The First Land Herald/432-06-02

Article Number: 19

Dateline: 432-06-02

METAL-AUGMENTED SPIDERS INVADE, PASSAGEWAYS WEBBED Today I have reports of a new sort of hybridized monster: giant spiders surgically altered with metallic body parts. I was able to confirm two invasions first-hand, at Rossman's Landing and Shard, but I also had word of them over the gwethdesuan network from Therenborough and Boar Clan. I saw unyns, birdcatchers, blade spiders, and blade spider queens - like blade spiders, but larger. Without fail, they each had some part of their body either augmented with metal plating or replaced entirely, such as the legs. They were not particularly canny and used no spells that I could tell, though they did shoot webbing, unsurprisingly, and had a terribly venomous bite that could cause serious muscle spasms. The queens were the most difficult to bring down and required a joint effort. There was no rhyme nor reason to the metals used that I could tell, and there were quite a variety. I saw some adventurers prying off bits of the plating after the spiders had died, so the creatures did at least offer a prize to those skilled enough to kill them. A few times I even saw some making off with orichalcum. I was unable to determine the source of the invasions, though of course the upcoming Hollow Eve festival springs to mind. It is not lost on me that the festival is hosted in a giant metallic-made-biological spider, and these spiders are clearly biological-made-metallic. I suspect we will learn more as Captain Kurmin approaches. UPDATE - 432-06-05. I have pulled the previous article off the presses in order to add this updated information. Webbings of various types have been spotted in the Crossing and Riverhaven, blocking passageways and entrances of all sorts as unwary walkers become entangled and unable to pass. I was only able to learn a little of their assembly: Plake said, "I've seen [the spiders]. They appear and disappear in an instant." Below I list the various types of webbing and the methods we have discovered for undoing them. If for some reason you wish to experiment yourself, DO NOT read on. Gleaming metallic webbing fixed with copper mechanisms - Quillith brilliantly deduced that adjustment with tinker's tools is required to unravel this type of webbing. Notable indeed that the webbing is metallic, much like the augmented spiders. - Glassy phantasmal webbing - I witnessed Traim break this web by an attack with a Xibar moonblade. Quillith reported that he was also able to adjust these with tinker's tools. Lirrag said that Burn works, as long as one targets something else first, then casts at the doorway. - Glistening dew-covered webbing - Fire works best here. I witnessed Traim burn the webbing with his lighter, and Aislynn provided burning peat, which also worked when waved at the passageway. Moonblades and tools did not work. - Shadowy nightweaver silk / nightsilk webbing - I have not seen this type (or two types?) of webbing first hand. Mewawl reported that a Xibar moonblade worked, and Zinchaga said that they can be burned with a lighter. Tathalus also spoke to me of an interesting trick he was able to do. He said that with enough cunning, one can slip out of webs quickly, including the doorway webs. I watched him perform the act, twisting out of the bonds with preternatural fluidity - although he was not able to pass through the entrance, only escape the web and remain outside. I suppose anyone with such cunning might be able to figure it out. - UPDATE - 432-06-06. At the risk of irritating Flindre, my patron [The scribes overtime fee is coming out of your remittance -F], I have stopped the presses a second time in order to add this further, critical information. The spiders have begun making noticeable burrows in and around the Crossing area. I have seen these burrows personally on the Strand, and Saragos and Ailunae reported one appearing in the Empath guild. They open and close without warning, and when active spiders will dart out and snatch unwary passers-by. I undertook a dangerous expedition of the Strand burrow myself, finding caravan-sized spiders inside. I'm informed they are called tomiek-iguji broodlings. According to an arachnologist from Asemath Academy, these are the spawn of the Massive Arachnid of Captain Kurmin, and Cleric and Empath scholars believe it may be possible that they will (slowly) mature in the image of their progenitor. Be warned, as they are also very difficult and aggressive opponents, bearing venom, Curse of Zachriedek, and a nasty Gar Zeng. Furthermore, the walls of the burrow are covered in webbing, so quick movements are likely to entangle you, and the spiders will tend to drag you further into their nest. If you do brave the burrows, look for holes in the walls to escape. Saragos also mentioned to me that Frost Scythe was particularly effective against the spiders' thick chitin. Of some note, I did find one curious area of the burrow, which seemed more toward Human proportions than spider. In the center was a tapestry depicting a spider descending upon an unsuspecting dove, two tomiek blades worked into the fabric flanking this image. Hundreds of white stura atulave stones were suspended behind the tapestry, vibrating. When I returned, the arachnologist also explained to me that the spiders we have been seeing were spawned in order to heal a sickness of the Massive Arachnid. She does not yet know how the mechanism works, but she asks for help from intrepid adventurers in gathering evidence, rescuing innocent victims, and humanely euthanizing those spiders that are ill or threaten local spider populations. She offers rewards and can be found near the portal on the Strand. I'm told other specialists have spread to the various cities in their own portal locations. Praise Harawep, Navesi Daerthon True Bard, Zoluren's Herald Editor in Chief of the First Land Herald

Real Date: Unknown Date

Subject(s): Asemath Academy Atulave Birdcatcher Spider Boar Clan Concerned arachnologist Crossing Giant blade spider Harawep Hollow Eve Kurmin Nightreaver unyn Riverhaven Rossman's Landing Shard Therenborough Tomiek

Author(s): Navesi