Homebrew Waspians Species Details

Sequestered in strange, almost alien hives, the Waspians, sometimes called beefolk, evoke fear and wonder.

They are warriors, refugees, scouts, and explorers, their hives functioning as kingdoms in a world both strange and full of enemies.

Stinger and Wings

From below, Waspians look much like large wasps. Only when they descend to scout on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing upright, Waspians might reach 8 feet tall, and they have long, thin legs that taper into points

An exoskeleton cover their bodies. Markings on an exoskeleton typically denotes membership in a Hive. Their heads complete the insectoid appearance, being something like a wasp or bee with distinct tribal variations.

Sky Wardens

Nowhere are the Waspians more comfortable than in the sky. They can spend hours in the air, and some go as long as days, locking their wings in place and letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or stingers before turning and flying away.

Once airborne, a Waspian leaves the sky with reluctance. In their native environment, they can fly for days or months, landing only to feed their young before launching themselves back into the air. Those that make it outside a hive find the outside world a strange place. They sometimes forget or ignore vertical distances, and they have nothing but pity for those earthbound people forced to live and toil on the ground.

Insectoid Mannerisms

The resemblance of Waspians to birds isn’t limited to physical features. Waspians display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary bees. Waspians are very territorial and they protect their nests and young. They will swarm and attack anything they perceive as a threat to their hive, under the command(and often control) of a queen.

The idea of ownership baffles most Waspians. After all, who owns the sky? Even when explained to them, they initially find the notion of ownership mystifying. As a result, Waspians who have little interaction with other people might be a nuisance as they drop from the sky to snatch livestock or plunder harvests for fun. Shiny, glittering objects catch their eyes.

They find it hard not to pluck the treasure and bring it back to their settlement to coat it in honeycombs it. A Waspian who spends years among other races can learn to inhibit these impulses.

Confinement terrifies the Waspians. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few Waspians can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their strange, honey-coated homes, they appear alert, with eyes moving and bodies ready to take flight.

Homelands

Most Waspians live in large Hives. Waspians can be drawn outside their hives, sometimes to pursue enemies or thwart their foes’ designs there. Accident might also send a swarm of Waspians tumbling into a(to them) strange new world.

Once hives of Waspians settle in an area, they share a hunting territory that extends across an area up to 100 miles on a side, with each tribe hunting in the lands nearest to their colony, ranging farther should game become scarce.

A typical colony consists of one large, papery nest made of chewed up wood. The queen acts as leader, having a strong physic link to members of a hive

Great Purpose

Waspians enjoy war and bloodshed. Most of them have little interest in dealing with other peoples unless its to fight a war and less interest in spending time on the ground. For this reason, it takes an exceptional circumstance for a Waspian to her Hive and undertake the adventurer’s life. Neither treasure nor glory is enough to lure them from their tribes; a dire threat to their people, a mission of vengeance, or a catastrophe typically lies at the heart of the Waspians adventurer’s chosen path.

Waspian Names

As with much of their speech, Waspian names include buzzes, trills, and whistles to the point that other peoples have a difficult time pronouncing them. Typically, a name has two to four syllables with the sounds acting as connectors. When interacting with other races, Waspian may use nicknames gained from people they meet or shortened forms of their full names.

Waspians Traits

As a Waspian, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing a Waspian requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Strength score increases by 1.

Age

Waspian reach maturity in 3 months. Compared to humans, Waspians don’t usually live longer than 400 years.

Size

Waspians are about 6 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 5 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 50 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

Pincers

Your pincers are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Aarakocra, and Auran.