Arachne

Arachne CR 5

XP 1,600
NE Large aberration
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +13

DEFENSE

AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +7 natural, -1 size)
hp 59 (7d8+28)
Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +8
Immune mind-affecting effects

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft.; climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +9 (1d8+5 plus poison), slam +9 (1d6+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks web (+7 ranged, DC 20, 7 hp)

STATISTICS

Str 21, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 17, Cha 14
Base Atk +5; CMB +11; CMD 23 (35 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Bluff), Skill Focus (Disguise), Toughness, Weapon Focus (web)
Skills Bluff +16, Climb +23, Disguise +16, Perception +17, Stealth +15; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +8 Climb, +4 Disguise, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth (+8 webs)
SQ arachne’s kiss, strong webs
Languages tongues

SPECIAL TRAITS

Arachne’s Kiss (Ex)

Arachne’s reproduce by implanting their eggs inside living creatures. To do so an arachne must first find a helpless creature, then the female head regurgitates an egg into the other creature’s mouth. A successful Fortitude save (DC 16) makes the creature safely digest the egg. On a failed save the creature suffers 1d6 points of Strength drain every day, however, the creature may attempt another save (at the same DC) every day to prevent the egg from growing and negating the Strength drain that day. After the first failed save the creature must succeed on his saving throw two days in a row to successfully fight off the egg growing inside him. Once the creature’s Strength reaches 0, the egg hatches and the infant arachne burrows its way out of the creature, killing it instantly.

Poison (Ex)

Bite–injury; save Fort DC 16; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Str and Dex, confused and staggered; cure 2 saves.

Strong Webs (Ex)

An arachne’s webs gain a +4 bonus to the DC to break or escape.

ECOLOGY

Environment any underground
Organization solitary
Treasure double

What first appears to be a beautiful maiden in distress being eaten by a giant spider, in reality hides a nightmarish spider like monstrosity underneath.

Arachne’s are the sole masters of their domains. At first glance they might seem like a beautiful naked young woman being devoured by a giant spider, even screaming and begging for help. In reality underneath the facade of the beautiful young woman lies the true creature, a gigantic spider with an abdomen that appears humanoid.

The female half of the arachne can spin and spit a viscous web from her mouth, and the spider half’s poison contains a deadly neurotoxin that can drive even the most stalwart warrior mad. Arachne’s are solitary creature’s usually taking the spoils of all the creature’s they defeat in combat and making a small hoard of assorted coins, gems and other precious items, in the hopes of luring adventurers into its lair. If encountered with adventurers, the female half will act like if it was being eaten by the spider half, usually getting an unsuspecting adventurer to come near to help, usually meeting an end to the arachne’s web, followed by its poisonous bite.

Even though they seem female, arachne’s reproduce by implanting eggs inside helpless creatures. After an Arachne has placed an egg inside of a creature it will usually bury it in its lair, making a small hole in the makeshift tomb to make sure the creature can still breathe, the arachne will even feed the creature the half-digested meat of other creatures to keep it alive. Once hatched, an arachne will burrow its way out of its host creature, killing it instantly and scurrying away to find a new lair for itself. An arachne’s female half will always resemble the race of the creature it hatched from.