Megastrider

Megastrders a large aracnid-like creatures. Their chitonous exoskeleton can be as hard as stone and the ends of its limbs are often sharp and sturdy enough to punch through armor. Megastriders often have two body segments, a thorax and abdomen. Megastriders have been known to have anywhere from 2 to 16 eyes which are often pupiless and completely black. Their abdomen are often bulbus and large with spiked or serrated features but have been known to take a multitude of shapes. Megastriders often grow to over 50 feet tall while standing up but when spread out can often easily eclipse areas of 200 or more feet. Megastriders have 8-10 spindly legs and two prehensile forelegs that are often clawed or barbed. The legs of megastriders often end in barbed points, the barbs of which are known to secrete a cocktail of debilitating toxins. Lastly, megastriders have a set of incredibly sharp and hard fangs, often having four or more, especially geared towards taking down their perfered prey, giant spiders.

Megastriders do not reproduce, but are rather the result of long periods of uninterrtupted predation of a giant spider.

While the normal growth rate of a giant spider is quite slow, once a Giant spider leaps to megastrider categorization it begins to grow rappidly over the course of weeks as it ravages the local wildlife.

Megastriders require a constant supply of fresh kills in order to sate its voracious appitite. When at its largest, the megastrider will often spread out its legs and act as an ambush predator once again rather than an active hunter, feeling around and striking unseen with its barbed legs before dragging prey to its maw.

Megastrider shed can be found most commonly within the warmer months as their growth rate further increases with heat.

While giant spiders show simple tool use with their webs, megastriders often loose the ability to spin webs at all and will oft to more active persuit of prey until returnng to ambush predation at the apex of its growth. Beyond their hunting prowess, Megastriders show little intelegence beyond this and most if not all of its actions are heavily food-driven.

Megastriders are extremely sensitive to smells and the hairs on its long legs are tuned to pick up even the most intangible of frequencies.