Sylpharach

Sylpharach are more spider-like kin of the Daranor "Spider-Elves" , often appearing almost entirely arachnid, with elven appendages and some elven features. Their intelligence is more primal, and while they can understand basic communication and follow instructions, they do not possess the refined magical abilities of the Daranor. They serve as the laborers of the clan, weaving intricate webs and assisting in other tasks, especially where manual labor is needed. Their society is less complex, focused on survival and maintaining the infrastructure that allows the Daranor to thrive. Their presence and hard work are essential to the functioning of their community.

The Sylpharach's officially descend from the first spiderlings that burst from the eggsac on the First Mother's back, growing up with the varied appearance, intelligence, sentience, and abilities that would all become normalized for the Sylpharachs and Daranor following.

Variety in Form and Features:

1. The Weaver (More Spider-Like):
   This individual’s upper body is slender, but their arms are shorter and end in thick, blunt fingers, perfect for spinning webs or manipulating prey. Their lower half is dominated by large, strong spider legs, and their abdomen is bulbous and segmented. Their face is mostly hidden beneath a heavy, sharp mandible with small, glowing eyes above it, giving them an eerie, almost faceless appearance. These individuals are often the Silkbinders, dedicated to weaving webs and creating the complex silk structures that define the Sylpharach society.
2. The Sentinel (More Elven-Like):
   This Sylpharach is more humanoid in appearance, with long, graceful arms and a torso that resembles an elf, though with faint scales on their skin. They possess two arms, each ending in humanoid hands with sharp claws. Their lower body is still very much arachnid, with six long, powerful legs covered in thick black exoskeleton plates. Their face is more elven in shape, with sharp, angular features, though they still possess multiple eyes. These individuals serve as the guardians of the clan, often acting as sentinels or protectors of the webbed community.
3. The Mystic (More Hybrid):
   This form is a true hybrid between elf and spider, with the torso being a pleasing blend of humanoid features and arachnid traits. They might have the graceful, sharp features of an elf but a slightly elongated, hairy spine. Their arms-all four of them- are long, slender, and graceful, though slightly more clawed. Their lower half is agile and powerful, with four long spider legs in a quadrupedal stance, giving them incredible speed and dexterity. Their face has high elven cheekbones, but their eyes are spider-like, glowing faintly with a golden or green hue, offering them an eerie, mystical aura.
4. The Hunter (More Primal Arachnid):
   These individuals have a more primal arachnid appearance, with a highly elongated body and eight legs, resembling the spider that gave rise to their race. Their head is flattened and angular, with a broad mandible and a multitude of glowing red or orange eyes arranged around their face. Their exoskeleton is hard and armored, allowing them to endure harsh environments. These Sylpharach tend to be hunting specialists, skilled at tracking and capturing prey, using their speed and cunning to stalk their quarry through Whisperwood.
5. The Elder (Wise and Ancient):
   As the Sylpharach grow older, they begin to show signs of wisdom and age. The Elder may have a massive abdomen, with thick, spiraling patterns marking their chitinous plates. Their eyes may grow milky and dim, reflecting their years of experience. Though slower and less agile than younger Sylpharach, these individuals possess incredible knowledge and serve as the advisors of the Daranor, helping guide the community with their ancient wisdom.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Overall Physical Structure:

• Lower Half (Arachnid Features):
  The Sylpharach have the segmented, exoskeletal lower bodies of giant spiders, though scaled to their hybrid size. Their abdomen is large and round, covered in rough, chitinous plating that provides natural armor. The abdomen ends in a tapering point or a sharp stinger that is sometimes venomous, capable of delivering a debilitating or paralyzing strike if needed in combat, though mostly is just used for weaving webs.
  Their legs vary in number but typically range from four to six, depending on the individual. These legs are long, jointed, and covered in fine, bristly hairs that help them cling to surfaces or sense vibrations in the air. These limbs are incredibly strong, with sharp, hooked tips that allow them to climb vertical surfaces with ease. The front pair of legs may have longer, more pronounced joints, adapted for grabbing and holding, similar to the claws of a spider. The back legs, being shorter, are often more stabilizing and used for movement, though they retain a monstrous, curved shape.
• Upper Half (Humanoid Features):
  Above the waist, the Sylpharach begin to show more humanoid traits, though the elven aspect is somewhat subdued in favor of their arachnid lineage. Their torso is slender and athletic, resembling that of an elf, though their skin is often rough or leathery, resembling the texture of a spider's underside. Some Sylpharach have more pronounced spider-like markings or a glossy sheen across their skin.
  Their arms are humanoid but slightly elongated and covered in faint scales or chitinous plates. These arms end in clawed hands, with long, sharp fingers ideal for climbing or manipulating webs. Their upper limbs can range in number as well, from two to four arms, depending on the individual’s lineage or mutation. These extra arms are often used to assist in web-spinning or manipulating tools and materials.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

The face of the Sylpharach is a mixture of elven and arachnid traits, with some individuals having slightly elongated, sharp features akin to elves, while others exhibit more arachnid-like qualities. Their eyes are numerous, often arranged across the face, with large, multifaceted spider-like eyes in the center and smaller, more humanoid eyes above them. Their mandibles may be visible, often curling out from the sides of their jaws, which give them a fearsome look when they speak or are enraged. Some Sylpharach possess fangs that are often visible beneath their lips, capable of injecting venom into their prey.

Some Sylpharach retain hair, though it is often thin, wiry, or even absent, replaced by finer, softer threads like silk or webbing. This "hair" may appear along their heads, necks, or shoulders, forming silky strands. Those with more elven features may have long, flowing hair akin to an elf's, while others who lean more toward spider-like forms have tufts of webbing growing from their heads and arms.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Their skin tone varies, often depending on their heritage, from earthy browns and greens that help them blend into the forests of Whisperwood, to darker hues like blacks and deep purples. Their chitinous plating often features natural patterns that mirror the intricate designs of spiderwebs, spirals, or organic runes, a sign of their deep connection to both the arachnid and elven worlds. Some have bioluminescent markings along their exoskeletons or glowing patterns across their backs, though these are often subtle and more pronounced during night or in dim light.