Ironspine Spider
There are many things in the tundra boreals one must be wary of, however in such a cold climate one would expect certain creatures like snakes or spiders would not be on that list. However in the Iron-Spine Woods that follow the western edge of the Iron-Tip mountain range, those individuals would be sorely mistaken and misinformed. When traveling through these thick conifer forests, one need to tread carefully, and be sharp. For amongst the loam, brush, and layer of old needles and branches from the surrounding trees waits a unique specimen of the arachnid family, one that definitively falls into the Arcanium classification, having clear abilities and signs of being more than a mere beast, but one touched by magick. One would be wise to keep their wits about them, and watch their step, for should you find yourself ensnared by the webbing of an Ironspine spider on the forest floor, well by then it will likely be to late.
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Iron-spine spider is a full on arachnid, showing many of the traits of that family that most would expect. They can weave webs, and have a gland for producing the sticky silk like material that is used for that purpose at the back end of their bodys as many, but not all spider species do. They use this material to weave complex webbing 'mats' around where they intend to rest and live, for dozens of feet, all interconnected together to meet at the central point that they burrow and hide beneath the brush, needles, old dead plant matter, loam and soil of the forest floor.
They are very sensitive to any pressure or struggling movements made within these ensnaring webbing, and seem to have unique adaptations within their own leg structures to avoid the substance ensnaring or entangling them. They have many eyes, though whether they are all functional and how their ocular system works is not fully understood. They have two pointed and barbed spine like growths on the two legs closest to their mandibles, and these are one of the evolutionary traits known to be caused by their interference of arcane energy. These spines can be launched by the spider, by making a whip-like kicking motion, up to distances of sixty feet, though by all reports their accuracy falls off notably after the first fifteen or so feet.
These spines, they are some sort of organic material and are launched seemingly by something in the spider's biology and about those front legs, as if they can act almost like a torsion arm. The spines will grow back in a matter of hours if the spider is allowed to rest and recover, and launching them does not seem to harm the creature. Once embedded in a target, the barbed tip ensures it stays in, making it difficult to remove, and through a host of small perforations within the tip below those barbs a dangerously high dose of a sort of toxic cocktail similar to the poison produced by the spider's venom glands above its fangs is injected into the victim.
They also seem to have some limited sensitivity to magick and the weaving of the Aether, able to detect such things from close distances, and reacting to them notably, often with aggression. They seem immune to any sort of poison or toxins. They are notably deaf as well, though this seems no hinderance to their existence and role as a predator.
They are very sensitive to any pressure or struggling movements made within these ensnaring webbing, and seem to have unique adaptations within their own leg structures to avoid the substance ensnaring or entangling them. They have many eyes, though whether they are all functional and how their ocular system works is not fully understood. They have two pointed and barbed spine like growths on the two legs closest to their mandibles, and these are one of the evolutionary traits known to be caused by their interference of arcane energy. These spines can be launched by the spider, by making a whip-like kicking motion, up to distances of sixty feet, though by all reports their accuracy falls off notably after the first fifteen or so feet.
These spines, they are some sort of organic material and are launched seemingly by something in the spider's biology and about those front legs, as if they can act almost like a torsion arm. The spines will grow back in a matter of hours if the spider is allowed to rest and recover, and launching them does not seem to harm the creature. Once embedded in a target, the barbed tip ensures it stays in, making it difficult to remove, and through a host of small perforations within the tip below those barbs a dangerously high dose of a sort of toxic cocktail similar to the poison produced by the spider's venom glands above its fangs is injected into the victim.
They also seem to have some limited sensitivity to magick and the weaving of the Aether, able to detect such things from close distances, and reacting to them notably, often with aggression. They seem immune to any sort of poison or toxins. They are notably deaf as well, though this seems no hinderance to their existence and role as a predator.
Genetics and Reproduction
Little is known for sure about how Ironspine Spiders reproduce or mate, nor their gestation periods or stages of life. They are a rare species, living in only one environment, and do not take well to any attempts to 'domesticate' or 'tame' them.
