Homebrew Caraphid- Yeti Crab 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- Yeti Crab Traits

Amphibious, Darkvision, Spells of Aquatic Heritage, Ocean Born, Adept Underwater Caster

Amphibious

You can breathe air and water.

Speed

Your walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed equal to your walking speed.

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.

Spells of Aquatic Heritage

If you have the Spellcasting or the Pact Magic class feature, the spells on the Mark of Shadow Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class.

Spell Level	Spells
1st	Ice Knife, Animal Friendship (only works on beasts with a swim speed)
2nd	Endoleech, Darkness
3rd	Depth Charge, Sleet Storm
4th	Watery Sphere, Ice Storm
5th	Cone of Cold

Ability Score Increase

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

Ocean Born

You have resistance to cold damage. You also naturally acclimate to deep ocean climates, even if you’ve never been to one. This includes depths below 20,000 feet.

Adept Underwater Caster

You have an innate mastery over spell casting while under the water, granting you special abilities other Caraphids do not have:

• You know the Ray of Frost cantrip. You can cast Armor of Agathys at 1st level an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can only benefit from its effects while you are completely submerged in water. If you are not completely submerged in water, or at any point are not completely submerged in during the casting or the 1 hour duration of the spell, you loose all effects that the spell granted to you by this trait. You may cast Armor of Agathys this way at higher levels by using any spell slots you have, including at higher levels.
• 
  When you cast a spell that requires you to make an attack roll, the spell’s range is doubled only while you are completely submerged in water.