Tier Breche

Tier Breche "The largest single piece of architecture found in Menzoberranzan is the broad stairway that leads up to Tier Breche. Rumor says these stone steps are enspelled with chain lightning and other killing magics, under the control of wizards of Sorcere. If such defenses exist, they are rarely used. The top of the stair is always guarded by two male drow warriors in the final year of their battle training. They wear rings of spell turning, and have sleep-venomed longswords, hand crossbows, daggers, and guardhorns. A note from a guardhorn summons a mid-level “duty” wizard from Sorcere in 1-2 rounds. The wizard can in turn summon a pair of jade spider guardians and a “duty” priestess of mid-level. In addition to their spells and items (both typically carry wands), these two can call on wizard and priestess reinforcements; storming Tier Breche from the city below is not likely to be a successful act.

Drow who try to fly or climb past the guards, avoiding the stair, discover - the hard way - that other guardians exist: many hungry, web-shooting spiders lurk on the walls and ceiling where Tier Breche joins the larger main cavern. The guards challenge all who ascend to Tier Breche, except known masters of the Academy and priestesses of the city. No one leaving Tier Breche is customarily challenged (though the guards may be alerted to prevent a certain departure), and challenges issued to any drow who looks like a powerful wizard or priestess are polite indeed. The most famous and distinctive buildings in Menzoberranzan (House Baenre is more hollowed-out, bridge-liked over hanging stalactites than buildings) are the three large buildings found in Tier Breche: the spidershaped temple of Lloth, where all priestesses receive their initial training, known as Arach-Tinilith the many-spired wizards’ stronghold of Sorcere and the starkly simple, huge pyramid-fortress where Menzoberranzan fighters are trained, Melee-Magthere."