Chitines
Dedicated to Lolth, chitines are multiarmed bipeds with arachnid qualities. Most live in colonies in the Underdark and fight the enemies of the Demon Queen of Spiders. Long ago, the cult of Lolth first subjected elf prisoners to horrible rituals that transformed them into creatures with both elven and spider traits, which their creators dubbed chitines. The intention was to create servile warriors dedicated first to the cult and then, only by association with it, to Lolth. The goddess found this arrangement unacceptable.
As punishment, the Spider Queen twisted her worshipers' rituals. The process usually transformed subjects into the spindly creatures her devotees expected, but occasionally, an elf changed into a choldrith (appears in this book): an arachnid monstrosity able to command and create more chitines on its own. These choldriths soon led the chitines to rebel and abandon their creators, founding free colonies elsewhere in the Underdark. On occasion, though, colonies can be found in remote, gloomy areas of the surface world, warring against Lolth's enemies.
The cult of Lolth still creates chitines as the need arises. Outside the presence of a choldrith, chitines make good workers, and they can be useful if the cult finds an independent chitine colony and want to infiltrate it. If the creation process yields a choldrith, though, the cult destroys the creature.
Chitines resemble spiders, but they behave more like social insects such as ants. They are divided into worker and warrior castes; choldriths, when present, occupy the top levels of a colony's hierarchy. Each chitine has a social position that comes with duties related to that rank, and all are expected to sacrifice themselves to protect the colony's choldriths. Every chitine has spinnerets and slowly produces webbing that is used to build floors, walls, structures, objects, and traps that benefit the colony. A warrior might be responsible for crafting web armor (which is as tough as hide or leather), while a group of workers might be tasked to dig pit traps and cover them with fragile webbing disguised with loose dirt to appear as a solid surface.
Environment
Underdark
Chitine
As servants of Lolth, chitines love spiders. They rear spiders and similar arachnids, such as cave fishers (also in this book). Chitine colonies erect shrines to Lolth that serve as beacons, attracting spiders and other beings that serve her. Anywhere chitines set up a colony quickly becomes a web-shrouded, gloomy, and treacherous place.
Chitine
Small monstrosity, Typically Chaotic Evil
- Armor Class 14 (hide armor)
- Hit Points 18 (4d6 + 4)
- Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)
- Proficiency Bonus +2
- Saving Throws
- Damage Vulnerabilities
- Damage Resistances
- Damage Immunities
- Condition Immunities
- Skills Athletics +4,Stealth +4
- Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 10
- Languages Undercommon
- Challenge 1/2
Fey Ancestry. The chitine has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the chitine to sleep.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the chitine has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the chitine knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The chitine ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Actions
Multiattack. The chitine makes three Dagger attacks.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Choldrith
Choldriths are monstrous spiderlike creatures originally created to serve Lolth. They rule colonies of chitines and lead them into battle in Lolth's war against her enemies.
When devotees of Lolth created the first chitines, she watched as her followers used arcane magic and demonic powers and invoked her aid for the divine spark needed to ensure the subjects' survival, expecting to see these new abominations dedicated solely to her, but the devotees performed no such ritual. As revenge for the devotees' betrayal, the Spider Queen manipulated the creation rituals so that they sometimes created choldriths instead of chitines.
At first, these devotees were unaware that the new creatures, which they dubbed choldriths, were signs of Lolth's wrath. Instead, they were pleased, because choldriths could lay eggs that birthed more chitines (and the rare choldrith) and could direct the chitines in their work. But the devotees soon realized their mistake--choldriths belonged to Lolth, body and soul. Choldriths whispered to the chitines of their adoration of the Spider Queen and their enmity against their creators, and led them in a successful revolt.
Choldriths are born with a mystical connection to Lolth, which gives them divine magic. They also make up the ruling caste of most chitine colonies. A colony can support numerous choldriths, who serve as commanders, priests, and supervisors. The choldriths continually jockey for position, although they rarely confront one another in a way that puts the colony at risk. The colony is ruled by a sovereign, who determines which colony members perform which tasks, including whether a choldrith is permitted to lay eggs. Sometimes a choldrith ruler receives a vision from Lolth that inspires the entire colony into some grand, often violent, action.
Choldrith
Medium monstrosity (Cleric), Typically Chaotic Evil
- Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
- Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
- Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0)
- Proficiency Bonus +2
- Saving Throws
- Damage Vulnerabilities
- Damage Resistances
- Damage Immunities
- Condition Immunities
- Skills Athletics +5,Religion +2,Stealth +5
- Senses darkvision 60 ft.,passive Perception 12
- Languages Undercommon
- Challenge 3
Fey Ancestry. The choldrith has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put the choldrith to sleep.
Spider Climb. The choldrith can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the choldrith has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the choldrith knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The choldrith ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Actions
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
Spellcasting. The choldrith casts one of the following spells, using Wisdom as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
At will: guidance, thaumaturgy
1/day each: bane, hold person
Web (Recharge 5�6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 11 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; 5 hit points; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
Bonus Actions
Spectral Dagger (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The choldrith conjures a floating, spectral dagger within 60 feet of itself. The choldrith can make a melee spell attack (+4 to hit) against one creature within 5 feet of the dagger. On a hit, the target takes 6 (1d8 + 2) force damage.
The dagger lasts for 1 minute. As a bonus action on later turns, the choldrith can move the dagger up to 20 feet and repeat the attack against one creature within 5 feet of the dagger.