Colossal Spider (Basic Lore)

Colossal Spider (CR 17)
Pure Evil - Colossal - Vermin
Colossal spiders are, as their name suggests, really big spiders. They are somewhat rare, since they require quite a bit of food, and are most frequently seen immediately after they have hatched, typically in a group with their kin. These outbreaks of colossal spiders tend to terrorize the region for a few days to a week, until the spiders turn on each other for food. In the meantime, local wildlife, villages, and any communities not able to establish a vigorous defense are at high risk of being annihilated. Colossal spiders stand 20 to 25 feet tall, and their legs can span as wide as 50 feet, though when walking, they are usually around 25 feet apart. Colossal spiders, despite their prodigious size, tend to prey on size medium creatures almost exclusively, only tackling larger prey when smaller prey is unavailable. A typical colossal spider will eat 5 to 10 medium-sized creatures per day, given the opportunity, though they can subsist on only 3-4 per week, if necessary. One peculiarity of colossal spiders is that they are intelligent, and some are even capable of speech. It is unclear if this is a form of mimicry, meant to attract prey, or actual communication. It is thought that colossal spiders actually originate from the fey courts of the First World, and that this origin is the reason for their unusual ability to speak.