Dungeons and Dragons Lore: Aranea

Giant Spider, intelligent, shapeshifting, sorcerer shapeshifters? Let's delve into the secrets of the Aranea and visit the world of Mystara.
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aj pickett, the mighty gluestick, dungeons and dragons, roleplaying, tabletop, 5E, 5th edition, faerun, toril, forgotten realms, Eberron, pen and paper, Dungeons and dragons lore, monsters, magic, magic items, monster ecology, mystara, aranea, spiderfolk, spiderwere, shapeshifter, arcana, sorcery

[@SeraphimKnight]

giant spider: i sleep giant spider with fingies: *ｎｏｐｐｅ*

[@coreyeaston6823]

That's funny. I kind of did something like this to a party member who didn't provide any backstory at all. They were an Aranea and didn't know it. Just imagine what happened when the party was hunting an invisible creature and used true sight...that's right one less party member; because who talks anymore?

[@AJPickett]

Lol! I had a campaign where a player choose a shape shifted green slaad, that was fun.

[@trajanfidelis1532]

There is a spider cult (not dedicated to lolth, much to her fury)in my homebrew setting these things are perfect for it

[@TheKing-qz9wd]

@Lamodrick Foster And all the clerics said *"BURN IN HOLY FIRE"* and you never managed to tell anyone.

[@357Dejavu]

I like that alot!

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

@@TheKing-qz9wd cup and I will send them the next time they come to my hand lol and I’ll be sure that one of you will get a little better and more of it to be

[@thomasjessop9144]

Dear Aj Long-time fan here, I'm pretty sure I've seen every one of your monster ecologies at least twice. As an college-educated arachnologist myself, if you would ever like to discuss home brewing arachnoid monsters let me know.

[@Mortablunt]

You're crazy brave to study Nopes in depth.

[@sebastiancollins01]

Here's a fun curse to give your players. "There is a spider on your body all times and whenever you think about it it will bite you. You will feel it's legs apon your flesh and see the scars it leaves behind but never see the spider itself. " I'll let you come up with the stats but I'm sure you'll come up with something terrifying, you always do. Cheers.

[@skyemorningstar166]

Oooo that's horrible. I love it!

[@gigatwin5298]

The Aranea are the only true spider girls in DnD, they're literally spiders that are woman whats not to love about them ... or feel absolutely terrified at the prospect of a human sized spider that can look you in the eye and then sound like an innocent girl

[@bskec2177]

There's actually another type of giant spider on Mystara called a Shroud spider, that mimics the crys of a scared little girl to lure adventures into it's web lair.

[@glorbojibbins2485]

Lol right that's pretty spooky

[@bskec2177]

@@glorbojibbins2485 It's very intelligent too. It can hold entire conversations with a party, in the little girl voice, while actually being a very, very large spider.

[@TheKing-qz9wd]

As long as she never bites me, everything is fine. Most likely though it's all some kind of scam, so I'll be keep a charge of magical lighting on stand by.

[@KimKimeraKimes]

@@bskec2177 I have been trying to find it but no luck on finding info with that ability mentioned, do you know where to find it?

[@Greenscyth22]

I've always thought of Aranea as the spiderfolk you can actually converse with without fear of becoming it's next meal. Intelligent, slightly humanoid spiderfolk who are usually recluses in some corner of the forest who only pick off non intelligent prey (or the occasional humanoid who is intent on destroying their forest homes). The idea of so much treachery amongst the species doesn't sit well with me. There are so many evil spider-like monsters in D&D, I just like keeping one good natured option open. I like the idea of a half celestial Aranea who covers her part of the forest in golden shimmering threads, and is a font of arcane/clerical knowledge for those who seek her out. She even has control over some of the local giant spiders in the area, modifying or "blessing" them, enabling them to spin silk which is infused with the Protection against Evil spell.

[@bskec2177]

If you can get your hands on a copy of the AC9 Creature Catalogue, there are several giant spider races in there. The Aranea are the only ones that live in groups and form societies, but there are other intelligent spiders available.

