronounced
like a "k," and "i" is always long.
A full introduction includes the names of both
parents with the name of the same-sex parent first.
Male Names: Aloniel, Chanuch, Dumarel, Elech,
Eriel, Haschamurel, Jasrel, Joruch, Lastoriel,
Memnoch, Numel, Olathel, Perech, Phariel, Rahiel,
Tanach, Tiel, Urel, Viech, Yurel
Female Names: Alirah, Belet, Eruana, Ezuria,
Ganoret, Hava, Juvah, Lesharet, Mishah, Noralet,
Orla, Peershah, Rumashia, Soret, Tiah, Umariah,
Uzet, Vanaria, Yoliah, Zella
Full Intros: Alirah, daughter of Ezuria and Jasrel;
Memnoch, son of Yurel and Peershah
Taiven Traits
Despite their differences taiven share a number of
traits that are common to the race as a whole.
Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score
increases by 2.
Age. Taiven mature slightly later than humans do
– at about age 20 – and live to about the age of 500.
Alignment. Taiven prefer law over chaos due to
their respect for tradition. The choice between good
and evil is less important to them than the fact of
having made a choice; taiven regard neutrality as a
moral failing.
Size. Taiven average slightly taller than humans,
and their folded wings add about a third of that in
additional height. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Celestial Heritage. You are resistant to radiant
damage, and you have advantage on saving throws
versus becoming charmed, exhausted, or frightened.
Divine Wrath. You can use an action to charge
your weapons, including your unarmed attacks, with
eldritch energy. Your next successful melee attack
inflicts an additional 1d6 damage. You cannot use
this ability again until you finish a short or long rest.
The damage type of the additional damage varies
according to your subrace.
Flight. You have a flying speed of 50 feet. You can
only use this ability if you are unarmored/lightly
armored or not carrying a heavy load.
Piercing Vision. You have the visual acuity of a
bird of prey. Anything less than total cover against
you is reduced one step – three-quarters cover
becomes half cover, half cover becomes no cover.
Piety. You have been raised to revere the gods,
and your childhood education included lore about
them. You are proficient in the Religion skill. You
double your proficiency bonus on Religion checks
that involve deities or celestial creatures that share
your alignment.
Sea-spurned. You are a poor swimmer. You have
disadvantage on swim checks and on Dexterity
saving throws when in water at least knee deep.
Word of Power. At 3rd level you learn a single 1st
level spell and can cast it once with only a verbal
component. You regain this ability after you finish a
long rest. Your Word of Power spell doesn’t count
against your number of spells known and doesn’t
expend a spell slot when cast in this way. The exact
spell varies according to your subrace.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write
Common and Celestial.
Subrace. The distinctions between taiven aren’t
ethnicities. They are callings evidenced by visible
physical traits. Choose one of these subraces.
Ashwing
Ashwings are artisans and entertainers. Their
airborne agility is impressive even for taiven.
Ashwing plumage is white, gray, or silver.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score
increases by 1.
Divine Wrath. Inflicts lightning damage.
Swallow’s Wings. You are incredibly agile in the
air. You have a +2 maneuverability bonus to your AC
while you are airborne. This assumes that you have
room to maneuver, of course.
Word of Power Spell. Purify Food and Drink
Starwing
Starwings are the scholars, police, and judges
among the taiven. Their justice is inescapable
and their word is law. Starwing plumage is
violet or indigo.
Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score
increases by 1.
Divine Wrath. Inflicts psychic damage.
Falcon’s Wings. You strike with the speed of a
falling meteor. Your flying speed increases to 60 feet.
Word of Power Spell. Command

Dawnwing
Dawnwings are the messengers, couriers, and
diplomats of the taiven. They are known for
their boundless endurance. Dawnwing plumage
is yellow or golden.
Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score
increases by 1.
Divine Wrath. Inflicts radiant damage.
Eagle’s Wings. You add your proficiency bonus to
saving throws to resist fatigue. This includes spells
or other effects that inflict exhaustion.
Word of Power Spell. Sanctuary

Flamewing
lamewing
Flamewings are the taiven warrior caste. Their
airborne mobility makes them equally effective
at attack and retreat. Flamewing plumage is
red or orange.
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score
increases by 1.
Divine Wrath. Inflicts fire damage.
Hummingbird’s Wings. While airborne you gain a
bonus action every turn that you can only use to
take the Dash or Disengage action.
Word of Power Spell. Shield of Faith

Moonwing
Moonwings are the taiven’s scouts, spies, and
assassins. The beating of their wings is nearly
silent. Moonwing plumage is black or midnight
blue.
Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score
increases by 1.
Divine Wrath. Inflicts cold damage.
Owl’s Wings. You have advantage on Stealth
checks while airborne.
Word of Power Spell. Detect Evil and Good