Tsuchigumo

Tsuchigumo CR 4

XP 1,200
N Large magical beast (shapechanger)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9

DEFENSE

AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+4 Dex, +3 natural, -1 size)
hp 37 (5d10+10)
Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +4

OFFENSE

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d6+1 plus poison)
Special Attacks web (+8 ranged, DC 14, hp 5)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 5th; concentration +8)

• 2nd (5/day)—hypnotic pattern (DC 15), minor image (DC 15)
• 1st (7/day)—expeditious retreat, grease (DC 14), ray of enfeeblement (DC 14), vanish
• 0 (at will)—daze (DC 13), dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound (DC 13), mage hand, prestidigitation

STATISTICS

Str 12, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 13, Cha 16
Base Atk +5; CMB +7; CMD 21
Feats Eschew Materials^B, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Stealth), Weapon Finesse
Skills Acrobatics +8, Bluff +7, Climb +15, Disguise +7, Knowledge (local) +6, Perception +9, Spellcraft +6, Stealth +8; Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +2 Disguise, +2 Perception
Languages Common, Goblin, Sylvan
SQ change shape (goblin; alter self), mirror self

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Mirror Self (Sp)

As an immediate action after being struck by a ranged or melee weapon, a tsuchigumo can create an illusory duplicate of itself. This functions as mirror image but creates only a single image, or 1d4+1 images if the attack was a critical hit.

Paralytic Bite (Ex)

Bite—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 1 save.

ECOLOGY

Environment temperate forests
Organization solitary, cluster (2–4), or clan (3-6 tsuchigumo and 6-20 goblins)
Treasure standard

This bloated spider has a striated crimson and gray abdomen and an angular humanoid face with pointed ears and red eyes.

A tsuchigumo is an intelligent, shapechanging spider with sorcerous powers. In its natural form, a tsuchigumo resembles a typical giant spider, with a humpbacked body a little bigger than a human torso, and while its face is almost humanoid it nonetheless bears venomous fangs. Although considered a Large creature, a tsuchigumo’s mass is no more than a typical human’s; its size comes from its long legs. A tsuchigumo can be distinguished from other giant spiders by the hump on its back that houses its brain and by the fact that, in addition to eight legs, it has a fifth pair of limbs, each about 2 feet long, located ahead of the first pair of legs. These limbs end in hands, each equipped with three clawed fingers and a doublejointed thumb.

All tsuchigumos are shapechangers with a single alternate form, typically that of a goblin (giving rise to their nickname of “goblin spiders”), though rare tsuchigumos may have different alternate forms. They typically use their humanoid form to infiltrate towns and villages, either to lure unsuspecting victims into ambushes or simply to conduct research and gather information for their inscrutable purposes.

Though tsuchigumos generally prefer to be left alone, they often prove quite knowledgeable about the ways of magic, and if approached peacefully may be willing to share their expertise for the right price (typically a magic item or some service). Skilled spellcasters, tsuchigumos try to avoid physical combat and use their webs and spells when they can. Rather than kill their enemies, tsuchigumos often subdue opponents and hold them for ransom.