Homebrew Sk'iphid Species Details
We heard stories of their kind when we were children. The terrible sounds that echoed into the night made sure no one slept after a battle, for fear they might turn their attention to our village.
Now, to see one here among us...
Many tales are told around a soldier's campfire, that oft turn eerie as they continue into the night. Stories of beasts, the undead, monsters and all manner of creatures that leave a man uneasy about the delicacy of their own mortality. One such tale follows them wherever they travel. It is one of giant insect-like beasts lured by the stench of death, stalking violence, conquest and battle wherever it may roam. They are said to pick battlefields clean in the dead of night, harvesting flesh, bone and metal, leaving them desolate and barren. Be wary those who linger too long with their dead, lest you get taken along with them.
Most stories people hear of these beasts are true; sk'iphid wander, following where conflict is rife and where bodies gather aplenty. They are carrion creatures, living off of that which has already been slain and gathering all they can from whatever remnants are left behind. It is unlikely to ever encounter a sk'iphid, and rarer still to be attacked by one, as the majority take advantage of conflict rather than enforcing it themselves. Whilst their lifestyle is questionable, it is not a malicious one and such creatures are happy to live in peace with others. If provoked, a sk'iphid will fight ferociously and try to survive by any means necessary.
Stealthy Scavengers
Sk'iphid are creatures remniscent of the small beetles that populate the world. When fully grown, they stand around 7 to 8 feet tall and tower over most of the other races they meet. They are all equipped with two pairs of arms and a set of wings hidden beneath an elytron. Their chitin favours natural, earthy tones ranging from coppery reds, to deep purples to the darkest of blacks. Female sk'iphid are noticably larger and heftier than their male counterparts.
The life of the sk'iphid is a solitary one spent roaming in the night, hunting for carrion and scraps. They scavenge thoroughly, harvesting all they can: leather, metal, flesh and bone. Whatever is salvaged is used in its entirety, as sk'iphid are resourceful and talented crafters that make good use of their multiple appendages, though their work is generally simplistic and primitive. Things that do not find a practical purpose may be given ornamental use and fastened to their torso, or simply carried as sentimental trinkets.
When daybreak arrives, they rest in a state of torpor in dark nooks near foliage or natural crevices to burrow in to, blending in through the natural colourings of their chitin. This nocturnal lifestyle, paired with leaving little trace of their existence, is why the sk'iphid are seen so few and far between.
A Short and Solitary Life
As an insect-like being, the life of a sk'iphid follows that of similar creatures. Their life starts as an egg laid in small clusters, before they hatch into a large grub and are cared for by their parent for several weeks. After enough growth, they assume a pupa-like form and are buried alone within the earth in burrows, alongside various rotting scraps to sustain them when they emerge.
After a few months, a fully formed adult sk'iphid surfaces. Whilst it takes over a year to reach their full size, they emerge fully independent and with an inate knowledge of surviving the sparse environment they are born into. The youth they live is dangerous, though their wings provide a means to flee in an emergency. Most use them relunctantly, however, for they cannot get airborn with possessions weighing them down or obstructing their wing case. Throughout their adolescence, it is likely for a young sk'iphid to encounter others of their kind through the occassional communal feeding ground, who will lend their aid and advice.
Sk'iphid tend to live simple lives and enjoy simple pleasures and though their life span is a short one, they are not known to waste it. A dull, stagnant life is unimaginable to one of their kind. They are unlikely to squander opportunities for new experiences and tackle problems head on. This can result in a shorter life, but it is one of no regrets.
The Wider World
Sk'iphid are endless wanderers and never stay in one place for very long; through their lifetime, they see and encounter a great many people and things. It is not uncommon for some to grow curious about the creatures they pick apart, and begin to stray closer to roaming individuals or groups. Those who seek more purpose than just surviving in the world often take on the mantle of an adventurer, joining others in exploring and dungeoneering.
The settlements of other races garner mixed reactions. Some revere the craftsmanship of the various buildings populating them, fostering curiousity towards their unique purposes. Others, on the other hand, abhore these unnatural structures and grow uncomfortable in such confined spaces.
Sk'iphid are unacustomed to civilised society. They live most of their lives alone and one with nature, entirely oblivious to social expectations and etiquette. Such things are deemed unecessary and amusing, for the Sk'iphid have survived perfectly well without such pointless gestures and behaviour.
Sk'iphid Names
Sk'iphid communication is a complex combination of gestures, body language, clicks and pheramones. They name very literally, simply labelling things what they are. In their own tongue, they all share the name "Sk'iphid" and use their multi-layered form of language to differentiate individuals. Other races are incapable of replicating these intricacies, and so Sk'iphid tend to accept the names they are given in other languages.
A sk'iphid of any gender may take the name Aah, Beast, Bug, Monster or Thing. They may also take a name from another species' naming conventions, if that is what they are given. Alternative, they may simply go by the closest the common tongue can come to their own name: Sk'iphid.
Sk'iphid Traits
The Sk'iphid have developed a particular set of traits to fit in with their unique way of life.Ability Score Increase
Your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age
Sk'iphid reach maturity after 2 years. They rarely live longer than age 30.
Alignment
Sk'iphid tend to be neutral, respecting the natural ways of the world. Law and chaos, good and evil are beyond their simple way of life, though spending time among other races can alter their alignment accordingly.
Size
Sk'iphid stand taller than the average human, their height ranging from 6-8ft. Their chitinous bodies are lightweight for their size and they average around 200 pounds. Your size is medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 25ft.
Flight
You have a flying speed of 35ft. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor.
Natural Armor
Due to the unique shape of your body, you are ill-suited to wearing armor. However, your wing case and chitinous body provide ample protection and give 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.
Carrion Diet
Surviving by scavenging the corpses of creatures already killed has given you immunity to disease and resistance to poison.
Darkvision
Accustomed to the dark of the night sky, 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.
Scavenger
As part of a short rest, you can harvest bone and hide from a slain beast, construct, dragon, monstrosity, or plant creature of size Small or larger to create one of the following items: a shield, a club, a javelin, or 1d4 darts or blowgun needles.
Bite
Your mandibles are a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Languages
You can speak common, and communicate with other Sk'iphid using various senses; touch, sound, sight and smell.
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