False Appearance. Ancient Handmaidens typically appear as attractive Drow females, but morph into huge demonic spiders during combat. The transformation is instant, and grants them advantage on initiative rolls due the the shock and awe of their assault. Their dual appearance is not an illusion, and trueseeing and similar spells will either reveal a Drow female or a Demon Spider.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the Handmaiden fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Unusual Nature. Handmaidens don’t require air.
Multiattack. The spider makes two Web Strand attacks, uses Reel, and makes two Bite attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (3d8 + 8) piercing damage plus 21 (6d6) acid damage.
Web Strand. Ranged Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 120 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is grappled (escape DC 21). The web strand can be attacked and destroyed (AC 12; 20 hit points; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage). The spider can grapple up to six creatures at a time using its web strands.
Reel. The spider pulls each creature grappled by it up to 60 feet straight toward itself.
Snare Entity (1/Day). The spider weaves a magical web around a creature it can see within 120 feet of itself. The web lasts for 1 minute and suppresses any magic worn or used by the creature (akin to the antimagic effect of a Beholder's central eye). The web is AC 15 and has 40 hit points and can also be destroyed by a successful casting of dispel magic (DC 18).
Description
Ancient Handmaidens once served as the most powerful assassins for the Spider Queen, Lolth. However these fiends often proved to be unmanageable and rebellious, wanting their own autonomy after their first few centuries of service. For this reason, Lolth no longer breeds Ancient Handmaidens, and hunts and kills them out of spite (and fear) anytime she learns of one's location.
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