D&D Character Delve: Aarakocra Grave Domain Cleric for Adventures on the Open Road

Once a month, Nerdarchist Ted runs an RPG Crate-sponsored game of fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons on the Nerdarchy YouTube channel. In one of these sessions, Adventures on the Open Road: From the Sky, I played as Kek, a 5th-level aarakocra Grave Domain cleric. The next Adventures from the Open Road D&D session is set for Jan. 26, 2018, so be sure to follow subscribe, follow Nerdarchy on social media or visit us on our Discord so you don’t miss it. You can always sign up for our newsletter too, and find out how you can game with Nerdarchy.

But for now, let’s delve into this D&D character.

D&D character creation choices

Kek is a 5th-level aarakocra cleric. Death Domain made sense for someone devoted to the Raven Queen. But after watching NEW Cleric Domains- Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, I knew I wanted to play a Grave Domain cleric. Instantly I thought “how cool would it be to play a raven person?” The backstory fell into place naturally.

My greatest struggle when giving Kek life was, which background? I knew I wanted him to be a disgraced soldier and had a plan in mind until I hit a dilemma. He was geared up with the soldier background before I stumbled across the Haunted One, from the Curse of Strahd. His life as a soldier was important but it said more about Rellin than Kek. Everything about Kek is defined by his failure as a soldier, not his actual service time. My choices needed to reflect who he is not who he was. After weighing the implications, I decided Haunted One was the best option.

The rest of character creation was simple. I knew I wanted him skilled in healing and support but poor in physical combat. Everything about my choices so far supported that build. If I could go back and change one thing it would be to make Constitution his dump stat as a reflection of his hollow bones. Skill and spell choices are a mix of my must haves as well as “what does this say about my character.” The best example of an unoptimized choice that reflects character is life transference as a prepared spell.

Equipment was easy. As a flying character Kek needed to travel light. I took the basic starting equipment and a few other minor items. Overall I didn’t put a lot of thought into what Kek carried as he doesn’t get overly attached to material things.

Available for all is a fully fleshed out character sheet of Kek made through D&D Beyond.

These were some of the considerations leading to my choices for this aarakocra Grave Domain cleric. With this knowledge perhaps you will be able to enjoy Kek a bit more as you watch the Adventures on the Open Road episode three. Also feel free to use this character in your own games. You should have enough background information to apply him to your game in whatever way you see fit.

An aarakocra backstory

Rellin Mording led a band of heroes, the Axe of Morning, against abominations that rose from the Rotlands. Events transpired in his beloved homeland that would transform this beloved hero into a devoted servant of the Raven Queen with a haunted past.

The fog of winter shrouded the morning of Rellin’s final day as a soldier. Figures moved through the mist, unseen by the guard. The early afternoon sun burned away the fog, revealing an army unlike anything seen before in the Ruthkin Valley. A horde of rotting corpses converged on the fort. Rellin’s resolve snapped at the sight of so many soulless faces, some he even recognized. Before the battle began, Rellin fled. With the loss of their commander, the Axe of Morning broke and with it the kingdom of the Ruthkin Valley.

Driven mad by his failure, Rellin flew to the wilds. There he rages against all life until his own held on by a thread. A foggy morning, much like that dreaded day, another horde gathered. A mass of black feathers and beaks fell upon Rellin. They brought not blows but food. Their claws tore at the earth until water flowed from the ground. The dying man fed and drank. As evening arrived the ravens took form, a woman bearing an gift. Rellin would die, no food or water could stop that. He could enter his afterlife the broken man, responsible for the deaths of so many, or he could accept her offer and become something new.

The Vow of Flesh is offered to those who wish to serve the Raven Queen but their flesh is too weak. Rellin took the vow and was wrapped in a feathered cloak. In the warmth he found the rest his nightmare had stolen. He woke still shrouded in the sleek garment. When he rose it clung to him. When he shook it did not fall.

