Homebrew Garpedle Species Details

"I stood at the window of my borrow listening, waiting intently for that same sound; that infernal scratching that echoed in my dreams. The silence bore down own me, my eyes grew tired, as the minutes and soon hours passed. Maybe those bugs were right, that I was over working myself and just hearing things. Or to just hire a bug to set up traps for the damn vermin. Just as I turned to head back to bed I heard it. That skittering scraping sound along the outside of my home. I quickly reburnished my make-shift nail and rushed outside, ready to confront whatever bug or pest was responsible for my many sleepless nights.

My heart sank the moment I looked up. This was no dirtcarver or garpede; at least it was not a normal one. Its body was elongated and extended, forming a maze like path with its endless body. My eyes traced along its seemingly endless shell, in a desperate attempt to find a end point. It was only when I turned and looked above be did I see it. Staring right back at me.

Its black, soulless eyes bore down on me from above. It was only when my broom handle clattered to the ground that I realized that I was not breathing. My body shook as I took in a gasp of air. Unable to move I shuttered as the monster leaned forward. its body contorting, its limbs flailing as its body let out a series of cracking an snapping sounds, as if it was crying out in fear of its own form. Its face rested inches away from my own, the sharp points of its horned glinted of the muted light of the lumifly lanterns that rested behind its form; leaving me in its shadow."

— The Beast of the Depths, 

In the deepest recesses of the kingdom — where the beasts and monsters both real and fake hide within the darkness — dwell the reclusive garpedle. Few folk can claim to have seen a garpedle, and fewer still can claim friendship with them.

Keen Survivalists

Every day brings a new challenge to a garpedle. Unlike many other species of bugs that can be found in Hallownest, they are solitary creatures, very rarely being in large groups. Finding sustainable food, water, and shelter is hard task in the furthermost depths, especially for a creature their size. A single mistake can result in death; hence, why it is very important for these creatures be be alert at all times, and to properly manage their resources if they want a chance at survival.

Their bodies look as if they are carved from stone and give them great physical defense as well as helping them to blend in with their bleak environment. Ligaments and claws or various size, line up along segments of its shell, and while some may be much shorter than others they can still deliver quite a punch. This is certainly true for the four upper limbs which are longer in length on the upper most part of their chest, allowing them to grab and dig freely. Similarly to the spiders of their realm, they cover their face with a form fitting white mask that accentuates their face shape and mandible like horn that rest on top of their head. 

Garpedles place a premium on self-sufficiency and individual skill. They have a compulsion to gather whatever they can, believing there could be a way for it to benefit them at some point in the future. This results in a mass of hoards often made up of masks, body parts of dead bugs, other left over meals, plants and any miscellaneous object with any possible use.

In rare and desperate cases do garpedles go hunting for more intelligent or larger bugs, that may serve as a challenge. They put their safety, and the safety for those they care for as a topmost priority. Always weighing the potential outcomes, of having a meal, or sever injury if not death. They make decisions from moment to moment as to determine their best chance to make it to the next day. 

Survival of the Fittest

Garpedles are often born in small groups called clutches, looked after by a both parents, who take shifts to hunt and fend off predators. These caring bugs will do whatever it takes to insure their young survive. If a mate were to die, the other will continue to protect and look after the young, sometimes even seeking help from other Deepnest creatures. In the case of which both parents were to die, a clutch may be adopted by a cluchless couple, or even Spiders or Weavers. 

It doesn't take long for these small bugs to start growing, both in size and curiosity. They will often venture out short distances from their nest however they can; often pushing the limits to see how far they may get. Often finding themselves within the tunnels of Dirtcarvers who had the misfortune of finding their way into a nest of hungry hatchlings.

Around their tenth or fifteenth year, when they are deemed able to venture out with their nest fully; having the ability to protect themselves from the dangers that lay ahead. 

Garpedles are expected to travel far away from their nest to a place where they are fit for survival and do their best to make it a suitable home. These homes are made of a variety of tunnels, and chambers. It is these chambers where some bugs may stumble upon an assortment of treasures as well as a potential story of a beast to bring back to their village.

