The Asteroid spider is a creature from the Spelljammer campaign setting.[1]
Overview[]
An asteroid spider is an ambush predator that resembles a ten-legged spider that spins webs between asteroids to trap their prey.[1]
Description[]
An asteroid spider is not truly a spider, but is similar enough that spacefarer's have named it as such. The creature has ten legs, spaced evenly around its globular body. Each is jointed like that of a spider and ends in a small hook. On the top of the globular body are the creature's sensory organs: the eye are mounted on stalks and there are several other organs of unknown function. The asteroid spider's carapace is all black, making it virtually invisible against wildspace.
The top of the asteroid spider's globular body is covered with a hard shell, like that of an insect, but the underside is soft. The mouth is in the center of the underbelly, as is the web-spinning organ. The mouth has a single hollow tooth, like a syringe, and suction cup-like lips.[1]
Ecology[]
Asteroid spiders sometimes wait years between meals. They enter a form of suspended animation, using little or no air, and only wake up when their webbing is disturbed. After a meal, they expand their web a bit and then return to this state of hibernation.[1]
Combat[]
An asteroid spider is unlikely to be seen against the black background of wildspace. It only attacks creatures or objects that disturb its web, using up to six of its legs (the other four are used to hold onto the web or other surface). If three or more of its' legs successfully hit a single target, the asteroid spider manages to grab on to its victim. The asteroid spider can continue to attack its victim with its remaining legs, or it can attempt to bite them, delivering its poison via its syringe-like mandible. A successful bite may result in the victim being paralyzed for upto an hour. Paralyzed victims are bundled up in webbing, and carted off to the asteroid spider's lair for a more leisurely meal.
Unless the asteroid spider is attempting to bite its victim, it holds its vulnerable underbelly close to its web and only the hard upper carapace of its body can be attacked. However, as soon as the asteroid spider rears up to attack with its centrally located mouth, it exposes it soft underbelly, making it an easy target.[1]
Habitat[]
Asteroid spiders are only found in asteroid belts or in regions of space junk. They often set up a lair on the surface of a larger asteroid that has enough air to support a colony of up to 8 individuals. They spin webs that are miles long between their lair and nearby asteroids and pieces space junk. These webs are strong enough to trap any ship under 15 tons that is not traveling at spelljamming speeds. The webs are black, just like the asteroid spider's shell, and is unlikely to be seen against a black wildspace sky.
Females lay hundreds of eggs on the surface of their home asteroid. Once the eggs hatch, it is a race between the hatchlings and the adults: the adults attempt to catch and eat as many hatchlings as they can, while the hatchlings race to jump from the asteroid into space. Many of the hatchlings are eaten, while many others die in wildspace. A few land on other asteroids or space junk, where they join up with other baby asteroid spiders to form a colony. When they reach adulthood, they do not accept any new spiders into the colony, attacking any hatchlings or adults that enter their territory.
Asteroid spiders value the air of their victims. They spin a large cocoon of webbing within the air space of a captured ship. When completed, the cocoon is sealed and carried to the lair, where it is deflated. The colony carries the cocoon back and forth to the ship, filling and emptying it until the ship only has a thin bubble of air left.[1]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Asteroid spider article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki