Homebrew Athasian Thri-Kreen Species Details

The Thri-kreen are formidable pack hunters, prowling barren landscapes for prey. They are near perfectly adapted to the Athasian wastes with their hardened chitinous armour and powerful four-arms, experts at surviving with only scarce food and water. Despite their fierce alien apperance and weird habits, the insectiod people can be loyal to a fault and insanly courageous.

Clutch and Prey

A Thri-kreen's behavior may seem bizzare and otherworldy to the outside races; considering, they never sleep, they don't collect wealth or possessions, and they sometimes hunt and eat other intelligent creatures. Most importantly, Thri-kreen tend to judge others on their physical and mental abilities, the lazy and weak deserve contempt whereas strength and cleverness merit their respect, regardless of race or method.

In the Tyr Region, Thri-kreen aren't common in the city-states, they gather in packs devoted to the hunt that roam the wastes and have little understanding of human society. Their basic social grouping is that of the Clutch, a small group consisting of members in the minds of the "team", "friends", and "family", and that of the Pack, a larger social collection of any number of clutches. Obeying their instincts, Thri-kreen try to find their place in any group, they seize leadership of their group if they believe themselves to be the strongest member. This isn't done as an act pride or in the promise of power, it's done solely for the prospect of strengthening their clutch. They use a series of challenges to determine the pecking order, assessing their possible clutch-mates in secret or, when necessary, demanding trial by combat. While they seek to strengthen their pack they are willing to accept subordinate roles under the leadership of powerful allies, taking orders without hesitation and eager to fulfill their duties of their position. 

If deprived of a clutch or pack, a Thri-kreen is biologically compelled to seek out new group to join.

Alien Hunters

The Thri-kreen are a carnivorous race, and being exceptionally nimble, they have no trouble at finding food for their clutch. Though they are not against eating sentient creatures, they would still do so in times of dire need, reportedly stating they have a extreme fondness for Elvish flesh. All Thri-kreen are obsessed with the hunt, and due to their sleepless physiology, this daily ritual makes up a majority of their lives. However, they won't turn to other members of their clutch or packs for food — no matter how desperate the situation. 

Thri-kreen stand roughly 7 foot tall and weigh around 300 pounds, with six limbs, wedge shaped heads, compound insectoid eyes, and strong mandibles. They're covered in tough chitinous plates, with their four-arms ending in three-fingered claws that can manipulate tools and weapons as effectively as a human's hand. Their lower bodies are extremely powerful, and because of their exoskeleton they are proportionally much lighter than most creatures of their size. Combined, these traits give them exceptional reflexes and great striding power. 

Thri-kreen Names

When the thri-kreen reach adulthood, they take a name that reflects goals or some other aspect of the life path to be pursued. There is no difference between male and females names; both genders use the same names.

Thri-Kreen Names: Cha'ka, Chuka-tet, Drasna, Drik-chkit, Hakka, Ka'cha, Ka'tho, Klik-chaka'da, Lakta-cho, Qhak'cha, Qhik-ik-cha, Sa'Relka, T'Chai, Tak-tha.

Athasian Thri-Kreen Traits

All Thri-kreen share many exceptional qualities which define them as a intelligent insectoid race.

Ability Score Increase

Thri-kreen are swift, their survival traits come from memory, a collection of instincts passed on to their young from the moment of their conception. The other traits develop due to the race's unique physiology. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution or Wisdom score increase by 1.

Age

Thri-kreen live quite short lives; reaching adulthood around the age of 5, they seldom live more than 25 - 30 years.

Alignment

Thri-kreen live to serve the Clutch and nothing more. The pack mentality is deeply ingrained in Thri-kreen culture, and so most lead towards lawful.

Size

Thri-kreen are taller than humans, averaging about 7 feet tall. They are also bulky enough to average between 300 and 350 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

hri-kreen are swift, with long and powerful strides covering ground quickly. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.

Alien in Nature

Your alien-like physiology sets you apart from the humanoids you walk amongst, and you are near perfectly adapted the harsh lands around you. As such, you don't sleep and only need 4 hours of light activity in order to gain the benefits of a long rest. Additionally, you only require one gallon of water every tenth day. Armour and items must be specifically designed for your form, as all humanoid gear physically cannot fit you.

Born Hunter

You have proficiency in the Survival skill. You can also use your claws as natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + you Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Exoskeleton

Your body is covered by tough, chitinous plates instead of skin. While not wearing armour, your Armour Class is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armour you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armour.

Multiple Limbs

You can hold additional weapons, shields, or other items thanks to your four limbs. This does not grant you any additional attacks or the ability to benefit from more than one shield or weapon with the defensive property. These arms can be used for other tasks, such as opening doors, carrying torches, using tools, or performing the somatic components of spells, without difficulty when they are not holding weapons.

Powerful Leap

Thri-keen's Mantid legs allow them to make tremendous leaps through the air. Your long jump is up to 30 feet and your high jump is up to 15 feet, with or without a running start.

Venomous Mandibles

Upon reaching 5th level, you develop the ability of venomous saliva. As an action, you can attack with your bite as an unarmed strike. If the attack hits, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. The target must also succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is also paralyzed while poisoned in this way. The poisoned target can repeat the saving throw on each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Consitution modifier + your proficiency bonus.

Languages

You speak Kreen and can understand, and sometimes speak, common. Kreen is a language composed of clicks and whirrings, antennae movements, and pheromone emissions that nonkreen find difficult to interpret and impossible to duplicate. Thri-kreen don't have a written language, Thri-kreen however can read and write other languages they learn.