A Fairy Tale

Deep in the farthest reaches of a forlorn forest — that is where you'll find the arachni. These cunning creatures are reminiscent of humanoids, marked by extreme, spider-like characteristics. They are known to take slaves of smaller forest folk, weaving shackles out of the same silk they exude to build their webs. They keep them as fearful servants until they grow hungry and devour them.

Arachni Traits

As an arachni, you have certain traits in common with your insidious people.

Ability Score Increase

Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.

 

Age

Arachni are a short-lived race, reaching maturity by age 3 and rarely living longer than 20 years.

 

Alignment

Most arachni are lawful evil, where the broodmother's word is law. The rare arachni that defies its own, dark nature is cast out in exile.

 

Size

Arachni are roughly just over 6 feet tall. They have thin, lightweight bodies that weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.

 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed of 30 feet.

 

Darkvision

Accustomed to twilit forests and the night sky, 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.

 

Natural Armor

You have a chitinous exoskeleton. Your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier, but due to your body shape you cannot wear armor. A shield’s benefits apply as normal.

 

Spider Climb

You have the ability to move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving the hands on your upper arms free.

 

Strand Dancer

You ignore movement restrictions caused by webbing. In addition, while in contact with a web, you know the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

 

Silk Spinner

You can exude a stream of silken web from either forearm. You have proficiency in nets, and may construct a net made from your silk through four hours of concentrated work, once per long rest. Only you or another arachni can use this net, anyone else who tries gets their hands stuck in the web.

 

Web Weaver

When you reach 5th level you may cast Web once without components — your spellcasting ability for this is Charisma. This trait may be used again after finishing a long rest.

 

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Sylvan.