Menzoberranzan

Menzoberranzan, or the City of Spiders, was a large underground drow city-state in the Upper Northdark. Menzoberranzan was possibly the most well known drow city in Faerûn. It was the home of Drizzt Do'Urden, and many of his early adventures dealt with the political intrigue and characters of the city.

Geography
It was located in the Upper Northdark, about 3.2km (2 miles) below the Surbrin Valley, between the Moonwood and the Frost Hills. It was quite close to Mithral Hall and was connected through tunnels to that settlement. The deep gnome city Blingdenstone was about 45 miles to the west of Menzoberranzan. Other tunnels led to the surface, namely in the Moonwood and on the western edge of the High Forest. Drygully Tunnel was a tunnel leading from the Underdark near Menzoberranzan to the surface.

History
Menzoberra the Kinless, a powerful priestess of Lolth, founded the city that bears her name in -3917 DR. By the wishes of Lady Lolth, she led seven drow families into the Northdark from the city of Golothaer, one of the southerly drow holdings of Great Bhaerynden.

Their goal was to escape from the constant cycle of violence and death that so plagued that city. Lolth aided them on their journey directly, but only when it seemed like all hope was lost. After battling several of the Underdark's natives, they slew a bindip in -3917 DR that claimed a huge natural cave as its lair. The surviving drow took up residence in this cave, naming it after their leader.

The drow families, having no immediate external enemy, fell to attacking and undermining one another, exactly what they had hoped to escape, to the greater glory of their evil goddess, who loved chaos. Only fifty years after the city's founding, in -3864 DR, a great and terrible battle between the two most powerful Houses, House Nasadra and House S'sril, occurred. This battle led to the exile of House Nasadra (which later founded the city of Ched Nasad, and was the First House until the city's recent destruction) and to the rise of House Baenre as the First House of Menzoberranzan.

The city's internal machinations continued unabated for millennia. The Houses that grow weak were destroyed, and newer Houses rose up to find Lolth's favor. The full history of each House would constitute a nearly endless logbook of treachery, spite, and unceasing ambition.

In the 13th and 14th centuries DR, this pattern seemed to have accelerated. House Do'Urden ascended from the Tenth House to the Ninth House by destroying the Fourth House, House DeVir. It then ascended to the Eighth House with the much-needed help of Jarlaxle's mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe by destroying the Fifth House, House Hun'ett.

House Do'Urden lost the favor of Lolth, however, when Matron Malice Do'Urden turned Zaknafein Do'Urden into a spirit-wraith by using Lolth's dread Zin-Carla ritual and failed to kill Drizzt Do'Urden with him. This resulted in House Baenre utterly destroying House Do'Urden.

In 1359 DR, during the Time of Troubles, House Oblodra, the Third House, aspired to be the First House of Menzoberranzan. Menzoberranzan was caught in a magic-dead zone, so magic did not work there. House Oblodra, however, was gifted in the rare art of psionics and seized upon this opportunity to strike at the other Houses.

The matron of House Oblodra nearly reached her goal, but an avatar of Lolth answered Matron Baenre's pleas for help and came to Menzoberranzan after the Time of Troubles had ended. Although she loved chaos, she did not wish to see a House that did not whisper prayer to her to rule the city. Foreseeing her temporary loss of power due to the Time of Troubles, Lolth had asked the demon Errtu to protect her worshipers, should she herself fail to do it. She opened a portal for Errtu and his host of demons to lay siege to House Oblodra.

By the time the Time of Troubles had passed, Lolth was restored to full power and single-handedly crushed House Oblodra, the remains of their stronghold being pushed into a deep chasm known as the Clawrift, and Matron Oblodra's spirit went to Errtu for eternal torment. Thus the ranks of the ruling Houses changed once again. All this she said was done for her greatest high priestess (although it was really done for herself), the two thousand-year-old Matron Yvonnel Baenre. All Houses in the city witnessed this great miracle and knew that House Baenre was the most favored House of the goddess.

In celebration, the city marched upon Mithral Hall in 1358 DR, viciously attacking the dwarfhold in what would be known as the Battle of Keeper's Dale. The drow lost the battle and the retreat was sounded after Matron Baenre herself was felled by Bruenor Battlehammer's axe. It was estimated that half of the city's 20,000 drow marched on Mithral Hall, but an unknown number returned. In addition, many of the city's slaves had been used as fodder, leading to a dearth of agriculture. Upon the army's return, the city had been badly weakened and its leadership in chaos.

Yvonnel's eldest daughter Triel took her mother's place as leader of the city but faced many hardships during her time in power. Despite an early victory against Blingdenstone the constant infighting between the noble houses resulted in a rapid depopulation of the drow citizens of the city. Lolth herself expressed her displeasure and imposed a forced peace among the city's populace until Menzoberranzan's numbers had been restored.

Not long after the peace was lifted, the city was beset by a slave revolt and the infamous Silence of Lolth where the city was invaded by the duergar army of Gracklstugh and the Scoured Legion with the aid of traitorous drow from House Agrach Dyrr. The invasion was costly but as soon as The Silence of Lolth ended, Menzoberranzan's defenders turned the tide of the battle and drew victory from defeat.

