Jorogumo (Art by Mona Finden)
The Jorōgumo is a type of Yōkai, a creature, ghost or goblin of Japanese folklore. According to some stories, a Jorōgumo is a spider that can change its appearance into that of a seductive woman.
Overview[]
The origins of the Jorogumo are unknown but given that they are Yōkai they likely originated from Amanozako herself; however, other legends dictate that they are the product of the union between Amanozako and Atlach-Nacha, one of the Ogdru Hem.
Legend has it that in the forests of Japan, a beautiful woman would entice wandering men into a lonely shack by playing a Biwa instrument, a type of Japanese lute whose strings were crafted from their webs. While the victim would be distracted by the sound of the instrument, the woman would bind them in spider silk threads in order to devour the unsuspecting person as her next meal.
Abilities[]
In Japanese legend, when a spider turns 400 years old, it gains magical powers. In many of the stories concerning the Jorōgumo, it changes its appearance into a beautiful woman to ask a samurai to marry her, or takes the form of a young woman carrying a baby (which may turn out to be a spider's egg sac).
- Web Generation: Like their natural counterparts, Jorogumo are able to create webs which they use to fortify their lairs and make traps for victims to become stuck in. These webs are mainly used to incapacitate prey while they are distracted, so that they are available for later consumption. Jorogumo are also able to use these webs as a sort of tripwire, so that they can detect the movements of approaching individuals, or the movements of a struggling prey item which has managed to break free.
- Voracious Appetite: Jorogumo are also known for their voracious appetite, despite appearing as beautiful, thin women regardless of how much they consume. In one legend, it was said that when the villagers of the tribe cut open the defeated Jorogumo, dozens of bodies spilled out from her stomach.
- Limbs: Jorogumo are able to generate up to eight spider-like limbs, which can be used to pierce their prey, or to climb walls and surfaces with ease.
