Aranea Membri

## Entity 62: "Aranea Membri"

Entity Number: 62

Habitat: Level 0.1, Level 38

### Description:

**Aranea Membri** are large spider-like entities, attaining a quadrupedal stance with several sharp, featureless limbs. **Aranea Membri** bear faces resembling what appears to be some sort of carnivoran skull. Although their hostility and extreme speed make them difficult to observe closely, current estimates and autopsies put their average height at around seven feet and their length at around eight feet. The entity’s black skin appears to act as an anomalous version of Vanta black paint, allowing them to melt or disappear into dark areas. In addition, as the entity walks, it makes a loud metallic clanking sound. Although the origin for this is unknown, it is extremely helpful for wanderers seeking to avoid these entities.

These entities are highly predatory, and are known to pursue and attack humans on sight. As such, they should be avoided whenever possible.

### Behavior:

**Aranea Membri** seem to nest in empty, dark spaces above the roofs of many levels within the Backrooms, waiting for other entities or humans to approach its location (the entity’s so-called stalking stage). How it knows of the approach of other beings is unknown, but it is currently believed that it uses a highly developed sense of hearing to do so. Once prey is nearby, it opens up a hole in the ceiling and emerges to pursue its prey.

After the entity leaves its hole in the ceiling, it then enters what is labeled as its hunting stage. Upon finding its prey (often immediately after emerging), the **Aranea Membri** will begin a pursuit, attempting to trample wanderers under its limbs. When hunting, **Aranea Membri** are able to reach speeds of up to 50 mph when hunting, which it uses to its advantage (albeit it is only able to reach these speeds within long, straight hallways.) **Aranea Membri** can also use their momentum to knock over obstacles and break down walls, or to instantly crush their target. After a successful hunt, these entities will drag their victim through the hole from which they emerged from and will disappear from view into the darkness.

These entities appear to have a lowered intelligence, as they often forget about prey if it eludes them for long enough.

Despite their otherworldly appearance, **Aranea Membri** are ultimately nothing more than wild animals, and are susceptible to mortal wounds and sickness the same as any other creature. Carefully planned traps and mundane weaponry are enough to kill one of them, as demonstrated by anonymous researchers. Their high speeds are indeed a danger, but wanderers can easily make use of sharp turns to force the entity to slow considerably, and its low intelligence makes it a near certainty that an **Aranea Membri** will abandon its hunt of a wanderer if it goes on for long enough.

### Biology:

The entity's limbs and body all appear to have a rubber-like appearance and feel to them. Autopsies have revealed that the entity does not appear to have many vital internal organs, and research is still being conducted on to how this is possible.

The entity's head and face appear to be made out of bone, forming what resembles a bare skull. The entity does not have a tongue or any other parts of the body within its mouth besides a full set of teeth. **Aranea Membri** do not appear to have eyes, but can still see. Although the entity is relatively unintelligent compared to humans and other entities, they do have a relatively large brain.

The age and sex of an **Aranea Membri** can be determined by looking at its face. Male **Aranea Membri** have small antlers protruding from its head, whereas females do not, similar to deer in the Frontrooms. In addition, studies suggest that as the entity ages, its teeth begin to fall out. However, it is currently unknown what the entity’s average lifespan is. Due to unknown reasons, Female **Aranea Membris** appear to be more common than male **Aranea Membris**, as most entity 62 attack reports have been from **Aranea Membris** without antlers.

### Do's and Don'ts:

#### Do:

* Carefully plan traps for the Aranea Membri to get stuck in.