Homebrew Arachnoids Species Details

Cursed by the God

There are many legends about the Arachnoid Races' origins. One says they were made from the remains of creature parts when the Gods were done populating the world. Another alleges that a group of humans living in a ravine climbed in and out of it so much they developed legs to help them. A particularly raunchy one about an ancient human who seduced the queen of spiders, giving her plenty of children as they lived happily for the rest of their days until the gods granted them immortality and dual governorship over the new race. These all make fantastic campfire stories for all ages, but that is exactly what they are. Stories. The truth of the matter is that a family of silk weavers was in the wrong place at the wrong time. This family worked hard for decades in their small shop, churning out some of the best (and only) silk for the small village they were located near when their youngest daughter proclaimed she was the prettiest being, more beautiful than any of the gods. Hearing her insulting words, one of the prouder gods took it upon themself to cut the family down a the waist. Observing the family for weeks, he comes up with the best way to punish their insolence. He decides to turn them into eternal weavers, to forever make the silk they once did but to never be accepted by their former race.

The Cursed's Appearances

Arachnoids are derived from human bloodlines, and in the broadest possible sense, they still look human. If not for the effects of the curse, they would seem like any other of their race. Arachnoids have large spider arms jutting out of their sides that take any of a variety of shapes: some have thin and wirey like daddy long legs, others have thick and stubby like a jumping spider, and some are split into multiple sections and mildly armored like a scorpion. The legs and mandibles tend to curl whenever excited. Their extra legs and mandibles are the same color as their hair, and their eyes are solid colors—black, red, white, silver, or gold—with no visible sclera or pupil. Their skin tones cover the full range of human coloration, most commonly darker shades. Their hair can appear in any variety of colors,  but most typically tan, brown, and black.

Self-Reliant and Suspicious

Arachnoids subsist in small minorities found mostly on the outskirts of human cities or towns, often in the forests or caves, 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.

Arachnoid Names

Arachnoid names have nothing special about them, the only unique thing about them is the middle name being earned after a trial given when they reach the age of 15, typically by their parent. This trial is not standardized and the naming scheme is based on how they beat it and what they had to do. They can be anything and everything you can think of, so long as they have the aforementioned only rule. Kel is used when they succeed in the challenge, and Kal is used when they fail. If someone fails their trial, they may try again, doing a lesser challenge unless they request the specific trial they failed.

Example Middle Names: Shipstealer-Kel (A name for someone who succeded in stealing a ship as their trial), Spice-Kal (A name for someone who failed to eat particularly spicy food as their trial), and Warrior-Kel (A name for someone who succeded in their trial in beating someone in a fight).

 

DEIGNED WITH DISGUST

Due to their extra limbs and mandibles making their form look so far distorted from humans, they are often regarded with some form of disgust. Due to having such an unusual form and a clicking language, others tend to be of the preconception that Arachnoids are primitive, even if many other species have similar traits

 

Arachnoids Traits

Arachnoids share certain traits as a result of their curse.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Arachnoids mature at the same rate as humans but live for several years longer, often to 175.

Size

Arachnidians are about the same size and build as humans, with two 5ft legs on either of their sides. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, base climbing speed is 45. Due to your multiple legs, you are able to walk on 45° angled surfaces with ease and climb up 90° angled surfaces.

Arachnid Resistance

You have resistance to poison damage.

Weaver's Curse

Due to your cursed heritage, you have 4 spiked legs jutting out of your sides or back. Thanks to your legs you can attack someone with your arachnid legs. At level 2 you can cast Web or Spider Climb without any components, once every short rest.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and language made of clicks that Arachnoids know.