Aranha (Creature Type)

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Description
"These stowaways from Alpha Prime have greatly reproduced after arriving on Earth. They are a common nuisance to residents across all of New Eden."

Aranhas are one of the most common creatures found in Firefall. They resemble quadrupedal insects with two larger arm-like legs in the front and curved, spiked bodies. Aranhas come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from the size of a small dog to far larger than a human. They have also evolved into a number of different subspecies, ranging from the lowly Aranha Worker to the acid spitting Aranha Sieger to the towering Crystite Aranha. This adaptability has allowed them to thrive in every environment on Earth, making them a common sight virtually everywhere on the planet.

Aranhas are not indigenous to Earth, instead originating from Alpha Prime. Exactly how they managed to board the CMS Victoria is unknown, although a commonly accepted explanation is that a single aranha snuck aboard a supply shuttle and onto the CMS Victoria. From there, it managed to produce enough offspring to eventually occupy two thirds of the ship. Oilspill also mentions that it's possible that a passenger thought that an aranha would make a good pet, either not knowing about their rapid reproduction rate or not caring.

Although usually individually weak, aranhas tend to live in large swarms capable of overrunning groups of people and destroying reinforced equipment such as Thumpers. These swarms can live practically anywhere, often living burrowed in the ground or within abandoned facilities. However, aranhas also create their own nests, and are capable of creating armored cocoons that require powerful explosives to be destroyed.

Official Description
"The aranhas is a small predator which spends most of its time burrowed just beneath the surface. It often remains dormant until disturbed by seismic activity, such as excavation thumpers and passing vehicles. One-on-one, they are manageable, but the real danger lies in its hive mentality. They are able to call their nearby brethren and in very short order can amass into a swarm. These highly agile creatures present even a danger in death."

"Multiple witnesses have reported seeing aranhas corpses explode into atomized clouds of toxic goo. This goo allegedly causes severe burns and reduces mobility, making it challenging to reach safer ground. Mercenaries and extraction squads are highly advised to take the threat of aranhas seriously and to burn them down as fast as possible."

"These predators are not indigenous to Earth. They first appeared three years ago with the arrival of the CMS Victoria from Alpha Prime. Entomologists suspect that a sole fertile female must have scampered into the wheel-well of a supply shuttle that was provisioning the base-ship in orbit. After docking with the Victoria, the stowaway must have skittered down beneath the C-Deck’s hangar. Her eggs evidently hatched and the predators thrived amongst the damp secluded pipes, for by the time Victoria reached Earth orbit, two-thirds of the ship was quarantined, their quadrants in lockdown."

"The UN would never have given them clearance to dock with the Icarus elevator if they had been made privy to the extent of infestation. Centauri Company, the entity managing the colonization effort, insisted that the ship was safe and demanded that its employees be given immediate docking clearance. The request was authorized and, within very short order, aranhas were soon found throughout the world, wreaking havoc with the existing food chain."

"They are often found in the company of caustic scarabs, feeding as scavengers on beetle dung in a symbiotic relationship. They also feed on corpses of all types. Also of note, specific body parts of the aranhas corpses have recently gained cultural value in Dredge’s annual celebration. Revelers will often pay good credit for aranhas chitin and eyes, working these pieces into their festive costumes."

In-game Behavior
Aranhas are only found in the world when prompted to spawn for a particular reason. This includes destroying an Aranha Nest, Thumping, various World Events, and certain types of ARES Missions. The number of aranhas spawned depends heavily on the cause, ranging from several from a nest to dozens in ARES missions.

All Aranhas have the ability to climb on surfaces such as walls and ceilings without affecting their movement speed, making them difficult to escape. Additionally, most move quite quickly and have the ability to leap short distances at a target, further enhancing their mobility.

Offsetting their high mobility is their general lack of health. Most small aranhas can be killed with a single blast from an area-of-effect weapon such as the Plasma Cannon or several shots from a faster firing weapon, while larger aranhas can take a bit more punishment. Very large aranhas such as the Giant Aranha are capable of absorbing massive amounts of damage before dying, making them very dangerous for under-equipped players.

Aranhas possess a wide variety of different abilities depending on the type, such as exploding on death or spitting acid. The ability depends on the type of aranha, so see the Types and Subspecies section below for descriptions of all.

Trivia

 * There are no male aranhas.
 * Despite being edible, aranhas are not generally used as a food source due to their unpleasant taste.
 * Their eggs are more palatable, but take a very long time to cook.