Great Spider Drive

Every three years, ranchers in the Fungal Steppes undertake a massive journey across the steppes and beyond. Gathering the livestock spiders into great herds, gauchos lure and herd the arachnids to the farthest reaches of the shelf fungi that create the region, driving the herds crownward to the swampy borders of Splitwood. Timing the drive correctly means the vast herds of spiders arrive just as a bloom of fat, juicy gnats emerge from the seeping bark pools. The glut of prey for the spiders allows them to hunt past their fill, overloading on proteins and making mating safe for the males. Full of easy prey, the spiders are able to produce incredible clutches of healthy eggs, and Splitwood fills with webbing and wrapped egg sacks. When the bloom dies down, the spiders migrate back to their homes in the steppes, swarms of spiderlings in tow.