The Underdark
Extending miles downward and outward beneath the surface of Faerûn, and reaching to other continents as well, the great network of subterranean caverns known as the Underdark is home to all manner of strange and deadly creatures. Duergar and drow — dark reflections of dwarves and elves — live in these sunless lands, as do the svirfneblin, or deep gnomes. Most surface-dwelling folk aren’t threatened or even disturbed by denizens of the deep places, but the creatures occasionally emerge to raid or to seek some kind of goal in the surface world.
Among the lands of the Underdark beneath the North are the svirfneblin city of Blingdenstone, the duergar city of Gracklstugh, and the infamous drow city of Menzoberranzan. Also prominent is Mantol-Derith, a trading post for Underdark merchants.
The Underdark is massive. It is deep beneath the surface. And it is so large that many entire cities of different races live in these dark places. It is a dark and dangerous place. The creatures that dwell there tend to have the ability to see in the darkness. But those from the surface may not have this natural ability. There are alien things in this underground world. There are fungus and lichen which may give light. Some of these things might even be eaten. But some may very well be poisonous instead.
Water sources beneath the surface may not be readily available to a surface dweller traveling in the Underdark. One can be certain that the creatures that live there will know where water can be found and will have it well guarded from others who might wish to use some of it. Food sources might be equally as scarce.
Domains
The Underdark is not one giant cavern under Faerûn, but rather, many huge networks of caverns and caves. As a result, it is not always possible to travel from one end of the Underdark to the other. The Underdark is divided into several domains that are similar to continents of the world above. While it is possible to travel from one place to another within a domain, separate domains tend to have very few passages linking them. The major domains of the Underdark are the Buried Realms, the Darklands, the Deep Wastes, the Earthroot, the Glimmersea, Great Bhaerynden, the Northdark, and Old Shanatar. Beyond that, The Underdark is divided into three major layers.Upperdark
The first three miles below the surface. It was here where the surface dwellers and those in the Underdark most often met.Middledark
Located three to ten miles below the surface, this layer was where most of the Underdark cities were located.Lowerdark
Ten miles or more below the surface, the Lowerdark was where even those who knew the Underdark were loath to go.
Type
Underground / Subterranean
Location under
Included Locations
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