Webspinner Spider
Vermin
Chains of Silk

BIOLOGY

Physiology

The Webspinner spider appears as a very light browned skinned woman with darker brown bands along her arms and waist, and long twisting brown markings on her back. Her hair is curly and white, and her eyes are bright yellow with black sclera. The inside of her mouth has two prominent fangs and she lacks a traditional tongue, instead having a strange, long purple proboscis that appears similarly to a tongue. Her lower body is similar to that of a tarantula's, with eight legs and bright white fur with black ring markings on the legs and abdomen. Small black spinnerets can be found at the end of the abdomen, from which the spider produces its potent webbing, and a pair of pedipalps just below the waist end in black, three-fingered claws. Her fangs contain a deadly acidic venom that can rapidly melt organic tissue, while her web is stronger than steel and extremely sticky, being almost impossible to escape from once one is trapped inside it. However, it is exceptionally flammable and can be parted with even simple torches. It will decay over time if placed in water.

Intelligence

Webspinner Spiders are lacking in intelligence, behaving as a simple predator animal slaved to its instincts, knowing how to fight enemies and set up their nests and not much else, though they are at least wise enough to flee when losing a battle or if their webs catch on fire..

Diet

Webspinner Spiders are carnivorous and catch animals, humans, and even other monsters in their webs, which they then trap in a complete wrapping of spiderwebs, using their fangs to pierce their body and begin melting them down into a liquified form for ease of consumption with their proboscis. The creature's size does not matter, it will meet the same fate once it is trapped in a web, though luckily it will only feed on a single victim at a time, meaning captives may have time to be rescued - however they just as often end up starving in the webs.

Habitat

Webspinner spiders exclusively live inside caves and more rarely abandoned buildings, as they are usually the only areas which can support the massive webs they create. Oftentimes, the lair of a Webspinner will become completely infested with webs, making it difficult for anybody to safely travel through it, and the verticality of these webs allows the Webspinner to move with ease throughout their dwelling, while her enemies are far less lucky.

Reproduction

Webspinner spiders will attempt to attract a suitable mate by leaving victims to starve and eventually rot rather than melting them down. Once a mate is obtained, they will mate for life and often have many children, which will remain with their parents until they come of age, upon which they will leave to start their own nests.

SOCIOLOGY

Community

Aside from familial units, Webspinner have no real sense of community, being on the side of Monsters closer to feral animals than intelligent humanoids. They are sometimes domesticated for use by other Monsters however - it is not uncommon to see Nether-dwelling Goblins have a few Webspinners in their ranks, using their silk to create sturdy but light armor. Naturally, they can also be controlled by Monster druids with a specialty towards influence the behavior of Vermin.

Technology

Being uncivilized predators, Webspinners lack any potential to develop technology, though the beautiful and complex structures of their webs and lairs does indicate a level of instinctual form of technology to produce well-defended homes.

Theology

Webspinners lack any sense of religion due to being simple predators.

Diplomacy

Webspinners lack any sense of diplomacy due to being simple predators.

Hostility

Webspinners are extremely hostile to anything which enters their lairs, be it human, animal, or monster. Even domesticated ones must be handled with care, lest a Goblin attendant find themselves spider-food. However, being that they are trap predators, they will never seek out and attack communities, making them somewhat less dangerous than many other Monsters.

HUNTING

Range

Webspinner Spiders can be found worldwide, but only in cave systems, abandoned buildings, and the Nether, making it easy to guess where one may be at risk of encountering them.

Magic

Webspinners lack any magic potential due to being simple predators.

Combat

In battle, a Webspinner will attempt to make sure she is always facing her enemy within the comfort of her lair, and will generally attempt to web them up with a blast from her spinnerets, before wrapping and eventually feeding on them. If low on silk however, she will focus on striking the enemy with her strong legs or clawing at their vulnerable areas with her pedipalps, as well as biting at them if she senses a chance.

Strengths

Strong webs can bind even bodybuilders if they are not careful, while her venom is extremely lethal due to its acidic properties. Strong appendages on her lower body make her relatively able to engage in close combat without silk.

Weaknesses

Webs are extremely vulnerable to fire, meaning a few torches can take down a Webspinner's lair. Upper body is completely unprotected.

Final Summary

When facing a Webspinner Spider, try and burn out her webs if possible, and use long range weapons to avoid being crushed by her legs or bitten by her fangs in the aftermath. Try and hunt her down if she flees, as she'll only make a new web in the future, maintaining the danger she presents to humans. Always be wary of her offspring and mate if she has one. Pay attention and attempt to dodge when she raises her body and readies her abdomen to fire silk at you.