@@TheKing-qz9wd cup and I will send them the next time they come to my hand lol and I’ll be sure that one of you will get a little better and more of it to be
That's funny. I kind of did something like this to a party member who didn't provide any backstory at all. They were an Aranea and didn't know it. Just imagine what happened when the party was hunting an invisible creature and used true sight...that's right one less party member; because who talks anymore?
Dear Aj Long-time fan here, I'm pretty sure I've seen every one of your monster ecologies at least twice. As an college-educated arachnologist myself, if you would ever like to discuss home brewing arachnoid monsters let me know.
Here's a fun curse to give your players. "There is a spider on your body all times and whenever you think about it it will bite you. You will feel it's legs apon your flesh and see the scars it leaves behind but never see the spider itself. " I'll let you come up with the stats but I'm sure you'll come up with something terrifying, you always do. Cheers.
So an aranea's limitation on taking more than one alternate form is more of a culturally enforced compulsion then it is an actual physiological limitation? Interesting. I also didn't know that the werewolf-like hybrid form was a lore goof on the 3rd edition writers' part. Still, I prefer them as majority Neutral alignment and not Neutral Evil as your stat-block says. Thank you for making it though!
I've always thought of Aranea as the spiderfolk you can actually converse with without fear of becoming it's next meal. Intelligent, slightly humanoid spiderfolk who are usually recluses in some corner of the forest who only pick off non intelligent prey (or the occasional humanoid who is intent on destroying their forest homes). The idea of so much treachery amongst the species doesn't sit well with me. There are so many evil spider-like monsters in D&D, I just like keeping one good natured option open. I like the idea of a half celestial Aranea who covers her part of the forest in golden shimmering threads, and is a font of arcane/clerical knowledge for those who seek her out. She even has control over some of the local giant spiders in the area, modifying or "blessing" them, enabling them to spin silk which is infused with the Protection against Evil spell.
If you can get your hands on a copy of the AC9 Creature Catalogue, there are several giant spider races in there. The Aranea are the only ones that live in groups and form societies, but there are other intelligent spiders available.
I've been waiting for this Monstrology video for a long time. As a biology nerd, I've always loved the idea of intelligent non-humanoids. How does the ecology shape their (neuro)psychology? How can we empathize with something that we can't relate well to?
That spell of forgetting is unbelievably powerful. I can’t remember which series it is, but a similar spell is used to destroy a god. If none of its worshippers can remember its name in order to make worship possible, a god will die of starvation/asphyxiation!
They are venomous not poisonous, venom is injected into the bloodstream, poison is ingested or absorbed thru the skin. Love your videos tho! Keep them coming!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I have a homebrew version of this beastie that I first took from D&D boxed sets ("Isle of Dread" module, I think) and vaguely remember later AD&D publishings. I long forgot where I got it. They are Aranea. My latest incarnation was from an island with a Romance of the Three Kingdoms theme I love to use. On the surface, it was The Spiders (Aranea), the Mountain People (Mountain Dwarves), and the Forrest People (pre-Drow form of Dark Elves). Under the surface, it was The Spiders, the Colony (Centaur Ants... I forget their f-based modern name), and the Diggers (Deep Dwarves). It was a mini-campaign where the players actively shaped the worlds via their quests and choices. In that, I allowed players to create spider folk and centaur ant player characters that they got to keep and use in later adventures. My version of Aranea (thanks again for letting me know the name of the beastie I took that from) did not use magic to shape-change so True Sight did not dispel their disguise. It took them a whole day within a web cocoon to break their exoskeleton and re-shape their body into a different form and mending it into the new shape. Going back into their natural form is almost instant and can be done at any time. It hurts badly, taking away 1d6x10% (round down) of their remaining HPs and it takes a full day for them to get back their former AC and senses beyond their disguised form. They instantly get back their sheer attack capabilities. And, well, those below level 4 need to make a save or flee/panic when seeing a person or "what not" explode into being some kind of spider, showering everyone with a bit of blood and gore, to attack. Oh, and killing them in the alternative form causes the same explosion but it is warped into a just as wounded spider folk. I now know what to call my homebrew. It's my version of Aranea. I have no idea where you dug this up but THANK YOU!
this really reminds me (and maybe was part of the inspiration for) the Weaver in China Mieville's Perdido Street Station - a giant intelligent spider with hands for pedipalps and reality warping powers that lives between this and several other underlying realities, member of an entire race of such.
Many species of wasp lay their eggs in spiders. This makes me curious as to how the Aranea deal with giant wasps. That would have to be issue for them, being the natural incubator for something as large and aggressive as Giant Wasps.
The Aranea are the only true spider girls in DnD, they're literally spiders that are woman whats not to love about them ... or feel absolutely terrified at the prospect of a human sized spider that can look you in the eye and then sound like an innocent girl
There's actually another type of giant spider on Mystara called a Shroud spider, that mimics the crys of a scared little girl to lure adventures into it's web lair.
