Aranasi
Art by
General
- Classification
- Demon (Sapient)
- Faction/Affiliation
- Burning Legion, Independent
- Homeworld
- Rancora
- Area(s)
- Various
Aranasi were large, spider-like creatures that were native to the world of Rancora. When the Burning Legion invaded their world, they bent to the will of Sargeras and became demonic servants of the Burning Crusade.
History
Aranasi were not true-born demons of the Twisting Nether, and were instead once mortal spider-like creatures that were native to a world called Rancora. The world fell into the path of the Burning Legion, and instead of fight against the tide, the aranasi chose to join with the demonic force and turned their surviving populace into arachnid demons. Those that refused to bend to the will of Sargeras were ultimately destroyed, and their world of Rancora was pulled into the Nether.
The majority of the aranasi population that remained, as a result, were staunchly loyal to Sargeras and served as expert scouts, guerilla fighters, and swarm commanders, as their voracious children could also be loosed to feed on mortals. However, some independent broodmothers potentially emerged after the transition of their people.
Description
An Adult Male Aranasi by Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Aranasi were born from mass clutches of eggs laid by a broodmother, and when hatched, they resembled spiderlings. They were not capable of sapient thought, and instead operated on an instinct to survive, feed, and protect the territory of their brood. As these spiderlings grew, they acquired a greater intelligence. While incredibly bestial in appearance, their torsos grew longer and could be held erect with their front legs resembling mantis claws, which could be used to manipulate parts of their environment. Their carapace was also grew bony and shale-like, which offered protection they did not have in their infant stages.
Broodmothers possessed a hive-mind connection with their young until their acquired their own identities, at which point adults were chased from a brood's territory.
Abilities
Aranasi were capable of producing thick, incredibly sticky webbing which was covered in a digestive enzyme. This enzyme burned whatever was tangled within it, and it was highly corrosive, to a point it could break down even the hardest bony plating—an adaptation needed for hunting on the unforgiving planet of Rancora as it allowed for easier feeding. The special carapaces of the aranasi ensured they weren't affected by their own webs.
Aranasi bites were equally corrosive, and once prey was suitably restrained, hunting aranasi would flood their system with a toxin that melted them from the inside out, effective turning their meals into a slurry that could be easily supped upon by the adults of the territory or their voracious broods.
Notably, female aranasi were capable of morphing their body into a false reflection of a "humanoid" appearance, which they used to interface with other demons and mortals. Their excess legs resembled spindly wings in this form, though they were not capable of flight. Males did not master this ability, if they were capable of it at all, as the females were the ones that interfaced with outsiders while the males protected their spiderlings.
Organization
Aranasi claimed nesting territory where they could safely lay their expansive clutches of eggs, and these territories were ruthlessly protected by the broodmother female that had claimed it. Normally, only one female lorded over an individual territory, but sometimes bonded sisters would jointly rule in multi-mother colonies. The only other adults in these territories were the consorts of the broodmother, who served as loyal stewards of the nesting grounds, protectors, and advisors to their mates. Once an adult male found a place in a broodmother's territory, it was rare he left it again unless commanded by his mate.
Adult children did not remain in the territories of their mothers and were instead cast out once they began to acquire their own identities. Wandering males normally sought out the pheromones of other females in the region in the hopes of mating with her, while females carved out her own territory.
Known
Named
Statblocks
| Warcraft Creature Types |
|---|
| Aberration • Beast • Celestial • Construct • Demon • Dragonkin • Elemental • Fey • Giant • Humanoid • Monstrosity • Ooze • Plant • Undead |
| Demonic Creatures | |
|---|---|
| Sapient | Annihilan • Antaen • Aranasi • Asura • Darkglare • Ered'ruin • Felsworn (Fel Orc • Felblood Elf) • Flamekin • Imp Mother (Imp) • Inquisitor • Jailer • Man'ari (Brute • Doommaiden • Wrathguard) • Mo'arg (Brute • Fel Lord • Felguard • Gan'arg) • Overfiend • Nathrezim (Tothrezim) • Sayaad • Satyr • Terrorfiend • Wyrmtongue |
| Non-Sapient | Bilescourge • Darkhound • Felbat • Felbeast • Felhound (Charhound • Felstalker • Gloomhound • Xhillag) • Felsaber • Helboar • Infernal (Abyssal) • Nightmare • Ur'zul • Vilefiend |
