Casimir Liber
Adventurer
So I read Children of TIme by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and I loved how they developed the Portians (industrious sentient spiders), and figured the way they were described really enriched an idea floating around of Anansi as a PC race (which someone has begun here
Anyway keen to throw this out here and get ideas - all input appreciated (and yes I know I'm gonna have to rethink ability penalties...)
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Anansi are an intelligent and highly inquisitive race of spider-like beings. They resemble jumping spiders that are about the size of a large wombat, with eight large eyes. Mostly of dark brown, grey or banded colours, rare individuals can have blue, white, green or red stripes or spots.
They use their front four legs (with barbed hairs) to hold onto and manipulate objects. They live in small communities in remote jungles or other places hard to access by others. Often, anansi adventurers go exploring - these are mostly wizards and rogues, and their encounters with humans give rise to the anansi folklore tales, where credulous humans saw them as demons or gods. Anansi themselves are overwhelmingly nonreligious and sceptical. Generally ignored by higher powers and allowed to go about their business.
Due to Lolth, drow, driders and evil giant spiders, many races have a fear and hatred of all spiders, and hence anansi will often be met with hostility when encountering them. This has led to them generally being evasive and elusive, as they are smaller than many humanoids and not as able in physical combat.
They communicate via a combination of tapping, waving arms and clicking of fangs. Some can understand humanoid languages but are unable to vocalise. They may employ humanoids as translators or use telepathic spells.
Anansi are carnivorous. As with other spiders, they must eat liquefied animals or blood. This can pose problems interacting with other intelligent races. Some enslave or kill races, others make deals to drink blood in return for money, and yet others use magic to modify their diet.
Anansi can be of any alignment.
Stats - Int +1 Dex + 1 Cha -2.
Anansi are commonly rogues or wizards.
Traits:
Spider climb: Anansi can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and ceilings with 6 of their 8 legs. Gains Advantage on all saves for climbing. Climbing speed is half walking speed.
Mindshroud. Their arachnid brains are so different to human thinking, that anansi gain Immunity to emotion and mind reading. Insight checks to guess your intentions or sincerity have disadvantage
Scepticism. Highly sceptical and analytical, anansi gain Advantage to all emotion-based saves (charm/fear/illusion), disadvantages to attacks using same against the subject.
Anyway keen to throw this out here and get ideas - all input appreciated (and yes I know I'm gonna have to rethink ability penalties...)
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Anansi are an intelligent and highly inquisitive race of spider-like beings. They resemble jumping spiders that are about the size of a large wombat, with eight large eyes. Mostly of dark brown, grey or banded colours, rare individuals can have blue, white, green or red stripes or spots.
They use their front four legs (with barbed hairs) to hold onto and manipulate objects. They live in small communities in remote jungles or other places hard to access by others. Often, anansi adventurers go exploring - these are mostly wizards and rogues, and their encounters with humans give rise to the anansi folklore tales, where credulous humans saw them as demons or gods. Anansi themselves are overwhelmingly nonreligious and sceptical. Generally ignored by higher powers and allowed to go about their business.
Due to Lolth, drow, driders and evil giant spiders, many races have a fear and hatred of all spiders, and hence anansi will often be met with hostility when encountering them. This has led to them generally being evasive and elusive, as they are smaller than many humanoids and not as able in physical combat.
They communicate via a combination of tapping, waving arms and clicking of fangs. Some can understand humanoid languages but are unable to vocalise. They may employ humanoids as translators or use telepathic spells.
Anansi are carnivorous. As with other spiders, they must eat liquefied animals or blood. This can pose problems interacting with other intelligent races. Some enslave or kill races, others make deals to drink blood in return for money, and yet others use magic to modify their diet.
Anansi can be of any alignment.
Stats - Int +1 Dex + 1 Cha -2.
Anansi are commonly rogues or wizards.
Traits:
Spider climb: Anansi can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and ceilings with 6 of their 8 legs. Gains Advantage on all saves for climbing. Climbing speed is half walking speed.
Mindshroud. Their arachnid brains are so different to human thinking, that anansi gain Immunity to emotion and mind reading. Insight checks to guess your intentions or sincerity have disadvantage
Scepticism. Highly sceptical and analytical, anansi gain Advantage to all emotion-based saves (charm/fear/illusion), disadvantages to attacks using same against the subject.