XP 1,200
N Medium magical beast (shapechanger)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +9
DEFENSE
AC 20 [23], touch 13 [16], flat-footed 17 (+4 armor, +3 Dex [+6], +3 natural)
hp 37 (5d10+10)
Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +4
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +8 (1d6 [+3] plus poison)
Special Attacks web (+8 ranged, DC 14, hp 5)
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 5th; concentration +8[+9])
An aranea can take the form of a Small or Medium humanoid or spider-humanoid hybrid. In humanoid form, an aranea cannot use its bite, web, or poison. In spider-humanoid hybrid form, an aranea looks like a humanoid with spidery fangs and spinnerets, with the latter typically located at the small of its back. The aranea retains its bite attack, webs, and poison in this form, and can wield weapons and wear armor. When in humanoid or hybrid form, an aranea’s speed is 30 feet and it has no climb speed. Medium human female with short hair and "haggard" look. Tends to brooding gaze. See character icon
Poison (Ex)
Bite—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Strength; cure 1 save.
Alternative Tactics
Web-Slinging: A favored tactic of araneas involves creating a web and then using that web as a swinging rope to fight from. Generally speaking, the aranea is considered to be on higher ground for these attacks (+1 on melee attacks). To use this tactic, an aranea must first throw a web to a nearby fixed point (usually a ceiling or beam, both of which are generally Large, with an AC of 9). Araneas make one of three attacks using their webs in this way.
Angry Falling Leaves: In this attack, an aranea uses its web to break its fall as it suddenly drops up to 30 feet downward into combat, treating itself as a falling object that crashes into an opponent from above. This attack requires a melee touch attack, and deals 3d6 points of damage. The aranea itself takes 1d6 points of damage if this attack is successful.
Attack of the Lotus Whirlwind: In this attack, an aranea puts itself into a spin as it descends from its web. If the aranea descends 20 feet or more using this attack, its descent counts as a charge.
Graceful Descent of the Flying Blade: An aranea can swing up to the web’s length (moving up to the aranea’s speed) and make a single melee attack action without provoking an attack of opportunity, similar to the Spring Attack Feat. Doing so requires an Acrobatics check with a DC equal to the opponent’s CMD. The aranea then releases the web and drops to the ground.
Background:
As the world fell at the hand of the Cabal, the travelers and adventurer's that Xaeken and her people relied on for food and entertainment dried up. Explorations into what had happened saw other Aranae leave but never return.
Eventually Xaeken, already considered strong and intelligent amongst her kin, set out on the hunt for the humanoids that went missing and found death walking about without constraint.
Blending in with what few survivors remained, Xaeken heard tales of monstrous migrations. Even the "unholy beasts" of the world congregating in fear. Seeing that the humanoids of the world had no clear plan, Xaeken looked into this migration and found the refuge of Lungarfiliax.
Seeing that such a place would be defensible with the intention of survival for those who could abide its rules, Xaeken made way to notify her few remaining kin of the safety that could be found. After a hard journey and increasing conflicts with the undead Xaeken discovered her home destroyed, her people dead or fleeing and nothing to show for her return. Embittered, the aranae returned to the refuge and has remained since, using what opportunities she can to use her powers to punish the cabal's unfeeling forces and finding little solace in doing so.
