RANDOM ENCOUNTER: Terrantula

In Valley of the Brain Collectors there is a random encounter table.  On that table is listed “giant tarantula”.  Hmm… lets make it a gargantuan tarantula, a mutant and the size of a house. Terrantula is also a named zone boss mob from EQ in the Desert of Ro.  Not sure he is still around but I still clearly recall seeing him coming over the horizon for the first time at level 15 and heading to the zone exit as quickly as possible.

In this particular encounter Terrantula pounced on the party as they were driving the rhino APC deeper into the valley.  It managed to dent the APC’s armour before being held by Charisma and then being mercilessly beaten to death.  And so the legend of Terratula ended ignobly. 

To make things worse three spider-eaters turned up to feast on its carcass and the party thought that they really didn’t want giant spiders OR giant wasps flying around and killed them too.  Random encounter tables generate fun stories sometimes purely by chance.

TERRANTULA
GIANT TARANTULA
Gargantuan monstrosity (titanic), unaligned

Armour Class 17 (natural armour) plus bristles. Melee attackers take 3 (1d6) piercing damage per attack.
Hit Points 324 (12d20 + 84)
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft

STR 30 (+10)      DEX 11 (+0)       CON 24 (+7)
INT 2 (-4)           WIS 11 (+0)        CHA 4 (-3)

Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from non-magical weapons
Damage Immunities radiation
Senses blindsight 10ft., darkvision 60ft., passive Perception 10
Languages –
Challenge 8 (3,900)

Spider Climb. Terrantula spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The Terrantula can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The Terrantula regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

• Attack.Terrantula makes one bite attack.
• Move. Terrantula moves up to half its speed.
• Webbed! (Costs 2 Actions). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 130/160 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 16 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 15; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).

ACTIONS          
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 30 ft., one creature.
Hit: 28 (6d6 +10) piercing damage and 9 (2d8) poison.

Bristle Blast (Recharge 5-6). Terrantula can throw barbed hairs from its back at a in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) piercing damage and gaining the poison status affect on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one and is not poisoned.

DESCRIPTION                    
A massive tarantula covered in bristly hairs strides forward with deliberate steps, its eight eyes scanning for prey. This tarantula is the legendary Terrantula touched by the radiation of the Felldales it has prospered and is now the size of a house.

FUNNEL WEB VERSION

Make the following changes to turn this terror into a funnel web.

AC 15

Damage Immunities poison

Hold Breath. The titanic funnel web can hold its breath for 24 hours.

Standing Leap. The titanic funnel web’s long jump is up to 70 feet and its high jump is up to 30 feet, with or without a running start.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 30 ft., one creature.
Hit: 28 (6d6 +10) piercing damage and 27 (6d8) poison and the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or die.