Stone Spider

Spider, Stone
Large Vermin
Hit Dice: 4d8+4 (22 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 14 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+4
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Vermin traits
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +9, Jump +9, Perception +1, Stealth +3*
Feats: Track, Weapon Finesse (bite)
Environment: Temperate and warm land and underground
Organization: Solitary
ECL: 3
Treasure: 1/10 coins; 25% goods, 25% items
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 5-8 HD (Large), 9-12 HD (Huge)

Stone spiders are a variant breed that originally developed on the Elemental Plane of Earth, but travellers brought back eggs to the Prime; over time, they were either deliberately spread or got loose. They are still rare on the Prime – they live mainly underground, in caves and the Underdark, though they have been found in old ruins. They are grayish-brown in appearance, enabling them to blend into the rock around them. This, coupled with their lack of body heat, makes them 95% undetectable when they are still.

Stone spiders are primarily solitary creatures, though they will get together to mate. The female lays a clutch of eggs (which look like pebbles) in a safe place, leaves some fresh prey for the hatchlings, and leaves them to fend for themselves. The hatchlings fight among themselves, leaving only the strongest to carry on.

Stone spiders have not been known to cooperate in any way with intelligent Underdark races, except, of course, the drow; they view most life forms as food. Conversely, most races seek them out to either destroy them (being bitten by a stone spider is accounted a horrible way to die by most races), or to harvest their poison. Stone spider poison is highly prized among Underdark races like drow, derro, and duergar, since there is no known antidote, and can fetch up to 100 gp per vial. 1-3 vials of poison can be harvested from a dead adult spider.

Combat

Stone spiders do not build webs like other spiders, but instead prowl the Underdark looking for prey, much like a wolf spider. If one finds a good spot with plenty of prey, it will build a small lair there and ambush unwary victims by jumping out at them or dropping down on them. Their camouflage makes them virtually undetectable until they strike.

Poison (Ex): Injury, moderate lithogenic; DC 16, onset 2d4 rounds, check 1d3 minutes; initial effect 1d4 Dex damage, secondary effect special. Each failed save is marked by the victim's skin turning grayish and leathery; if the Dex score drops to 0, the victim becomes completely immobilized - to all outward appearances, he has turned to stone. The victim's skin gains a +5 natural armor bonus and hardness 10. The poison wears off after 1d4+1 days, though most victims are either killed by the spider or die of thirst before then. Neutralize poison will reverse the stone-like condition, though it won’t restore lost Dex points.

Skills: Stone spiders receive a +8 racial bonus to Climb and Jump checks and a +8 racial bonus to Stealth checks to hide in rocky areas.

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