When a garpedle becomes severely injured or sick, they will often hide themselves within their furthermost chamber, where some of their most precious loot is stored in an attempt to survive for as long as possible. If they have a partner or mate the one without the injury will continue on hunting, and doing what they can to help their partner until they are fully healed once again.

Because of the dangerous environment and general struggle for survival, having any leader is often not an option. Though being members of Deepnest, they do follow the rules and structures as outlined by Queen Herrah and past King Ragnar who rule over the territory.

Creatures of Legend

For garpedles, competition for land is a given; with many garpedles often fighting for the rights to a area they wish to lay claim over. This combat can often result in broken limbs, horns, and bones if not careful. Agreements might be formed, where more than one garpedle may share a select few tunnels with others, though still remain in full control and ownership of their respective tunnel system and chambers. Competition measures talent, dedication, and effort, as a variety of tactics may be used in place of brute force to avoid injury. Those factors determine survival in their home territory, not reliance on magic items, or other elements that can tip the balance one way or the other. Garpedles happily rely on such benefits, but they are careful to remember that such an advantage can always be lost. A garpedle who relies too much on them can grow complacent, a recipe for disaster in Deepnest.

To avoid confrontation with other garpedles, some may travel much further into already populated lands. While this may have a variety of outcomes; with the village or creature being scared off or killed, a relationship can be formed. The garpedle will fend off any beasts or creatures causing an issue for the village in return for food, shelter, etc. This and a garpedles long lifespan can lead to the villages in question to make up legends or traditions biased off of any actions or deeds done throughout the years.

Despite their intimidating and large stature, they are rather recluse creatures; only attacking when they feel they something or something attributing to their survival is threatened and remaining most of their lives hidden within the large expanse of their tunneling systems underground.

The hermit and in some cases folk hero background may be the best fit for your garpedle.

Names

Every garpedle has a name given to them at birth by their parents. Birth names range from one to three syllables long. 

Birth names are rarely linked to gender. Garpedles see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a garpedle, the bug who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.

Some garpedles who have taken up residence and other locations may become a legend overtime. Seen as a mysterious monster that lurks around, protects the village or is told as a legend to scare off young bugs from wandering to far. More often than not, a nickname of sorts is given by the village to refer to the "beast" whether it be biased off of the villages name, or a certain trait it portrays. If a garpedle takes a liking, they may adopt the nickname for themselves using it as a title of sorts. 

Birth Names: Aukan, Eglath, Gae-Al, Gauthak, Ilikan, Keothi, Kuori, Lo-Kag, Manneo, Maveith, Nalla, Orilo, Paavu, Pethani, Thalai, Thotham, Uthal, Vaunea, Vimak

Nicknames: Beastkiller, Dawncaller, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Threadtwister, Twistedlimb, Devourer, Lurker.

Garpedle Traits

Garpedles share a number of traits in common with each other.

Ability Score Increase

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

Age

Garpedles can live for many centuries if not millennium. However many do not get to live that long. Due to their large size, many will die as a result to accidents, starvation, disease, or predation. They mature along with their clutchmates around their 10th to 15th year, where upon they leave the nest to start hunting for themselves.

Alignment

Due to their Deepnest heritage, many bugs may assume they fit within the evil alignment. IN most cases this is not true. As a result of their gathering and scavenging life style they are more observers than pursuers. While survival takes presentence, the garpeedle sense of fairness, balanced with an emphasis on self- sufficiency and personal accountability, pushes them toward neutrality.

Size

Garapedle are between 8 and 9 feet tall and weigh between 380 and 440 pounds. Your size is Large.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to your Deepnest heritage, you have superior vision in dark and dim Conditions. 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.

Stone’s Endurance

You can focus yourself to occasionally shrug off injury. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled and reduce the damage by that total. After you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Garpede Heritage

With your large build, you have many limbs to help you navigate through numerous spaces. Despite being considered a Large creature, you are still able to fit crawl through places any medium sized creature can. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Natural Armor

You have thick, armored shell. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Constitution modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC of the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Deep speech.

Burrowing

You have a digging speed of 10ft.

Deepnest Heritage

You have advantage on all survival checks.