Menzoberranzan returned to form quickly. Quenthel killed her older sister Triel, taking her place as leader of House Baenre and eventually the city returned to the kind of life it had seen for the 5,000 years before the failed invasion of Mithral Hall, the only change perhaps would be the solidification of Lolth's worship after the deaths of her deific rivals in the years following her Silence.

Inhabitants
In 1372, the city had 32,000 inhabitants — approximately one-third drow and the rest humanoid slaves, namely orcs, kobolds, gnolls, humans, and the occasional illithid. According to Liriel Baenre in 1361 DR, human slaves were rare in Menzo, but not unheard of.

The demonym for Menzoberranzan is Menzoberranyr.

Trade
The city traded poisons, mushrooms, riding lizards, spell scrolls, wine, and water (clean water could be hard to come by in the Underdark).

Government
The city had many different factions, or Houses, all of which vied for power. As it was a matriarchal society, however, only females truly held power. Officially, the city was under the rule of the Ruling Council of Eight, composed of the eight matron mothers of the first eight houses. For many centuries -- as long any living drow could remember -- it was under the indirect rule of House Baenre which is governed by Matron Mother Quenthel Baenre, daughter of Yvonnel Baenre, also known as Old Matron Baenre, perhaps the most powerful de facto ruler the city ever saw.

Other individuals held some political power, including Gromph Baenre, the archmage of the city, and Jarlaxle, leader of the mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe, which was often utilized by House Baenre.

A separate council of mages dealt with affairs of the arcane — but as its members were all male, it is wholly within the grip of the matron mothers.

Religion
The worship of Lolth was prevalent, and the worship of any other deity was forbidden, although there were a number of secret (mainly male) worshippers of Vhaeraun.

The Academy
The city's priestesses were trained in the spider-shaped clerical academy Arach-Tinilith. One of the branches of the city's triune academies of Tier Brieche, Arach-Tinilith was neighbored by the warrior school Melee Magthere, and Sorcere, the school in which wizardly magic was taught.

The most powerful clerics, fighters and mages of Menzoberranzan passed through the academies, and the title of master/mistress of an academy was coveted. The master/mistress of an academy in Menzoberranzan was often the most powerful drow in that particular discipline.

Death
Death (usually by intrigue) was widespread in Menzoberranzan. The dead were usually placed in airtight stone crypts in the solid rock north of the city cavern so that they could later be reanimated as battle fodder. Only priestesses were cremated to prevent such a thing occurring to their corpses.

Food and drink
Local food was primarily produced in and around Lake Donigarten. The Isle of Rothe in the lake houses the city's rothe herds, which provided rothe cheese and meat to the city.

Pyrimo, a type of aggressive fish similar to piranhas, were prized, despite being deadly if not prepared in the correct manner.

Other food found in Menzoberranzan included green ulaver wine.

Customs
Because the drow worshipped Lolth, the Spider Queen, killing spider (even unintentionally) was punishable by death by the law of Lolth.

By law, parties had to end at start of new day (the Black Death of Narbondel, or midnight). Dancing while armed was considered an insult (as well as being hazardous), so dances, particularly the frenzied nedeira, were usually performed sans clothing.

Areas of interest
Sick and outlaw drow lived here, along with the many non-drow inhabitants of the city. This was definitely the slum of Menzoberranzan. Drunken drow sometimes hunted in this area, killing any and all who couldn't hide themselves.
 * The Braeryn ("Stenchstreets"):

A rocky outcropping shaped like a claw on the end of a long arm situated between the Bazaar and Eastmyr. The ancient tunnels and walkways dug into the rock were used by House Oblodra to house their hundreds of kobold slaves, but was later infested by the undead. Bregan D'aerthe maintained a base here.
 * The Clawrift:

This freshwater lake lake was the source of almost all of Menzoberranzan's food. Rich fungi farms, beds of moss and giant mushrooms were tended to by slaves. A small amount of fishing was done in Lake Donigarten and, on an islet in the middle of said lake, the city's supply of Deep Rothe were kept, looked after by orcs and goblins. House Hunzrin tended the rothe herds on the Isle of Rothe that fed the city.
 * Lake Donigarten:

Home of the commoners of the city. Tradesfolk and their shops/businesses were mostly found here. Most Menzoberranyr came from this area and it was the most varied and tolerant district in the entire city. It was located near Tier Breche.
 * Duthcloim ("Manyfolk"):

A permanent trade fair located in Duthcloim. The Bazaar of Menzoberranzan attracted merchants and buyers from across the multiverse. Most races were welcome (with the exception of beholders, neogi and githyanki), and as long as the peace was kept and proper respect was shown to matron mothers, someone (or something) could buy whatever they might have desired here, though non-drow were often spied upon.
 * The Bazaar:

No permanent structures were allowed within the accepted limits of the Bazaar by order of the council. Places of business were to move each day, so as to prevent monopolies on space and promote browsing, making finding a particular stall very difficult. Trainee wizards, clerics and warriors were paid to patrol the Bazaar, providing firm, yet unobtrusive law-enforcement. Several permanent enchantments and buffers which suppressed sounds, vibrations and noises were also a part of the Bazaar, the limits of which extended to everything from boot steps to merchant shouts.