[@johngleeman8347]

So an aranea's limitation on taking more than one alternate form is more of a culturally enforced compulsion then it is an actual physiological limitation? Interesting. I also didn't know that the werewolf-like hybrid form was a lore goof on the 3rd edition writers' part. Still, I prefer them as majority Neutral alignment and not Neutral Evil as your stat-block says. Thank you for making it though!

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

*YES!* Let the skin crawling commence! I propose a toast to Spider Week

[@Im-Not-a-Dog]

Many species of wasp lay their eggs in spiders. This makes me curious as to how the Aranea deal with giant wasps. That would have to be issue for them, being the natural incubator for something as large and aggressive as Giant Wasps.

[@TheAlgorath]

Stone Spiders. "Stone"

[@lwpatch8585]

I ran a 3.5 adventure out of Dungeon mag #137, “Siege of the Spider Eaters”, that touched on that idea.

[@coreyshorter8526]

Hmm mystic spiders gives whole new meaning to spell weaver.

[@hootimusmaximus2801]

They are venomous not poisonous, venom is injected into the bloodstream, poison is ingested or absorbed thru the skin. Love your videos tho! Keep them coming!

[@AJPickett]

And yet, one does not shout "help, I have been venomed by a giant spider person!". 😉

[@muhammadedwards8425]

I've been waiting for this Monstrology video for a long time. As a biology nerd, I've always loved the idea of intelligent non-humanoids. How does the ecology shape their (neuro)psychology? How can we empathize with something that we can't relate well to?

[@tatsusama3192]

Fun Fact: If *any* species of spider were the size of a normal house cat their webs would be strong enough to catch helicopters out of the sky

[@lafortya]

There were spiders that big millions of years ago, but I don't know if they were web spinners. They can't get that big anymore though because the atmosphere has a lot less oxygen now and their lungless respiratory system can't handle that at those sizes.

[@tatsusama3192]

@@lafortya Yes and no, actually. It's thought that they still spun webs just stuck to lower areas. Instead of the webs we'd accidently walk through in a forest between trees the larger prehistoric species were more like trapdoor spiders. Wait for something to step in it's web on the ground and then ambush it

[@lafortya]

@@rachdarastrix5251 Who said I was human? Or from Earth?

[@jameswilliams2075]

Theres the race i need for my character idea of a giant spider obsessed wizard but hates lolth. Time to butter up the DM

[@porkchop4401]

Imagine rescuing some D.I.D. from certain death by the hands of some roaming bandits. You get your heroes reward only to, half way through she turns back into a huge fuck all spider.......... DnD

[@dbensdrawinvids8390]

I love these guys. They take center stage in my favorite low-level dungeon-crawl back from 3rd ed. Players stumble across a false village of the aranea taken over by spider eaters and wind up having to help the spider folk.

[@TheBarnBards]

Hell yeah! 'The Isle of Dread' was the first adventure I ever DM'd...love your old school references AJ!

[@Reddotzebra]

So they literally nuked the lizards back to the stone age? Wow, the backstory of this campaign world is intense.

[@bskec2177]

The Ularoo weren't just lizard-men, but Chameleon men, whose camo abilities essentially made them invisible when standing still. This trait undoubtedly added to the Arenea's paranoia about being discovered. They were a creation of Mystara's top dragon immortal, who was incredibly pissed at them being cursed with what was essentially a forever feeblemind, one that was even passed down through generations. Hence the army of dragons that incinerated the Aranean empire, and started hunting down the survivors. The Great Dragon (aka the Rainbow Serpent), is not evil, but does hold a grudge.

[@Mr_Welch]

The Herathian Aranea did a memory wipe. Spell was supposed to erase the memory of the Aranea, but instead it removed all knowledge from the Wallaroo back to the Stone Age. The Wallaroo had discovered the Herathians were shapechangers, despite the fact they weren't doing anything with the knowledge the Aranea couldn't let their discovery stand. The Great One's wrath also coated the area with a magical powder that made divination spells almost impossible to punish the Aranea who depended on the magic to keep track of their rivals. The entire chain of events later caused the Red Curse in part.

