Giant spiders are one of those great things in fantasy. There is an old fear that spiders inspire even if they are only an inch or 2 across. Now just make it bigger. Their features are unnerving. You look up and find yourself staring into black lifeless eyes. Their long chitinous, hairy legs click along the ground in an almost unnatural grace. They spin webs that can leave the strongest warriors helpless. Long black fangs, dripping with noxious venom, ready to pierce armor and flesh . A lot of people just have this reaction.
I enjoy playing with spiders in game they are extremely adaptable. They can be used in a hive type setting with workers serving a queen or as solitary enemies waiting for prey to carelessly trap themselves. I enjoy using clusters of spiders lots of webs to set the scene and then spiders can come from multiple locations catching and biting in an enclosed space that just gets tighter because of the webs. Another good thing is they can take combat into 3 dimensions without adding flying to the game. They can pull allies up into trees or caverns via webs or just grabbing them and running up a wall. I really like spiders in many settings and they will always have a place at my table.
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The humid air was stifling. Sweat poured down the back of Nine Lives Clay plastering his hair to his face. “At least the damned flies and bugs had let up, ” he sighed to himself and took a long swig from his water skin. This part of the jungle was exhausting, but Clay was sure the Jaguar King’s treasure was close. Another strange bird called from the treetops. The native people had warned him of Okkruro, but that was just some old superstition, a long dead god. Their priest could not even offer simple healing to his companion. So Clay pressed on and he thought about this Okkruro. The sweat stung his eyes as he walked. Leaves and vines sticking to his clothing making his progress slower and slower. What was Okkruro. The jungle was silent save for the strange chirping from above but he could not see any birds in the dense canopy . Clay’s breath caught and he felt a pang of fear as if he was begin watched. Was this god not so dead and easily dismissed. Clay tried to push through the underbrush but it seemed to grasp and hold to his clothing. Thorns stuck in exposed flesh and vines tangled in his gear. Clay reached up to move a large leaf in his way. The legs spread out between trees easily 30 feet apart. Eyes glittered black and venom dripped from dagger like fangs as it descended upon its victim placed carefully on the altar. It made excited chirping sounds as it readied for its meal. Clay watched in horror and then shuddered when he heard something chirp right behind him.
Reality-Break 