Drow Merchant Residence...where to look ??

[Zarnam]

I am currently trying to design a tower - residence (inside a 120 ft. stalagmite) of a Menzoberranyr merchant and, frankly, my ideas seem to have run out.
The main problem is how to arrange the interior, so that my players will have fun getting in, fighting some interesting adversaries inside (those already planned), steaking a specific item from the merchant's hidden vault and getting away (alive !!).
I've been looking at several published adventures, COtSQ mostly, but they weren't any helpful...
If someone has any experience with underdark/stalagmite buildings and running such scenarios, I'd be more than happy for your advice !!

 

[EricNoah]

It kind of depends on if your drow can levitate -- if so, they might levitate to a bridge or walkway or platform built on the side of a stalactite hanging above the stalagmite. That'll be the first challenge the PCs need to overcome.

Inside, I would put some kind of circular staircase in the center (or a shaft for levitation) of each floor, and would have no more than 3-4 floors stacked on top of each other.

I might have the whole compound be in 2 or 3 nearby stalactites/stalagmites , though, joined together with bridges.

I feel like I have seen a similar setup somewhere -- there was a Monte Cook drow adventure a while back. Can't remember the title though.

edit -- I see you're talking about stalagmites not stalactites. Oops, my bad.

 

[Endur]

You want the Menzoberanzan boxed set from 2e.

Fantastic adventure campaign setting. Pretty sure its available in PDF format for a relatively low price.

It has some great ideas on noble houses, merchants, and defenses.

 

[Zarnam]

Oh, I've got all the 2nd edition Drow sourcebooks allright

The main problem here is - where to locate the slave/servant quarters (about 10-15 creatures - some halflings, svirfnebli, maybe other harmless beings) and how to position the house guards

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The main problem here is - where to locate the slave/servant quarters (about 10-15 creatures - some halflings, svirfnebli, maybe other harmless beings) and how to position the house guards

Servants and slaves go at the bottom of the stalactite. If they get out of line, the magical bonds holding the quarters to the rest of the stalactite dissolve, and the slaves drop to their deaths.

 

[ericlboyd]

Depending on what ends up making the cut, the Dragons of Faerun web enhancement (due out next month, I suspect) might fill your need to some extent.

--Eric