Arachnos
by Bender

Due to an unfortunate encounter with the Abbot Clestus, my Crest crumbled into dust that ran right through my fingers. Our beloved leader has since sent me on a quest to explore the area known as Arachnos. These are my observations, but as in any travel guide, your experience may vary.

The spiders that constructed Arachnos were ingenious in that they used what was already in the area to their benefit. As you all know, spiders spin silk to make their homes, catch their food, and protect their young. In this case, the spiders used a massive amount of silk to connect trees that were standing near to each other. Hence, the area is spotted with places of relative security interconnected with the delicate silk. Walking from point to point can be cumbersome, as the spiders did not figure on our substantially greater weight when they constructed their dwelling place.

The first being that I encountered was an unfortunate orc that managed to get himself stuck in the webbing. I wondered about freeing the poor soul, but the evil that rested in his eyes suggested to me that the web was probably the best place for him. Spiders are not the only things that make their dwelling here. I noticed evidence of pegasi and young dragons. I also saw things suggestive of insectoid dwellers, but I did not find any in my travels. Even among the spiders, I saw some variations. There was the occasional wolf spider, and I saw drones running about tending to one task or another, but the ethereal spider was the most unusual. I did not expect to see spiders from other planes, but the ethereal spiders do seem to like the area well enough to stay.

Intelligent humanoids were sparse here. I met one named Yevaud, who claimed to be the Usurper of Arinock. Considering his madness, I wonder if he could actually accomplish his goal. I imagine that the city dwellers would be most displeased, but I also think that Meshra is more than a match for him. I saw a warrior disguised as a hermit, and a thief named Mahatma. I strongly suggest that you avoid the rogue, for his dwelling has no escape save through magic or psionic teleportation.

I made my way to the lair of Arachnos, the empress of the area, but she was absent from her dwelling. At least I thought she was. I had a chilling sense that I was missing something important, so I meditated for a moment and cleared my mind. Sure enough, the Empress was home. She gave me an evil smile, but her happiness was brief. Her possessions would be valuable to someone in need, so I will commend them to the Arinock donation center.

In essence, my travels through the land of Arachnos were pleasant, but uneventful. I would recommend the area to someone who is new and looking for an exciting place. For those of you who have traveled extensively, my guess is that you would be looking for something more than Arachnos can provide.

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding...