Jorogumo
| Species Type | Magical predator |
|---|---|
| Classification | Arachnid shapeshifter |
| Origin | Unknown (prehistory) |
| Affiliation | None (formerly dominant predators) |
| Magical System | Serecumesh |
| Status | Presumed extinct in the wild (with captives in suspended animation) |
| Last Known Location | Sealed vault beneath Cordis |
Description
The jorogumo are a shape-shifting, spider-like, extinct race of powerful meshworkers. Their humanoid disguises were often seductive and perfect, allowing them to infiltrate societies, consume victims, or manipulate through lust and fear. In true form, they resemble enormous arachnid monstrosities with spinnerets capable of producing magical fibers known as serecumesh.
Once dominant over all known species, the jorogumo enslaved, devoured, or corrupted nearly every civilization they touched. The Bastion was formed to fight against them. The Bastion remains dedicated to eternal vigilance, watching for resurgent nests or hybrid spawn.
History
Thousands of years ago, the jorogumo were a plague upon existence. They fed upon and enslaved all races. The Bastion (as a military organization) was formed to defeat them.
The Bastion erased the power of the jorogumo, sealing their portal and trapping them in suspended animation beneath what would become the Bastion Fortress, around which grew the city of Cordis.
At that time, one of the last jorogumo placed a curse — a prophecy that a Bastion outsider with green eyes would someday destroy the Bastion.
The few jorogumo remaining were hunted down and killed. A few survived, enough so that jorogumo nests are found every now and then, and when they are, rixators kill them.
Jorogumo Magic
Jorogumo have their own magic system, serecumesh, which differs from the filament-based system used by most other practitioners. Jorogumo spinnerets create their magic fibers. Hatchlings must be fed an anemone polyp as their first meal, otherwise their spinnerets do not develop magical abilities.
Abilities
- Shape-shifting between humanoid and spider-like forms
- Magical weaving using organic fiber (serecumesh)
- Limited telepathic coordination with nests
- Extreme physical resilience and rapid regeneration
- Venom that paralyzes both body and filament flow
Weaknesses
- Fire destroys spinneret material before magic can fully manifest
- Exposure to null-filament zones prevents transformation
- Hatchlings without access to anemone larvae die within weeks
Legacy
The Bastion's obsession with absolute control and the suppression of forbidden magic stems directly from their war with the jorogumo. Rumors of surviving queens, sleeper nests, or hybrid bloodlines persist in hunter and smuggler circles.
