Race Name: Aranea

Ability Scores: +2 Dex, +1 Cha

Size: medium
Speed: 30ft
Languages: common, sylvan

Age: same lifespan as humans

Alignment: any neutral alignment
Size: same range as humans, elves etc.

Traits:
 Darkvision
 Innate Spellcasting: you know the Friends cantrip. At 3 rd level you know the Charm Person spell, and at 5 th level
you know the Suggestion spell. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells, and can be used once per
long rest.
 Spider Climb: in both humanoid and spider form, you can climb walls and ceilings without needing ability checks
or equipment. You can do this provided you aren’t wearing medium or heavy armour.
 Shape Change: as an action, you can change shape between 3 forms; a spider form, human form and hybrid
form.
o In spider form you use the statblock of a CR 1 giant spider but retain your mental stats and cannot speak.
If you die or are knocked unconscious, you revert to human form.
o In hybrid form, you have sharp fangs which allow you to use the Bite ability from the giant spider
statblock as an unarmed strike. In addition, you have spinnerets in your hands and four eyes instead of
two. The spinnerets allow you to use the Web attack from the giant spider statblock once per short rest.
o In humanoid form you appear as a normal humanoid, the form and sex of which is determined at birth.

History:
While they were not true lycanthropes, aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid and a giant
monstrous spider. Their humanoid form was that of a Calishite human, a Calishite half-elf, or, in some rare cases,
a drow. The form and gender they could take was fixed at birth.

Despite their terrifying appearance, the aranea were a peaceful race of beings. They fed on animals and did not prey
upon sapient creatures to live. These beings lived far from civilized society, as they are hunted by those who did not
understand them.

Aranea society was matriarchal, usually ruled by the queen who gave birth to the community. They would
occasionally go into other communities disguised as healers or barbarians to trade or—when the situation warranted
doing so—take a new mate to prevent inbreeding.

According to legend, the aranea were created by Calishite wizards during the Night Wars to infiltrate the ranks of
the drow armies. When the wars ended, the "werespiders" were hunted down and killed or driven into the Spider
Swamp. They became a neutral, pacifistic people. Originally, they were only able to change into drow, but after a
while, some gained the ability to change into Calishite human or half-elf forms and returned to the human cities
incognito as well as spreading out from Calimshan into the wider world. This allowed them to trade their silks, herbs,
and poisons with the coastal city of Volothamp.