Homebrew Arachnic Species Details

"I have never imagined such inginuity existed,”  Dredgen chuckled. The day’s march had been troublesome, but the reward at the end was the stuff of myth. The drifter stood on a high cliff overlooking the mythic hanging city of Athenzaros. 

Four slender web spires rose from the city’s corners like glistening spindles, their brilliant dark wood interlaced with shining silver. Graceful arches, swooping from spire to spire, soared through the air. Crafted by ancient websmiths, they were strong enough to hold the weight of an army, yet they appeared so delicate that a bird lighting on them might overthrow the balance. These glistening arches were the city’s only boundaries; there was no wall around Athenzaros because it remained high in large trees. The Arachnic city opened its arms lovingly to the wilderness.

— Dredgen Yhörm, Drifter , the Last of Thorn's Eclipse

Arachnics are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living as caretakers and guardians of the forests they live in. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with dark light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Arachnics love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world.

Slender and Graceful

With their unearthly grace and fine features, Arachnics appear hauntingly beautiful to humans and members of many other races. They are slightly taller than humans on average, ranging from well above 5 feet tall to just over 7 feet. They are more slender than humans, weighing only 100 to 145 pounds. Males and females are about the same height, and males are only marginally heavier than females.

Arachnics' coloration differs the normal human range and also includes skin in shades of gray, silver, and almost bluish-white, hair of white or black with red tips, and eyes like pools of liquid blood or silver. Arachnics have some facial and little body hair in the shape of webs. They favor elegant clothing in dark colors, and they enjoy simple yet lovely jewelry.

An Alternate Perspective

Arachnics can live well over 1000 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. They are more often amused than excited, and more likely to be curious than greedy. They tend to remain unfazed by petty happenstance. When pursuing a goal, however, whether adventuring on a mission or learning a new skill or art, Arachnics can be focused and relentless. They are quick to make friends due to their highly charismatic nature and enemies due to their skills as theives and assassins, and even slower to forget either them. They reply to petty insults with witty banter and to serious insults with vengeance.

Like the branches of a young tree, Arachnics are creative in the face of danger. They trust in their survival skill and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They have been known to defend their homes to the last man from intrusions into their woodland homes, confident that they can simply slaughter the invaders. But when the need arises, Arachnics reveal a stern martial side, demonstrating skill with sword, bow, and strategy.

Hidden Woodland Realms

Most Arachnics dwell in small forest villages hidden among the trees constructed by giant webs. Arachnics hunt , gather food, and grow their broods, and their skill and magic allow them to support themselves without the need for clearing land. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked clothes and art objects made of their own silk, reducing the need for outside trade. Their contact with outsiders is usually limited, though a few Arachnics make a good living by trading crafted items for metals (which they have no interest in mining).

Arachnics encountered outside their own lands are commonly traveling pilgrims (on a quest to prove their strength), artists, or scouts. Human nobles compete for the services of Arachnic travelers to teach swordplay, magic, wisdom and crafting to their children.

Exploration and Adventure

Arachnics take up adventuring out of curiosity. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery. They dislike the pace of regular society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades, so they find careers that let them travel freely and set their own pace. Arachnics also enjoy training their martial prowess or gaining greater mythic status, and adventuring allows them to do so. Some might join with rebels fighting against oppression, and others might become champions of moral causes.

SOLITARY BUT TOLERABLE

Although they can be solitary, Arachnic are generally gracious even to those who fall short of their expectations—which is most non-brood. Still, they can find tolerance for just about anyone.

Dwarves. “Dwarves are dull, clumsy oafs. But what they lack in humor, sophistication, and manners, they make up in valor. And I must admit, their best smiths produce art that approaches legendary quality.”

Halflings. “Halflings are people of simple pleasures, and that is not a quality to scorn. They’re good folk, they care for each other and tend their gardens, and they have proven themselves tougher than they seem when the need arises.”

Humans. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down and learn some refinement.”

Arachnic Names

Arachnic are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some time after the hundredth birthday through trial by combat with great beasts to prove the worth.

On declaring adulthood, an Arachnic selects a mate, although the choice is completely up to the female. Each Arachnic's name is a unique creation, though it might reflect the names of respected individuals or other family members. Little distinction exists between male names and female names; the groupings here reflect only general tendencies. In addition, every Arachnic will be able to choose a brood name, mostly in the Arachnic tongue but some words can be translated to common when travelling with humans.

Male Names: Adaan, Aëlr, Aril, Arannis, Ausot, Beiro, Berrian, Karrics, Enialis, Eredin, Erevn, Galinndan, Hadarai, Himo, Imil, Ivellios, Paelias, Peren, Quarion, Riardon, Rhonn, Sovelïss, Thamior, Tharivol, Thorn, Varris.

Female Names: Adriane, Arachne, Adri, Andraste, Antinua, Bethrynna, Birel, Caelynn, Drusilia, Enna, Felosial, Ielenia, Keyleth, Leshanna, Lia, Liak, Meriele, Mialee, Naivara, Quillathe, Sariel, Shanairra, Silaqui, Theirastra, Vadania, Valanthe, Xanaphia

Brood Names: Araak, Zenolth, UwU, Yhörm, Yol, Uř, Senth, Karisto, Ryss, Xenobarr

E.G. Adraine of the Yhörm brood.

Arachnic Traits

Your Arachnic character has the wisdom and creativity of the pre-elders and their long years of life

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity, Wisdom and Charisma score increases by 2.

Age

Although Arachnics reach physical maturity at about the same age as humans, the arachnic understanding of adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An arachnic typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be over 1000 years old.

Alignment

Arachnics love creativity, variety, and self-expression, so they lean strongly toward the gentler aspects of chaos. They value and protect others’ freedom as well as their own, and they are more often good than not. The Tarantulanics are an exception; their exile into the burrows has made them vicious and dangerous. Tarantulanics are more often evil than not.

Size

Arachnicss range from above 5ft to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet and base climbing speed is 45.

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, 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.

Keen Senses

You have proficiency in the Perception skill.

Trance

Arachnics don’t sleep. Instead, they hang on a web in a sleep like form, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such sleep is “trance.”) While sleeping, you can dream; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Arache. Arache is fluid, with subtle intonations and complex grammar. Arache literature is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Arachnic ballads to their repertoires.

Natural confidence

When it comes to meeting or talking to new people you are a natural expert. You are proficient in the persuasion skill.

Intelligent mind

You are proficient in the Survival skill.

Natural prowess

You are proficient in the Acrobatics skill.

Silk mist

You disorient your target in a flurry of silk, while distracted you become invisible to all as your skin reflects your surroundings. Attacking, performing actions or getting hit will break the spell, opponents with true sight will still see you.