Aracnias

## Anatomy

Aracnia resemble normal humans from the waist up in terms of size and shape. Due to their cave-dwelling ancestry, they tend to be paler than most other races, and they burn rather than tan in the sun, as their bodies do not produce melanin as a response to sunlight. Aracnia have a bottom half reminiscent of a spider’s abdomen, with four legs on each side, and a spinneret that can create ultra-strong silk, should the Aracnia choose to make it. Their spider halves can be either hard, chitinous forms, or covered in fur like a tarantula, depending on the appearance of their parents. Abdomens range in color from brown to black, and most Aracnia have patterns on their abdomens, such as the iconic black widow red hourglass. While the abdomen itself is limited in palette, the pattern can be any color. The legs of the Aracnia allow them to climb most surfaces, though incredibly smooth ones like glass or ice prove difficult to climb. The legs of an Aracnia are often much stronger than their arms, due to their greater versatility leading to them being used more.

## History/Culture

Aracnia have always existed in the cracks of the world, the caves and strange, underground places that most are too scared to enter. Their unique forms allowed them the ability to easily travel these areas, while the fear and anger of other races kept them in their holes. Often it is said that if an Aracnia left their cave, they had less than a day before they were hunted down by humans and killed out of fear. Giant spiders are scary, it’s not an unreasonable response. Eventually, the Aracnia were recognized as being intelligent life, with the ability to reason, and relations began to improve. The Aracnia never shook their fear of surface-dwellers though, forever paranoid of being mistaken for a monster and attacked.

Even after some made the transition to surface living, they still prefer smaller accommodations, what some would call cramped, an Aracnia would consider cozy and safe. After all, there is less room for an enemy to hide in a smaller room. In a similar vein, these surface-dwelling Aracnia are eager to be accepted as intelligent citizens, and will apply themselves happily to whatever position they are given in society. Typically these are positions of work in places that require their silk, a valuable commodity for its strength. In spite of their aversion to open spaces and water (you try swimming with spider legs) they can often be found on sailing ships, using their silk to repair holes in the sail, and using their climbing abilities to navigate the ship with ease.

Aracnia are valuable workers in whatever field they are given to work in, but getting to know an Aracnia well enough to get them comfortable with you can be difficult. They are typically scared of strangers, considering every new face a potential predator, so to get one out of its shell and hire it is considered a great achievement for a business owner. The spider-people have emerged from their cracks in the world to inhabit the cracks of society, filling in any place where they can be put to work. They are diligent, precise workers, and respond well to praise. However, not all have embraced the surface life so easily.

There are Aracnia who have chosen to remain in their caves, and these Aracnia have turned territorial in response to the cutting of their population. As more spiders leave for the surface, the more jumpy and violent their deep-dwelling kin become. They speak in clicks and scratches, unlike surface dwellers, who picked up English very quickly. Beware a cave inhabited by these feral Aracnia, as their massive webs can catch more than just bats, and their many legs will trap you just as well as any net or snare could. Ironically, in an effort to not be hunted down and destroyed for being monsters, these Aracnia have become truer monsters than surface dwellers ever thought they were.

## Religion

The Aracnia only have one god, Ikki’ikki. He is regarded as the god of the Aracnia, and the caves they live in. All other things on this planet were created by what is referred to simply as ‘The Bright’, which is understood by other races to refer to the Sun. The Bright created the world above the caves, the animals the Aracnia hunt, and the surface-dwellers that hunted the Aracnia. For this reason, The Bright is the most hated thing of the Aracnia, and the spiders believe that by hunting The Bright’s creations, they spite the evil deity, and please Ikki’ikki.

After emerging from their caves, and integrating into surface civilization, most Aracnia have abandoned this belief, and have disseminated into other belief systems, or have remained Atheistic in their beliefs, not wishing to be deceived by religion again. As of present, the Aracnia are scattered among society, believing a variety of things, unwilling to be unified under one banner of religion to avoid becoming feral monsters by deception.