Spiders...! (Part One)

The first in a series about spiders...

WHIP SPIDERS

Whip Spider (Lesser)

FREQUENCY: Uncommon
 
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
 
ARMOR CLASS: 4

MOVE: 8"

HIT DICE: 4 +4

% IN LAIR: 30%

TREASURE TYPE: C

NO. OF ATTACKS: 3

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-12, 1-12, 1-12

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (12' long, excluding forelegs)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

Whip spiders are large mountain-dwelling creatures whose forelegs are some 20' long and very flexible. They use these to capture prey across passes and crevasses as well as for climbing steep rock faces. They see equally well in daylight or in complete darkness and sometimes hang by their rearmost legs from cave ceilings to wait for passing prey. Their colouration and the rough surface of their body makes them particularly difficult to see and this, combined with the long reach of their forelegs, means that they surprise on a roll of 1-3 (on a 6-sided die). The tip of each foreleg ends in a small claw that can inflict 1-12 points of damage, and those struck must save vs paralyzation or become completely immobilised. A victim may then be dragged towards the spider's fangs and drained of 1-12 hit points per turn. When not in use, the forelegs loop back over the creature's body.

These creatures do not spin webs, choosing instead to make lairs in deep caves and sometimes within dungeons and other subterranean places. If encountered in their lair, there is a 50% chance that 2-12 hatchlings will also be present. These have 1HD +4 but do not possess a paralysing attack from their 5' long forelegs. Their claw and bite attacks inflict 1-4 points of damage. 

 

Whip Spider (Greater)

FREQUENCY: Rare
 
NO. APPEARING: 1
 
ARMOR CLASS: 2

MOVE: 6"

HIT DICE: 6

% IN LAIR: 75%

TREASURE TYPE: C

NO. OF ATTACKS: 7

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-20 (per foreleg), 3-18

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Animal

ALIGNMENT: Neutral

SIZE: L (20' long, excluding forelegs)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

       Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

This rarer form of Whip Spider often chooses to reside within gullies, pits and similar locations. Each 30' long foreleg is made up of three long sections that can act independently, two of which are kept outside the creature's lair. In this manner they can detect the approach of prey and are particularly difficult to see, thus surprising on a roll of 1-4 (on a 6-sided die). When attacking, the spider will attempt to paralyze victims and those failing a saving throw will be dragged into its lair, where its fangs will drain 3-18 points of damage per turn. Each foreleg also inflicts 2-20 points of damage with every successful attack.

There is a 25% chance that the lair will also contain 1-3 Lesser Whip Spiders, as well as 1-6 2HD hatchlings. These possess four 10' long forelegs each capable of inflicting 1-8 points of damage, as well as possessing the ability to paralyze their victim. Their bite also inflicts 1-8 points of damage.   

Note: For both varieties of Whip Spider, any treasure will be found within the remains of previous victims. Also, the Dungeon Master may rule that an encounter with a Lesser or Greater Whip Spider might include one or more individuals in transit and carrying hatchlings upon their backs. However, such an encounter will provide no treasure.