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{{Creature
 
{{Creature
| text = 455a2f
+
| image = Aranea.jpg
  +
| caption = An aranea in her [[humanoid]] form.
| background = dce5da
 
| image = [[Image:Aranea.jpg|300px]]
 
 
| name = Aranea
 
| name = Aranea
  +
| size5e =
| alignment = {{alignment grid|off|off|off|off|on|off|off|off|off}}
 
| type = [[Magical beast]]([[Shapechange]]r)
+
| type5e =
| subtype =
+
| subtype5e =
  +
| alignment5e =
| vision = [[Darkvision]]
 
  +
| challenge5e =
| language = [[Common]], [[Sylvan]]
 
| challenge = 4
+
| refs5e =
  +
| size4e =
}}
 
  +
| origin4e =
 
  +
| type4e =
The '''araneas''' are a race of sentient, shape-changing [[spider]]s.
 
  +
| subtype4e =
  +
| alignment4e =
  +
| refs4e =
  +
| size3e = Medium
 
| type3e = [[Magical beast]]
  +
| subtype3e = [[Shapechanger]]
  +
| alignment3e = Usually [[Neutral]]
  +
| challenge3e = 4
  +
| refs3e = <ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|15-16}}</ref>
  +
| size2e =
  +
| alignment2e = [[Neutral]]
  +
| refs2e = <ref name="MCA3-p?">{{Cite book/Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three}}</ref><ref name="EotSS-p90">{{Cite book/Empires of the Shining Sea|90}}</ref>
  +
| size1e =
  +
| alignment1e =
  +
| refs1e =
  +
| patron deity =
  +
| movement = Climb<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
| vision = [[Darkvision]], [[Low-light vision]]<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
| lifespan =
  +
| location = [[Spider Swamp]]<ref name="EotSS-p90" />
 
| language = [[Common]], [[Sylvan]]<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
| subraces =
  +
| form1 = Humanoid
  +
| appearance1 = {{Appearance|height=As typical [[Calishite]] or [[Drow]]<ref name="EotSS-p90" />|weight=As typical Calishite or Drow<ref name="EotSS-p90" />|skincolor=As typical Calishite or Drow<ref name="EotSS-p90" />|haircolor=As typical Calishite or Drow<ref name="EotSS-p90" />|eyecolor=As typical Calishite or Drow<ref name="EotSS-p90" />|distinctions=Sorcerous powers}}
  +
| form2 = Spider
  +
| appearance2 = {{Appearance|weight=150 lbs.<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />|distinctions=Sorcerous powers<br />Poison<br />Web-spinning}}
  +
| form3 = Hybrid
  +
| appearance3 = {{Appearance|distinctions=Sorcerous powers<br />Poison<br />Web-spinning}}
  +
| based =
  +
| first =
  +
}}The '''araneas''' (sometimes called "'''werespiders'''") were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing [[spider]]-like creatures<ref name="U-p30">{{Cite book/Underdark|30}}</ref> inhabiting the [[Spider Swamp]] in [[Calimshan]].<ref name="EotSS-p89">{{Cite book/Empires of the Shining Sea|89}}</ref>
   
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
Aranea are a race of shape-shifting magical beasts that can transform between the appearance of a human and a giant spider. In their natural form, these creatures appear to be giant spiders with a pair of long arms ending in many-jointed fingers and double-jointed thumbs.
+
While they were not true [[lycanthropes]],<ref name="EotSS-p89" /> aranea could transform between the appearance of a [[humanoid]] and a giant monstrous spider.<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" /> Their humanoid form was that of a [[Calishite]] [[human]], a Calishite [[half-elf]], or, in some rare cases, a [[drow]].<ref name="SotS-144-148">{{Cite book/Sands of the Soul|144-148}}</ref> The form and gender they could take was fixed at birth.<ref name="EotSS-p90" />
  +
Despite their terrifying appearance, the aranea are a peaceful race of beings. They feed on animals and do not prey upon sapient creatures to live. These beings live far from civilized society, as they are hunted by those who do not understand them. They tend to dwell in deep forests, jungles, and isolated islands.
 
