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Ettercaps were a race of bestial, spider-like aberrations,[4] also categorized as monstrosities by some,[2] found throughout Faerûn. They were primitive hunters that had an affinity with spiders.[6][4]

Description[]

An adult ettercap stood 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and weighed 200 pounds (91 kilograms). Ettercaps resembled hunched, grey-purplish humanoids with distended white underbellies, spider-like faces (fangs and eyes and such), and two sharp, black chitinous claws instead of hands and feet.[6][4]

Personality[]

They were not particularly intelligent. They were cowardly and vicious, preferring to set traps to ensnare their enemies.[6] Ettercaps tended to be solitary creatures and their only purpose was to eat and to breed.[4]

Abilities[]

Ettercaps possessed the capability to shoot sticky webs.[6][4] They also possessed a debilitating venom in their bite.[4]

Tactics[]

They used their webs as traps to capture prey.[4]

History[]

It was suggested that ettercaps were the descendants of a group of mad druids, tainted and transmogrified by their association with a powerful demon into a form resembling the predatory arachnids their cult once revered. While the vast majority had completely reverted to pure animal instinct, a rare few claimed to demonstrate the intellect and capacities of an insane human.[6]

Society[]

Ettercaps were very fond of spiders and other arachnids and often kept them as others kept bees. From time to time, however, an ettercap had a number of monstrous spiders as pets, which were as loyal to it as a dog to a human master.[6][4]

Language[]

Ettercaps possessed a fairly simple, spider-derived language of their own. It was focused around basic and real-world concepts, not equipped for the discussion of abstract ideas. They were capable of understanding other languages, such as elven, but could not speak them due to lacking the right vocal cords.[8]

Usages[]

A crafting recipe for a wand of lightning found in the arcane Imaskarran Tome of Resonance included ettercap's silk gland, fenberries, and the spell of lightning bolt.[9]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Adventures
Dungeon #29, "Nymph's Reward"Scepter Tower of SpellgardHoard of the Dragon QueenThe Rise of TiamatStorm King's Thunder
Novels
Baldur's GateThe Glass Prison
Video Games
Baldur's GateBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of AmnNeverwinter NightsBaldur's Gate III
Card Games
AD&D Trading Cards
Board Games
Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Begins
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
The Lady in Flames

Further Reading[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

Connections[]


True Spiders
Natural spiders: BladeBloodwebBristleBudbackDaughter of LolthDireDoomspinnerGargantuanGee'aantuGiant (FlyingWater)Huge (DeathjumpWolf spiderWatchspider)IceLeafRoaveSpittingSubterranean (FlyingHairySword)TarantulaVelsharess Orbb
Magical spiders: BloodsilkElectricGlassGazeGoblinPet of KalistesSpellgauntSteeder
Planar spiders: Demonweb terrorFireMyrlocharPhaseShadowTombVortex

True Arachnids Considered Spiderkind

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