Homebrew Arachnian Species Details

CULTURE OF THE ARTS

Arachnians are giant tarantula-like spiders with human-level intelligence. They crawl on six legs, while their frontmost limbs have developed into clawed hands that allow them to grasp objects. They are also fond of wearing fabrics and clothes that accentuate their large abdomens.

Long ago in the Federation of Wildor, the Arachnians controlled the center of the federation, an arid area home to many insects and other arthropods as well as wild grains and a fertile river. They thrived here, and venerated the goddess Annile, who gave them the ability to create spider silk, and bidded them use it both for gathering food, and for art. They would dye and trade their silk and other textiles, quickly becoming renowned for their fabrics and cloth.

They also venerated their primary goddess in song form and through dance, and became well renowned for their elaborate and entrancing dancing as well as their oddly haunting spider melodies. Far from being the monstrous creatures they appeared to be, they were truly masters of the arts and of culture In their time. Some even say they are the greatest fabric weavers and dancers of all time.

SPIDER MAGIC

Annile would also gain a role as a goddess of magic at some point during the first Arachnian Golden Age, potentially absorbing another goddess into herself and taking their worshipers. Regardless of the how or why, Annile became a goddess of arcane magic, and many of her worshipers became students of the arcane arts, casting their magic through passionate song and dance like bards. So passionate was the power of every song and dance, that it is said that they seldom needed material components.

To see an Arachnian spellweaver at work is considered an honor and a spectacle, for even wizards, sorcerers, and clerics are as passionate about their song and dance as a bard from any other race- whether or not they’re any good at it is another matter entirely. An Arachnian Bard is said to be the true pinnacle of what every bard should strive to be, true masters of song and dance whose performance can rally even gods to their cause.

THE MAD SPIDERS

For 500 years, the Arachnian Kingdom of Arastkel held up strong as a shining example of what a nation could be, but over time more and more corruption seeped in, and a cult of their evil god of Ruin, Khagset, began to rise and take over the kingdom, eventually bringing it to war with the rest of Wildor. The other beastfolk prevailed and laid a powerful blood curse on the traitorous cult and their descendants, robbing them of their intelligence and reducing them to little more than tribal savages. Thus said the shamans and druids: “You who have ruined your own people and brought shame to yourselves, you shunned the teachings of artistry of Annile, and shun the knowledge of Kannu, and furthermore shun the kindness of Vath. Therefore, we call on those gods to take those very things from you and your bloodlines forevermore. No more shall you be able to make art, no more shall you feel the warmth of kindness, and no more shall you think any more complex than single words. So let it be.” 90% of all remaining Arachnians are descended from this cult, and are considered monsters.

The remaining 10% however, still worship Annile, and live as nomads across Wildor and the world at large. They have kept Annile at least relevant to Wildor by introducing her as the Federation’s primary goddess of magic, allowing her to keep some of her power, but be robbed of some of her greater context such as her patronage of the arts and her motherly aspects. The Federation still keeps a few Arachnians as advisors and court wizards. Many of the few sane Arachnians hope to bring their mad brethren back to their senses someday and revive the culture of what most people now refer to as “Old Arachnia.”

Arachnian Traits

Agile and wise, the spiders have a venomous bite, compound eyes, and inscrutable faces.

Ability Score Increase

Arachnians gain +1 to Dexterity, +1 to Wisdom, and +1 to another stat of your choice

Compund Eyes

You ignore ¼ and ½ cover when attacking a creature.

Inscrutable

Because of your inhuman features, humanoids have disadvantage on insight checks against you.

Languages

You speak Common and Wildoran. (Why is there no create language option on this site, seriously)

Spider Web

Spider Web. You can cast Web thrice per short rest without using a spell slot. Your spellcasting modifier for it is WIS.

Venomous Bite

Arachnians have a Venomous Bite. This can be used thrice per short rest, and counts as a melee weapon attack that you have proficiency with. The bite does 1d6+STR piercing damage or 1d6+DEX Piercing damage (Whichever is higher). If the bite connects, the creature must make a CON save, the DC of which is 8+your WIS mod+your proficiency. If failed, a target takes an additional 1d8 Poison damage and gains the poisoned status effect. If a creature is immune to poison damage, they automatically succeed on this check. You can also do a normal non-venomous bite as an action at any time without expending one of the three uses of Venomous Bite per day. The venom’s poison damage is increased to 2d8 at level 7, 3d8 at level 12, and 4d8 at level 17.