@@glorbojibbins2485 It's very intelligent too. It can hold entire conversations with a party, in the little girl voice, while actually being a very, very large spider.
As long as she never bites me, everything is fine. Most likely though it's all some kind of scam, so I'll be keep a charge of magical lighting on stand by.
I love these guys. They take center stage in my favorite low-level dungeon-crawl back from 3rd ed. Players stumble across a false village of the aranea taken over by spider eaters and wind up having to help the spider folk.
Are the Aranea related in any way to the k'r'r'r from spelljammer? They seem to have a similar worldview of other races and seem to both be very technologically advance. Perhaps their offshoots of an earlier species? 🕷 And excellent video as always!
A must read: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It's science fiction but has a fascinating insight on how a race of intelligent large spiders think and act
Imagine rescuing some D.I.D. from certain death by the hands of some roaming bandits. You get your heroes reward only to, half way through she turns back into a huge fuck all spider.......... DnD
@@AJPickett that tidbit was what got me into them - I'm currently playing a spring eladrin now because of it in fact. Definetly my favorite player race thus far. It's fun to play a race that wears their magic on their sleeve, and stands out so much in a crowd.
Fascinating. I always enjoy learning about non-humanoid sentient species. This gives me lots of ideas for weird monsters and cultures for my homebrew campaign. Thanks AJ! Question for AJ and the comment section: What are some of your favorite non-humanoid sentient species? I know AJ has mentioned dragons are one of his favorite, but what are some others that are cool?
@@nullvoid4063 Agreed. I've seen far too many Star trek "humans with pointy ears" aliens. They're ok for sci-fi that is attempting to show an aspect of humanity as social commentary, but sometimes I want a really alien view-point.
Now I want a society where the Yuanti and Aranea are manipulating things behind the scenes. Maybe holidays that are said to ward off the other, but really are just ways to subtlety show off their control.
I am genuinely surprised the Yeshom remain since the Inevitables would consider them as kill on sight for their abuse of undeath. This could be a great writing catalyst for a high level campaign. Having one of the Inevitables seek out the aid of adventurers to complete their mission.
I still have this module. I picked it up shortly after it's release in 81. I played it 3 times and it has been sealed away since 1983. Fantastic module.
Hey AJ I just wanted to let you know I'm a huge fan! you are my go-to recommendation guy for anyone who wants to know anything about d&d monsters I've watched most of your videos some of them more than once is a refresher before I run a campaign. Also I just wanted to throw this out there cuz I see you are dipping into other world settings. The draconians from dragon Lance are cool however the coolest part of that entire world setting is very easily the orders of wizards and the knights of salmania. They could make for some very engaging cool videos and quite frankly anytime I've made my own setting I've stolen basically those two things whole cloth and planted them in my world because they're so awesome
Hmm an Aranena lich that sounds fun! The heros step in to his lair. they her a muffled scream they run to save the victim. as they inter the web room they see a man in ebon robes as he terns they se a sickly green ooze drip down his mouth. He say a second helping what a good day! i get dinner and more servants. He raises his hand and the cocoon burst open as an Alchemical zombie shamble out
There were spiders that big millions of years ago, but I don't know if they were web spinners. They can't get that big anymore though because the atmosphere has a lot less oxygen now and their lungless respiratory system can't handle that at those sizes.
@@lafortya Yes and no, actually. It's thought that they still spun webs just stuck to lower areas. Instead of the webs we'd accidently walk through in a forest between trees the larger prehistoric species were more like trapdoor spiders. Wait for something to step in it's web on the ground and then ambush it
Loved Isle of Dread and felt like it should have been its own campaign rather than just a module. So many new races and monsters. Picked up the Goodman Games update/reprint of it but haven't really cracked it open yet. Good to see the Aranea get some love...or at least some attention.
The Ularoo weren't just lizard-men, but Chameleon men, whose camo abilities essentially made them invisible when standing still. This trait undoubtedly added to the Arenea's paranoia about being discovered. They were a creation of Mystara's top dragon immortal, who was incredibly pissed at them being cursed with what was essentially a forever feeblemind, one that was even passed down through generations. Hence the army of dragons that incinerated the Aranean empire, and started hunting down the survivors. The Great Dragon (aka the Rainbow Serpent), is not evil, but does hold a grudge.
The Herathian Aranea did a memory wipe. Spell was supposed to erase the memory of the Aranea, but instead it removed all knowledge from the Wallaroo back to the Stone Age. The Wallaroo had discovered the Herathians were shapechangers, despite the fact they weren't doing anything with the knowledge the Aranea couldn't let their discovery stand. The Great One's wrath also coated the area with a magical powder that made divination spells almost impossible to punish the Aranea who depended on the magic to keep track of their rivals. The entire chain of events later caused the Red Curse in part.
@@bskec2177 They altered it slightly. Mystara's biggest problem has always been the continuity. Great for DM's making the world their own, terrible for people trying to put together a lore video on the setting.
