ARACHNIDS

The Arachnids are among Lyboria’s oldest races, dwelling in the mystical dark woods. According to their mythology, they originated from a legendary tree known as the shadow tree.

It is said that two creatures, wrapped in cocoons, hung from this tree and hatched on the first day of winter. One was a spider, and the other was a scorpion.

This mysterious race lives independently in its homeland, the dark woods, from which only a few of Lyboria's inhabitants have managed to escape alive. What makes this species special are their distinct hierarchies. While spiders have a matriarchal society, scorpions are ruled by men.

Brood

Brutes

Aristocrats

Arachnids

Compared to the other races, the region of the Arachnids is very, very unknown. It is said that in the middle of their region there is a gigantic tree called the Shadow Tree.

There are numerous levels within the tree where the Arachnids live. But most of their population actually lives under the Shadow Tree in the so-called citadel.

An underground ring-shaped gigantic tunnel system with innumerable levels. This system extends from the middle of the tree to almost the edge of the Dark Woods. The closer to the surface and center of the citadel, the higher the rank. The lowest ranked creatures in each level live in outside tunnels.

Only a fraction of their population, the Aristocrats, live in the Shadow Tree. The same principle applies - the higher you live in the tree, the higher your social status.

The Dark Woods

The Dark Woods are a dense and mystical forest, characterized by its gloomy atmosphere. The high trees with thick branches and numerous twines full of herbs create a canopy that allows very little light to penetrate, especially in the outer areas.

As you venture deeper, small clearings appear, often the result of a plague of gigantic worms that destroy everything in their path. Huge roots spread across the entire forest, all originating from the center where the legendary Shadow Tree, the birther of the Arachnid race, is located.

Surrounding the Shadow Tree is a great glade, a vast area of grass and flowers. Apart from small groups like border patrols, hunters, and herbalists, the Dark Woods are largely uninhabited, save for the wildlife that calls it home.

The Shadow Tree

The Shadow Tree is a gigantic, massive tree towering above all others in the dark forest. From its lofty heights, one can gaze upon the vast expanse of the forest and even catch glimpses of the realms of other races.

This colossal tree serves as the residence of the Arachnid aristocracy, considered the nobility of their race. Some among them are even deemed god-like or are descendants of divine lineage. Within this noble hierarchy, there are various ranks and professions, ranging from guardians and blacksmiths to hunters. The tree also houses their library and legendary halls, including the throne hall, which was once the site where the two first cocoons were spawned and grown.

On the lower levels, providers and workers attend to their duties, while the upper echelons are reserved for the most esteemed members of their society.

With its roots deeply embedded in the soil and its branches extending to the far reaches of the forest, the Shadow Tree stands as a colossal fortress with many layers, with the hierarchy ascending higher as one ascends.

The Citadel

The Citadel is a sprawling, multi-leveled circular tunnel system resembling a spider's web, situated beneath the Shadow Tree. Its entrance, heavily guarded, lies directly beneath the towering tree.

Serving as the primary habitat for the majority of the Arachnid race, the Citadel functions akin to a hive. Within its depths reside the middle class and plebeians, colloquially referred to as the brutes and brood. Social stratification persists within the Citadel, with individuals of lower rank residing deeper underground and on the outskirts of the tunnel system.

This subterranean metropolis operates as a vast cave system, complete with its own infrastructure, social hierarchy, and economy. The brutes, rulers of the underworld, oversee the primitive brood and serve as intermediaries between the aristocracy and their animalistic labor force.

While the upper levels of the Citadel offer various forms of entertainment and indulgence, including coliseums featuring gladiators, brothels, markets, and gambling dens, the primitive workforce ensures the smooth functioning of the entire apparatus.

At the lowest depths of the Citadel, the brood toils tirelessly, undertaking essential tasks such as tunnel maintenance, cultivation, breeding and butchering livestock, waste disposal, resource harvesting, and more.

Mythology

coming soon...

Echelons

Brood

The Brood, an essential segment of Arachnid society, embodies a vast array of shapes, colors, forms, and sizes, each tailored precisely to their designated tasks.

Created, bred, or cultivated for specific functions, they lack higher consciousness and operate solely on instinct. Their existence revolves around fulfilling their duties, displaying a purely animalistic demeanor throughout their lives. Some boast massive, razor-sharp claws for combat, while others are diminutive and fleet-footed, serving as mere fuel sources for maintaining light within the Citadel.

The vast majority of them reside in the lower levels of the Citadel, diligently performing their tasks. However, a very few exceptions serve outside the Citadel, fulfilling roles such as draft animals for the aristocrats' chariots and similar positions.

Their lifespans vary greatly, spanning from mere hours to several decades, depending on their role.

Brutes

The Brutes, humanoid in appearance yet exhibiting significant variation, range from beastly to near-resemblant of aristocrats. With this diversity comes a wide spectrum of intelligence and consciousness levels.

While the majority revel in primal pleasures, driven by greed, lust, and violence, others display remarkable talents and intellect. Educated and skilled individuals emerge, serving as researchers, mechanics, merchants, and more.

Some fortunate Brutes secure positions working alongside or for the nobility, occasionally venturing outside the Citadel. Their lifespan mirrors that of humans, approximately 80 cycles, though the dangers of Citadel life often cut lives short prematurely.

Aristocrats

The Aristocrats, epitomizing beauty and grace, possess humanoid upper bodies, while their arachnid nature manifests in their lower forms, alongside distinctive pointy ears and often hues of blue and purple skin.

Born naturally rather than cultivated, they receive extensive education and enjoy a degree of autonomy in choosing their paths and occupations based on their noble lineage. Fragile compared to their lower echelons, their upper humanoid bodies lack protective crusts, rendering them vulnerable.

However, their agility and intellect compensate for this vulnerability, allowing them to wield powerful weapons, armor, and strategic tactics. Though their lifespan is commonly regarded as immortal, their true longevity remains shrouded in mystery.

Brutes

Aristocrats

More information about religion, communication etc. soon