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Drow city

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
najanhoth
Jan 10, 2010 12:06:45 Hello I am going to be playing in an underdark campaign, I'm playing a drow sorcerer.I'm looking for a drow city that is more friendly to males than menzoberanzan(spelling?) so I can be from that city in my back story. I remeber reading about one in one of the 4e books but I can't seem to find any other than menzoberanzan. Any help would be appreciated.
#2
ukplayerx
Jan 10, 2010 13:17:34 there are plenty of references in the underdark sourcbook for 3.x or try this:

www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/ud_c...
#3
LordManshoon
Jan 10, 2010 13:26:34 Hey there.

For a male drow sorcerer, there are quite a few possibilities:
~ Sschindylryn - Located in the Deep Wastes underneath the King's Forest. Known as the City of Portals for the many magical gateways that connect it to elsewhere in the Underdark. It has a far reach in both war and trade. Built over kuo-toa ruins, the city contains several underwater portals and submerged sections. Though Lolthite priestesses wield power here, they are not as oppressive as their Menzo counterparts (but they're still rather dictatorial). Expansion is the top priority, and the forces of the city seek to both claim the ruins of Maerimydra and spread their influence to the surface world.
~ Sshamath - Called the City of Dark Weavings, Sshamath is dominated by male wizards, who have managed to place the Lolthite priestesses on a minor tier of society here (though they still exist and are allowed to function). However, religion in general is, for the most part, marginalized, and many outright disdain it. It is home to one of Faerun's most complete magic item markets. The Conclave of Sshamath calls the shots, and is formed of representatives from the different colleges that exist in the city (which are based on the different schools of wizardry and other aspects of magic.) Slavery is widespread, but only the races deemed too primitive to practice wizardry, such as goblins and chitines, are taken as slaves. Bards, sorcerers, and wielders of divine magic are considered second-class citizens, because power that comes naturally or is granted by another is seen as inferior to power gained through personal achievement.
~ Tlindhet - A large drow enclave that has spent the past decades recovering from the loss of Dambrath (Ao rest its soul). Found under the Gnollwatch Mountains, the city is home to sixteen houses, who all vie for supremacy. The drow here are known to hunt humans and elves on the surface, and stalk the Underchasm, slaying whomever they come across and raiding whenever they can. The city isn't particularly well known for its arcane might, at least not to the level of Sshamath, but this just means sorcerers are (more or less) on an equal level with wizards here.
~ Chaulssin - Beneath the Rauvin Mountains lies the City of Wyrmshadows. This deserted ruin overhangs a great abyss. The city itself rests on a great spar of stone that juts out into the emptiness, and its ramparts overlook the yawning void. Chaulssin exists partially in the Shadowfell, and deadly creatures from that fell plane often hunt the city before being driven back or persuaded to join the inhabitants as allies. Over 1500 years ago, the then-prosperous drow city was conquered by shadow dragons, who quickly enslaved the citizens. They spawned half-drow, half-dragon progeny, and ruled like kings, but eventually (after a few centuries), their unique spawn turned on them and drove them out. The Jaezred Chaulssin, a mysterious house of half-drow, half-shadow dragon assassins are the only known presence in the city nowadays. Magic-users aren't shunned here, as long as the individuals can benefit the JC.
~ Undrek'Thoz - The Segmented City, this metropolis is really a collection of ten or so drow domains (called segments) spread across the Middledark beneath Thay and connected to each other by portals (which do not allow metal to pass through). Matron Mothers ruled here, but their power is no longer; an order of drow monks had always kept the women in line, with individual monks serving various houses but swearing allegiance to their own order. The arrangement of the portals prevented assassinations and invasions from being common. Due to the anti-metal portal property, vellum scrip has been used to cover payment between cities. Dangerous pets are common and are kept as guards, especially creatures of the poisonous variety. The Blackened Fist monastic order is its own social class, and holds great sway. Each House contributed young children to the Order to enhance their own strength. Those of the order were taught to question the ambitions of the Matron Mothers, and were not above aiding powerful males if doing so would keep the ruling women in check. This principle was never more apparent then after 1385. During the Spellplague, the power of the Matron Mothers was sundered when the order allied with Archmage Nurym Zek, Vyrald Zek, and Matron Harthel Vrasl. They succeeded in bringing down the other Houses, and helped arcane power and male drow rise to prominence within the Segmented City.
#4
najanhoth
Jan 10, 2010 14:13:20 Thanks for the info lordmanshoon. Undrekthoz was the city I was thinking of but Sshamath is interesting are there any books from 4e or if not older editions that detail these cities?
#5
18DELTA
Jan 10, 2010 15:35:19 Read the Lady Penatent series by Lisa Smeadman.

LM basically covered your bases.

