Homebrew Kraul (RAVNICA insect people) Species Details

The kraul are an ascendant power group within the Golgari Swarm, long content to linger at the margins of the undercity but now increasingly making their buzzing voices heard in the subterranean Golgari guildhall. These six-legged, insectile beings are hard-headed and literal-minded, with little grasp of metaphor or nuance.

 They often have trouble speaking common, they are used to communicating using their wings to create humming sounds, and are unused to speaking a language that requires use of their mandibles.

Many are currently seeking respect and status for their race within the guild and wish to prove their abilities and worth beyond their current station.

Kraul tend to be quite determined, stubborn, literally minded, while still being quite social with other members of their race. Slow to build strong bonds, their role as second class citizens weighs on their ability to trust other races.

In addition to being soldiers, Kraul and known for being rot farmers, and occasionally powerful death priests with strong control over necromantic and natural magics, such as Mazirek.

Most Kraul never see the light of day, spending their whole lives in the undercity. Some Kraul are familiar with reaches of its depths unknown to other races in the Swarm, having been been born in dark corners beyond the limits of even established Golgari society.

Kraul reach adulthood after only a few weeks. Female kraul implant several hundred eggs at a time into the bodies of large insects. When the eggs hatch the larval Kraul consume portions of the host's internal organs before bursting out of the insect's exoskeleton. At this point the larva weave cocoons that they attach to the host's lower carapace. Over the course of several weeks, the larva undergoes a metamorphosis, and emerge from their cocoons as adult Kraul. They then consume what remains of their "mother" leaving only a hallowed out exoskeleton behind. 

The three most important power groups within the Golgari are the Devkarin elves, the medusas (also called gorgons in Ravnica), and the insectile kraul.

Kraul Warrior

Kraul society is organized into well-defined roles and castes. The vast majority of the kraul occupy various tiers of soldiery, from commanders and elite troops down to the lowliest infantry.

If you aren’t adept at magic, the swarm still needs you. Golgari warriors both defend the guild’s territory and, when necessary, take offensive action. If you are a fighter (typically of the Champion archetype), you can serve as a shock trooper, perhaps fighting alongside kraul and trolls on behalf of the swarm. If you are a ranger (likely of the Beast Master archetype) or a rogue (of the Thief or Assassin archetype), you are more of a skirmisher. Golgari rangers favor insects and reptiles as companions.

 Kraul Death Priest

The death priests occupy the highest roles in kraul society. They lead the buzzing chants of the kraul rites. Their inscrutable clicks and buzzing can summon crippling necromantic magic, and the presence of death seems to fortify them. They draw power from the defeat of their enemies and channel it to their followers, ensuring the continuation of the cycle.

A six legged winged insectoid member of the golgari swarm. The kraul have been considered second class citizens of the swarm often looked down upon as little better than the zombie drudges. The kraul frequently serve as members of the golgari military due to their naturally tough exoskeletons, and the fact that some kraul can fly using their insectoid wings.

some Kraul have special abilities

• some Kraul has the ability to understand insects and to some extent control them. see the Kraul Insect Song feat.
• Some kraul warriors have a flying speed, as a result of possessing gossamer wings. Their wings give them a higher station among the kraul soldiers. Winged kraul warriors serve the guild as scouts and shock troops. see the Kraul wings feat.

 

Kraul (RAVNICA insect people) Traits

Your kraul character gains traits that enable it to cope with the perils of a savage world.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

 Kraul reach adulthood after only a few weeks. Due to the hard lifestyle and second class citizenship not many Kraul live beyond 20 years. But no one knows how old they can be ... yet.

Alignment

Most of the kraul of Ravnica are usually neutral, with a slight inclination towards evil. 

Size

Kraul adults stand 5 to 6 feet tall. their bodies weigh between 200 and 250  pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Spider Climb

you can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Hive Mind.

You are immune to the charmed and frightened conditions while within 30 feet of at least one other kraul.

exoskeleton

Due to your exoskeleton and the shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. Your exoskeleton provides ample protection, however; it gives you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn’t affect this number). You gain no benefit from wearing armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield’s bonus as normal.

Pack Tactics.

you have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

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.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Kraul and Common. Few non-kraul creatures are capable of understanding the language or producing the noises necessary to speak it.