As the Online Media Design class gears up for a new project I began to think about what my project should be about. I love NASA and have focused a lot of my work in that direction. That may still happen as I look to actually using Bootstrap and making the site that is supposed to focus on one of my interests, but for now I am thinking of something different. One of the other interests I have that is not to much about space is story telling. I do suppose you could say space is a story. From the origin of the Universe to humanity’s quest to push farther and know more the stories about space are numerous. Inevitably they are our stories. I would like to shift gears just this once and tell you my story.
I play Dungeons and Dragons, I have for half my life been a table top gamer. I have created or “found” a scary, terrible and intriguing new world not far from here. The new site will help me tell you about The City of the Hanging Spider Metharz. We all probably know Treffs Tavern. I found a little place right next to it called the Fifth Ace. It’s at 804 and 9/8th Chestnut St, San Marcos. Odd I know but when you go there it gets even weirder. This bar leads to entirely new worlds possibly in other universes. The proprietor, Jack, told me to check out Metharz. After going to this place I have decided to make a website about it so all of you can know more about it and use this information to play your game of webs.
To help you to learn a little bit about the site here is a basic lay out. I asked my guide to tell you a little bit about his world of Metharz. He would hate me calling him a guide; he would undoubtedly prefer his full title Master of the Masters, Arch Magi of Metharz, and House Wizard of the Great First House Suluses, Laneaus.
Greetings Ibolith (That means non-Drow, it is a grave insult to not be a Drow)
I am Master of the Masters, Arch Magi of Metharz, and House Wizard of the Great First House Suluses, Laneaus, The greatest practitioner of the arcane arts in the city of Metharz
Your temporary ally (there is no word for friend or colleague in Drow) Carl has agreed to an exchange of information about our two worlds. I have acquiesced to his request since I find this technology you reportedly use to be a fascinating deviation from the development of her world. First, I should explain my use of her. The her, of which I wrote is the Dark Queen of Spiders Lolth our Goddess. She saved my people the Drow from destruction millennia ago when the vile surface Elves drove my people underground to the vast caverns miles away from the burring light (there is no word for the sun in Drow). This place is so hostile only the strongest and most cunning survive. That is where she found us and took us in, having seen in us the guile and viciousness she possesses. There is nothing without her. She calls on her children the Drow to enter into the intricate webs of power and capture as much of it as possible. Only the strong survive here, only those that can see the poisoned blade in the darkness and turn it back on their assailant have any hope of acquiring power. Her favor is given to the powerful and her favor is power. This cycle is what sustains my people in the deadly annals of the Under-dark.
Lolth is first in her world along with are her priestesses. Carl has stated that you live in a world where males rule. This is not unheard of here in the Under-dark. Other races here practice the same. Here in Metharz the greatest blessings of the Dark Mother go to the females and they wield their divine power with unscrupulous impunity. The most powerful of these clerics are the ruling class, the Matron Mothers. These priestesses rule noble houses. The house and its occupants are the Matron’s property, and means to weld political power in the city. Most of this power is focused in the top five houses. The Ruling Council issues decrees governing the city and votes to make war on other cities. The five Matron Mothers are the most powerful beings in the city, save for me. Of the five, first among them is Matron of the City and of the First House Suluses, Cundra my sister. The Greatest houses are constructed in the stalagmites and stalactites of the main cavern. The weaker houses are constructed in the the walls of the cavern or are stone and marble free standing structures. Large or small each house is as elegant in its appearance as it is in its viciousness. We Drow covet cunning and the arts.
Through political and military power the economy of the city is ruled by the houses. However, the production of goods and administration of the economy is overseen by the guilds. I have no respect for Drow that consider money and its acquisition the highest form of power. The guilds continually test the houses’ rules and boundaries of protection to squeeze just one more gold piece from the clutches of Matron Mothers. If they can get it good for them, I suppose. They should not delude themselves in to thinking it is true power they wield with their fortunes. Wealth is only a shadow of power. There are guilds for everything including food production, mining, and the crafting of magical items which benefit or harm the user. It all depends on if the new broach you purchased is the thing you asked it to be or an instrument of assassination from one of your rivals.
To live in the Under-dark requires skill. Some have skill with tools, swords and tactics. Steel can look like a reliable means to power. For the young in her city who show an aptitude for the sword there is the great marshal school of Aracina Marshalis. It is an enormous coliseum and the lessons are administered by eight of the finest warriors her city has produced. There is a great fighting pit where the yearly final exams are taken. They face each other student against student. This grand melee is not to the death, but it is fought with great brutality. The last standing wins glory for Lolth and his Matron.
My school is named Araichains the school instructs young Drow in the ways of the arcane. Here the city’s wizards and sorcerers are trained. This school has eight masters of the different arcane schools of magic. The students spend their time learning to grasp at the strings of true power. If they do not die, they will be permitted to enter the world as practitioners of the arcane.
The final school to which the city is named is Arac Divotuos, the Hanging Spider. My younger sister Suluses, Quen is the High Priestess, Mistress of Lolth’s House. She runs the divine school and teaches the young females of the city what it means to serve the Spider Queen. The School itself is a giant stone spider which hangs from the cavern in which the city proper of Matharz was constructed thousands of years ago by our founding sisters, “The Five.” Underneath the school is the Lake Aracean where ancient secrets of the city are rumored to be buried.
That is her city, Metharz. If you come here I will welcome you to the quest for power. Remember this one rule, the Dark Mother’s Webs encase all and the world is her pray.
Sincerely
Master of the Masters, Arch Magi of Metharz, and House Wizard of the Great First House Suluses, Laneaus
Laneaus told you what each of the main sections of the site will be about. The fifth section will be the Dungeons and Dragons books I used to make this city and its characters. Here is an image of how I picture the site mapping.
Well that is it, I look forward to your thoughts.