Homebrew Lepidora Species Details

"THE UNIVERSE IS BUT A PUZZLE TO DECONSTRUCT, and all that it holds will be known to us in the end. There will be nothing beyond the reach of our understanding, and not even the gods will comprehend this existence as well as we shall With each generation we reach closer to Ascension." 

-Trinity, The Book of All Things 

The Lepidora are a reclusive people of grand ambitions whose lives are often spent in pursuit of perfection of the mind and self. Anywhere the unknown, strange, or uncommon can be found, they will situate themselves until all mysteries have been unraveled. Much like the fair elves, they have a deep love of nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry. For the Lepidora that dwell outside the forests and in their grand cities, though, that love is more clinical as they are viewed as tools for reaching grace within oneself. 

BEAUTIFULLY BEASTLY 

At first glance, those unaccustomed to the Lepidora might find them monstrous. Tall and lithe, their four arms, inky black eyes, and bug-like features mixed in with the familiar comforts of a humanoid form creating an unsettling dissonance. Some never get over this discomfort and disgust, but there are many in the world who are spellbound by their otherworldly beauty. 

They are around the same height as humans on average, ranging from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall Despite their height, they weigh very little at 60 to 80 pounds, their steps so gentle as to not break new-fallen snow. Male Lepidora usually fall on the lower end of height and weight, while female Lepidora usually fall on the higher end. 

Lepidoran fur and wing coloration can cover all spectrums from bright, colorful pastels, to dull, grey tones. Soft fur covers a large portion of their body below their head level, but different seasons or temperate regions may cause them to shed or grow more fur in tune with their environment. They most often favor very light, graceful, and frilly clothes that match their natural color tones, and usually avoid any unneeded encumbrance from jewelry. 

THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE 

It's not known when, how, or why an all-encompassing thirst for knowledge gripped most of the Lepidora. They had once been a short-lived race, their lives passing in barely a decade, so it is unknown how such grand ambitions could spark. 

Where once the forests had been their homes, great cities rose up. Where once the ages took them, advancements in magical and scientific studies have extended their lives into centuries. Where once they fed off the land, so they pull it into their hands to dissect and unravel 

Most Lepidora who grow up within the main society pay little heed to the goings on of the world: gods and wars are trivial, and the fall and rise of kingdoms are but footnotes in history. There is only one pursuit that of understanding all things the universe holds. This can make Lepidora who venture outside their society inquisitive, curious, and thoughtful people, though a subtle stubbornness and deep- rooted self-righteousness can often be found Little can sway them to extreme emotions, and most situations good or bad can be regarded as gateways to knowledge. 

Lepidora who have chosen to retain the old ways in nature are often strange to meet after running into the more common academics. Kind-hearted, sweet, and mostly of good cheer, they seem to always be doing their most to help those around them. Still, they are often fearful of strangers, and distrust those who come from societies that exploit nature. 

CITIES OF STONE AND EARTH 

Most modern Lepidora live within sprawling cities built of spires and sharp architecture. Fortified like fortresses from the outside world, while their interiors are fashioned like grand universities. Through advancement in their technological and magical studies, the Lepidora struggle little for sustenance and safety, and their perfect control with their many hands have allowed them to create masterpieces of beauty and grace in all they craft. 

Lepidora outside of the cities usually make homes deep in forests or in flower meadows by riversides. These Lepidora do all they can to integrate and make their homes one with nature, causing as little disturbance or harm wherever they settle. Often times, do to this care, they can be found co- inhabiting areas or cities with Fey races. 

THE FIRST STEP OF THE JOURNEY 

Lepidora who take up adventuring usually do so for vastly different reasons depending on their upbringing. Those from the cities often are in pursuit of greater understanding of the world and their studies, and to experience firsthand some of the things they've read about. Lepidora from the woods often go from a sense of wonder and joy at seeing new things, or from the deep desire in their hearts to bring good to the world. To the rare Lepidora raised outside of either society, it could be to search for purpose and a place in the world as they feel alien to all those around them. 

 

LEPIDORAN TRAITS 

Age. Modern Lepidora reach physical maturity at 17, but their minds never stop learning and developing. A Lepidora can usually reach their full potential after a century, and can live to be 200 years old. 

Alignment. Cityborn Lepidora usually lean towards true neutral, more interested in their own affairs than that of others and the world, but can fall into evil alignments in pursuit of greater universal understanding. Natureborn Lepidora lean towards good alignments, though their pure hearts can be susceptible to disillusionment or corruption. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common. Lepidoran language used to be sound-based without words, but has long been abandoned and forgotten by their people after their greater evolution. 

Lepidora Traits

The Lepidora have a variety of natural abilities available to them, though most have become atrophied due to generations spent away from their natural environment.

Featherlight

While you are not wearing medium or heavy armor, you take no damage from falls under 30 feet, and take half damage from falls under 60 feet. 

Multi-Limbed

You have four arms and hands that can be controlled independently of one another, and that can hold and interact with objects normally. If you have two free hands, you can use a Bonus Action to take the Use an Object action or to use a potion. 

Heavy and two-handed weapons take four hands for you to wield, while staffs, shields, and versatile weapons take two hands on the same side of your body to wield. To use a versatile weapon's higher damage value, you must wield it in all four hands. 

In order to grapple a creature, you must use two free hands instead of one. 

Silken Wings

You have a flying speed equal to your wallking speed. You can't use this flying speed if you're wearing medium or heavy armor, or while wearing armor that's not been modified to fit your wings. 

While airborne with this trait, after you take an Attack or Cast a Spell action, you immediately fall prone. Additionally, while airborne with this trait, subtract 4 from the final result of all Constitution saving throws you make. 

Darkness Dweller

Your natural biology grants you superior vision in darkness, though your eyes can get easily overwhelmed by light. You can see in dim light within 120 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. This trait's range is reduced to 0 feet while you are in bright light 

Ability Score Increase.

Your Dexterity and Intelligence scores increase by 1.