Skip to content

Skittering Woodlands

Environments Designed by Izzib3th
Tier
1
Type
Exploration
Difficulty
11
Impulses
Conceal its denizens, entangle their prey

Environment overview

A dense and unavoidable forest for those traveling between two key trading towns.

Potential adversaries

Giant Spiders, Crawling Spiders, Bandits, Rogues

Features

Passives

passive
  • Shimmering Threads

    In recent months, these woods have become home to an increasing number and variety of spiders. Limiting your observations to the existence of webbing would be a mistake while traversing the region as spiders engage in many hunting styles. PCs can make an Instinct Roll to identify evidence of the infestation. On a success with Hope, learn all three pieces of information below. On a success with Fear, learn two. On a failure, a PC can mark a Stress to learn one and gain advantage on the next action roll to investigate this environment. A PC with an appropriate background or Experience can learn an additional detail and ask a follow-up question about the scene and get a truthful (if not always complete) answer. nn1) Periodically, the glint of multiple eyes can be seen peeking from burrows in the ground n2) Strange, fist-sized, multi-colored orbs appear to hover between branches in the treesn3) Deeper in the shadow of the trees, one of the webs appears to have something in it, wriggling slightly.

    Questions
    • What kind of spider skins do these appear to be?
    • How many different types of spiders have been gathering in these woods?

Actions

action
  • Dinner Bell

    Spend a Fear to trigger a web motion trap. Pick a point in the forest. All targets within Very Close range of that point must succeed on an Agility Reaction Roll or mark a Stress and become Restrained by a sticky webbing spread out across the ground until they succeed on a Finesse or Strength roll or by dealing at least 5 damage to the webbing. Consequence Countdown (4). If any of the targets fail the Reaction Roll, the movement also causes 1d3 Crawling Spiders to appear. The sounds of their scurrying precede their arrival.

    Questions
    • Are you going to try to escape or prepare for battle?
  • A Little Help?

    A frustrated cry can be heard up ahead. The PCs see a humanoid impossibly wrapped up in a thick web, strung up between some tree trunks. Their struggles have not alerted the creator of the web, but have gotten them stuck quite thoroughly. This webbing requires at least 7 damage to break its hostage free. Consequence Countdown (4). The longer it takes, the higher the chances of an attack from a Giant Spider. The countdown ticks down when a PC takes an Action.

    Questions
    • What brought this person to the woods?
    • Besides immediate rescue, what else can the PCs do for them/help them with?

Reactions

reaction
  • Orb Lure

    When PCs move closer to inspect one of the multi-colored hovering orbs, Spend a Fear to immediately summon a Spitting Spider and trigger its Zigzag attack.

    Questions
    • What about these orbs captivates you to the point of distraction?

About this environment

GM is encouraged to use a variety of giant spiders with this environment.
Wriggling in the webbing described in the passive feature could be a still living creature trying to escape, a spider actively feeding, a trick of the mind, etc. Critical successes or success with Hope may reveal loot or provide an opportunity for a helpful NPC.
Spitting Spider adversary stat block utilizes the ZigZag attack, however this could be replaced with any standard attack from your favorite spider stats.

Skittering Woodlands

Tier 1 Exploration

A dense and unavoidable forest for those traveling between two key trading towns.

Impulses: Conceal its denizens, entangle their prey

Difficulty: 11

Potential Adversaries: Giant Spiders, Crawling Spiders, Bandits, Rogues

Features

Shimmering Threads - Passive: In recent months, these woods have become home to an increasing number and variety of spiders. Limiting your observations to the existence of webbing would be a mistake while traversing the region as spiders engage in many hunting styles. PCs can make an Instinct Roll to identify evidence of the infestation. On a success with Hope, learn all three pieces of information below. On a success with Fear, learn two. On a failure, a PC can mark a Stress to learn one and gain advantage on the next action roll to investigate this environment. A PC with an appropriate background or Experience can learn an additional detail and ask a follow-up question about the scene and get a truthful (if not always complete) answer. nn1) Periodically, the glint of multiple eyes can be seen peeking from burrows in the ground n2) Strange, fist-sized, multi-colored orbs appear to hover between branches in the treesn3) Deeper in the shadow of the trees, one of the webs appears to have something in it, wriggling slightly.
  • What kind of spider skins do these appear to be?
  • How many different types of spiders have been gathering in these woods?
Dinner Bell - Action: Spend a Fear to trigger a web motion trap. Pick a point in the forest. All targets within Very Close range of that point must succeed on an Agility Reaction Roll or mark a Stress and become Restrained by a sticky webbing spread out across the ground until they succeed on a Finesse or Strength roll or by dealing at least 5 damage to the webbing. Consequence Countdown (4). If any of the targets fail the Reaction Roll, the movement also causes 1d3 Crawling Spiders to appear. The sounds of their scurrying precede their arrival.
  • Are you going to try to escape or prepare for battle?
A Little Help? - Action: A frustrated cry can be heard up ahead. The PCs see a humanoid impossibly wrapped up in a thick web, strung up between some tree trunks. Their struggles have not alerted the creator of the web, but have gotten them stuck quite thoroughly. This webbing requires at least 7 damage to break its hostage free. Consequence Countdown (4). The longer it takes, the higher the chances of an attack from a Giant Spider. The countdown ticks down when a PC takes an Action.
  • What brought this person to the woods?
  • Besides immediate rescue, what else can the PCs do for them/help them with?
Orb Lure - Reaction: When PCs move closer to inspect one of the multi-colored hovering orbs, Spend a Fear to immediately summon a Spitting Spider and trigger its Zigzag attack.
  • What about these orbs captivates you to the point of distraction?

Discussion

Be thoughtful and kind.

Remember to be respectful. Comments are moderated and should add to the discussion.

Sign in to comment