Homebrew Chitinfolk Species Details
Shelled and four-armed, the hulking chitinfolk hail from sheer coasts, congregating in briny caves cut into the cliffs, building villages, towns, and even cities hidden from most. Farming both fish and plants under the sea, they typically lead simple lives, and are most often seen trading with fisherman for raw materials their secluded environments don't provide, though some have been known to venture inland, often seeking justice. That sense of justice is a hallmark of all dealings with the chitinfolk, they have a shrewd sense of business entirely because of a deeply held belief in fairness, and are as likely to be taken advantage of as they are to take advantage of another; that is, not very likely.
Their two sets of arms offer many advantages in day-to-day life, but do not grant them the terrifying edge in combat that is seen with species like the mariliths. Instead, they are more often used for either work requiring more steadiness or finesse than two hands could accomplish, or work that calls for more strength than most humanoids can muster, though even the strongest chitinfolk are easily outclassed by most any goliath. Additionally, their tough shells are a poor replacement for armor, but in a pinch will endure better than mere skin, and their mandibular mouth can make speaking many languages quite difficult.
In the water, chitinfolk adapt with the alacrity suggested by their shared ancestry with crustaceans, equally capable of breathing above and under the water. They move with ease through the water, and it does not dull their senses as it would others. Certain skills of theirs are even improved, most notably their sense of direction and smell.
Chitinfolk Traits
Chitinfolk's four arms, tough shell, and semi-aquatic origin make them versatile fighters and adventurers, though their physiology can make navigating the wider world sometimes awkward.Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 1, your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age
Chitinfolk mature at a slightly slower rate then humans, reaching biological maturity at around 28 years, and being considered an adult at 36, but live, on average, to about 130 years, though it is not unheard of for some chitinfolk to live into their second century.
Alignment
Their strongly developed sense of justice leads chitinfolk towards good, and while they would not needlessly flaunt laws, it also means that they generally believe laws are a formality that should be discarded when to abide by them would be unjust. Their deep belief in fairness extends towards communities as well, and they are rarely selfish, preferring to spread what they have so that everyone who is in need can have something, at least.
Size
Chitinfolk are large and generally sturdily built, standing between 6.5 and 7.5 ft tall, averaging 240 to 300 pounds.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet, base swimming speed is 50 feet, and base climbing speed is 40 feet.
Darkvision
Accustomed to life in dim caverns, and possessing naturally superior eyesight, the dark is little obstacle. 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.
Four Arms
To many, the strangest feature of chitinfolk anatomy is their second set of arms. Located only a few inches beneath the upper, primary arms, this secondary set is typically smaller and weaker, equally capable of precise handiwork and even better in some cases, but often used only for ancillary purposes like stabilizing a piece of metal or stone for a particularly fine carving.
The two-armed races have great difficulty in performing multiple mechanically complex tasks simultaneously, and this is not nullified by a second pair of arms. Should some things need holding, or some other task which requires little though or use of fine motor skills need doing, the chitinfolk's extra two arms are a great boon, but in most else they offer no notable difference without tremendous amounts of training.
In combat, all four arms can be utilised, but only with great training can their potential be fully realized. Due to their location, however, chitinfolk cannot wield multiple two-handed weapons, nor can they use a two-handed weapon and a shield. Should a chitinfolk choose to wield a one-handed weapon in each hand on one side, they can then use a single shield, but neither both primary or secondary arms can use weapons with a shield. As well, a chitinfolk's four arms do not constitute an expansion of what can be accomplished in a single action, be it an attack or some other form of action.
When fighting with multiple weapons, chitinfolk follow the same rules for two-weapon fighting as any other race, with some small changes when considering the fighter's Two-Weapon Fighting style and the Dual Wielder feat. Firstly, the Two-Weapon Fighting style for fighters does not effect weapons in the secondary arm's hands, meaning the ability modifier can not be added to their weapon's damage. Additionally, with the Dual Wielder feat, a chitinfolk can choose to sacrifice all movement for their turn to attack with a third or even fourth weapon, but the weapons in the secondary arms must still be light one-handed weapons, and they can still only draw or stow two of their weapons when you would normally only be able to draw or stow ont
When grappling, chitinfolk can derive some advantages from their extra arms. Firstly, they can keep two or three of their arms free when grappling, granting advantage on attacks against the target they have grappled. Secondly, they can choose to use all four arms when grappling, giving advantage on the initial attack roll to grapple, but incurring penalties for further actions while the target is grappled. Specifically, none of the four arms can perform any other actions while the target is grappled, or up to three arms can be freed as a free action, with the grappled target having a free roll to break free with each arm removed. Alternatively, a chitinfolk can use an action to attempt to shift its hold on a grappled target, making another grapple attack roll. Should this roll fail, the grappled target can make a roll to escape the grapple. Should that roll fail, the target is still grappled with all four arms.
Aquatic Affinity
While underwater, you find your senses heightened, and through constant proximity and ancestral instincts, you find you have a deeper understanding of aquatic environments than terrestrial ones. While underwater, You have advantage when making Nature, Perception, or Survival checks.
Exoskeleton
Without armor or a shield, your AC is 11 + their Dexterity modifier.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Chitinfolk, Primordial, specifically the Aquan dialect, and Common. By virtue of their mandibles, Chitinfolk is a rough language, harsh to those that don't understand it, comprised of many sounds not found in Common or, indeed, many other languages. These same mandibles lead to difficulty and heavy accents when speaking other languages.