Menzoberranzan

Menzoberranzan is the capital of the drow empire.
The city has 32,000 inhabitants—one-third drow and the rest humanoid slaves. The city trades poisons, tasty mushrooms, riding lizards, spell scrolls, wine, and water. The worship of Lolth is prevalent, and the city has the clerical academy Arach-Tinilith, a spider-shaped building where priestesses are trained. One of the branches of the city's triune academies of Tier Brieche, Arach-Tinilith is neighbored by the warrior school Melee Magthere, and Sorcere Tower where arcane spellcasters are sent to study. These academies are the quarters of some of the most powerful clerics, fighters and wizards, respectively, and the title of master of an academy is coveted, since being the master of Sorcere or Melee Magthere is as high as the power ladder goes for some houseless drow or even noble males.
Menzoberranzan was founded by a Priestess of Lolth named Menzoberra the Kinless. It is ruled by a council of matrons from the eight greatest noble houses; the most powerful House in the city is House Baenre, until recently led by Matron Yvonnel Baenre - a drow cleric who was the single most powerful political figure in Menzoberranzan for about two thousand years. She has been succeeded by her daughter Triel for 25 short years, before her sister Quenthel killed her and took over as head of both House Baerne and Arach-Tinilith. A separate council of mages deals with affairs of the arcane - but as its members are all male, it is wholly within the grip of the matrons.

Founding Date

3917 BDR

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Spiders

Population

20,000 Drow, 40,000 Slaves

Inhabitant Demonym

Menzoberranzaner

Owner/Ruler

Quenthel Baenre

Ruling/Owning Rank

The Yathtallar

Related Plots

• The Work of the Shadow