Sikulen

And there we saw the beast emerge, one foul, insectile leg at a time. Its multitude of beady eyes caught the dying glimmers of light from our torches, drawing attention to the green-tinged saliva dripping from its chittering jowls. We had seen such monsters before, but never larger than a few inches at most. This one, however, met us eye to eye – and that was as it kneeled to meet us, while the rest of its mighty backside towered up to the ceiling.
"Y'know, I never liked spiders," our trapfinder squeaked quietly.

—an excerpt from "To the Depths: Plunging Dwerya's Hell and Exploring the Remains of Underrock Society"

Naming and Identification

Sikulen are a breed of large arachnid monstrosity found in Tsukiyo. Their name comes from an old derelict form of Elvish; because this language is no longer spoken, it is impossible to tell where this word came from or what it might have meant. (Many today assume it is simply an old Elvish word for 'spider'.) Sikulen come in two varieties, most easily identified by the color of the markings along their abdomens.
Tarkulen are the brown-patterned Sikulen, frequently found in Tsukiyo's forests. Due to the prevalence of food, these creatures tend to be larger than their subterranean counterparts, but because of the surrounding competition, this breed tends to favor stealth and trap-making over direct combat. They possess two less eyes, which gives them weaker darkvision, making them more dependent on their tremorsense to detect prey and adversaries.
Harkulen are the gray-patterned Sikulen. Unlike their cousins, this breed is typically found in the northern mountains, though rumors say they also appear in the northeastern ruins deep underground. This breed is typically smaller than their forest-dwelling counterparts, but make up for the size difference with increased hostility. Their two extra eyes and preference for dark, mountainous terrain means that their eyesight has developed more, meaning they rely more on direct sight than tremorsense while away from their webs.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sikulen are arachnid in build, with a small head attached to a center abdomen protected by an exoskeleton. The body is supported by eight legs, each of which end in points and have bendable knee joints about halfway through. They have multiple eyes (6 on the forest variation, 8 on the mountain variation), which sit in the upper center of the face.
The lower half of the face, mostly a large mouth lined with tiny teeth, is protected by two large mandibles, capable of injecting prey with venom. A Sikulen's venom sacs, located on the sides of the head just underneath the skin, are highly desired by potionsmasters and poisonmakers.
Sikulen are typically black, with brown or gray patterning across the abdomen. (Through fossil studies, it is believed that Sikulen's patterns were actually once red and purple, respectively, but the colors seem to have dulled over time as an evolutionary measure.) Sikulen with brown patterning are more often found in Tsukiyan forests; those with gray patterning typically make their homes underground or in the mountains.

Genetics and Reproduction

Similar to their small-scale arachnid counterpart, Sikulen reproduce sexually. A Sikulen female will lay a single egg after a mating cycle (following a two month gestation period), but each egg can hold anywhere between one and four sikulings. The eggs are soft-shelled (making it easier for the babies to hatch out), but many mothers will encase their eggs in webbing and other protective layers.
Following a successful mating ritual, female Sikulen will frequently consume their mate, fueling them with food and nutrients for the gestation period. In addition, for large broods of sikulings, it is not unusual for the young to in-fight, causing one or more of them to die. Both of these in tandem help to control the population.

Ecology and Habitats

Sikulen are found in two locations. The Tarkulen variety are found in the densely-forested areas, while the Harkulen variety are found in underground ruins and in the northern mountains. In general, it appears that the Sikulen can adapt fairly easily to any environment, so long as there are large plants, rocks, or structures for it to build its webs into and an ample food supply. (Terror struck through Tsukiyo City when a Sikulen found its way from the neighboring forests into the city and decided to mount its nest between two of the skyscrapers in the Magician District.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Sikulen are carnivorous creatures. Tarkulen prefer to feast on the small bestial fare found in their local forests, while Harkulen are aggressive enough to challenge the other monstrous fauna of the mountains. A Sikulen's diet is widely based on environmental factors, like how much it has to move, whether or not it's a female in estus, the availability of food, et cetera. (Tarkulen tend to eat more than their mountain-dwelling cousins due to the abundance of food.) A "well-fed" sikulen eats half of its body weight once a month (145 kg or 319 lbs on average). A female gestating an egg may increase her food consumption to anywhere between three-fourths of her body weight to her entire body weight in that same time frame (up to 295 kg or 650 lbs).

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Poison from a Sikulen's venom sacs causes fever, searing pain, and full body paralysis in the short term, and death in the long term if untreated. As such, it is highly desired on the black market as an assassination weapon. Inversely, the same poison can be distilled by a cautious and knowledgeable potionsmaster to create a potent anti-venom.
In addition, their silk can be spun into incredibly durable cloth. Many Shadows in militant or protective services use sikulen silk in their body armor, which protects them without weighing them down or compromising their maneuverability.

Average Intelligence

Tarkulen tend to be more intelligent than their mountain-dwelling brothers. Harkulen prefer to rely on their physical might to survive. Tarkulen, on the other hand, rely more on trap-making and clever placement of their nests and webs, and as such spend more time scoping their territories to make intelligent choices about where they establish themselves.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Sikulen have a unique tremorsense, which allows them to detect the presence of any creature that is walking on the same surface as they are. The vibrations sent through the floor allow them to pinpoint the creature's location with stunning accuracy. Their many eyes (between 6 and 8) allow for a wide field of vision, and the Harkulen variety are particularly adept at seeing in the dark.

Lifespan

10 years

Conservation Status

It is estimated that no more than 500 Sikulen exist in the wild. Their inability to comfortably share territory (Sikulen get aggressive towards any other one of their type within 50 meters) and low reproductive rates (and counter-reproductive tendencies), paired with poachers hunting their venom sacs and safety services removing them from populated areas means that the Sikulen population has reached a tenuous constant. Recently, some biologists and nature researchers have begun studying the Sikulen to learn more about where they may have come from and what they might contribute to the natural order.

Average Height

2.4–3.6 meters (8–12 feet)

Average Weight

270–320 kg (595–706 lbs)

Average Length

3 meters (10 feet)