[@bskec2177]

@@Mr_Welch Thanks. I was going on memory from the Dragon magazine series "Princess Ark", I never got the Red Steel set.

[@Mr_Welch]

@@bskec2177 They altered it slightly. Mystara's biggest problem has always been the continuity. Great for DM's making the world their own, terrible for people trying to put together a lore video on the setting.

[@bskec2177]

@@Mr_Welch I loved the Gazetter series for filling in the blanks, and I hated the Gazetteer series for filling in ALL the blanks.

[@brettonalwood4173]

Already can't wait to learn more and they're this at my players.

[@samsamsamsamsamanilla5281]

A must read: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It's science fiction but has a fascinating insight on how a race of intelligent large spiders think and act

[@davidlewis8814]

That spell of forgetting is unbelievably powerful. I can’t remember which series it is, but a similar spell is used to destroy a god. If none of its worshippers can remember its name in order to make worship possible, a god will die of starvation/asphyxiation!

[@themightymoose5047]

AJ, any plans to make some videos on the eladrin? I haven't found any dedicated videos on them in your extensive and amazing collection.

[@AJPickett]

I mention the Eladrin of the outer planes on occasion, but nothing dedicated to them alone yet.

[@themightymoose5047]

@@AJPickett that tidbit was what got me into them - I'm currently playing a spring eladrin now because of it in fact. Definetly my favorite player race thus far. It's fun to play a race that wears their magic on their sleeve, and stands out so much in a crowd.

[@minimmats]

They seem to have a strangely sympathetic background. I like it. Not every monstrous race needs to be baby eating 100% of the time.

[@DracosDiabolis]

Oh the plot threads are there already. Eilistraee has been trying to recruit some or all the Aranea for a source or good. By doing so the Aranea find out who their prayers have been going to and who organized what happened to their god. ... just Eilistraee left the breadcrumbs and clues. In the Hope's they will start praying to her in revolt against her mother.

[@MrKlotzi123]

Now that's a Race I would want to play. Spider Peace!

[@porkchop4401]

Right!? So i have not played DnD yet but want to so damn bad. I hope to find one of the times, A DM who lest us create pure evil characters so i can be some hideous monster race instead of running around with half elfs....

[@skrog907]

Always nice to see a new video from AJ, especially monster ecologies are my favorite.

[@khilorn]

Oh shoot this funny. I named my homebrew world Aranae def putting these guys in

[@flibbernodgets7018]

I love monsters like this that have a story hook embedded in their biology.

[@MrKlotzi123]

Do they live and work together with Ettercaps and other giant Spiders? Or do they just see them as Prey?

[@ryanulrich2147]

Yay, it's a new AJ Pickett video!!!

[@jesseparker8878]

What a great concept, my favourite vid of yours to date!

[@nullvoid4063]

Fascinating. I always enjoy learning about non-humanoid sentient species. This gives me lots of ideas for weird monsters and cultures for my homebrew campaign. Thanks AJ! Question for AJ and the comment section: What are some of your favorite non-humanoid sentient species? I know AJ has mentioned dragons are one of his favorite, but what are some others that are cool?

[@AJPickett]

Bariur!

[@nullvoid4063]

@@AJPickett The goatmen of Ysgard. Great choice!

[@bskec2177]

Jotoki aliens from Niven's Known Space series.

[@nullvoid4063]

@@bskec2177 Cool choice. It's nice to see some truly *alien* aliens in literature and media.

[@bskec2177]

@@nullvoid4063 Agreed. I've seen far too many Star trek "humans with pointy ears" aliens. They're ok for sci-fi that is attempting to show an aspect of humanity as social commentary, but sometimes I want a really alien view-point.

