Adventure Overview

The small village of Briarwood is in distress—Mira Velthorn, the daughter of the local herbalist, Sarina Velthorn, has gone missing while gathering flowers on Widow’s Hill, a towering slope known for its abundant flora and eerie cave system. Unbeknownst to all, she has been captured by a giant spider lurking within the caves and is bound in webbing, awaiting her grim fate.

The party must traverse the hill, facing dangers along the way, including opportunistic bandits, and navigate the dark caverns swarming with spiders to rescue Mira before it's too late.

Adventure Hooks

• A Mother's Plea: Sarina Velthorn, desperate and frantic, offers a reward of 50 gold pieces and a collection of rare healing herbs for Mira’s safe return.

• Missing Cargo: A merchant, Jonas Hargrove, mentions that a recent herbal shipment from the hill never arrived, suspecting Mira's disappearance is linked. He offers a discount on his wares if the party helps.

• Legends of the Widow’s Hill: An old hunter, Eldrin Thorne, tells stories of a monstrous spider in the caves, one that has devoured travelers before. Some believe it's just a legend—but the growing number of missing animals and people suggests otherwise.

Encounter 1: Bandit Ambush on the Trail (Skill Challenge & Combat Encounter)

As the party ascends the rugged hillside, a small band of desperate brigands attempt an ambush.

NPCs: The Bandits

• Tomas "Red" Carver (Human Male, Bandit Leader) – A cunning rogue with a scar across his cheek.

• Lissa Thornbrook (Half-Elf Female, Scout) – A former ranger turned outlaw.

• Dag the Ox (Half-Orc Male, Bandit) – A brute with more brawn than brains.

Skill Challenge (Avoiding the Ambush)

Before combat begins, players can attempt various skill checks to spot or circumvent the ambush:

• Perception (DC 14): Notices hidden figures in the brush.

• Stealth (DC 13): Move quietly and evade the ambush.

• Persuasion/Intimidation (DC 15): Convince the bandits to back down or demand toll instead of bloodshed.

Combat Encounter

If the ambush is triggered or negotiations fail, the bandits attack. They aim to rob, not kill, but won’t hesitate to fight back if challenged.

• Tomas "Red" Carver (Bandit Captain) wields two scimitars and fights with finesse.

• Lissa Thornbrook (Scout) uses a shortbow to attack from a distance.

• Dag the Ox (Bandit) rushes in with a heavy club.

Defeating them might yield a small purse of coins (12 gp total), a basic healing potion, and a crude map of the cave entrance drawn in charcoal.

Encounter 2: The Webbed Cave & The First Spiders (Skill Challenge & Combat Encounter)

The cave entrance is littered with webbing, husks of drained animals, and an eerie stillness.

Skill Challenge (Navigating the Webs)

The cavern is filled with sticky webs that can slow movement and alert nearby spiders. Players must be careful.

• Acrobatics (DC 14): Move carefully through webbing without getting stuck.

• Investigation (DC 12): Identify paths with fewer webs.

• Survival (DC 15): Spot signs of Mira’s struggle, leading deeper into the cave.

Combat Encounter: Spider Nest

As the party navigates the webs, they disturb a nest of smaller spiders.

• 2-4 Giant Wolf Spiders (depending on party size) scurry from the shadows, eager to defend their home.

• A Swarm of Spiders drops from the ceiling to add to the chaos.

After defeating the spiders, the party finds signs of a larger presence deeper inside—more thick, pulsating webs and a muffled cry echoing from the tunnels.

Encounter 3: The Widow of the Hill (Final Boss Fight: The Giant Spider & Rescue Mira!)

At the heart of the cave lies the true horror—a Giant Spider Matron known as Silkra, the Widow of the Hill. Mira Velthorn is suspended in thick webs, barely conscious, and time is running out.

Boss: Silkra, the Widow of the Hill (Giant Spider with Buffs)

• Lair Actions: At the start of each round, Silkra can summon 1d4 smaller spiders or cause webbing to restrain a party member (DC 14 Strength or Dexterity to escape).

• Poisonous Bite: Those bitten must make a DC 13 Constitution Save or take poison damage and be poisoned for 1 minute.

Combat & Rescue Challenge

• A player can use an Action to free Mira (Strength DC 15 or Slashing Damage to webs).

• If Silkra is defeated, any remaining spiders scatter.

• If Mira is not freed before the fight ends, she begins to suffocate—another skill challenge to save her before it’s too late!

Conclusion & Rewards

With Mira rescued, the party returns to Briarwood as heroes.

• Sarina Velthorn rewards them with 50 gp, rare healing herbs, and 2 potions of healing.

• Jonas Hargrove offers permanent discounts on goods.

• Eldrin Thorne, impressed, may offer rumors of greater dangers beyond Briarwood, setting up a future adventure

Possible Adventure Threads

• The bandits had a map—where did they get it? Was someone guiding them?

• Silkra wasn’t alone—her brood may still linger, growing stronger in the dark.

• Mira, having survived, feels a strange connection to spiders—has something changed in her?

This adventure can be a standalone one-shot or the start of something bigger! 🎲