Chiropteals are small, thin-boned humanoids with bat-like features, including leathery wings that grow from their arms, an extended “finger” on each wing, and long, clawed toes. Their human-like faces typically bear smallish features save for slightly larger-than-normal eyes and wide, pointed ears –each one at least half as large as the chiropteal’s head. While many have faces most humanoids might consider pleasant, some appear surprisingly hideous, most often due to oversized and misshapen noses. They dress simply and lightly, carrying little beyond what can be held close to their bodies to avoid entangling themselves in flight. When venturing out in daylight, they often rely on smoked goggles to shield their sensitive eyes until they’ve fully acclimated.

Hailing from the darker and deeper regions of the plane of Nirvana, chiropteals are more at home in the Subterranean Lands than most of their agathion kin, though they find few like-minded folk there. Deep in the Subterranean Lands, they typically roost near trade routes or adopt svirfneblin villages to protect. Closer to the surface, they often take on roles as guardians to keep mortals from venturing into dangerous territory unawares or to keep the dangers of the Subterranean Lands contained.

Chiropteals tend to live simply, preferring a diet of fruit and fungi and days spent in communal song in their homes’ protective darkness. However, they readily enjoy the perks of other civilizations, and communities that offer their comforts freely often find themselves with guardians who are loathe to leave a good thing once they’ve found it. Many chiropteals understand that others their appearance frightening, and as such they can be slow to approach mortal communities on the surface. Instead they work from the shadows as much as possible, making careful introductions to more open-minded folk.

Though they prefer to avoid direct confrontations and employ hit and run tactics, chiropteals also gang up and latch onto larger foes to subdue them. Their anesthetizing bites can cause enemies to quickly bleed out, though chiropteals typically stabilize those they are forced to fight. Chiropteals’ echolocation abilities give them a knack for mapping out subterranean tunnels and labyrinths also make them valuable allies for those exploring the Subterranean Lands or other dark and enclosed spaces. They seldom lead the charge against evil, recognizing their own relative frailty, but offer eager support to bolster sturdier allies.

A typical chiropteal is 3 feet tall and weighs 40 pounds. They most commonly become bards, clerics, or rogues. A rare few are blind, and these individuals are considered particularly blessed and believed to be attuned with the echoes of creation still bouncing off of planar borders. Such chiropteals often become oracles.