Undercity

Located in the Underdark directly below Embervault. A single tunnel allows those with proper paperwork to pass between Undercity and Sapphire Pillar.
Hundreds of years ago, a mad drow warlock brought his cabal of worshippers through the Abeiran Underdark and founded a new city at the edge of a mystical lake. This lake pulsated with purple energy and the water sputtered and boiled. Through the warlock's teachings, the drow flourished and their city grew.
When Laerakond transposed into Toril, transposition tremors broke a large stalactite free and it plunged deep into the lake. Thousands of drow were burned alive by the boiling water and vapor that flooded their city. The base of the stalactite became an island in the center of the lake; the tip of the stalactite pierced a sleeping primordial's arcane prison.
About 20 years ago, the Kingdom of Relmaur accused the drow of assassinating a noble's son in cold blood and used the event to justify the invasion of the drow elves' city and the destruction of the drow cult. The Undercity was annexed into the kingdom and the tunnels connecting it to the rest of the Underdark were fortified using dwarven magic. Queen Surina ordered the construction of a temple to Bahamut and other goverment buildings on the island. Today, the lake is no longer boiling -- its waters have become peaceful and clear.

Points of Interest

Lambent Lake

Lambent Lake is the primary geographical feature of the city and is centrally located, making it a convenient landmark for giving directions. Roughly 2000 feet across east to west, and 1500 feet across north to south, the lake's placid waters can be a refreshing place to swim -- if you don't mind the frigid temperature. The beautiful beaches are solid stone and have been pigmented by multicolored bands of limestone minerals. Two popular game fish are plentiful in the lake -- the rippling chad and the slattern trixie.

Temple of Radiance

The dwarves of Iltkazar finished construction on this beautiful temple dedicated to Bahamut in 1492 DR. Nearly one hundred feet tall, the gleaming white building dominates the island in the center of Lambent Lake. Though the building is almost entirely circular in shape, a massive square portico frames the entryway into the building. The first floor is an expansive library and art gallery. The nave is located on the second floor and is capped by a large dome whose apex is fifty feet above the floor. Outside, the dome is clad in silver and lined with magical light, reflecting a column of bright white radiance into the sky above, subtly reflecting off the misty subterranean atmosphere, and illuminating the scintillating granite and limestone ceiling of the Undercity ceiling. Only the first floor and nave are open to the public.

Lake Park

Around the edge of Lambent Lake is a public park, extending from the rainbow-hued, banded mineralization of limestone along the lake's edge for about three hundred feet. The park is covered in soft green moss and dimly lit cobblestone walkways. Several statues dedicated to the benevolent deities of Toril can be found scattered throughout the park, though none as large as the onyx statue of Eilistraee located on the north side of the park.

Lake Street

This street rims the circumference of Lake Park.

High Street

Not actually a street, but a wide plaza that extends through the center of the city. Riding and draft animals are not permitted, though hand-drawn rickshaws are available.

Union Street

The main thoroughfare through the city, it runs roughly parallel to High Street. The street terminates near the temple garrison buildings in Lake Park.

Temple Bridge and Garrison

Two military fortifications flank the entrance to the impressive suspension bridge that leads to the Temple of Radiance. Built by the same dwarves who constructed the temple, the barracks and towers are more beautiful than most military fortifications tend to be. Each barracks is garrisoned by thirty Relmorn soldiers. These buildings are the only part of Lake Park that are off-limits to the public.

Lioness

A popular pub near the Temple of Radiance. The dwarven craftsmen who built the temple created this alehouse to pass the time during their off-hours and to protect their ale from the deceitful drow. The eleven dwarves who built the pub have since returned to Iltkazar, but retain and share ownership through a company they've formed. The pub is operated by Bryndryn Cloverfield and Tishlynn Dewdane, two lovely female shield dwarves.

Redstone Highway

So named for its distinctive red-hued cobbling, this wide road runs perpendicular to High Street and Union Street and parallel to Silverstream, a deep, fast-flowing stream. The Redstone Highway leads out of the city, into the wilds of the dome-covered Underdark, and leads to the tunnel leading to Sapphire PIllar. The highway is patrolled constantly by the kingdom's soldiers and kept brightly lit in order to dissuade wild animals. It takes about 20 minutes to reach the Tunnel Gatehouse by carriage, or an hour by foot.

Tunnel Gatehouse

The entrance to the tunnel is protected by a fortified gatehouse and routinely garrisoned by at least twelve Relmorn soldiers. Random contraband checks happen frequently, and travelers must possess a passport to pass through the gates to Sapphire Pillar.

Warrior Park

A mossy park on the Redstone Highway, capped on either end by an elegant iron bridge -- High Street Bridge over Silverstream and Union Street Bridge over Silverstream. A large pedestal bearing a statue depicting a pure black drow female standing proudly with a silver sword and a shield of Bahamut stands prominently looking toward the lake.

Home of the Pure Heart

A small hospital (40 beds) that provides charitable aid, healing, and hospice care to those in need. Founded by Alishba Bashara, a tiefling priestess of Ilmater from Calimshan, and operated by her and her family (Alishba, her husband Damakos, and her two teenage sons, Kairon and Melech).

Halbadihr

This dwarven temple and monastery is dedicated to the Morndinsamman, the dwarven pantheon, with a practical architecture that seems to value internal volume over external beauty. The central hall is dedicated to Moradin and Berronar, with other halls dedicated to Clangeddin, Dugmaren, Dumathoin, Gorm, Haela, and Marthammor. The second and third floors are primarily composed of dormitories for monks, missionaries, and non-clergy dwarves who seek respite. The courtyards between each hall are usually bustling with dwarven artisans plying their craft in the name of their deity.

Gnome Depot

Operated by the flamboyant gnome named Roffle Mao, this store sells a little bit of everything. From finely crafted dwarven armor to drow glowwine, you can probably find anything you could want here, besides a magical item. Roffle refuses to sell any magical items.

Blackbirds

Blackbirds is a seedy establishment that officially operates as a pawnbroker, but is, for all intents and purposes, a front for organized crime. Phelan Shrev is the kingpin of this operation. He is a shrewd, if not charismatic, drow who considers himself a legitimate businessman and benefactor of the city.

Blushing Melons

This relatively new tavern is owned and operated by Vai Cloudridge, a charismatic young half-elf from Tarmalune. The tavern's popularity with immigrants has made Vai a modestly wealthy man and something of a local celebrity.

The Zurkhwood

A grove of giant mushrooms located south of Lambent Lake. Zurkhwood mushrooms have edible spores and the tree-like stems can be used as a building material. Vornafein, a drow druid, is the keeper of this grove. With his guidance, the grove is able to produce enough flour to create 2,000 loaves of bread every day.

The Minarets

The drow residential district, known for its distinctive architecture, can be found on the north side of the lake. One of the craggy columns that connects from floor to ceiling in this district is covered with glowing fungus that's harvested by drow microbrewers to produce glow wine. The drow have draped sheets of loosely woven black cloth throughout the district to block the light coming from the Temple of Radiance.

Kyone Wall

Fortifications were built to defend the city from potential invasion through this wide tunnel leading deeper into the Underdark. The drow of Nar'sellath were endlessly vigilant against any potential attack from Gol'thruinn, the drow kingdom from which they had fled so long ago. The wall, located to the east of Lambent Lake, is 30 feet high and 90 feet wide and connects three towers.

Demographics

50% drow elf
25% human
10% dragonborn
10% dwarf
5% other

Alternative Name(s)

Nar'sellath

Type

Large city

Population

15,902