Ettercap (/ˈɛt.ər.kæp/)
Poisonous Lurkers
The creature resembles a hunched, grey-purple humanoid with a distended white underbelly, a spider-like face (fangs and eyes and such), and sharp, black chitinous claws instead of hands and feet. The creature stands 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 lbs.
Ettercaps are humanoid spiders that tend, feed, and watch over spiders the way a shepherd oversees a flock of sheep. They lair deep in remote forests.
Fine strands of silk stream from glands in an ettercap's abdomen, letting it shoot sticky strands of webbing to bind, entrap, or strangle its victims. It can also use its webbing to fashion elaborate snares and nets, which often festoon its lair.
Quiet Killers. When travelers and explorers venture into an ettercap's territory, the ettercap stalks them. Some meet their end wandering blindly into traps or sections of forest enclosed by webs. Others, the ettercap garrotes with strands of web or envenoms with its poisonous bite.
Sylvan Despoilers. Though they dwell in the wilds, ettercaps have no desire to live in harmony with nature. A forest infested with ettercaps transforms into a gloomy place, choked with webs and infested with giant spiders, giant insects, and other sinister predators. Creatures that wander too far into such a wood are soon lost in a maze of webs that dangle with the bones and lost treasures of the ettercaps' victims.
Enemies of the Fey. Ettercaps are natural enemies of fey creatures. The foul creatures set web snares to catch sprites and pixies, which they hungrily devour, and will encase a dryad's tree in webbing in a vain attempt to trap the dryad. Otherwise timid fey will sometimes approach outsiders for help in dealing with an ettercap infestation, being ill-equipped to deal with the malevolent creatures themselves.
The Menagerie fought some as they got to the Spider Forest of the Feywild.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Ettercaps were a race of bestial, spider-like aberrations located throughout Faerûn. They were primitive hunters that had an affinity with spiders.
Description
An adult ettercap stood 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kilograms). Ettercaps resembled hunched, grey-purplish humanoids with distended white underbellies, spider-like faces (fangs and eyes and such), and two sharp, black chitinous claws instead of hands and feet.Biological Traits
It was suggested that ettercaps were the descendants of a group of mad druids, tainted and transmogrified by their association with a powerful demon into a form resembling the predatory arachnids their cult once revered. While the vast majority had completely reverted to pure animal instinct, a rare few claimed to demonstrate the intellect and capacities of an insane human.
Behaviour
Personality
They were not particularly intelligent. They were cowardly and vicious, preferring to set traps to ensnare their enemies. Ettercaps tended to be solitary creatures and their only purpose was to eat and to breed.Tactics
They used their webs as traps to capture prey.Additional Information
Social Structure
Society
Ettercaps were very fond of spiders and other arachnids and often kept them as others kept bees. From time to time, however, an ettercap had a number of monstrous spiders as pets, which were as loyal to it as a dog to a human master.Uses, Products & Exploitation
Usages
A crafting recipe for a wand of lightning found in the arcane Imaskarran Tome of Resonance included ettercap's silk gland, fenberries, and the spell of lightning bolt.Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Giant, the player should roll a Medicine Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ettercap Poison Gland (vial) | An ettercaps poison gland may be harvested in order to acquire the creatures poison. Proficiency with the poisoner kit may be used for harvesting this gland. On a successful check, the character harvests the creature's poison gland that must be refined before producing 1 dose of Ettercap Poison (see below). On a failed check, the character is unable to extract the poison gland. If the character fails the check by 5 or more, the character is subjected to the creature's poison. Refining the Poison: Once the gland is extracted, an alchemist (or someone proficient in the poisoner's kit) can spend 1 hour and 50gp worth of material to create Ettercap Poison (DC 12 Poisoner Kit or Alchemist Supplies check). Ettercap Poison (Injury): A creature can spend an action to coat 1 melee weapon, or 3 pieces of ammunition with this poison. The poison lasts for 1 minute, or until it successfully affects a target. A creature hit with a weapon coated with this poison must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. This poison usually sells for 100gp, but the poison is often considered an illicit good (and may not be sold to normal vendors). | 10 gp | 1 lb. | 2 days | - |
| 10 | Ettercap Poison (vial) | Ettercaps secrete a noxious venom from their fangs that weakens any creature unfortunate enough to fall prey to it. By removing the poison gland, one can easily harvest some of this poison for their own use. Use: Can be used to coat up to 3 pieces of slashing or piercing ammunition or one slashing or piercing weapon. Applying the poison takes 1 minute. For the next minute, any creature successfully hit by this weapon must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. | 4 gp | 1 lb. | - | - |
| 15 | Ettercap Spinneret | An ettercaps spinneret is a small group of organs that the creature uses to make spider webs. The spinnerets are valued for the raw silk they still hold, and the alchemical properties in the organs. Use: As an action, a creature may throw the spinneret up to 15 feet. Upon impact with the ground, the item explodes, forcing all creatures within 5 feet to succeed on a DC 11 Dexterity saving throw or be restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained creature can make a DC 11 Strength check and escape from the webbing on a success. The effect ends if the webbing is destroyed. The webbing has AC 10, 5 hit points, resistance to bludgeoning damage, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. | 8 gp | 5 lb. | 2 days | - |
This kind of creature may carry a small amount of coins. This kind of creature may have a small hoard. This kind of creature does not normally have or collect treasure. However, the creature may have a lair full of bodies, or reside somewhere that treasure already exists.
This creature produces 2-12 pieces of Harvested Meat, weight total of 8-48 lb. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: 4-24 sp The meat of many monsters is considered vile and distasteful. Monstrosities and aberrations, in particular, may have tainted blood or rancid tasting meat. Dungeon Master's discretion.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Abilities
Ettercaps possessed the capability to shoot sticky webs. They also possessed a debilitating venom in their bite.Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Language
Ettercaps possessed a fairly simple, spider-derived language of their own. It was focused around basic and real-world concepts, not equipped for the discussion of abstract ideas. They were capable of understanding other languages, such as elven, but could not speak them due to lacking the right vocal cords.Sources
Source(s):
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014-11-7). Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Online Supplement (PDF). WOTC. p. 8. Retrieved on 2015-10-14.
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 131. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 107. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 114. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- Don Turnbull (1981). Fiend Folio. (TSR Hobbies), p. 35. ISBN 0-9356-9621-0.
- Brad Gardner (May 2009). The Lady in Flames (DALE1-4) (PDF). Living Forgotten Realms (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10.
- BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Animalia, Monstra, Humanoid, Spiderkind, Ettercap
Origin/Ancestry
Monstrosity (Humanoid Spiderkind | Ettercap)
Lifespan
40
Conservation Status
No conservation, often hunted on sight.
Average Height
6'
Average Weight
200 lbs.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Ettercap
| Size | Medium |
| Type | Monstrosity |
| Alignment | Neutral Evil |
| Challenge Rating | 2 |
General Information
| Vision | Darkvision |
| Favored Climate | Warm |
| Favored Terrain | Forests |
Appearance
| Average Height | 6' |
| Average Weight | 200 lbs. |
| Average Length | 9' - 12' (regular best) up to 20' (pack lord) |
| Hair color(s) | Blue to black |
History
| First appearance | Fiend Folio |
See Also: Ettercap on Forgotten Realms Wiki