[@alphaamino]

I always feel bad for creatures in D&D whose deities got turned or subsumed by evil gods. Like, what do you do when your pantheon gets tricked into evil, or like the goblinoid races, is full-on enslaved?

[@AJPickett]

Their god was an actual demon but yes, fully agree.

[@avenshil]

I’ve currently working on a custom variant of a Jorogumo for my Japanese Ive been running...this has some good ideas I hadn’t considered...

[@chadlynch1551]

Old school Mystara monster! Hot damn!

[@Arius_Astronomy]

4:35 Ok so I am gonna need some context for those space whales.

[@AJPickett]

That was a weird issue of Dragon magazine.

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Isle of Dread! Still own it and know it by heart!

[@ericcollins1727]

Intelligent..... spell casting.... giant spiders?!? Aka... nightmare fuel!

[@nicolaezenoaga9756]

Also, Lupin remake?

[@samuelteare8160]

Your stat block has them listed as shapechangers, but it doesn't include the shapechanger trait. Other than that, It's a great stat block. Thanks TMG!

[@Mortablunt]

I've been waiting for this one for a long time!

[@Scortch-lo3xy]

ah yes love anything to do with mystara

[@tonyromasco1735]

Another great opportunity to bring in Kwakul Anansi African god of Tricksters Music Stories And Spiders

[@foxunix101]

I am planning on running a one shot where some exclusive mountain is druid communities basically never let anybody stay in the villages in do not care for outsiders. Long story short the player characters are going to be sent as an advanced force to scout to mountain out for mining. However they’re going to find some extremely pissed off druid spider people now hahahah. Thank you!!

[@AJPickett]

You're welcome 😁

[@Daleksaresupreme1]

Woo!! Mystara

[@MrNetWraith]

(20 minutes in) "Aranea have no hybrid form." ...Have you READ the Red Steel entry on Aranea, written by TSR for AD&D 2nd edition? Aranea having a hybrid form is old canon. From the General Notes section alone: Aranea of the Savage Coast have two true forms - that of their ancestors (a large, intelligent spider) and that of a humanoid. *They can also take on a shape that combines elements of the two. * In its *third, demispider form*, an aranea appears as a humanoid with arachnoid elements. These always include fangs, spinnerets in the palm of each hand, and four eyes. The demispider form typically has an extra joint in each finger and thumb as well, and the two extra eyes are generally located on the temples. But no two individuals ever have exactly the same demispider form. Since aranea gain no initial Legacy from the Red Curse, aranea characters usually claim that this form is part of their Legacy. The fiction works well, considering that aranea are relatively rare and very secretive, and some Legacies give a demispider form.

[@AJPickett]

Cheers! (Will pin this comment)

[@DarthRamzes]

I always wanted to play Aranea character, who didn't know they were Aranea and had nighmares about spiders and sometimes uncontrollably shifted to this demispider form much to their horror.

[@bskec2177]

The "Talons of Night" module (M5 9214) had the Aranea as descendants of a race of Planar spiders that had their plane-shifting powers stripped from them and banished to Mystara as a punishment for some ancient crime.

[@AJPickett]

Hmmmm! This species is REALLY old.

[@bskec2177]

@@AJPickett Played this module a long time ago (1988). There was an avatar of their God imprisoned in Thotia that was the BBEG at the end, and had to recover an artifact to destroy her. Also, I think the Planar spiders and the Phanatons had a much better relationship with each other. This was a long time ago, so I'm not sure I'm getting it all right.

[@zeburancher9480]

Spiders with fingers. nope. no ty. feels bad, they have to disguise themselves to exist as they do, that they've developed such an intense culture around just that. they could embrace their monstrous selves, but they choose not to, to change themselves instead. many actions are done out of fear... but their actions are done out of respect for the feelings (fear) of others. Like a child who acts differently to impress others, instead of 'being themselves', it is a 'shame'. (I didn't write my thought out perfectly well, but that is the gist of it)

[@AJPickett]

They are not victims, they are predators who have developed the perfect way to ambush their prey. :)

[@bskec2177]

Being cast out for who you are is something that people can identify and feel sympathy for, but Aranea are spiders the size of small horses, with a preference for eating other sentient races. They can change into human form to hide, but hiding is as much getting close to lunch as it is to stop that lunch's friends from killing you.

