Drachnid

Mayong Mistmoore, the undead Teir'Dal sorcerer, created the half Dark Elf, half giant spider monstrosities known as drachnids. Drachnids now serve their Vampire lord as his agents throughout Norrath, especially on the continent of Kunark.
Mayong was brought several giant black widow spiders as a gift from the Teir'Dal sorceress Najena. Her vanity and pride in the spiders she had bred to giant proportions was evident to Mayong, who saw fit to ensure that Najena did not forget her place.
Mayong improved upon Najena's simple creation by sending her emissary back to his mistress grafted to one of the spiders with a message of thanks for supplying Mayong with suitable raw ingredients for a true servant creature.
Mayong went on to create a brood of drachnids using his living Teir'Dal servants and the remainder of Najena's gifts. The resulting monstrosity had a Dark Elf's intelligence and magical talents with a spider's mobility and natural powers.
Mayong's first mission for his new creations was to send a force of them to Kunark when that continent was re-discovered. This force of drachnids abides there still, spying on the Ring of Scale, the Koada'Dal outpost of Firiona Vie, and the other powers at work on Kunark. Mayong has since dispatched more drachnids across Norrath and perhaps to Luclin as well. A batch of drachnids sent to the continent of Velious, however, has failed to report their progress reliably to Mayong, indicating either the challenges of the foreboding continent proved too great even for the powerful drachnids or that the drachnids have actually rebelled against Mayong's dominion over them and now serve their own queen.
Once hatched, young drachnids quickly develop their natural poison and web extruding abilities. As they mature mentally, innate magical gifts also become manifest. Drachnids speak a horrific version of Dark Speech interspersed with bizarre arachnid clicks and hisses.

Common Types of Drachnids

Recluses

Recluses are mature male drachnids. They are the primary agents who travel from a drachnid nest to perform missions for the nest's widow and, by extension, for Mayong. They usually perform their duties alone when outside the nest - thus the name "recluse."

Silklurkers

Silklurkers are immature female drachnids and serve a drachnid nest as the primary hunters. They will range far from the nest, build a web platform above paths and game runs, and then lurk there waiting for prey.

Webstranders

Male drachnids who have not reached their magical and mental maturity are called webstranders. They create and maintain the silken nests of the drachnids.
Drachnid nests are usually found spun high in treetops, stuck to cliff-side caves, or ensconced atop ruined buildings: anywhere that offers the drachnids some natural protection from enemies unable to climb like a spider. Webstranders maintain the huge nests of silken threads that are the drachnids' shelter and also create traps around the perimeter of the nests.

Widows

Mature female drachnids rule drachnid nests and report to Mayong. These widows command the other drachnids of the nest, often driving off or killing other females who grow too mature and who might contest the widow for her position. Only the widow breeds and implants eggs to hatch new drachnids.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Dark Elf

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

8 feet

Geographic Distribution

• Faydwer
• Kunark
• Velious