Thri-Kreen, Variant (5e Race)

Thri-Kreen

Physical Description

Thri-kreen resemble bipedal praying mantises. Their bodies are coated in exoskeletons with various earthy hues, including rust red, sandy yellow, and mottled green-brown. Unlike most humanoids, thri-kreen possess six limbs, walking on two legs and possessing four arms, each ending in four prehensile, claw-like fingers. The lower two arms are smaller and less-powerful than the upper two. Their heads possess compound eyes, generally in somewhat-brighter colors like green or blue, antennae, and mandibles. Because of the alien shape of their jaws, they have difficulty speaking and pronouncing Common and most other humanoid languages besides their own. They wear little clothing beyond simple harnesses for carrying weapons and equipment.

Society

Thri-kreen view themselves as hunters and judge other folk on the simple relationship of predator to prey. They respect barbarians, rangers, and others who live off the land and treat it with care. On the other hand, savage and evil races such as gnolls and orcs despoil the lands that should be hunted with respect, and thus they earn the thri-kreen’s enmity. The mantis warriors generally regard city folk and farmers of other races as not-hunters, and therefore worth neither their attention nor their enmity.

Their culture has no taboos regarding either cannibalism or the consumption of the flesh of other sapient creatures, particularly elves. Although they do not hunt for sport and will generally be no more likely to commit murder than any other sapient mortal, this, combined with their difficulties in communicating with most humanoids, has still resulted in an extremely sinister reputation.

Thri-Kreen Names

Thri-kreen make no distinction between male and female names, and they do not use surnames.

Chak-tha, Drik-chkit, Kacht-ta, Kat’chka, Pak’cha, Pik-ik-cha, Ptekwe, Tak-tha, Tik-tik.

Thri-Kreen Traits

Bug like creature that resembles ant or mantis. Thri-Kreen consider all other living creatures as potential nourishment, and they love the taste of elf flesh in particular.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity increases by 2, and Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. Most thri-kreen only live to thirty years at most, but they are fully mature by the age of five or six and their reduced need for rest ensures they live the years they have to the fullest.
Alignment. Thri-kreen have virtually no social structure other than the clutches they form with their families and closest allies. The notion of sophisticated rules for social behavior is foreign to them. They are almost always chaotic in alignment, and often neutral with respect to good and evil.
Size. Medium
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Exoskeleton. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC equals 13 + your Dexterity modifier.
Multiple Limbs. Thri-kreen have two large arms and two smaller arms. Your large arms function as a creatures normally do, and the smaller arms can be used to wield light weapons in combat. As a bonus action, you may use your thri-kreen claw attack for 1d4 or attack with a light weapon wielded by of the smaller arms. You do not add your ability modifier to the damage of this bonus action attack.

Whenever you take the Attack action during your turn, you can make one additional weapon attack or unarmed strike with these extra arms. You cannot use these extra arms to initiate grapples, wear shields, or equip magic items. These hands can be used for other tasks, such as opening doors, carrying torches, using tools, or performing the somatic components of spells, without difficulty when they are not holding weapons.
Torpor. You enter a torpid state instead of sleeping, during which you remain alert and performing light tasks. You are fully rested after only Two hours of torpor. You are immune to any magic that would put you to sleep.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Thri-kreen and Common.

Random Height and Weight

Base Height	Height Modifier*	Base Weight	Weight Modifier**
6′ 0''	+2d6	140 lb.	× (2d8) lb.
*Height = base height + height modifier **Weight = base weight + (height modifier × weight modifier)

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