I admit, I am angry about Little-One, no, Little Dancer, our first companion ended by our own fang. I had though that Ol'me disorientation was due to the Swatters and their socials. In and some of it probably was, but not all of it. Certainly not most of it. I had watched the rest of my memory, the slow stumbling of Ol'me as it returned to our beloved [Purple Hat], a far cry from the delighted whirling with Little Dancer.

But I cannot blame Ol'me for that. In truth, between [Mindless Body] and Ol'me performance, we would not have survived. [Kysa] certainly would not have reacted with the same unthinking agility, and the Swatters would probably have caught me, or any of the [Unended]. But Little Dancer would have been here if I had been in control. It is clear that a Balance must be made, I need to get stronger, I need to find a way to move while in my smartest form. The Swatters could move with a [Hat], surely I can find a way.

I wouldn't have yielded to him so quickly, and if I had brought him back I could have aided him to get his intelligence up as mine was. Now he is ended, and according to [Arachnid Knowledge] it won't be long before I have a horde of my own. I am in no position right now, I must work fast. To that, I must Progress, and get stronger, maybe larger... gain more skills... and make allies to protect me against the threats.

To start with, I am Progressing

Available [Class Training] [Arachnid Class] +4 Agility, +1 Id You are a member of the Arachnid species, an insect-like species of eight legged bugs. Arachnids typically are agile, use poison, and the famous spider web, though not every Arachnid follows the typical, and everything from the humble Scorpion to the massive Titan-crab are part of this species. +1 [Arachnid Evolution], +1 [Arachnid Trait] [Adoptable] [Artisan Family Class] 2

+1 Intelligence

You grew up in a family of [Artisans] and were trained to join the family business. You could have gone a different way, but you showed talent as a [Artisans] and learned the family trade.

Family class must be selected as first progression or will be removed.

+1 [Craft Trait], +1 [Craft Knowledge], +1 [Craft Feat] [Title: Slayer Class] +8 Strength, +6 Agility, +2 Cunning, +2 Empathy They said it wasn't possible, and you laughed at them. Your opponent was everything, and you were nothing. Yet it is not you who was ended. In a supreme display of skill and cunning you managed to find a weakness in an insurmountable foe, and you ended them. You are well on your way along the path of violence, and people will know you. +1 Trait with [Physical Attack] Tag [Simple Class] No Bonus You never amounted to anything No Bonus

...nothing new, so it will be in [Arachnid Class] Evolution is promising significant upgrades, and if it doesn't I can fall back on [Slayer Class] next level. The main focus is that I need to be able to defend myself and my nest. It would be nice if I could find something that also aided me socially. I was discounting companions before, but the taste of Little Danger... no ughh, I didn't mean that. The feeling of Little Dancer and me was wonderful, and I want to have that again... just with less, ending. I am spending the Level Attribute in Intelligence, just so Ol'me reaches 5 and is capable of most things.

[Arachnid Class Selected] +4 Agility,

+1 Id

+1 Attribute(Level) +1 [Arachnid Evolution]

+1 [Arachnid Trait]

+1 [Starter Trait] (Level)

+1 [Knowledge Trait] (Level) Attributes Unspent 1/1 Attribute(Level) Traits Unspent Knowledge Trait Options (Pre-req) Starter Trait Options (Pre-req)

[General Knowledge 2]

[Basic Visual Creature Identification]

[Knowledge Mnoko Deepmarsh 1] (Time)

[Knowledge Materials 1] (Class)

[Knowledge Crafting 1] (Class)

[Knowledge Gestures 1] (Social)

[Knowledge Groupings 1] (Social)

[Knowledge Vital Identification 1] (Slayer)

[Knowledge Self Analysis] (Mind)

[Knowledge Consequences 1] (Mind)

[Knowledge Motion 1]

[Knowledge Mnoko Deepmarsh 3] (Resident) Gain Knowledge of the area known as the Mnoko Deepmarsh

[Wanderer] (Resident) Not from anywhere, you can live anywhere, increases ability to find useful raw materials.

