Nycter

Created by ZeTrystan on DnDBeyond.

The Underdark's caves and tunnels are often talked about in fear, being the homeland of many monstrosities and evils all more strange and dangerous than the other. But a few races defy that generalization, the Nycter being one of those.
While still quite savage-looking, being bat-like humanoids harboring the trademark ears, snout, fangs, and wing, Nycters are actually the opposite of wild and have created for themselves a civilization based on organization and mutual aid.

Community as a Pillar

Nycter culture takes root in a strong sense of community, where everyone expects mutual help. From this was built a strong sense of duty, and all Nycters did their utmost to contribute to their group. With this approach to life, Nycter communities then get big fast, resulting in the construction of underground towns, kingdoms, and routes only accessible by whom are considered allies.

Treaties and Pacifism

Nycters prefer peace over war. If they encounter other potentially dangerous creatures without being noticed in turn, they often choose to avoid them altogether. If confronted, they will try to parlay and seek solutions leading to agreements. However, they fight fiercely to defend themselves or their territory if pushed to it.
With time, Nycters groups will often establish peace treaties with different communities of other races in their area, often giving them in exchange access to the different passageways they maintain and keep hidden or blocked.

Trade and Merchants

With peace comes trade, and many Nycters choose to become merchants. The Underdark offers a wide array of resources to sell to people on the surface, and the existence of hidden Nycter routes combined with their natural ability to travel silently and cautiously give Nycters an edge in commerce.
Befriending a Nycter merchant could allow unique access to precious exotic goods hard to get normally, whereas trying to swindle one would almost certainly result in never seeing a Nycter again in your life.

Tradition and Honor

Nycters appreciate their way of life, often considering it the best approach to life for an intelligent creature. As such, while admiring the virtue of freedom, they will often follow a rigid code of honor and tradition. A creature respecting it will be accepted in Nycter communities with open wings, where one regularly breaking the rules will be forced to exile.
As apparently unbending the Nycter code of conduit seems to be, Nycters will always listen to pleads before taking decisions as a whole community.

Nycter Traits

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1, and your Wisdom score increases by 1.
Age. Nycters reach maturity by age 5. Compared to humans, Nycters don’t usually live longer than 40 years.
Alignment. Nycters have a culture and society that revolves around the community. Members of such communities usually are lawful, whereas Nycters separated from their groups tend to be more neutral or chaotic. In any case, Nycters are peaceful and social creatures aiming for good through relationships with other groups and mutual benefits through trade.
Size. Nycters are about 4 to 5 feet tall. They have small, lightweight bodies that weigh between 70 and 100 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Flight. You have a flying speed of 40 feet. This speed is halved to 20 feet if you use medium armor, and not usable if you wear heavy armor or are encumbered. While flying that way, you cannot execute complex hand gestures, including attacks and somatic elements for spells.
Fangs. You are proficient with this natural weapon, which deals 1d4 piercing damage on a hit.

Darkvision. Accustomed to the darkness of the caves of the Underdark where your kind thrives, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. 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 colors in darkness, only shades of grey.

Sun Sickness. While in direct sunlight, unless otherwise concealed or in dim sunlight, you have disadvantage on Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution-based ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws.
Echolocation. As an action, you can emit a high-frequency sound that grants blindsight for 30 ft in all directions, lasting until the end of your turn. This effect does not go through or around walls or other solid materials. Being in a silenced or deafened state will negate this ability until you are no longer silenced or deafened.
Sensible Hearing. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that involve listening unless deafened.
While your keen hearing can be helpful, it is also one of your weaknesses. You are vulnerable to thunder damage, even if deafened.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.

Fruit Nycter

Fruit Nycter evolved through the consumption of vegetarian food. Their body and skills are adapted to surveillance and flight. For them, avoiding potential conflict and danger is often the best course of action. Fruit Nycters usually have lighter fur and thinner builts, with brown, orange, or yellow eyes. Ability Score Increase Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Vegetarian. Your kind depends on eating fruits, veggies, seeds, and nectar for sustenance. You can ingest other types of food, but need a regular intake of plant-based food. Only rations of vegetal foods count as rations for you.
Confusing Cry. You can emit a high, piercing shriek designed to surprise and confuse predators. You can use an action to scream in a 10ft cone. Each creature in the area must make a Constitution saving throw equal to 8 + your proficiency modifier + your Constitution modifier. On a failed check, a creature takes 1d4 + your Constitution modifier of thunder damage and has disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks until the start of your next turn. Creatures that can't hear you in the area don't receive any damage or effect.
Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Sanguine Nycter

Sanguine Nycters evolved through the consumption of meat. Their body and skills are adapted to hunt fast and efficiently. Though not necessarily evil in nature, they do look the part. Sanguine Nycters usually have darker fur and are sturdier built, with black, yellow, or red eyes. Ability Score Increase Your Dexterity score increases by 1.
Carnivore. Your kind depends on eating meat, and insects or drinking blood for sustenance. You can ingest other types of food, but need a regular intake of meat-based food. Only rations of carnivorous foods count as rations for you.
Hunting Cry. You can emit a high, piercing shriek designed to kill and stun prey. You can use an action to scream in a 10ft cone. Each creature in the area must make a Constitution saving throw equal to 8 + your proficiency modifier + your Constitution modifier. On a failed check, a creature takes 1d4 of thunder damage and is stunned until the start of your next turn. Creatures that can't hear you in the area don't receive any damage or effect. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

''If you ever get lost in the darkness of the caverns, beware of the dangerous creatures you could meet. You'll be fine if you encounter a Nycter, though. Nice fellas, always harboring beautiful clothes and a large fangy smile. If they look like they want to eat ya, that's a Desmodus though. Less nice.'' — Hesdraic Mudcoat, wandering merchant

DM's Thoughts

Bat people! I love them. I don't care what anyone says, these are easily one of my favorites. Bats are cute, smart, and enjoy the darkness, what's not to love? There are so many interesting possibilities that can come from playing a Nycter. Imagine this scary-looking dark-winged creature that is just this most innocent thing, maybe a cleric? Or maybe a Monk!