Most struggling merchants lived in this neighbourhood. While better than the Braeryn, Eastmyr was still where you would find many poor and outlaw drow and non-drow of no discernable means. Despite the lack of wealthy residents, House Hunzrin and House Kenafin were based here.
 * Eastmyr:

A few passages and side caverns accessible from the main cavern could be found in the Mantle, actually part of the Dark Dominion but close enough to the city proper for residents to build homes.
 * The Mantle:

This was the home of the wealthy up-and-coming drow houses. No fewer than seven existing powerful noble houses and several of the most luxurious and profitable of businesses were located in this neighbourhood. The best gems and perfumes could be found here, as well as the city's moneylenders. Narbondel was located here.
 * Narbondellyn ("Broad Streets"):

This plateau was screened from the view of the rest of the cavern by its forest of giant mushrooms. Contrary to the rest of the city, Qu'ellarz'orl was spacious and bare, no crowds were found here, nor any businesses. The space that was taken up was dominated by the four most powerful noble houses. The chamber of the ruling council could also be found here. House Baenre was located on the highest ledge.
 * Qu'ellarz'orl ("the House loft"):

The location of the three academies of Menzoberranzan: Arach-Tinilith, Sorcere and Melee-Magthere. It was the highest point in the city and was protected by two giant spider statues that could be animated to protect the academy.
 * Tier Breche:

The West Wall was covered in the fortresses of more minor noble houses and the proudest of the non-noble drow families. Elstearn's Escorts provided attractive drow of either sex to escort those who desired them or to act as tour guides to visitors.
 * West Wall:

One of the major marvels of the city, akin in its awe inspiring majesty to Narbondel slowly marking time in the center of the city, the castle of Xorlarrin was a sight to behold. Although the family that occupied it were only fifth in the Menzoberranyr hierarchy, you would be challenged to find any other locale in all the Underdark (or the world above for that matter) that boasted such magnificence. The walls were striped in permanent and ever shifting faerie fire, with floating battlements set atop its high walls. It could be argued that the entire palace was a gigantic magical artifact in that marvels abound and magic was built into the most mundane of attributes both functional and decorative.
 * Citadel of Xorlarrin:

The fortress loomed into the sky dwarfing the buildings around it, and was composed of a deceptive profile. The deceptively narrow facade terminated at a modest 55m (60 yards). Once a corner was rounded, however, the lateral faces of the citadel stretched for hundreds and hundreds of yards, stretching back to blend with the gloom and becoming lost to sight. This gave the citadel a top-down view of an exaggeratedly thin rectangle. Legend held that this bizarre architecture was purposefully planned in order to facilitate some eldritch power forgotten or lost by the current inhabitants.

Environs
All of the tunnels within an 8km (5 mile) radius of the city were known as the Dark Dominion. Drow patrols were a constant presence of the region. They searched for banned creatures, monsters and surface elves and challenged them once spotted. A few guard outposts could also be found in these tunnels. At least ten of the tunnels that started here led to the surface. One that led straight past Blingdenstone and into Mithral Hall and one that led to the High Forest were the two most commonly used. The Dark Dominion was full of dangerous magical radiation known as Faerzress.
 * The Dark Dominion:

About six days' travel on foot from Menzoberranzan was a large Faerzress-free cavern. Most people who wanted to teleport to the city aimed for this cave and a few keyed two-way portals could be found here, along with a waterfall that provided free fresh water. Several noble houses had permanent scrying sensors here though they made pains to seem like they didn't care about the place.
 * Dead Dragon Gorge:

A cave with magical crystals only accessible via a river. Home to the deep dragon Zz'Pzora until her death in 1361 DR. It was a Faerzress location.
 * Zz'Pzora's Lair

Organizations in Menzoberranzan
Several non-House organizations operated in Menzoberranzan, including
 * Bregan D'aerthe, a mercenary company led by Jarlaxle.
 * Dragon's Hoard, a trading and mercenary company led by Nisstyre until his death in 1361 DR.
 * Black Claw Mercantile Company, a consortium in Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad primarily owned by House Baenre and the Ched Nasadan Houses Zauvirr and Melarn.
 * Brown Mushroom Mercantile Company, a direct competitor to the Black Claw; primarily operated by House Fey-Branche and House Barrison Del'Armgo.

Notable inhabitants

 * Drizzt Do'Urden, drow rogue living on the surface.
 * Yvonnel Baenre, matron mother of House Baenre until 1358 DR.
 * Jarlaxle, leader of Bregan D'aerthe.
 * Liriel Baenre, rogue mage.
 * Tos'un Armgo, rogue living in the Moonwood.

Appearances

 * Homeland
 * Exile
 * Starless Night
 * Daughter of the Drow
 * Dissolution

Gallery
Menzoberranzan Menzoberranzan