[EnVenom] (Racial) Can poison parts of body as preparation, Poison more potent

[Spinneret 5] (Racial) (Racial Bonus) Can adjust properties of silk.

[Stealth 1] (Agility) This Training boosts ability to hide from other creatures

[Acrobatics 1] (Agility) This Training boosts agile movements

[Climb 1] (Agility) Redundant with [Arachnid Body]

[SilkWeaver 1] (Artisan) (Racial) Can weave webs and simple objects in a instant

[Nimble Manipulator] (Artisan) (Agility) Can replace nimble tools with agile manipulators

[Sneak Attack 1] (Slayer) Increases the damage of attacks from stealth

Great, well I really could have used [Silkweaver 1] So I am absolutely taking that, I did not expect another [Starter Trait], and the Knowledge trait is certainly a nice boon. What to take with it... [General Knowledge 1] has been invaluable, improving it might be useful. I am surprised these don't have description like the [Starter Trait]... can I look them up? Let's try [Knowledge Self Analysis] is missing a number, why is that.

[Knowledge Self Analysis] You lack this Knowledge

Well I guess that happened. It will be a chance whatever I take. Well so far I have found the abilities without numbers to be unique and special, so let's take [Knowledge Self Analysis] along with [Silkweaver 1]

[Knowledge Self Analysis] This knowledge let's you understand and identify thing happening to your own body, mind, and social. You can discover hidden effects by examine yourself as well as what caused them. This works automatically for lower level effects but required more effort the more powerful the effect.

-Lower Level effects are half your level plus half your Intelligence (1(Level)+4(Int)=Level 5)

-Your maximum detectable effect is your level plus your intelligence. (2(Level)+9(Int)=Level 11)

This ability does not give you knowledge about your organs or similar abilities, but does give you the basics for what they do and why that is important.

Oh, that is useful, very useful if it warns me of some of these things that have hurt me. Can it tell me why my Thorax was pounding? Oh, thank you [Knowledge Self Analysis] My blood is pumped through part of my thorax, and was pumping very hard due to the situation and instincts. That is also why my folds were straining through so much air. Well just this minor effect is useful, I am glad about this.

Now onto the main show, Time to Evolve, but just to be safe, my webs are all up, and I will curl up right in the middle of my restful nest. I wasn't going to, but the instincts from [Mindless Body] seem to know what to do.

[Arachnid Evolution] Part 1 Base Tree (One Trait) Body (Stalker Tree) Mind (Poison Tree) Social (Eusocial Tree) Wolf Spider: +4 Str, +2 Agi, +2 Tou

[Mini]

The Wolf Spider stalks it's pray until it leaps on them and attacks, it is a very sneaky ambush predator.

[Camouflage 1] Bonus to Stealth when in environment that matches your camouflage. Changed to match environment extremely slowly during Molting. Hobo Spider: +4 Agi, +2 Cun +2 Sta

[Tiny]

The Hobo Spider is very dangerous, a single bite ending even large prey.

[Lethal Venom 1] Venom is capable of wounding even large sized creatures. Venom is very lethal to similarly sized creatures. Grass Spider: +4 Emp, +2 Sub, +2 Tou

[Mini]

Common and not very dangerous, the Grass Spider works best when near other spiders, it is great at co-operating.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

[Commonality(Arachnid)] Arachnid lack aggression towards you. Actions taken to assist you, or the Arachnid you are aiding have extra chance of success. Outcome of shared action has significant chance to result in greater reward. Alternative Trees (One Drawback, Two Traits) Body (Scorpion Tree) Mind (Weaver Tree) Social (Swarm Tree) Bark Scorpion: +4 Str, +4 Tou, +4 Sta

[Mini]

The Common Bark Scorpion is small but dangerous, it is very armoured for it's size, and has significant offensive weapons.

[Hardened Exoskeleton] This Arachnid has a very strong Exoskeleton.

[Pincers] This Arachnid Pedipalps have powerful Pincers.