Ecology and Habitats
The Ironspine Spider actually lends its name to the forests it calls home, as it is unique to that biome. This is believe to be in part because the toxins they produce may be in part made up of the oil from the needles of the Ironhide Pines, which in enough of a concentration does seem to exhibit near identical qualities and behaviors to the spider's own venom. They generally live around and in clusters of these unique trees, though they do not climb, merely living on the forest floor. As such they are a danger faced frequently by lumber workers in the region seeking to harvest the valuable trees for their prized timber and bark. Because of this, they are oft branded a pest species, and it is common practice to seek outside help, mercenary help, by local lumber operations to do a thorough sweep of any new cluster of Ironhides before harvest and extraction begins.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Ironspine Spiders prefer small to midsize game, basically anything they can catch and snare in their webbing mats on the forest floor. Squirrels, pine martens, small to medium birds of all kinds, foxes, wolves, lynx or bobcat, or even deer are not off the menu. Moose and elk are generally to strong and capable of escape to be held long enough, and a moose is simply to big for the spider's poison to bring down. People are and have always been on the menu, and as such, it does make clearing Ironhide Pine clusters of these spiders a bit of dangerous work, even if it is good pay.
Behaviour
Ironspine Spiders are ambush predators and not generally aggressive or hyper territorial, preferring to simply rest unless they believe they've caught something they can eat. One can pass through an Ironspine's ambush zone and never know it if the spider is not currently needing to hunt, for even should you get caught up in its webbing, if its fed recently enough, perhaps two or three days at the most, depending on the size of the meal, it simply won't reveal itself. It has no need to. They are energy efficient and strange creatures.
The exception to this however, and the reason sweeps are necessary for lumber workers, is that they seem to share an innate magickal connection with the clusters of Ironhide Pines they live in and amongst, and respond very aggressively when lumber work begins and trees start falling. They will actively break behavior, wandering in open daylight, and seeking confrontation with lumber workers and wood cutters in and amongst the tree cluster. Sometimes even coming together in groups of two, three or four, violently assaulting and killing, but notably not eating, anyone they come upon chopping, hauling or otherwise interacting with an Ironhide Pine. This strange behavioral quirk is the other biggest reason they are markedly considered to be in the Arcanium category, for they seem to share a sort of empathic, and likely arcane connection to the Ironhide Pines they live amongst.
The exception to this however, and the reason sweeps are necessary for lumber workers, is that they seem to share an innate magickal connection with the clusters of Ironhide Pines they live in and amongst, and respond very aggressively when lumber work begins and trees start falling. They will actively break behavior, wandering in open daylight, and seeking confrontation with lumber workers and wood cutters in and amongst the tree cluster. Sometimes even coming together in groups of two, three or four, violently assaulting and killing, but notably not eating, anyone they come upon chopping, hauling or otherwise interacting with an Ironhide Pine. This strange behavioral quirk is the other biggest reason they are markedly considered to be in the Arcanium category, for they seem to share a sort of empathic, and likely arcane connection to the Ironhide Pines they live amongst.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
They are generally considered vermin, though of course their toxins could be harvested for many uses medical and less....savory. They are no good to eat, their flesh such as it is, is also toxic to consume, even if cooked. It would seem that their regular consumption and covering themselves in Ironhide Pine needles insures a level of toxicity within the very organic tissue of their body structure.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Again these creatures are wholly unique to the Iron-Spine Woods. As such they are rare and a quite unique creature to study and understand.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Like all spiders, the Ironspine Spider seems to have a unique level of kinetic awareness and sensitivity beyond anything most people could comprehend. That predictive kinetic sensitivity that confuses so many people about insects, arachnids and other such creatures is present and honed even in a specimen of this size.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
They do seem to possess a sort of symbiotic partnership in a fashion with the Ironhide Pine, given the similarities of their toxin to the behaviors of the pines needles and the oil it produces, and their violent drive to protect the trees even outside their own natural and instinctually careful ambusher behavior. However our current understanding of that connection and behavior is severely lacking and limited.
Ironspine Spider Base Stat Sheet
Scientific Name
Arcanium Arachnid Spiris
Average Height
1.1-1.8 meters (3'7"-6')
Average Weight
350-450 kgs (770-990 lbs)
Average Length
2.4-3.7 meters (8'-12')
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Notably their body, hair and other exterior parts are generally a mottled coloration not unlike the forest floors of their home environment, allowing them to hide among the loam, debris and matted old plant matter, branches, brush and needles quite effectively.
Geographic Distribution
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