Arakana

"I give you mine all, children of silk and freedom; do not detest your cousins nor the mortal life above the under. Seek the novel, stand with certainity; Be chaos, Be freedom." *- Script of Origins, 1:12*

Shorn from the body and magic of Arachne, the Arakana stand paradoxical against their Drider psuedo-siblings; their physicality may be similar, but their origins are worlds apart. Arachne gave her own lifeforce for the betterment of her children, whereas Lolth, sister-goddess to Arachne, curses the Drow who fail her demented tests. Created in Her image, the foundation of the Ankaran is humanity; once a human herself, Arachne understood the diversity and uniqueness required for her children. Arakana are thus multifacited, having developed a unique soceity with many positions of status in the creative and martial arts. Where Drider are understandably evil, Arakana retain the freedom of agency, the freedom of chaos. Roaming the lands, choosing their own destiny, the Arakana have no singular homeland, only a connection to their mother-goddess and their fellow siblings. Through this connection, Arakanan can understand the emotional state and wellbeing of their siblings.

Be Chaos, Be Freedom

Certain texts refer to the Jewels of the Progenitor; a chosen few who supercede their siblings in skill, knowledge, and power. They reign as sacerdots of Arachne, said to be able to recieve prophetic dreams to guide them and their people to prosperity.. Due to their unique up-bringing, Arakana are primarily a nomadic-people, certain Arakana may seek the certainty of a habitual city life, or the novelty and thrill of an adventurer's life. Through this, it is inferred by outsiders that although the Arakanan are a nomadic people, they have a loose but strict heirarchy, rather than a discriminatory caste. At its lowest: manual laborers, superceded by hunters and gathers, then artisans and warriors, and at the peak of social status, the sacridots of Arachne.

Physical Appearance

Similiar in stature and power to the Driders, the Arakana have a centaur-like body figure, appearing as demi-human from the waist up with their lower portions in the appearance of the abdomen and legs of immense spiders. Arakanan display few elven-like facial features; pointed ears, a slanted jaw line, and a sharp nose. However, their unique spider physiology is most eye-catching, particularly in the eyes, skin, and hair: their irises range in shades of gems with black scerlas and diamond-shaped pupils, their skin as ghastly as silk, hardened by a flesh-like exoskeleton, with soft, silken hair in shades ranging from snow to ink to ruby. They are as strikingly beautiful as they are terrifying.

Arakana Names

Typically, Arakanan names originate from local gemstones or insects common to their birthplace. However, as Arakana are but a fledgling race, they have yet to fully adopt family names. ***Male Names:*** Kaivis, Sol, El, Ozit, Z'anta, Sikur, Anru, Si'ach, Aq'tu, Ezad, C'rezo, Oche ***Female Names:*** Rik'sa, Soxh, Ikka, Szisne, Qh'eca, Han'ta, Rasa, Siru, Lhovi, Yei'zi, Laqra

##### Arakana Quirks

| d8 | Quirks | |:----:|:-------------:| | 1 | I like to wrap up my prey in a web-cacoon. | | 2 | I tend to sleep upside down on the ceiling. | | 3 | I heed no law other than my own. | | 4 | Freedom, to me, is the dissolution of government. | | 5 | I respect only those who earn it through battle. | | 6 | My emotions change at the drop of a hat. | | 7 | I only do that which I want to. | | 8 | Unjustified murder is a sin worse than death. |

Arakana - v.1 | Created by /u/sthenial

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Arakana Traits

***Ability Score Increase.*** Your Dexterity score increases by 1, your Constitution score increases by 1, and your Charisma score increases by 1. ***Age.*** Arakana mature faster and live longer than humans, reaching adulthood in their 10s and living upwards of 300 years. ***Alignment.*** Arakana have a generally chaotic inclination due to the wayward nature of their homeland and arcana present in their creation. They are generally disinterested in common law, yet many tend to hold themselves to a unique moral code. ***Size.*** Arakana stand on eight legs, with a body similar to a centaur. They stand between 7½ and 8½ feet tall and average about 225 pounds. Your size is Medium. ***Speed.*** Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a climbing speed of 30 feet. ***Darkvision.*** 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. ***Terrifying Presence.*** You have two creature types, Humanoid and Monstrosity. You can be targetted and affected by any attack, spell, or ability that specifies either of your creature types. Due to this, you have disadvantage on Charisma (Persuasion) and advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks made while your lower body is visible. ***Carapace.*** When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 12 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor. ***Venomous.*** You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage ***Bite.*** Your preternaturally sharp fangs act as natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with it, you deal piercing or poison damage (your choice) equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike. ***Web Walker.*** Familiar with deep-cave dwellings, you ignore movement restrictions caused by webbing and can climb difficult surfaces covered in webbing, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check. ***Silken Weaver.*** You know the Poison Spray cantrip. Additionally, you can cast the Web spell without material components once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. While you are in contact with a web created by this spell, you can sense the exact location of any other creature in contact with the web. Constitution is your spellcasting ability for these spells. ***Sunlight Sensitivity.*** You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. ***Languages.*** You can speak, read, and write Undercommon and Common.

Arakana | Art: Ire Azure, Vassalex