Yes

You lie on your back, staring blankly into the sky. The sun shines high above you. The position would painful if you were human with the light of the sun glaring into your eyes. For you though, it feels good, as though the sun's energy is being transferred to you directly, via your eyes. Who knows? Maybe it is.

After a while, Dana comes back to clearing. "I've brought the spiders," she announces. You groan and sit up. Dana rushes to push you back down, but you wave her off. I've got to get up to meet them you say. "Can't you meet them in here?" Dana pleads. You shake your head. No matter how dedicated the forest spiders might be to you, you'd still rather them not see you while you're ****. Part of their devotion to you stems from a belief in your power. You have no wish to challenge that belief.

You stand slowly, and go forth to meet the forest spiders. As has become standard, two spiders have been sent to speak with you. Although this time, thanks to the recent schism, there is no Drux. Thank the sun and rain. Instead, Blix and Hrax are waiting for you. Spiders, thank you for meeting with me. In acknowledgement of the sacrifice you made when you accepted my blessing, I have been searching for a place where you can make your new home. I believe I have found a suitable location. At great peril to myself, (ain't that the truth) I have driven off the creature that dwelled there previously. You should leave at once to secure it for yourselves. Blix is ecstatic. "Oh Great One," he enthuses, "This is wonderful news. Countless times you have aided and blessed our people. Yet, we have done little to repay you. Truly, we do not deserve such generosity." Okay. Well, that was awkward. You knew Blix practically worshiped you, but being exposed to the full **** of his adoration is a bit much.

Hrax, you're relieved to see, isn't quite as pleased. In fact, he looks concerned about something. "My Lord, we sincerely thank you for your efforts. However, we may not be able to leave for right away." Why? you ask, a little hurt. You almost got yourself killed clearing out that cave. "My Lord, we have discovered that we can now lay our eggs without the need for living vessels. We believe it is a side effect of your blessing. We have already laid several clutches. We cannot depart for the caves until they hatch." Huh, that must have been what their Creature of Earth ability meant. You're not sure how you feel about this news. On the one hand, it allows the spiders to breed more easily, rapidly raising their numbers. On the other, only the forest spiders, the ones loyal to you, can do this. This could tie them to you more closely. Or, it could make them feel that they no longer need you. Either way, nothing you can do about it now.

How did you discover this? you inquire, now genuinely curious. Hrax responds, "My Lord, spiders constantly produce eggs. We are must lay them every now and again, even if there is no suitable host. Usually, a clutch turns grey when exposed to the air and dies. However, this did not happen to those clutches laid by those who had received your blessing. We have been caring for the clutches since then, hoping that they will hatch."

Well, shit. This throws a wrench in you plans. How are the spiders supposed to guard your new treasure, if they are all sitting around waiting for the eggs to hatch? By the time they get to the cave the loot might all be gone. You're going to have do some quick thinking here.

Of course you cannot leave your eggs until they hatch. However, I worry that the location may be reoccupied before they do. Could you not send a party to secure the caves in the meantime? You address your remarks to Hrax. He's the one who seems to do the actual thinking. "Indeed, My Lord. That is a well thought out solution. We shall leave a guard behind to care for the eggs, while we begin to transition to our new home at once. We shall also instruct all new clutches to be laid near there," Hrax says. He sounds pleased at your suggestion. You note that he makes his decision without consulting Blix, despite the fact he seemed to be the more junior of the two. Interesting.

Well, you can hardly complain at the way it turned out. Very well. Do not hesitate to call on me if the eggs are threatened. I shall come at once. You don't actually care about the eggs, but it's improbable that they will be attack and you might as well try to score some points.

You give the spiders directions to the cave, and they take their leave. You watch them go, fatigue weighing at your limbs. You turn and go back inside your Lair. Drained by the encounter, you lay back down again to bathe in the sun.