The Crawling Spider

The Spider never seems to close and has been decorated as if underground, done with plaster slurry and rock rubble. Glowing mosses and lichens—watered regularly—grow along the walls and ceilings and, along with a few netted glowing globes, provide dim lighting within. Branching off from the ground-floor taproom are two mock-tunnels that lead to the subterranean dance floor. Many more cave mouths open off from there and lead to tiny private caverns used for more intimate meetings, or for planning shady business.

Drow elves can find easy employment here, and some of the establishment's non-drow serving folk use makeup or illusions to dress the part. The majority of the waitstaff can be hired for an hour's or an evening's companionship.

Despite (or more likely because of) the appearances of its staff, the Spider isn't popular among Waterdeep's small drow population; instead, it is frequented by dwarves, orcs and half-orcs, a handful of adventurers and sightseers, and, most notably, priests of a variety of faiths who enjoy the Spider's ambiance and thrilling atmosphere. Among the taverns in Waterdeep, the Crawling Spider has the most dedicated patrons. They will come clear across the city to drink here, ignoring other places.