Author's Note: This story references information in the White Wolf RPG Werewolf: The Apocalypse and its supplemental book Changing Breeds. If you are unfamiliar with White Wolf's RPGs or Were Spiders, you might not get some parts of this story. This is only a background story for a character I play, so I don't plan on writing more.

Kiara Bloody Fingers: Background and History...Thus Far.

I was aware of my superiority the moment I emerged from the thick web mass. My sac mates, all smaller than I, scampered about while I held perfectly still. I looked about my surroundings, ignoring the quiet instinct to search for a place to hide and a bite to eat. A massive figure came into focus, though it had been there the whole time. She was dark and sleek, frozen in her guardian pose, watching me as I watched her. She could see I was special, too. Then I felt something that was not instinctual, a desire to serve her and make her proud of me. I silently swore myself to her and vowed to grow wise and strong under her rule. Her image faded, leaving me in the musty attic with only my puny sac mates. Though I hungered for the blood of insects as they did, I also hungered for them. I bided my time, watching each of them feed and go off on their own. I would wait until they were well fed, then pick them off one at a time. The Large One would whisper to me from time to time. She taught me to eat sensibly so not to wipe out the population in the area. I learned the best places to hide and the best times to hunt without attracting the attention of outsiders who would definitely be interested in one of my size. Much time passed and I grew so large, I was unable to hide. Even the web I wove to conceal myself was obviously abnormal. Despite my worries, I always felt the presence of the Large One and knew she would guide me through any danger I might face. One cold morning, I woke to the sound of someone ascending the rotting staircase that led to my attic. It was one of those odd, two-legged mammals that occasionally made their nests in the lower levels of this building. This one wore neater fabric wrappings than the others and carried a bundle over his shoulder. I remained motionless in the shadows as I watched him place the bundle in a far corner, then leave, not even noticing my enormous web. When I was sure he was gone, I creeped over to the bundle, extremely curious as to what it contained. I felt its heat as I pulled the fabric away from it. Inside was a mammal like the one that brought it, yet smaller and bound with thick and unusual web. It twitched like an insect as its only two eyes dripped fluid. The smell of urine and excrement shook me from my investigation. This creature had befouled my nest and I felt it must be punished. I bit into it, injecting my lethal poison. It had been quite a while since I had something large enough to actually bite, and I drank greedily of its sweet blood. Each draught caused a spark in my mind, as if parts of me that had been asleep were beginning to stir. These two-legged mammals were somehow connected to me. This was the blood I was meant to drink though it felt strangely similar to my own. I felt the Large One’s presence very strongly now, her incessant whispers overlapping & distorting as my brain convulsed. I didn’t even notice that the other mammal had returned until his shrill squeal rang in the air. Moments later, he was wrapped in my web and suffering the same fate as the one he left here. While I drank this one, I noticed spiders of all kinds appearing as if from nowhere. They climbed over the walls, my web, the bodies, and even me. I rose up and stumbled about when I was finished, surprisingly not stepping on anyone. My limbs began to ache, and for the first time in my life, I fell down. When I hit the floor, I shattered into a million pieces. Each piece was a miniature version of me, the size of a normal spider. In fact, each piece was me, as I felt my consciousness in every one of them. The other spiders in the room began to interact with me. I understood that the one these spiders represented was my father. They led me into my web, but more like through my web. He taught me that the realm we had entered was a mirror reflection of the physical world known as the Umbra, among other names. I met others of my kind and learned exactly why we were different from other spiders. I learned that the Large One was known as Queen Ananasa, the mother of our race. My father, Keanu Bleeding Eyes, taught me everything there was to know about the legend of the Triat, Queen Ananasa’s capture, and the goal of our kind to restore symmetry to the Great Web. At one point, we were in our human forms and came upon a river of blood. I was curious as to how the flow of blood would feel on my human body, so I began to stick my arms in the river. Luckily, my father pulled me back before something in the river tried to grab me. From that moment on, I would be known as Kiara Bloody Fingers. Upon completion of my training, I knew practically all there was to know about being an Ananasi, or Damhàn as we call each other. When I returned to the mortal realm, I constructed my Sylie after cleaning out the attic and disposing of the bodies in the sewer beneath the building. I would have to be more careful with these ‘humans' in the future. I had not learned much about humans and found my human form to be quite restrictive, so I remained in my attic Sylie most of the time, venturing out only to complete tasks appointed to me by my father or the Mother-Queen. Since my interaction with humans almost always ended in failure, my father bequeathed a Fylfot, the Monkey Puzzle, to me. I can confidently correspond with humans in a more comfortable form and they don’t even know they are talking to an eight-foot spider. Still, they always act apprehensive around me, and none of them like talking to me for very long. Even other supernatural creatures seem wary of me, as if they are not sure what to make of me. No matter how many times I interact with certain people, they never seemed to recognize me. Although I usually estrange people, I seem to have quite a knack for handling animals. I’ve found that all animals tend to have a very hostile nature, so I’ve come to expect that even the most careful of handling can result in aggravation. So far, I have two children, Karen Dream Scar and Keegan Slashing Fangs. Both were born arachnid, as I find human sex messy and disgraceful to females. Karen is Wyrsta, like me, but a Viskr, like her grandfather. Keegan is Kumoti, like his grandfather, but a Myrmidon, like his Uncle Kaza Bloody Knuckles. My family has a history of male warriors, which is uncommon among the Damhàn. I have partnered with other Damhàn to defeat Wyrm agents and other threats to the symmetry of our area and even defeated some on my own. I pass on to fellow Damhàn any secrets I learn that would help balance of the Tapestry. I have become especially known for my ability to unravel mysteries. Many Damhàn, as well as other Ovid and various supernaturals, have come to me for advice or to learn the ways of weaving and unweaving. The Mother-Queen has just promoted me once again. In preparation for a great journey, she has taught me a valuable and deadly gift. I feel her spirit with me more often in recent days, and know that the quest I prepare for is of the utmost importance.