A fair woman’s torso with golden hair and eyes sits atop the purple carapace of a spider in place of a human lower body. She makes an eerie cackle at her newfound prey. – Manly Man
Arachne (CR 14)
XP 38,400
N Large Monstrous Humanoid
Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 90 ft.; Perception +26
DEFENSE
AC 30, touch 15, flat-footed 24 (+15 natural, +6 Dex, -1 size)
hp 261 [342] (18d10+162)
Fort +15, Ref +17, Will +16
Immune polymorphing; Resist earth 20
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.
Melee bite +27 (2d6+10 plus Poison (2d6 damage/round for 2d6 rounds, Fort DC 28 negates), 2 claws +27 (1d8+10 plus grab)
Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks earthquake, silk burst
STATISTICS
Str 30, Dex 22, Con 28, Int 16, Wis 20 Cha 24
Base Atk +18; CMB +29 (+35 when grappling, +37 when grappling while flanking); CMD 45 (47 vs grapple, 57 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Dirty Fighting, Improved Grapple, Body Shield, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Improved Natural Attack (claw), Combat Reflexes, Grabbing Style*, Grabbing Drag, Grabbing Master
*Indicates a bonus feat.
Skills Climb +39, Bluff +25, Diplomacy +25, Intimidate +28, Perception +26, Stealth +31, Survival +26
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elvaan, Sylvan
SQ counter, softstep, wall walking
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Counter (Ex)
Whenever an arachne is targeted with an attack, she can make an attack of opportunity. Her attack of opportunity comes into play after the provoking attack is resolved.
Earthquake (Su)
The arachne can cause the ground to erupt around her within a 30 ft. radius. Creatures within the area of effect take 8d6 points of earth damage and are inflicted with the Weighted status effect. All those in the area of effect must make a Reflex save (DC 26) for half damage and negating the status effect. Blue mages may learn this ability as a 4th level spell (Knowledge: Nature DC 23).
Silk Burst (Ex)
The arachne can aim her abdomen and release a spray of silken threads, covering all enemies in a 30 ft. cone. All enemies within the area are entangled, and those who fail a Reflex save (DC 28) are afflicted with the Slow status for as long as they remain entangled. Targets who take fire damage are automatically freed, and dealing fire damage in an area of effect that covers half of the affected area destroys the silk entirely, freeing all who were affected.
Softstep (Ex)
Despite its size, the arachne is a master of stealth, able to move with nary a sound and disappear into shadowy corners with ease. She gains a +4 bonus to Stealth checks, and takes no size penalty on Stealth checks.
Wall Walking (Ex)
This ability works like the spider climb spell. The arachne can move across any surfaces without penalty and does not need to make Acrobatics checks to run or charge on them.
ECOLOGY
Environment warm desert, warm forest, or underground
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure standard
Though they lack true malice, arachnes are practical and shrewd combatants, and prefer to make heavy use of their impressive stealth capabilities to set up an ambush. Typically, they move into position to entangle as many enemies as possible in their silk before grappling one or two of them and fleeing with their prize, making sure to activate the Grabbing Style feat as they do. Stronger enemies will also get a bite while being grappled, hopefully inflicting them with Poison, so as to weaken them or finish them off if they prove to be a hassle for the arachne. If harried, she will make heavy use of their earthquake ability to either defeat groups of enemies or slow them down, and will flee if either severely outmatched or brought to 25% or less of their maximum hit points. Arachnes also do not hesitate to use the Body Shield feat to fend off their attackers and weaken their prey at the same time.