Menzoberranzan
The City of Spiders, Menzoberranzan, is carved out of and built within a great cavern the Drow call Araurilcaurak, its vault soaring a thousand feet above the stone floor is covered in millions of iridescent beetles, making it look like the night sky. The buildings of the city are carved from massive stalagmites and stalactites, connected with delicate-looking bridges of hardened spider silk and lit with coldly glowing eldritch fires. Large spider webs crosscross the cavern, and several people and enormous spiders can be seen travelling across these. Though the most prominent feature of the city is the Narbondel, a 1000ft tall column of rock supporting the cavern ceiling, emitting a warm glow like lava that slowly rises up the column which helps tell the time. The rock surrounding the city is honeycombed with tunnels and passageways forming the Dark Dominion, a territory claimed by the Drow but not part of the city proper.
The City of Spiders is the largest Núathdhel city, and 95% of the entire Drow population lives within it, therefore, the city is massive. Traversing from one end of the city to the other would take days, so they have had to find alternative ways of travelling across the city. That is how the Silk Roads came to be. The higher standing members of Menzoberranzan have their own personal teleportation circle, and have bought access to others across the cavern.
Government
Matriarchal theocracy worshiping Lolth the Demon Queen of Spiders
Defences
Large standing army of trained drow warriors and ameges, bolstered by armed slaves and magical wards; the citizens of the city create a formidable militia
Industry & Trade
Well-trained slaves; various fungi, molds, and exotic creatures for food; poisons, potions, oils and elixirs; jewlry, perfume, and silk
Guilds and Factions
The Matron Mothers (comprised of the eight most poerful drow noble houses in the city), The Church of Lolth (based in Arach-Tinilith), Bregan D’aerthe (company of drow spies, mercenaries, and assassins)
Map of the City
The city of Menzoberranzan is from Out of the Abyss a dnd 5e adventure. The descriptions and pictures in this article is directly from the adventure, and has only been slightly altered to fit my world.
GENERAL FEATURES
The following features can be found throughout the City of Spiders.
Light. Most streets and buildings are lit by eldritch green, blue, and violet lights as bright as torches (created with continual flame spells). Other areas are dark.
The Stone Curse. The “stone curse” is an ancient enchantment woven by the wizards of Sorcere to protect the city from cave-ins. Any character casting earthquake, move earth, or similar magic within the city triggers a reverse gravity spell (save DC 18) centered on the caster, which takes effect before the triggering spell is completed. The reverse gravity lasts for 1 minute, and is accompanied by a peal of thunder that alerts everyone nearby. The caster of the triggering spell must make a successful DC 18 Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration. On a failed check, the triggering spell fails.
The following features can be found throughout the City of Spiders.
Light. Most streets and buildings are lit by eldritch green, blue, and violet lights as bright as torches (created with continual flame spells). Other areas are dark.
The Stone Curse. The “stone curse” is an ancient enchantment woven by the wizards of Sorcere to protect the city from cave-ins. Any character casting earthquake, move earth, or similar magic within the city triggers a reverse gravity spell (save DC 18) centered on the caster, which takes effect before the triggering spell is completed. The reverse gravity lasts for 1 minute, and is accompanied by a peal of thunder that alerts everyone nearby. The caster of the triggering spell must make a successful DC 18 Constitution saving throw to maintain concentration. On a failed check, the triggering spell fails.
Type
Large city
Population
20.000 drow plus thousands of slaves (of various races)
Inhabitant Demonym
Núathdhel
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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