Right!? So i have not played DnD yet but want to so damn bad. I hope to find one of the times, A DM who lest us create pure evil characters so i can be some hideous monster race instead of running around with half elfs....
Oh the plot threads are there already. Eilistraee has been trying to recruit some or all the Aranea for a source or good. By doing so the Aranea find out who their prayers have been going to and who organized what happened to their god. ... just Eilistraee left the breadcrumbs and clues. In the Hope's they will start praying to her in revolt against her mother.
The Herathian aranea used magic to grant them the shape-changing abilities to hide from their neighbors. The IoD aranea and other aranea lack the shapechanging abilities, they aren't as organized as the Herathian versions.
I wanted to do the same thing for mindflayers and grow them some brain trees, and have the knowledge in the brain fruit come from those trees that the elves have that used to be netherese scrolls or whatever
Well this was very interesting and I love the hobbit giant spider for the picture of the video. All i could think of well listening to this is the spiders talking form the hobbit. Good Job AJ on the vid can't wait for more spiders from you.
I think I've only seen Chamber of Secrets, like, twice? Yet upon seeing the thumbnail the quote, "Goodbye. . . Friends of Hagrid," popped into my head 😂 - 7:52 . . . Was this an episode of Charmed?
The thing I don't get is if their thing is 'magical research', why are they barely competent spellcasters? That's like calling my cat a 'physics researcher' because she very carefully watches the things she knocks off the shelf hit the floor.
I am planning on running a one shot where some exclusive mountain is druid communities basically never let anybody stay in the villages in do not care for outsiders. Long story short the player characters are going to be sent as an advanced force to scout to mountain out for mining. However they’re going to find some extremely pissed off druid spider people now hahahah. Thank you!!
I really want the isle of dread video now. Gotta love that classic D&D artwork. Can’t tell if that’s a horrible monster or a meth addicted version of Slimer from Ghostbusters lol
I always feel bad for creatures in D&D whose deities got turned or subsumed by evil gods. Like, what do you do when your pantheon gets tricked into evil, or like the goblinoid races, is full-on enslaved?
The "Talons of Night" module (M5 9214) had the Aranea as descendants of a race of Planar spiders that had their plane-shifting powers stripped from them and banished to Mystara as a punishment for some ancient crime.
@@AJPickett Played this module a long time ago (1988). There was an avatar of their God imprisoned in Thotia that was the BBEG at the end, and had to recover an artifact to destroy her. Also, I think the Planar spiders and the Phanatons had a much better relationship with each other. This was a long time ago, so I'm not sure I'm getting it all right.
@@AJPickett Maybe vampires had a hand in something cruel to the follower of the Spider Goddess. Probably to steal some forbidden knowledge. The means of which earn them and all other vampires the Spider Goddess's scorn.
In fact, there actually ARE official were-spiders for AD&D, and they show up in one of the Monstrous Compendium Appendix Annuals - Volume 3, I believe. Pathfinder 1e also added werespiders as part of its Enterothrope template.
ah now i know why my dm in the 90's didnt want us anywhere near Calimshan & it also explains one of the "inside jokes" running through the campaign that i didnt understand ,, this make things way funnier
Does anyone remember an old scifi rpg called “paranoia?” Quite possibly the best time we ever had if you get the right group going. i miss the laughs. Just as funny to read the materials as it is to play
@@MySerpentine remember starting equipment was a) 5 gal active genetic solution in a 4% protein broth (ie sperm), b) 10000 oval ball bearings..c) skippy the wonderbot.?
So these are like were-spiders? Can anyone else imagine a were-spider hiring were-shark and were-wolf mercenaries? Sounds fun except for the prospect of getting paraylsed and mutilated in a group attack. Do not go lone wolf on these thinga unless you're an automaton I guess.
@@rachdarastrix5251 Uuhh... when was the last time you found a spider trying to cast magic? I don't have those in my rafters. I also don't eat spiders unless they are the size of a cow and tried to bite me.
(20 minutes in) "Aranea have no hybrid form." ...Have you READ the Red Steel entry on Aranea, written by TSR for AD&D 2nd edition? Aranea having a hybrid form is old canon. From the General Notes section alone: Aranea of the Savage Coast have two true forms - that of their ancestors (a large, intelligent spider) and that of a humanoid. *They can also take on a shape that combines elements of the two. * In its *third, demispider form*, an aranea appears as a humanoid with arachnoid elements. These always include fangs, spinnerets in the palm of each hand, and four eyes. The demispider form typically has an extra joint in each finger and thumb as well, and the two extra eyes are generally located on the temples. But no two individuals ever have exactly the same demispider form. Since aranea gain no initial Legacy from the Red Curse, aranea characters usually claim that this form is part of their Legacy. The fiction works well, considering that aranea are relatively rare and very secretive, and some Legacies give a demispider form.
I always wanted to play Aranea character, who didn't know they were Aranea and had nighmares about spiders and sometimes uncontrollably shifted to this demispider form much to their horror.