-[Silkless] This Arachnid does not have Spinnerets or Silk. Orb Weaver: +2 Agi, +4 Cun, +2 Sub, +2 San, +2 Cha

[Mini]

The common Weaver creates magnificent webs, utilizing it's amazing webs to craft delicate and sophisticated traps.

[Stabilimentum] This Arachnid has special Silk decorations.

[Greater Spinneret] This Arachnid has a wide variety of Silk tools.

-[Delicate Exoskeleton] This Arachnid is very fragile, and relies on tools in order to capture pray. Harvestmen: +4 Emp, +4 Sub, +4 Vig

[Tiny]

The long legged Harvestmen is gregarious, working in large swarms to hunt down and End prey.

[Swarm] When near other Arachnid of it's type, share Id and Instinct information automatically

[Long Legs] This Arachnid legs have the [Reach] property.

-[Venomless] This Arachnid does not have Venom Exotic Trees (Two Drawbacks, Two Exotic Trait) [Additional Trees Locked] Body (Material Tree) Mind (Planning Tree) Social (Essence Tree) Gold Stalker +10 Toughness, +4 Strength,

[Little]

The quiet Gold Stalker is often found consuming discarded equipment, depending on what they feed on they can appear to be made of nearly any metal or crystal. They are most commonly a dull Gold, which is the result of consuming Iron.

[Mineral Eater] Can consume minerals as if they were organic

[Heavy Metal Exoskeleton] Consumed Minerals accumulate in Exoskeleton, eventually changing it.

-[Heavy] Effective Agility halved, Speed halved

-[Mineral Requirement] Need to consume Minerals daily Thoughtspinner: Set Int to 4, +5 Cunning, +5 Sanity, +5 Focus

[Mini]

Malicious predators, Thoughtspinners rarely end their prey, preferring to leech it of intelligence slowly. Be wary for even their webs can prove dangerous to the mind.

[Brain Spider] This Arachnid lacks the [Mindless] Trait.

[Thought Eater] Venom, bite, and special web damage Intelligence.

-[Delicate Exoskeleton] This Arachnid is very fragile, and relies on tools in order to capture pray.

-[Thought Requirement] Need to consume Intelligence Daily Dreamweaver: +6 Empathy, +4 Charisma, +4 Vigor

[Mini]

The Benign Dreamweaver can be found in many homes, and is sometimes worshiped as a minor spirit. Often though to catch bad dreams, their webs often glisten with strange dew.

[Essence Weave] woven objects gain special properties

[Dream Catcher 1] Web gains ability to catch social and mind effluence.

-[Divine 1] You have 1 Divine Rank

-[Dream Eater] Need to consume Effluence daily

Wow, ok, some options then. Wow I really really should go Wolf, it synergizes with [Slayer] and [Ambusher] really really well. But... I am trying to avoid focusing on fighting, even as a [Wolf Spider] Everything is bigger than me. [Scorpion] would at least make me tougher, but I need my silk. I am interested that Grass Spider could be such a good friend. I will have to see if I can seek our one to help me with things.

So the big question is what Tree, sure the first entry is good, but I understand that more options unlock later on, and it looked like I can come back and start on other trees if I don't want to continue. Some of these look very very interesting, and the abilities granted are significant, this was certainly the best choice. The question is what do I want to do with it. Weaver is obvious, and clearly will work well with what I have. But the drawback is real bad, it's unclear how fragile it makes me, but it cannot be good.

So basically, if I want to fight, Wolf, Hobo, Bark Scorpian, or Gold Stalker. Wolf and Hobo are sneakier, and Bark and Gold are more like the [Horned Beetle] I fought, tough and strong.

If I want to communicate, and seek allies then Grass, Harvestmen, or Dreamweaver. The first two seem to be only good along with Arachnid allies. Dreamweaver is very interesting, but the requirement for Effluence is... is scary. Is that easy to get, I don't know, it sounds like a risk. It also has [Divine 1] and that is a drawback, but what does that mean. I think I saw something about [Divine] with the [Serpent] but I don't recall. I am so tempted, but I think maybe I shouldn't risk it.

