Icharyd

An ancient city that has been occupied by a number of different civilizations over its millennia old existence, Icharyd was the home of the Icharyd Drow until they were recently driven out by the Anoch'Toval Drow. It rests deep in the Underdark, housed within an enormous cave that the residents call "The Crater's Stomach" and along the coast of the subterranean Nysad Sea. 
Icharyd's most defining feature is its Sun Moss, a plant imbued with magical properties that allow it to glow as bright as the natural sun. It covers the ceiling of "The Crater's Stomach", providing a light source that allows for the growth of simple crops, as well as a day-night cycle that can't be found anywhere else in the Underdark. It is also commonly used as a decoration, surrounding homes and businesses as a sign of welcome and hospitality. 
This is not Icharyd's only magical architecture. The city has a widespread portal system that allows its civilians to easily transport themselves throughout the massive complex. Its borders are also surrounded by a Dispel Field, that prevents powerful external magic - like that of Ursodar - from being used within its walls. This gives the Icharyd Drow a tactical advantage against most of their enemies. These system are all controlled from an arcane facility in the northeast of the cave. 
Though the city is largely managed by the Luminous Heart's stewards, she is still the cultural leader of Icharyd, a symbol of hope for her people, and she resides within a palace that has been carved out of the city's huge central pillar. Other noble families have taken up residence in the nine other pillars that stretch from the cave floor to its ceiling. Lesser houses have also taken up residence in the stalactite and stalagmite formations that are found throughout the complex.  
The Drow have also constructed an impressive canal system that allows water from the Nysal Sea to easily spread throughout the city, providing cheap, clean sustenance to the people. 
While Icharyd was once a thriving city-state, it was recently invaded by Xavast, The Sunken Mind and his servants, the Anoch'Toval. Using unknown magic from the Void, the Anoch'Toval were able to secretly spread portals throughout the city, opening them to allow an army of Voidkin to pour out and decimate the population. The Luminous Heart and most of her heirs were killed, only Jaiyl survived. A group of refugees from the city, led by Jaiyl, were able to make it to the surface, butthe city was mostly consumed by the Anoch'Toval. 
Within a few weeks, however, a band of adventurers managed to infiltrate Icharyd, open the Dispel Field, and allow Ursodar to use his control of space and time to decimate the Voidkin and the Anoch'Toval forces. This, however, did not return control to the Icharyd Drow. Icharyd is assumed to be empty, but the survivors of the incident are weary to return until the threat of the Anoch'Toval has been destroyed.

RUINED SETTLEMENT
5632

Type

City

Population

395,000 At Peak, Unknown Currently