Dream Eater
Aptly Named
Dream Eaters are named so because of how they hunt. Though fully capable of stalking and catching prey in their slender, almost invisible webbing that decorate the canopy of their territory, Dream Eaters give off magical pheromones that put most other creatures to sleep.Once their prey is a sleep, the Dream Eater cacoons them and brings them back to a glen they've reserved for hanging prey, where the captured, future meal will usually remain asleep until they are ingested.
Dream Eaters inject their meal with a fast acting poison that softens their internal organs and bones, almost liquifying them, so they are easy to drink. It's difficult to say if this process is painful, since no one has survived it, but the prey doesn't wake up during the process.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dream Eaters are incredibly large spiders - able to look a grown man in the eye and, should it choose to, loom over them on eight slender but durable legs. It appears much like its smaller cousins with eight eyes, a cephalothorax and abdomen covered in a thin but extremely hard to pierce carapace. This keeps the spider rather lightweight given its size while still keeping it protected and rather difficult to harm with mundane bladed weapons. The Dream Eater's coloration of black, yellow, and mottled browns camoflage it in the forests it lives and hunts in.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dream Eaters do not lay eggs very often, and when they do, it takes a little longer than a year for the sac to hatch into a soft-shelled, 5' long baby dream eater. Unlike their smaller cousins, Dream Eaters do not birth in masses. Rather, they will have one offspring at a time every decade or so. A mated pair will tend to the egg sac and have softened meals ready for the new spider upon hatching.
The mated pairs are loosely associated with one another. Staking claim to a large swath of forest, they each maintain a section and work to keep this territory together, but there isn't much cooperation beyond this. Rather, it seems more that they tolerate the presence of one another for a species that is generally not social. The mated pair will remain together so long as they are both alive, but will easily replace a dead mate should the need arise.
Each mate is expected to fend off their own competition.
The mated pairs are loosely associated with one another. Staking claim to a large swath of forest, they each maintain a section and work to keep this territory together, but there isn't much cooperation beyond this. Rather, it seems more that they tolerate the presence of one another for a species that is generally not social. The mated pair will remain together so long as they are both alive, but will easily replace a dead mate should the need arise.
Each mate is expected to fend off their own competition.
Growth Rate & Stages
There is only one Dream Eater per egg. The white, milky-cream eggs are usually hidden high in the canopy and cradled in thick webbing. It takes roughly 13 to 14 months for the spider inside to grow to maturity before hatching. While not fully grown with a soft carapace, a newly hatched Dream Eater is still deadly.
It will take the new born Dream Eater a couple of hours in the sun for the carapace to harden and days before the pale spider takes on colors that reflect its surroundings. This usually means dark browns, blacks, mottled yellows and greens. During this transititory period, the young Dream Eater is protected and cared for by its mother.
A Dream Eater still under the supervision of its mother will slowly explore her territory, hunting smaller animals and ideally fending for itself. While not the most maternal species, a mother Dream Eater will not let their spawn starve. Neither do they go out of their way to feed them. During this growth and supervisory period, the mother Dream Eater is passive in regards to the younger.
After about 7 to 9 days, the young Dream Eater will be fully colored and hardened. Ready to strike out on their own. Most will go of their own accord, to find their own territory. Others will be chased out.
During this adolescence, the Dream Eater will shed parts of its carapace as it grows until it is a full adult.
It will take the new born Dream Eater a couple of hours in the sun for the carapace to harden and days before the pale spider takes on colors that reflect its surroundings. This usually means dark browns, blacks, mottled yellows and greens. During this transititory period, the young Dream Eater is protected and cared for by its mother.
A Dream Eater still under the supervision of its mother will slowly explore her territory, hunting smaller animals and ideally fending for itself. While not the most maternal species, a mother Dream Eater will not let their spawn starve. Neither do they go out of their way to feed them. During this growth and supervisory period, the mother Dream Eater is passive in regards to the younger.
After about 7 to 9 days, the young Dream Eater will be fully colored and hardened. Ready to strike out on their own. Most will go of their own accord, to find their own territory. Others will be chased out.
During this adolescence, the Dream Eater will shed parts of its carapace as it grows until it is a full adult.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Found exclusively on Yandelar, they are found primarily in forests though they've been found in the lower hills and scrub of the Divine Dispute.
Average Intelligence
Highly intelligent, though not capable of speech. Dream Eaters are able to communicate with one another through a sort of magical pheromones. This is a very basic sort of communication, usually to convey intent and wants, or even threats before they resort to actual fights over territory.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
These large, carnivorous spiders are extremely sensitive to vibrations both in their thin webbing and through whatever surface they might be touching, be it ground or tree. Their eyesight is best in early morning or evening gloom, but they track movement well in daylight and night. Dream Eaters don't have a sense of smell so much as releasing a sort of magical pheromones to communicate with one another. It acts akin to telepathy, but in a short range. It's most effective, for them, withit touching range of one another.
Average Height
6' at rest, 9' max.
Average Length
Cephalothorax & Abdomen : 6' - 7'
Geographic Distribution
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