Can't wait to try this creature out either the next session or the one after. The party is currently in the undercity of Sharn - Old Ja'Shaarat. They will first encounter orange lizards that hunt in packs like wolves and a flail snail that is eating the debris of the trail they were trying to follow. When they press on they will find a large cavern where the abandoned city continues but spills out into a large town square of sorts flanked by various buildings carved into the cavern walls. But it is here, in this abandoned space that my aranea, Ooladelle, ambushes any who dare enter her claimed domain. She is very tricksy though. She uses those she has mostly drained to the brink of dry and a special alchemical potion to form undead servants. She spins her spider silk into strips of sticky cloth and wraps up this poor lot to form "adherers" an oldschool monster that is a weak but very sticky mummy. And being a level 3 wizard herself, she will make good use of an array of spells and the guise of an old hermit woman dwelling within the abandoned money changer building. Not sure if I want to lure them into the ambush spot with gold or with an injured animal. Heroes can be caught either by the heartstrings or their purse strings. I think I will use a creature though as this is a fairly compassionate group... though some of them have a streak of greed too. Maybe use both baits.
There is a spider cult (not dedicated to lolth, much to her fury)in my homebrew setting these things are perfect for it
@Lamodrick Foster
And all the clerics said *"BURN IN HOLY FIRE"* and you never managed to tell anyone.
I like that alot!
@@TheKing-qz9wd cup and I will send them the next time they come to my hand lol and I’ll be sure that one of you will get a little better and more of it to be
giant spider: i sleep
giant spider with fingies: *ｎｏｐｐｅ*
That's funny. I kind of did something like this to a party member who didn't provide any backstory at all. They were an Aranea and didn't know it. Just imagine what happened when the party was hunting an invisible creature and used true sight...that's right one less party member; because who talks anymore?
Lol! I had a campaign where a player choose a shape shifted green slaad, that was fun.
Dear Aj
Long-time fan here, I'm pretty sure I've seen every one of your monster ecologies at least twice.
As an college-educated arachnologist myself, if you would ever like to discuss home brewing arachnoid monsters let me know.
You're crazy brave to study Nopes in depth.
They seem to have a strangely sympathetic background. I like it. Not every monstrous race needs to be baby eating 100% of the time.
Thank Sir AJ Pickett you have quenched my thirst for
D&D lore for a day
*bows*
"brother get the flamer, the heavy flamer"
Here's a fun curse to give your players.
"There is a spider on your body all times and whenever you think about it it will bite you. You will feel it's legs apon your flesh and see the scars it leaves behind but never see the spider itself. "
I'll let you come up with the stats but I'm sure you'll come up with something terrifying, you always do.
Cheers.
Oooo that's horrible.
I love it!
So an aranea's limitation on taking more than one alternate form is more of a culturally enforced compulsion then it is an actual physiological limitation? Interesting. I also didn't know that the werewolf-like hybrid form was a lore goof on the 3rd edition writers' part. Still, I prefer them as majority Neutral alignment and not Neutral Evil as your stat-block says. Thank you for making it though!
I've always thought of Aranea as the spiderfolk you can actually converse with without fear of becoming it's next meal. Intelligent, slightly humanoid spiderfolk who are usually recluses in some corner of the forest who only pick off non intelligent prey (or the occasional humanoid who is intent on destroying their forest homes). The idea of so much treachery amongst the species doesn't sit well with me. There are so many evil spider-like monsters in D&D, I just like keeping one good natured option open. I like the idea of a half celestial Aranea who covers her part of the forest in golden shimmering threads, and is a font of arcane/clerical knowledge for those who seek her out. She even has control over some of the local giant spiders in the area, modifying or "blessing" them, enabling them to spin silk which is infused with the Protection against Evil spell.
If you can get your hands on a copy of the AC9 Creature Catalogue, there are several giant spider races in there. The Aranea are the only ones that live in groups and form societies, but there are other intelligent spiders available.
*YES!* Let the skin crawling commence! I propose a toast to Spider Week
I've been waiting for this Monstrology video for a long time.
As a biology nerd, I've always loved the idea of intelligent non-humanoids. How does the ecology shape their (neuro)psychology? How can we empathize with something that we can't relate well to?
That spell of forgetting is unbelievably powerful. I can’t remember which series it is, but a similar spell is used to destroy a god. If none of its worshippers can remember its name in order to make worship possible, a god will die of starvation/asphyxiation!
They are venomous not poisonous, venom is injected into the bloodstream, poison is ingested or absorbed thru the skin. Love your videos tho! Keep them coming!
And yet, one does not shout "help, I have been venomed by a giant spider person!". 😉
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I have a homebrew version of this beastie that I first took from D&D boxed sets ("Isle of Dread" module, I think) and vaguely remember later AD&D publishings. I long forgot where I got it. They are Aranea. My latest incarnation was from an island with a Romance of the Three Kingdoms theme I love to use. On the surface, it was The Spiders (Aranea), the Mountain People (Mountain Dwarves), and the Forrest People (pre-Drow form of Dark Elves). Under the surface, it was The Spiders, the Colony (Centaur Ants... I forget their f-based modern name), and the Diggers (Deep Dwarves). It was a mini-campaign where the players actively shaped the worlds via their quests and choices. In that, I allowed players to create spider folk and centaur ant player characters that they got to keep and use in later adventures.
