Skitterkin
Last updated
Last updated
Skitterkin are humanoid arthropods, characterized by their segmented bodies, chitinous exoskeletons, and multiple jointed limbs. Their tough, flexible exoskeleton provides both protection and support, while their compound or multifaceted eyes grant them exceptional vision. Most possess sharp, clawed digits and mandible, or other specialized mouthparts suited to their unique feeding habits.
The races of skitterkin are:
Antoids are humanoid ants, ranging from 10 to 20 cm (4” to 8”) in height and weighing less than 1 kg (2 lbs). They have segmented, chitinous exoskeletons in shades of red, orange, or deep brown, with large, black multifaceted eyes and segmented antennae that enhance communication and spatial awareness. Their powerful mandibles deliver crushing bites, and despite their small size, they can lift up to 50 times their own weight.
Antoids operate through a shared hive mind, allowing for near-instantaneous coordination in battle, labor, and social structures. Their society is rigidly hierarchical, with castes that include workers, soldiers, and elite guardians, all ruled by a single queen. Loyalty to the colony is absolute, and individual desires are almost always subordinated to the collective will. Their vast underground settlements are reinforced with a mixture of earth and resin-like secretions, creating durable structures.
Industrious and disciplined, antoids thrive in structured environments. While not inherently aggressive, they respond with overwhelming force to perceived threats. Colonies frequently expand through tunneling or military campaigns.
Though their population is small, antoids are highly resilient and can be found throughout Praetoria. However, their lifespans are fairly short, with most not living past 30 years.
Arachnes are humanoid spiders. Their upper bodies are humanoid, but their mouths have insectile mandibles. Their lower halves consist of a rounded abdomen and eight segmented legs, granting them speed and agility. Most have eight black eyes, though some have six, four, or two. Some possess venomous fangs, while others produce silk from spinnerets in their abdomens. They can live for several centuries.
Arachnes are fearsome predators, known for territorial aggression and strategic cunning. Silk-producing arachnes weave web networks that serve as traps and barriers, allowing them to ambush prey and deter intruders. They hoard victims, incapacitated by poison or webbing but often still alive, within their lairs for later consumption.
Their brutal, hierarchical splinters are ruled by the most cunning and powerful. They often enslave weaker races, such as venari and scavo, for labor and sport.
The types of arachnes are:
Huntsman arachnes stand around 1.7 meters (5.6') tall and weigh about 165 kg (364 lbs). They have long, powerful legs, which grant them remarkable speed and agility. Their bodies are lean, with mottled gray and purple coloration.
Huntsman arachne are solitary by nature but sometimes form loosely organized splinters, where cooperation and mutual support are highly valued. They are nomadic hunters, rarely settling in one place for long. Leadership is determined by skill and strength, with the most experienced hunters guiding their kin.
Widow arachnes stand around 1.5 meters (4.9') tall and weigh about 110 kg (243 lbs). They are characterized by their sleek, glossy black bodies with crimson markings, often in the shape of hourglasses, which adorn their abdomens. Their long, slender limbs are built for precision, ending in sharp, claw-like tips that allow them to manipulate fine objects or ensnare prey. They have a potent venom which can incapacitate even the largest foes.
Widow arachne societies are matriarchal, with dominant females ruling over tightly-knit splinters. Males are significantly smaller and typically occupy a lower social status, often serving as scouts, hunters, or messengers. Widow arachne value cunning and patience, preferring to ensnare their enemies through traps and deceit rather than direct combat
Taran tula arachnes stand around 2 meters (6.6') tall and weigh about 200 kg (440 lbs). They have thick, hairy bodies covered in a dense, bristled coat ranging from deep brown and black to reddish-orange. Their powerful limbs are shorter but immensely strong, and their mandibles are longer and more pronounced than those of other types of arachne. Though not known for speed, they are remarkably durable, with a natural resistance to venom and an aggressive, tenacious demeanor.
The splinters of aran tula arachne are typically clan-based, with the burrow of each clan connected through a network of underground tunnels that allow for communication and trade. Leadership is usually earned through trial by combat, with the strongest and most experienced warriors serving as chieftains. When hunting, they rely on stealth and raw power, lunging from hidden burrows or shaded crevices to overpower their prey. Their thick, bristled coats provide protection and help them sense vibrations, making them exceptional ambush predators.
Beeteloids are humanoid beetles, standing 0.8 to 1.0 meters (2’7” to 3’3”) tall and weighing 16 to 24 kg (35 to 53 lbs). They can live up to 50 years. Their thick, chitinous exoskeletons range in color from black to deep brown, sometimes with an iridescent or metallic sheen, and provide natural armor. They have large multifaceted eyes and segmented antennae that enhance sensory perception. Their powerful limbs end in sharp, clawed digits.
Beeteloids are highly durable and physically formidable, capable of withstanding extreme force. They can lift up to 20 times their own weight, making them excellent warriors and laborers. While generally slow-moving, some possess translucent, veined wings—hidden beneath protective elytra—capable of short bursts of flight.
Their societies follow monarchal or council-based leadership, with the largest and most resilient beeteloids rising to power. They value endurance, perseverance, stability, and tradition.
Mantisoids are humanoid mantises, standing 0.7 to 1.0 meters (2’4” to 3’3”) tall and weighing 12 to 22 kg (26 to 49 lbs). They can live for up to 40 years. Their elongated, segmented bodies are covered in a smooth chitinous exoskeleton, typically in shades of green, brown, or blue. Their triangular heads have large, multifaceted eyes that provide exceptional vision, and their flexible necks allow for nearly 360-degree rotation. Their raptorial forelimbs are lined with rows of razor-sharp spines, which they sharpen by rubbing together.
Mantisoids are ambush predators, using stealth, speed, and precision to overwhelm prey. Their exoskeletons provide limited protection, but their primary defense is agility, with rapid bursts of movement to evade attacks. Many have heightened reflexes, allowing them to track and react to threats faster than most humanoids. Their thin, translucent wings grant limited gliding capabilities.
Mantisoids are solitary by nature, preferring to hunt and live alone. Temporary cooperation occurs rarely—usually for mutual survival or shared hunts—and they form no lasting social bonds. Leadership and hierarchy are virtually nonexistent, as individuals rely solely on their own instincts and abilities. They are opportunistic and pragmatic, favoring quick, decisive action over prolonged conflicts.
Most dwell in the five realms of the . However, some venture to the surface in search of prey, particularly in the Bog of Wails, with its thick fog and tangled swamps providing ideal terrain for ambushes.
Most dwell in the five realms of the —particularly the caverns of Emberfall Hollows—and , where they construct complex, multi-layered webs for hunting as well as defense of their homes.
They prefer arid scrublands, dry forests, and rocky deserts, where their burrows can be dug easily into sandy or loose soil. They mostly inhabit the , as well as some dry, rocky areas of the .
Beeteloids are primarily found in the and the rainforests of the , though their population is small compared to other races.
Mantisoids primarily inhabit the rainforests of the .