Homebrew Chiroptera Species Details

The Underdark's caves and tunnels are often talked about in fear, being the homeland of many monstrosities and evils all more strange and dangerous than the other. But a few races defy that generalization, the nycter being one of those.

While still quite savage looking, being bat-like humanoids arboring the trademark ears, snout, fangs and wing, Chiroptera are actually the opposite of wild, having created for themselves a civilization based on organisation and mutual aid.

Community as a Pillar

Chiroptera culture takes roots in a strong sense of community, where everyone expects mutual help. From this was built a strong sense of duty, all Chioroptera doing their upmost to contribute to their group. With this approach to life, Chiroptera communities then to get big fast, resulting in the construction of underground towns, kingdoms and routes only accessible by whom is considered allies.

Treaties and Pacifism

Chiroptera prefer peace over war. If they encounter other potential dangerous creatures without being noticed in turn, they often choose to avoid them altogether. If confronted, they will try to parlay and seek solutions leading to agreements. However, they fight fiercely to defend themselves or their territory if pushed to it.

With time, Chiroptera groups will often establish peace treaties with different communities of other races in their area, often giving them in exchange access to the different passageways they maintain and keep hidden or blocked.

Trade and Merchants

With peace comes trade, and many Chiroptera choose to become merchants. The Underdark offers a wide array of resources to sell to people on the surface, and the existence of hidden Chiroptera routes combined with their natural ability to travel silently and cautiously give Chiroptera an edge in commerce.

Befriending a Chiroptera merchant could allow a unique access to precious exotic goods hard to get normally, where trying to swindle one would almost certainly result in never seeing a Chiroptera again in your life.

Tradition and Honour

Chiroptera appreciate their way of life, often considering it the best approach to life for an intelligent creature. As such, while admiring the virtue of freedom, they will often follow a rigid code of honour and tradition. A creature respecting it will be accepted in Chiroptera communities with open wings, where one regularly breaking the rules will be forced to exile.

As apparently unbending the Chiroptera code of conduit seems to be, Chiroptera will always listen to pleads before taking decisions as a whole community.

Chiroptera Traits

As a Chiroptera, you have the following racial traits.

Ability Score Increases

Your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Chiroptera reach maturity by age 5. Compared to humans, Chiroptera don’t usually live longer than 40 years.

Alignment

Chiroptera have a culture and society that revolves around the community. Members of such communities usually are lawful, where Chiroptera separated from their groups tend to be more neutral or chaotic. In any case, Chiroptera are peaceful and social creatures aiming for good through relationships with other groups and mutual benefits through trade.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

Because of your wings, you have a flying speed of 30ft. You can’t use this flying speed if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor.

Fangs

You have fangs that you can use to make unarmed strikes. When you hit with them, the strike deals 1d4 + your Strength modifier piercing damage, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Darkvision

Accustomed to the darkness of the caves of the underdark where your kind thrives, 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 colours in darkness, only shades of grey.

Sun Sickness

While in sunlight, the Chiroptera has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Echolocation

As an action, you can emit a high frequency sound that grants blindsight for 30 ft in all directions, lasting until the end of your turn. This effect does not go through or around walls or other solid material. Being in a silenced or deafened state will negate this ability until you are no longer silenced or deafened.

Sensible Hearing

You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that involve listening, unless deafened.

While your keen hearing can be helpful, it is also one of your weaknesses. You are vulnerable to thunder damage, even if deafened.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.