[MCC RPG] Dangerous Encounter: Cobweb

Cobwebs are mutated cornstalks that trap unsuspecting victims in sticky strands of webbing as a form of passive carnivorous plantlife. After the entangled victim eventually dies of exposure and/or starvation, their decomposing body nourishes the Cobweb.

Cobwebs are typically found growing wild in an open patch of previously tilled farmland -- usually covering an acre or two of area. When touched or brushed against, the husks surrounding the Cobweb's ears will slowly peel back on its own, exposing pale white corncobs along each stalk. Once exposed, the kernels on each cob will burst much like popcorn kernels with a pop-pop-pop, spraying thin sticky webs of filament over a 20 ' radius. Any within range who say they're diving out of the way will escape entrapment if they make DC 15 Ref save. However, they must make a follow-up DC 10 Ref save to keep from bumping against another Cobweb stalk, thus starting the process over again. An ensnared victim can break free on a DC 20 Strength check, otherwise they are trapped until freed by someone else. Cobweb webbing can be dissolved with oil or acid or burned away with fire (the ensnared victim will take any appropriate acid/fire damage as determined by the judge). Blades and cutting tools are unable to cut through the webbing and will just become gummed up and ensnared as well.)

A Cobweb's webbing crumbles and turns to dust after 2 weeks, at which point the ensnared victim has most likely died of exposure and thirst. Because it takes a Cobweb stalk a month to regrow its cobs, scavengers use this period to loot the corpses of any victims, free from the danger of becoming ensnared themselves. Some villages and marauder camps grow fields of Cobwebs around their borders to protect themselves from invaders, with a well-marked path through the field known only by residents.

(The Cobweb originally appeared on this blog as a Mutant Future creature, now updated as an encounter for a judge to use.)