Tomb spider

Tomb spiders were a type of monstrous spider native to the Shadowfell. Their bodies were suffused with negative energy, making them more dangerous than the more common varieties of monstrous spider.

Description
These creatures had bright red bodies when young, that gradually became mottled grey as they grew older.

Behavior
These creatures had a basic level of intelligence. Due to being suffused with negative energy, they were best described as having a neutral evil alignment.

Abilities
Like many arachnids the tomb spider had poisonous fangs, however, their poison possessed a unique property due to its infusion of negative energy. Those affected by this poison would be healed by negative energy, but harmed by positive energy such as seen in healing spells, as though they were undead. Such energies also had similar effects on tomb spiders themselves.

In addition, tomb spiders could spin sheets of sticky webbing and shoot them out to a range of. They typically positioned their sheets to ensnare flying creatures, but sometimes positioned them to trap prey on the ground.

Combat
Whenever a creature was entrapped in the web of a tomb spider, its brood would quickly move to overwhelm it. And if its offspring were in danger, a tomb spider would ignore attacks against itself in order to protect them.

History
The largest recorded tomb spider in history was a "pet" of House Barrison Del'Armgo in Menzoberranzan, measuring around in diameter. Visitors would come to stare at the beast in awe at its size.

In the late 15 century DR, tomb spiders could be found beneath the ruins of Cragmire Keep, inside the Cragmire family's crypts.

Ecology
Tomb spiders were largely solitary creatures with their own hunting territories and no society to speak of despite their basic level of intelligence. However, they were known to share these territories if prey was plentiful.

These creatures laid their eggs within the corpses of humanoids, giants, and even monstrous humanoids that they completely wrapped up in webs. This process caused the corpse to become animated as a type of undead, which were typically referred to as web mummies, that would release the spider's hatched brood upon destruction. While inside their host, the brood of a tomb spider would feed upon its decaying internal organs. The spiderlings proceed to eat each other until a single, full-formed adult emerged. However, these hosts were often destroyed before the entire maturation process could be completed.

Diet
Tomb spiders a carnivorous species. They ate prey ranging from rabbits to horses.

Habitats
Those that inhabited the Shadowfell were constantly looking for opportunities to cross over into the Prime Material plane.

Because of their unique life cycle, tomb spiders were often found living near giants, humanoids, or monstrous humanoids. They typically preferred to live in the temperate forests of Faerûn, though could also be found within the Underdark. They frequently made their lairs in graveyards, catacombs, or crypts.

In the hills above Mulmaster, these creatures could be found within the labyrinthine tunnels known as the Lost Ways.

Relationships
Tomb spiders were well liked by both drow and drider alike, who frequently encouraged them to nest near the borders of their territories. They would often gift them corpses or feed them prisoners. Tomb spiders looked forward to these meals and would never attack the one feeding them unless provoked or incredibly hungry.

Tomb spiders were also frequently employed by followers of Orcus and some powerful undead creatures.

Appearances

 * Video Games