Mother, Matron of the Web's page

About Mother, Matron of the Web

In the shadowed depths of the Mwangi Expanse, nestled within the sprawling labyrinth of the Screaming Jungle, there lived a giant and cunning spider known as Mother. Mother, a revered and feared creature, was no ordinary arachnid. Her body, large enough to fill a small house, glistened with iridescent hues under the dappled jungle sunlight. Her many eyes, sharp and perceptive, observed the world with an intelligence that far surpassed that of her kin.

Mother’s story began in a secluded corner of the jungle, where ancient magic permeated the very air. The firstborn from a clutch of egg sacks that had been enchanted by the ambient magic of the region, she quickly devoured her unborn siblings in unthinking, ravenous hunger—taking their magic into herself. As she matured, Mother discovered she possessed a unique gift—the ability to understand and communicate with other creatures of the jungle. This talent proved invaluable in navigating the perilous environment of the Screaming Jungle, where survival for a lone hunter was a daily challenge.

In time, she grew to immense size and found a mate. Mother’s greatest challenge then was not her own survival, but that of her ever-growing swarm of spiderlings. Fiercely protective and nurturing, she ensured that her offspring were well-fed and safe at every turn. But as her swarm expanded, the resources of her immediate surroundings dwindled. Though her children were very large, she remained the largest of them all, and so Mother made a bold decision: she would leave them to venture beyond the jungle’s borders, into the wider world, so that her endless hunger would not be a drain on the resources her brood would need for continued survival.

Mother's journey took her through the treacherous terrains and bustling cities of the Expanse, where her size and appearance often caused panic and chaos. Yet, her intelligence and ability to communicate allowed her to forge a few unlikely alliances, such as with the Pathfinder Society, the Magaambya, and the anadi. She encountered adventurers, merchants, and scholars of all types, some of whom saw past her fearsome exterior and recognized her as a fellow sentient being, rather than a mindless beast. Through these connections, Mother learned of the faith of Grandmother Spider, of distant lands and rich hunting grounds where food and other mates could be found, as well as of magical artifacts and spells that could aid her in her quest to spread her kind from shore to shore.

Eventually, her adventures led her out of the Expanse and across the Inner Sea as well. She has traveled across the Varisian plains, over the deserts of Osirion, and even as far as the icy reaches of Irrisen. In each locale, she faced and overcame numerous challenges, from battling fierce predators to negotiating with powerful beings. In each locale, she would raise another generation of giant spiders. Her children would then skitter into the dark places of the world and, for better or for worse, would weave intricate webs of their own.

Her devotion to Nana Anadi fuels her determination to go on living, her life a never-ending stand of defiance against those who would so callously attempt to stamp out her kind. She often finds herself whispering prayers to the trickster deity, seeking guidance and strength. Though she has seen and experienced much in her long life already, Mother’s journey is far from over. Guided by the teachings of Grandmother Spider, she plans to continue exploring the vastness of the Inner Sea Region, always seeking new opportunities to expand the web of her brood across the world.