Chitines were humanoids that resembled spiders and were found in the Underdark.[3]
Description[]
Chitines were about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and had four arms, each of which had an extra joint. Each of their hands and feet were embedded with claws, which allowed them to climb most surfaces. Their faces held faceted eyes and mandibles attached to their mouths. Chitines could spin webs from an opening in their stomach, and their skins secreted an oil which prevented them from sticking to their own webs.[3]
Combat[]
When possible, chitines used their webs to create pitfall traps to catch enemies unawares. Their ambidexterity and hooks in their hands made them extremely difficult to disarm. They were, however, sensitive to sunlight and bright lights.[3] Chitines would often wear web armor made from their own hardened web.[4][8]
Society[]
Chitines were adept at using their webbing as construction materials to build their homes. They usually lived in villages of 40–60 individuals inside a cavern filled with maze-like webs connecting domed houses located on the walls, ceilings, and floors. In the center of the cavern was always a temple to Lolth. The leaders of each village were choldriths, chitine priests that were in fact a different species. Chitines did not practice arcane magic.[3]
Chitines were found throughout the upper and middle-Northdark, but the majority lived in several connected villages (at least seven in total) known cumulatively as Yathchol, located beneath the Far Forest.[3] A few drow houses kept chitines as slaves, including House Melarn in Menzoberranzan[9] and some inhabitants of Sshamath.[10] A few chitines also lived in the Spiderhaunt Wood in Shadowdale.[11]
Chitines hated drow and driders.[3]
History[]
A depiction of a chitine from Spellfire: Master the Magic.
In the 13th century DR, chitines were created by Ched Nasadan wizards of House Mylyl as failed slave experiments.[12] In the Year of the Creeping Fang, 1305 DR, the chitines rebelled from drow enslavement and founded Yathchol.[5]
In the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, the Forgotten Ones—driders of T'lindhet—negotiated a defense pact with a group of chitines and planned to attack T'lindhet.[13] In that same year, the nobles of House Teh'Kinrellz were saved from destruction because they were out on a chitine hunt during the fall of Ched Nasad.[14]
In the Year of Risen Elfkin, 1375 DR, the Selvetarm-worshiping drow Dhairn agreed to provide the secrets of creating chitines to the dracolich Daurgothoth as part of a deal in exchange for magic items and the use of Dolblunde as a base of operations.[15]
Notable chitines[]
- Krellum Three-Arms, carrion crawler trainer of Chortoj in Yathchol.[16]
- Qod Backspeaker, member of the Guild of Underdark Guides.[17]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Novels
- The Glass Prison • Storm of the Dead • Sacrifice of the Widow
- Video Games
- Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
- Card Games
- Spellfire: Master the Magic
Further reading[]
- James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
- Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- Belinda G. Ashley (November 1995). “The Ecology of the Chitine”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #223 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 56–59.
- James Wyatt (August 1999). “Half-Pint Heroes”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #262 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 29–34.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mike Mearls, et al. (November 2016). Volo's Guide to Monsters. Edited by Jeremy Crawford, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 131. ISBN 978-0786966011.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Greg Bilsland, Robert J. Schwalb (June 2010). Monster Manual 3 4th edition. Edited by Greg Bilsland, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 31–33. ISBN 978-0-7869-5490-2.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 David Cook (1991). Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (MC11). (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-111-3.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 7–8. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 311. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Eric Menge (August 2012). Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 978-0786960361.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 175. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 138. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (2003-10-24). Underdark Dungeons (Zipped PDF). Wizards of the Coast. p. 2. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-11.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 133. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Lisa Smedman (January 2007). Sacrifice of the Widow. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 10. ISBN 0-7869-4250-9.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel (2003-10-04). Organizations of the Underdark (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Underdark. Wizards of the Coast. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-11.
Connections[]
Magical spiders: Bloodsilk • Electric • Glass • Gaze • Goblin • Pet of Kalistes • Spellgaunt • Steeder
Planar spiders: Demonweb terror • Fire • Myrlochar • Phase • Shadow • Tomb • Vortex
Constructs: Arachnar • Bone spider • Jade spider • Retriever • Spiderwalker • Stone spider
Outsiders: Bebilith • Darkweaver • Greelox • Inferno spider • Red widow • Yochlol
Creations of Lolth: Abyssal widow • Chwidencha • Drider (Vampire) • Shunned
Humanoids: Aranea • Chitine • Choldrith • Ettercap • Werespider
Miscellaneous: Kitthix • Neogi • Rhylfang • Susurrus
Undead spiders: Wraith spider