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Friday, March 8, 2019

Gonzo Monsters - Star Spyder

The star spyder is another Dave Hargrave beastie appropriated this time from the old 1975-77 BBC television show Space 1999, a monster from the episode "Dragon's Domain."

The Star Spyder originally appeared in The Arduin Grimoire Volume III, "Runes of Doom."
Below is a video college of the creature that inspired Dave from the television show...



And Here is the Star Spyder as depicted on the cover of "Runes of Doom":

(Art by Greg Espinoza.)
My 5th edition adoption of Dave's creature for The World's Most Popular Role Playing Game:

Star Spyder Huge aberration, Amoral evil
Armor Class 22 Arms, 20 Body, 13 eye (natural armor)
Hit Points 160 (20d12 + 20) Speed 40 ft.
STR 18 (+4) DEX 20 (+5) CON 12 (+1) INT 7 (-2) WIS 14 (+2) CHA 8 (-1)
Skills Arcana +7
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from nonmagikal attacks
Damage Immunities Charm, cold, confusion, poison, sleep, sonics
Condition Immunities Frightened, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 15
Languages
Challenge 14 (11,000 XP)
Penumbral Door. Instead of moving like a normal creature, the star spyder can shift to a different plane, move there, and shift back to the plane where it came from.
Plane Shift. Once per hour, the star spyder can magikally teleport to a different plane of existence. The star spyder does not have to know the plane or its nature. When it uses this ability, it will intuitively avoid planes with an environment too harsh for it to survive. The star spyder can take up to four creatures with it provided these creatures are in physical contact with it. If a creature is unwilling to travel with the star spyder, it must make a successful DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be taken along anyway. The DC is reduced by 2 for every additional unwilling creature.
Actions
    Multiattack. The star spyder makes a psychic charm attack and 4d6 arm tentacle attacks per round. If two arm attacks hit the same target, it is grappled (escape DC 14) and the dimensional star spyder can use its dimensional leap.
    Psychic Charm. The star spyder targets one humanoid it can see within 30 feet of it. If the target can see the star spyder, the target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw against this magik or be charmed by the star spyder. The charmed target moves toward the star spyder and it is a willing target for the star spyder's arm attacks.
    Arm. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d12 + 4) slashing damage plus 13 (2d8+4) constriction damage thereafter. The star spyder regains hit points equal to 1 hit point for every 2 hit points of damage caused. Also, the constriction comes with continuous suction (reverse cyclone) each turn. All under 3 HD cannot resist being seized. If the target is 3 HD or greater, it must make a grapple escape DC 16 or the target is seized. Those seized are dragged under the star spyder's mouth, where the victim’s body is consumed by radiation and heat in 2 melee rounds. Those killed in this manner are 100% irrecoverable.
    Dimensional Leap. The star spyder teleports, along with any equipment it is carrying and any creature it is grappling, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.
Description: Star Spyder looks like a bright light that makes observation difficult. When in danger of being killed, it teleports away. This creature is so rare as to be only a dim legend.