62 rooms · levels 2–18
You stand at the edge of the dark woods, Spider Haunt. Tall pines and oaks tower above you almost forming a wall against you. Silence greets you as you arrive, but you get the feeling that you are not alone.
The woods are very dark here and your range of sight is very limited. You can follow the sandy trail beneath your feet and the trees along the edge of the path, but anything else is shrouded in darkness.
This appears to be an even smaller trail off the main path that traverses the Spider Haunt. There is no clue as to where it leads to, but it seems to get just a bit lighter north.
You can definitely tell a difference in the forest here. Small birds flit about chasing beautifully colored butterflies, small flowers grow in patches beneath the elegant oak and pine trees. To the north you can see a circular clearing and in the center a small pool.
Tall oak and pines create a large circular clearing. The blue sky above is reflected in the small pool in the center of the clearing.
The stones widen out here, but begin to thin back out towards the south and east. From there you can see the small pool in the center of the clearing. The stone path leads towards the pool, but does not reach it completely.
The stony path widens out here giving exits to the west and south. The small pool in the center of the clearing beckons you to take a refreshing drink.
The small stone path widens out a bit, but again thins out as it winds its way around the clearing. To the south the stone path leads almost to the small pool, but stops short at a wonderful growth of green lush grass.
The small pool is full of crystal clear water. The grass growing at the lip of the pool seems the healthiest you have ever seen. You peer down into the pool but cannot tell if there is a bottom or if it is an illusion. You get the feeling this is one of the safest places in the Spider Haunt Woods.
You are on a small path laid with stones. The stones lead to the western edge of the circle.
A small path leads towards the eastern edge of the circle. The path is laid with stone which was probably cut from some nearby mountain range.
The woods become even darker. The light seems to be squeezed from the air itself. An uneasy feeling begins to nip at the back of your neck.
Suddenly the woods are not silent anymore, yet you cannot see what is causing the noises. Click click click... What could be that noise? Blackness surrounds you.
Someone has been kind enough to set up a campsite, complete with a stack of wood and a fire pit. Was this set for anyone or for someone that never returned?
The dark trail leads off in two directions, you notice a few tracks leading towards the west.
The sounds in the woods seem to get a bit louder as you continue on the trail, the constant 'click click' noises almost unnerve you.
The path leads to a fallen tree and stops. The other trees seem to crowd in and block any further movement in this direction. There is a small sign carved into the dead tree.
The trail suddenly stops at what looks like a bottomless hole. The smells rising from below make you gag. What in the world could be down there? Some scuffle marks in the sand lead to the hole and seem to disappear. There is a sign above the hole.
The trail makes a sudden turn southwards, the air seems to get a bit colder... still the clicking noises continue.
The towering trees here are covered in what appears to be webs. The webbing could also be moss, but from here you cannot really tell.
Before you is an amazing sight. Webs coat the trees here completely with only a small tunnel in-between two of the larger trees. The clicking noises seem to come from inside the spider web tunnel. You know the webbing is not moss now.
As you step through the webbed passageway you notice some strange objects in the webs. When you look closer you recoil in horror after you realize that they are dead goblins wrapped in a thick layer of webs. You search a bit more and even find a few forest animals.
You step into the web and realize it was a mistake, spiders are EVERYWHERE thousands scurry down deeper into the webs in fear of you. A dark shadow suddenly looms near, the clicking sounds come from here... as a matter-of-fact from above you!
You seem to cross a barrier in the woods and the sounds begin to return. The smells in the woods take on a more fresh fragrance.
The path continues to twist and wind around larger trees. Small animals move about as you arrive, jumping over small pieces of garbage. Pieces of broken pottery, rotten animal hides, and a few animal bones litter the edge of the trail on both sides. Who would do such a thing to this sacred wood?
Tall pines line this trail leading to two posts, guarded by two fierce looking creatures. Thick armor covers both of them and at their sides dangle short sword blades. Over the tops of the pines to the north you see a column of smoke rising.
The trees have been chopped down to make room here for a rather unorganized scattering of shacks. The shacks are made from bits and pieces of wood, large leaves and mud. The column of smoke rises from what appears to be the central shack.
This is a storage shack used to store junk. Piles of rotting hides, unused shields, broken helms and a few other useless items. The roof leaks so it is no wonder the place smells like a dump.
Two shacks stand, or lean, on either side of you. Both are in poor shape, as with most of these shacks here.
Shacks are scattered about in disarray. Some are falling apart, but that is to be expected from goblin workmanship. To the east and west are entrances to some shacks.
To the south stands a rickety old shack. The inside is shrouded in darkness so the only way to see what is inside is to enter. To the east you can see several more shacks.
In the corner of this shack is a pile of somewhat fresh reeds and hides, it appears to be a bed. Lying on a small wooden table is a bowl and cup, both empty. The dirt floor here looks to have been swept out.
The shack to the south has several small animal hides hanging on the doorway along with several bird feathers. There seems to be a candle burning on the table inside, but you cannot get a clear view of anyone or anything inside. Back to the west lies more of the shamble of shacks.
