[✓] [Creature Lore] Duskcrawlers

[Gamma 812]

Duskcrawlers

Art by Ryan Van Dongen

Origin

Duskcrawlers first originated from the domain of Nightfall, within the Eternal Forests of the Aspects - small arachnoid creatures, borne of Nemiisae’s demesne. Great colonies of these arachnids spanned the canopies under the moon, ravenous and all-consuming. Eventually, however, as with most things fey, fate had other plans for these swarming children of Grandmother Spider. The moon hung full one solemn autumn’s eve, and through the Fae Ring ventured some unlucky few of these curious creatures - and ‘lo, they found themselves within the realm of mortals, now disconnected from the forest they called home. Over time, the Duskcrawlers adapted to their new environment, and their collective mindset once again settled on their primitive directive…

 

To grow without end. 

 

Physiology

These arachnids, known colloquially as Duskcrawlers, take the form of small spiders, bearing a pallid white coloration, with their eyes taking on a similar ivory sheen. This species is characterized by a degree of sexual dimorphism, with the females ranging between 6-7 inches in size total, while the males range only some scant 3-4. They bear the usual properties expected of an arachnid; fangs, eight legs, etc., though with a few notable differences - namely, their highly potent venom and bile, which allows this species the ability to mutate and corrupt wildlife (or organic life, more simply) into more arachnoid forms at its leisure, assimilating them into their social structure. This is owed primarily to their feyish origin. As well, this species does not possess a ‘queen’ or broodmother, resulting in all specimens being relatively identical to one another in capability and physique. 

 

Additionally, this species possesses the ability to weave sticky webbing. These webs are fairly sturdy in their make, requiring sharp steel to cut through if one were to try taking a blade to the silk, though fire would clear them out in relatively short order - which serves to illustrate another shortcoming of the creature. When faced with heat and flame, one would be able to ward off entire hordes of these creatures relatively easily, as they had adapted to a life in complete darkness. Their exoskeletons, as well, provide little protection against fire or mundane weaponry, given their size and the thinness of their shell. 

 

Habitat

Most commonly, Duskcrawler colonies are known to make their nests in areas of near or absolute darkness. Generally, this takes the form of vast and intricate nests formed within cave networks deep under the earth. Most anywhere will do for these creatures, so long as the nesting grounds house ample prey, and are not located in sub-zero temperature areas. 

 

Behavior

Duskcrawlers are a unique species in that they are not formed around a central ‘queen’ or broodleader, instead taking the form of a loose collective of males and females, organized into a ‘hivemind’ of sorts, based on pheromones and passive communion. They are primarily swarm-based, and incredibly territorial creatures. When a vibration is sensed upon their web, or they are out hunting, they will gather in large numbers, with the females leading the charge. Often, the females will leap onto the facial region of a given ‘prey’ animal, attracting attention to herself while the males swarm the target. 

 

Duskcrawlers are sadistic creatures in that they prefer to leave their prey alive for as long possible, siphoning blood and nutrients from them before the females will often seek to lay their eggs under the skin or hide of the creature, where upon hatching, the spiderlings will consume their host from the inside, before emerging from the creature; often, this is through the stomach. Though for wildlife that survive the process or did not experience such will mutate into an amalgamation between arachnid and their former selves.

 

These creatures prize their nests and territories, such often able to be identified due to their vastness, and the numerous dried out husks and carcasses of consumed creatures that decorate the surrounding area. Often, Duskcrawlers will hide in these desiccated corpses, or in crevices and cracks, awaiting new prey. If a nest were to be destroyed, these spiders would evacuate in force, fleeing deeper within the caves in order to resettle and survive. 

 

Abilities

Their most extraordinary ability is their proficiency in mutation, their fey venoms and secretions able to ‘corrupt’ wildlife or organic matter into assuming a distinctly more arachnoid form. This often takes the form of strange hybrid creatures around a nest, which E.T can experiment with at their leisure. The mutated creatures will seek to consume flesh and corpses to gain biomass. It shall continue to devour until its body can no longer support the mass it gained, perishing in the process. This usually takes multiple Duskcrawlers, and is not done in the midst of combat. When in active combat, their venom acts as a sedative of sorts, steadily draining a victim’s stamina and vitality the longer they are envenomed. This may be cured via bloodletting, Fervor Concentrate, or similar. 

 

Their small and varied sizes often allow them to slip through the gaps in plate armor, enabling them to bite at the flesh beneath and inflict their venom upon an individual, with their fangs being sharp enough to punch through hide with ease - though, they cannot bite through metal. Often, they are able to swarm an individual who is on their web, as any walking on a Duskcrawler web has their movement speed cut in half (two blocks instead of four, for instance.)

 

These creatures are able to be easily warded or burnt to a crisp by mundane, alchemical, or magical fire, or crushed and cleaved by mundane weaponry. 

 

Spoiler

 

• May be utilized in the creation of new lore pieces pertaining to these creatures, such as grimoires for mutated wildlife.
• Only playable by the ET, with their nests requiring an in-game build to represent the structure, unless future lore states otherwise. 
• Duskcrawler venom is perishable, unable to be stored or harvested from the creatures whatsoever. 
• Duskcrawlers primarily hunt by sensing the vibrations of a specific prey creature stepping upon their webs, as their eyesight is relatively poor. Vibrations only trigger if one were to pluck a strand of the silk, step upon it, etc. These webs are highly flammable, and may be readily burned away by mundane fire, Will o’ Bottle, Voidal Flame, etc. 
• If one were to commune with a Duskcrawler or hybrid, they would be subject to a vast chorus of voices, filled with thoughts of expansion and hunger, unable to decipher any meaningful or intelligible information. 
• Wildlife mutated by duskcrawlers may grow in size, yet must bear a spider-like aspect. The process of the hybrids consuming and gaining mass to the point they perish lasts around 50 narrative years.
• Duskcrawlers and hybrids may not be kept as ‘pets’ or utilized in any domestic or controlled fashion. 

 

 

Lore Citation

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/191508-aengudaemonica-nemiisae-grandmother-spider/

 

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/161000-%E2%9C%93-the-fae-realm/

 

https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/166951-%E2%9C%93-rewrite-~~fairy-rings~~/

 

Credits

Gamma_Byte, Frott, Leonie, Jaelon, Altiar1011 (Writing, conceptualization, refining.)

 

part 1/3

[Valannor 6405]

Mmm yes these spiders smell of spiders

[AfroJoeTheOlogBro 1095]

Spider? Spread? Rampancy? Corruption? SPODER?

[WestCarolina 1784]

>:)

[Jaelon 418]

yep

[Holyland 3650]

yep

[Tetho 140]

me no want spooders in caves, is scary nuff

 

Also, I might need to bring a torch with me along side with a Fire Evocation mage.

[Gustando 1990]

omg gomba byt lore

[King_Kunuk 3022]

How many legs does it have Greggory

HOW MANY LEGS

[rukio 8924]

crab people next

[luv 3469]

100% Undertale Muffet xd xd +10

[squakhawk 14038]

This Lore has been accepted. Moved to Implemented Lore, it will be sorted to it's appropriate category soon. Please note that if this is playable lore, such as a magic or CA, you will need to write a guide for this piece. You will be contacted regarding the guide (or implementation if it isn’t needed) shortly.