Whispering Depths
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“Those webs are huge. Tread lightly, or become dinner.„
Points of entrance edit
Whispering Depths can be accessed from three points, all of which are located in the Blighted Village.
- The overgrown well in the centre of the village at X: 24 Y: 401. To detect it as an entrance to the tunnels underneath any party member must first pass a
DC 10 Investigation check. - Through the cellar of the blacksmith's workshop. There are two points where a weak wall of the cellar can be destroyed to get access to the location: near the forge itself at X: -447 Y: -367, which requires DC 10 Perception check to find or at X: -455 Y: -389, which requires climbing up on the cavernous shelf.
Overview edit
The Whispering Depths are a vast system of tunnels, caverns and rocky rifts underneath the Blighted Village. Some of the caverns and rifts are located on different height levels, with cragged rocks to climb upon them. Some, however, stand separately, and the only way to reach them is using paths of thick cobwebs stretched between the edges. The ground in the tunnels is sporadically covered with 
Web, as well.
Party members who step on the enwebbed area or onto a hanging cobweb path must immediately roll a DC 12 
Dexterity saving throw, unless they have any equipment or ability which prevents their movement from being restrained. If failed, they receive the 
condition and cannot move until the next successful roll which is made once a turn.
Even with successful rolls, the web surface is considered 
. More so, disturbing it echoes around the caverns, depicted as blood-red waves of "sound" running from the character, and attracts the web-weavers to their next potential meal. Finally, hanging web paths can easily be destroyed with fire, felling whatever is on its surface. This can be useful in a fight, but may also cause party members' serious injuries if used carelessly.
In the Whispering Depths one of four possible ways to reach the Underdark can be found. To do this, the party must jump into the central green-glowing pit below where the Phase Spider Matriarch normally wanders, arriving approximately at X: 140 Y: -150 at an unnamed location dubbed Minotaur Hills. 
must be used, otherwise a cut-scene shows the party member(s) falling to their death. Entering the Underdark this way grants the 
inspiration to party members with the 
background.
Arachnomancer's chamber edit
The tunnel starting at X: -505 Y: -402 leads into a small workshop, which previously housed a 
devotee named Eliette. She left four journals, which describe the story of her being captured by the drow, then enraptured with Lolth cult, and finally, her "transcendence". It is strongly implied that Eliette eventually became the Phase Spider Matriarch (see below).
Eliette's journals are scattered around the cavern. Reading all four journals earns the inspirational event for the characters with 
background.
A metal chest beside a writing desk contains 
Spiderstep Boots, which Eliette considered a gift from Lolth herself.
Central caves edit
North of the well is a section of caves guarded by two Phase Spiders and two Ettercaps. Both types of creatures are particularly sensitive to web disturbances, and proceed to the source as fast as they can.
Several cragged rocks at the east-most side of the cave system lead to an upper-level path. This in turn eventually leads to both ways into the Blighted Village smithy.
When exploring the caves, the player character can find several old backpacks with various supplies, gold and potions, as well as goblin corpses and skeletons. Also, the party can loot the numerous spider silk cocoons which can be found along the way; those hanging high enough must be destroyed by any means except 
. Most of them (especially human-shaped ones) yield potions, gold, and plain weapons and pieces of armour. While the spiders in the cave (including the Matriarch) are still alive, all cocoons are red-outlined and, if looted, emit sound waves which attract nearby Phase Spiders and Ettercaps.
At X: -494 Y: -364 lies the 
Apprentice's Pack, which contains the 
Apprentice's Journal, shedding some light on the story of Ilyn Toth and giving a hint where the keygem to the 
Necromancy of Thay is hidden.
Matriarch's den edit
At the western end of the depths is a large, open section where the Phase Spider Matriarch can be encountered, accompanied by two more Phase Spiders. The matriarch wanders along the cobweb "bridges", overlooking three clutches of eggs and hatches them out if attacked. Each clutch hatches into a pack of six Phase Spiderlings.
Two egg clutches are laid on the tops of rocky ridges, connected by the cobweb paths at X: -569 Y: -355 and X: -557 Y: -337, and the third one lies on the lower level of the cave at X: -549 Y: -375. Being caught when destroying any of them makes all three spiders hostile. However, it is possible to destroy all three clutches by using stealth and / or 
. It is also possible to destroy them in a single combat turn before the Matriarch can hatch them into spiderlings by dividing the party and using area-covering spells, grenades or arrows.
At the feet of one of the rocky ridges at X: -565 Y: -356 lies the 
Dark Amethyst - the aforementioned keygem to the necromancer's tome. It is not hidden, and its purple glow can be seen from afar; it is possible to loot it without fighting the spiders.
Waypoints edit
This location contains the following waypoint:
Whispering Depths at X: -584 Y: -384
Creatures edit
- Ettercaps
- Phase Spiders
- Phase Spiderlings - conditional
- Phase Spider Matriarch
Loot edit
Notable items obtained in this location, whether looted, purchased, or obtained as a quest reward:
Dark Amethyst - a quest item found just beside the central pit in the matriarch's den
Poisoner's Robe - looted from the phase spider matriarch
Spiderstep Boots
Spurred Band
Literature edit
Related quests edit
Achievements edit
- Pest Control
- Kill the Spider Matriarch before her eggs hatch - why do they have so many legs?