Homebrew Arthropod Vessel Species Details
Born in the darkness of the Abyss, Arthropod Vessels are hollow shells of bugs, moving around through the Soul inside them, fused with the energy of the Void swirling around their insides. Given Soul by the Pale King, the King of Hallownest, and Life by the White Lady, the Queen of Hallownest, Arthropod Vessel's are the guardians of Hallownest.
Created in order to protect the city from external threats, trained to fight using their Nails by masters, and trained to hone their Soul by scholars, Arthropod Vessel's protected Hallownest before it's fall, and were created to serve a purpose, to find a perfect Vessel for the Radiance.
Being of the Void
Artificially created by the Pale King and the White Lady, Arthropod Vessel's, often spoken of as only Vessel's, are but hollow shells, allowed to move by the Shades residing inside them, and maintaining sanity by the Soul bestowed upon them.
Every Vessel shares the same basic appearance. A thick black carapace, a cloak around their shoulders, void black eyes, and a pure white mask of differing shape, often including 2 or more horns. Seeming to lack a mouth, it is unsure how a Vessel speaks, yet they are able to communicate with ease.
Protector of Hallownest
Created in order to maintain balance in the kingdom, and hold back the Infection, Arthropod Vessels are often skilled warriors. Often relying on their carapace to resist damage, or their agility to avoid it, a fight with an Arthropod Vessel is almost always tough. Due to their small size and lightweight build, they will often dart into the enemy in order to attack, before dashing back to avoid damage, and releasing a powerful attack using their Soul.
Able to heal their Carapace by focusing the Soul within them, and regaining their Soul through the blood of their enemies, Arthropod Vessels will often be able to fight for an extended period of time. Due to them not requiring sleep, or nourishment of any kind, they are able to fight for days on end, only ceasing their battle when they die, or their opponent dies. Very rarely is surrender an option to a Arthropod Vessel.
Void and Soul
During the creation of an Arthropod Vessel, a hollow carapace is infused with Void. The void alone, given life, is naught but a mindless beast, but once infused with a Soul, an Arthropod Vessel is created. Created without emotion, without a will aside from
Arthropod Vessel Traits
Not every Arthropod Vessel is the same. But, they all share some common traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity Score increases by 2, and your Wisdom Score increases by 1.
Age
Little is known about how Arthropod Vessels age. They are assumed to have lifespans similar to a humans, but some suspect that they do not age at all, and simply live until they are killed, or give in to the Void inside them. Some records can identify certain Arthropod Vessels as being around for eons, but it is unsure if these are the same Vessels, or simply Vessels who share a mask with their ancestor.
Alignment
Arthropod Vessels were created for a very specific purpose, to act as guardians for Hollownest. In general, they adhere to Lawful alignments. If a Vessel is driven to insanity, or gives into the void inside it, it may rebel against it's purpose, and become Chaotic instead.
Size
Arthropod Vessels find themselves to be shorter than most creatures they meet, standing around 3 ft tall. Your size is Small.
Although it's rare, it's possible for Arthropod Vessels to suddenly grow in size, until they can stand above most humanoids, almost always taller than 6 ft, sometimes reaching up to 7 or 8 ft tall. This normally happens when a Vessel is corrupted, not by the void inside them, but by some outside source. In this state, your size changes to Medium.
Speed
You have a Walking Speed of 25 feet.
Natural Armour
You are equipped with a tough protective carapace. When you aren't wearing armour, your AC is set to 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armour to determine your AC if the armour you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefit apply as normal while you use your natural armour.
Arthropod Leaps
Whenever you make a long or high jump, you can roll a d8 and add the number rolled to the number of feet you cover, even when making a standing jump. This extra distance costs movement as normal.
Hollow Body
You don't require food, water, or sleep, although you still require rest to reduce exhaustion and still benefit from finishing short and long rests as usual. You are immune to disease.
Born of Void
Whenever you are reduced to zero hit points, you summon a shadowy doppelganger known as a Shade, as if you had cast simulacrum. The Shade is permanently under the effects of the slow spell and can fly (hover) at its reduced walking speed, and it has illusory copies of all your equipment. It acts immediately after each of your turns, attacking whichever creature within 30 feet of your body is closest to your body (choosing randomly at a tie, and choosing you if you are conscious), and it will continue to exist until it drops to zero hit points, even if you die. The Shade will not attack constructs or creatures that do not age.
While it is summoned, you gain a level of exhaustion that lasts until it is defeated. If you drop to zero hit points again before it's defeated, the Shade's hit points are fully restored.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon, and Abyssal.
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