Silkstrider
Silkstriders (also written silk striders)[1][2] are large, silk-producing beasts native to Ardenweald. They are domesticated by the night fae, who use their silk to craft music instruments, weapons, and tools.[3] Despite its gossamer appearance, silkstrider thread possesses great tensile strength, allowing it to be used as a bowstring for war and merriment alike.[4] For this reason, the animals are vital to Ardenweald; more important than almost anyone knows.[1]
Silkstriders are very delicate creatures and will not spin silk if they become stressed or frightened, so the night fae play music for them to keep them calm and happy.[5][6] When content, they dance gracefully and make humming[6] or chirping noises.[7] The animals begin life as small larvae that hatch from cocoons.[5][8] Spriggans have been known to capture and eat silkstrider larvae.[9]
The main silkstrider hub in Ardenweald is the Gossamer Cliffs, which came under attack from Blackthorn spriggans and Mueh'zala's boggart minions, putting a halt to production.[3][5] The silkstriders' broodmother, Ol' Gertie, was killed by the boggart Noisul of Many Faces.[10] Adventurers helped clear out the attackers and rescue the night fae caretakers to get the production up and running again.[5] They also saved Gertie's larva, Gertie Jr.,[11] and brought her to the safety of the Heart of the Forest for the sake of Ardenweald's future.[12]
Known
Ol' Gertie <Silkstrider Matriarch>
- Betsy
- Daisy
- Ella
Grubby- Lillythistle Jr.
- The Lonely Matriarch
- Lulu
- Maribel
- Miss Spot
- Rose
- Silkstrider Grubs
Related items
- Very Large Silk Bundle and
[Giant Silk Bundle] - [Raw Silkstrider Silk]
[Silkstrider Harp]
[Spool of Silkstrider Thread]
Notes
- Giant Silkstrider NPCs, a
[Silkstrider Larvae] item, and a 
[Silkstrider Silk] item were added in the Shadowlands beta but didn't make it to the live game. - Adult silkstriders reuse the spore walker model from The Burning Crusade, while the grubs reuse the caterpillar model from Mists of Pandaria.
- The name "silkstrider" may be inspired by the similar-looking silt strider creatures from The Elder Scrolls franchise.
Gallery
A Silk Shooter.
References
- ^ a b
[60 Daily] Hyphae Patrol: Gossamer Cliffs
- ^ [60 Daily] Go Beyond!: Marasmius says: What a view! Oh, and a marvelous silk strider! The poor thing must be lonely, all the way out here. See if you can cheer it up!
- ^ a b
[60] Silk Shortage
- ^ [Spool of Silkstrider Thread]
- ^ a b c d [60] Tough as Silk
- ^ a b [60] A Song for Silkstriders
- ^ [60B] Assist Ella With ?
- ^ Silkstrider Cocoon
- ^
[60] Trinkle Trinkle Little Twerp
- ^ [60] Save Ol' Gertie
- ^ [60] Thread of Hope
- ^ [60] Silk for Ardenweald