Section 15 for this entry
The NPC below is designated as Open Game Content
Mistress of the Web
From dark canopy of leaves a lithe figure drifts downward on a gossamer thread. Her delicate features mark her as an elf, yet her movements are not as graceful.
Mistress of the Web CR 13
Female aranea Ranger 3/Arcane Archer 6
NG Medium magical beast (shapechanger) in hybrid form
Init +3; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +9 (+11 Forests)
[Defense]
AC 16, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, ring of protection +2)
hp 90 (12d10+24)
Fort +11, Ref +12, Will +7
[Offense]
Spd 30 ft.. climb 25 ft.
Melee bite +12 (1d6 plus Poison) or
+2 crystal longsword1 +14/+9/+4 (1d8+2 or 1d8+1d6+2 non-lethal; 18-20)
Ranged or mw longbow +16/+11/+6 (1d8+1 plus 1d6 electricity, x3; magic, distance;)
web +15 (entangled)
SA Combat Style (archery), enhance arrows (magic, elemental, distance), imbue arrow, phase arrow, seeker arrow, favored enemy (orcs, +2), web
Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 3rd; DC 13 + spell level):
0th (unlimited) - daze,detect magic, ghost sound, mage hand, resistance
1st (6/day) - colour spray, disguise self, sleep
[Statistics]
Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 14,Wis 13, Cha 16
Base Atk +12; Grp +12
Feats Elf Friend, EnduranceB, Far Shot, Iron WillB, Point Blank ShotB, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus (Longbow)
Skills Acrobatics +10(6), Climb +17(9), Escape Artist +8(6), Knowledge (nature) +11(9), Linguistics +7 (10cc), Perception +15(12), Stealth +15(12), Spellcraft +11(9), Survival +12(11)
SQ Change shape, favoured terrain (Forest), track, wild empathy +5
Languages Elven, Sylvan
Other Gear gloves of arrow snaring, lesser silent metamagic rod, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility, plus 500 gp worth
[Special Abilties]
Change Shape (Su): The Mistress of the Web’s natural form is that of a Medium monstrous spider. She can assume two other forms. The first is a unique elven female; in elven form she always assumes the same appearance and traits, much as a lycanthrope would. In elven form, she cannot use its bite attack, webs, or poison.
The second form is a Medium spider-elven hybrid. In hybrid form, she looks like a Medium humanoid at first glance, but a DC 18 Spot check reveals the creature’s fangs and spinnerets. The aranea retains its bite attack, webs, and poison in this form, and can also wield weapons or wear armor. When in hybrid form, her speed is 30 feet (6 squares).
She remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does she revert to her natural form when killed. A true seeing spell, however, reveals her natural form if she is in elven or hybrid form.
Poison (Ex): Injury, Fortitude DC 13, initial damage 1d6 Str, secondary damage 2d6 Str. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Web (Ex): In spider or hybrid form (see below), an aranea can throw a web up to six times per day. This is similar to an attact with a net but has a maximum range of 50 feet, with a range increment of 10 feet, and is effective against targets of up to Large size. The web anchors the targer in place, allowing no movement
An entangled creature can escape with a DC 13 Escape Artist check or burst the web with a DC 17 Strength check. The check DCs are Constitution-based, and the Strength check DC includes a +4 racial bonus. The web has 6 hit points, hardness 0, and takes double damage from fire.
Skills: The Mistress of the Web has a +2 racial bonus on Acrobatics and Perception. She has a +8 racial bonus on Climb checks anc can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks even if rushed or threatened.
1 From The Quintessential Elf
Background
Descending from the western face of the Dosian Mountains there spreads the mighty, primeval Troos Forest.
Most sentient creatures learned long ago to avoid these brooding, cyclopean trees. Danger lurks beneath the dark canopy. Sunlight reaches the forest floor in spotty patches, and only on the brightest days is the gloom more than a perpetual dusk. Amid the shadows prowl slithering gricks, hunting drakes, malignant fey and even worse abominations.
In the Forest of Troos there also lurk monstrous spiders and their cousins, the strange creatures called aranea. One such arenea was known as the Mistress of the Web for the massive structure she spun among the treetops, a sprawling mansion of tunnels and lines that allowed her easy transport through the woods.
The Mistress of the Web held an uneasy truce with the forest’s elves. They competed for some of the same trees, and the Mistress of the Web was spotted every now and then escaping with a trinket or two from the royal elf treasure horde secreted in the nook of the forest’s Primal Tree. A few half-hearted arrows kept her from stealing too much.
The issue was not pressed with any fervor as neither the Mistress or the elves desired another dedicated enemy when the forest teemed with enough threats.
Then other elves came to the forest. They were dark creatures, with skin of ebony and eyes of pure white. They glided through the underbrush like wraiths, and every creature fled before them. Even the ravaging drakes avoided their presence after a few of the beasts were cut down with the barest effort.
These elves approached the Mistress of the Web with an offer: show them the secret way to the Primal Tree. In exchange they offered her a chest of jewelry and golden baubles. The Mistress’s greed was too much, and she readily accepted despite the obvious malignancy these newcomers radiated.
What the Mistress assumed was a simple treasure raid turned into a kidnapping. The dark elves, instead of looting the treasury, stole a dozen elven children. Worse, while she was away guiding the raiding party, other dark elves made off with the Mistress’s recently laid egg sack.
Distraught, the Mistress of the Web, attacked the dark elves, but was easily driven off by their midnight-black swords that burned her flesh like flaming brands. She rushed to the elves in the Primal Tree and told them where their children were hidden, but leaving out her part in the abduction.
The elves attacked their dark brethren. The Mistress of the Web fought alongside them with the fury of a mother, and the elf children were rescued. Her eggs she found destroyed, wrecked in an experiment to turn the hatchlings into a new type of drider.
The old rivalry between the Mistress of the Web and the forest elves was forgotten. They proclaimed her “Elf Friend” and tried as best they could to console her. She became one of their greatest allies, learning the way of the bow and arrow magic over the course of many later battles to cleanse the forest of the dark-elf infestation.
The Mistress of the Web believes the death of her children her was punishment for her greed. To atone she has dedicated herself to instructing and caring for orphan elves, either as a surrogate parent or as an instructor in the ways of magic. She has never revealed her part in the catastrophe, and bears the knowledge with a secret pain that has never lessened.
New Feat
Elf Friend [Background]
You are a trusted friend to the elven nation; they will share secrets with you.
Prerequisite: Must be taken at 1st level.
Benefit: You gain a +2 cirmustance bonus to Diplomacy checks with elves. Additionally, you may progress into prestige classes that have the elf or half-elf race as a prerequisite.
