Homebrew Arachnakai Species Details

The first Arachnakai were born through a treacherous ceremony in which they would bind themselves to Arachne's Web of Fate, severing their connection to the Aldariine and giving themselves over to the Spider Queen Arachne. Then they would sacrifice themselves and submerge their bodies into a demonic liquid that would evolve their corpses into a more monstrous state. Arachne would then return their souls to their bodies, freeing them of doubts and undesirable traits. 

No longer bound by the laws of the Aldariine, the Arachnakai are unburdened by needless emotion. They are ruthless, radical killing machines that live only to serve their mistress. The transformation however does not rid them of emotion entirely, but rather dilutes it. When they do feel emotion, it is extreme and passionate, whether that be rage, happiness, sadness or even love. Yes, they do love, and when they find a mate, it is a bond that can only be broken by death. Arachnakai mate for life, and are loyal to a fault. However, the transformation removes the Arachnakai's ability to naturally procreate and create offspring. Only Arachnes most loyal of elven kind may become new Arachnakai. 

Arachnakai still look very much like elves, having pointed ears, similar body hair and elegent features. Yet they also appear more monstrous than man. Their skin is pale white and harder like carapace. The skin folds across the muscles like natural plates with red, scar like seems where the plates meet. Their hair turns either white, black, or somewhere in between, but they cannot naturally produce colour.  Their eyes sometimes go black, the Iris glowing a soft red, purple or green. They grow slightly taller by 3-6 inches, standing with a natural, dominating presence. Unlike elves however, they have no known lifespan. Most dont survive long enough to die of old age, yet they could possibly live far longer than the average elf. Additionally, they no longer have the ability to meditate, yet they can undergo a state of rest that is much more alarming. 

The Arachnakai have been engineered to be the Predatory species to elves. Thus they have evolved in many different ways to better hunt their prey. Yet they are not solitary creatures. They serve and live to further the good of the Brood. Some, are simply designed to fulfil a role in the Brood much like the ranks in a colony of ants. Aranaean is the most common form of Arachnakai, acting as the main ground soldier and warrior adaptation, whereas a Praetoran is the most honourable form, acting as the Queens enforcers and honour guard. 

Aranaean

Aranaeans are the frontline warriors and main population of the Brood. They live all across their kingdoms acting as guards, soldiers and even mercenaries. They live for violence and have a system of internalised Venom which acts as a source of superior adrenaline that amplifies their physical prowess. 

Praetoran

Praetoran's are bred to be the Broods ultimate soldiers. Their skin is instead black and hard like natural armour. They are the tallest, strongest and fastest of all the Arachnakai, living close to royalty and areas of high importance. 

 Venomarii

The Venomarii are great hunters, and use a powerful arsenal of poison to bring down both larger and lesser foes. They live in the wilds, usually in packs of scouting parties or assassins. They favour marsh and swampland areas but find familiarity in jungles and dense forests. 

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Arachnakai Traits

Creature Type: Humanoid
Size: Medium (about 6–7 feet tall)
Speed: 30 feet

As an Arachnakai, you have these special traits.

Darkvision

You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Dark Ancestry

You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Frightened condition.

Web Walker

You ignore movement restrictions caused by webbed surfaces. Additionally, you can sense the location of any other creature on the same webbed surface within 60 ft of you. 

Spider Climb

You have a climb speed equal to your walking speed. When you reach 3rd level, you can move up, down and across verticle surfaces or along ceilings while leaving your hands free. 

Predatory Skills

You have proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.

Cacooned Regeneration

When taking a long rest, you can choose to have a cocoon of natural webbing contort around your entire body that can regrow lost limbs. If the rest is interrupted, the half grown limb falls off. You can grow one limb back per long rest, however you cannot regrow your eyes or your head.

Arachne's Gift

Bite.  You gain a set of natural poisonous fangs. To hit, your proficiency bonus + your constitution modifier. On hit, you deal 1d4 + your constitution modifier piercing damage, and an additional 1d4 poison damage. 

Claw. (Finesse) You gain a retractable claw like blade that exudes from your hand between your two middle fingers. To hit, your proficiency bonus + your strength modifier. On hit, you deal 1d6 + your strength modifier slashing damage.

Brood Born Lineage

You are part of a lineage that grants you supernatural abilities. Choose a lineage from the Brood Born Lineages table. You gain the level 1 benefit of that lineage.

When you reach character levels 3 and 5, you gain access to additional evolutions.

Elven Lineages

Lineage	Level 1	Level 3	Level 5
Aranaean	When you hit a creature with your natural weapon from Arachn's Gift, you can choose to grapple the creature. Additionally, you gain a claw weapon from the Arachne's Gift species feature. If you already have one claw, then you gain a second in your offhand.	You gain a pools of d6's (2d6). You can expend any amount of d6's you choose as a Reaction to add to either an athletics check or acrobatics check you make of your choice. Add the number/s rolled to the check total. You regain all d6's after completing a long rest.	Your pool of d6's increases to (3d6).
Praetoran	When not wearing armour, you gain a bonus to your armour class equal to your strength modifier. This does not stack with unarmoured defence. Additionally your speed increases to 35ft.	When determining the weight you can pull, push or carry, you count as one size larger.	Your Speed increases to 40ft.
Venomarii	Your claw weapon from the Arachne's Gift species feature can be thrown as a ranged projectile with a range of 30/60ft. If you do not have a claw attack, you gain a smaller claw that deals 1d4 piercing damage on hit. Additionally, you claw attacks deal an additional 1d4 poison damage on hit.	You gain advantage on stealth checks while in non arid natural terrain.	You have advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the poisoned condition on yourself.