Homebrew Caraphid- Lobster Species Details
The Caraphids
The Caraphids are a seafaring, coastal-dwelling people whose bodies resemble towering humanoid crustaceans. Drawn irresistibly to glittering treasures, they value wealth not simply for trade but for artistry—every shell, jewel, and shard of metal collected is carefully etched into their own carapaces in elaborate designs. These carvings serve as both personal history and status, transforming their shells into living tapestries of triumphs, voyages, and ancestry. A Caraphid with an unmarked shell is seen as adrift, yet one whose carapace gleams with intricate motifs commands both respect and awe. Their culture prizes exploration, adornment, and the endless pursuit of what sparkles beneath the sun and sea.
Society & Roles
Caraphid society is clan-based, with each coastal settlement ruled by a council of elders whose shells bear generations of carvings. Leadership is not determined by force alone but by the richness of one’s shellwork, for a life of great deeds and treasures etched into carapace is proof of wisdom and experience. Artisans—especially those skilled in carving and inlaying shells with gold, gems, or coral—hold positions of high honor, often rivaling warriors in prestige. Mariners, scavengers, and explorers are celebrated for bringing home spoils that fuel both artistry and legacy.
Religion & Myth
The Caraphids’ faith is deeply tied to the sea. Many worship a pantheon of ocean deities, though some revere the spirits of the tides themselves. Chief among their myths is the belief that the sea is a great mirror, reflecting all that is beautiful and worthy. To carve one’s shell is to prepare the soul for eternity, as the etchings will remain after death, carried into the deep. Ancestor-veneration is common; the most honored dead are set adrift on decorated rafts, their shells polished and adorned so they may glitter forever beneath the waves. For those who face them in battle are given the same respects given they are a Caraphid.
Relations with Others
Caraphids are seen by outsiders as both traders and raiders. They eagerly barter for metals, gems, and polished trinkets, offering in exchange exotic shells, coral-craft, and goods dredged from the ocean floor. Yet their hunger for treasures sometimes drives them to piracy, plundering coastal villages or wrecked ships alike. To a Caraphid, the worth of an object is not in its use but in its shine and the story it can tell when carved into their carapace. Despite this, many Caraphids form strong alliances with coastal communities, as they thrive best when both trade and treasure flow freely.
Caraphid- Lobster Traits
Amphibious, Darkvision,Amphibious
You can breathe air and water.
Speed
Your walking speed is 35 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 45 feet
Darkvision
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 discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.
Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Bonus Proficency
You have proficiency in the Acrobatics skill
Fast Reflexes
As a reaction on your turn you may make an unarmed strike using your Dexterity instead of Strength for the attack and damage roll. Additionally you can roll a d10 in place of the normal damage of your unarmed strike. If you hit a creature using this ability you can force it to make a Constitution Saving Throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Dexterity modifier + your proficiency bonus. On a failed saving throw the creature is stunned until the start of your next turn.
- If this attack is made under water the creature that was hit makes their saving through with disadvantage and will begin suffocating immediately if it requires air to breath.
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