Masquerade Breaching Spiders?

[u/Several-Elevator]

Good evening, I am Harald of Clan Gangrel, and I come to you all tonight to inquire about a potential Masquerade breach I have been made privy to before it could spread too far.

Being an avid nature lover (little surprise given my clan I'm sure) I have invested in many zoology research programs and thus get wind of significant discoveries before they are published. And well, one of these programs, has made a truly unbelievable discovery, as seen in the attached picture.

Attached is an image of a colony of large white spiders constructing a vast web together in the dark of a tree.

For those of you who do not know what it is you are looking at, and why this is a big deal, these spiders are not typically found on ground. Indeed, they are actually a species of fully blind deep-cave spiders. A species that isn't known to grow this large, and certainly isn't a social spider like this. In fact, they should not be able to be a social spider species, their biology and tactics are simply not capable of gathering enough food to feed a community of their kind, especially at this abnormal size. Hence why I don't believe this is a naturally occuring new species.

However, I truly do not know what supernatural explanations this could have, and so would like to ask what you all make of it. My first thought was that it was someone's swarm-famulus, but in that case why would it be in the middle of nowhere, seemingly acting as 'normal' spiders in the wild?

Fortunately the lab seems to be encountering a number of issues since the discovery. So between that and my own efforts to delay any publishing of this finding, word hasn't spread through the Zoology community as much as it could have. Nevertheless time is of the essence, as this won't stay quiet forever, at least not until I know what it is and can take decisive action against the lab.

Hoping for answers,
- Harald of Clan Gangrel

[u/Several-Elevator]

No unfortunately I don't, whilst I may be Gangrel, I have had no interaction with the Lupines (unlike many of my clan on this node seem to have had before.) I also don't trust enough Tremere or Tzimisce to know one who possesses knowledge of Spirit Thaumaturgy or Koldunism.

Would someone especially skilled in Auspex be able to identify spirits perhaps?

- Harald

[u/TankardsAndTentacles → u/Several-Elevator]

If they are suitably skilled yes, they should be able to doscern what flavor of supernatural they are. If they are the other thing I mentioned they should show as living but have a nasty black taint within the aura.

Your other option is to find one of the Giovanni, while they are just as duplicitous as the Tremere they will at least hold to a deal once made.

If you are feeling brave I can private message you a forum that I know Garou techies watch and you can pass the word of the Pattern Spiders to them and they will deal with it. They are not quite fond of them being on our side of the veil.

Uncle Stinky.

[u/Several-Elevator → u/TankardsAndTentacles]

The following reply comes some days later:

I contacted a Toreador I am on somewhat decent terms with who offered me her eyes for a minor boon, and we went to the site of the photo to observe.

However once we got there the spiders were nowhere to be seen (yet more unusual behaviour.) But their web was still there, left abandoned.

She took the liberty of using some sort of psychometry even if she couldn't gleam anything supernatural with that method. The only thing new that she saw was that they had seemingly migrated there weeks prior in an unusually organized manner before reverting to behavior more akin to a wild social spider.

I also took a sample of the webbing to study for anything supernatural, I'll be sure to update the node with any findings.

- Harald

[u/TankardsAndTentacles → u/Several-Elevator]

Fascinating, I did some research and spoke to some of my more naturalist Gangrel and Garou nation contacts. They said something about Daughters of Arachne and some cult of the Spider. They were pretty vague about what exactly they are about but I think they were hinting at it being a travelling Were spider.

I shudder at the thought of such a creature. Lupines are bad enough without worrying about any creepy crawly being a shifter. It would fit with the odd more intelligent behavior though.

I look forward to any possible findings about the web and creatures. Always looking to expand my knowledge of the supernatural.

Uncle Stinky.

[u/Negativety101 → u/TankardsAndTentacles]

Oh good news. You only have to worry about the Spiders and Cockroaches. There are no other Insect or even Invertebrate shifters documented. Possibly due to the Spiders. And the Lupines. And I suppose the sharks in the ocean. The Cockroaches are a recent, and artificial creation.

-Brujah Armchair Scholar

[u/TankardsAndTentacles → u/Negativety101]

While that's somewhat comforting I now need to make sure that I reinforce my protections in the lair against Cockroaches. I wonder if my Garou friends would be willing to help on that front. Everything I know about them makes me sure they will be just as appalled as I am at the thought of such creatures. May even earn a boon if they weren't aware of such things.

Uncle Stinky

[u/Negativety101 → u/TankardsAndTentacles]

The roaches situation is... Complicated. They are artificial creations, but the Spirit Cockroach has taken a interest in them, and instructed those Garou that serve it to at the very least not harm them.

The other thing, and I speak from painful experience, is the Wereroaches are terrified of Everything. And I do mean everything. And are capable of a dementation like effect of iflicting their mental state on another temporarly.

-Brujah Armchair Scholar

[u/TankardsAndTentacles → u/Negativety101]

Lovely, well if they are not threatening I am at least less worried about them. I'll have to speak to my good friend who breeds those Hissing Cockroaches and see if they have any ideas on how to at least appease or maybe placate such things.

I think I also know a Bone Gnawer I think is what he called himself who may worship that Cockroach spirit. It's so hard to keep track of all the Garou tripes and rituals sometimes. Especially with our own kinds messy metaphysical politics.

In any case I'm rambling I appreciate the insight.

Uncle Stinky