Giant wolf spider

A giant wolf spider was a medium-sized beast that was smaller than a typical giant spider.

Description
Giant wolf spiders were smaller than usual giant spiders, but were more agile. As such, they were much faster at crawling and climbing. Like giant spiders, they had the ability to climb awkwardly shaped walls and hang upside down on ceilings, sense when a creature was caught in their web, and travel well across webbing.

They were less strong than giant spiders, but were more intelligent, robust, and wise. As such, when combined with their superior speed, they were fantastic stalkers. This allowed them to hunt their foes across plains, underground, or in burrows.

Combat
Due to their great tracking abilities, these arachnids often descended from rooftops or hid under spongy surfaces to surprise their enemies.

Giant wolf spiders relied on their bite in order to take down their foes. As well as piercing their opponents, their bite was poisonous. If the poison caused their foe to become unconscious, the poison would remain in their system for an hour, as well as causing them to be paralyzed.

Ecology
Giant wolf spiders made their homes in many different habitats, such as deserts, grassland, forests, and hills.

These giant arachnids were known to lurk in many places across Faerûn, such as Omu in Chult, the Western Heartlands, and the Braeryn of the Underdark city of Menzoberranzan.

History
In Eleint 1367 DR, an adventurer slew a huge yellow giant wolf spider in the woods south of Shadowdale. Somehow, it emitted a magical glow, even after it had died. Not willing to give up such a grand trophy for nothing, the adventurer took it to Jhaele Silvermane of the Old Skull Inn. She traded the glowing spider corpse for a week's stay at the inn with as much ale as the seller could manage.

In the 14 century DR, the evil goddess Loviatar was known to send wolf spiders to her followers in order to show her favor. In the 15 century DR, many druids of the Realms had the ability to wildshape into giant wolf spiders.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Out of the Abyss • Tomb of Annihilation
 * Video Games
 * Sword Coast Legends • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms • Baldur's Gate III
 * Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
 * Stardock Under Siege