Homebrew Drider Species Details
🕸️ Driders of the Hidden Veil
Species Name: Redeemed Driders
Alignment Tendency: Neutral to Chaotic Good
Size: Medium
Type: Monstrosity (with humanoid traits)
Languages: Undercommon, Elvish, and Websong (a sacred dialect used in Arachne’s rituals)
🌑 Origins: The Blessing of Arachne
Once cursed by Lolth for perceived failures or defiance, driders were cast out from drow society as grotesque hybrids—half elf, half spider. But not all accepted this fate as damnation. A sect of driders, led by the visionary priestess Thal'Zirra, rejected Lolth’s cruelty and sought communion with Arachne - The Shadow Twin, The Weaver of Fates - forgotten goddess of transformation, mystery, and hidden truths.
Arachne revealed to them that their transformation was not a punishment, but a chrysalis—a sacred metamorphosis meant to elevate them beyond the petty politics of the Underdark. Their spider bodies were not monstrous, but divine vessels of insight, agility, and power. Thus began the exodus from Lolth’s dominion and the founding of a new spiritual order.
đź•Ť Temple of the Hidden Veil
Nestled deep within a web-choked cavern known as the Silken Hollow, the Temple of the Hidden Veil is both sanctuary and crucible. Here, Redeemed Driders hone their gifts, weaving magic, martial prowess, and spiritual wisdom into a tapestry of purpose. The Temple is a place of rebirth, where driders of every class are trained—from stealthy rogues who dance across strands of web, to paladins who wield radiant silk-blades in Arachne’s name.
The Temple’s teachings emphasize:
- Transformation as sacred: Every change is a thread in the Great Loom.
- Secrecy as strength: The veil hides truth from the unworthy.
- Balance between light and shadow: Arachne spins both. Fate is neither good or evil.
🧬 Drider Traits
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Ability Score Increase | +2 Dexterity, +1 Wisdom, +1 Strength |
| Darkvision | 120 ft. |
| Spider Climb | Can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check. Ignore difficult terrain. |
| Web Sense | Can sense vibrations through webs within 60 ft. or on solid (stone or wood) ground within 30 ft. |
| Blessing of the Loom | Once per long rest, reroll a failed saving throw or ability check. |
| Temple Training | Choose one class at character creation. Gain a thematic feature tied to that class. |
Absolutely! Here’s a set of thematic features tied to each core class in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, designed specifically for Redeemed Driders of the Temple of the Hidden Veil. These features are granted at character creation and reflect the driders’ unique physiology, culture, and devotion to Arachne.
🕸️ Drider Class-Bound Features
When you create a Redeemed Drider character, choose one class. You gain the corresponding feature below at 1st level, representing your training at the Temple of the Hidden Veil.
🧙 Wizard – Threadweaver’s Insight
You can weave strands of silk into arcane sigils. You gain the Mage Hand cantrip (if you don’t already know it), and it manifests as a spectral spider leg or silk thread. Additionally, when you cast a spell that creates a magical effect in an area (e.g., Web, Fog Cloud), you can cause it to appear as a shimmering webwork, granting you advantage on Arcana checks to identify or manipulate magical effects within it.
🛡️ Fighter – Silken Lasso
You can fire a strand of webbing as a bonus action to pull yourself or creature you can see up to 30 feet. If used on a creature, you force an opposed strength check, the party that fails is pulled. If used on an immovable object you can choose how far to be moved up to 30 feet. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
🕵️ Rogue – Threadstep
You can move along your own webbing or that of others with supernatural speed - movement doubles while on webbing. While within 10 feet of a webbed surface, you can Dash as a bonus action without provoking opportunity attacks. Additionally, you can move through spaces as narrow as 1 foot wide without squeezing.
🧝 Sorcerer – Silk-Blooded
Your magical origin is deeply tied to the divine silk of Arachne. When you cast a spell of 1st level or higher, in addition to that spells you cause thin threads of glowing silk to lash out. Choose one creature within 10 feet of you—it must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier) or be restrained until the end of your next turn. Usable once per long rest.
🧙‍♂️ Warlock – Whispers of the Loom
Your pact with Arachne grants you insight into the threads of fate. You can cast Augury once per long rest without expending a spell slot or material components. When you do, the omens appear as shifting patterns in a spider’s web.
