Spidersilk

Spidersilk or spider silk was a fiber produced by various species of spiders, as well as some spider-like creatures such as aranea and driders. The term also referred to the processed form of the fiber, which was used for various textile purposes in the Realms.

Description
In its refined state, spidersilk lost the inherit stickiness found on spider threads. Armor and clothing fashioned from it tended to be rather quiet and lightweight.

Availability

 * Some in the land of Chult manufactured spider silk from the local spiders and would refine their threads further with the aid of potash.
 * Great amounts of it was found in Khopet-Dag, due to the many giant spiders that lived there.
 * In the Dutchcloim district of Menzoberranzan, Sh’aun Darnruel sold exquisite gowns of the finest spidersilk to the matron mothers.

History
In 1367 DR, the House of Al-Kamari was experimenting with spider silk, even though the yield was low and the overhead was high. Mu'izzi al-Kamar gifted a vest and sash of spider silk cloth to Khalil al-Assad al-Zahir, while his sibling Dakim ibn Mu'izzi was working on a bedspread for him.

In the, drow used a hot-air balloon made from spider silk in the shape of a massive arachnid as they evacuated from Ithimir Isle off the coast of Akanûl. Webs from the balloon carried a cocoon as big as a small house, in which was transported an arambarium mother lode. Alongside it, hundreds of spiders and giant spiders carried ettercaps and undead miners and deployed webs that were caught by the winds and pulled them into the air to follow the balloon. Their destination was a portal to the Demonweb Pits.

Usages

 * Fine carpets were sometimes made of spidersilk by master craftsmen in the Underdark.
 * Chemises made of spidersilk were common nightwear among female nobility in the Blade Kingdoms.
 * Cloaks were a common clothing item for spidersilk use, including the magical drow cloaks known as piwafwi.
 * Spidersilk refined from the threads of giant spiders were commonly used by drow for bowstrings.
 * Spidersilk was commonly used by drow as tripwires for traps.
 * Spidersilk armor, a common form of armor in the Underdark, was typically made with spidersilk of aranea or driders.
 * Spidersilk could be used to make cloth and rope that were exceptionally strong and lightweight.

Spell Components

 * Some Halruaan spells required the silk of Halruaan glass spiders as a material component.
 * The silk of a phase spider was a material component for the spell wardmist.
 * The silk of a red spider was needed as material component for the spells nerve dance and stonefire.
 * Older versions of the Banite spell stone walk required a piece of spidersilk that was at least a in length in order to cast.
 * A small ball of spidersilk was needed to cast the spell viscid glob.
 * A simple strand of spidersilk was needed as a material component for the spells crown meld, Merald's meld, Oswald's mending, streamers, and zone of sweet air. The spell wondrous web in particular required six whole strands of spidersilk.

Notable Users

 * The drow goddess Lolth favored the guise of a lithe drow woman dressed in a gossamer gown woven from spider silk.
 * Dreydre Freth owned a magical set of chainmail armor made from spidersilk, known as drow spidersilk armor.
 * Kyleena Moonglow, a wild elf chieftain in the Delimbiyr Vale, wore silken armor made from polished treebark and Chultan spidersilk.
 * Nixies were said to utilize the silk of giant water spiders.

Religions

 * The Church of Tiamat's clergy were known to wear diaphanous, multihued cloaks of spidersilk evocative of wings for ceremonies.
 * The Shadoweirs, a Mielikkian order in the High Forest, wore for ceremonies cloaks that were woven by dryads from spidersilk and dyed green.

Other

 * Spider rods could shoot strands of spidersilk out at targets from up to away.