Dromite

Beneath the land are hives of a proud people sharing a common family bond. The dromites are a curious race of humanoid with insect features, living in city hives.

Insect but Humanoid

Dromites, crassly called bugfolk by those who know no better, are a humanoid race with statures similar to halflings and gnomes. The average dromite stands about 3 feet tall and weighs around 35 pounds. Unlike most other humanoids, dromites are androgynous, with only two members of their hive possessing female or male traits – the Grand Queen and Elected Consort.

Dromites have chitin-encrusted skin, compound eyes, and two small antennae protruding from their brows. They have the silhouette of a thin humanoid, but have no body hair. Where a humanoid might possess a head of hair, a dromite has a thin ridge of intricate chitin that smoothly rises from its skin and extends down the base of its head, neck and the rest of its body.

A dromite’s eyes sparkle like pale yellow or white luminescent orbs divided into hundreds of tiny cells. Dromite skin ranges from gray to brown to yellow, with chitin having a deeper hue.

Bonded for Life

Dromites belong to an ordered society where each dromite is dedicated not only to its hive, but also to others with which it establishes a bond. Dromites are loyal to those they form such emotional bonds with, and will undertake great efforts to protect their people. While dromites have a caste society, there is no barrier between the castes, each working alongside the others to create a functioning, harmonious collective.

Dromites will establish special, self-selected groups called life bonds. These relationships are similar to what other races refer to as families, and members of a life bond may have a closeness resembling marriage among its members. Life bonds generally consist of members from all castes.

Working Together Seamlessly

When a dromite is born to the Grand Queen, it is preselected to a particular caste depending on what traits the hive will need. Each caste focuses on different aspects of dromite society, using the talents of its members to best fulfill its role.

Despite being a hive society, dromites are independent individuals with their own dreams and fancies. Unlike other societies, however, dromites are most apt to assist one another in pursuit of such interests, especially in the case of life bonds.

Curiosity Beyond the Hive

Dromites possessed with desire to explore the world outside are fostered and supported by their hive. Dromites are often encouraged to expand their knowledge and talents through interaction with other races, even by life bond members, wishing their loved one to fulfill its heart and to return one day to share the tales of distant people and places.

At times, a hive may become too large to remain within its borders. In these cases, many dromites will leave the city-hive to establish a new home. It is common during these times for some dromites to drift away, seizing the opportunity to adventure, until such a time they are ready to return home.

Dromite Names

Dromites, when born, are chosen from the nurseries by adult dromites who have entered life bonds. The adopted dromite is named by its new “parents” according to the traditions of the life bond. Dromites are proud of their life bond names, but mostly use them among their own kind, using their first name when dealing with other races.

First Names: Demisse, Elimu, Fela, Gebre, Idi, Idrissa, Kato, Matunda, Obi, Sefu, Vita, Xolu

Life Bond Family Names: Adanech, Dedanech, Fanech, Gyalech, Marimech, Massawech, Nikech, Ulech

Dromite Traits

Your dromite is born with a number of natural abilities from its insectoid heritage and hive upbringing.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2.

Age. Dromites mature relatively quickly, becoming full-fledged adults by 15. Typically, they will live well into their 80s.

Alignment. Dromites naturally organize within a hive hierarchy in service of the Grand Queen. Those who are most concerned with service to the hive skew toward an orderly manner. Other dromites, especially those that travel far from the hive, are more open to experiences and are adaptable to new ways of thinking.

Size. Dromites average around 3 feet tall without much variance, weighing about 35 pounds. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Chitin. Your skin is hardened like an exoskeleton. Your unarmored AC is equal to 12 + your Dexterity modifier.

Compound Eyes. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Hivemind. You can telepathically communicate with any member of your hive within 60 feet of you.

Scent. Your antennae can detect creatures through scent. You have blindsight up to 30 feet, but can only sense creatures or objects that have a distinct scent. You also have advantage on Wisdom checks that rely on smell.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and are conversant in Terran. Dromites don’t have a language, communicating through their Hivemind trait with members of their own hive.

Subrace. Dromites belong to a caste based on the needs of the hive and the role they are intended to serve. Hives consist of all castes.

Artisan Caste

As a member of the artisan caste, you’re analytical and reflective. Often you arrive at decisions slowly, but often these decisions are right.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Mind’s Eye. You mind can create a vivid mental picture when you are using tools, simulating how each articulation you make will contribute to a give task. By spending one minute focusing on a task requiring any tool, you gain a +2 bonus on ability checks with tools toward that task for 10 minutes.

Insightful. You can manifest the glimmer power augmented with 1 power point. Charisma is your manifesting ability for this power. After manifesting the power this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. If you are a manifester, you can manifest this power using your power points.

When you reach 3rd level, you can manifest the power through this trait augmented with 3 power points. When you reach 5th level, you can manifest it through this trait augmented with 5 power points.

Herald Caste

As a member of the herald caste, you are drawn to the arts and performances, often possessing a love of song and dance. You prefer to seek out and establish relationships with other people, indulging in the culture of others.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Dampen Hue. You can manifest the chameleon power augmented with 1 power point. Charisma is your manifesting ability for this power. After manifesting the power this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. If you are a manifester, you can manifest this power using your power points.

When you reach 3rd level, you can manifest the power through this trait augmented with 3 power points. When you reach 5th level, you can manifest it through this trait augmented with 5 power points.

Extra Language. You can speak, read, and write one extra language of your choice.

Runner Caste

As a member of the runner caste, you rarely sit still. You tend to move at high speed in pursuit of life’s tasks.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Continuous Motion. After making a melee attack, you increase your movement speed by 5 feet until the end of your next turn.

Burst of Speed. You can manifest the speed of thought power augmented with 1 power point. Charisma is your manifesting ability for this power. After manifesting the power this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. If you are a manifester, you can manifest this power using your power points.

When you reach 3rd level, you can manifest the power through this trait augmented with 3 power points. When you reach 5th level, you can manifest it through this trait augmented with 5 power points.

Surveyor Caste

As a member of the surveyor caste, you’re often quick to anger and tend to be suspicious of things you don’t fully know or understand. You also tend to be quick to laugh and forgive.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 1.

Focus on the Target. After you hit a target with a weapon attack, you can choose to lock on to its scent. Until the target ends its turn more than 60 feet away from you, you always know where it is, and it gains no benefit from being invisible or unseen against you.

Fervent Pitch. You can manifest the energy blast power augmented with 1 power point. Charisma is your manifesting ability for this power. After manifesting the power this way, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest. If you are a manifester, you can manifest this power using your power points.

When you reach 3rd level, you can manifest the power through this trait augmented with 3 power points. When you reach 5th level, you can manifest it through this trait augmented with 5 power points.