At some point in the distant past one or more members of a rare race entered and became trapped in the Astromundi Cluster. This species of shapechangers have thrived in the shattered sphere over the past couple of centuries and now form a sphere wide network with influence in all areas where humans live. These creatures are known as Birdmaidens.
Birdmaidens are very much like the Swanmay found on in other spheres such as Realmspace, but have some subtle differences. First Birdmaidens may shapechange to any one birds species, not necessarily a swan. The type of bird is determined during adolescence (or when the Birdmaiden character is created) and cannot be change thereafter. Common types of birds are: Raven, Parrot, Falcon, Owl, Swan, Macaw, Hawk, Seagull, Sparrow, Blue Jay, and Crane. Other bird types are also possible as long as they are same size range and are capable of flight. Birdmaidens must have a magical token just as a swanmay does and when in their bird form have abilities of the species assumed. They generally have a flight movement rate ranging from 18' to 36' depending on the species. The second difference is that Birdmaidens can become one of two professions that are unknown among swanmays, that of the bard and the song mage. Thus, a Birdmaiden may become a ranger (maximum 14th level), a druid (maximum 12th level), bard (maximum 16th), or a song mage (maximum 15th level). Birdmaidens may not be multi-classed. The description of the Song Mage is presented in both the Player's Option: Skills & Powers and Spells & Magic books.
The species propagates by mating with human, half-elven or elven males. Their offspring is usually female (80%) in which case it will inherit the powers of its mother, but not necessarily be of the same bird species. If the child is male, it will be a normal member of its fathers race. The mother assumes responsibility for the rearing of the child regardless of its sex. Female children are indoctrinated into the loosely organized sorority during adolescence.
Birdmaidens act as a political entity in the cluster as well as being a separate race. Regardless of their class, they protect nature and promote the abundance of life in the sphere. They seek to keep the balance as new species are introduced to the sphere, so that established species are not wiped out. They help small ecologies begin to grow on asteroids that support an atmosphere. They spread seeds and spores of flora that thrives in an asteroid environment. And they seek to curtail the activities of intelligent beings and monsters that threaten to wipe out an asteroid ecology. Travelers how hail from Realmspace have noted a similarity between the solitary workings of the Birdmaidens and that sphere organization known as the Harpers. The Birdmaidens themselves took offence to this at first, thinking they were being likened to some sort of "harpies". Be warned not to repeat that faux pas.
As such guardians of nature, they are well disposed toward the priesthood of Tradifos. They will often work with such priests to create or repair the ecology of an asteroid or other celestial body. The elves are also very happy to work with birdmaidens not only because the share a love for nature and living things, but also the elves are few in number and mating with birdmaidens will produce either another elf or an ally.
Of the other races, Birdmaidens are well disposed toward the dwarves, gnomes and lizard men, but dislike neogi, illithids, beholders, pirates of gith, and scro. Birdmaidens have had to learn how to deal with the neogi in order to survive within the economic framework of the sphere, but keep such dealings to a minimum. Of the human races the Calidians and Thoric are favored, but Varans not affiliated with the illithids are acceptable as well as non- evil Antilans. Birdmaidens despise the Antilan Empire for is slave trade and oppose it whenever practical. Raven Birdmaidens tend to migrate to the colder outer regions, thus associating with the Thoric more often. Parrot and Swallow Birdmaidens are more common among the tropical asteroid islands of the Golden Girdle and thus come in contact with the Antilans almost exclusively.
Of the four classes open to Birdmaidens, there are almost an equal number in each. Rangers and Druids derive their powers not from one of the deities of the sphere, but from the general forces of nature itself. They refer to this life force as "The Balance". It is feared among the birdmaidens that if the number of livable asteroids in the sphere decrease, the power of The Balance will decrease proportionally, thus providing additional motivation to their goal of spreading "life" among the shattered asteroid fields of the cluster.
Birdmaidens can communitcate with others of their species regardless of form or bird species. A Birdmaiden in her human form can understand and be understood by on in her bird from and an Owl Birdmaiden can communicate with a Sparrow Birdmaiden.
Birdmaidens would be a reasonable character race for players in an Astromundi Cluster campaign. The "guardian of life and nature" lifestyle of the species provides ample opportunity for heroic role-playing. The Swanmay (the inspiration for Birdmaidens) are presented as player character race options in both The Complete Humanoids Handbook or the Player's Options: Skills & Powers. Additional information may be gleaned from the Monstrous Compendium entry.