🧝‍♀️ Bard – Loomchant
You’ve learned to weave your voice into the sacred rhythm of the Loom. When you use Bardic Inspiration, the target also gains advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened until the end of their next turn.
🧙 Druid – Spinner’s Kin
You can communicate with spiders and spider-like creatures as if under the effects of Speak with Animals. Additionally, you can summon a spectral spider familiar (as Find Familiar) that can climb on ceilings and spin minor webs.
🧙 Cleric – Silken Benediction
As a bonus action, you can conjure a shimmering thread of divine silk to shield an ally. Choose one creature within 30 feet—they gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier + your cleric level. Usable a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
🧙 Paladin – Cocoon of Grace
When you use Lay on Hands, you can choose to wrap the target in a cocoon of divine silk. For 1 minute, they have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical attacks. This effect ends early if they attack or cast a spell.
🧙 Ranger – Websense Tracker
You can sense the vibrations of creatures through the webbed terrain. While in contact with a web, you know the exact location of any creature touching the same web within 90 feet.
🧙 Monk – Eight-Limbed Flow
Your arachnid form enhances your martial prowess. When you use Step of the Wind, you can use a fly speed up to your walking speed using silken "parachute" threads. At the end of your turn the thread grants Slow Fall.
🧙 Barbarian – Frenzied Spinner
While raging, you can use a bonus action to spin a flurry of razor-sharp hairs. All creatures within 5 feet of you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier) or take slashing damage equal to your Rage Damage bonus.
🧙 Artificer – Silkforger’s Tools
You gain proficiency with Weaver’s Tools and can use them as a spellcasting focus. You can craft simple items (like rope, nets, or clothing) from your own silk, which counts as a nonmagical material for crafting purposes.
🧙 Bardbarian (Multiclass) – Thread of Fury
If you multiclass into both Bard and Barbarian, you can use Bardic Inspiration while raging, and your rage damage applies to thunder and psychic damage dealt by bard spells.
✨ Temple Spells of Arachne
These spells are available to Temple-trained casters (Wizards, Clerics, Paladins, Druids, Bards, and Warlocks who follow Arachne).
| Spell name | Level | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Webform Shield | 1st | Creates a shimmering silk barrier that absorbs damage and enforces grappled condition on a hit if STR18 fail. |
| Silken Snare | 2nd | Launches enchanted threads to restrain multiple targets (in sight) in a 20-ft radius. Con or 1 min. |
| Threadwalk | 3rd | Teleport between two webbed surfaces within 120 ft. |
| Cocoon of Grace | 4th | Envelops a creature in a healing cocoon, restoring 3d6 HP per turn and removing conditions. Duration: Con or 1 min. |
| Loomchant | 5th | Sing the song of the Loom to alter fate—reroll failed saves or force rerolls on enemies. Duration: 2 minutes |
🧙‍♀️ Cultural Notes
- Arachne’s Symbol:
- Rites of Passage:
- Enemies: Lolth-worshipping drow, followers of Ahket (The Ivory God who is locked in an eternities long battle with Arachne), demonkind, and those who defile the sanctity of transformation.
As a Drider, you have these special traits.
Darkvision
You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Elven Lineage
You are part of a lineage that grants you supernatural abilities. Choose a lineage from the Elven Lineages table. You gain the level 1 benefit of that lineage.
When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you learn a higher-level spell, as shown on the table. You always have that spell prepared. You can cast it once without a spell slot, and you regain the ability to cast it in that way when you finish a Long Rest. You can also cast the spell using any spell slots you have of the appropriate level.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for the spells you cast with this trait (choose the ability when you select the lineage).
| Lineage | Level 1 | Level 3 | Level 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drow | The range of your Darkvision increases to 120 feet. You also know the Dancing Lights cantrip. | Faerie Fire | Darkness |
| High Elf | You know the Prestidigitation cantrip. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace that cantrip with a different cantrip from the Wizard spell list. | Detect Magic | Misty Step |
| Wood Elf | Your Speed increases to 35 feet. You also know the Druidcraft cantrip. | Longstrider | Pass without Trace |
Fey Ancestry
You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Charmed condition.
Keen Senses
You have proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.
Trance
You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness.