Spider Climb. The aranea climbs, including upside down, without needing to make an ability check. Web Sense: While in contact with a web, the aranea knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. The aranea ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Shapechanger. The aranea can use its action to polymorph into a spider-humanoid hybrid or into a humanoid, or back into its true form, which is a medium spider. Each aranea has a unique humanoid form, which is either a small or medium humanoid. In humanoid form, an aranea has a speed of 30 ft. and cannot use its bite attack or web. Otherwise, its statistics are the same in each form. It does not revert to its true form if it dies.
Spellcasting. The aranea is a 3rd-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit with spell attacks). An aranea typically knows the following sorcerer spells:
Cantrips (at will): mending, minor illusion, prestidigitation, shocking grasp
1st-level (4 slots): charm person, detect magic
2nd-level (2 slots): detect thoughts, invisibility
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute.
Web (Recharge 5-6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: The creature is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained creature can make a DC 12 Strength check, escaping from the webbing on a success. The effect also ends if the webbing is destroyed. The webbing has AC 10, 5 hit points, vulnerability to .re damage, and immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage.
Description
Aranea are magical, shapeshifting giant spiders.
Unwarranted Arachnophobia. Despite their fearsome appearance, aranea are not evil. Most aranea associate little with humanoids in order to avoid conflict altogether. They are curious and social, however, so they do occasionally assume their humanoid forms to seek out peaceful interactions with humanoids. They do not eat intelligent creatures.
Uncursed Shifters. Aranea are often referred to as werespiders. Though they are not actual lycanthropes, they do have three forms. They can shift between these forms at will and are not compelled by astrological cycles. Their natural form is that of a giant spider which can be distinguished from non-aranea by the braincase on its back. From birth, each aranea has a unique humanoid form that it can change into. This is often human, but it could be that of another medium or small-sized humanoid race. In addition, like true lycanthropes, they have a hybrid form that has arachnoid fangs and spinnerets in its hands. Hybrid forms vary in appearance and typically have extra eyes and limbs.
Natural Magic. The aranea are natural spellcasters who typically focus on enchantment, divination, and illusion magics. They often use these abilities in hunting animal prey, entertaining themselves and each other, and avoiding conflict with creatures more powerful than they are. Some aranea do practice more combat-oriented magics, but they tend to avoid fire-based spells, since their webs are flammable
Castle Amber
Conversion Guide and Expansion
Original Adventure by Tom Moldvay
Conversion to 5e and Expansion Notes by Stuart Broz
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