Saber-Fang Spider

From Rune's Guide to the Animal Kingdom Volume II - Mage Hunter

Among the creatures I've encountered in my travels across the continent of Nyrth, few inspire such a peculiar mixture of terror and fascination as the Saber-Fang Spider. While their size and appearance may be intimidating, and their arsenal and wits are deadly, there are ways travelers can easily avoid encounters with these creatures.

Physical Characteristics

The Saber-Fang Spider commands immediate attention with its imposing frame. As large as the brown bear, they are adorned in lustrous black chitin complemented by distinctive light brown fur tufts that line its abdomen with little variation in patterns. Most striking are its namesake: a pair of bone-white fangs that gleam like polished ivory in the forest’s shadows. While these fearsome appendages might suggest a venomous nature, I've confirmed through careful study that these spiders rely on brute strength rather than toxins to subdue their prey. With the muscles and sinew of their jaws providing a powerful bite force, and of course their gratuitous size, venom would certainly not be nearly as beneficial in their arsenal as it would for their smaller cousins.
Their eight eyes, arranged in an intricate pattern across their head, provide them with remarkable spatial awareness. In spite of precious care of my guild when we remained hidden, they still caught us in their eye.
Unlike their cousins, these spiders do have bones on top of a carapace as strong as ironbark. Their muscle fibers are incredibly dense, and a bulk of the fat is stored either in their abdomen or surrounding the sternum.

Combat Recommendations

The flesh has been proven to be difficult to cut for novice adventurers, which is why I urge extreme caution if encountering one. If one were to encounter these spiders, the best method of dispatching would be a piercing weapon targeted at the pedicel (the area between the abdomen and the sternum.)
If one is unable to fight, the best chance of survival is running into any tight spaces quickly. Saber-fang spiders are fast, but they are often slowed by trees and encumbered by their size. However, because of their pack-like nature and their intelligence, they can often catch travelers off guard.
Because of their keen eyesight, and their ability to climb, hiding above trees or in bushes are not recommended.

Habitat and Behavior

Though uncommon, these beastly creatures can be found throughout the continent's forests, where they've developed fascinating social behaviors that set them apart from typical arachnids. Unlike most spiders, Saber-Fangs operate in small groups of up to six, employing sophisticated hunting strategies, like a smarter version of a pack of wolves.

Their presence in an area is marked by their extraordinary webbing – a substance so remarkably tough and elastic that prey would have no hope of escaping. The properties of this material attracted the attention of armorers and clothiers across the land. I've witnessed master craftsmen process these webs into lightweight armor of exceptional quality, though harvesting such material is a perilous endeavor. My guildmates once struggled to collect some of this material to bring to the town of Clydesdale. The slightest touch of it would cause great inconvenience. Though, an alchemical solution utilizing the slime of a blacksnail would suffice in temporarily neutralizing its incessantly sticky properties.

Seasonal Patterns and Reproduction

The Saber-Fang's annual cycle is marked by a 4-6-month hibernation period, during which they retreat deep underground. When they emerge, their territorial instincts reach a fever pitch during mating season. Fascinatingly, females produce only 1-3 eggs per season – a stark contrast to the hundreds laid by their smaller relatives. Local legends speak of deeper nesting grounds where larger clutches might be found, though in my extensive travels, I've yet to confirm such tales.
A planned trek into the caverns of the Brisk Hill Mountains has been scheduled, and I will follow up if any discoveries have been achieved in a future volume.

Dietary Habits and Unique Physiology

Most intriguing of the Saber-Fang Spiders lies within their remarkable metabolism. Despite their imposing size, these creatures require surprisingly little sustenance, which aids in their ritual of hibernation. During my dissection studies, I discovered a previously unknown gland that appears to convert inorganic materials into the substances needed for their web production – a finding that has profound implications for our understanding of these creatures.

While they primarily feed on large insects and mammals like deer, they show little interest in hunting humans unless their territory is violated. However, their defensive reactions to trespassers are, swift, coordinated, and brutal. Often, they involve elaborate pit traps lined with their signature webbing to capture prey and trespassers.

There is only one exception to this behavior, where a lone saber-fang spider attacked a village just west of Clydesdale. Our guild dispatched the creature, but this behavior is extremely unusual. We have still yet to find the cause of this sudden shift in this spider’s demeanor, and so far, no other instances have occurred since. I speculate this being a rare instance of pack exile, which several other species of pack animals seldom observe. Much like how a village chief would exile a problematic local, perhaps this could explain why this particular spider attacked outside of its territory.

Of course this is mere speculation.

Trade Impact

It's worth noting the significant impact these creatures have on continental commerce. Their territorial webbing can force the rerouting of trade caravans, and settlements near Saber-Fang territories must remain vigilant in managing these impressive but potentially disruptive neighbors.

Adventuring guilds are recommended to only list hunting quests at or near the end of the mating season. It’s imperative to clear out forest of their webs during their hibernation, otherwise their territory could expand uncontrollably.
The larger their territory, the more numerous their hunting packs may grow.

A Druid's Perspective

In my conversations with the Druids' Circle, I've gathered fascinating insights from those who have assumed the form of these creatures. They speak of the disorienting experience of adapting to the spider's unique visual perspective, though they note that this very challenge becomes a tremendous advantage once mastered. Some druids find the form's bulk limiting compared to smaller spider species, which they proclaim results from expectations of how spiders would normally hunt. The nature of the saber-fang spiders is wildly different than their cousins, and druids who don’t have the experience will struggle being effective in this form. While the bite force is comparable to bears, perhaps exceeding them, there are many disadvantages in using this transformation. The main advantage lies in their webbing, which they argue is first to none when it comes to creatures who have similar restraining tools. Adventuring druids used this webbing in a wide variety of situations, from restraining beasts and bandits, to constructing impromptu bridges. One story was shared about how one druid used this webbing as an effective form of triage.

Editor's Note: This entry is an excerpt from the larger compendium of Rune's Guide to the Animal Kingdom. For related entries on forest-dwelling megafauna and other remarkable arachnids, consult volumes III and V respectively.