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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Faolyn" data-source="post: 8742293" data-attributes="member: 6915329">The previous monster was made by fey, but this monster was made by a mad wizard. Enter the spider cat, which does whatever a spider cat does. Perhaps sadly, it’s bigger than a tiger, which makes it unsuitable for being a lap-spider cat. But anyway, it’s another fun, animal-intellect hybrid monster for all your monster needs. It’s also pretty powerful, and that’s after I nerfed it a bit from its original form (which, for no good reasons was immune to fear and illusions and required +2 weapons to hit and had 30% magic resistance).Spider CatThe Dragon’s Bestiary, Dragon Magazine 118Created by K.L. CampbellSpider cats resemble tremendous golden-furred tarantulas with the head and mane of a lion—although they have chelicerae instead of a lion’s mouth—with retractable, feline claws on each of its eight legs and four eyes. They are said to have been created by an insane wizard, with the legends suggesting that they were meant to out-do owlbears. They are much rarer than owlbears are, but also much deadlier.Acidic Venom. The spider cats’ venom, transmitted in their bite is horrifically painful. And worse, it dissolves creatures from the inside out, leaving nothing but goo behind that the cat can then lap up with their long, spiky tongue. They will gladly eat anything except undead, which they take pains to avoid.Prideful. Like the lions they resemble, spider cats live in prides. They hunt as a pride as well, viciously attacking nearly any creature that comes near. Like actual spiders, they are liquivores. Their venom dissolves their victims entirely, though, rather than leaving a dried-out husk. Because of this, they prefer to wrap their prey in webbing and keep them for later. Additionally, the magic that created the spider cats instilled in them a desire to eat solid meat, but their spider-like mouthparts make that impossible. They are just smart enough to become frustrated by that inability, and they angrily tear their prey apart to vent their frustrations before their venom turns their prey to goo. Spider cats are always hungry and always vicious.Webbed Lairs. Spider cats usually build complex lairs out of their webbing, similar to a much-larger funnel spider’s web. These lairs are wrapped around tree stumps or rocky outcroppings and are often clearly visible, as spider cats fear nothing. In addition to being plainly visible, there are also often trails or even pools of dried blood and viscera and dropped treasure leading up to and even inside their lairs.Legends and LoreWith an Arcana or Nature check, the characters can learn the following:DC 10. Spider cats are monstrous beasts that blend the traits of a lion and a giant tarantula, but are larger than the largest great cat. They can spin webs but are more likely to hunt like lions than wait for prey to stumble into their webs.DC 15. Always hungry, spider cats use their corrosive venom to dissolve their prey, then lap up the liquified remains, as they can’t eat solid food. They hunt in packs like lions.DC 20. Spider cats are aggressive. They breed quickly, but they also readily eat their own young if there isn’t enough food.Spider Cat EncountersTerrain: caverns, grasslands, hillsCR 5-10 1-2 spider cats; 1 spider cat and 1d4 spider cat cubs (use giant spider statistics)Treasure: 175 gp, masterwork longsword with gold filigree, in need of sharpening and cleaning, potion of animal friendship.CR 11-16 2-3 spider catsTreasure: 400 gp, aquamarine pendant (worth 1,000 gp), scrolls of faithful hound and wall of fire in scroll case made of rare woods, a badly-injured merchant, wrapped up in webbing.CR 17-22 3-4 spider catsTreasure: 875 gp, holy symbol (random religion) made of carved bone, garnet-studded signet ring of a prominent guild on a mostly-intact skeletal hand (worth 500 gp), a treasure map which leads to the discovery of a rare 3rd-level spell, dented but fixable armor of resistance.Signs1. A strange chittering noise that blends into a horrific leonine roar.2. Clumps of old, dried webbing.3. Large footprints that sort of look like a great cat made them; with a DC 13 Nature check, it’s observed that the creature had eight legs.4. Pools of liquefied tissue and blood, recently dried (or perhaps still moist), scattered around.5. A trail of dropped coins or small objects, leading to the spider-cat’s lair.6. Trees gouged with claw marks.Behavior1-2. Hunting; will attack on sight.3. Sleeping off its last meal in the sun.4. Repairing the webbing of its home.5. Fighting with one another; will stop fighting and attack anyone who comes near.6. Tearing apart a creature it just killed.Spider catLarge monstrosityChallenge 5 (1,800 XP)AC 14 (natural armor)HP 85 (10d10+30; bloodied 43)Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft.STR 21 (+5) DEX 16 (+3) CON 16 (+3)INT 3 (-4) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 5 (-3)Proficiency +3Maneuver DC 16Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6Senses blindsight 10 ft., passive Perception 14Languages —Fearless. The spider cat has advantage on saving throws to avoid being frightened.Keen Smell. The spider cat has advantage on Perception checks that rely on smell.Pack Tactics. The spider cat has advantage on attack rolls against a creature if at least one of the spider cat’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and not incapacitatedSpider Climb. The spider cat can climb even on difficult surfaces and upside down on ceilings.Web Sense. While touching a web, the spider cat knows the location of other creatures touching that web.Web Walker. The spider cat ignores movement restrictions imposed by webs.ActionsMultiattack. The spider cat attacks once with its bite and twice with its claws.Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d10+5) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage, and the target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. While poisoned, the creature takes 3 (1d6) ongoing acid damage. If this damage reduces a creature to 0 hit points, it dies and after 1 minute, melts into goo.Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d8+5) slashing damage. If the spider cat moves at least 20 feet straight towards the target before the attack, the target must make a DC 16 Strength saving throw or fall prone.Bonus ActionsOpportune Bite. The spider cat makes a bite attack against a prone creature.Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: The creature is restrained by a web. As an action, a creature can make a DC 16 Strength check, breaking the web on a success. The effect also ends if the web is destroyed. The web is an object with AC 13, 5 hit points, and immunity to all forms of damage except slashing, fire, and force.CombatThe spider cat attacks the closest creature. It only retreats if it is close to death and not within 5 feet of an enemy.</blockquote>

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