[@bskec2177]

@@rachdarastrix5251 I don't know about Bahamut forgiving you, but I doubt Gordon Ramsey will.

[@bskec2177]

@@rachdarastrix5251 It shall be settled in the ultimate culinary arena, for the title of Iron Chief, now, ALLEZ CUISINE!!!

[@bskec2177]

@@rachdarastrix5251 Today's secret ingredient......live Phanaton!

[@LokiSilverFlame]

I used to have that module! Flashbacks!!

[@squirrellordsgaming2772]

Very nice, might need to find a way to use these creatures for my setting. Good video.

[@Mare_Man]

Perhaps it was a twisted vision of these spider-folk that enticed twisted druids to create the monstrous Ettercaps

[@AnonymousAlcoholic772]

Does anyone remember an old scifi rpg called “paranoia?” Quite possibly the best time we ever had if you get the right group going. i miss the laughs. Just as funny to read the materials as it is to play

[@MySerpentine]

Oh yeah . . .

[@AnonymousAlcoholic772]

@@MySerpentine remember starting equipment was a) 5 gal active genetic solution in a 4% protein broth (ie sperm), b) 10000 oval ball bearings..c) skippy the wonderbot.?

[@dimpopcornyo3637]

Dude this is nice. Hey could you do a top ten lesser or unknown races of d&d?

[@AJPickett]

Not my thing.

[@dimpopcornyo3637]

@@AJPickett eh worth a try. But still you're awesome for doing these

[@MrReckless1978]

Oh iam so using this in a drow campaign iam going to be running, maybe set the stage in a different world like dark sun.

[@agsilverradio2225]

16:24 Let me guess; Lolph actually userped the Arranian God, and stole his divine spider portpholio?

[@AJPickett]

In a way, yes.

[@darkmystic7764]

Oh hell no.

[@A1giantkiller]

I have the 2nd edition Red Steel Campaign Setting. The hybrid form is mentioned in that editions entry for Aranea. Artwork included.

[@josephsorrendino9645]

Looking forward, hopefully, to a full on Lolth video.

[@jeremygriffin620]

Looks like Necromancer Games 5th Edition Foes has a great write up of them with a heady 5e stat block.

[@Telenaus]

ah now i know why my dm in the 90's didnt want us anywhere near Calimshan & it also explains one of the "inside jokes" running through the campaign that i didnt understand ,, this make things way funnier

[@p-leif630]

Reading the "Ilse of dread" the 5e conversion by good man games

[@Urammar]

Im coming into this late, but arent they actually really kind beings that basically just want to be left alone, but everyone keeps seeing them as giant spider monsters and killing the hell out of them? You're saying they crave human flesh and whatnot? Where does this lore come from? Can anyone send me in the right direction for it?

[@AJPickett]

Mystara.

[@Urammar]

@@AJPickett Can you expand that at all? I've read some lore from that setting, and my understanding is that they are absolutely not naturally hostile, and even when they have to be the take prisoners for ransom, avoiding killing at all costs. None of this breakdown is consistent with what I've read of these dudes.

[@Thorn99855]

Can't wait to try this creature out either the next session or the one after. The party is currently in the undercity of Sharn - Old Ja'Shaarat. They will first encounter orange lizards that hunt in packs like wolves and a flail snail that is eating the debris of the trail they were trying to follow. When they press on they will find a large cavern where the abandoned city continues but spills out into a large town square of sorts flanked by various buildings carved into the cavern walls. But it is here, in this abandoned space that my aranea, Ooladelle, ambushes any who dare enter her claimed domain. She is very tricksy though. She uses those she has mostly drained to the brink of dry and a special alchemical potion to form undead servants. She spins her spider silk into strips of sticky cloth and wraps up this poor lot to form "adherers" an oldschool monster that is a weak but very sticky mummy. And being a level 3 wizard herself, she will make good use of an array of spells and the guise of an old hermit woman dwelling within the abandoned money changer building. Not sure if I want to lure them into the ambush spot with gold or with an injured animal. Heroes can be caught either by the heartstrings or their purse strings. I think I will use a creature though as this is a fairly compassionate group... though some of them have a streak of greed too. Maybe use both baits.

