Stitcher Spiders

Small Construct, True Neutral

Armor Class 13 (Natural Armor)

Hit Points 15 (3d8+3)

Speed 30 ft. Climb 20 ft.

Str 7(-2) Dex 14 (+2) Con 13 (+1)

Int 4 (-4) Wis 8 (-1) Cha 1(-5)

Skills Acrobatics +4 Perception +1 Stealth +4

Damage Resistances piercing and slashing from non-magical attacks, acid, cold, fire

Damage Immunities necrotic, poison, psychic

Condition Immunities blinded charmed deafened frightened poisoned prone

Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11

Languages Dwarvish (understands, but cannot communicate)

Challenge 1 (200 XP)

Nimble Clinger. Stitcher spiders can use their Dexterity (Acrobatics) to grapple instead of Strength (Athletics). This includes the initial grapple check as well as the contest roll of Escaping a Grapple.

Hospitable Horde. If a creature is already grappled by at least 2 other stitcher spiders, any roll to escape the grapple (using the Escaping a Grapple Action) is at disadvantage.

Actions

Sewing Needles. Melee weapon attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.

Grapple. Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft., one target.

Stitch. The stitcher spider targets the creature it is grappling. The target must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or they take 1d6 damage and are subject to one of the following conditions at the stitcher spider’s choice: blinded, deafened, can’t speak, or restrained. If the target is affected by all the conditions due to Stitch (the target is blinded, deafened, can’t speak, and restrained) they are instead paralyzed. If the target is already affected by any of these conditions due to Stitch, they take disadvantage on their saving throw.

The thread caused by Stitch can be sliced open with a slashing or piercing weapon. This burst causes 1d6 damage. Alternatively, a DC 16 Wisdom (Medicine) check removes the thread safely.

Ecology

Environment abandoned urban cities

Organization scouts (3-7), hordes (50+)

Stitcher spiders are constructs from a forgotten time. They are usually found in abandoned dwarven cities, but most populate dilapidated hospices and hospitals.

A stitcher spider appears as a perfectly smooth chromatic orb roughly the size of an adult house cat (6in. diameter). From the sides, 6 thin and single-jointed rods act as its legs, each of which is tipped with what looks to be razor sharp needle points. Aside from the close proximity of the 3 rods at each ‘side’, there is no indication what direction it is actually facing. When inactive, the rods fold and retract into the body, causing it to look like a harmless object.

While they are incapable of speech, but seem capable of communicating with others of their kind, quickly gathering a horde within seconds. Stitcher spiders seem to follow a pattern of ‘repairing’ things with natural threading that come from the needles that legs. When faced with humanoid creatures, stitcher spiders gather in droves and jump into action, working immediately to sew up any open wounds the creature has.

Constructed Nature. A stitcher spider does not require air, food, drink, or sleep.