Exim

The Exim are a race of arachnid-like humanoids. They are slightly taller and thinner than your average human. They have four extra manipulatory limbs on their back that resemble the legs of a spider. Their large, central pair of eyes is flanked on either side by smaller, more specialized sets. Most striking, however, is the bold, colorful pigmentation of their chitinous exterior. Each of them has a unique pattern of stripes and whorls in all manner of colors, though warmer hues are more common.

Exim society is organized into loose tiers under the guiding rule of Cidae, their ancient matriarch. It was she who first sheltered them from the worst effects of the miasma. Under her tutelage, they began to tame the harsh world beyond Bastion. Today, her remains are mummified in a temple that forms the center of both their government and religion. Despite her demise, she is still cited as their leader and teacher.

As they developed, the Exim domesticated a species of crab-like livestock that, in addition to providing an excellent source of nutrition, possessed a smooth, iron-hard shell. Their warriors now wear this armor over their own softer, more flexible carapaces. In time, the Exim even managed to harness the miasma itself. They collected it in massive structures composed of magical webbing and channeled the energy into useful applications. Though, despite the obvious utility of it, the process seems to have more spiritual connotations than industrial.