D&D 5e: Homebrew Huntsman Spider

Hi All,

I wanted something a little scarier than a regular undead spider for our first session back playing Curse of Strahd after a couple month hiatus. So here is my take on the dreaded Huntsman Spider.

The Huntsman Spider

Large enough to be the mount of choice for an Ogre and with a leg span of close to 40 feet the Huntsman Skeletal Constructs are horrifying creatures, created by powerful necromantic mages that have a need for individuals to be brought to their lairs in a subdued but stable condition. The magics contained within the abdominal cages large enough to hold a full-grown Orc wrap the trapped individuals in ghostly webs that drain the strength and hinder their mobility leaving them easily handled once they have been delivered to the mage.

The Huntsman will sit dormant hidden beneath the earth until their master requires their services or every decade or so they need to feed on the life force of a mortal to maintain the magics that hold them together. When they feed it is a terrible and painful fate for the unfortunate victim, instead of draining their strength and subduing the captured mortal they drain their victim’s life force ageing them in the process until nothing, but dust remains. Because of this ability to feed and maintain their own enchantments the Huntsman often outlives their creator. Thankfully the mages that create these constructs are solitary and greedy in nature so the knowledge of how to create them is incredibly difficult to find.

Huntsman Spider

Huge Undead, Lawful Evil

AC 13 (Natural Armour)

HP 50 (7d8+21)

Speed 50 ft

Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha
20 (+5)	12 (+1)	16 (+3)	5 (-3)	13 (+1)	4 (-3)

Skills Stealth +8

Damage Resistances Non-Magical Attacks

Damage Immunities Poison

Condition Immunities Exhaustion, Poisoned

Senses Blindsight 50 ft, Darkvision 120 ft

Innate Spellcasting. The Huntsman Spider’s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom. They can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components.

At Will: Poison Spray, Spider Climb

3/Day: Jump, Pass Without Trace,

1/Day: Meld with Earth (as Meld with Stone but bare earth instead)

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 10 ft, one creature. Hit:10 (1d10+5) piercing damage and if the target is a medium creature or smaller the target succeed on a DC16 Dexterity saving throw or be swallowed and deposited in the Abdominal Cage.

Abdominal Cage (Capture Mode): While within the Abdominal Cage the creature has partial cover from attacks outside the Abdominal Cage, also each turn the creature must make a DC16 Constitution saving throw or loose 1d3 Dexterity and 1 Strength or lose only 1 Dexterity on a success. A creature that is reduced to 0 Strength or Dexterity is helpless and unconscious, kept in a catatonic state for transport. A long rest will heal all ability damage taken in this way.

Abdominal Cage (Feeding Mode): While within the Abdominal Cage the creature has partial cover from attacks outside the Abdominal Cage, also each turn the creature must make a DC16 Constitution saving throw or loose 1d3 Dexterity and 1 Constitution and ages 2 years or lose only 1 Dexterity on a success. A creature reduced to 0 Dexterity is helpless and unconscious, if the creature’s constitution reaches 0 the creature dies, and their body is turned to dust. A long rest will heal all ability damage taken in this way but not return the characters lost youth.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft, one creature. Hit: 12 (2d6+5) bludgeoning damage.

Keep on Gaming

HDB Out

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