The Tarantella's Lair
by Reverend Dungeon MasterThe villagers warned you. Beneath Blackthorn Manor, they whispered, lurked something unnatural. They spoke of missing travelers, of the strange music that carried on the wind. You’d come seeking truth, and treasure, but now the cold stone of the manor’s forgotten cellar presses close, and the shadows writhe like living things.
The passage twists downward. The torch in your hand sputters, its light struggling to pierce the gloom. Ahead, the air grows thick with a sour, cloying scent. A faint rustle breaks the silence, like dry leaves brushing stone.
You round a corner, and the webs begin, thin strands at first, glistening in the torchlight, growing thicker as you press forward. Soon, they stretch across the corridor, a tangled mass of pale silk. Beyond, a cavernous chamber yawns, its walls shimmering with layers of sticky strands. In the center, something stirs.
The Tarantella emerges from the shadows, its monstrous form dwarfing the broken remains of its victims. Eight beady eyes glitter as it begins its hypnotic dance, its legs tapping the ground in an eerie rhythm. The sound worms into your mind, a cadence you can’t ignore.
Your muscles stiffen. The torchlight flickers, casting wild shadows as the spider’s dance pulls at your senses. You fight the urge to sway, but your heart pounds as the beast lowers its fanged maw, ready to strike.
Will you succumb to the Tarantella’s deadly rhythm, or will you stand firm against the horrors lurking beneath Blackthorn Manor?
Stats
Tarantella
Armor Class (AC): 6
Hit Dice (HD): 4+2 (22 HP)
THAC0: 16
Movement (MV): 120’ (40’)
Attacks (no.AT): 1 (bite)
Damage (Dmg): 1d8 + poison
Save As: Fighter 2 (F2)
Morale (ML): 10
Alignment (AL): Chaotic
Special Abilities:
Hypnotic Dance: Any creature within 30 feet of the Tarantella must save vs. Spells or become mesmerized, swaying helplessly for 2d4 rounds. Mesmerized creatures cannot move or act and are considered flat-footed.
Venomous Bite: A successful bite attack forces the target to save vs. Poison. On a failed save, the target takes an additional 1d6 damage and suffers disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity checks for 1 hour.
Treasure
The Tarantella’s web-choked lair contains:
A skeletal corpse wrapped in silk, clutching a pouch of 200 GP.
A +1 longsword with a faint blue glow.
A black gem, swirling with shadowy light, valued at 500 GP (radiates an aura of necromancy under a detect magic spell).
Experience Points
Monster XP: 75
Treasure XP: 950 (GP value).
Total XP: 1,025
This is no place for the faint of heart, adventurer. The shadows here hunger, and the spider dances to a rhythm older than the stones beneath your feet.