The table in the center of the shack has a small burning candle atop it. There are two small chairs situated near the table as well, not of goblin make obviously. In the corner is a pile of plush animal hides and fresh reeds. A few spear tips and strips of leather lie strewn about the place.
The path you follow is a packed down earth, packed by a thousand passages of feet. You are somewhat in the center of the shamble of shacks.
The path you now follow is just packed dirt. It leads to the east and to the west. The pillar of smoke still comes from the north.
The inside of this shack is painted with a deep red color. The walls, floor even the poles in the center are all painted red. In the corner lies a pile of animal hides and fresh reeds.
Shacks falling apart and leaning are strewn about the area here. You must step over fallen debris to traverse this area.
From here you can see the source of the smoke column. Directly to the east you see what can only be a bad attempt at a forge. Smoke billows forth from the smoke pipe. Figures mill about the area moving in and around the forge.
The forge lets out a tremendous amount of smoke, more than, say, a dwarven made forge. Stacks of unforged ore are stacked in piles. A poorly shaped anvil and large hammer are placed near the outlet of the forge.
Halfway stacked piles of wood lean against each other here. Somehow the size of the wood logs looks to be much too large for goblins to carry. Near one large pile of wood there is an axe.
From here you can see all the village. To the east the forge smokes, dozens of rickety old shacks crowd in around you and a few more stand to the north.
You are near the nicer shacks from here. Directly west you see a very large building, it has no walls but a somewhat sturdy roof.
The long table ends at the kitchen where the food can be shoved on it then passed down. In the back of the room is a black fire hole with a spit and pot. Large spoons and knives are hanging above the hole.
The smell of fresh cut wood wafts through the air as you move into this area. Some of the trees here have been cut down to make room for a new shack. The half built shack looks to have been started, then the goblins realized that a tree was in the way so they cut it down, only for it to fall atop the new shack. Leave it to goblin technology.
The path leads around a fallen tree. Looks like the grand oak hit the east side of the shack as it fell.
The dirt path here has been lined with rocks to make a sort-of lane that leads around to all the nicer shacks. Amazing that the path and rocks seem to even be lined up half the time.
The dirt lane here continues east and west with short openings in the stone edging to a shack north and south.
The inside of this shack is more like a home, a cot is arranged in the corner, and small wooden table and chair set in the center. Above your head a small lantern burns lighting the room. Atop the table is a few eating utensils and a bowl. A few pieces of parchment are also tossed on the far edge of the table.
This shack is a bit larger than most and looks to be used as sleeping quarters for about eight to nine goblin soldiers. Small piles of animal hides and reeds are used as sleeping mats. Above your head a lantern burns to keep the shack lighted.
The path ends here, the stones form a circle to close off the pathway. To the north lies a large shack, could almost be considered a cabin here, that has from the looks of it several rooms. The door to the shack is covered with ears that have been nailed to it.
This is just a short hallway before the main room inside the shack. Looking north you can see what looks like a large giant with a wooden breast plate!
Standing in the center of the north wall is the most obscene looking throne you have ever seen. It was carved from a tree stump, with the middle cut low so you could sit. Mounted atop the throne is a head of a long dead giant. Other trophies are mounted on the walls, an ogre head, a rather large tusk and several other unknown creature heads.
A small cot is all that is in this room. Dark and cold you wonder why anyone would want to even sleep in here.
A rather large wooden framed bed sits in the center of the room. Piles of plush hides along with a single pillow are piled atop the mattress. The walls have been painted a deep red color giving the room a civilized feeling even though it looks like blood was splashed on the walls. A small chair is also at the end of the bed.
The great trees are very close here making travel difficult. Larger spiders can be seen darting in and out of sight. Occasionally one of the largest spiders grabs a small animal and pulls it into its den or web to be devoured at its leisure.
The water is as clear down here as it was above. A few beams of light shine down from above lighting the bottom of the pool, you see flecks of shiny objects, wonder what is down here?
Inside the sacred Druid tree of Spiderhaunt Wood you see that it has been altered to be a preparation room for the Druid Challenge. A long bench lines one wall, along with several pegs 'merged' into the wood walls. A young druid trainee says 'When you remove all your equipment and are ready for your challenge, simply NOD and you will be taken into the challenge room. The first person to flee or die in your challenge is considered the loser.' The trainee continues, 'If you have anything valuable, have a friend hold it for you, in case of world wide disaster.'
Begin the battle, first to flee loses!
The path here is dark and overgrown. The towering trees that surround the path seem eerie in the dim light. The path leads east and north.
The grasslands east of the Dale come to the edge of a great forest known as the Elven court. The ancient trees once loved by the elves stretch to the limits of sight, and the grasslands of the Dale lie beyond.
You stand within a large room with no exits. Apparently the users of this room don't need them. A planning desk with mob statistics rests against the east wall. A large summoning circle stands in the center with a large magical device used for changing the DNA and what not of various creatures. This room radiates a great peace.