Homebrew Nelliadine Species Details

Physical Description
Nelliadines are humanoid in shape, and their forearms, shins, backs, and the top of their heads are covered by a rock-hard exoskeleton. This exoskeleton is brightly colored and usually red, but it can also be orange, yellow, or even pink. The rest of the Nelliadine’s body is black. Nelliadines have conjoined compound eyes which, at a first glance, might resemble rounded sunglasses. The eyes of a Nelliadine are always a dark turquoise. Nelliadines have flat, wide chests and spindly limbs, which widen as one moves along the limb to the hands or feet. While Nelliadine hands strongly resemble those of humans, their feet are completely round along their perimeter and flat on the bottom, creating a conical shape.

History
65,000 years ago, a swarm of ladybugs travelled to the Far Realms with the gnomish druid who controlled them. The druid went mad upon witnessing the chaos of the Far Realms and perished, but the simple-minded ladybugs were left alone with no way to get back to their home dimension. The swarm, able to endure the madness around them due to their lack of sentience, evolved as their appearance was warped by the eldritch properties of their surroundings, taking on a new form similar to that of humans. Due to the excessive mating habits of their ladybug ancestors, the Nelliadines are some of the most common residents of the Far Realms, although a number of them have crossed back into their ancestors’ home dimension.

Society
Nelliadines tend to detest interaction with creatures not native to the Far Realms, although it is not uncommon for one curious about their history to show compassion and empathy to such creatures. Public expression of sadness is frowned upon in Nelliadine society, for it is viewed as weakness. As such, those who know of the existence of the Nelliadines tend to regard them as aloof and selfish.
Social rank in Nelliadine society is determined by the color of one’s exoskeleton. Pink, the rarest color, is that of the high class, with red forming the upper-middle class and orange making up the lower-middle class. Those with a yellow exoskeleton are treated as the lowest of the low. However, few low-class Nelliadines are left in the Far Realms, as it is common for them to leave their home dimension by traveling with an adventurer who can cast the Plane Shift spell. Nelliadines tend to refer to each class with terms such as "red-shell" and "yellow-shell," with the appropriate color being substituted.
Nelliadine government is that of a matriarchy, with a queen who always has a pink exoskeleton. A queen's successor is picked by the queen herself from the population of female pink-shells once they have grown to adulthood. For this reason, they are assigned tutors at birth who are tasked with instructing them about proper etiquette and how to be the best queen they can be.

Nelliadine Traits

The Nelliadines are a race of humanoid ladybugs who dwell within the Far Realms.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity and Constitution are increased by 2.

Age

Nelliadines mature slightly faster than humans, and are considered adults by the age of 15. Most Nelliadines tend to live for 55 years.

Alignment

Nelliadines who dwell in the Far Realms are mostly neutral, only caring about their race. In addition, they are devoted to pleasing their queen, and are often Lawful. Those who reside outside of their home dimension, however, are fascinated by empathy, and their attempts to understand it usually give way to a good alignment. 

Condoned To Accept Horror

Life in the Far Realms has rendered you fearless. You are immune to being surprised and have advantage on Charisma saving throws.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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.

Darwinian Endurance

You have proficiency in the Survival skill.

Exoskeleton

When you aren't wearing armor, your AC equals 13 + your Dexterity modifier.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Deep Speech. 

Size

Adult Nelliadines are usually between 4 and 6 feet in height. Your size is medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 35.