  +
In their natural form, these creatures appeared to be giant humpbacked spiders with some subtle differences. In this form they also had a pair of short arms ending in many-jointed fingers and double-jointed thumbs, which extended from below their mandibles. Oddly, their brain was not located in their head segment but in a large hump on their back.<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
  +
Aranea also could take on a third, hybrid form.<ref name="EotSS-p90" /><ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" /> This form was humanoid, but the aranea bore sharp fangs,<ref name="EotSS-p90" /><ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" /> had spinnerets<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" /> in his or her hands,<ref name="EotSS-p90" /> and had four eyes instead of two.<ref name="EotSS-p90" /> On occasion, the hybrid form would also include additional arms, but never more than 8 in total.<ref name="EotSS-p90" />
  +
  +
===Abilities===
  +
[[File:Aranea2.jpg|thumb|275px|right|''An aranea in spider-like form.'']]
  +
Aranea were inherently magical beings and could cast a certain number of spells much like a [[sorcerer]] or [[dragon]] could.<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" /> They preferred [[illusion]], [[enchantment]], and [[charm]] spells and avoided ever casting fire spells.<ref name="EotSS-p90" /><ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
  +
In hybrid or natural forms, aranea had poisonous bites and could throw webs.<ref name="EotSS-p90" /><ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
  +
==Combat==
  +
Aranea tried to avoid combat, but if pressed into it, they would take advantage of their webs and spells, immobilizing or distracting the most powerful opponents first. They would take prisoners and exchange them for ransom rather than killing them.<ref name="MM3.5-pp15-16" />
  +
  +
==Personality==
 
Despite their terrifying appearance, the aranea were a peaceful race of beings. They fed on animals and did not prey upon sapient creatures to live. These beings lived far from civilized society, as they are hunted by those who did not understand them.{{fact}}
   
 
==Society==
 
==Society==
Aranea society is matriarchal, usually ruled by the queen who gave birth to the community. They will occasionally go into other communities disguised as healers or barbarians to trade orwhen the situation warrants doing sotake a new mate to prevent inbreeding.
+
Aranea society was matriarchal, usually ruled by the queen who gave birth to the community. They would occasionally go into other communities disguised as healers or [[barbarian]]s to trade or&mdash;when the situation warranted doing so&mdash;take a new mate to prevent inbreeding.{{fact}}
   
  +
===Trade===
All aranea are capable of using magical spells. They tend to prefer magic that creates illusions and enchantment effects. They dislike magical that is fire-based.
 
  +
The aranea, in the disguise of human forms, traded silk, herbs, and poisons with nearby settlements, such as [[Almraiven]] and [[Volothamp]].<ref name="EotSS-p89" /> In [[1370 DR]], a group of them worked secretly for the [[Silverstars Trading Coster]] of [[Saradush]].
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
According to legend, the araneas were created by a [[Calishite]] [[wizard]] during the [[Night Wars]] to infiltrate the ranks of the [[drow]] armies. When the wars ended, they were hunted down and killed or driven into the [[Spider Swamp]]. They became a neutral, pacifistic people. Originally, they were only able to change into drow, but after a while, some gained the ability to change into a [[Calishite]] [[human]] or a [[half-elf]] and return to the human cities incognito as well as spread out from [[Calimshan]] into the wider world. This allowed them to trade silks, herbs and poisons with the coastal city of [[Volothamp]].
+
According to legend, the aranea were created by [[Calimshan|Calishite]] [[wizard]]s during the [[Night Wars]] to infiltrate the ranks of the [[drow]] armies. When the wars ended, the "werespiders" were hunted down and killed or driven into the Spider Swamp. They became a neutral, pacifistic people. Originally, they were only able to change into drow, but after a while, some gained the ability to change into Calishite human or half-elf forms and returned to the human cities incognito as well as spreading out from Calimshan into the wider world. This allowed them to trade their silks, herbs, and poisons with the coastal city of Volothamp.<ref name="EotSS-p89" />
   
  +
For a brief time during the [[Eye Tyrant Wars]] of the [[Fifth Age of Calimshan]], the aranea ceased their pacifism and joined in the fight against the [[beholder]] armies from the [[Alimir Mountains]] who were seeking to take over the entire [[Forest of Mir]]. The aranea only allied with the Calishite forces long enough to repel the eye tyrants, before the two "allies" turned on each other.<ref name="EotSS-p21">{{Cite book/Empires of the Shining Sea|21}}</ref>
Over 800 years after their banishment, in [[290 DR]], Qysara [[Shoon V]] blamed them for a plague that was ravaging [[Almraiven]]. As a result, they were nearly wiped out by Volothamp's military. They adopted the worship of [[Zanassu]], a [[demon lord]] of spiders, for protection and came to inhabit a city that was once called [[Lost Ajhuutal|Ajhuutal]] somewhere in the swamp. The Qysara banished their god back to the [[Abyss]] two years later, which led to a gradual degradation of their society while the priests of Zanassu desperately awaited their god's return for the next 1000 years.
 
