Name: Shelob.
Race: Spiders of Ungoliant.
Appearance: Shelob is an dark-caparaced arachnid. While she resembles a spider almost completely, with eight legs, dual-tagmata and a pair of chelicerates, she displays obvious differences, other than her size.
She possesses a stinger, which she seems to prefer when hunting her prey. She also has the capacity to devour solid food, although she seldom does. She is also blessed with an intelligence greater than her offspring, and is able to plan, wait, understand others and negotiate to some extent.
Her six eyes are dark and her hairs are also dark.
Role: Matriarch of the Spiders of Ephel Dúath and the Spiders of Rhovanion. Warden of Cirith Ungol.
Motivations: Primarily she will seek her sustenance and feeding. She is, like her brood and her ancestry, almost entirely advocated to the consumption of life. However she, unlike others, seeks to expand her dominion outside Sauron’s Grasp, if that is even possible. She knows the value of planning for a future, and if it grants her more sources for feeding herself she will let her brood to survive and serve her.
History: Hosts of Orcs advanced under Shelob’s watch. The beast observed in the darkness, in a silent breath of expectation. For decades she guarded the pass of Cirith Ungol, and could hear from a distance the orcs that bred in the Dead City. She was no stranger to waiting, and wait she did.
Months later her waiting gave fruition. Sauron began sending her prisoners. Massive amounts of prisoners. Most of them proud lords of Men, who had fought and survived by some curse. They were no longer of use to the Eye, so they were sent to her tunnels, and she feasted. Sometimes it was something else. Terrified men of no strength. Women who sobbed as she crept near them, holding their brood tight and oblivious to the coming doom. Orcs seemed to enjoy sending these cruel gifts to her.
And then it all stopped. She had feasted like never in centuries, that is true. But Shelob was even more hungry. Why had it all stopped? Oh, but they wouldn't come no more! Shelob, unable to control her starvation, began attacking orc patrols. She knew it was folly. What if they came for her? She could lose them in the tunnels, but she would have to hide for years. Yet no party came after her. The orcs just kept marching, kept patrolling, avoiding her, but not facing her.
She knew something was wrong, so she came out, creeping out to contemplate the Dark Land, and that no Eye was there. No Will to look back to her. Sauron was gone. Somehow, he was gone.
Something stirred within her, and more than ever before she mated. Shelob laid eggs in the mountains and the numbers of spiders swelled. She began attacking more and more orc patrols and even some encampments, killing orcs and taking captives for herself. But still she knew it was folly.
She fled Mordor, sliding between hidden cracks that no living or unliving thing had touched ever before. And her spawn followed wherever she chose to go. She headed north, making burrows and nests every few days, laying more eggs, hunting, waiting, and moving on.
Then she reached the forest. Her old breeding ground. Where are the elves? They hated her the most, she recalled, for she resembled her Mother. But the Elves were nowhere to be seen, none to be feasted upon. Only some villages of men remained. And her brood, her old one.
Thus began the War of the Broods of Ungoliant. Shelob’s Old Brood, unwilling to share the shrinking food, and her New Brood, pushing away the old, and somewhat smarter and deadlier. In between, the very few villages of men that remained became the targets to contest, victims in a silent war that wages around them.
Territory: Shelob’s territory can be distribed as hunting grounds dotting the borders of Mordor, the Brown Lands and the southern Mirkwood. All of them are laid around lairs which submit, one way or another, to her will. However, that territory is divided. The Northern Spiders of the Wood have a somewhat more cohesive territory and do not allow the Southern Spiders of the Mountains, more scattered about in their recent migration, to enter their territory, destroying any trespasser and barely clinging to Shelob’s command.
Shelob's main lairs lay now in Emyn Muil, but she has taken residence in the southern grip of the forest, trying to subdue the Wood Spiders back into her control. The Wood Spiders have tended to amass in the corners of the East Bight, somewhat afar from Dol Guldur.
MAPStrength: Shelob’s broods spawn two different kinds of spiders. The Forest Spiders are more adapted for the foliage of the Great, able to sense smells in between the varying scents of their surroundings, and are accustomed to leap on their prey from a great height, endowed with great flexibility and balance. They are, however, generally vulnerable, and most will be incapacitated quickly by a well-shot arrow. Nor do they tend to grow a lot. The Spiders of Mordor are, on contrast, starker and larger. They may very well survive an axe blow even if rather small, and once they become full adults they are generally difficult to take down. They are, on the other hand, less used to the light, and generally move at night or dark days. They prefer to tackle their prey from a short distance, ambushing from their own burrows. The Mordor Brood is also less lenient to work together, and will often cannibalize their younglings. They both have potent venom at their disposal, and can make nests by raising barriers of cob between trees or inside their tunnels.
