Homebrew Aranea Species Details

Aeons ago when the drow where still a young race, there was a conclave of them tucked away in the receses of the Underdark. They were far from Lolth's influence and had little contact with other drow settlments. Lolth was neglectful of this sect, sparsely offering her gifts and blessings. The drow of this settlement grew resentful and began talking of abandoning Lolth. Lolth demanded order of the drow; a rare
bastion of law in the wasteland of chaos that is the Underdark. This treasonous enclave of drow decided that the best way to survive in the chaos of the Underdark was to embrace this chaos. The best way to embrace chaos, is to worship the demon prince of chaos: Demogorgon. Upon discovering that an entire city of her people had torn down her statues and altars, replacing them with the profane imagery of Demogorgon, Lolth flew into a rage and began concocting a way to punish these drow. Lolth cursed them, melding their form with that of the spiders they abandoned, shaping them like clay into a horrid race of arachnids. All that was left of these drow was an abandoned city, and a scattered race of insane spider folk. All that was left was the Araneae.

Araneae vary in appearance almost as wildly as spiders, with very few universal traits. They're all humanoid, walking on two legs and with two arms, and even retain the long ears from when they were drow. One defining trait of the Araneae are their height. Most Araneae tower over other races, some individuals being nearly nine feet tall. Araneae tend to be skinny, with long arms and legs. They have two large, central eyes that bear seven small pupils around one large one. Surrounding the central eyes are anywhere between two andeight smaller eyes. Their teeth are sharp, with two elongated fangs and surprisingly soft hair, almost like silk.

Aranea Traits

Araneae have various racial traits depending on the subspecies they are descended from.

Age

Araneaen age is a twisted meld between an elf and a spider's lifespan. They mature at around 3 years and can live up to 200.

Alignment

Due to the insanity plagueing their race, Araneae are almost always chaotic. They tend to be evil or neutral, only caring about the survival of the tribe and eradication of the drow.

Superior Darkvision

Thanks to your spider blood, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't see color in darkness, only shades of grey.

Sunlight sensitivity

You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Web Walker

You ignore movement restriction caused by webbing.

Vision Eightfold

Your multiple pupils make you immune to the blinded condition.

Language

You can speak, read, and write Common and Arachne. Arachne is a harsh sounding language consisting of hisses and clicks. You can communicate with spiders, scorpions, and other arachnids using Arachne.

Ability Score Increase (CHR)

Your Charisma score increases by 1.

Ability Score Increase (DEX)

Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Shifter

As an action you may shift between 1 of your 3 forms.

Humanoid: You take the form of a Human, Elf, or Drow (Fixed once decided) and your traits are generally decided by your Arenae subclass.

Spider: You appear to be giant humpbacked spider with some subtle differences. In this form you also have a pair of short arms ending in many-jointed fingers and double-jointed thumbs, which extended from below your mandibles. (Take the Stats of a Giant Spider)

Hybrid: You also can take on a third, hybrid form. This form is humanoid, but but you bear sharp fangs, have spinnerets in your hands, and have four eyes instead of two.