You've Faced Them Before...

Nine years ago. Age eighteen.

When a monster stalks the land, it's a sworn knight's duty to slay it. No one else has the expertise so malevolent and powerful. Among the most feared of all monsters is an Arachnae queen. A spider-woman whose power has grown to such proportions, that she can command sinister biomancy magic. When one emerges, she is instantly a threat to an entire province. An aggressive Arachnae Queen can depopulate village after village. While, a more discreet one might spin her webb for miles, subtly draining the vitality of a region like a parasite.

Sir Knowles was the most seasoned knight in all of the south-lands. When your mother reluctantly searched for a Knight whom you could squire for, his prestige was what drew her attention. That same prestige meant that he was the first man called when an aggressive Arachnae Queen terrorized the Waterstone Valley.

So Sir Knowles saddled up and rode towards the danger. With him were a small retinue of hunters, chosen for their experience hunting spider-monsters. So too were his two squires, a tall teenager named Jaden Brhaso...and the red-haired noble girl that had been foisted on him. You.

The other riders were solemn, even your rival Jaden, but you struggled to contain your excitement. No more goblins and kobolds for you. Finally....FINALLY Sir Knowles was taking you to fight a real monster. An Arachnae. A queen no less!

"Halt. Look down there." Sir Knowles called to you and Jaden. It was nearly nightfall and you were going to stop in a village for supplies.

Your eyes widened when you realized the state of the place. Doors broken and smashed, blood on the ground, a few dwellings burned. You dismounted your horse and investigated the scene yourself. There were sticky, silky spider webs all over. Nearly invisible from far away unless clumped together. From Sir Knowles' training, you also recognized some of the tracks. Eight, insectoid legs skittering along the ground.

Spiderlings, the mind linked children of an Arachnae Queen.

"Look at this place..." Jaden's eyes fell. His horror soon turned to anger. "Well, little miss adventure. You got your fantastic quest to slay the monster. Sir told you to stop cheering about it. He told you this was serious. Do you believe him now? Huh, Rhona?"

You didn't know how to answer him. The destruction, the gore. It certainly removed any lingering sense of fun from the journey.

"Jaden. Calm. You don't help anyone by admonishing her like that." Sir Knowles interjected. There was an uncharacteristic hint of compassion breaking through his normal sternness. "Rhona didn't hurt these people. However, with vigilance, we might find the soul-less creature who did. Search for clues. Most of all, a trail. Spiderlings always bring back victims, the women-folk. They can lead us right to the creatures den."

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