Steederfolk
A race of underdark spider people mutated from material found in Limbo.
Basic Information
Anatomy
2 arms, 2 legs, a Chelicerae, and 4 sets of eyes. Each arm has a hand with 4 fingers, and each leg has a foot with 3 toes.
Biological Traits
Because of how different males and females are, they can be considered different subspecies of each other. Males tend to be smaller, while females tend to be bigger.
Genetics and Reproduction
Steederfolk reproduce sexually. Females lay up to 8 eggs, which hatch after 5 months.
Growth Rate & Stages
Steederfolk growth depends on the Gender. Males are considered adults at age 30, and Females are considered adults at age 40.
Ecology and Habitats
Steederfolk live best in dark caves, like the underdark.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Steederfolk are Omnivores, and are willing to cannibalize each other if necessary.
Biological Cycle
Every 5 years after reaching their teenage years (20 years after birth for both male and females), they will begin shedding their little tufts of hair. They tend to go bald for one or two months, afterwhich, it will regrow its hair.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Female Steederfolk are always on top of the Social structure, while the Males are usually on the bottom. Technically, Duergar are higher up than Female Steederfolk, but only because the Duergar has enslaved them.
Domestication
This race was enslaved by the Duergar. The females are used for most hard labor, like construction worker, soldier, and guard, while most males are used for minor servant positions, like library keeper, personal slaves, or garbage collection.
Facial characteristics
Steederfolk can grow a beard out of the fur on their body. They also have a Jackknife Chelicerae they use for biting their enemies.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Most Steederfolk are found in Duergar cities, and are spread out among the Underdark. Very few are found in the overworld.
Average Intelligence
Steederfolk are as intelligent as a Human.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Steederfolk have a darkvision of 120 feet, better perceptive capabilities, but also have a sensitivity to sunlight.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Steederfolk and regular Steeders tend to get along better than Steeders do with most other creatures. However, they are still quite hostile towards each other.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Steederfolk are given names by their Duergar masters, and have their master's clan name in it.
Male Steederfolk Names: Grimstcarvlorss, Mendûnost, Gáld, Sheilve, Satros, Knurlag
Female Steederfolk Names: Môgh, Nagra, Carkna, Knurlaf, Und, Jok
Major Organizations
A secret organization of Male Steederfolk has been created very recently. While small and only in one Duergar stronghold, most Steederfolk found in the Organization tend to be braver, even fighting back against their females and masters. The Duergar have not disbanded this Organization based solely on the fact that them being braver and somewhat stronger is only good for the Duergar, for more heavy lifters and soldiers can help protect them easier.
Beauty Ideals
Male Steederfolk tend to not want anything to do with Female Steederfolk, while Female steederfolk tend to try to find weak and easy to manipulate Male Steederfolk.
Gender Ideals
Females are typically treated better than Males due to their strength and ability to lift much heavier items than most normal slaves.
Courtship Ideals
Females are bred and taught that they are better than their male Counterparts. Because of this, Females tend to harass Males into relationships, although the Females do tend to stay with the male they chose.
Relationship Ideals
Females try to be the most dominant gender in a relationship with their Male counterparts. Males being dominant in these relationships is unheard of.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Common and Undercommon
Common Etiquette Rules
Steederfolk meet using both hands. When two Steederfolk meet, they will grab each other's hands, usually their right hands, and then put their other hand on the other steederfolk's hand, usually their left hands. A Goodbye is the equivalent of a "High-Five," were both Steederfolk will raise both their hands slap each other's hands.
Steederfolk do something different with other races. So that they don't harm the with their clawed hands, Steederfolk tend to just clap their hands together and bow, for both introducing and saying goodbye.
Common Dress Code
Steederfolk tend to wear very little to no clothes, usually only for protection from the ground.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Steederfolk share a similar cultural heritage to the Duergar, meaning that they will not keep a job unfinished no matter who they are working for, and they don't tend to show joy.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Steederfolk try to mimic the habits and movements of a person they like.
Common Taboos
Most Steeders follow the same Taboos the Duergar. However, if a Steeder escaped slavery, than the one Taboo they have is to follow orders from anyone else.
History
In the year 2018wr, At the beginning of the Calamity event, the Limbostuff had seeped into the Underdark, and causing Mutations on the creatures in the Underdark. While most normal creatures where horrifyingly changed, the Steeders of the Duergar had become a new race entirely, the Steederfolk. These creatures, fearful of the new world they have been thrusted into, where nearly slaughtered by the Duergar, out of fear of the "monsters from the Limbo." However, they eventually learned that those monsters still had the tamed minds of their Steeders, and was even easier to tame. They would easily enslave the Steederfolk in 2030wr, favoring the Females way more than Males.
A large and Violent purple worm would destroy the Duergar citadel Uthroclashn in 2119wr, causing many Steederfolk to be displaced among the Underdark. The remnants of the destroyed Citadel would hold the remaining Steederfolk, keeping them safe from most outside protection. However, after 2129wr, the Female Steederfolk would turn their small hamlet of a community into a Matriarchy, enslaving the many males and using them for harsh tasks, such as debris removal, Drider Hunting, and the "Limb Sacrifice," where a male Steederfolk must lob off it's arm to satiate what they believe is Ladugar.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Steederfolk are enslaved by the Duergar, but otherwise are neutral to most races, if feared because of what they look like. They tend to be friendlier to Duergar, as well as Illithids.
Duergar have convinced most Steederfolk that living with them is a good thing, so most believe it.
Illithids are a strange case. They still believe the Steederfolk to be unintelligent spider mounts for the Duergar, even if they can sense the Steederfolk's intelligence as they still "taste" like an unintelligent animal. Because of this, they aren't immediately hostile, as long as the Steederfolk does not cause issues and does leave them alone after a few days. Steederfolk escapees tend to use them as temporary hideouts, and usually sees Illithids as helpful scary monsters.
Scientific Name
Araneae Sapien
Lifespan
Male: 400, Female: 450
Conservation Status
Steederfolk are rare to find, and are under protection by the Duergar, as a slave race.
Average Height
Male: 4'10"-5'5"
Female: 6'1"-7'2"
Average Weight
Male: 140lbs-190lbs
Female: 180lbs-270lbs
Average Physique
Male steederfolk are shorter and tend to be lithe. Females tend to be taller and are more muscular. Males tend to be hunched over, while females tend to stand straight up.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Steederfolk have an exposed exoskeleton for their whole body, and have a tuft of fur on their neck . The Exoskeleton is a Orange color, and the Fur is usually a black color. Sometimes steederfolk will have hair or fur on their heads, though this trait is not very commonly found among most Steederfolk.
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