Homebrew Chrysines Species Details

Chrysines are an exceptionally enigmatic race of insectoid creatures. Best described as anthropomorphic wasps, they have strong armored carapaces in brilliant metallic colors, and long wings allowing them to fly and hover in any direction. Chrysines are mostly solitary outside of mating season, but will sometimes form bonds with others- especially if they see those others as their children.

These beautiful creatures are not particularly well-known. They are generally solitary, and have little tolerance for other Chrysines besides their children. They are incapable of stinging, as the aculeate stinger has been modified into an ovipositor. Despite the loss of this iconic weapon, they still possess strong mandibles and sharp clawed tarsi, which they can use to fight if needed.

Likely contributing to their enigmatic nature is their inability to speak. Chrysine language consists of many subtle signals: body language, sounds made by clicking mandibles and buzzing wings, and pheromones are combined to make a complex language that few other species are capable of understanding. While they cannot speak, they can understand other races' languages, which tends to paint them as confusing in the eyes of non-Chrysines.

Chrysines Traits

Chrysines have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Monstrosity.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

You have a walking speed of 30 ft.

Flight

You have a flying speed equal to your walking speed. You can also hover briefly, but this will tire you out.

Armored Carapace

Your strong carapace gives you a natural AC of 14.

Defensive Curl

As a bonus action on your turn, you may drop to the ground and curl up into a ball, exposing only your armored carapace. While curled up, you cannot act except to uncurl, and you are immune to slashing and piercing attacks from non-magical weapons. However, you are still vulnerable to bludgeoning damage and any magical damage.

Extra Arms

You have a second pair of grasping limbs. This second pair of arms has the same functionality as the first pair, and you are able to carry double the number of objects in your hands (within reason). However, using weapons with your second pair of arms is awkward, and you roll at disadvantage to attack with any non-natural weapons in your second pair of arms.

Pheromone Sense

Your antennae are specialized for picking up scents. You have advantage on any Perception checks made with scent.

Insect Weapons

You have strong mandibles and your tarsi are sharp. You can use these as weapons if need be. Your mandibles deal 1d8 piercing damage, while your clawed tarsi deal 1d4 slashing damage.