Arachne

A centaur-esque creature that has the upper body of a human and the lower body of a spider. Most of the time they are seen as females since female spiders are bigger and more dangerous than males. Arachne are Drow that have been transformed from the waist down so they have the body of a spider. The transformation is typically a punishment for offending their people.

 

Species Name: Arachne, Drider

Type: Humanoid Spider

Physical Traits: These strange creatures have the head and torso of a Dark Elf and the legs and lower body of a giant spider. They are centaur-like creatures, appearing as Elven from the waist up, with their lower portions replaced by the abdomen and legs of immense spiders. They appear as typical humanoids from the waist up, with a clear head and two arms reaching from their torso. Below the waist, however, they possess a monstrous spider's thorax and eight arachnoid legs. Females retain their sleek, beautiful, and Elven shapes above the waist; below, their spider bodies are similarly sleek and smooth. Males, though, are much more bestial. Their faces are a horrific blend of Elf and spider, and their bodies are spiny and rough.

Height: 7' - 8' feet

Weight: 600lbs

Abilities: Arachne can bite for D4 points of damage, and those bitten must save vs. poison with a -2 penalty or be paralyzed for 1-2 turns. They can spray webbing from their abdomens with a great degree of control, enabling any spider-kin to create either sticky webs or silk-like web-threads.

Mobility: Legs

Sensory Organs: Visual

Communication: Vocal

Reproduction: None

INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 3D6, DEX: 3D6, CON: 3D6, CHA: 3D6, MR: 4D6, HPs: CON +D12, AC: 4

Orbit/Climate: See Earth

Feeding Habits: Omnivore. Their digestion changes and they must drink the blood of living creatures for sustenance.

Lifespan: 120 years

Technology: 2

Culture: Hostile, intolerant and aggressive, held in check by strong social customs. Arachne are usually found alone or with 2D6 huge spiders. They are violent, aggressive creatures that favour blood over all types of food. They stalk their victims tirelessly, waiting for the right chance to strike. Arachne still maintain the spells and special abilities they had developed. They retain intelligence and memories. This usually makes them bitter, spiteful creatures. Some hunt for magic powerful enough to undo the transformation.

Arachne are vicious opponent in battle, snaring foes in their webs and rushing up to administer poisonous bites if their opponents are successfully restrained. They have also been known to use greatswords and other weapons with great proficiency. Their webs are their most potent weapons, as they can easily distract or disorganize an entire group of adventurers, allowing the monsters and any allies to gain the upper hand.

Government: None

Population: 13,300


 

Creating an Arachne character

Step 1: Attributes
Roll attributes as normal but MR is 4D6. Mana = INT + WIS x4. Mana is recovered at a rate of 10 per hour if remain active (but not using magic) and 20 per hour if asleep. Mana can however be permanently traded for HPs at a rate of 1 for 1. Hit points = CON +12, +12 per level.
Step 2: Skills

Choose skills in the normal manner according to the character's class.
Step 3: Abilities

All Arachne gain all the following free;

Poison Bite - Arachne can bite for D4 points of damage, and those bitten must save vs. poison with a -2 penalty or be paralyzed for 1-2 turns.

Resist Sleep and Charm - Arachne can resist these forms of influence with a +1 save per 5 WIS.

Additionally Arachne start with 35 Points to spend on any of the following abilities. As they earns more experience they may buy or rebuy more abilities.
Ability Cost Notes
Increased Thac0 5 +1 Thac0 with ranged weapons at levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19.
Intimidating 10 This character has greater presence, +1 CHA
Natural Chameleon 5

Using this ability the Arachne can blend into and render himself nearly invisible in any mountainous or subterranean terrain. When hiding he can conceal himself from attackers and eavesdrop on his enemies. He can hide near a well travelled road and secretly observe passersby, or conceal himself near an enemy campsite waiting for an opportune moment to steal their supplies. 

Natural Mana 5 +10 Mana at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Nature Survival 5 Due to an Arachne's extensive experience and training underground he gains +1 to any physical, combat and survival rolls made while within that environment.
Nightsight 10 The character can see in absolute darkness at a distance equal to his normal sight.
Spider Empathy 5 Arachne can establish telepathic communication with any normal or giant spider within line of sight if he does nothing else in the round. The animal must have a minimum INT of 1. This has the following benefits:
He can communicate to the creature that he desires its friendship. If the offer is sincere (and the animal will be able to sense if it isn't), the creature can be calmed and will not attack or flee unless it is attacked. It will answer any of his questions.

Further he can then recruit this insect as an ally. Once he does so he permanently psionically links with the animal turning it into a familiar. At any point he may see through the familiar's eyes, smell through its nose, hear with its ears, taste with its mouth or link with any of its other senses (including supernatural ones). The two are always in constant telepathic contact.

Webbing 5 With this power the character can fire one stream of webbing per round. The webbing causes D6 impact damage to anything hit by it. The webbing can be fired in the form of a strand or a cone, both able to hold up to twice the body weight of the character. If the webbing is fired in strand form it is up to 1 centimetre per INT wide in a circular radius and up to 2 metres per INT long. The character can decide how long and wide to make the webbing before firing it. The character can create a webbed shield of similar diametre. The shield has a sticky side and a non-sticky side. The shield is permeable to all gases and liquids. Weapons, items, people, etc. all stick to the sticky side of the shield. The stickiness of the web is equal to 1 STR per INT. After 1 minute per INT, +1 minute per level the webbing will degenerate. 
Willpower Bonus 10 +1 Willpower save at levels 1, 4, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 20.
Witch Sight 10 The Arachne can see the true image of any person or object regardless of any form of concealment, disguise, illusion or invisibility. This also includes the ability to detect whether it is magical, and whether it is harmful or helpful.
Step 4: Classes

Any.

 

 

Races