Spider Silk

The wealthiest and stylish of drows dress in elaborate dresses, where the amount of fabric isn't there so much to cover skin as it is to show wealth and accentuate the beauty of the wearer. The fabric used by drow nobles, rich families and those on their favour is the spectacular spider silk, that almost works as a metaphor for the people that wear it: beauty that is made from strings from a creature that causes fear and death.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Spider silk is a light and durable fabric, that reflects light in beautiful fashion. Well made silk can show several colours and hues on its surface, depending on how it's folded. Silk is so thin, you barely even feel it's the weight.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Because of the nature of spider gossamer, silk is incredibly durable compared to its lightweight. To make it more wearable, webs made from spiders bred for silk producing aren't just as strong as some of the other spiders, they are still very hardy and flexible.

Origin & Source

Most of the spider silk comes from Giant Spiders specially bred to make gossamer fit to purpose. There are several different species that are bred different qualities in mind. Some popular species include Silkweaver-, Misthair- and Silkwool spiders.

Silkweaver spiders are most common of the 3, producing good quality gossamer, that works with finer everyday clothing. They are black, have thin legs and indigo fangs.

Misthair Spiders are soft grey, hairy spiders, that make the most intricate and thin gossamer. These are ideal for particularly thin and reflective pieces of cloth.

Silkwool-spiders are brown, patterned spiders, more sizable than the other two. Their silk is thicker, more fit for thick cloaks and other pieces of cloth that require a bit more warmth and weight to it, or to be used on furniture.

Tarantula by Christine Trewer

History & Usage

Cultural Significance and Usage

This precious fabric is considered as luxury separates fine folk from common scum, having symbolic meanings for llothian societies, where on most zealous corners only priestess's are allowed to wear such materials. For most though, it is available from any one with enough money and elegance to carry it. Lloth, Spider goddess, is seen as holder ultimate power, and as such, web made by her holy animal is seen as valuable and precious. Many Lothians would consider hurting a spider as sin towards their Goddess.
After rise of Church of Eilistraee, the Children, drows of Silver Shore Island, have had falling out with spiders. Growing spiders has become socially questionable past time, while Spider silk hasn't gone out of popularity. After short falling out of favor, the silk is still just as wanted as ever, even if designs and colors preferred have changed from depicting spiders and webs to moons and stars.

Refinement

Gossamer is harvested from spiders and turned in to string that is then dyed and weaved to the fabric. In early working phases gossamer should be handled carefully to avoid breaking of the fiber, but after made to a string, yarn is actually very resilient and even hard to cut without proper scissors. String is also washed and brushed to remove the original stickiness of the gossamer.

Manufacturing & Products

Spider silk can be used to produce clothing but has been also used to cover furniture or make bed-sheets or curtains. These are often elaborate luxury items, that use the beauty and durability of the fabric to their advantage. The beautiful gown can have more fabric and heavier parts made of metals, leather or other fabrics, as silk is very light on its own. It is common to add thin strips of other fabrics on hems of dresses made from spider silk, so they actually stay down and do not rise up from the smallest movement.

Byproducts & Sideproducts

Spiders used to produce gossamer can be used to other ends in places where spiders aren't seen so holy that they should stay untouched. Silkweaver spiders also produce eggs that are known in drow dinner tables. Misthair spiders are priced from their silk, they have very little usage besides that, though some like to have them as pets. Silkwool spiders, according to the drow, are also tasty on the dinner table, especially when roasted.
Sometimes more coarse parts of the string are used to make ropes.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Producing spider silk is a lucrative business, as drow matrons are very particular of their wardrobes. Workers producing the products are paid well, and silk is worth a big penny. In Underdark, anyone with true power wears spider silk. Finer the better. As a true status symbol, matrons can brag endlessly about how much money they put on their gorgeous dresses.

She carefully lifted the garment out of the box it had come in; it was finest of silks, golden in color, turning orange as the fabric twisted. The small top was finely detailed with brass jewels, which would ring like tiny bells with fine chains to hug her waist. The bottom dress was light as spider silk could be, flowing, embroidered with gold. Brass belt, that would be like an instrument of its own if she would dance in it.
Even with all her status and finery, she had never had such a lovely dress for any of her performances. It must have been worth a fortune.
Sly, self-satisfied smile raised to her lips as she read the letter again. Drow woman never expects a gift from a drow man, as they rarely have anything to give besides their obedience, nor they have any desire to. Yet the grumpy young wizard didn't seem like any man she had encountered.
His heart was hers, and she would hold on it tight. Especially if it would mean gifts like this.

Type

Textile

Value

Varies, usually 15 gp to 120 gp for square metre, depending on quality.

Rarity

Rare

Color

Transparent, but when woven appears white and reflects light

Related Locations

• Mori'tarna
• Tunnels of Szith Draethoz
• Temptation Silks

Related Species

• Drow
• Giant Spider
• Misthair Spider

He held the beetle tightly and cleared his throat while straightening his back, like trying to muster all height Goddess had given him. "It's not like there is even just one type of spider. Different silks for different things. There is the type of spider, and the diet and the environment to consider. Everything has to be perfect for the perfect silk to be produced."
She tilted her head with amusement, happy to see how he came out of his shell. "I didn't know that, to be honest", she said as sweetly as she could, giving him a side-eyed look. "You must be an expert on it, after all those years. Especially as someone so talented."
She could see that small crack in young wizard's mask, as his defensive grump turned in to purple blush on his dark gray cheeks, and genuine confusion in his eyes, as he had never had a compliment. Yet soon he seemed to realize his error, turning his head away to avoid her gaze. He huffed defensively. "Well... it's a family enterprise. It's not something to do sloppily."