Homebrew Aldani (Lobsterfolk) Species Details

Many Chultan natives can recall childhood fables of the aldani, the eerie lobsterfolk that lived in the rivers and lakes of their homeland. As there have been no sightings of the aldani in years, it is widely believed that they were wiped out. In truth, many aldani survived and retreated to the lakes of the Aldani Basin in the heart of Chult.

An aldani looks like a giant lobster that walks upright. Its face is mostly encased in armor, looking almost humanoid except for its long eyestalks. Despite their frightful appearance, aldani avoid conflict. Reclusive and xenophobic, they hide in their lakes and rivers.

Aldani Bribes. If disturbed, aldani try to frighten intruders away without killing them. When confronted by creatures who aren’t easily startled, they offer bribes in exchange for being left alone. These bribes take the form of treasures that the aldani collect from the bottoms of rivers and lakes.

Cursed by Ubtao. The aldani are the monstrous descendants of Chultan humans belonging to the Aldani tribe. The fishers of the tribe trapped the lobsters of the rivers by the thousands, until no lobsters remained. Their greed made Ubtao angry, and he cursed the fishers by transforming them into lobsterfolk. The fishers accepted their punishment and embraced their new existence. However, they were scorned by other members of their tribe and forced to take refuge in the rivers they had once plundered. Although the Aldani tribe went extinct, the lobsterfolk remain to this day.

Aldani (Lobsterfolk) Traits

Racial Traits:

Claws

You have two large claws instead of hands. As an action, you can use one of your claws to try to grapple a creature. Each one is also a natural weapon, which you can use to make an unarmed strike. If you hit with it, the target takes bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. Immediately after hitting, you can try to grapple the target as a bonus action. These claws can’t precisely manipulate anything and can’t wield weapons, magic items, or other specialized equipment.

Carapace

Your skin in places is covered by a thick shell. You gain a +1 bonus to AC when you’re not wearing heavy armor.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2, and one other ability score of your choice increases by 1.

 

Darkvision

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.

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water, and you have a swimming speed of 30 feet.