Homebrew Cheropterix Species Details

“Beware of these buggers when entering a cave. They can take a mans arm off with their bare arms. Truly revolting creatures.”— Tinmar, Aaracokra ranger and adventurer

 

Never underestimate a Cheropterix. They are deadly and swift creatures, with no concept of mercy, only hunting and feasting. If you run into one, you would be lucky to survive, as their razor sharp claws have been known to decapitate men in one swift strike, even with plate armour on. These creatures stalk through the caverns of the underdark, eating and harvesting anything they can find. This does not make them uncivilised, as groups of them work in colonies to bring down larger threats, and they can in fact learn languages. One might suggest that they are what primitive society would have looked like. Nobody knows for certain though, as they prefer to be left in the darkness of their homes. They are truly a great mystery of nature

One with the Darkness

Cheropterix are very well adapted to the darkness of caves, caverns and tunnels underground. They have a unique ability to emit sound waves from their mouths, which propel back and allow them to understand their environment well. This ability makes up for their poor eyesight during the day, and this helps would be Cheropterix adventurers navigate during the daytime, where the light stops their eyesight due to their natural adaption to the darkness. Their pelt allows them to blend in with the shadows, and they use this to their advantage. Their tactics while fighting in dimly lit areas is to block their enemy from seeing, before flanking in for the final kill. They are well adapted to their environment in caves and caverns, and if the light goes out, you wont like what happens next. 

No Mercy

These people are relentless in the assault of prey. They will hunt anything and everything. Smaller beings who ran across a pack can give up, as their small and “cute” existence will not curb their hunger. Cheropterix enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and will try to take down anything they can eat. They are known to eat fey and holy creatures, as well as beings of unholy and demonic descent. You will have to be very persuasive in trying to get them to back down, as they dont care who or what you are. To them, you like like a nice chunk of steak with potatoes and the likes. There is an exemption. If you were to be welcomed by a swarm, then you would be allowed to live with them, and hunt with them. However, be wary of this, as when your use runs out it will be dinner for 3 or 4 cheropterix.

Survival of the Fittest

The Cheropterix believe that only the strong will survive, and the weak will be lost. This has led to the deaths of hundreds of Cheropterix people, with those who could not survive being eaten and leaving no trace of weakness in the line of Cheropterix descendants. The population of the underdark know the Cheropterix as one of the strongest races physicallly, and this has brought a hold on diplomacy between the likes of dwarves and Cheropterix. To the Cheropterix, if you cant hold your own in a fight, then you dont deserve to be alive.

One of the Swarm

The swarm describes the tribe or group that the Cheropterix live in. These swarms range from 100 to 1000 individuals, with a large cavern under each of their control, and one massive force where the largest swarm lives. These swarms are purely there for protection against other swarms, and the larger the swarm, the less of a threat they are. There is near to no social structure in these groups, with only the elders being put on a pedestal out of common respect, begrudgingly to other Cheropterix. Everyone in these swarms hunt and care for themselves, even the babies after 2 or three weeks, who hunt for scraps and bugs. They do have a sense of purpose for animals as well, with common Cheropterix learning how to tame and use hook horrors to the best of their advantage. It is not a welcoming society to be true, but it is very well protected and defended, allowing them to somehow grow in greater numbers than one might expect.

Cheropterix Personality

You can use the Cheropterix Quirks table to determine a personality quirk for a Cheropterix character or to inspire a unique mannerism.

Cheropterix Quirks

d8	Quirk
1	Nothing is more important than the hunt. If you loose a kill, you are worthless.
2	You sleep best when you hang from a ceiling.
3	Money is meaningless to you. Only flesh.
4	you think everyone else is obsolete, they are only walking meals.
5	You have learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades.
6	You still don’t understand how metaphors work. That doesn’t stop you from using them at every opportunity.
7	You appreciate the soft humanoids who realize they need chain mail and swords to match the gifts you were born with.
8	You enjoy eating your food while it’s still wriggling.

Cheropterix Names

Cheropterix take their names from the ancient Cheropterix language, now long lost and replaced by Primordial. They use simple descriptives granted by the tribe based on an individual’s notable deeds or actions. For example, Tanoosh translates as “fallen brother,” a name given to a cheropterix warrior who has been disgraced and forced out. A Cheropterix who likes to hide in a stand of reeds before ambushing an animal might be called Sderick, meaning sneaky or swift. Cheropterix make no distinction between male and female in their naming conventions. Each example name includes its translation in parenthesis.

Cheropterix Names: Tanoosh (Fallen Brother), Sderick (Sneaky/Swift), Rektarg (Butcher), Mitlak (Seeker), Parelor (Gut Beast), Tyndall (Dark Embers), B’ikther (Strangling wing), Rendarm ( Dead Wing), Ternastal Gargith (Broken Science).

Cheropterix Traits

Your cheropterix character has the following racial traits.

Sound sight

You can ecolocate to make up for a lack of great sight.

Horrifying encounter

A sense of dread come across would be adventurers as they travel through the underdark. They have the ability to cast fear at will.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Cheropterix reach maturity around age 8 and rarely live longer than 150 years.

Alignment

Most Cheropterix are chaotic. Their natural instinct to hunt and kill, as well as there appetite for raw flesh make them very dangerous in a social setting.

Size

Cheropterix are large, cave dwelling beasts. The cold darkness of the cave and their constant eating of food lets them be up to 8 feet tall. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a flying speed of 60 feet.

Bite

Your fanged maw is 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, read, and write Common and Primordial.