Myrlochar

Myrlochar, or soul spiders, are spider skeletons of brown, russet or yellowed bone with a faint greenish glow and cherry-red eyes.

Strong and quick, they stab with two long, pointed forelegs that can pierce a shield and bite with saw-toothed jaws. The magical bite deals 2-12, and on a roll of 1 on 1d6, one point of that damage is lost forever and the spider gains it, the origin of their nickname among ancient desert nomads and northern barbarians. A bite can also impose hold person (4 rounds) or reverse gravity, otherwise as the wizard spells, unless the victim saves vs. spell at -3.

Keen senses and a kind of sonar let them fight normally in magical darkness, and bright light does not bother them. They move silently and pass through webs freely, immune even to the web spell. They spin no silk but cling to walls, ceilings, others' webs and objects, treating weapons, polearms above all, as handholds and extenders instead of arms. They levitate at a vertical rate of 6, which also acts as feather fall, using reaching aids to pull themselves along. They have no venom and are immune to poison. Though not undead and not subject to turning, they share undead immunity to sleep, charm and hold effects.

The spider goddess's followers summon them from her domain in the Abyss through worship rites, and there they are untiring hunters that often slip through gates and portals onto other planes. A summoned myrlochar must obey one command from its summoner, even unto destruction. After that it is free to roam that plane as long as it does not harm the goddess's open worshipers or their works. Usually it hides and begins an almost playful killing spree that lasts until something destroys it. Spiders summoned together stay in a pack. No one has seen young, mated pairs or families.

They do not age. Lost bone regrows very slowly, 1 hp per 4 days, and severed legs and parts can be reattached. They eat the flesh of anything they catch. Nothing preys on them except thinking creatures desperate to get rid of them, along with reckless adventurers, often working for alchemists, since ground soul spider bone is potent in free action and levitation enchantments.