Texas Tarantulas
Texas Tarantulas like the innocuous name, sardonically falls short of the truth. These enormous spider-mockeries can range from three to seven feet from the ground to the top of their cephalothorax. Their name comes from Texas-sized boasting, not actual taxonomy — they’ve been spotted in all number of territories, although they were first sighted around Nacogdoches a few weeks after the first appearance of the Storm Eater itself. Texas Tarantulas are ravenous; worse, they’re social, and can run in packs. The following statistics depict one of the smaller brutes, about three feet in height and five in length.
- Physical: Strength 3, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3
- Social: Charisma 1, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0
- Mental: Perception 4, Intelligence 1, Wits 2
- Abilities: Alertness 3, Athletics 3, Brawl 3, Stealth 3, Survival 2
- Powers: Armored Skin, Claws and Fangs, Extra Limbs, Paralytic Bite*
- Willpower: 5
- Health Levels: OK, OK, OK, OK, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -5, Incapacitated
Appearance
Texas Tarantulas resemble arachnids only in the most general way. Their exoskeleton is almost crablike, and they may have anywhere from eight to 30 small eyes scattered asymmetrically around their head. Their long legs end in ugly claws. Despite their size, they manage to blend into the surrounding terrain by means of changing the color of their carapace.
- Paralytic Bite: On a successful bite attack, the Tarantula may inject the victim with venom. A living victim so affected must succeed on a Stamina roll (difficulty 7) or suffer paralysis. Paralyzed victims have full command of their senses, but no ability to react to stimuli. Garou in Crinos or Hispo form have the mass and healing ability to resist more effectively. They require two successful injections (with attendant failed Stamina rolls) of venom before they succumb to the paralysis. One successful paralytic bite is enough to halve such a Garou’s Dexterity for the duration of the scene — or until another successful bite.