My version of Aranea (thanks again for letting me know the name of the beastie I took that from) did not use magic to shape-change so True Sight did not dispel their disguise. It took them a whole day within a web cocoon to break their exoskeleton and re-shape their body into a different form and mending it into the new shape. Going back into their natural form is almost instant and can be done at any time. It hurts badly, taking away 1d6x10% (round down) of their remaining HPs and it takes a full day for them to get back their former AC and senses beyond their disguised form. They instantly get back their sheer attack capabilities. And, well, those below level 4 need to make a save or flee/panic when seeing a person or "what not" explode into being some kind of spider, showering everyone with a bit of blood and gore, to attack. Oh, and killing them in the alternative form causes the same explosion but it is warped into a just as wounded spider folk.
I now know what to call my homebrew. It's my version of Aranea. I have no idea where you dug this up but THANK YOU!
Sounds like demon spiders, one form bursting out of the other. I like it.
this really reminds me (and maybe was part of the inspiration for) the Weaver in China Mieville's Perdido Street Station - a giant intelligent spider with hands for pedipalps and reality warping powers that lives between this and several other underlying realities, member of an entire race of such.
Hell yeah! 'The Isle of Dread' was the first adventure I ever DM'd...love your old school references AJ!
Many species of wasp lay their eggs in spiders. This makes me curious as to how the Aranea deal with giant wasps. That would have to be issue for them, being the natural incubator for something as large and aggressive as Giant Wasps.
Stone Spiders. "Stone"
I ran a 3.5 adventure out of Dungeon mag #137, “Siege of the Spider Eaters”, that touched on that idea.
AJ: Let's visit Mystara.
*Mr Welch has entered the chat.*
Great video! Cue the nightmares.
Hmm mystic spiders gives whole new meaning to spell weaver.
The Aranea are the only true spider girls in DnD, they're literally spiders that are woman whats not to love about them
... or feel absolutely terrified at the prospect of a human sized spider that can look you in the eye and then sound like an innocent girl
There's actually another type of giant spider on Mystara called a Shroud spider, that mimics the crys of a scared little girl to lure adventures into it's web lair.
Lol right that's pretty spooky
@@glorbojibbins2485 It's very intelligent too. It can hold entire conversations with a party, in the little girl voice, while actually being a very, very large spider.
As long as she never bites me, everything is fine. Most likely though it's all some kind of scam, so I'll be keep a charge of magical lighting on stand by.
@@bskec2177 I have been trying to find it but no luck on finding info with that ability mentioned, do you know where to find it?
Already can't wait to learn more and they're this at my players.
I just imagine an aranea with a wizard hat reading a spell tome while waiting for something to get trapped in its web
Its familiar is a ...
@@mikemccoy5092 Obviously its a dog or cat sized spooder
Always knew there was a spider conspiracy!
Great video. Would love to see conversions and reviews of dark sun and dragonlance. Their cosmologies are fascinating. And very unique dragons.
Dark Sun please.
Always nice to see a new video from AJ, especially monster ecologies are my favorite.
Yay, it's a new AJ Pickett video!!!
Bigby's Crashing Shoe
I love these guys. They take center stage in my favorite low-level dungeon-crawl back from 3rd ed. Players stumble across a false village of the aranea taken over by spider eaters and wind up having to help the spider folk.
Theres the race i need for my character idea of a giant spider obsessed wizard but hates lolth. Time to butter up the DM
Are the Aranea related in any way to the k'r'r'r from spelljammer? They seem to have a similar worldview of other races and seem to both be very technologically advance. Perhaps their offshoots of an earlier species? 🕷 And excellent video as always!
They are a very ancient species, so, could be.
What a great concept, my favourite vid of yours to date!
Thank you but I need to sleep because I have school tomorrow so I'll watch it tomorrow.
A must read: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. It's science fiction but has a fascinating insight on how a race of intelligent large spiders think and act
Imagine rescuing some D.I.D. from certain death by the hands of some roaming bandits. You get your heroes reward only to, half way through she turns back into a huge fuck all spider.......... DnD
I've been waiting for this one for a long time!
AJ, any plans to make some videos on the eladrin? I haven't found any dedicated videos on them in your extensive and amazing collection.
I mention the Eladrin of the outer planes on occasion, but nothing dedicated to them alone yet.
@@AJPickett that tidbit was what got me into them - I'm currently playing a spring eladrin now because of it in fact. Definetly my favorite player race thus far. It's fun to play a race that wears their magic on their sleeve, and stands out so much in a crowd.
Fascinating. I always enjoy learning about non-humanoid sentient species. This gives me lots of ideas for weird monsters and cultures for my homebrew campaign. Thanks AJ!
