Spider, Red-Banded Line

Family: Insects Rodents & Vermin

Tiny beast, unaligned

Armor Class 13
Hit Points 15 (6d4)
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
4 (-3) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 1 (-5) 10 (+0) 2 (-4)

Skills Perception +2, Stealth +5
Damage Immunities psychic
Condition Immunities charmed, frightened
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +2

SPECIAL TRAITS

  • Reactive Venom. If the spider deals poison damage to a creature that is poisoned, the target takes an extra 2 (1d4) poison damage.
  • Spider Climb. The spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down and on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
  • Web Walker. The spider ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

ACTIONS

  • Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage plus 5 (2d4) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned until the end of its next turn.

BONUS ACTIONS

  • Swingline. The spider throws a length of webbing at a point on a surface, such as the ground or wall, it can see within 30 feet of it, attaching one end of the webbing to that point. It then reels in the webbing, pulling itself to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of that point. When the spider moves in this way, opportunity attacks against it have disadvantage. If the spider pulled itself at least 15 feet straight toward a creature, it has advantage on the next Bite attack it makes against that creature before the start of its next turn.

ABOUT

Bands of red swirl along the abdomen of this small, black spider.

Red-banded line spiders are named for both the deep red swirls on their abdomens, unique to each spider, and for their peculiar hunting technique. The largest ones hunt in the dark canopy of temperate and subtropical forests.

Hand-Sized Hunters. These furry, brown spiders are not enormous monsters, but they are big enough to be alarming. A typical one is as big as a human hand with fingers spread wide, but some grow as large as small dogs.

Webbed Line. Line spiders don’t spin webs but instead perch and watch for prey. When prey wanders near, the spider launches a line of webbing to snare it, then pounces unerringly along that line to deliver a deep bite. Their potent venom can incapacitate creatures much larger than themselves, and they quickly devour flesh with their powerful jaws.

City Dwellers. Line spiders are often found in cities, and their size makes them a good replacement for a garroter crab in certain forms of divination. They’re favorites among exotic-pet dealers—usually with their venom sacs removed, sometimes not. Goblins, kobolds, and some humans use them rather than cats to control a mouse or rat infestation, and they make reasonably good pets if they’re kept well-fed. If they get hungry, line spiders may devour other small pets or even their owners.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Tome of Beasts 1 ©2023 Open Design LLC; Authors: Daniel Kahn, Jeff Lee, and Mike Welham.

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