Homebrew Arachne Species Details

The Arachne are one of the more elusive races, existing in the Underdark or similar places. Their top half is similar to that of an elf, with a few differences. Their skin tones normally range from deep violet to grey, and they have five solid back eyes with small colored pupils, usually green or blue. Their lower half is that of an enormous spider. The appearance of their lower half is often more like a tarantula's, but other varieties are known to exist. They are capable of climbing steep surfaces, and even ceilings, thanks to microscopic hooks on the ends of each of their legs. Much like normal spiders, Arachne can weave webs and produce silk. This silk can be eaten to regain lost fiber, which is often put back into silk production.

While Arachne are rulers of their domain, they are often seen as monsters by others. While Dragonborn and Tieflings are often treated with caution, Arachne are the subject of outright fear. Most aren't directly hostile to them, however. Unless the Arachne starts causing chaos, people are more likely to treat them with suspicion and fear before hostility. A town's guard might quietly follow an Arachne around town, or merchants might close shop doors before they can enter. Most Arachne that live on the surface learn to defuse tense situations involving suspicious folk through intimidation or charm.

Arachne Traits

As an Arachne, you gain the following abilities:

Ability Score Increases

As an Arachne, you are nimble and can easily move around, and your Dexterity Score increases by 2. You also have a more powerful build, and your Strength Score increases by 1.

Improved Darkvision

Your many eyes are adapted to dark places, and you can see in three different color spectrums. You have Darkvision out to 80 feet, and can discern color in darkness.

Spider Climb

Thanks to the small hooks on your feet, you can cling to walls more easily. You can climb up walls, and even ceilings, without needing to make a Strength check. Because your hooks need a place to cling to, you still have to make a Strength check to climb up very smooth or wet surfaces.

Silk Production

You can produce silk up to 30 feet worth of silk rope per long rest using your own silk. It is worth half the value of regular silk rope, and degrades after 3 days. Before this happens, you can spend 1 minute per foot of silk eating the silk, and regain half of it to use later.

If you have all 30 feet of silk, you can expend all of it to cast web once. The web takes up twice the area it normally would, and lasts until it degrades.