What did she say? Well, essentially spiders and close relatives! I was just going to do just Arachnids (spiders) in RPGs, but there isn’t quite enough information so I went up a phylum. This way I get to include scorpions, bloodsucking mites and ticks, and horseshoe crabs. Because horseshoe crabs have a lot of niftiness to them.

Horseshoe Crabs!

Ever seen one? They look like prehistoric creatures flopping on the sand. They are living fossils, having not changed in millions of years. They are larger now than back then, however, reaching in modern eras up to 24 inches in length. Nowadays they are commonly used as bait for eels and whelk, although restrictions are developing as the horseshoe crabs become rarer.

What horseshoe are currently being used for is their blood. Horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood, using hemocyanin instead. Therefore their blood is blue. Their blood also contains amebocytes, similar to white blood cells in function. Amebocytes react when in the presence of bacterial endotoxins and are therefore used to detect and quantify bacterial endotoxins in standardized tests of sterilized fluids. After taking the blood, the crabs are returned to the sea; there is about a 15% mortality rate.

The blood’s enzymes are also used to test the International Space Station for unwanted bacteria and fungi. Another protein from the horseshoe crab’s blood is currently under investigation as a new antibiotic.

Game Concepts: Interesting that a possible antibiotic and a detector for gram-negative bacteria comes from a monstrous marine spider relative… almost Cthulhu-esque right there. A zombie plague in New York City could end with the discovery of an antidote in the blood of horseshoe crabs, leading the survivors onto the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Great scene: the zombies coming closer as they desperately search for these creatures…..

Mites and Ticks

Most mites and ticks are minute—some microscopic. There are a few species that can almost reach an inch in length. They live in every habitat, including freshwater and sea water, and there are possibly a million different species on earth.

Many are parasitic on either vertebrates or invertebrates, and a few are predatory. Some are detrivores, breaking down dead plant and animal matter. Still others feed on plants. In fact, the single largest economic loss in crops is due to mites. Some forms of ticks and mites affect humans, carrying diseases such as scrub typhus, rickettsialpox, Lyme disease, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, tularemia, tick-borne relapsing fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick-borne meningoencephalitis. Often, mites are an allergen for people, causing asthma

Game Concepts: Nobody is really fond of the little beasties. Technically, in a medieval game system surrounded by animals and monsters, ticks and mites should be constant. Next time someone gets caught by a monster, don’t threaten them with death; the monster is looking for a pet tick-puller. Make them magical nasty two-inch long biters… teach those PCs not to get caught.

Scorpions

Scorpion species are in the 1700s, of which 25 are capable of killing humans. Scorpions live just about anywhere terrestrial except in Antarctica and the high-latitude tundra. Scorpions did not occur naturally on some islands, such as Great Britain, New Zealand, and Oceania, but were introduced there later by trade and commerce. Some occupy specialized niches, such as seashores, trees, sand, or under rocks, while others wander with versatility.

Like spiders, scorpions can only eat liquid food; therefore, they tear off bits of whatever they’ve killed and store it into a pre-oral cavity where it is liquefied. Their metabolism is slow and they can survive periods of starvation lasting 6 to 12 months.

All known scorpion species have venom used as a defense against predators and as a toxin geared toward specific species of prey. With the exception of the 25 species that can kill humans, the rest usually only need analgesics to endure, unless there is a possibility of an allergic reaction.

The venom is useful, though. Short chain scorpion toxins constitute the largest group of potassium channel blocking peptides, which could be potential immunosuppressants for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or multiple sclerosis. The deathstalker scorpion venom contains a chlorotoxin that blocks small conductance chloride channels and binds preferentially to glioma cells, which can be developed to diagnose and treat cancer.

Of course, the Chinese knew scorpions could help in medicine; scorpion wine is used as an antidote and an analgesic right along with snake wine. Yes, scorpions are also eaten as a traditional fired dish in China.

Scorpions are important as a symbol as well. Scorpio is one of the 12 signs of the series of constellations in the Zodiac, created by Babylonian astrologers. It was a popular motif in the art of Africa and the Middle East, seen as both the embodiment of evil and a protection from evil. The goddess Serket, from ancient Egypt, was often seen as a scorpion and was believed to protect the Pharaoh.

