Homebrew Chiroptera Species Details

Often glimpsed only at dusk or in the deep shade of forest canopies, chiroptera inspire both curiosity and unease among ground-dwelling peoples. Their silhouettes glide silently through twilight skies, and their soft voices carry strange clicks and tones unfamiliar to most ears.

Batfolk are wanderers by nature; scouts, explorers, refugees, and envoys who travel far beyond their colonies in search of knowledge, safety, or purpose.

Snout and Fur

At a distance, a chiroptera in flight can easily be mistaken for an unusually large bat. Only when they descend to perch or walk upon the ground does their humanoid form become clear.

Chiroptera stand between 1 and 4 feet tall, with slender limbs and elongated fingers that support the thin wing membranes stretching along their arms and sides. These wings are not feathered like those of birds, but formed from flexible skin supported by bone and muscle, allowing remarkable maneuverability in the air.

Their bodies are covered in fine fur, often dark brown, black, or russet in color. Chiroptera faces vary widely between lineages, with some possessing narrow foxlike muzzles while others have shorter snouts and elaborate nose structures used for sound projection. Their ears are typically large and expressive, constantly shifting to capture even the faintest sounds.

Twilight Fliers

Batfolk feel most at ease in dim light, twilight, and night skies. Their flight is agile and precise: darting, banking, and gliding through dense forests or cavern spaces with astonishing control. Unlike many winged peoples, batfolk do not rely on high winds or thermals. Instead, they fly through powerful wingbeats and careful gliding, weaving through obstacles with instinctive precision.

Once airborne, a chiroptera may remain aloft for long periods, though they often return to perch and rest throughout the night.

Colony Instincts

Chiroptera are deeply social creatures, descended from ancestors that roosted together in vast colonies. Even those who travel alone often retain habits shaped by this communal life. Many batfolk speak with small clicks, chirps, or tonal inflections layered into their speech. These sounds are remnants of their echolocation ability and often serve to convey emphasis or emotion when words fail them. Chiroptera possess a strong awareness of their surroundings; their ears twitch constantly as they listen for movement, and they often react to sounds others cannot perceive.

Sensory Perception

Chiroptera rely heavily on hearing and spatial awareness. Many use short clicks or tones to gauge their surroundings through reflected sound, allowing them to navigate even in near-complete darkness. This ability makes them exceptional night travelers and scouts, though loud environments or magical silence can disorient them.

 

Discomfort with Confinement

Open air and spacious environments are deeply important to chiroptera. While they can tolerate enclosed spaces, tight confinement causes profound distress. Caves with high ceilings, forest canopies, and towering ruins feel comfortable to them, but narrow tunnels, cages, or cramped chambers could be unbearable. Even when resting, batfolk tend to remain alert, ready to take flight at the slightest disturbance.

Homelands

Chiroptera settlements are most commonly found in high cliffs, cavern mouths, towering forests, or ancient ruins where safe roosting spaces are abundant. Rather than building traditional homes, many colonies construct roosting structures of woven branches, hanging platforms, and sheltered alcoves where members gather to rest. Elders typically guide the colony with the advice of mystics or shamans who interpret dreams, echoes, and signs carried on the night wind.

Their communities may range widely over surrounding territories while foraging or scouting. These territories often stretch dozens of miles across forests, mountains, or valleys.

A Purpose Beyond the Roost

Batfolk value peace within their colonies, but curiosity frequently drives them beyond their homeland. Many leave their roosts to become adventurers, explorers, or messengers between distant peoples. Rarely do they leave for wealth or glory alone; more often, a chiroptera travels due to a calling, a warning sensed in the night, or a threat that must be confronted before it reaches their kin.

Natural Predators

Chiroptera have long been wary of creatures that prey upon bats in the wild. Giant spiders and other ambush predators are particularly feared, and many batfolk cultures train from youth to recognize and destroy such threats before they endanger a colony.

Chiroptera Traits

As a chiroptera, you have certain traits in common with your people. Being able to fly at high speed starting at 1st level is exceptionally effective in certain circumstances and exceedingly dangerous in others. As a result, playing an chiroptera requires special consideration by your DM.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Chiroptera reach maturity by age 4. Compared to humans, chiroptera don’t usually live longer than 35 years.

Alignment

Most chiroptera are neutral and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos. While most tend to only act in defense of themselves and the colony, others might be more daring, choosing to explore the goods and evils of the world, deciding for themselves which merits more.

Size

Chiroptera range from 1 to 4 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 30 and 80 pounds. Your size is Tiny or Small.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 50 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.

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 can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

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.

Echolocation

As a bonus action, you may emit a series of clicks or chirps that travel up to 300ft in a straight line. When you use this ability, a ghostly afterimage of everything in the affected area overlays your normal vision. Despite the visual component, this ability is treated as Blindsight for the purposes of magical and nonmagical darkness, as well as the Blinded condition. This ability cannot be used while Deafened.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon, and Auran.