The desolate plains of Leng, a nightmarish realm bordering reality, are home to creatures of pure terror: the Spiders Of Leng. These monstrous arachnids, far larger and more intelligent than their earthly counterparts, are the stuff of nightmares. Howard Phillips Lovecraft, in his chilling tale “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,” first hinted at their existence, painting a picture of ancient wars between Leng’s almost-human inhabitants and these bloated, purple horrors.
The Physical Characteristics of Leng Spiders
Leng spiders dwarf normal spiders, boasting bodies swollen with a sickly purple hue. While their size and color are immediately disturbing, their true danger lies in their cunning. Possessing a surprising intellect, these creatures are formidable hunters, capable of strategizing and laying intricate traps for their prey.
Leng Spider Behavior and Ecology
Much about the Spiders of Leng remains shrouded in mystery. Do they form colonies ruled by a queen? What are their hunting rituals? The answers remain elusive. However, given Leng’s precarious position between the dreamlands and the waking world, it’s plausible their influence extends beyond the desolate plains, a thought that chills the blood.
The Terrifying Powers of the Spiders of Leng
These creatures are far more than just oversized arachnids. They possess a range of terrifying abilities:
- Egg Laying: The horrifying ability to implant eggs within living beings, which then grow into monstrous spiderlings, is a hallmark of these creatures. Imagine the horror of a two-meter tall spider erupting from its host.
- Vibration Sense: Able to detect the slightest tremors, they can track prey with unnerving accuracy, making escape almost impossible. No footstep goes unnoticed.
- Venom: A potent neurotoxin that induces a deep, coma-like slumber in victims, leaving them vulnerable to the spider’s gruesome feeding habits. Rumors persist that the venom, in specific doses, might facilitate travel to the Dreamlands.
- Knockdown: The sheer force of their attacks can knock victims prone, leaving them helpless.
- Unnatural Swiftness and Stealth: Lightning fast and masters of camouflage, they can disappear into their surroundings, becoming nearly invisible. Their ability to dodge even gunfire makes them incredibly difficult targets.
- Wall-Walking: Defying gravity, they can crawl across any surface, adding another layer of terror to their hunting prowess.
Yog-Sothothery: A Connection to Cosmic Horror?
Some speculate a connection between the Spiders of Leng and a greater entity, a primordial spider goddess, perhaps even an Ancient One. This connection hints at a vast, unseen web woven across reality, with the Spiders of Leng serving as agents of a cosmic horror. Is this web a work in progress, or is it already complete, holding reality together with fragile threads?
Spiders of Leng: Game Statistics (FHTAGN-RPG)
For those who dare to encounter these creatures in a role-playing setting, the following statistics provide a glimpse into their power:
STR: 20 CON: 20 DEX: 16 INT: 14 POW: 12 HP: 20
Damage Bonus/Lethality: +#D
Build: Large Willpower Points: 12
Attacks per round: 1 Bite: 60%, Damage 2d6 HP, Armor Piercing 3 (see Knockdown and Poison)
Dodge: ##% Armor: 5 points from chitin armor.
Skills: Athletics 40%, Stealth 60%, Vigilance 40%.
Sanity Loss: 1/1d8.
The Spiders of Leng are more than just monsters; they are symbols of primordial fear and the encroaching darkness that threatens to consume reality. They serve as a chilling reminder of the horrors that lurk just beyond the veil of the known.
