Isor, the Lord of Spiders

An ancient threat

This article was written for Summer Camp 2024. Therefore it is unpolished and lacking formatting and information. Feel free to comment with any questions or requests for clarification.

A male figure approached from out of the shadows, his gait unnatural as he almost skittered across the forest floor. His body was that of an enormous black spider, though a human torso emerged from his abdomen and human arms were folded across his chest. He had a sharp, handsome face, and long dark hair that almost reached the ground. His black eyes glittered in the darkness.

— Excerpt from The Spider Queen

According to Koushan Mai mythology, Isor is one of Etrea's most ancient beings, alive long before the gods. He is half man, half spider, and he makes his home in the old growth forests of what was once Vasethal. He is dangerous to those who trespass on his land, toying with them for his own amusement before either consuming them or feeding them to his myriad children]. Because of this, all Koushan Mai carry an apple with them whilst travelling.
Not all mythology surrounding Isor paints him as a villain, however - though there are certainly plenty of fables and tales that do. One of the most famous myths involves the goddess, Seiran, who ignored advice and went wandering in the forests alone. There she met Isor, and the two of them fell in love and had two children, Akor and Esris, before Seiran had to leave the forest lest she wither away from the lack of starlight.