Homebrew Araeoniae Species Details

And as the Archer stood above her lover, the Rook came, sweeping his soul away from her and perching on a nearby branch, singing his ghostly song. 

“Why have you come? To mock me?” The Archer spat, gripping her bow tightly. The damned Rook only stared at her. Several moments passed before he finally leaped off the birch’s branch and spoke to her.

”I only come to pay my respects, little warrior. I assure you, I have no need to be taking anything else from you. I have already achieved what I needed.” The Rook changed his form to his namesake, a rook bird. The Archer, already damaged by grief, felt something snap inside her mind as she lunged towards the Rook and held it down. The bird flailed his wings in surprise, chirping angrily. 

A second later, he wasn’t. The Archer got up, looking down at the corvid that lay dead beneath her. Did it work? The Rook was dead, surely that meant that her lover could come back? 

“Silvia!” Her lover called. “Magnus!” Silvia cried, running to hug her beloved one last time. As they embraced, the Rook’s chilling voice came from behind.

”Enjoy his company, little warrior, for he is the last pure human you will ever see in your life from now on. You and your children will be forever cursed to have the arachnids’ favor and features, banned to have a role in society! They will be met with stares and whispers, hated and feared by all.” The Rook hissed. “You have made an enemy with the divine, little warrior, I will not forget what you have attempted to do.”

And just like that, the Rook disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

To be greeted with stares and whispers, to suffer violence and insult on the street, to see mistrust and fear in every eye: this is the lot of the Araeoniae. With features closely resembling that of an arachnid, they are not trusted easily.

Cursed Bloodlines

Araeoniae are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. However, their cursed bloodlines still take a toll on their appearance. Ranging from spider-leg like spines protruding from their backs, to a scorpion’s tail, or to long, poisonous fangs, they all share a few things in common. For example, they all have huge families, 4-8 eyes, and silk glands at their wrists. 

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Araeoniae subsist in small minorities found mostly in human cities or towns, often in the roughest quarters of those places, where they grow up to be swindlers, thieves, or crime lords. Sometimes they live among other minority populations in enclaves where they are treated with more respect.

Coming from the Shade, Araeoniae know that they have to make their own way in the world and that they have to be strong to survive. They are not quick to trust anyone who claims to be a friend, but when an Araeoniae’s companions demonstrate that they trust him or her, the Araeoniae learns to extend the same trust to them. And once a Araeoniae gives someone loyalty, the tiefling is a firm friend or ally for life.

Araeoniae Names

Araeoniae names tend to sound like hisses, but can also sound like typical human names. Males can have a harsher sounding name while females would have a more "melodic" sounding name.

 Typical Male Names: Akmenos, Amnon, Barakas, Damakos, Ekemon, Iados, Kairon, Leucis, Melech, Mordai, Morthos, Pelaios, Skamos, Therai, Rickastlumos

Typical Female Names: Akta, Anakis, Bryseis, Criella, Damaia, Ea, Kallista, Lerissa, Makaria, Nemeia, Orianna, Phelaia, Rieta, Felishua

 

MET WITH MISTRUST

Ignorant people tend to be suspicious of Araeoniae, assuming that their cursed heritage has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that an Araeoniae's bloodline doesn’t affect their personality. They are gifted with magic from the Shade and the Rook, but chart their own course in life.

Araeoniae Traits

Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent.

Weaver

Bruh.. it's just spinning webs..

Ability Score Increase

Your Intelligence score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 2.

Size

Araeoniae are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your cursed heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Abyssal.