   
 
Over 800 years after their banishment, in [[290 DR]], [[Alzhedo dictionary#Q|Qysara]] [[Shoon V]] blamed them for a plague that was ravaging Almraiven. As a result, they were nearly wiped out by Volothamp's military. During this time, some adopted the worship of [[Zanassu]], a [[demon lord]] of spiders, for protection and came to inhabit a city that was once called [[Lost Ajhuutal|Ajhuutal]] somewhere in the swamp. The Qysara banished their god back to the [[Abyss]] two years later, which led to a gradual degradation of their society while the priests of Zanassu desperately awaited their god's return for the next 1000 years.<ref name="EotSS-p89" />
When Zanassu did return (or at least a powerful [[tanar'ri]] who claimed to be him, since [[Selvetarm]] had since defeated Zanassu & stolen his divine essence), his reign of tyranny lasted for 66 years, during which time his agents completely took over Volothamp's government and the araneas became its secret rulers. But when the [[Time of Troubles]] came, the demon disappeared without a trace somewhere in the [[Forest of Mir]], combined with the advent of the [[Darkstalker wars]], this ended the araneas' reign as if it had never happened. His priests went back to desperately awaiting his return, still not knowing that they were actually worshipping Selvetarm while the rest of the araneas became relatively peaceful, though they have been violently expanding their territory into the southern reaches of the Forest of Mir.
 
   
 
When Zanassu did return (or at least a powerful [[tanar'ri]] who claimed to be him, since [[Selvetarm]] had since{{Timescale}} defeated Zanassu and stolen his divine essence), his reign of tyranny lasted for 66 years, during which time his agents completely took over Volothamp's government and the aranea became its secret rulers. But when the [[Time of Troubles]] came, the demon disappeared without a trace somewhere in the [[Forest of Mir]], combined with the advent of the [[Darkstalker Wars]], this ended the aranea's reign as if it had never happened. His priests went back to desperately awaiting his return, still not knowing that they were actually worshiping Selvetarm while the rest of the aranea became relatively peaceful, though they have been violently expanding their territory into the southern reaches of the Forest of Mir.{{fact}}
==Physiology==
 
   
  +
==Rumors & Legends==
The humpbacked body of an aranea is a little bigger than a human torso; unusually, this hump is where the creature's brain is located. It has two fanged mandibles, eight legs and can spin webs, just like a normal spider. It also has two arms located underneath it's mandibles that are roughly two feet long, ending in hands with 4 multiple jointed fingers and a double jointed thumb. Most weigh about 150 pounds.
 
  +
Some drow believed that araneas were transformed from drow for failing [[Lolth]], the Spider Queen. Others maintained that araneas were Lolth's first creation before she perfected the drow.<ref name="DotU-p40">{{Cite book/Drow of the Underdark|40}}</ref>
   
==External links==
+
==Appendix==
  +
===Gallery===
  +
<gallery width=150px>
  +
NwN Aranea.jpg|An aranea from the game editor of [[Neverwinter Nights]].
  +
Aranea_in_Neverwinter_MMo.jpg|An aranea attacking a drow in [[Rothé Valley]].
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
=== Appearances ===
  +
'''Novels'''
  +
* ''[[Sands of the Soul]]''
  +
  +
===External links===
 
*[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/aranea.htm Aranea on d20srd.org]
 
*[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/aranea.htm Aranea on d20srd.org]
  +
[[Category:Magical beasts]]
 
  +
===References===
[[Category:Shapechangers]]
 
  +
{{Refs}}
[[Category:Articles lacking sources]]
 
  +
  +
===Connections===
  +
{{Lycanthropes}}
  +
{{Spiderkind}}
 
[[Category:Spiderkind]]
 
[[Category:Races]]

Revision as of 04:01, 17 May 2020

The araneas (sometimes called "werespiders") were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing spider-like creatures[4] inhabiting the Spider Swamp in Calimshan.[5]

Description

While they were not true lycanthropes,[5] aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid and a giant monstrous spider.[1] Their humanoid form was that of a Calishite human, a Calishite half-elf, or, in some rare cases, a drow.[6] The form and gender they could take was fixed at birth.[3]

In their natural form, these creatures appeared to be giant humpbacked spiders with some subtle differences. In this form they also had a pair of short arms ending in many-jointed fingers and double-jointed thumbs, which extended from below their mandibles. Oddly, their brain was not located in their head segment but in a large hump on their back.[1]

Aranea also could take on a third, hybrid form.[3][1] This form was humanoid, but the aranea bore sharp fangs,[3][1] had spinnerets[1] in his or her hands,[3] and had four eyes instead of two.[3] On occasion, the hybrid form would also include additional arms, but never more than 8 in total.[3]

Abilities

Aranea2

An aranea in spider-like form.

