I'Calith

In the sprawling caverns of the Underdark under the Night Island, the drow city of I'Calith acts as a stronghold of the drow's power and influence. The city is carved into the cavern floor, with some buildings using the natural stalagmites and stalactites that stretch hundreds of feet into the air. These stone towers are spanned with bridges of carefully crafted wood, token of their pasttrade with other elves that form secure pathways. The city's streets are lit with coldly glowing eldritch fires that provide just enough illumination for its Underdark-dwelling citizens.
I'Calith has one of the most powerful armies in the Underdark, consisting of thousands of trained drow warriors and mages, along with enslaved creatures that have been forced into servitude for the city.

Description

by Eytan Zana

The city is probably the most massive Underdark city, surrounding an incredibly large pillar the city is made of concentric circles, numerous tunnels leading out to the Underdark, linking Toriel's deep cave in an intricate network that even the drow haven't mapped.
One of the most distinct structures in the city was the pillar-clock called Narbondel. It was enchanted each morning by the Archmage of I'Calith with a glow that slowly dissipated as the day wore on. Narbondel could be seen from throughout the entire city. When the pillar was completely dark, it was called Narbondel's Black Death (effectively midnight).
Entertainment is perhaps not the most obvious word connected with I'Calith, but the city nevertheless provide recreation and relaxation to its inhabitants. Taverns were plentiful and brothels could be found if one looked hard enough. The Bazaar offered food, shopping, street performers, and even a game tent or two. Massage parlors, and public bath houses offer their services.
Wide moss fields and fungus farms are on the outer perimeter of the city, providing food for its inhabitant as well as Rothé herds, providing other cheese and meat to the city. Pyrimo, a type of aggressive fish similar to piranhas, was prized, despite being deadly if not prepared in the correct manner. Cheap street food in I'Calith included sausage and rolls, which could be bought from street vendors in the Braeryn slum, and pickled sausage. Finer foods included rothe steak, raw mushrooms with creamy dipping sauces, wine, and a salad of black, red, and white fungus.
Alcoholic beverages found in Menzoberranzan included green ulaver wine and a type of sweet dessert wine.

Society

Law

The city boasts a military force. Use the Guard Arrival Times table to determine how long it takes for guards to arrive at a location after a crime or similar incident is reported.

Demographics

there are approximately 20,000 drow in the city, with 1,000 of them considered nobles. Slaves includ bugbears, goblins, ogres, ogrillons, orcs, minotaurs, quaggoths, trolls, and kobolds. Human slaves are rare in I'Calith, but not unheard of.

History

Fouding

In 1069 BD, after the great extinction, Corellon Loth opened portals to the feywild, offering a path for the rare survivor to retreat into this safer place. Except for a group of elves on Night Island, all elves disappeared from Toriel. Struck by the great extinction, and now isolated, the drow were unable to connect with the weave in the way to, they were unable of elven high magic anymore.
Their cities were destroyed, as the dragons and giants started to fight, forcing them to hide deep underground. Somehow, they were still crossing the path of blood craving dragon, always pushing them deeper, until they reached the Underdark. This dark places, at first hostile, was still not as bad as the outside world, and for a thousand-year, they were forced to adapt to this place, claiming a huge natural cave and creating the drow capital of I'Calith. The magician lodge soon created to lead

Geography

Aliases
/
Type
Settlement
Region
Under the Night Island
Size
Capital

Society

Demonym
/
Races
Dark Elf .
Religions
Selune

Commerce

Imports
Shellfish, slaves, and textiles
Exports
Poisons, mushrooms, riding lizards, spell scrolls, and wine. Other goods included body dyes, chains, giant slugs, herbal medicines, kayaks, musical instruments (flutes, drums), perfumes, spells, spiced sausages, stone sculptures, surgical services, textiles, tortoiseshell goods, and ulaver wine.
Currency
Ancient coins

History

Population
20,000
Ruler
Magician Lodge

Others

Type

Capital