Homebrew Arachni, Variant Species Details

Deep in the farthest reaches of a forlorn forest — that is where you'll find the arachni. These cunning creatures are reminiscent of humanoids, marked by extreme, spider-like characteristics. They are known to take slaves of smaller forest folk, weaving shackles out of the same silk they exude to build their webs. They keep them as fearful servants until they grow hungry and devour them.

Skittering Weavers

An arachni stands just taller than a human, with a human-like head and face framed by long, wild black hair. Beyond their heads they are covered in a chitinous exoskeleton of dark hues. They have four legs and four arms, all of which end in thin, spidery points except the upper two arms — these have hands complete with opposable thumbs.

The tiny, fine hairs that cover their bodies give them the ability to climb walls, and the slits on the sides of their forearms can expel a strong, silky web. It's with this substance they weave their lairs high among the branches, and produce traps to launch at their unsuspecting prey below.

Spider-folk

They are sworn enemies of all ettercaps, and whilst commonly mistaken for driders, they are not related. Rumor has it the original arachni were spiders enchanted by an evil archfey to act as her personal agents. Almost all arachni are arrogant, manipulative and evil.

A group of arachni are called a cluster, and a single broodmother rules a cluster of up to twenty arachni at once. The broodmother alone gives birth to the cluster's young, with all other arachni left relatively equal in their twisted society. Any female arachni may become a broodmother if the prior one dies, transforming with the help of a ritual conducted by a coven of green hags.

Green hags are an arachni's natural allies — both creatures thrive on hunting through deception, and both find bliss in the spreading of pain. Most civilized races of the world despise arachni, and consider them dangerous monsters.

Arachni Names

Arachni name themselves when they come of age by combining words based on their greatest feats of deception, hunting or cruelty — young arachni are not given any names, and are referred to by physical characteristics if at all necessary. Occasionally they use elf-like names when dealing with outsiders who venture far to their ancient woodland lairs.

Arachni Names: Bitterscream, Deathmyth, Silkstrangle, Webwraith, Whisperquick

Arachni, Variant Traits

As an arachni, you have certain traits in common with your insidious people.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Arachni are a short-lived race, reaching maturity by age 3 and rarely living longer than 20 years.

Alignment

Most arachni are lawful evil, where the broodmother's word is law. The rare arachni that defies its own, dark nature is cast out in exile.

Size

Arachni are roughly just over 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 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed of 30 feet.

Poisonous Bite

You possess a viscous pair of folded fangs that can be used to make an unarmed strike. On a hit, they deal 1d6 piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution save. On a failure, the target is poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat this save at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success.

You may attempt to poison a creature this way 3 times. You regain any uses at the end of a long rest.

Natural Armor

You have a chitinous exoskeleton. Your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier, but due to your body shape you cannot wear armor. A shield’s benefits apply as normal.

Spider Climb

You have the ability to move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving the hands on your upper arms free.

Strand Dancer

You ignore movement restrictions caused by webbing. In addition, while in contact with a web, you know the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Silk Spinner

You can exude a stream of silken web from your fingertips. You have proficiency in nets, and may construct a net made from your silk through four hours of concentrated work, once per long rest. Only you or another arachni can use this net, anyone else who tries gets their hands stuck in the web.

Web Weaver

When you reach 5th level you may cast Web once without components — your spellcasting ability for this is Constitution. This trait may be used again after finishing a long rest.

Languages

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