CHOLDRITH – 5e stats

Medium monstrosity, chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +5 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
12 (+1)	16 (+3)	12 (+1)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws (suggested) Dex +5
Skills Athletics +5, Religion +2, Stealth +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Undercommon
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Fey Ancestry. The choldrith has advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put the choldrith to sleep.

Spellcasting. The choldrith is a 4th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). The choldrith has the following cleric spells prepared:

• Cantrips (at will): guidance, mending, resistance, thaumaturgy
• 1st level (4 slots): bane, healing word, sanctuary, shield of faith
• 2nd level (3 slots): hold person, spiritual weapon (dagger)

Spider Climb. The choldrith can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Sunlight Sensitivity. While in sunlight, the choldrith has disadvantage on attack rolls, as well as on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight.

Web Sense. While in contact with a web, the choldrith knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.

Web Walker. The choldrith ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

ACTIONS

• Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
• Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 11 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; 5 hit points; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

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DESCRIPTION

Choldriths are monstrous spider-like creatures that were originally created by Lolth, the goddess of the drow. They have eight slender legs, with the front two serving as arms, and a bloated white body that measures about 9 feet in diameter. Their faces resemble those of chitines, their smaller and weaker cousins, with some humanoid features, faceted eyes, and mandibles protruding from their mouths. Their ears look like horns. Choldriths are priests and spellcasters of Lolth, and they rule over colonies of chitines in the Underdark.

COMBAT

Choldriths prefer to use their chitine subordinates as fodder to shield them in battle while they use their clerical spells. They can cast spells such as bless, cure wounds, inflict wounds, shield of faith, spiritual weapon, hold person, lesser restoration, silence, and spiritual guardians. They can also spin webs like a spider, and can throw out net-like webs to ensnare foes up to 50 feet away. Their bite is highly venomous, causing paralysis and necrotic damage. Choldriths have some innate abilities that make them more resilient to magic and sunlight. They have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or put to sleep by magic, and they can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check. However, they have disadvantage on attack rolls and perception checks while in sunlight.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

Choldriths live alongside chitines in villages inside caverns filled with maze-like webs. In the center of the cavern is always a temple to Lolth. Choldriths serve as the leaders of each village, as they are seen as blessed by Lolth. They are cruel and tyrannical to their chitine followers, demanding constant worship and sacrifice. They also lead raids against other Underdark races, especially those who oppose Lolth or her drow worshipers.

Choldriths are found mostly in the upper and middle Northdark regions of the Underdark. The largest concentration of choldriths is in a city called Yathchol, located beneath the Far Forest. Yathchol consists of several connected villages, each ruled by a choldrith matron. The matrons form a council that governs the city and plans its expansion. Yathchol is constantly at war with its neighbors, such as the svirfneblin city of Blingdenstone and the drow city of Menzoberranzan.

ECOLOGY

Choldriths are said to have been created by Lolth herself. It is believed that transformation into a choldrith was a kind of twisted reward bestowed by the Spider Queen on those who passed her tests, not unlike how transformation into a drider was a punishment for failing her tests. However, some scholars suggest that choldriths were actually a sign of Lolth’s displeasure with her drow followers who experimented with her worshipers’ rituals. The process usually transformed subjects into chitines, but occasionally an elf changed into a choldrith. The drow were unaware of this at first, and were pleased by the new creatures who could lay eggs that birthed more chitines (and the rare choldrith) and could direct them in their work. But soon they realized their mistake, as choldriths became more independent and rebellious, forming their own colonies and challenging the drow’s authority.

Choldriths are carnivorous and feed on any living creature they can catch or subdue. They often use their webs to trap prey or to store food for later consumption. They also consume the blood of their victims, which they believe grants them Lolth’s favor. Choldriths reproduce by laying eggs that hatch into either chitines or choldriths. The ratio of chitines to choldriths is about 100 to 1. Choldriths are fiercely protective of their eggs and young, and will kill anyone who threatens them. Choldriths have a lifespan of about 200 years.