[@mr.eccentricthelich]

Well this was very interesting and I love the hobbit giant spider for the picture of the video. All i could think of well listening to this is the spiders talking form the hobbit. Good Job AJ on the vid can't wait for more spiders from you.

[@AJPickett]

That was Hagrid's pet spider from Harry Potter 🤓

[@mr.eccentricthelich]

@@AJPickett honest mistake there wasn't much of the background there and the spiders look very similar

[@jasonowens8023]

nice video, as usual, but I HATE spiders

[@movespammerguyteam7colors]

Oh god it’s the giant spiders from Harry Potter but with an extra pair of limbs that have hands... Dam it...

[@michaelhowze8198]

They're wizards to

[@adrianithhenwood6771]

Well you gave me inspiration for a few npcs. Bummer about 3rd edition, the popularity of the Jorōgumo yokai, maybe to blame for that mishap.

[@AJPickett]

Yeah, I blame the monster girl fanboys.

[@Shakkarz]

Didn't the justacer and his companions for this great creature in their journeys and there are two domains that I mentioned that she rules

[@DEMONOFLOVEANDDEATH]

Yes yes yes, MOAR

[@lafortya]

Aw. Shame I didn't have this when my players met the aranea in Castle Amber. I played the aranea as smart enough to not just attack the obviously dangerous adventurers, and the players did in fact end up negotiating with them for some insight as to the nature of Castle Amber. So I think all that still tracks.

[@AJPickett]

Yep, it does. 👍

[@danielsteinbock4407]

Yah! Spiders! X3

[@dragonballtalk8527]

Spider techno song from phase spider video ok

[@AJPickett]

Was that a request for more of my Boomer dubstep? 😅

[@davidfletcher6703]

What universe are the regions of Geldon Tor, Thardolin, Telendra part of?

[@AJPickett]

Mystara I believe

[@davidfletcher6703]

@@AJPickett, I remember them from the PC game called Soulbringer

[@danagroupsrl6613]

Thanks.

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video AJ

[@utternon-cents9136]

Fantasy cows when?

[@AJPickett]

Rothê, already covered 😉

[@wendigo-yt]

I have someone in my party who is a huge arachnophobe. These guys would be perfect.

[@zmishiymishi5349]

Ye, Lolth wont let anyone use a title of spider god

[@joelcoombs2437]

SPIDERRRRRRRRRRRRZ

[@tulpa5599]

we're screwed

[@tylamcgilverson3923]

This sounds a lot like so im a spider so what. It was a light novel i read a few years ago. A girl gets transported to another world ans becomes a spider monster.

[@porkchop4401]

Nope...

[@mikemccoy5092]

Yep if these were real they would be eradicated because big spiders ahhhhhh get a big shoe lol

[@KuLaydMahn]

Humans would've invented the atom bomb 200 years sooner and launched them all

[@gabrieladerre2862]

You never know! There are massive areas of unexplored jungles and wilderness! Its possible that there's some absolutely crazy things that we have never seen, out there! Or maybe some unfortunate soul saw them, and never made it back to tell anyone? Its a fun thought! 😁

[@mikemccoy5092]

Yeah if there was giant spiders like that I'd rather be on Mars lol

[@JohnA...]

Nope, just nope...

[@t2av159]

667 like

[@AncientRylanor69]

t

[@uglyweirdo1389]

Spidery

[@dr.calibrations7984]

"Throw out all your monster girl fanart." Your talking lot of shit for someone in CRUSADING distance...

