Whalespider Silk
Way hey heave and ho,
to the glowing depths we go
way hey haul away
a devil spider for to slay
way hey heave a ho,
Silk and venom, lie below
why hey grab that line
Nets of gold hide in that brine...
-A Spider Whaler's shanty
Properties
Material Characteristics
Whalespider silk is incredibly strong and can withstand immense pressure and force. The most intriguing of it's properties though is that it can be attuned to a living being and that being can control how it interacts with water. Allowing water to either pass through or be obstructed by it.
Geology & Geography
Whale Spider Silk can only be found in the glowing sea, and only harvested from living Whale Spiders.
Life & Expiration
The Silk begins degrading as soon as it touches air and therefore must be stored and processed underwater. Once it is woven however it lasts for a very long time and can be reinforced with magic to be as permanent as any other textile.
History & Usage
History
In the depths of the Glowing Sea lie many horrors, one such terror are the Whale Spiders. Giant magical spiders that capture and eat large marine life such as whales, dire sharks and other fish. In the last hundred years or so various countries have discovered uses for the silk that allow for massive advances in shipping and maritime technology.
Everyday use
Industrial Use
The most important and valuable use of Whale Spider Silk however is in the creation of Silkships, ships that can sail beneath the waves of the sea at great speed using the predictable currents of the ocean as opposed to relying on the wind. These ships have allowed the various nations that employ them to move goods and people swiftly, if slidhtly more dangerously through the oceans and seas of Erryt.
Refinement
Collection and processing of Whale Spider Silk is difficult though, as the massive arachnids are in no way peaceful, and they must be killed, harvested and stored in water until the threads are spun. This has created a multi billion Mark industry in Whalespider Silk and the Merchant Guilds of Hull are one of the only organizations rich and powerful enough to maintain such operations.
In order to properly weave the silk large machines similar in shape to the spiders spinnerettes and weaving arms have been created and crews work day and night to process the silk into fine goods and textiles. The processing plants are all located in the glowing sea and so are subject to the immense dangers of that place. The people who work these "Widow Nests" are known as Salt-weavers and it is considered one of the most dangerous jobs on Erryt.
Hazards
The number of hazards found in the glowing sea are too numerous to list. From giant sea creatures, to undead abominations, to the acid tides, to the spiders themselves the glowing sea is a roiling mess of danger. Only the most brave or foolhardy work above it's waves and only the absolutely most insane sail it's depths in search of whale spiders. Still if there's money to be made it's to be made there, and so the sentient species of Erryt heed the call.
Environmental Impact
The most devistating effect of Whale Spider hunting is the damage it does to the Whale Spider populations. The demand for the silk is high and so hunts are carried out often, and without strong regulations on hunting the Whale Spiders are dwindling in number. Huge hulking corpses float beneath the waves providing all manner of creatures with new food sources and so the carefully balanced ecosystem of the glowing sea has been thrown into chaos. What dangers could emerge from such a biological and environmental disaster are anyone's guess.
Distribution
Trade & Market
The largest trade in these silks can be found in the markets of Hull where the trade barons make the majoirty of the deals for the continent.
Type
Biomaterial
Value
1,000 gp / bolt
Rarity
Whale Spider silk is expensive but not hard to come by if you have money.
Color
Whalespider Silk is a vibrant biolumanescent blue in color naturally and while it can be alterred with spells, it will always glow blue when exposed to salt water.
Related Locations
Related Species
Related Professions
I quite like how imaginative the concept is. As well as the imagery used in conveying the world.