So that leaves well Thoughspinner. I really like it, but I already got [Brain Spider] for free. It's important because it means that some other [Arachnids] exist that are not [Mindless] which makes Grass Spider a bit tempting. But I don't know any, and having to consume Intelligence might be really hard. Also, and the most important thing. It says Sets Intelligence to 4. Does that mean it can't be increased, or if it is higher it is reduced? I can have an Intelligence of up to 13 now! I really don't want to be stuck at Ol'me Intelligence.

Well Orb Weaver gives me everything I really want. It even has nice attribute bonuses, and I need to start getting bigger, and this will let me grow a little. I was hoping for more defense, but maybe I can make a better [Sarong] to protect me. [Greater Spinneret] will let me really push what I can do, and [Stabilimentum] might have some neat tricks, Alright, Orb Weaver it is.

Orb Weaver Selected [Arachnid Evolution] Part 2 Improves [Arachnid Trait] Description Body

Body

Body

Legs

Legs

Eyes

Eyes

Jaws

Jaws

Venom

Venom

Book Folds

Book Folds

Pedipalps

Pedipalps

Pedipalps

Spinneret

Exoskeleton

Exoskeleton

Exoskeleton Carcinisation

Mimicry

A World of Giants

Tremorsense

Jumping 1

Heat Vision 1

Vision 1

Painful Bite 1

Strong Jaws 1

Envenom

Venom 2

Amphibious

Bellowing Folds

Pincers 1

Throw Web 1

Manipulator Pedipalps

Great Spinneret 6

Exoskeleton 2

Colourful Chitin

Muted Chitin Gain the Crab subrace and base traits

Ability to mimic ants or other similar bugs

Increase Size Category

Detect movement via vibrations other than through web

Double Jump distance

Detect temperature with a high degree of accuracy

Improve Vision

Regardless of Venom, a successful bite makes all targeted creatures recoil.

Jaws capable of increased damage, and will break through thicker obstructions

Deposit Venom on objects coating them

Increase Venom Potency

Gain Ability to use folds to extract air from Water

Gain Ability to breath faster and boost body for a short time

Pedipalps become stronger and larger, but lose ability to delicately manipulate objects.

Pedipalps become capable of throwing web out a significant distance

Pedipalps that have a full range of motion and can manipulate most objects.

Increases Spinneret capabilities

Increases Exoskeleton

Reduce Stealth with bright colorful pattern, many creatures instincts will avoid

Increase Stealth with muted hard to see pattern

Wow, ok, some of these are super good, and all are quire nice. It seems that the [Arachnid] Trait can upgrade parts of my body. Well... several of those would make be better at ending prey and I can discount that, Weaver by it's description and capabilities, should not be fighting, which is good for me. I have my weapons if I need other ways to end things. Let's see things that could help me fall into two, no three camps.

1. Not get hurt, which includes Exoskeleton 2, and both Colourful and Muted Chitin. I am tempted to take Colourful just because the passive avoidance, but hiding could help. But I suspect it neither will fully offset Weavers [Delicate Exoskeleton]

2. Sense more, and of these Tremorsense is the most fascinating. I didn't think my eyes were bad, but being able to detect things like this sounds really good. But, it implies I can do this via webs. I haven't tried it, but I will definitely do this now. I have noticed very large tremors from time to time, so it makes sense.

3. The fun general utility. Now upping my Spinneret is the obvious choice, but I just did that with [Orb Weaver], so perhaps I can save it for later. Manipulator Pedipalps seems good, but it may overlap with [Nimble Manipulator] so I can wait, and Bellowing Folds... I know I can hold my breath pretty well, but actually breathing water would let me slip deep into the Deepmarsh, avoiding all the threats... then again I don't really know what sorts of threats might be in the water, and it does not give me any special water capabilities. Web I suspect, will be weak.

Now the last thing I notice, was Throw Web, Ol'me did that earlier to try to stop us moving so fast. It worked, but badly, is that because I didn't have this. With my [Orb Weaver] I suspect I will be able to do quite a bit with it.

Alright, that's it, [Orb Weaver] with [Throw Web]

Arachnid Evolution begun Preparing to Molt