Homebrew Eilistrolth Species Details

The Eilistrolth are a misunderstood people who have to endure much hate, fear, and degradation from the races around them as they try and carve out an existence in a world they rarely feel welcome in. The depths of their hearts and minds far more complex than the monstrosities and predators they are stereotyped as.

MONSTROUS BODIES, MORTAL HEARTS

Eilistrolth resemble the Drow goddess Lolth in having the torso of a humanoid attached to the body of a spider.

Eilistrolth can vary in how humanoid their top half appears: some purely humanoid, while others possess spider-like aspects like many sets of eyes. Unlike the Drow, Eilistrolth skin and hair tone cover a rainbow spectrum of colors.

Their monstrous bodies and association with feared creatures of the Underdark compounds with their size to make most races and creatures naturally afraid of them.

Eilistrolth can stand between 7 to 8 feet tall, with half of their height coming from their long, spindly legs. When spread out, Eilistrolth can reach widths and lengths equal to their height, appearing much larger than they actually are. They weigh on average from 200 to 250 pounds, with the majority of that weight being in their abdomen. Female Eilistrolth usually fall on the higher end of weight and height, while males fall on the lower end.

The Eilistrolth manner of dress is not consistent across all their people, but most of them have a proclivity for flowing materials that let their many legs move naturally. Many also favor ornate, beautiful, and cutesy clothes in attempts to dampen the frightening effects of their monstrous nature upon other races.

CURSED FATE

It is not known if the Eilistrolth are some kind of unholy spawn of the Driders of Drow legend, but it is known that they were once creatures of the Underdark. Whether or not they willingly chose to start living above ground, or were driven out, is another story. Their people have lived above ground long enough to lose the sensitivity to sunlight most in the Underdark possess, but have also found their eyes can no longer gaze clearly into the shadows as their ancestors could.

While the Eilistrolth were once savage, ruthless predators of a most efficient nature, over time they evolved beyond those feelings and into a civilized people. Most Eilistrolth actually house deeply sensitive hearts, with many being natural empaths. Yet, because of their monstrous nature and association with the Underdark, most races and kingdoms shun their presence, even getting violent at times to them for nothing more than existing.

Eilistrolth who try to become merchants often find that no one will buy from them. Those who try to become servants of a faith often find they are denied entry to temples. Even those who try and become healers find the wounded would rather die than have their hands treat them.

Eilistrolth who still desperately want to fit in with a people or society usually end up in servant roles or demeaning work, or take positions that are mostly solitary, like bookkeepers and librarians. Many grow bitter from how they are treated, disavowing the world and all its people.

FROM DARKNESS INTO SHADOWS

The Eilistrolth, like other races with a strange place in the world such as the Snailkin, have no major cities or kingdoms to their name. Many live solitary existences deep in forests, save for any romantic partners and family they have.

It is exceedingly rare to find settlements of Eilistrolth, but the ones that do exist are usually built far from the presence of any other humanoid race. Many Eilistrolth settlements have been destroyed in the past by other races, and have had their people driven out. This despair and fear of destruction often keeps the Eilistrolth people from trying to form larger communities.

Even in cities that have accepted the presence of Eilistrolth, unless they have gained a position with a noble or a person of power, most find themselves stuck in the worst of slums as no other place will take them in.

JOINING THE WORLD

Eilistrolth who take up adventuring can be driven for many reasons. Some can search for acceptance from the world, hoping that their deeds and actions can make others look beyond their biology and to their gentler hearts. Some can seek fortune and fame so they can force the respect they want from others, and to make others subservient to them as often the Eilistrolth people must become. Still, others might desire power...a power to be free of fear, and a power to protect themselves and their loved ones.

EILISTROLTH NAMES

Eilistrolth names follow a distinct naming structure. Female names all start with "Ari," male names with "Ara," and unisex names with "Are."

Female Names: Arianna, Arihana, Arilina, Arimelia, Arimitra, Arinicu, Arinuela, Aritasia, Aritina Male Names: Aracian, Aragos, Araincu, Arakan, Aralai, Aranandru, Aratei, Arastinel, Aravian

Unisex Names: Aredaliso, Areraja, Aremara, Aretanya, Aretarus, Areumi

As an Eilistrolth, you have these special traits.

Predatory Evolution

You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill, and you count as one size larger when making a grapple attack against another creature.

Silken Ambush

On your turn, while climbing upside down on a surface, you can choose to let yourself fall. If you fall this way, you never fall prone, and all fall damage you take is halved. If you land on another creature(s) this way, you can use your reaction to immediately make a grapple attack against one of those creature(s).

 

Unnerving Nature

You have advantage on Intimidation checks made with humanoids, but have disadvantage with Deception, Performance, and Persuasion checks made with humanoids.

You also have disadvantage with Animal Handling checks made with any creature that is Large or smaller.

Web Weaver

As an action, you can make a ranged finesse natural weapon attack against a creature or object you can see within 30 feet that is no more than one size larger than you. If you target an object, it cannot be worn or carried. If hit, the target is pulled to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of you and becomes grappled by you. A creature can willingly choose to be hit by this attack. If there is no unoccupied space within 5 feet of you, the creature is pulled to the nearest unoccupied space of your choice and is not grappled.

You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, with all uses restored upon completion of a short rest.