Spider Eater
| Hit Dice: | 4d10+20 (42 hp) |
|---|---|
| Initiative: | +1 |
| Speed: | 30 ft. (6 squares), fly 60 ft. (good) |
| Armor Class: | 14 (–1 size, +1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 10, flatfooted 13 |
| Base Attack/Grapple: | +4/+13 |
| Attack: | Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison) |
| Full Attack: | Sting +8 melee (1d8+5 plus poison) and bite +3 melee (1d8+2) |
| Space/Reach: | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks: | Implant, poison |
| Special Qualities: | Darkvision 60 ft., freedom of movement, lowlight vision, scent |
| Saves: | Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +2 |
| Abilities: | Str 21, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10 |
| Skills: | Listen +10, Spot +11 |
| Feats: | Alertness, Dodge |
| Environment: | Temperate forests |
| Organization: | Solitary |
| Challenge Rating: | 5 |
| Treasure: | None |
| Alignment: | Always neutral |
| Advancement: | 5–12 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment: | — |
A spider eater is about 10 feet long and 4 feet high, and has a wingspan of about 20 feet. It weighs about 4,000 pounds.
COMBAT
A spider eater attacks with its venomous sting and powerful mandibles. Its usual tactic is to deliver a sting, then back off, hovering out of reach until the venom takes effect.
**Implant (Ex):**Female spider eaters lay their eggs inside paralyzed creatures of Large or larger size. The young emerge about six weeks later, literally devouring the host from inside.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 17, initial damage none, secondary damage paralysis for 1d8+5 weeks. The save DC is Constitution-based.
**Freedom of Movement (Su):**Spider eaters have a continuous freedom of movement ability as the spell (caster level 12th). When the spider eater serves as a mount, this effect does not extend to its rider.
Skills: Spider eaters have a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
TRAINING A SPIDER EATER
A spider eater requires training before it can bear a rider in combat.
Training a spider eater requires six weeks of work and a DC 25 Handle Animal check. Riding a spider eater requires an exotic saddle. A spider eater can fight while carrying a rider, but the rider cannot also attack unless he or she succeeds on a Ride check.
Spider eater eggs are worth 2,000 gp apiece on the open market, while young are worth 3,000 gp each. Professional trainers charge 3,000 gp to rear or train a spider eater.
**Carrying Capacity:**A light load for a spider eater is up to 306 pounds; a medium load, 307–612 pounds; and a heavy load, 613–920 pounds.