Planar Spider
by Ivan ChiaLarge Magical Beast (Extraplanar)
Hit Dice: 5d10+15 (42 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
Armour Class: 15 (-1 size, +3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+12
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+4 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d6+4 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., ethereal jaunt, low-light vision, plane shift, tremorsense 60 ft.
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 13, Cha 12
Skills: Climb +11, Move Silently +11, Spot +4
Feats: Ability Focus (poison), Improved Initiative
Environment: Ethereal Plane
Organisation: Solitary or cluster (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually neutral
Advancement: 6-8 HD (Large); 9-15 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
This creature is a large black spider, apparently possessing unusual intelligence.
The planar spiders are intelligent, plane travelling arachnids which have a vast, but odd, civilisation. Some sages speculate that planar spiders evolved from phase spiders, but there is no definitive proof for this theory.
These creatures are as unpredictable as humans, but rarely attack planewalkers without provocation, preferring instead to attempt to communicate with any creatures they meet in order to determine their intentions. On the other hand, some wandering groups of planar spiders (the Black Chak, for example) are thieves or bandits who seek riches by any means, fair or foul.
The home plane of planar spiders is almost certainly a Deep Ethereal demiplane, but it is entirely unknown and no traces of their cities have ever been discovered. Travelling planar spiders describe the plane as a place with cities lovingly crafted from imperishable white webs. There are many different nations of planar spiders, just as there are many different nations of humanoids. Some planar spiders have been known to advance as sorcerers or clerics with diverse domains, but preferably the Spider domain (see Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting). Unlike phase spiders, planar spiders often speak Planar Trade and at least one humanoid language.
COMBAT
In combat, a planar spider flits between planes to confuse foes. Their favourite tactic is to suddenly appear behind their opponents. If overmatched, a planar spider flees off plane.
Ethereal Jaunt (Su): A planar spider can shift to the Ethereal Plane as a free action, and shift back again as a move action (or part of a move action). This ability is otherwise similar to an ethereal jaunt spell, caster level 15th.
Plane Shift (Su): A planar spider can plane shift at will, as the spell, except it can only travel to or from the Astral Plane, and it can transport only itself and 50 pounds of objects.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial and secondary damage 1d8 Con. The save DC is Con-based.
Possessions: A planar spider often carries at least one magic item which it can use. A favourite item is a ring of minor fire resistance.
Skills: A planar spider has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on a Climb check, even if rushed or threatened.