Altine (5e Race)

Altine

Through the years people had forgotten about the Altine living in the deepest corner of the Forgotten Forest to the far south-east of Neverwinter. There, they live in relative quiet under their rigorous society rules. Woe unto those who stumble upon their dens uninvited!

Physical Description

Altines look like normal humans, but on the squat sized end. They are never tall and are not very sightly either. Altines have greyish pale skin and have a lot of fine hairs lining their arms and legs. Males and females are very similar in stout structure and both have a tendency to bald of head hair around middle age. They have rather long arms for their height and walk often with a gait similar to that of goblins when upright. However, they can be surprisingly agile when in times of need, being able to scurry and jump as spiders do.

History

Over 300 years ago, a deranged human man was exiled from his village. He had a fascination with the inhuman and often more so with spiders. His next course of action is a bit unclear, whether he sought a blessing of the spider goddess or stumbled upon an oddly friendly arachne. In the former version of the story, the goddess was so enraptured with his fascination herself that she made love with him and from their union came the altine race. The latter version of the story says he found his paradise with the friendly arachne and he lived out the rest of his life with her. She bore children with him, who were the first altines. Either way, the altines were not a race of normal love between anyone, but rather a freak of fate which spawned and multiplied over time. Altines who mated with humans and spiderfolk or arachne bred the next generation of altines. It is believed that at first, however, altines largely inbred, possibly resulting in their humanoid shape malformity.

The altine race initially resided in the High Forest. They lived comfortably and many left to seek their own fortunes. Other races soon came to settle in the same place and relations between the altines and others became strained. The altines where eventually pushed out by the other races, who were fearful and hostile to their partial arachne lineage. They retreated to the Forgotten Forest, where they found refuge in the foliage and nursed their numbers, growing considerably, but becoming reclusive and isolating themselves from a world that rejected them.

They haven't been heard from since their retreat until as of recent. With a larger population to back themselves and a growing culture, they decided to start sending out their own to re-enter the world that they used to travel as openly as any other.

Society

Altine society is divided into family units in dens. Dens do not have a set composition or familial roles. Many dens comprise their main population in the forest. Among themselves, altines are friendly and trusting. Their mannerisms are like that of kindred humans, though humans would find that an insult. Altines are typically humbly lived and eschew too much luxury, believing it to be unnecessary.

The altine society is very strict when it comes to their code of honor. They will not do anything to disgrace their family or race intentionally. Altine honor demands they always help those in need, but need not get involved further. Thus, they would help a wounded man on the side of the road, but not take him home. This is vestigial of their time in isolation from the world, which may carry out with them into their travels.

Altine society is very secretive and suspicious of anything or anyone else. They are aware of the risk which their lineage carries. They are not ashamed, however, but not brash about it either. If an unsuspecting traveler should intrude upon the altines, they will be rather hostile and not afraid to maim or kill, rather than leave anything live to tell the tale.

Altine Names

Among altines, you will not be male or female as they do not acknowledge gender. Other races will probably recognize you as male or female still. Altine names are relatively awkward on the tongue but as such, that is just a testament to their language.

Male: Z'tech, T'ulr, Q'ion. R'wik.

Female: S'nol, E'virt, M'uix, A'tos.

Altine Traits

A race of humans with the physical abilities of spiders and shapeshifting capability.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Age. You reach maturity at about 19 years of age, similar to a human, but you can easily live until about 140 years.
Alignment. Due to their code of honor and racial morals of helping those in need altines are inclined toward good alignments, through personal experiences may change that.
Size. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 35 feet.
Darkvision. 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.
Spidershift. As an action, you may shapeshift into a spider and back into your true form as a bonus action. If you are reduced to 0 hit points in this form you revert back into your true form. Any additional damage you take is transferred over. The DC for your Bite attack while in spider form is equal to 10 + your proficiency bonus and the poison damage it deals increases to 2d4 at 3rd level, 3d4 at 6th level, 4d4 at 9th level, 5d4 at 12th level, 6d4 at 15th level, and 7d4 at 18th level. Once you use your Spidershift trait you cannot do so again until you complete a short or long rest.
Spider Sense. The first attack roll made against you during combat has disadvantage.
Languages. You speak, read and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Subrace. Choose one subrace from: jumping spider or wolf spider.

Jumping Spider

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Expert Jumper. While you are in your spider form, your long jump is up to 20 feet and your high jump up to 10 feet, with or without a running start.

Wolf Spider

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.
Hunter Arachnid. You are a hunter by instinct even when you aren't in spider form. You have proficiency in simple weapons.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
3′ 5''	+1d8	34 lb.	× (2d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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