Shard Spider

This large hairy spider has a dull black body shot through with dull red streaks.

Shard Spider (CR 9)

Large Magical Beast
Alignment: Neutral
Initiative: +8
Senses: Darkvision 60 feet, Low-Light Vision; Perception +11

Speed: 40 feet, Climb 20 feet
Space: 10 feet

Defense

Armor Class: 23, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+4 Dex, +10 natural, -1 size)
Hit Points: 114 (12d10+48)
Saving Throws: Fort +14, Ref +12, Will +5
Split (critical hit, 20 hp)

Offense

Melee: bite +17 (2d6+9 plus poison and Grab)
Reach: 5 feet

Statistics

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
22 (+6)	19 (+4)	18 (+4)	7 (-2)	13 (+1)	10 (+0)

Base Attack Bonus: +12
CMB +19 (+23 Grapple)
CMD 33 (45 vs. Trip)

Feats: Ability Focus (Poison), Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth)

Skills: Climb +21, Perception +11, Stealth +10

Languages:

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex)

Bite-injury; save DC 22 Fort; frequency 1/round for 8 rounds; effect 1d6 Strength damage; cure 2 saves. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus from the shard spider's Ability Focus feat.

Ecology

Environment: Temperate Forests
Organization: solitary
Treasure: none


Shard spiders are giant, black, nocturnal hunting spiders that dwell in dark forests and feed upon those creatures unlucky enough to stumble into their lair. Shard spiders live under fallen trees or in tunnels in the ground. A nest typically contains a single shard spider and up to 10 noncombatant young. Shard spiders usually hunt denizens of the forests and drag their prey back to their lair to be divided among the young.

Shard spiders stand 8 feet tall. Their bodies are covered in short, thick black fur. Though intelligent, shard spiders seem unable to converse with any but their own kind. Communication among shard spiders takes the form of body language and hissing sounds. Shard spiders have an average lifespan of 30 years.

A shard spider attacks from ambush, seeking to neutralize its prey as quickly as possible with its poisonous bite. Due to its magical ability to split, a shard spider welcomes melee and engages its foes as quickly as possible.