Chapter 3

The gnome stops collecting flowers and looks up at the tree. She speaks in a very rapid, high pitched voice.
Oh Jeremy! Stop being such a pest.

Then she turns to Yorrick, and nods Thank you for your sentiments and respect. Yes, all life is sacred but predators have to eat too. I'm Oli, what can I do for you? Do you mind talking while we walk, I'm actually in the middle of something?

Oli nods at your revelation. Something strange has been happening in my grove too. Jeremy came to fetch me. There's something wrong with his colony. I wonder if the two things are related. Either way, I have to go and take care of this first. If you could help me then I will come with you to Berda afterwards. Deal?

You follow Oli for about an hour and a half. You can tell that you are heading north as you are walking towards the mountains. It is around this time that you see your first spider web. It is stretched between two trees which are ablut 5 feet apart, so it quite a large web. She continues onwards without even glancing at it. You see another web and another, and another. You look up and see that the canopy is covered in webbing. It is also noticably darker and seems to be getting darker and darker with each step you take. The terrain is also becoming more mountainous.

The webbing becomes increasing thicker and thicker as you continue until the area above your heads looks like a thick, sticky blanket. It slowly forms into a tunnel. Looking ahead you see the tunnel disappear into a large cave about 20 feet ahead of you. Before you enter, you watch as Oli's body grows several times larger and she sprouts six extra legs and before you know it she looks like a giant spider. After you enter the cave, and follow it for about 15 feet, it opens up into a huge cavern. The air is quite moist, webs cover every surface and you find your feet sticking to the floor. Movement is possible but it is a little difficult. Looking up you see three spiders directly above you and three more on the walls to your left and right. Oli moves up to the spiders and they begin clicking their mandibles at one another.

While that is going on you take in your surroundings. There are four exits from this main, central chamber. On to the east, one to the north-west and one tunnel which leads further down, and the entrance you just entered to the South.

What do you do?

One of the spiders rears back like a funnel web in an obviously threatening gesture. The others start clicking their mandibles and it backs down.