Question for AJ and the comment section: What are some of your favorite non-humanoid sentient species? I know AJ has mentioned dragons are one of his favorite, but what are some others that are cool?
Bariur!
@@AJPickett The goatmen of Ysgard. Great choice!
Jotoki aliens from Niven's Known Space series.
@@bskec2177 Cool choice. It's nice to see some truly *alien* aliens in literature and media.
@@nullvoid4063 Agreed. I've seen far too many Star trek "humans with pointy ears" aliens. They're ok for sci-fi that is attempting to show an aspect of humanity as social commentary, but sometimes I want a really alien view-point.
Now I want a society where the Yuanti and Aranea are manipulating things behind the scenes. Maybe holidays that are said to ward off the other, but really are just ways to subtlety show off their control.
Oddly enough, Ultima Online had something analogous to this with the Terathans and Ophidians
I am genuinely surprised the Yeshom remain since the Inevitables would consider them as kill on sight for their abuse of undeath. This could be a great writing catalyst for a high level campaign. Having one of the Inevitables seek out the aid of adventurers to complete their mission.
Do they live and work together with Ettercaps and other giant Spiders? Or do they just see them as Prey?
I love monsters like this that have a story hook embedded in their biology.
I still have this module. I picked it up shortly after it's release in 81. I played it 3 times and it has been sealed away since 1983. Fantastic module.
Time capsule D&D
OH CHRIST THAT THUMBNAIL!!
"Throw away all your monster girl fanart boys I'm sorry."
Me: NEVER!
I’ve currently working on a custom variant of a Jorogumo for my Japanese Ive been running...this has some good ideas I hadn’t considered...
Oh shoot this funny. I named my homebrew world Aranae def putting these guys in
Hey AJ I just wanted to let you know I'm a huge fan! you are my go-to recommendation guy for anyone who wants to know anything about d&d monsters I've watched most of your videos some of them more than once is a refresher before I run a campaign. Also I just wanted to throw this out there cuz I see you are dipping into other world settings. The draconians from dragon Lance are cool however the coolest part of that entire world setting is very easily the orders of wizards and the knights of salmania. They could make for some very engaging cool videos and quite frankly anytime I've made my own setting I've stolen basically those two things whole cloth and planted them in my world because they're so awesome
Ungoliant's brood
This made my drive to work much more interesting, thanks AJ.
Hmm an Aranena lich that sounds fun!
The heros step in to his lair. they her a muffled scream they run to save the victim. as they inter the web room they see a man in ebon robes as he terns they se a sickly green ooze drip down his mouth. He say a second helping what a good day! i get dinner and more servants. He raises his hand and the cocoon burst open as an Alchemical zombie shamble out
Fun Fact: If *any* species of spider were the size of a normal house cat their webs would be strong enough to catch helicopters out of the sky
There were spiders that big millions of years ago, but I don't know if they were web spinners. They can't get that big anymore though because the atmosphere has a lot less oxygen now and their lungless respiratory system can't handle that at those sizes.
@@lafortya Yes and no, actually. It's thought that they still spun webs just stuck to lower areas. Instead of the webs we'd accidently walk through in a forest between trees the larger prehistoric species were more like trapdoor spiders. Wait for something to step in it's web on the ground and then ambush it
@@rachdarastrix5251 Who said I was human? Or from Earth?
Loved Isle of Dread and felt like it should have been its own campaign rather than just a module. So many new races and monsters. Picked up the Goodman Games update/reprint of it but haven't really cracked it open yet. Good to see the Aranea get some love...or at least some attention.
Old school Mystara monster! Hot damn!
So they literally nuked the lizards back to the stone age?
Wow, the backstory of this campaign world is intense.
The Ularoo weren't just lizard-men, but Chameleon men, whose camo abilities essentially made them invisible when standing still. This trait undoubtedly added to the Arenea's paranoia about being discovered. They were a creation of Mystara's top dragon immortal, who was incredibly pissed at them being cursed with what was essentially a forever feeblemind, one that was even passed down through generations. Hence the army of dragons that incinerated the Aranean empire, and started hunting down the survivors. The Great Dragon (aka the Rainbow Serpent), is not evil, but does hold a grudge.
The Herathian Aranea did a memory wipe. Spell was supposed to erase the memory of the Aranea, but instead it removed all knowledge from the Wallaroo back to the Stone Age. The Wallaroo had discovered the Herathians were shapechangers, despite the fact they weren't doing anything with the knowledge the Aranea couldn't let their discovery stand. The Great One's wrath also coated the area with a magical powder that made divination spells almost impossible to punish the Aranea who depended on the magic to keep track of their rivals. The entire chain of events later caused the Red Curse in part.
@@Mr_Welch Thanks. I was going on memory from the Dragon magazine series "Princess Ark", I never got the Red Steel set.
@@bskec2177 They altered it slightly. Mystara's biggest problem has always been the continuity. Great for DM's making the world their own, terrible for people trying to put together a lore video on the setting.
