Roaches

This is a work-in-progress article and subject to changes in the future

Roaches

In the dark tunnels of Insectopia lives a race of insectoids that are revered as masterful tinkerers: the Roaches. Even though their appearance is anything but pretty, they have keen minds, deft hands, and a natural sense of survival unrivaled in this world.

Practicality over Beauty

For most insectoids, a roach might look off-putting. The appearance of these 3 to 4 feet tall creatures is undoubtedly not very appealing. They have a broad, flattened body and their chitin's color is either reddish or dark brown or black. On top of their humpbacked torso rests a round head that looks tiny compared to their bodies. Their limbs are unnaturally long, and out of their mouth sprout two large, acid-covered fangs.
However, roaches do not put much thought into their appearance. Their bodies just need to fit the environment they are living in, and between their tough exoskeleton and resilient constitution, they are well adapted for even the most extreme environments. Furthermore, if they deem certain body parts unnecessary, too weak, or simply impractical, they replace them with crazy mechanical augmentations.

Change requires Adaptation

One that looks at a roach today wouldn't expect the ancient history these creatures look back onto. Roaches are ancient. Their ancestors were one of the first insectoids to form empires. Their society was incredibly advanced, using craftsmanship and magic alike. They lived in abundance until they flew too close to the sun.
A great disaster struck that forced them underground and left their once lush realm destroyed and almost uninhabitable. This new and hostile environment left little room for flashy creations but required quick adaption. So this is how these ancient insectoids turned into the roaches of today.
Much of the roaches' history has been forgotten through the ages. But, unfortunately, not even the roaches themselves remember their glorious past. They only kept their innate ability to craft and a keen sense of survival.

Secluded Underground

Generations of life underground have made roaches vulnerable to sunlight, and as such, they tend to stay in the dark with their own kind. Their settlements are burrows and caves, filled with all sorts of pipes and machinery. These towns seem random and poorly designed for outsiders, but there is always an underlying logic to their chaos.
Roaches are known as skillful artificers and artisans across Insectopia. They can create all sorts of gadgets and machinery. Many insectoids then utilize their work below and on the surface, even though only a few understand how it functions.

Roach Traits

Roaches tend to be a lot alike and as such you share many traits with others of your race.
Ability Score Increase. Your Consitution score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.
Age. Roaches mature very quickly, their nymphs are already able to walk after they spawn from their egg and mature completely when they are about 5 years old. Their lifespans range from 50 to 70 years.
Alignment. You tend to be chaotic and neutral or good. Roaches aren't a very organized race and the few laws they have most of them only follow loosely.
Size. Roaches are small creatures and are only about 3 to 4 feet tall. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Superior Darkvision. Roaches mainly dwell in dark tunnels deep in the earth. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Keen Survivors. Roaches are resilient and have an innate knack for crafting tools to aid them. You gain proficiency in the Wisdom (Survival) skill. Additionally, you gain proficiency with Tinker's tools.
Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
Mechanic Augments. Parts of your body have been replaced with metallic augments and crude machinery. You choose one augment at 1st level. You gain an additional effect at 5th level, depending on which augment you chose. At 1st level, choose one of the following options:
Mechanic Gliders. When you fall and aren’t incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating falling damage, and you can move up to 2 feet horizontally for every 1 foot you descend.
At 5th level: You gain back boosters that allow you to get into the air. You gain a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor.
Metallic Chitin. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.
At 5th level: You gain resistance to acid and poison damage.
Respirator. This augment grants you the effects of the water breathing spell once per long rest for 1 hour.
At 5th level: You can breathe normally in any environment. You have advantage on Saving Throws made against harmful gases and vapors (effects like cloudkill and stinking cloud, inhaled Poisons, and the breath Weapons of some dragons).
Languages. You can read, speak, and write Common, Insect-Common and Roach. The Roach language is made up of series of clicks and hisses and sounds quite aggressive to others who don't speak the language.