The Drow outpost is located high in a cavern, built 30m above the rocky floor. The outpost consists of a series of small caves in the cavern walls and four "hanging towers"—hollowed-out stalactites connected by walkways, stairs, and rope bridges. The towers are concealed by the thick webs of Giant Spiders stretched below them, so that only the lowermost parts of the stalactites are visible from the cavern floor.
With the small amount of dim light used in the outpost shielded from the cavern floor below, one might walk the entire length of the cleft without becoming aware of the outpost overhead, hidden in the darkness above the range of torches and lanterns. The Giant Spiders also serve as guards, dropping down on their web strands to prey upon creatures that find their way into the cavern. Similarly, Drow warriors can drop to the cave floor on lines of spider silk to ambush enemies.
Three caves and two hanging towers surrounding a platform make up the main part of the outpost for the Drow warriors. The largest of the hanging towers is reserved for the priestesses and the shrine of Lolth, while the other is a guard tower opposite the cave used to hold slaves. North of the slave pen is the den of the outpost's Quaggoth servants. Watch posts lie at either end of the outpost, near the northern and southern entrances to the cavern.
General Features
The following features apply throughout the outpost.
The interior spaces of the outpost are dimly illuminated by lanterns containing phosphorescent fungi, while the exterior is dark.
A small waterfall pouring into the cavern creates a constant background noise, negating the cave's tendency to amplify and carry sounds. Checks made to hear things in the cavern are made normally.
These 1m wide stairs are carved into the stone sides of the cavern between several of the cave entrances.
Bridges of spider-silk rope connect the walkways to the guard tower and the entrance to the priestess's tower. The swaying bridges are difficult terrain for non-Drow.
A creature pushed off the stairs, a bridge, or the edge of a platform must attempt a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the creature falls, landing in the webs stretched beneath the outpost. On a successful save, a creature grabs hold of the edge and hangs there until it can climb back up with a DC 10 Strength (Athletics) check made as part of its movement. A failed Strength check means the creature is unable to move and must check again, while failure by 5 or more means a fall to the webs.
The dense webs of Giant Spiders kept by the Drow conceal the outpost from below. A creature falling into the webs becomes restrained. As an action, a restrained creature can attempt a DC 12 Strength check to break free from the webs. The webs can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10, 15 hp per 2m section, vulnerability to fire, and immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage). Each meter of movement in the webs costs 1 extra meter, and any creature other than a Spider that enters the webs or starts its turn there must succeed on a DC 12 Strength or Dexterity check to avoid becoming restrained. Any movement in the webs attracts the attention of the Giant Spiders, which attack and feed on trapped creatures.
A creature falling from the webbing to the cavern floor takes 10d6 bludgeoning damage.