Spider Eater
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the spider eater is an ugly, insect-like magical beast
.
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).
or a bee
, despite only having two legs. The colors of a spider eater are horribly mismatched; the head, legs and stinger are red, the central body yellow, and the wings a bluish-black. Its wings are not gauzy like those of most insects, instead being leathery, like those of a bat
or dragon
. The head sports 8 eyes and a pair of mandibles. The legs bear pincers, and the stinger a black hook. Growing from the abdomen are short, sharp, thin spikes, and little hairs grow on the rest of the body. As the name suggests, their favorite food is giant spiders.
Strangely, spider eaters are sometimes valued as aerial steeds. Their eggs are stolen from the giant spider carcasses they are born in, and the creatures are raised from birth. Riding a spider eater requires an exotic saddle, and 6 weeks of training.
Spider eaters cannot talk, being animals.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, the spider eater is an ugly, insect-like magical beast
Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....
.
Publication history
The spider eater appeared in the third edition Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003).
Description
Spider eaters are large, 10 feet long and 4 feet tall, and somewhat resemble a waspWasp
The term wasp is typically defined as any insect of the order Hymenoptera and suborder Apocrita that is neither a bee nor an ant. Almost every pest insect species has at least one wasp species that preys upon it or parasitizes it, making wasps critically important in natural control of their...
or a bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
, despite only having two legs. The colors of a spider eater are horribly mismatched; the head, legs and stinger are red, the central body yellow, and the wings a bluish-black. Its wings are not gauzy like those of most insects, instead being leathery, like those of a bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
or dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
. The head sports 8 eyes and a pair of mandibles. The legs bear pincers, and the stinger a black hook. Growing from the abdomen are short, sharp, thin spikes, and little hairs grow on the rest of the body. As the name suggests, their favorite food is giant spiders.
Characteristics and habits
Spider eaters are pretty similar in habits to some other insects. They attack by landing on prey and driving the stinger into the victim (presumably a giant spider), and then feast on the remains. Though they prefer this prey, they sometimes attack humanoids as well. The female spider eater lays eggs in the paralyzed bodies of prey, to give the newborns something to eat the moment they hatch.Strangely, spider eaters are sometimes valued as aerial steeds. Their eggs are stolen from the giant spider carcasses they are born in, and the creatures are raised from birth. Riding a spider eater requires an exotic saddle, and 6 weeks of training.
Spider eaters cannot talk, being animals.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment.