Giant Spiders

Description
Giant Spiders are normal Spiders, only grown to enormous size and strength! These huge beasts won't hesitate for a second to defend their area against any intruder they register. Despite being fast and having a painful bite that can contain a strong poison, they are still seen by more experienced adventurers only as nuisance. Giant Spiders are known for their cobwebs and Spider Silk, this is why some mages have literal Spider farms to harvest the Spider Silk.

Giant Spiders usually are only encountered in dungeons and dark caves. But some colonies also exist outside in the wilderness.

Lore
''Beware of inadvertently wrecking a spider's web and this non-evil creature will probably leave thee in peace. If thou suffer the misfortune of crossing one, take care to avoid the venomous spittle.''

- from "The History of Britannia", Ultima IV

''Although weak and slow, spiders take their toll: they poison, both on touch and by spitting venom from a distance. Spiders have been known to carry a few goods.''

- from "The Book of Lore", Ultima V

''Though they spin their lethal webs deep inside dark lairs, spiders of this gargantuan variety often venture forth in search of prey. They are capable of inflicting painful bites or spitting their toxic sputum from great distances. But they are not invincible, and can be killed with a few well-placed blows.''

- from "Compendium", Ultima VI

''The repellent arachnids which patrol the depths of the Abyss are not of the web-building kind, but roam the crevices in search of fresh prey. The common Giant Spider is a dark gray in color. These gargantuan spiders are midway in stature between a bloodhound and a small pony, and since they travel in mated pairs or clans, these creatures present a reasonable challenge to the typical fighting man. Despite their bloated appearance and short legs, don't be surprised by their leaping form of attack. Smaller in form and reddish-brown in hue is the poisonous Wolf Spider. It is the most easily killed of the large spiders, but the Wolf Spider will likely score one or two bites (and inject its red bile, a powerful poison) before succumbing to the inevitable. Most Knights think this spider to be relatively inoffensive, but Knight Vitalar reports the beasts have attacked him whenever they have detected his presence. The greatest adversary among the arachnids of the Abyss is the Dread Spider. A ghostly white or light gray in color, this creature is the equivalent in combat of two or three of its cousins - very sturdy and thus difficult to kill. To compound the problem, this spider is a vicious opponent, capable of repeatedly penetrating one's armor with its sharp bite. The Dread Spider is one of the most venomous creatures known in the Abyss.''

- from "Memoirs of Cabirus", Ultima Underworld

''While this creature may be encountered anywhere in the wilderness, its lair is its giant web, which will almost always be hidden in a cool and dark place. A giant spider is capable of spraying its poisonous spittle from a considerable distance. Its bite is also tremendously painful.''

- from "Fellowship", Ultima VII

''In the underworld, the ordinarily tiny spider can grow to enormous size. The common giant spider is grey, and is the size of an extremely large dog. Giant spiders often form mated pairs or larger groupings, which will protect one another in a fight. They rear on their hind legs to bite their opponent. A single giant spider can be a challenge - one should always flee a larger grouping, unless one has the protection of numbers. The wolf spider is smaller, but can inject a powerful poison with its bite. It is recognizable by its reddish-brown fur. '' There are written accounts of a huge, pale white breed of spider dwelling deep in the underworld, dubbed the read spider, but I would tend to dismiss this as hysterical exaggeration.

- from "A Safe Passage through Britannia", Ultima Underworld II

Evolution in the series

 * First appearance: Ultima I


 * Last appearance: Ultima IX

First seen in Ultima I, Giant Spiders changed little from then on. However, in Ultima IX, they have learned to shoot webs. Also, there are several other species of Giant Spiders appearing.

In the Ultima Underworlds, Wolf Spiders and Dread Spiders appear. In Ultima IX, Phase Spiders appear.