Some spiders change into different forms when shedding. They might even specialize in different roles and capabilities.
All measures are considering the leg span. The species is only a visual reference, though they may share several traits.
Forest Spiders.-Greenwood Leapers (s. macaroeris nidicolens-a. 1.8mt.): 400.
Most Sindar in Oropher’s Realm would be familiar with the rather big spiders that sometimes creep off their nests and venture, perhaps confused by the light, into our homes. Now those are just younglings and even a child would kill them without major harm. But most travellers should be weary if they ever venture under the cover of the darker trees. Sometimes these spiders grow larger and develop the ability to jump between trees, or just climb and leap down, dropping on unsuspecting elves.-Maeldir of Ost-Galadon, 3401, S.A.--Greenwood Hawk-fellers (s. Zoropsis spinimana – a. 2mt): 90.
The well-known leaping spiders that sometime propel themselves from behind a rock or from a high tree are now seen on the tree-tops, and they have grown much more. They are different and will often be able to bring down birds that fly between the trees. Our messenger birds have been unable to send word, and we require assistance. -Letter from Lossiel, commander of Ast Brethil to King Thranduil. Delivered by a rider. 1090 T.A. -Greenwood Hunters (s. Gnaphosa bicolor-a. 1mt.): 170.
Some spiders have developed the habit of preying on ground. While the forest offers an obvious advantage to those who climb, these chose not to compete, and go after their prey by ambushing them from behind the trees or under the bushes. They are very fast and agile, and outrunning them would be a death warrant to anyone but a skilled rider. It would be more advisable to turn and fight. While their carapace is thick, a spear would most likely penetrate it when these beings are coming at full speed. Consider, however, that they make a slight jump in the last few steps. –“Treaty on the Creatures of the East”, Bronahdawn the Botanist, Imladris. 2133 T.A.--Forest Chargers (s. Castianeira descripta – a. 1.5mt.): 100.
I tell you, I never saw anything like this. These were not your regular spiders. They moved like shadows near us, following us as we rode across the Elven Road. Some must have slipped past the Elves’ defences. No wonder with that speed. Dark things that moved at our side for the feel dash, but all I could hear was the hooves of our mounts. Then one got ahead of us, a shadow that gained on our right, then seemed to wait for us on a rock. I saw its eyes. Luckily I managed to tell Æthelbran. The boy ducked just in time, and this large thing, like a big hound, passed over him. I saw its legs trying to get him, but it missed. -Account of Gorlas of Dale. 2741 T.A.-Forest Silk-walker (s. Hersiliidae – a. 2.9mt: 60.
It is well known amongst the youth of the Mirkwood not to climb those woods without looking were you lay your hands and feet. Not only because of the many things that may creep in the branches and sting you out of scare, but also because the evil things that walk that forest have taken to placing their foul webs on branches and trunk. The climber could easily be stuck on it, and due to some spell or venom on it, they will not feel it until they try to move again. That is why I have tried to get some of that web, as it could be used as bandage. Those lucky enough to keep their footing could ask for help. Many, however, could fall in the scare when seeing that thing on their hand. If you are alone that is an entirely different fate. -Lothiriel the Healer. Library of Osgiliath. c. 1577.--Forest Silk-strider (s. Hersilia Okinawaensis – a. 3mt: 60.
The column of dwarves that departed through the road didn’t make it to the other side. My scouts brought back their belongings, however. Axes and pikes entangled on the webs. It seems these spiders made a trap sturdy enough even for the dwarves. Should we send a party deeper into the woods to aid them?
I was kind enough to let them go through my realm. They sought their doom. – Laeriel to King Thranduil. 2771 T.A.--Forest Bridge-weaver (s. Hersilia Savygnyi – a. 2.5mt: 60.
We torched it. The cog doesn’t burn well, but it shrivels and diminishes near heat. It’s fumes. They are intoxicating. Many of my scouts fell ill before it was over. One of them took hold of some of it and he then reported he couldn’t move his arm. We had to cut it before sunset. But that wasn’t all. As if they cursed us for what we did, those demons looked at us from the darkness and smoke. That’s when I see it… Towering around the trees, white silk, pale and feverish-looking. And each was connected with the other many feet above. -Report by Bairmellon of the King’s Western Watch. 2799 T.A.-Greenwood Fishing Spider (s. Scytodes thoracica – a. 1mt.): 10.
