Spider Eater

Combat
Training A Spider Eater

Spider Eater

Large Magical Beast

Hit Dice:

4d10+20 (42 hp)

Initiative:

+1

Speed:

30 ft. (6 squares), fly 60 ft. (good)

Armor Class:

14 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 13

Base Attack/Grapple:

+4/+13

Attack:

Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison)

Full Attack:

Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison) and bite +3 melee (1d8+2)

Space/Reach:

10 ft./5 ft.

Special Attacks:

Implant, poison

Special Qualities:

Darkvision 60 ft., freedom of movement, low-light vision, scent

Saves:

Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +2

Abilities:

Str 21, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10

Skills:

Listen +10, Spot +11

Feats:

Alertness, Dodge

Environment:

Temperate forests

Organization:

Solitary

Challenge Rating:

5

Treasure:

None

Alignment:

Always neutral

Advancement:

5-12 HD (Huge)

Level Adjustment:

-

A spider eater is about 10 feet long and 4 feet high, and has a wingspan of about 20 feet. It weighs about 4,000 pounds.

Combat

A spider eater attacks with its venomous sting and powerful mandibles. Its usual tactic is to deliver a sting, then back off, hovering out of reach until the venom takes effect.

Implant (Ex): Female spider eaters lay their eggs inside paralyzed creatures of Large or larger size. The young emerge about six weeks later, literally devouring the host from inside.

Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial damage none, secondary damage paralysis for 1d8+5 weeks. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Freedom of Movement (Su): Spider eaters have a continuous freedom of movement ability as the spell (caster level 12th). When the spider eater serves as a mount, this effect does not extend to its rider.

Skills: Spider eaters have a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.

Training A Spider Eater

A spider eater requires training before it can bear a rider in combat.

Training a spider eater requires six weeks of work and a DC 25 Handle Animal check. Riding a spider eater requires an exotic saddle. A spider eater can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.

Spider eater eggs are worth 2,000 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 3,000 gp each. Professional trainers charge 3,000 gp to rear or train a spider eater.

Carrying Capacity: A light load for a spider eater is up to 306 pounds; a medium load, 307-612 pounds; and a heavy load, 613-920 pounds.