Silk Roads

Large networks of ever chaning spider webs crisscross Menzoberranzan, connecting important parts of the city allowing easy access for those that cannot afford to install teleportation circles.   The Silk Road can be used either by paying fare to the Spider Climbers or by traversing it oneself.  

Spider Climbers

Drow that have tamed giant spiders and strapped seats of varying quality onto their backs. The less comfortable rides include 3 rows of 3 seats, and typically cost 2 cp per zone. The more luxurious ones have less seats and cost upwards to 5 sp per zone. Most Spider Climbers also sell a "Climbers Token" (a small plate with arcane runes) that will tell them that a person needs pick up and where. These sell from everywhere between 1-50 gp depending on the popularity of the Climber.   The zones of Menzoberranzan are defined by how the neighboorhood boundaries, and the number of zones is determined by how many boundaries are crossed with a minimum price of 1. The travel is always calculated through travel as-the-crow-flies. So travelling from The Bazaar to Duthcloim would be 1 zone, and travelling from The Braeryn to West Wall would be 4 zones.  

Notable Spider Climbers

Jekos Eils'Lyr - An old weak looking Drow with long white whispy hair on the sides and a bald spot, and light grey skin. He is friendly enough, though he knows more of the dark side of the town than most. He lives in Eastmyr but comes from The Braeryn. Jekos takes 8 cp per zone, the seatings on Aesmira, his older looking spider, are fairly comfortable. Buying a Climbers token from him costs 10 gp.   Nedna Ichesz - a young adult female half-drow. Nedna's skin is dark grey and her hair is nearly black, though all her other features, including dark red eyes. Nedna is the lovechild of a high standing priestess with a caladhel (surface dweller). Nedna lives alone in The Braeryn. She is fiesty, and arrogant. Nedna takes 3 cp per zone, the seatings on Larachnie, her spider, have nearly no polstering left and are uncomfortable. Buying a Climbers Token from her costs 2 gp.  

Traversing the Silk Road

Traversing the Silk Road is no easy task and traversing it without the right tools would be slower than simply walking on the ground below.   To take full use of the Silk Road one must have a pair of Web Skates; specifically designed shoes that allows the wearer to glide across the webs at rocket speed (3x regular speed). These shoes can be bought several places throughout the city at prices varying between 25-50 gp. This steep price is why the average citizen doesn't own a pair and prefers using the Spider Climbers.