Aranea were inherently magical beings and could cast a certain number of spells much like a sorcerer or dragon could.[1] They preferred illusion, enchantment, and charm spells and avoided ever casting fire spells.[3][1]

In hybrid or natural forms, aranea had poisonous bites and could throw webs.[3][1]

Combat

Aranea tried to avoid combat, but if pressed into it, they would take advantage of their webs and spells, immobilizing or distracting the most powerful opponents first. They would take prisoners and exchange them for ransom rather than killing them.[1]

Personality

Despite their terrifying appearance, the aranea were a peaceful race of beings. They fed on animals and did not prey upon sapient creatures to live. These beings lived far from civilized society, as they are hunted by those who did not understand them.[citation needed]

Society

Aranea society was matriarchal, usually ruled by the queen who gave birth to the community. They would occasionally go into other communities disguised as healers or barbarians to trade or—when the situation warranted doing so—take a new mate to prevent inbreeding.[citation needed]

Trade

The aranea, in the disguise of human forms, traded silk, herbs, and poisons with nearby settlements, such as Almraiven and Volothamp.[5] In 1370 DR, a group of them worked secretly for the Silverstars Trading Coster of Saradush.

History

According to legend, the aranea were created by Calishite wizards during the Night Wars to infiltrate the ranks of the drow armies. When the wars ended, the "werespiders" were hunted down and killed or driven into the Spider Swamp. They became a neutral, pacifistic people. Originally, they were only able to change into drow, but after a while, some gained the ability to change into Calishite human or half-elf forms and returned to the human cities incognito as well as spreading out from Calimshan into the wider world. This allowed them to trade their silks, herbs, and poisons with the coastal city of Volothamp.[5]

For a brief time during the Eye Tyrant Wars of the Fifth Age of Calimshan, the aranea ceased their pacifism and joined in the fight against the beholder armies from the Alimir Mountains who were seeking to take over the entire Forest of Mir. The aranea only allied with the Calishite forces long enough to repel the eye tyrants, before the two "allies" turned on each other.[7]

Over 800 years after their banishment, in 290 DR, Qysara Shoon V blamed them for a plague that was ravaging Almraiven. As a result, they were nearly wiped out by Volothamp's military. During this time, some adopted the worship of Zanassu, a demon lord of spiders, for protection and came to inhabit a city that was once called Ajhuutal somewhere in the swamp. The Qysara banished their god back to the Abyss two years later, which led to a gradual degradation of their society while the priests of Zanassu desperately awaited their god's return for the next 1000 years.[5]

When Zanassu did return (or at least a powerful tanar'ri who claimed to be him, since Selvetarm had since[as of when?] defeated Zanassu and stolen his divine essence), his reign of tyranny lasted for 66 years, during which time his agents completely took over Volothamp's government and the aranea became its secret rulers. But when the Time of Troubles came, the demon disappeared without a trace somewhere in the Forest of Mir, combined with the advent of the Darkstalker Wars, this ended the aranea's reign as if it had never happened. His priests went back to desperately awaiting his return, still not knowing that they were actually worshiping Selvetarm while the rest of the aranea became relatively peaceful, though they have been violently expanding their territory into the southern reaches of the Forest of Mir.[citation needed]

Rumors & Legends

Some drow believed that araneas were transformed from drow for failing Lolth, the Spider Queen. Others maintained that araneas were Lolth's first creation before she perfected the drow.[8]

Appendix

Gallery

Appearances

Novels

External links

References

Connections


True Spiders
Natural spiders: BladeBloodwebBristleBudbackDaughter of LolthDireDoomspinnerGargantuanGee'aantuGiant (FlyingWater)Huge (DeathjumpWolf spiderWatchspider)IceLeafRoaveSpittingSubterranean (FlyingHairySword)TarantulaVelsharess Orbb
Magical spiders: BloodsilkElectricGlassGazeGoblinPet of KalistesSpellgauntSteeder
Planar spiders: Demonweb terrorFireMyrlocharPhaseShadowTombVortex

True Arachnids Considered Spiderkind