The One-Eyed Birdkeeper and the Scuttling Corpse

Another giant spider, but this one only woke from its gorged stupor after the Adventurers had made a lot of noise planning to lure out the cultists from one of the room deeper in the complex. How did they know that there were cultists down that tunnel? Well, they persuaded Midweek One-Eye to give them an idea of the layout of the first few chambers of this cave complex.

3. The One-Eyed Birdkeeper

An one-eyed old man wearing a wide-brimmed hat sits in the corner of this chamber, bird droppings caking his hat, cloak and long beard. He offers the Adventurers a genial welcome.

He struggles to remember his name. Or anything much for that matter. He thinks his name might be MIDWEEK ONE-EYE, and he seems to think that he swapped his eye for something magical, though, patting down his cloak, he can't seem to find it anymore. If pushed, he seems to think that he came into this forest to keep an eye on things, and he will tap his nose theatrically as he says so. 

His ravens (see 3a) bring him food; mice, voles and the like. He will crunch through one of these noisily, and will offer the Adventurers a snack. Adventurers eating a small mammal raw will recover 1 STAMINA, but it is absolutely vile. Midweek will say that the birds also bring back other bits and bobs, and invites the Adventurers to take a look 

There are two exits from this chamber, both on the 'east' wall. The first slopes down to the entrance chamber  (2), the second slopes up into a sunlit chamber noisy with the caws of ravens.

Midweek is actually a powerful ancestor-spirit (practically a demi-god) of the Vynheimers. He is able to see through the eyes of his ravens, and even to shapechange himself but is loath to intercede - it should the through the heroism of Humanity that they are saved from evil. When he does use his powers, he will still do his best to seem like a befuddled old man. In fact, he might actually be that befuddled.

3a. The Ravens’ Nest

This open cave is home to innumerable ravens. They have collected a pile of trash, but among the bits of wood, leather, bone, shiny stones, etc. there is the off glitter of gold. In an Adventurer wishes to search this trash pile, roll 2d6. On a roll of 8+, the Adventurers have found 1d6GP, but on the roll of a double the Adventurers have enraged the ravens who inflict 1d3 points of STAMINA damage before they calm.

Midweek actually transformed himself into a raven to explore the caves on behalf of the Adventurers. However, after transforming back into an old man he didn't seem to realise that he had explored the caves himself, appearing to take his description of the layout from the (silent) raven resting on his shoulder.

2. The Scuttling Corpse

Inside the cave entrance there are more be-webbed corpses. One appears to sprout giant, articulated arachnid legs and scuttle towards the adventurers. It appears as if the corpse is riding the spider, jerking like a puppet-jockey on its back. The first 4 points of STAMINA damage involve chopping away the corpse. Only then will the Adventurers strike the GIANT SPIDER.

GIANT SPIDER

SKILL 7 STAMINA⑧⑦⑥⑤④③②①             

Weapon	1	2	3	4	5	6	7+
Bite	2	3	3	3	4	4	5

Giant Spiders can make 2 Attacks.

Armour	1	2	3	4	5	6	7+
Bristly Hair	0	0	0	1	1	1	2

There are three exits from this chamber. To the ‘west’ a tunnel slopes upwards, from which the Adventurers can hear the caws of birds. To the ‘northwest’ there is a roughly level tunnel that appears to wind somewhat, but from which can be seen the flicker of what might be firelight. To the 'northeast' there is a tunnel that slopes downwards into darkness, from which the chanting can be heard.

The Adventurers made short work of this disturbing sight, but having taken a long time loudly discussing their plan of action, any hope of a stealthy approach have evaporated.