The freshly dug pool showed a face he did not know. His thin lipped mouth was replaced by a long black beak and his obsidian eyes bore no trace of the brilliant blue they had once been. Rellin stretched he newly formed wings and took flight. If a bird could smile, he would have. Souring above the fog that brought him bane and blessing he decided that a new body needed a new name.

Rellin died and Kek was born.

Bliss consumed madness and when it was over purpose came. Kek was guided to the Shadowfell, where he spent many years training in the edicts of the Raven Queen. Approaching his new duties with the same discipline he learned as a soldier, he moved through the ranks of clerics quickly. Despite his dedication, the ways of the Raven Queen are not like the ways of mortals; they require time to master. It was nearly thirty years before Kek received the title cleric. With the teaching of the Raven Queen in his heart and a fire to punish those who would slander the law of death, Kek set out among mortals once again.

A grave domain cleric is born

More bird than man, Kek’s form is frail. However, aided by his avian body, he is swift. With hundreds of proverbs in his mind, he has wisdom and faith that will see him through any situation. As a soldier he learned how to look at things with a critical eye. When he fled into exile he learned to keep himself alive even in the harshest of situations. His ability to convince others to see things his way is what makes him a natural leader. With years of study his knowledge of the worlds religions is vast.

In combat he prefers to hover above the heads of the enemy where he can shower his allies with protection and healing, while raining attacks on his enemies. Around his left ankle is a silver manacle with no visible opening or chain. The Raven Queens insignia is inscribed on it; a mark of the Vow of Flesh. Kek channels his faith into the manacle where it manifest into the power granted by his god. Before leaving the Shadowfell he was given a small weightless stone from his mentor.

He was told only that it has been passed down through generations of priests since the beginning of time. It has literally been in the hands of mortals since creation.

Certain spells are so ingrained in him that he knows them without forethought. Others he prepares and utilizes as a form of worship. Augury, for instance, is a spell all clerics of the Raven Queen should keep handy. When it comes time to deal out death or life one should consult the queen if one is able. Healing and resurrection spells are essential to ensure those with the Raven Queen’s blessing survive. Often it is the duty of a cleric to investigate wrongful deaths or spirits that have not crossed to their appointed afterlife. In order to undergo these investigations it is necessary to be able to communicate with the restless dead.

Some spells take on a unique look when granted by the Raven Queen. Spirit guardians and spiritual weapon, for instance, do not call on ghosts or ancestors. The ravens of Shadowfell answer the call. They travel to the mortal world where they aid the caster. One specific spell Kek always keeps on hand is life transference. His life is owed to the Raven Queen and he never knows when the debt will be called. Life transference allows him to aid his friends even at the cost of his own life.

As Kek embraces his avian nature his memory fades. He carries a journal with him at all times where he keeps his thoughts and observations, as well as names of people and places. Writing is one of his passions and poetry is his favorite form of self-expression. He dictates his thoughts through poetry. Whenever he comes across a witty quip he dips his talon into ink and jots it down, collecting poems like a magpie collects shinies.

Despite his new life Kek still wishes for the death he gave up. Those who are dead are lucky – they have found peace. He has little compassion for the dead or the grieving because he doesn’t understand why they are sad. Many close friends and allies have died and Kek misses none of them. In fact he has forgotten many of their faces and names. They are where they should be and he will see them when his own end comes.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to RPG Crate for sponsoring these games. Thank you Nerdarchist Ted for running them and to all the players who have been a part of this adventure with me. Thank you all you wonderful Nerdarchy fans who have been watching these games. We would not be doing this without you! A special thank you also to Jeff Vehrs, whose “‘A’ is for Aarakocra” image appears in this article. Check out Jeff Vehrs ArtStation profile for more fantastic art.

When you head over to RPG Crate to start your own monthly subscription to get tabletop loot delivered right to your door, use Nerdarchy’s exclusive promo code NERDARCHYRPGCRATE and save 10 percent off your first month’s crate.

Check out the video below to see Kek, the aarakocra Grave Domain cleric in action during one of our live D&D 5E game play and, as always, stay nerdy!

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