Spider of Strange Colour

Type

Vermin

Base HD

3

Terror

-1

Height (cm)

190 (length)

A monstrous spider as long as a Man is tall, the spider of strange colour is also known as a fadespider because of its strange and confusing coloration that makes it difficult to track even in broad daylight. The joints of a spider of strange colour shimmer like oil and it is covered in long hairs which change hue and shade depending on the angle from which one views the beast as well as the angle and strength of light that strikes it. In addition the spider of strange colour glows faintly violet in darkness, and this makes it even harder to track properly against scenery. The spider is not difficult to spot but it can be extremely difficult to properly gauge distance or track its limbs in partial light, such as that which occurs under forest cover or during twilight.

The spider of strange colour only hunts during the day and especially twilight, and it rarely ever leaves forest canopy during daylight hours. At night the glow of its carapace makes it extremely easy to spot and it is quite vulnerable being lit on fire by knights or hunters sent to clear it out during that time. Its enormous bulk makes it dangerous enough to challenge cows and black bears, but it prefers easier prey like deer or children. However, that same bulk makes it quite hungry, and it is somewhat slower than a bear and is limited to short bursts of such speed. Despite being a spider, the spider of strange colour is not venomous. The spider cannot abide water, and it does not hunt during rainy days.

Spiders of strange colour are extremely dangerous to the common folk. It takes two or three strong adult Men to stand an even chance, and even then one is likely to fall in the fighting unless it can be lured into the open sun, set aflame, or drowned. However the outer carapace on their joints, their hairs, and especially their silk, which has the same iridescent sheen as their joints, are enormously valuable and sell for easily twice or thrice their weight in gold, so there are always inexperienced adventurers who are ready to provide the spiders with food or egg sacs. Spiders of strange colour do not often spin webs except to make it easier to eat their prey which they wrap after killing and eat along with their own silk. For the most part, silk needs to be harvested from their spinnerets after being slain.