Arachne

Arachne Domain Spiders, Betrayal Symbol a black widow spider on a field of red Pantheon Neutral Smite/Bane Bane Critical Unbalance

Illustration of the Huntress - Arachne legend, as rendered by HATESHI.

Arachne is the patroness of spiders and betrayal.

She is the dire enemy of the Huntress, who she betrayed while both were still mortal. Arachne was once the bodyguard of a great queen who became jealous at her husband's bodyguard's beauty. The queen enlisted Arachne's help to bring the Huntress. Arachne slipped a sleeping potion into the Huntress' drink then, when the Huntress had fallen asleep, planted a dagger in her hand and claimed that the Huntress had come to kill the king.

When the Huntress was exiled, Arachne was thrown into the dungeons for her knowledge of the queen's treachery. When the Huntress returned to exact her revenge, Arachne fell to her knees and begged forgiveness, although she was hardly sorry. She was jealous of the Huntress' new status as an immortal, and wished some of this power for herself.

This became obvious when, as the Huntress struck the queen dead, Arachne in turn murdered the Huntress. As Arachne bent to drink of the immortal blood, a black widow spider bit her on the lip and mixed with that power to create a spider-faced creature that would become a cult-worshipped goddess.

Arachne's preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a woman with the frame of a fighter dressed in blood-stained leather armor, although most often she appears as a giant spider. In manner, she is cocky and condescending. Her symbol is a black widow spider on a field of red.

Shrines, Statuary, and Holy Places

Spider Temple

The most well-known of Arachne's holy places was the Spider Temple. Inside, Arachne acolytes, Arachne servants and Arachne priests and priestesses dedicate themselves to her worship.

Cleric Guilds

Displayed in the Prayer Rooms of each Cleric Guild is a statue of Arachne. These prayer rooms are considered a holy shrine to multiple deities.

This woman is clearly a warrior. She is tall, muscular and trim with a self-assured bearing that borders on cockiness. At her feet is a large spider, two of its legs resting on Arachne's ankle.

K>touch Arachne
You reach out and touch the statue of Arachne.

A soft wave of magic flows over you, making your skin tingle with Arachne's energies.

Wehnimer's Landing Cleric Guild

Located in the Antechamber of Others is a statue of Arachne. This area is not considered a holy shrine.

Unusual in its form, this statue's upper half portrays a female warrior clad in blood-stained leather armor. At the waist, her body transforms into that of a large spider. Her symbol is a black widow spider on a field of red.

Related articles

• The Gods of Elanthia - Arachne, the Betrayer (official documentation)