Hello. Real life work continues to be a challenge. However, I am stubbornly doing my best to keep my posting schedule regular. This week I am once again going back to the well of classic monsters for inspiration.

My introduction to this hobby was due in no small part to the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit by Rankin/Bass. While many would point to goblins/orcs as being the classic villain of fantasy tabletop role-playing game, I would make a case for giant spiders.

I don’t happen to be an arachnophobe myself but there’s no denying the fact that real world spiders are creepy on their own. The thought of giant versions is particularly terrifying.

What the Party Knows

The party has been hired to deliver a bag of mail and sundries to a lumber camp, about a day’s ride outside of the small town of Galeton.

Arriving at the lumber camp the party will be surprised to find that it appears to have been abandoned. While the party expected to see a bustling scene of people chopping wood and going about their daily chores, there is not a soul in sight. Beyond that, apparently even the beasts of burden are missing. Where did everyone go?

What the Party Doesn’t Know

The workers of the logging camp delved a bit too deep into the ancient forest. While going about their work they uncovered a nest of ancient giant spiders.

The queen of this cluster of spiders is possessed an unnatural intelligence. One by one, they picked off the lumberjacks, learning along the way. The spiders would pull one hapless soul deep into the forest. Realizing that his cries would soon draw others, they adopted the practice of always leaving one of their victims alive.

This process continued until nearly all of the lumbermen and their animals were devoured. By the time the party arrives on the scene, only the foreman clings to life. The spiders are holding him at location #5. However, it has been the better part of the day and no one has arrived to help. The spiders are hungry and ready to feed but then they see the party arrive in the camp.

1. The Camp

The lumber camp is clearly deserted but it doesn’t make sense. While there are no great treasures present, there are enough personal belongings to make it clear that the lumbermen would have never simply left without taking their gear with them.

A careful search will turn up the quartermaster’s tent, which holds the payroll for the whole camp. Surely brigands or even orcs would have ransacked this and taken everything of value.

2. The Work Site

While there are no traces of horses or mules, it’s clear that they had once been at the camp because the tack and saddlery are evident. Downed trees have been readied for transport but lay abandoned where they were left.

3. Pine Creek

A worn path leading up to Pine Creek indicates that members of the camp regularly used this area to bathe and do laundry. Characters approaching this area will hear moans and screams of agony coming from the northeast. If the party crosses the creek when they hear the screams, consider it to be difficult terrain. The stream is fairly shallow here, though the rocks are slippery. The hill on the opposite bank is manageable but fairly steep.

4. The Hill

Arriving at location #4, the party will be able to see the foreman on the ground at location #5. It is at this point that the spiders will attack. Two will attack from the rear on either side. Two are perpendicular to the party in the trees. Once some of the party members are ensnared in webs, the queen will charge from across the clearing.

5. The Foreman

Should the party be victorious they will find the foreman webbed to the ground here. He’ll be in bad shape but will pull through if he receives healing right away.

Wrap Up

If I were to run this one again, I think I’d focus on some custom mechanics for the spiders. How about you? Any thoughts come to mind?

Thanks for taking the time to stop by. The little interactions I have with all of you really do help to get me through the week at work. Have a great week!

For more maps & plot hooks, go here.

For some random tables, go here.

Finally, for a bit about me and some general stuff, this is the spot.