Homebrew Shadhavar Species Details

A reclusive people, the Shadhavar resemble giant tarantulas. Calling the underground caverns and deserts their home, the Spider-folk are well adapted for subterranean life.

The Shadhavar are essentially giant spiders of varying sizes and proportions. Their appearances can differ greatly depending on the place of their birth, with some possessing thick fur and short legs while others have a much taller stature and are covered in chitinous plates. The majority of Shadhavar are brightly colored and possess long front limbs that they use to interact with the world around them. Shadhavar are only able to reliably use their front two legs in a manner similar to arms, should they try to use more arms then just their front two then they risk losing their balance.

Society

Groups of Shadhavar are referred to as Clutters and are often made up of roughly on hundred individuals. The appearance of each Clutter is vastly different, with some being deep within caves and others hanging from tall cavern ceilings. One thing they all have in common is the abundant use of web within their architecture. Each member of a Clutter is expected to carry their weight one way or another, be that in hunting or maintaining their territory. 

Culture

Despite what most common folk think, the Shadhavar have a rich culture with a heavy emphasis on self sustainability, craftsmanship, and storytelling. New hatchlings to the brood are taught many important lesson through interpretive stories typically told by the eldest Shadhavar of their Clutter. Such story tellers are referred to as kathaakaar which roughly translates to 'sagacious remembered'. Kathaakaar are spiders of great age who have become too old to hunt for themselves and thus are cared for by their Clutters. Though the Shadhavar value self reliance, the Kathaakaar are held in high esteem due to them reaching such a venerable age and have earned the privilege of spending the last of their days among their kin while being taken care of.

Craftsman are another prominent aspect of Shadhavar culture, having powerful webs at their disposal it's no surprise that they are indeed legendary architects. Mastery of one's own web is essential within Shadhavar society as their web is present in nearly all they do. Both in structures and equipment, web is a prominent material that allows for all manners of unique and awe inspiring creations that other races could never dream of creating. One's web is also entirely unique in a similar manner to fingerprints with other Shadhavar being able to identify what web came from what member of their Clutter just by touching it. To waste your web for frivolous things is seen as slobbish in Shadhavar culture.

While some focus on the creation of buildings and temples with their webs, there are some who prefer to use their web for more artistic purposes. Large web murals are not uncommon within Clutters, often depicting great hunts or other notable events that are deemed worth remembering.

Relations

Though shunned by most common folk who live atop Kurathic's surface, there are some who hold no contempt of malice for the Shadhavar. To many's surprise, the dwarves who call the mountains their homes hold no quarrel with the spider-folk despite how typically prejudiced they are to outsiders. When dwarves first made contact with the Shadhavar they were surprised to see that they held very similar values to each other and were able to respect and even admire the creations of this strange race. Both races often trade with each other with the dwarves bringing items and valuables only found on the surface and vice versa.

Another people who are on good terms with the Shadhavar are the great colonies of the Lizardfolk. Due to the reptilians lack of prejudice that other races have, they found the Shadhavar to be powerful allies with an agreement even being formed between the two peoples to aid each other should demonic threats ever attempt another mass invasion.

 

Shadhavar Traits

Living deep under the surface, the Shadhavar are well adapted to their homes underground.

Spider's Jaws

You can use your maw to make unarmed attacks. When you hit with them, the bite deals 1d8 + your Strength or Dexterity modifier piercing damage.

Ability Score Increase

 Increase one ability score by 2, and increase a different one by 1.

Age

Shadhavar mature much faster than humans, reaching adulthood around age 8. A shadhavar's lifespan depends on their size with the smaller living up to 150 years while the larger have been known to live up to 750 years.

Size

Shadhavar size varies depending on the place of their birth, with their sizes ranging from small to large

Speed

Your base walking and climbing speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your many eyes, 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.

Spider's Silk

Using your spinneret, you are able to create up to 100 ft. of sturdy silk. You may create webs using this silk at a cost of 20 ft. of silk per 5 ft. cube. Any creature caught in this web must make a strength check of DC of 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus or be restrained as long as it remains in the webs or until it breaks free. A creature restrained by the webs can use its action to make a Strength check against your save DC.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Orc. Orc is a harsh, grating language with hard consonants. It has no script of its own but is written in the Dwarvish script.