Giant Spiders

Normal spiders grown to enormous size and strength, giant spiders won't hesitate to defend their areas against any intruders. Despite their speed and painful, poisonous bite, these giant arachnids are often seen by more experienced adventurers as nuisances. They are perhaps best known for their spider silk, a useful spell reagent which has prompted some enterprising mages to run farms to harvest the silk.

Giant spiders usually are only encountered in dungeons and dark caves, but some colonies also exist outside in the wilderness.

First seen in Ultima I, giant spiders changed little for some time. In Ultima IX however, they demonstrate the ability to project their webs at a distance.

In Ultima Underworld I and II, the reddish-brown Wolf Spiders and pale white Dread Spiders are first seen. The peculiar Phase Spiders were discovered in Ultima IX.

Lore




''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. ''

Trivia

 * The only known kind of spider to be included in the cancelled Ultima X was the frost spider. See Ultima X Frost Spider