Homebrew Chiropteran (Batfolk) Species Details

Chiropterans are a race of bat-like people from the Underdark. Very few of them ever venture above ground, as they believe that any of them that do will be cursed by a being they once viewed as their god and is now considered a bogeyman of sorts. Their society is one marked by fear and superstition. Wary of all those around them, and fearful of said bogeyman, which is deeply ingrained into their culture. This bogeyman has a name, though none dare whisper it out of fear that they will draw his attention. From a young age, they are taught how to run and how to hide. Fear is an important lesson that the adults try to instill into the young ones. They are also taught how to hunt but beyond that, not many learn how to fight. 

They live in tents that are specifically designed to be easy to put up and quick to tear down. They rarely stay in one place for too long, and to their best to cover their tracks when on the move. Elders care for the children while the younger adults hunt and scavenge for food, as well as patrol for danger. 

However, they were not always bound by fear. They were once a race of vicious warriors, staining the ground with the blood of their enemies. This might was a blessing from a being known as Camazotz, whom they worshipped as their only god. He ruled over them, claiming the domains of war, blood, and death. However, this power he bestowed upon them came at a terrible price. Any time a child was born, Camazotz could claim them as a sacrifice. Those born bearing his mark were raised to be offered back to him. If this was not done, they would all have to suffer his wrath. 

Eventually, the Batfolk grew tired of watching their children die. They rebelled, trying to find a way out from under Camazotz rule. And so the people were split in two. Those that wanted freedom. and those that chose to remain on the side of power. The loyal followers were granted an additional blessing. They could consume the blood of their enemies, including the rebels, to become stronger and harder to kill. Those blessed in this way were marked with white fur and crimson eyes, making it clear who was a loyalist and who was not. 

However, despite the odds being stacked against themselves. the rebels discovered a ritual that could trap Camazotz for a time. They completed it, and their god was hidden away where he couldn't harm them, and many of the loyalists were killed.

Unfortunately, the Chiropteran's realized that he would not be bound forever, and they weren't sure how long it would last. So it became forbidden to speak his name, least the attention would awaken him from his slumber. And so they live in fear of him still, ever wary that someday he might rise again and punish them for their insolence. Unfortunately, the ritual was lost to time, as the completion of said ritual wiped all memory of it from existence.

The loyalists who managed to escape became pariahs and their descendants bear their mark of their ancestors' shame. Those that bear the white fur and red eyes are considered cursed. They require blood to survive, though it no longer gives them the power it once did. The other Batfolk fear them, as well as loathe them, so they tend to live on their own, or in small groups of cursed ones. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Some of this is hidden lore, and not common knowledge even to the race itself. However, I'm putting it here so that I don't lose it, lol)

The story of the Unnamed One starts with the story of the Chiropterans. They were once a peaceful shamanistic tribal folk, seeking to live and let live with those around them. But the Underdark is a harsh place, especially for those that don't have a penchant for violence. The Drow went to war against them, seeking to enslave them. They tried to fight, but it was not in their nature.

There was a great slaughter, and the ground ran red with the blood of their people. The remaining Batfolk wailed in grief, hoping that their ends would come soon so that they could rejoin their people.

But then a terrifying figure arose from the pools of blood, a feral bat-like creature who was all fangs and claws, with bloodlust in his eyes. No one knew from whence he came, but it couldn't be anywhere good. They expected that their death had come, but he had other things in mind.

He offered them a deal. If they swore to serve him without question, he would give them the power to exact revenge and to never have to see the blood of their people be spilled by anyone else.

And he did so. He filled them with his strength, along with his bloodlust. They went to war against the Drow city that had fought against them, reclaiming their people that had been stolen and wiping their enemy out.

When it was all over, they asked their new lord his name. "You shall call me Camazotz. And together we shall make the world fear my name."

But it turns out that his power had a catch to it. While it was true that they would never see others spill their people's blood again, they would have to spill their own blood to keep his favor. Every so often a child would be born with a mark, and that child was to be sacrificed to him. The high priest would kill the child and add their blood to the pool where Camazotz lived as the rest of the tribe watched.

Eventually, they grew weary of shedding the blood of their children and rose against him. But not all of them agreed, and so a war was fought among themselves. Those that sided against him were losing. Not only did they no longer have his blessing, but those that still served him had an additional blessing. They bathed in his pool of blood, arising from it like white specters with crimson eyes, filled with a desire to taste the blood of the traitors on their tongues.

It seemed that once again all hope was lost. How does one fight a god when you are powerless? But in the dead of the night, one of their elders was visited in a dream by one of the spirits that they used to follow. It told him that Camazotz thrived off of unwilling bloodshed. So to take his power away, some of them would have to willingly sacrifice themselves. If enough of a selfless and pure nature did so, they would trap Camazotz in his pool. They would be bound to him forever, forgotten by those they saved and having to keep him subdued forever.

And so seven were found that were willing to take on this monumental task. They told his followers that they wanted to atone for their sins by spilling their blood for him, and so they were allowed access to the pool. Knives in hand, they sacrificed themselves for their people.

As their blood mingled with those before them, there was an earthshaking roar and a bright flash of light. His servants could see Camazotz form struggling to break free from the pool, but he was held captive. No one knew why, as any knowledge of the seven was wiped from existence. All that they knew was that something had happened, and his reign of terror was at an end.

Chiropteran (Batfolk) Traits

Chiropterans have several features that you would expect from a humanoid bat species.

Ability Score Increase

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

Alignment

Chiropterans raised in colonies tend towards Neutral Good or Lawful Good alignment because colonies behave as large familial communities. Chiropterans brought up in cities may fall into more chaotic alignments. 

Size

Batfolk stand in height similar to humans, but tend to be leaner. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. 

Flight

You have bat-like wings sprouting from your back. Because of this, you have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can't be wearing medium or heavy armor. 

Keen Hearing

You have proficiency in the Perception skill. Additionally, you have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that involve listening, unless deafened.

Echolocation

As an action on your turn you can emit a shriek inaudible to creatures without this trait or some form of keen senses. Until the end of your next turn you have blindsight up to 30 feet away while you are not deafened.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Chiropteran, and Undercommon.