Homebrew Weaver Species Details

The many-eyed, many-limbed weavers are sometimes called spiderfolk. They are the devoted followers of the giant, holy spiders, the Araknights. Thanks to their relationship with the Araknights and monastic training, weavers are considered honorable, enlightened individuals with deep ties to the gods and a strong sense of morality. They also have a reputation as serious folks who can be inflexible in their belief. In truth, weavers vary widely in personality. They come from all races, walks of life, and backgrounds, and their personalities depend on who they were before they were turned into a weaver, the temper of their Araknight mentor, and where they received their weaver education.

TRANSFORMED BODIES

Weavers don't reproduce naturally. They're products of the Ceremony of Weaving, the Araknights' most sacred rite, gifted to them by the goddess Generisa. The specific of the ceremony are a well-guarded secret, which has naturally led outsiders to spin wild, horrible tales. The truth is simple: you are encased in a special cocoon by an Araknight and remain there in a month-long slumber while you metamorphose. During this time, the cocoon is kept under close guard by Araknights, other weavers, and trusted acolytes.

Those who undergo the Ceremony of Weaving keep few of their original features, usually no more than ears, hair or eye color, or tusks. Skin is replaced with chitin, fangs sprout, eyes multiply, and four spider legs grow on the back. These new spider legs are strong and dextrous, allowing weavers to walk on walls or ceilings.

The transformation is drastic, but weavers are well prepared for what to expect of their  new bodies. They emerge with an innate control over their new form and abilities and the ability to speak and understand the musical language of the Araknights.

SERVANTS OF THE ARAKNIGHTS

Regardless of race, upbringing, education, or past actions, anyone can join an Araknight community as an acolyte as long as they devote themselves to the gods. Even those guilty of terrible crimes can embraced and sheltered by the Araknights.

Acolytes spend their days serving their communities, tending to shrines, worshiping, studying history, and engaging in martial and magical training under senior acolytes, weavers, and Araknights. This monastic life significantly impacts weavers and their outlook on the world. Acolytes born into Araknight communities tend to make more rigid weavers than those who join from the outside world. Technically, anyone could become a weaver, but few receive the honor. Only the most devoted acolytes, or non-acolytes who have accomplished particular heroic deeds, will be chosen by the Araknights to become weavers.

The different types of Araknights create different types of weavers. In the Bellowing Wilds, the Araknights are Opi (gladius), Moirai (acrobatios), Saula (acrobatios), Bregan (sicario), and Frigolda (sicario). Until recently, a sixth Araknight, Kaydi (gladius), was also creating weavers but is now presume dead. There are other Araknights outside the Bellowing Wilds capable of creating weavers too.

 WEAVER LIFESPANS

The Ceremony of Weaving acts as a contract between a weaver and their Araknight mentor. Barring death in combat or an accident, a weaver will die exactly 300 years after they were transformed, regardless of their original race's lifespan. On rare occasions, a weaver's Araknight can perform another Ceremony of Weaving on a weaver, extending their lifespan for another 300 years, but many weavers consider this a heretical practice.

A RARE SIGHT

Although they have a strong sense of service, weavers are rarely seen outside Araknight strongholds like Velgari. When they do leave, it tends to be on missions given to them by their huge spider leaders. Some more independent weavers venture through Ambria in search of knowledge, while others become guardians and caretakers of religious sites and restorers of abandoned shrines. As heralds of the Araknights, they frequently act as ambassadors, diplomats, or mediators.

Most people have a healthy respect and awe for the fearsome Araknights, which extends to the weavers. In the Bellowing Wilds, some consider weavers to be lucky and that shaking their hands (or one of their many spider legs) brings good fortune.

Because their numbers in Ambria are so few, weavers stand out in a crowd. They embrace this difference as a gift from the Araknights and the goddess Generisa. Weavers frequently embrace their distinctiveness by treating their bodies as artistic canvasses for expression. They tend to dress colorfully and make great use of bright silks and sparkling gems.

WEAVER NAMES

Many weavers choose to keep the name they had before the Ceremony of Weaving, but some ask their Araknight mentor to bestow a new name on them to create distance from their old life. These names tend to be short and have profound meanings in the Araknight language.

The name of a weaver’s patron Araknight is added in place of any family name the weaver once had, as weavers are expected to give up family ties when they are transformed. Weaver is both the name of the race and a title. For example, a weaver named Gandus, who was transformed by the Araknight Opi, would be formally addressed as Weaver Gandus of Opi. 

Example Bestowed Names: Bern, Druv, Frill, Hura, Kula, Libo, Mebi, Muma, Nills, Okin, Strin, Xelu

 

Weaver Traits

After being reborn as a weaver, you have lost most traits of your original race but have gained new traits in common with other weavers.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Weavers can live for up to 300 years after they emerge from their ceremonial cocoon but die after exactly 300 years have passed unless given another 300 years by their Araknight patron.

Size

You retain the size of your previous race after being reborn as a weaver. Your size is Medium or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. Your extra spider legs give you a climb speed equal to your walking speed.

Arachnid Arts

 You know the Guidance cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Web spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Improved Spider Climb. You can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check. You climb using your spider limbs, leaving your hands free to hold objects or wield weapons as you move.

Lucky Spider

As an action, you can touch a creature and give it good luck. Within the next 10 minutes, when that creature rolls a 1 on an ability check, attack roll or saving throw, it can choose to reroll and must use the new result. Once you have used this ability, you must finish a long rest before you can use it again. 

Web Vision

As a bonus action, you can send out fine strands of silk in a 10-foot-radius sphere centered on you. While you remain within or adjacent to the sphere, you can perceive everything within the sphere as if you have truesight. You also have advantage on checks made to locate creatures within the sphere. The sphere lasts for 1 minute or until it is exposed to fire. Once you have used this feature, you must complete a short or long rest before you can use it again. When you reach 5th level, the area increases to a 20-foot-radius sphere. 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Araknight. You retain any languages you knew before you became a weaver.