My wife and I. We were just eating, you know? And Felaróf, my son… He was just sitting with us, he said he liked the meat. I should have seen it then. It crept from the shadows, but not into the house, just barely into the light that came from the window. A dozen legs or so. I was still smiling when my son was covered in that thing. Like a fish under a net. He screamed when he was already through the window. I ran outside, but the screams vanished as fast as they began. -Account from Folde of the Woodsmen. Lothlorien, delivered upon reaching Caras Galadon.-Mirkwood Fell-Torment (s. Palystes Casteuns – a. 3.5mt.): 20.
Commonly named “Throne-dwellers”. These hairy spiders are very rare and prefere solitude. However it is know they can move surrounded by lesser spiders, which they may coerse into their service for a time. They are large, and they can bring down larger prey, like bull and ox, sometimes more at a time. They don’t have poison, but their fangs can tear apart iron mail. They legs can also raise their prey, and bring them to the safety of their grounds. Those who follow after to try recover livestock or kin always return empty-handed. They are quick to retreat to their dwelling with their price, which they weave with a thick, leathery-looking silk, forming a sphere suspended between branches.
Breaching inside is impossible if one fears being attacked by nearby spiders, and should one manage to rip the cover, the Fell-Torment will attack back with brutal force, often lethally. Their web might be useful for making sturdy structures, but I don’t think it has any healing application. -Lothiriel the Healer. Library of Osgiliath. c. 1577. Mountain Spiders of Mordor.-Ephel Duath Crack Spiders. (s.
Ungol of Mordor. – a. 0.7m.)
See them? The spiders? They seem to keep off the fire. Make sure we have enough wood for the night… I don’t want them to get any close. Out in the open they are no danger, at least they weren’t. The Rangers don’t go near crevices and cracks, as they nest there and could snatch you inside if not careful. You would recognize their lair by the siphon of webs that got into the darkness. (1000)
--Morgul Uruk Hunters. (s. Lexosceles reclusa – a. 1.2m.)
Another one. No Snaga this one. See the steel? It’s been gnawed by those damn spiders. They keep to their holes no more, and their bite is strong enough to go through plate. I bet it took only two, maybe three to bring this one down. Can’t eat it. The flesh must be bad already. I bet they want us to do it so we get sick! Keep your eyes open! Their hole must be close by. (200)
--Dagorlad Stalkers. (s.
Lexosceles sp. – a. 1.1m.)
I fear our escape routes are cut now. Not by orcs. Our rangers have been met by large spiders. They tend to wait under the fog coming from the Dagorlad. It seems they have been coming from the Ephel Duath into the bogs and learning how to fight us. Every party that we sent to find a way out of the circle laid by the orcs is ambushed. Their legs reach out from the mist or even from the mud. They are not very large, and usually they pulled out those caught, but the venom was enough to doom them. I was bitten yesterday, and I can feel my bones burn with every breath I make. Damn those things! May they kill themselves along with the orcs! – Letter found in Pinnath Girith, southern Nindalf. 3019 T.A. (70)
-Crack-Feeders. (s. Mismena Wawuensis – a. 0.2m.)
Cair Andros must be alerted. Some spiders have made it past the Dagorlad and began making their nests in the Emyl Muil. They mostly ambush us, waiting for a retreating patrol to pass through their trap. But I sent a party to clear out one of those nests. They were gone. It seems they are all on the move. Yet some spiders lingered. They were beyond number, as a matter of fact. Piles of dead ones. Formless beyond round, with little legs and transparent. No larger than a palm. Most were dead, but some survived, feeding off the bleeding of their brethren. We burnt the entire place down. -Report by Angrencil, Ranger of Ithilien, delivered in Foldburg. 3019 T.A. (Beyond count)
--Emyn Muil True Spider. (s. Eidmannella Pallida – a. 1.3m)
As orcs advanced on Minas Tirith it became clear fleeing north wasn’t all that easy anymore. Some reports of nests being made by evil spiders from Mordor were confirmed when some outposts placed by the Rohirrim in Nen Hithoel were attacked at night by swarms of spiders. They were fair-colored and their armor was spiked, but they were generally easy to kill. Their numbers, however, were beyond count, and their attack coordinated. Several outposts fell before sunrise and no horses were left, all taken away by the spiders, who would simply overcome the rider before drowsing both man and horse with their bite. -Ioleth the Younger. Letter sent to Lothlorien. 3020 T.A. (900)
--Emyn Muil Weaver. (s.