Game Concepts: Giant scorpions are so Harryhausen, but admittedly, there is nothing more evil-looking than a giant scorpion. Still, cure for cancer? Yeah, a futuristic farm of saddle-capable scorpions being milked for venom by robots… I could totally see it. The concept of “embodiment of evil—protection from evil” is a nice touch too. Transform a cursed fellow (or an entire village) into a scorpion; very few people are willing to be friendly at first glance when a scorpion comes walking toward them, unlike a deer, swan, or bear.

Spiders!

Insane air-breathing creatures with too many legs and fangs that inject venom. What was the universe thinking? Spiders are found on every continent except Antarctica (and really, they just haven’t looked hard enough; I’m sure they’re there), and are established in every habitat except air and sea. All species except ONE are predators (the Bagheera kiplingii jumping spider eats from the Acacia tree) and the range of hunting styles is diverse.

As far as can be determined all spider species have the capability of producing silk, even if it is not used for catching prey. It is also used as a wrapper for sperm or fertilized eggs, as a safety rope for nest building, and by some young as parachutes. The largest spiders are tarantulas and they can reach body sizes of 3.5 inches and leg spans of 10 inches.

Various hunting methods to use on PCs:

• Sticky webs, horizontally or vertically built. These spiders have poor vision but are hypersensitive to vibration.
• water spiders sometimes have their underwater “diving bell” nest that they come out of when something touches one of the threads anchoring their home. Other water spiders actually live on the shore and detect vibrations of struggle on the surface of the water, running across the surface on their light toes to capture whatever is drowning.
• Net-casting spiders manipulate tinier webs by dropping them or flinging them out to catch prey.
• Bola-swingers (females) build a line with a sticky ball of silk on one end and swing the bolas at moths they attract with chemical scents.
• Trapdoor spiders lurk in burrows and wait until vibrations tell them a victim is near enough to surprise and snatch.
• Hiders and Chasers also hide and wait for prey to get close and then close in for the kill. These spiders often have excellent vision.
• A jumping spider genus called Portia is known to outflank prey or lure other spiders from their webs in order to eat them. Laboratory tests show Portias are capable of trial-and-error approaches.
• Ant-mimicking spiders do so very carefully, not only looking like ants but mimicking their behaviors.

Defenses include camouflage, urticating hairs (causes rash), strong defensive webs, and one—the golden wheeling spider—that flees wasps by flipping on its side and cartwheeling down dunes. Most spider bites of humans are in defense with the exception of some very aggressive species, and not deadly, producing effects similar to mosquito bites or bee stings. Since the 20th century there have officially been 100 reliably reported deaths from spider bites.

Yes, spiders are eaten as well, specifically considered a delicacy in Cambodia and by certain tribes of southern Venezuela. Spider venom is getting considerable attention as a deadly pesticide that is harmless to most vertebrates. There is talk of mixing these killer genes into a virus to wipe out certain insect diseases that destroy crops. Spider venom is also being investigated as possible cures for cardiac arrhythmia, Alzheimer’s, stroke, and erectile dysfunction.

Spider silk has been considered a fantastic resource if only it could be produced in bulk, and genetic engineering tests are currently being performed to get it to form in plants or goat’s milk.

Spiders have been a source of fear for centuries it seems, with stories showing their patience in hunting and their malice in the death of their victims. Other cultures sea the silk-producers as creators of worlds. Anansi the trickster is one of the most beloved of characters in West African and Caribbean folklore. Arachne was a mortal weaver who went up against Minerva and was punished. The Jorōgumo (also called a Tsuchigumo or Yatsukahagi) is a Japanese creature or ghoul that has aspects of both a spider and a woman (no symbolism there). In the Native American myths, the Spider Grandmother is a creator of the world that in some legends is responsible for the stars in the sky.

Game Concepts: Omigosh, what’s not to love about spiders in gaming? You can do anything with them and PCs will have HEART ATTACKS to avoid them. Have them up in Antarctica checking out a site? They crack open a chunk of ice and spiders coem boiling out. Swim across a lake? Hundreds of palm-sized spiders come in for the attack. Walking along enjoying a beautiful day? PARACHUTING spiders. Best part is having a king find out the only way he can impregnate his young bride is to have the PCs search for a spcific spider and milk it. That should do the trick of having you labeled as the most sadistic GM on the planet.