Good gaming...
#6
evil_warlock
Jan 11, 2010 8:43:37 I think it's in the the Lady Penatent series, Llurth Dreier: under The Shaar, this is a foul city of drow who revere Ghaunadaur and it's full of filth and slime (not surprisingly).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 najanhoth Jan 10, 2010 12:06:45	Hello I am going to be playing in an underdark campaign, I'm playing a drow sorcerer.I'm looking for a drow city that is more friendly to males than menzoberanzan(spelling?) so I can be from that city in my back story. I remeber reading about one in one of the 4e books but I can't seem to find any other than menzoberanzan. Any help would be appreciated.
#2 ukplayerx Jan 10, 2010 13:17:34	there are plenty of references in the underdark sourcbook for 3.x or try this: www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/ud_c...
#3 LordManshoon Jan 10, 2010 13:26:34	Hey there. For a male drow sorcerer, there are quite a few possibilities: ~ Sschindylryn - Located in the Deep Wastes underneath the King's Forest. Known as the City of Portals for the many magical gateways that connect it to elsewhere in the Underdark. It has a far reach in both war and trade. Built over kuo-toa ruins, the city contains several underwater portals and submerged sections. Though Lolthite priestesses wield power here, they are not as oppressive as their Menzo counterparts (but they're still rather dictatorial). Expansion is the top priority, and the forces of the city seek to both claim the ruins of Maerimydra and spread their influence to the surface world. ~ Sshamath - Called the City of Dark Weavings, Sshamath is dominated by male wizards, who have managed to place the Lolthite priestesses on a minor tier of society here (though they still exist and are allowed to function). However, religion in general is, for the most part, marginalized, and many outright disdain it. It is home to one of Faerun's most complete magic item markets. The Conclave of Sshamath calls the shots, and is formed of representatives from the different colleges that exist in the city (which are based on the different schools of wizardry and other aspects of magic.) Slavery is widespread, but only the races deemed too primitive to practice wizardry, such as goblins and chitines, are taken as slaves. Bards, sorcerers, and wielders of divine magic are considered second-class citizens, because power that comes naturally or is granted by another is seen as inferior to power gained through personal achievement. ~ Tlindhet - A large drow enclave that has spent the past decades recovering from the loss of Dambrath (Ao rest its soul). Found under the Gnollwatch Mountains, the city is home to sixteen houses, who all vie for supremacy. The drow here are known to hunt humans and elves on the surface, and stalk the Underchasm, slaying whomever they come across and raiding whenever they can. The city isn't particularly well known for its arcane might, at least not to the level of Sshamath, but this just means sorcerers are (more or less) on an equal level with wizards here. ~ Chaulssin - Beneath the Rauvin Mountains lies the City of Wyrmshadows. This deserted ruin overhangs a great abyss. The city itself rests on a great spar of stone that juts out into the emptiness, and its ramparts overlook the yawning void. Chaulssin exists partially in the Shadowfell, and deadly creatures from that fell plane often hunt the city before being driven back or persuaded to join the inhabitants as allies. Over 1500 years ago, the then-prosperous drow city was conquered by shadow dragons, who quickly enslaved the citizens. They spawned half-drow, half-dragon progeny, and ruled like kings, but eventually (after a few centuries), their unique spawn turned on them and drove them out. The Jaezred Chaulssin, a mysterious house of half-drow, half-shadow dragon assassins are the only known presence in the city nowadays. Magic-users aren't shunned here, as long as the individuals can benefit the JC. ~ Undrek'Thoz - The Segmented City, this metropolis is really a collection of ten or so drow domains (called segments) spread across the Middledark beneath Thay and connected to each other by portals (which do not allow metal to pass through). Matron Mothers ruled here, but their power is no longer; an order of drow monks had always kept the women in line, with individual monks serving various houses but swearing allegiance to their own order. The arrangement of the portals prevented assassinations and invasions from being common. Due to the anti-metal portal property, vellum scrip has been used to cover payment between cities. Dangerous pets are common and are kept as guards, especially creatures of the poisonous variety. The Blackened Fist monastic order is its own social class, and holds great sway. Each House contributed young children to the Order to enhance their own strength. Those of the order were taught to question the ambitions of the Matron Mothers, and were not above aiding powerful males if doing so would keep the ruling women in check. This principle was never more apparent then after 1385. During the Spellplague, the power of the Matron Mothers was sundered when the order allied with Archmage Nurym Zek, Vyrald Zek, and Matron Harthel Vrasl. They succeeded in bringing down the other Houses, and helped arcane power and male drow rise to prominence within the Segmented City.
#4 najanhoth Jan 10, 2010 14:13:20	Thanks for the info lordmanshoon. Undrekthoz was the city I was thinking of but Sshamath is interesting are there any books from 4e or if not older editions that detail these cities?
#5 18DELTA Jan 10, 2010 15:35:19	Read the Lady Penatent series by Lisa Smeadman. LM basically covered your bases. Good gaming...
#6 evil_warlock Jan 11, 2010 8:43:37	I think it's in the the Lady Penatent series, Llurth Dreier: under The Shaar, this is a foul city of drow who revere Ghaunadaur and it's full of filth and slime (not surprisingly).