Weavewraith

Abandoned buildings and isolated spots are home to many monstrous creatures of the world. One of the most terrifying of these is known as a Weavewraith. A ghastly aggregation of humanoid and spider, these feared beings are tied to the tragic fate of women who have been hung, their bodies cursed to mutate and consume the souls of the living. These creatures are found throughout Varda but are most common in regions where hangings are a prevalent punishment and the boundary between The Material Plane and The Weave is thin. The Shattered Realm is the most common region to find a Weavewraith, but other cultures encounter them as well, giving them names such as Malrachnae, Arachnae, and Aranea.

Appearance and Behaviour

Appearing as a grotesque amalgamation of humanoid and spider, a Weavewraith has eight spindly legs jutting out from its bloated body. Where typically you would find a spider eyes and jaws, instead a woman's head dangles down, its mouth full of sharp fangs and its eyes emitting a faint, ethereal glow. Across their bodies, thin veins glow with a cursed energy.

Weavewraiths will seek out dark, abandoned places to make their domain. Weaving an intricate nest of webs, they will then lay in wait for potential prey. Magical illusions and mimicry are used whenever the Weavewraith senses a soul approaching, attempting to lure the victim in to the Weavewraiths home. When close enough, the monster then pounces, ambushing its prey and devouring the soul. All that is left is a hollow husk of a body.

The extent to the mimicry and illusions a Weavewraith employs is varied, but most report that the sounds and visions of close loved ones appear to them. This is often done with unnerving accuracy, and how exactly a Weavewraith knows these details is still unknown.

Signs of Presence

There are several signs to look out for if suspecting a Weavewraith has set up a lair nearby:

• The Gallows or Hangman's Tree: Upon suspicion of a Weavewraith presence, research in to the area is advised. Any locations of hangings near to the suspected hunting grounds may be a sign of a Weavewraith, along with any suicides by the victim hanging.
• Visions and Voices: On approaching the lair of a Weavewraith, an individual may encounter visions or disembodied voices of loved ones or companions. These often appear distant, and will attempt to lure the victim towards the nest.
• Unnatural Webbing: Large, dense strands of webbing will cover an area. Often mistaken for that of regular Giant Spiders, this webbing can be identified by shining a light towards it and looking for a strange, blueish-white glow.
• Phantom Whispers: Entering in to the domain of a Weavewraith can also be accompanied by strange whispers of close relations, with words of encouraging the individual to venture in further.

Known Lore (In-World)

Superstitions of Weavewraith' can be found all over the lands, but all are very similar. Most agree that it is only females that are able to undergo the transformation, and they must first be hanged by the neck and the body left for a number of days. It is for this reason that many of the common-folk will avoid gallows or places of execution.

Several countermeasures to Weavewraiths have been documented. Like most curse creatures, silver appears to be effective against combating them. Magic that is associated with the divine or radiant has also proven to cause great harm to Weavewraiths, and can even make them flee. One unique way to ward off a Weavewraith is to tie a loop of blessed rope near its lair. This method is practised across the Shattered Realm, and will confuse the Weavewraith and disrupt their illusions.

True Origins

The following is for world-building purposes only – no Character or mortal found within Varda will be privy to such information (although Divine or Otherworldly Beings may be).

The first Weavewraith appeared on Varda in ancient times. It was a female Dark Elf that openly proclaimed herself greater than the Demon Lord Malliin that brought the curse to the world. Malliin, also known as the Spider-Queen, sought to punish the arrogant Elf for her arrogance. Spiders flocked to the Dark Elf as she slept, and using their web, weaved a noose. They then tied it around the Dark Elf's neck and hung her. Malliin then extended her influence, wrapping the mortal in a magical web, which warped her form and transformed her in to the first Weavewraith.

This curse has lasted for thousands of years, and in places where the Magical Plane seeps to the Material, and where woman are hung, spiders may gather on the corpse and cocoon it. In time, it will mutate and transform, birthing another Weavewraith to spread terror in the world.

Type: Large Monstrosity

Location: Dark, abandoned areas