Jareteg
The Jareteg is an animal that is distantly related to a spider. These creatures share some aspects with their distant cousins but they are unlike any other spider-like beast in the known lands. At first glance these creatures appear to have only six legs unlike a spider, in closer examination two of the creatures front most legs have fused to for large blade like appendages. The next set of limbs are smaller and have hands with fully opposable thumbs. This enables the creature to manipulate objects such as door handles and the like. The final set of limbs are a sturdy set of legs that give the creature the ability to spring and leap great distances. Jareteg are somewhat intelligent and can utilize objects and have a crude understanding of weapons, fire and magic. If faced with a group of archers for example, a Jareteg will seek cover. These creatures are usually found in small groups and have a very loose organization. They each have their own territory that consists of a webbed nest where they take their prey to be consumed in a timely fashion. Jareteg can weave sloppy webs that are not very good at capturing any prey but are sufficient as a home. These beasts are able to spin a sturdy silken strand from their body that will enable them to swoop down on unsuspecting prey from above and thus gain surprise. The strand can be easily broken, but the Jareteg can fight equally well on foot as they do suspended from their webbing. Jareteg are predators and survive mainly on the various warm blooded creatures that live in the general area. They are not picky eaters , this trait allows them to survive in most areas where their is large enough game for them to feed upon. Jareteg are able to sense tiny vibrations on the ground, thus they can detect invisible creatures or creatures masked by other magics or camouflage. In addition to the ability to sense vibrations, they have several sets of eyes that able the Jareteg to see in several spectrums of light (inferred & ultraviolet).
Battle Tactics:
Jareteg attack by first dropping down upon their prey via a silken strand that they draw from their abdomen. Unless the target creature is aware of an attack from above, the Jareteg will usually gain surprise. The creature will attempt to grab on to their victims with their second set of arms. The grab is not an attempt to penetrate defenses, so it should be fairly easy to grab a hold of a heavily armored individual for example. Once the grab is established, the Jareteg will attempt to paralyze it's victim with a venomous bite. Creatures that fail to resist the poison will be paralyzed and unable to act. If the Jareteg's victim is paralyzed then it will ascend back up it's web tether and feed on the victim in it's nest, usually located in a tree or other high vantage point. If the Jareteg is met with resistance then it will defend it self with it's large blade-like appendages. The Jareteg can attack several creatures at a time, attacking two creatures or more with it's large blade-arms. If the Jareteg loses any of it's limbs it will retreat immediately to it's nest. Several week must pass before a Jareteg can regenerate a lost appendage.
Habitat:
These creatures tend to inhabit forests and rocky areas where they can build a nest above the ground. They tend to be near roads and game trails to meet their food requirements. Jareteg need to consume a creature that is equivalent to their body mass once a week to remain healthy. Unlike Spiders, these creatures consume the flesh of their victims. Their layers can at times contain the possessions of unwary travelers, but most of the time the bottoms of the Jareteg nest has several web sacks full of bones and other indigestible materials. Jareteg’s will relocate if their prospective area has ran out of food. If hard pressed they will go to the forest floor and scavenge for carrion.
Ecology:
Jaretegs live for about 20-30 years if not met with an untimely death. These creatures mate in the spring time much as spiders do with the female being much larger than the male. The female will attempt to devour it's mate if he is not wise to leave quickly. Jareteg females give birth to 1000's of young in the form of eggs. Most of these about 99% will not make it to adulthood, being eaten by various predators and their brothers and sisters. Jaretegs are somewhat intelligent and can mimic sounds and even grasp some crude elements of language. Jaretegs are independent for the most part but have been known to enact poorly organized group attacks on large numbers of animals or travelers.
Description:
Jaretegs are large creatures having bodies about 5 feet around. They have large feet with long legs that enable the Jareteg to leap great distances. In the middle of their body are a small set of human like arms that they use to grasp their prey. On the to of their bodies are t he large blade-like appendages. These creatures have several sets of eyes much a many spiders do that are arranged in diagonal pattern on their body. Unlike spiders, these creature's mouths are large with rows of flesh-tearing teeth, two large poisonous fangs protrude from the center of the creatures mouth. These creatures range in a molted brown to gray in color depending upon their surroundings.