The Arachne are a demihuman liminal race with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a spider. Carnivores, Arachne are physically strong and fast.
Arachne are most noted for being able to create a silk that is five times stronger than steel and twice as elastic as nylon. They can also produce variants of the silk, ranging from sticky, stretch, to tough to suit whatever situation is required. While most commonly used to catch and bind prey, Arachne can also use their silk to form a network of threads to sense vibrations.
Physiological Attributes
- The average Arachne has six eyes but the number can vary between individuals.
- Arachne bodies are covered by a hard, though light, exoskeleton. They possess sharp claws on the ends of their fingers which are used to cut open prey and as such can easily cut human skin.
- While typical spiders use their pedipalp legs for eating, it is assumed, due to their position, that Arachne use their pedipalps (the legs protruding from their waists) during intercourse to hold their mate in place.
- Each Arachne is born with a different pattern on their rear abdomen.
- There are different subspecies of Arachne
- Arachne can get drunk from ingesting caffeine.
Subspecies
Small Breeds
A subspecies smaller than the standard Arachne. Their legs are short, but they can move much faster than standard Arachne, and they are good at jumping and full of energy. Instead of spinning webs, small Arachne wander around on the ground in search of prey. They can produce thread, but they only use it to stop their descent when they fall from high places.
Long-Leg Breeds
A large subspecies with thinner and longer legs than standard Arachne. These large Arachne are mild-mannered. They cannot produce thread, but they move surprisingly quickly to secure their prey. Their hunting instincts are so powerful that they will sometimes abandon the prey they have captured to pursue new prey. As they are especially uncompromising regarding the extermination of household pests, they are respectfully known among those troubled by such pests as 'sergeants'
Large Breeds
A subspecies far larger than standard Arachne with thick legs and a covering of hair. They are very wild and aggressive. In addition to being strong, they also have venom, making them extremely dangerous to approach without caution. However, their venom is not particularly strong or harmful. They are not well-suited to interspecies exchange programs, and when they have interacted with humans, they were arrested for assaulting them and causing other problems.