Homebrew Chitine Species Details

Chitines are small, arachnid-featured humanoids standing about 4 feet tall. Their bodies are covered in dark hair, and they possess four arms, each ending in clawed hands. Their faces feature six eyes and mandibles, giving them a distinctly spider-like appearance. These adaptations grant them exceptional climbing abilities and the capacity to spin webs from their abdomen, which they use to construct their homes and traps.

Created by drow priests through dark rituals, chitines were intended to serve as obedient slaves. However, they eventually rebelled, escaping into the Underdark where they founded their own settlements, such as the village of Yathchol. These communities are often built within vast web structures suspended in caverns, designed to ensnare intruders and protect the inhabitants.

Chitine society is theocratic, led by choldriths—priestly figures who interpret the will of Lolth, the Spider Queen. While they inherited the worship of Lolth from their creators, chitines have developed their own interpretations and practices, distinct from those of the drow.

Due to their origins and appearance, chitines are often met with suspicion or hostility by other races. Nevertheless, some chitines venture beyond their colonies, seeking knowledge, freedom, or a new life among other peoples.

Chitine Traits

Chitines have the following traits:

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Age

Chitines reach maturity by age 10 and can live up to 80 years.

Alignment

Chitines tend toward neutral alignments, valuing community and survival over abstract notions of good or evil.

Size

Chitines stand about 4 feet tall and weigh around 85 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet. You have a climbing speed of 30 feet. You can move through webbing without impediment and are not affected by difficult terrain created by webs.

Darkvision

Accustomed to life in the Underdark, 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.

Four-Armed

You have four arms. You can wield up to four one-handed weapons, but you can only make two attacks when you take the Attack action, unless you have a feature that allows more. You can interact with one additional object per turn without using your action.

Web Spinner

Starting at 3rd level, you can cast the web spell once per long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for this spell

Sunlight Sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Language

You can speak, read, and write Undercommon.