Giant Sand Spider
by Jamie BatyDMR2 100, CoM
Medium Vermin
Hit Dice: 2d8+4 (13 hp)
Initiative: +3 (+3 Dex)
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), burrow 5 ft. (1 square), climb 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armour Class: 14 (+3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 +1 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6 +1 plus poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Poison
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60ft., tremorsense 60ft.
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int -, Wis 10, Cha 2
Skills: Climb +11, Hide +15, Jump +7, Spot +10
Feats: Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm deserts, underground
Organisation: Solitary, or Colony (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: Half Standard
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Medium); 5-6 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: -
Sand spiders are carnivorous creatures six feet long. They are beige with an orange-and-black blotch on their stomachs. They inhabit desert and barren regions, living in underground burrows, usually near rocky structures or stones. Pyramids, large statues, rocky crags, and paved roads are among the sand spiders preferred sites.
Sand spiders do not build webs to trap prey. Instead, they burrow just below the surface of the ground, and then burst out to attack prey as it passes overhead.
Combat
Sand spiders are very aggressive predators, and are capable ambushers. If attacking from an ambush, a sand spider will attack anything, even creatures larger than it. Its poison is not deadly, but does cause paralysis.
Poison (Ex): Any creature bitten by a giant sand spider must make a fortitude save vs DC 13 (Con based) or be paralysed for 1d4+4 hours.
Tremorsense (Ex): A giant sand spider is sensitive to vibrations in the ground and can automatically pinpoint the location of anything that is in contact with the ground within 60ft.
Vermin Traits: Vermin are mindless - they have no intelligence score and are immune to all mind-affecting effects. They have no sense of morality and are always neutral. They have 60ft. darkvision and any treasure they possess (which is usually none) consists of the property of former victims.
Skills: Giant sand spiders have a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Spot and Climb checks and a +4 racial bonus on Jump checks. A sand spider can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. Sand spiders use either their Strength or Dexterity modifiers for Climb checks, whichever is higher.