# Watchspider >[!rimg]+ > ![[Placeholder2.png]] *This eight-legged, eight-eyed arachnid has a sleek body, large head and fangs, and an excessively hairy body and legs. Its eyes gleam with feral intelligence, suggestive of a preternatural cunning.* <div class="grid-container"><div class="MON">Watchspider</div> <div class="CR">CR 1 (400 XP)</div> <div class="SOU">City of Splendors: Waterdeep pg. 140</div> <div class="SYS">Dungeons & Dragons 3.5</div></div> CN Medium Magical Beast **Init** +4 **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; **Perception** +11 #### defense **AC** 16, 14 touch, 12 flat-footed (+4 Dex, +2 natural) **hp** 15 (2d10+4) **Fort** +5, **Refl** +7, **Will** +1 **Feint** 13, **Demoralize** 13 #### offense **Speed** 30 ft., climb 30 ft. **Melee** bite +6 (1d6+1 plus poison) **Space** 5 ft., **Reach** 5 ft. **Special Attacks** poison, web (+6, DC 13) #### statistics **Str** 13, **Dex** 19, **Con** 14, **Int** 2, **Wis** 12, **Cha** 6 **BAB** +2, **CMB** +3, **CMD** +17, **TA** +3, **RTA** +6 **Feats** [[Alertness]], [[Weapon Finesse]]^B **Skills** Acrobatics +1 (11 when jumping), Climb +14, Perception +11, Stealth +8 **Racial Modifiers** Perception +8, Stealth +4 #### special abilities ### Poison (Ex) Injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d2 Strength damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The DC save is Constitution-based. #### ecology **Environment:** Warm forests **Organization:** Solitary or colony (2–5) **Treasure:** 1/10 coins; 50% goods; 50% items **Advancement:** 3–4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large) Watchspiders are fairly common in the cellars and warehouses of guild houses and rich merchants. They are trained to obey a single master, who can order them not to attack certain beings. All watchspiders are schooled in disabling spellcasters and in avoiding weapons set against their leap attack (spears and large piercing weapons). Moreover, they can be trained so that most attack while another rings an alarm bell or drinks from a basin containing a magic potion before joining a fight. Watchspiders are indigenous to Tharsult, where the natives first trained the species as guards. The Mhairuun merchant family brought watchspiders and their breeding and training processes north to Waterdeep, swiftly establishing a lucrative business with this rare commodity. After sixty years of breeding in the North, watchspiders can be found in Sword Coast cities from Neverwinter to Lantan, all purchased and shipped from Waterdeep. While still a creature of more temperate climes, watchspiders have adapted to the Sword Coast with the growth of heavier hair (almost fur), but they still cannot survive the cold any further north than Neverwinter. ### Combat Watchspiders spin webs to use as lairs but rove about hunting prey. They exhibit more of a pack mentality than true vermin and a degree of coordination unknown to their mindless relatives. ### Animal Companion A watchspider can serve as an animal companion (if the character has an effective druid level of 4th or higher), a familiar (at 3rd level or higher, with the Improved Familiar feat), or a mount.