[@jakethegreatest473]

Dude...what parts of the lore being cannon is up to your DM

[@dr.calibrations7984]

@@jakethegreatest473 Its a joke my guy

[@AJPickett]

Lol!

[@jakethegreatest473]

@@dr.calibrations7984 you watch MxR plays?

[@dr.calibrations7984]

@@jakethegreatest473 of course. I've been subbed to Henry's first channel since 2011

[@nicolaezenoaga9756]

Thanks.

[@dboot8886]

OH CHRIST THAT THUMBNAIL!! "Throw away all your monster girl fanart boys I'm sorry." Me: NEVER!

[@Sgt-Wolf]

"brother get the flamer, the heavy flamer"

[@moonringXD]

Are the Aranea related in any way to the k'r'r'r from spelljammer? They seem to have a similar worldview of other races and seem to both be very technologically advance. Perhaps their offshoots of an earlier species? 🕷 And excellent video as always!

[@AJPickett]

They are a very ancient species, so, could be.

[@zimattack9994]

Hmm an Aranena lich that sounds fun! The heros step in to his lair. they her a muffled scream they run to save the victim. as they inter the web room they see a man in ebon robes as he terns they se a sickly green ooze drip down his mouth. He say a second helping what a good day! i get dinner and more servants. He raises his hand and the cocoon burst open as an Alchemical zombie shamble out

[@Insane-Howl-Cowl]

Now I want a society where the Yuanti and Aranea are manipulating things behind the scenes. Maybe holidays that are said to ward off the other, but really are just ways to subtlety show off their control.

[@KuLaydMahn]

Oddly enough, Ultima Online had something analogous to this with the Terathans and Ophidians

[@craykard8325]

Always knew there was a spider conspiracy!

[@EdgarHernandez-xz6eq]

Thank Sir AJ Pickett you have quenched my thirst for D&D lore for a day

[@AJPickett]

*bows*

[@saeyabor]

Bigby's Crashing Shoe

[@That80sGuy1972]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have a homebrew version of this beastie that I first took from D&D boxed sets ("Isle of Dread" module, I think) and vaguely remember later AD&D publishings. I long forgot where I got it. They are Aranea. My latest incarnation was from an island with a Romance of the Three Kingdoms theme I love to use. On the surface, it was The Spiders (Aranea), the Mountain People (Mountain Dwarves), and the Forrest People (pre-Drow form of Dark Elves). Under the surface, it was The Spiders, the Colony (Centaur Ants... I forget their f-based modern name), and the Diggers (Deep Dwarves). It was a mini-campaign where the players actively shaped the worlds via their quests and choices. In that, I allowed players to create spider folk and centaur ant player characters that they got to keep and use in later adventures. My version of Aranea (thanks again for letting me know the name of the beastie I took that from) did not use magic to shape-change so True Sight did not dispel their disguise. It took them a whole day within a web cocoon to break their exoskeleton and re-shape their body into a different form and mending it into the new shape. Going back into their natural form is almost instant and can be done at any time. It hurts badly, taking away 1d6x10% (round down) of their remaining HPs and it takes a full day for them to get back their former AC and senses beyond their disguised form. They instantly get back their sheer attack capabilities. And, well, those below level 4 need to make a save or flee/panic when seeing a person or "what not" explode into being some kind of spider, showering everyone with a bit of blood and gore, to attack. Oh, and killing them in the alternative form causes the same explosion but it is warped into a just as wounded spider folk. I now know what to call my homebrew. It's my version of Aranea. I have no idea where you dug this up but THANK YOU!

[@AJPickett]

Sounds like demon spiders, one form bursting out of the other. I like it.

[@zourin8804]

The thing I don't get is if their thing is 'magical research', why are they barely competent spellcasters? That's like calling my cat a 'physics researcher' because she very carefully watches the things she knocks off the shelf hit the floor.

[@AJPickett]

The average Aranea is, there are also Archmages and liches. I encourage you to make your own.