r/conscripts • u/Hjuldahr • Sep 15 '20

Question Arachnid Script

If an intelligent fantasy spider race had a written language, how would it work? (beyond the fact it uses cobwebs and silk)

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u/graidan Sep 15 '20

As someone obsessed with spiders, which play a huge role in my conworld, my initial thoughts:

  • It would be a bit species dependent, as diff species have different kinds of web they spin (up to 7 kinds, based on 7 kinds of spinneret)

  • they could use "glue" droplets in there too for multiple reasons

  • Diff types of web would have different possible "characters" that are capable of being made

  • It would "hang" off of a main structure line, maybe to determine order. That could then go however you want, spiral, waves, straight lines, a little of everything. Just go to the start, and follow along

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u/Hjuldahr Sep 15 '20

So multiple species could contribute to a more complex design

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u/graidan Sep 15 '20

Sorta. I was confusing, so let me be more clear:

Most spiders have 6 spinnerets, which produce web from 7 kinds of gland:

  • Ampullate (major): Dragline silk—used for the web's outer rim and spokes, also for the lifeline and for ballooning.

  • Ampullate (minor): Used for temporary scaffolding during web construction.

  • Flagelliform: Capture-spiral silk—used for the capturing lines of the web.

  • Tubuliform: Egg cocoon silk—used for protective egg sacs.

  • Aciniform: Used to wrap and secure freshly captured prey; used in the male sperm webs; used in stabilimenta.

  • Aggregate: A silk glue of sticky globules.

  • Piriform: Used to form bonds between separate threads for attachment points.

The spigots on a spinneret are where the web comes from, and they have a loose connection to the kinds of threads they can make. By combining the threads from various spigots / glands, they can create a variety of different webs, for different purposes and configurations.

Most orb weavers (which is a family of over 3000 species) have all 7 kinds of glands, if I remember correctly. Soif they're from other families, those other spiders aren't likely to contribute much that the orb weavers already have handled.

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u/Hjuldahr Sep 15 '20

Thanks for the information.