Shelob

ResRef

shelob001

Tag

ms_shel1

Race

Vermin

Appearance

Spider, BloodBack*

Class(es)

Monstrous 30/Fighter 30

HP

2,222

CR

228.0

Faction

Hostile (id 1)

Conversation

—

Where to find

Encounter pools

Abilities

Classes

Shelob was an "evil thing in spider form" living high in the Ephel Dúath mountains that border Mordor; the last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world”, there are numerous references to her being ancient, and predating the events recalled in The Lord of the Rings by many ages. She is evil, but independent of Sauron. She is first introduced in the chapter Shelob's Lair, but actually features and is referred to long before she is properly introduced: "But still she was there, who was there before Sauron, and before the first stone of Barad-dûr; and she served none but herself, drinking the blood of Elves and Men, bloated and grown fat with endless brooding on her feasts, weaving webs of shadow; for all living things were her food, and her vomit darkness." She occupied Torech Ungol beneath Cirith Ungol ("Pass of the Spider"), and may have once lived in Beleriand. Also called the "Spider of Darkness", Shelob's brood (upon whom she would often feed) and descendants include the Giant Spiders who captured Bilbo Baggins' Dwarf allies in Mirkwood during the events chronicled in The Hobbit. Shelob's lair was along the path that Sam Gamgee and Frodo Baggins took while travelling to Mount Doom. Her spider-silk, which was spun in both rope and cobweb form, was strong and cleverly made, trapping those who walked into it. Shelob had encountered Gollum during his previous trip to Mordor, and he apparently worshipped her after his fashion. The Orcs of the Tower of Cirith Ungol called her "Shelob the Great" and "Her Ladyship", and knew of Gollum's relationship with her (they referred to him as "Her Sneak"). Sauron himself was aware of her existence, but left her alone, as she was a useful guard on the pass. He occasionally sent her prisoners that he had no further use for. Gollum led the Hobbits into her lair so that he could get the One Ring after she consumed them. She attacked and stung Frodo, paralyzing him, while Gollum looked on and tried to strangle Sam. An enraged Sam fought off Gollum and then battled Shelob desperately using his master's sword. After hewing one claw from her leg and putting out one eye (the latter being the only soft part of her body), he ultimately defeated her when she impaled herself upon Sting while trying to crush him. She fled into her lair, significantly wounded. The story makes a point of saying that her final fate will remain unknown to the people of Middle-earth. It also makes a point — and even the Orcs remark on it — that it was the first time anyone had "stuck a pin" in Shelob. Thinking Frodo dead, Sam took the Ring from his friend and left his body behind, but discovered by listening to a pair of Orcs that Shelob could inject a dose of venom that was not intended to kill its victims, but only to render them unconscious and keep their meat fresh, as with lesser spiders. In the text, she was attempting to kill Sam outright, however.

Combat

Saves shown = stored bonus + ability mod + item bonuses (Saving Throw Bonus: Specific); class-table progression and feat bonuses (Great Fortitude, etc.) are applied at runtime.

Abilities & combat properties

Dodge AC and save bonuses are factored into the main combat stats above. Dodge AC stacks (cap +20); haste adds +4 more (separate). All other same-type bonuses do not stack — only the highest is shown. Regeneration stacks without limit. Immunities marked (racial) are granted by the creature's racial type by the engine, not by its equipment.

Weapons

Spells

Special abilities

Equipment

Inventory (8)

Feats (44)

• Armor Proficiency (light)
• Armor Proficiency (medium)
• Barbarian Fast Movement
• Barbarian Rage (1x per day)
• Barbarian Rage (2x per day)
• Barbarian Rage (3x per day)
• Barbarian Rage (4x per day)
• Cleave
• Combat Casting
• Damage Reduction 1
• Damage Reduction 2
• Damage Reduction 3
• Damage Reduction 4
• Darkvision
• Dodge
• Epic Prowess
• Epic Weapon Focus (creature weapon)
• Epic Weapon Specialization (creature weapon)
• Great Cleave
• Great Fortitude
• Greater Rage
• Greater Rage (4x per day)
• Greater Rage (5x per day)
• Immunity to Paralysis
• Improved Critical (greataxe)
• Improved Power Attack
• Overwhelming Critical (creature weapon)
• Poison Save VI+
• Power Attack
• Shield Proficiency
• Spell Focus (Evocation)
• Spell Penetration
• Summon Familiar
• Uncanny Dodge I
• Uncanny Dodge II
• Uncanny Dodge III
• Uncanny Dodge IV
• Uncanny Dodge V
• Uncanny Dodge VI+
• Weapon Finesse
• Weapon Focus (mace)
• Weapon Proficiency (creature)
• Weapon Proficiency (martial)
• Weapon Proficiency (simple)

Skills

Scripts