@@Mr_Welch I loved the Gazetter series for filling in the blanks, and I hated the Gazetteer series for filling in ALL the blanks.
Now that's a Race I would want to play. Spider Peace!
Right!? So i have not played DnD yet but want to so damn bad. I hope to find one of the times, A DM who lest us create pure evil characters so i can be some hideous monster race instead of running around with half elfs....
Also, Lupin remake?
Oh the plot threads are there already. Eilistraee has been trying to recruit some or all the Aranea for a source or good. By doing so the Aranea find out who their prayers have been going to and who organized what happened to their god. ... just Eilistraee left the breadcrumbs and clues. In the Hope's they will start praying to her in revolt against her mother.
Actually the hybrid humanoid-spider form was from Red Steel first box set for d&d 2nd edition.
The one I don't have... Typical
The Herathian aranea used magic to grant them the shape-changing abilities to hide from their neighbors. The IoD aranea and other aranea lack the shapechanging abilities, they aren't as organized as the Herathian versions.
Isle of Dread! Still own it and know it by heart!
I have the 2nd edition Red Steel Campaign Setting. The hybrid form is mentioned in that editions entry for Aranea. Artwork included.
I need a necromancer druid and a sample of troll flesh so I can sell these guys meatberry bushes.
Eww
I wanted to do the same thing for mindflayers and grow them some brain trees, and have the knowledge in the brain fruit come from those trees that the elves have that used to be netherese scrolls or whatever
Woo!! Mystara
Very nice, might need to find a way to use these creatures for my setting. Good video.
Your stat block has them listed as shapechangers, but it doesn't include the shapechanger trait. Other than that, It's a great stat block. Thanks TMG!
Dude this is nice.
Hey could you do a top ten lesser or unknown races of d&d?
Not my thing.
@@AJPickett eh worth a try.
But still you're awesome for doing these
Intelligent..... spell casting.... giant spiders?!? Aka... nightmare fuel!
I used to have that module! Flashbacks!!
Well this was very interesting and I love the hobbit giant spider for the picture of the video. All i could think of well listening to this is the spiders talking form the hobbit. Good Job AJ on the vid can't wait for more spiders from you.
That was Hagrid's pet spider from Harry Potter 🤓
@@AJPickett honest mistake there wasn't much of the background there and the spiders look very similar
I think I've only seen Chamber of Secrets, like, twice? Yet upon seeing the thumbnail the quote, "Goodbye. . . Friends of Hagrid," popped into my head 😂
- 7:52 . . . Was this an episode of Charmed?
Good spotting!
@@AJPickett haha, Thank you, Professor Picket. . . The Harry Potter part or Charmed?😂
The thing I don't get is if their thing is 'magical research', why are they barely competent spellcasters? That's like calling my cat a 'physics researcher' because she very carefully watches the things she knocks off the shelf hit the floor.
The average Aranea is, there are also Archmages and liches. I encourage you to make your own.
4:35 Ok so I am gonna need some context for those space whales.
That was a weird issue of Dragon magazine.
I am planning on running a one shot where some exclusive mountain is druid communities basically never let anybody stay in the villages in do not care for outsiders. Long story short the player characters are going to be sent as an advanced force to scout to mountain out for mining. However they’re going to find some extremely pissed off druid spider people now hahahah. Thank you!!
You're welcome 😁
What world setting are the cities of Geldon Thor, Telendra, and Thardolin a part of?, that's the setting of the PC game Soulbringer
Moar anthropoids please.
ah yes love anything to do with mystara
I really want the isle of dread video now. Gotta love that classic D&D artwork. Can’t tell if that’s a horrible monster or a meth addicted version of Slimer from Ghostbusters lol
The dude holding on to the sail almost looks like he’s hanging a bedsheet haha
Another great opportunity to bring in
Kwakul Anansi
African god of
Tricksters
Music
Stories
And
Spiders
Thanks dude 👍
Not sure if you already touched the ethercaps, but if not will they be touched on this series?
it's on his channel
Oh iam so using this in a drow campaign iam going to be running, maybe set the stage in a different world like dark sun.
Looking forward, hopefully, to a full on Lolth video.
I always feel bad for creatures in D&D whose deities got turned or subsumed by evil gods. Like, what do you do when your pantheon gets tricked into evil, or like the goblinoid races, is full-on enslaved?
Their god was an actual demon but yes, fully agree.
is that Lucy Lawless in the picture @7:35??
Nope, spider demon from Charmed.
16:24 Let me guess; Lolph actually userped the Arranian God, and stole his divine spider portpholio?
In a way, yes.
The "Talons of Night" module (M5 9214) had the Aranea as descendants of a race of Planar spiders that had their plane-shifting powers stripped from them and banished to Mystara as a punishment for some ancient crime.
Hmmmm! This species is REALLY old.
@@AJPickett Played this module a long time ago (1988). There was an avatar of their God imprisoned in Thotia that was the BBEG at the end, and had to recover an artifact to destroy her.
