OK, this is ridiculous.

I walked into a room, was advanced on by one broodling. Before it got to melee on me it had already cast COZ on me (less than 5 seconds), got to melee on me and instantly bit me for a heavy 7/23. I backed up to pole, prepped a tm spell and within a second or two a second advanced me, cast what appears to be a max prep gz. I registered that I was now at 40% vitality just in time for the second cast from the other spider to finish me off. This is about 20 seconds after entering a room with a creature is supposed to be scaling to me personally every single attack.

---

[The Tomiek Burrows, Subterranean Grotto]
This underground cavern is illuminated by some kind of phosphorescent fungus which clings to the walls and ceilings. Small spore-laden protrusions occasionally extend from the main masses, but the organisms resemble glowing green veins in the earth and stone. Above, tree roots poke into the tunnel, worming through parts of the burrow, and water drips from the ceiling, dampening the walls and ground. Threads of silk are strung from roots and stone alike, thick fresh coils interspersed with older fraying cobwebs. Tunnels wind in several directions further into the complex.
Obvious exits: southeast, south, down.

>
The flame opals adorning the triquetra symbol of your blighted gold bracelet flare with radiance, a sense of peace and restfulness spreading through you to ease your mental fatigue.
> hunt

You take note of all the tracks in the area, so that you can hunt anything nearby down.

You were unable to locate any followable tracks.

Roundtime: 8 sec.
R>
The ceiling webs part, and a tomiek-iguji broodling squeezes through.

R> task
The spinnerets of a tomiek-iguji broodling begin moving in a rhythmic pattern.

The tomiek-iguji broodling begins to advance on you!
The tomiek-iguji broodling advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
R>
You look in your task journal and see the following entry:

Something is wrong with Kurmin's Massive Arachnid, and tomiek-iguji broodlings and other metal-infused, biomechanical spiders are trying to heal her. A concerned arachnologist has asked you for help.

You have been asked to euthanize 7 sick tomiek-iguji broodlings. You have put down 1 so far.
When you have satisfied your mission, return to the arachnologist for completion.

You have performed the following tasks:
4 kill tasks, 6 item recovery tasks and 13 searching tasks

R>
The tomiek-iguji broodling closes to melee range on you!
>
You feel fully attuned to the mana streams again.

>
A tomiek-iguji broodling skitters into the area, looking for resources to harvest.

>
A web-like pattern of eldritch darkness emerges from the spinnerets of a tomiek-iguji broodling.
A disturbing black radiance creeps over your electric broadsword.
A disturbing black radiance creeps over your chain gloves.
A disturbing black radiance creeps over your chain balaclava.
A disturbing black radiance creeps over your double leathers.
A disturbing black radiance creeps over your triangular sipar.
>
The legs of a tomiek-iguji broodling convulse in rapid succession.

The air around you solidifies into a slight yellow flicker and throws off shimmering light in the wake of the attack.
* Attacking well, a tomiek-iguji broodling lunges and bites at you. You badly fail to parry with an electric broadsword.
The fang lands a heavy strike (7/23) to your abdomen. The tomiek-iguji broodling injects you with venom!
[You're hurt, adeptly balanced and in good position.]
> prep rim 25

You trace a careful sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of the Rimefang spell.
> retreat

>
You retreat back to pole range.
> retreat
You retreat from combat.
>
The tomiek-iguji broodling begins to advance on you!
The tomiek-iguji broodling is still a distance away from you and is closing steadily.
>
The legs of a tomiek-iguji broodling convulse in rapid succession.

The tomiek-iguji broodling begins to advance on you!
The tomiek-iguji broodling advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
The tomiek-iguji broodling closes to melee range on you!
>
The tomiek-iguji broodling closes to pole weapon range on you!
> retreat
You retreat back to pole range.
>
You feel fully prepared to cast your spell.
>
The tomiek-iguji broodling closes to pole weapon range on you!
> cast

You gesture.
A chilling mist begins seeping slowly from your body.

Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>
The tomiek-iguji broodling closes to melee range on you!
> target ala 10
You trace a careful sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of the Air Lash spell.
You begin to weave mana lines into a target pattern around a tomiek-iguji broodling.

> retreat

You feel fully rested.

>
The frosty vapor surrounding you coalesces into three icy blades that begin twirling about you in a graceful yet deadly dance.

>
You retreat back to pole range.
>
A tomiek-iguji broodling's legtips light up with yellowish energy.
Five blasts of electricity arc from it to you!
The first blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You squeeze your right eye shut as tightly as possible as sparks dance over your face.
The second blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You yelp as your left leg is wrapped briefly in a net of lightning.
The third blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You grit your teeth as your right hand clenches into a fist.
The fourth blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
Your left leg twitches uncontrollably for a few moments.
The final blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You yelp as your right arm is wrapped briefly in a net of lightning.

> pathway focus quick

You focus on manipulating an aethereal pathway to reduce the time it takes to complete a targeting matrix.
>
Your formation of a targeting pattern around a tomiek-iguji broodling has completed.
>
The legs of a tomiek-iguji broodling convulse in rapid succession.

The tomiek-iguji broodling begins to advance on you!
The tomiek-iguji broodling advances from nearby and is closing steadily.
>
A tomiek-iguji broodling's legtips light up with yellowish energy.
Five blasts of electricity arc from it to you!
The first blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You howl in pain as sparks chase each other across your chest in an electrifying dance.
The second blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You howl in pain as sparks chase each other across your chest in an electrifying dance.
The third blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You howl in pain as sparks chase each other across your back in an electrifying dance.
The fourth blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
You howl in pain as sparks chase each other across your back in an electrifying dance.
The final blast glances off your triangular sipar, causing a shower of sparks.
Your right leg twitches uncontrollably for a few moments.

!> retreat

Thousands of tiny spiders arrive, quickly cocooning your corpse and dragging it out of their home.