Homebrew Chiroptera Species Details

Deep within the darkness of of the Underdark live the chiroptera, a humanoid bat-race. Whether they are a naturally or magically evolved race, created by a god of the Underdark, or come from another plane is unknown. Whatever their origin, they are most comfortable in the dark caves of the Underdark and they rarely venture forth into the upper realms. 

Fang and Claw

From afar, chiroptera can be mistaken for giant bats. However upon closer inspection it becomes clear that they are another species entirely. For one, they are much smaller and clearly humanoid. Chiroptera bodies are about 4 feet tall from the crown of their heads to their claw-like toes, but their ears protrude another half a foot from their heads. They have leathery wingspans with a total wingspan of about 20 feet. 

Unlike the aarakocra, with which they share a niche, albeit in another environment, chiroptera only have four limbs, not six. This means that, while in flight, they cannot use their forelimbs for anything else than flight. Most chiroptera have become quite adept at using their hind limbs as 'arms' while in flight and many can use them to carry weapons, make attacks, or cast spells.

On the ground, most chiroptera prefer to walk on four limbs for speed, but can stand on their hind legs if need be. Chiroptera have opposable thumbs on their front limbs and can wield weapons when standing on their hind legs. They can become quite proficient with weapons, but due to their wing flaps it can look quite strange to those unfamiliar with chiroptera.

Thin fur covers their bodies and they have leathery wings. The fur is dark coloured in black, grey and brown hues. Chiroptera have huge triangular ears which can swivel independently from each other.

Cave Flyers

Ciroptera live near the ceilings of caverns in the Underdark. They can fly for hours, but do so purely by flapping their wings. Unlike the aarakocra, chiroptera have to rest occasionally, for there are no thermals in the Underdark. If chiroptera venture into the world above, they cannot use thermals like aarakocra do, for their anatomy is not adapted to this.

If chiroptera aren't flying, they prefer to rest high on cave walls or on ceilings, far from the reach of most dangerous creatures inhabiting the Underdark. There they make their home among the stalactites and crevices. Some of their cities can house thousands of chiroptera, hidden from their drow and duegar neighbours. 

Chiroptera are dexterous and nimble fliers, moving with great speed and manoeuvrability. They make terrifying combatants, who use both their flight and echolocation to great effect. A chiroptera dive attack can take almost any target by complete surprise, allowing them to get away before their prey can counter attack.

Their claws allow chiroptera to climb with remarkable speed on almost any surface. They can curl their claw-like toes into hooks and then without effort keep them like that. This allows chiroptera to sleep upside down suspended from the ceiling. When above-ground, they prefer to rest in trees or on walls, rather than on the ground. Chiroptera sleep hanging upside down from a tree branch.

Bat Manners

The resemblance of chiroptera to bats isn’t limited to physical features. Chiroptera display many of the same mannerisms as ordinary bats. They are constantly chirping, albeit in a range not audible to others. Chiroptera ears constantly twitch and turn to catch any sound in their vicinity, which can be quite unnerving to other humanoids. This, their deep black eyes, and the fact that bats are associated with vampires, are considered to be highly unsettling by many other humanoid races. 

When speaking a non-chiroptera language, like common, chiroptera will punctuate their speech with clicks and chirps, sounds they use to convey emphasis and to shade meaning, much as a human might through facial expressions and gestures.  

Unlike aarakocra, chiroptera have no trouble being inside, for they are used to the confined spaces of the Underdark. However, though they can fly at least as well as their avian cousins, chiroptera have some trouble with flying too high. Being used to flying under ceilings, many chiroptera, when venturing above ground, tend to stick to flying fairly low to the ground, rarely going higher than 100 feet.

Living underground and upside down

The Chiroptera live in the Underdark and should be in competition for territory and resources with races like the drow and the duegar. However, the Chiroptera are able to avoid conflict with these other races because of their ability to fly and the fact that they tend to make their home on the ceiling of caves. Chiroptera carve their homes out in stalactites in high roofed caves and only come down to the cave floor to hunt for food and loot. 

A typical chiroptera colony consists of a few closely grouped stalactites, which have been hollowed out. Covering the outer surface of these stalactites and the surrounding roof of the cavern chiroptera are highly decorative carved ridges and loops, which make climbing and resting much easier for its inhabitants. Chiroptera societies are matriarchal and the leader of a colony is the oldest female. 

Chiroptera Names

As with much of their speech, chiroptera names are made up of ultrasonic clicks and chirps, which are inaudible to the hearing of other species.  When interacting with other races, chiroptera may use nicknames based on their looks or behaviour or an audible version of their true name.

An chiroptera of either gender may have one of these short names: Batty, Vamp, Bigears, Furball, Flutterwing, Squeeklicklick.

CHIROPTERA BACKGROUNDS

Backgrounds that are most appropriate for chiroptera include the outlander, the criminal/spy, and the anthropologist.

The small colonies of chiroptera  are hidden deep within the Underdark, and few chiroptera ever venture above ground. The few that ever do, do so out of curiosity or because they are outcasts from their colony. Those that do, are usually rogues or fighters.

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 ciroptera 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 5. Compared to humans, chiropterad on’t usually live longer than 50 years.

Alignment

Most Chiroptera are evil and rarely choose sides when it comes to law and chaos.

Echolocation and Darkvision

Your primary sense underground is your echolocation. You emit ultrasonic sounds from your mouth and your large ears can 'hear' a clear picture of your surroundings. Through echolocation you have 120 ft. blindsight. You can't use your blindsight while deafened. Besides echolocation, you also have darkvision. Though, because of your reliance on your echolocation, your darkvision hasn't been as developed as that of the other Underdark races. 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.

Fangs and Claws

You have long fangs and claws on all four of your limbs. Your bite attack does 1d4 piercing damage on a hit. You claw attacks do 1d4 slashing damage on a hit. You only have as many attacks per round as your class and level allow.

Flight

You have a flying speed of 60 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor. Your arms are your wings, so you cannot use your arms for combat or spellcasting while in flight. However, you can use your hind limbs to carry weapons and attack with them or use them for spellcasting.

Languages

You can speak Chiroptera, Common and Undercommon. Chiroptera is ultra-sonic language of chirps and clicks, which is only audible to creatures which can hear in the ultra-sonic range. Most chiroptera are never exposed to written language, but an exceptional and adventurous type can learn to read and write. 

Size

Chiroptera are about 4 feet tall from head to toe and have a wingspan of about 20 feet. Chiroptera have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 60 and 80 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed on two legs is 10 feet. If you walk on 4 limbs, your move becomes 20 feet. Your climbing speed, using four limbs, is 20 feet and your claws allow to cling to any vertical surface and you can even cling to ceilings. Your base flight speed is 60 feet.

Superior Hearing

Besides using your huge ears for echolocation, they also give you an extremely good hearing. You have advantage on perception checks relating to hearing. But you are susceptible to suffering extra from loud noises, such as spells which do thunder damage. if you fail a Constitution saving throw when attacked by a spell or effect which does thunder damage, you are deafened for 1d10 rounds.