Molinaranea – a. 1.9m.)
We could have turned around just after we landed. But my father decided to push on and into the Emyl Muil. We penetrated the hills from the north. Some scattered orcs harassed us, but paid more dearly than we did. I think that is when it was already too late. Soon our passing became harder, as we climbed the hills into the rocky outcrops and passes. And then we were cut off from each other. The fog became a veil and it stopped us from going forward, from moving back, and from aiding the column, as any maneuver would end with many of us entangled in that thick web. Then the spiders came. I noticed they were black, and almost blind, but could notice when one of us touched the web. They had spikes in the latter part of their body, but their bite was deadly, and even those of us who assumed the bear skin would fall sick if we managed to pull back through the veil. I made it back to the ships with a handful, and we crossed into Rohan for safety. – Account by Frealath Beornling. (400)
---Emyn Muil Fog-weaver. (s.
Molinaranea Magellanica – a. 2.6m.)
My father and I managed to make it across the river. He transformed himself into a Great Bear when he tried to aid the back of the column, getting himself entangled in the cob. He killed many of those black spiders, then the fog got thicker. I stopped seeing him, but I heard him fighting. Then I saw other creatures. These spiders were green, and dropped the webs on him. He told me he felt drowsy and tired as soon as they touched his fur, and that the webs were hard as steel. He died in the shore of Rohan across the Anduin. – Account by Frealath Beornling. (60)
--Brownlands True Spider. (s.
Metasolpuga – a. 2.6m.)
Crossing the Brown Lands would not be easy, as we knew. But at least we had the archers of Dale to help us. I counted six hundred men under our protection departing the Southern edges of the Wood. Settlers from the Line of Girion, I think, who fled the dragon decades ago and resettled near the forest. On our second day I saw a brown dust-plume following us from the south, and gaining fast. We got the chariots and wagons in circle, preparing to fight off these easterlings. But no warcry, no arrows as I expected. These Spiders hailed from Emyn Muil, no doubt, but seems happy with open spaces and dusty devastation. They were elongated, their legs almost long as a mannish bow, and their fangs thick, more meant to grab things and crush them, or perhaps to penetrate armor on a dash, as they moved fast. They seemed vulnerable to arrows, so the mannish archers could fend them off to a point. Once they broke through our perimeter they began slaughtering them all right on the spot, ripping off arms or legs and opening chests with ease. I led a cavalry charge to scare them off, but it didn’t work. Only when our archers shot them from horseback did they follow us. It costed us many good archers, but the caravan could go on. Two hundred reached the eastern shore of Anduin. -Account by Melathan, Lothlorien. Date unknown. (120)
-Snatching Spiders. (s.
Heptathela higoensis. – a. 3m.
Travellers report that beyond the hills that separate the Brownlands with the Anduin it is better to stay on well-known roads and avoid mounds. Survivors have told, on their arrival back to Lothlorien, that some of these mounds, hidden from plain sight by the dust and decaying wood they are made of, can hide the threat of great spiders, that have learn to use the remnants of the woods and the ashen dust brought from Mordor in the years before to build burrows from which they can take their victims. It is not known if they have any poison, as most spiders do. They do seem to bite their victims once they are well within their hideout. Some lucky ones have escaped by some folly from the spider, and comment its great strength, their snatching tools at the end of their front legs resembling claws, and their single eye, an extreme oddity amongst the Ungol. – On the Creatures of the East. Eranath of Rivendel. (100)
-Black Nightmare of Dol Guldur. (s.
Atracidae. – a. 3.8m.)
“It won’t stop wailing and screaming. At least not until we give her something to calm his fears. Then the girl talks a bit before falling asleep.”
“What does she say?”
“From what we could put together, that her brother and some friends wandered into the woods after working in the fields. They fell through a slope and into a dale. As they tried to find their way out they all began feeling their throats sore and hurt. Then one by one they were taken by a large Black Spider.”
“Not Her?”
“No. She survived, didn’t she? This one, however, used its hairs to poison the lads. We found those hairs in her clothes, but we cannot touch them. The girl says they began seeing horrible visions after they couldn’t breathe, and that madness took over them.“
“Are you sure you want to go after it?”
“That thing took my nephew. We are going tomorrow.” -Last conversation between Athalward Gainasson and Audwolf of Esgaroth. East Bight. 3021 T.A. (30)
Notable Artifacts: None