Also, I think the Planar spiders and the Phanatons had a much better relationship with each other. This was a long time ago, so I'm not sure I'm getting it all right.
good video AJ
Spider-weres, does this mean there are were-spiders?
Don't you think it's strange that vampires can't turn into spiders?
@@rachdarastrix5251 or all the extra eyes make them dizzy
Like actual spiders or the Spiderman half spider half man?
@@AJPickett Maybe vampires had a hand in something cruel to the follower of the Spider Goddess. Probably to steal some forbidden knowledge. The means of which earn them and all other vampires the Spider Goddess's scorn.
In fact, there actually ARE official were-spiders for AD&D, and they show up in one of the Monstrous Compendium Appendix Annuals - Volume 3, I believe. Pathfinder 1e also added werespiders as part of its Enterothrope template.
Looks like Necromancer Games 5th Edition Foes has a great write up of them with a heady 5e stat block.
ah now i know why my dm in the 90's didnt want us anywhere near Calimshan & it also explains one of the "inside jokes" running through the campaign that i didnt understand ,, this make things way funnier
What universe are the regions of Geldon Tor, Thardolin, Telendra part of?
Mystara I believe
@@AJPickett, I remember them from the PC game called Soulbringer
Does anyone remember an old scifi rpg called “paranoia?” Quite possibly the best time we ever had if you get the right group going. i miss the laughs. Just as funny to read the materials as it is to play
Oh yeah . . .
@@MySerpentine remember starting equipment was a) 5 gal active genetic solution in a 4% protein broth (ie sperm), b) 10000 oval ball bearings..c) skippy the wonderbot.?
Good thing I don't have arachnophobe. Itsy bitsy spider-people
Reading the "Ilse of dread" the 5e conversion by good man games
So these are like were-spiders?
Can anyone else imagine a were-spider hiring were-shark and were-wolf mercenaries?
Sounds fun except for the prospect of getting paraylsed and mutilated in a group attack. Do not go lone wolf on these thinga unless you're an automaton I guess.
@@rachdarastrix5251
I might have misheard something.
@@rachdarastrix5251
Uuhh... when was the last time you found a spider trying to cast magic? I don't have those in my rafters. I also don't eat spiders unless they are the size of a cow and tried to bite me.
@@rachdarastrix5251
So that means you have just been telling yourself they weren't sapient. Ah, unwinding your own web.
@@rachdarastrix5251
Yes and no.
Perhaps it was a twisted vision of these spider-folk that enticed twisted druids to create the monstrous Ettercaps
(20 minutes in) "Aranea have no hybrid form." ...Have you READ the Red Steel entry on Aranea, written by TSR for AD&D 2nd edition? Aranea having a hybrid form is old canon. From the General Notes section alone:
Aranea of the Savage Coast have two true forms - that of their ancestors (a large, intelligent spider) and that of a humanoid. *They can also take on a shape that combines elements of the two. *
In its *third, demispider form*, an aranea appears as a humanoid with arachnoid elements. These always include fangs, spinnerets in the palm of each hand, and four eyes. The demispider form typically has an extra joint in each finger and thumb as well, and the two extra eyes are generally located on the temples. But no two individuals ever have exactly the same demispider form. Since aranea gain no initial Legacy from the Red Curse, aranea characters usually claim that this form is part of their Legacy. The fiction works well, considering that aranea are relatively rare and very secretive, and some Legacies give a demispider form.
Cheers! (Will pin this comment)
I always wanted to play Aranea character, who didn't know they were Aranea and had nighmares about spiders and sometimes uncontrollably shifted to this demispider form much to their horror.
I love it!
Oh hell no.
Would the arania try to help the ettercaps become more civilized
Yes.
Just my 2 cents. Wouldn't they be monstrosities instead of beasts in 5e? Just thinking of the implications of a Druid Wildshaping into one.
Yes, quite right.
Can't wait to try this creature out either the next session or the one after. The party is currently in the undercity of Sharn - Old Ja'Shaarat. They will first encounter orange lizards that hunt in packs like wolves and a flail snail that is eating the debris of the trail they were trying to follow. When they press on they will find a large cavern where the abandoned city continues but spills out into a large town square of sorts flanked by various buildings carved into the cavern walls. But it is here, in this abandoned space that my aranea, Ooladelle, ambushes any who dare enter her claimed domain. She is very tricksy though. She uses those she has mostly drained to the brink of dry and a special alchemical potion to form undead servants. She spins her spider silk into strips of sticky cloth and wraps up this poor lot to form "adherers" an oldschool monster that is a weak but very sticky mummy. And being a level 3 wizard herself, she will make good use of an array of spells and the guise of an old hermit woman dwelling within the abandoned money changer building. Not sure if I want to lure them into the ambush spot with gold or with an injured animal. Heroes can be caught either by the heartstrings or their purse strings. I think I will use a creature though as this is a fairly compassionate group... though some of them have a streak of greed too. Maybe use both baits.