Ust Natha

Population: 7,500 (80% drow, 5% quaggoth, 5% svirfneblin, 10% other)
Government: Matriarchy/Theocracy (high priestess of Lolth)
Defense: Drow supported by quaggoth
Commerce: Fresh water, poisons, mushrooms, Netherese artifacts, slaves
Organizations: Adventurer’s Guild, Shadow Thieves
Religions: Lolth Ust Natha is a drow city located in the Middledark of the Underdark. Its location corresponds with the southwestern border of Amn and Tethyr on the surface world. The city is small, existing entirely within a single large cavern with most of its living areas built inside of hollowed out stalagmites. Despite its size, it has become a major trading hub between the drow and other races. The city also has historical significance for the drow, as legends claim that Ust Natha is located close to the surface caves where the Ilythiiri dark elves were forced to retreat after losing the fourth Crown war. After many generations, these Ilythiri refugees evolved into the modern day drow. Ust Natha must contend with several other Underdark settlements in the region, including a kuo-toa city and an illithid enclave. A nearby svirfneblin village is allowed to remain nominally independent as long as they supply a quota of slaves each year. The largest danger to Ust Natha is a recently awakened nest of phaerimm, located several miles beneath the city itself. The city is controlled by several competing drow houses, the most powerful of which is the Despana family. While a majority of the city’s population are drow, in recent decades the city has allowed a large contingent of foreigners to take residence. This has been at the behest of Phaere Despana, who seeks to raise the fortunes of her house by creating a place within the Underdark where surface traders feel relatively safe. Organizations such as the Shadow Thieves and Zhentarim now have permanent trading establishments within the city. In addition to the drow population and surface traders, there are thousands of quaggoth and svirfneblin slaves that support the drow houses, and even a few Illithid and aboleth envoys can be found within the city.