Joro-gumo (Spider Woman)

Attributes: Yokai, Shapeshifters, Intelligence, Skillful, Sexy, Deception

Joro-gumo is named after the Golden Orb Weaver. These spiders are renowned for their large size, vivid colors and strong webs. The legend is when a Golden Orb Weaver reaches the age of 400 years it develops magical powers and will start eating humans instead of insects. They make their nests in caves, forests or empty houses and even in urban areas. Jorogumo are the largest of the spider yokai and often have other lesser spiders working for them or beneath them.

They possess cunning intelligence, are skillfull deceivers and powerful shape shifters. They usually appear as young, sexy, beautiful women. They are cold hearted and think of humans as nothing more than a meal. Their favorite meal is young handsome men.

Sometimes they are encountered in the form of a young woman carrying a baby (which is actually the spider's egg sack). They have powerful venom which can weaken a man day by day. Joro-gumo have very strong silk webs that are strong enough to ensnare and hold a grown man. They are skillful predators and can even employ the help of other lesser spiders. Some are so powerful they can even breathe fire. They can live very long on the flesh of humans, over the years piling up hundreds of skeletons around their lair.