Sharra'Morgul
Sharra'Morgul, the City of Webs, is a large underground Drow city in the Underdark. Though its exact location is unknown and unmapped, it is believed to dwell somewhere beneath the Empire of the Rune Keepers - rumour has it, the city is accessible via Dhala Mugen.
The city is located in an enormous cavern, spanning some three miles wide and over a thousand feet high. The Drow and Duegar call this cavenous space the Whispering Hollow.
Mainly carved from white granite and mother of pearl, filled with draping lanterns of blue and purple faerie fire. Buildings and structures are often covered with the city's emblem: spider webs, in honour of the Spider Queen to whom they are loyal.
The city of Sharra'Morgul has a large sprawl of structures on the floor of the cavern, as well as a series of floating homes and buildings suspended by magic to prevent them from falling, these aerial estates are connected by numerous paths and rope bridges.
Sharra'Morgul is built around the heart of a lava lake, providing warmth and fuel but also smog and smoke to those unfortunate enough to live on the edges of it, and those are many.
Those lacking noble blood, those without links to Lolth's church, those who cannot perform magic or have no talent to speak of are abandoned by the city's society and cast out to the slums surrounding the lava lake, causing discomfort due to the intense heat and toxic fumes which often leak upwards, the life spans of those in the slums are not as long as those living above and beyond.
Demographics
It is rare to see any race besides Drow dwelling in the city, the odd band of Duegar looking for trade and favours, a small selection of surface races and Deep Gnomes who have been captured and enslaved, but beyond these sporadic and unusual sightings the Dark Elves reign supreme.
Government
Sharra'Morgul is home to many factions and different Houses, all of which constant fight for power. As a matriarchal society, only the women of the city held true power, and as such the official government is regarded as the Council of Many Eyes.
The Council of Many Eyes is composed of the seven Matron Mothers of the seven most powerful Houses in the city - under the indirect yet prominent authority of Matron Mother Shevar'gast Vo'Khalaer. House Vo'Khalaer is believed to have descended from one of the original families from the Landing a thousand years ago, and as such their authority has always superceded that of those around them. Their power and domination of the political game is unchallenged.
While entirely matriarchal, there are a few rare instances of male Drow holding power in the city, for instance House Bael'tyr which is at present commanded by Master Nimruil Bael'tyr - a first son of a first son wherein no female heirs were ever produced to challenge his right to succession.
Defences
Sharra'Morgul is an often disjointed political plague wherein its denizens loath one another and would sooner slit each other's throats than work together, yet in times of trouble they are known to band together to form a truly formidable military force.
In particular, the various cartels of the city have an abundance of resources and ablebodied fighters at their side, with the Widow Marauders, Ashen Arachnids and Crimson Mist capable of fighting together with ease.
Additionally, the moderate and major nobility of the city each have their own standing armies ready to fight on their behalf in times of trouble, and if truly necessary the Order of Soul Spiders and Handmaidens of the Spider Queen can be summoned as a last resort.
At the command of Matron Mother Shevar'gast Vo'Khalaer, the thousand or so Drider which roam the Whispering Hollow can be called into battle and will gladly die for the chance to be cleansed in Lolth's eyes.
Industry & Trade
The majority of Sharra'Morgul's trade revolves around two things: magic and slavery.
The city has an enormour and flourishing trade in the purchase and sale and living humanoids into slavery and it is not uncommon to find entire market squares dedicated to auctions for new captures and fresh faced prisoners waiting to be bought by commoners or nobility alike. The purpose of slaves in the city varies depending on who owns them, including things such as: entertainment in fight pits or brothels; beasts of burden; servants around estates; ritual sacrifices; workers for the mines; currency in deals and much more.
House Thalack is known for adopting slaves and turning them into skilled assassins who will do anything for an ounce of compassion and respect; House Maeduis is known for buying slaves to host perverse blood fest orgies for celebrations of Lolth; House Vo'Khalaer is known to take slaves for the purpose of training them as spies; assassins and infiltration units.
The other trade being predominantly magic revolves around the creation, purchase and sale of magical items such as spell scrolls; armours; weapons and more. The trade of magic can also come in the temporary purchase of wizards and other mages to perform varying degrees of magic on the behalf of those who cannot manipulate the Weave, and the trading of mages between noble houses is highly lucrative.
Districts
Many Eyed Suite:
The highest point of the city belongs to a levetating spire some eight hundred feet in the air above the city, connected to the ground by a teleportation circle, this building houses the Council Chambers of the Many Eyes where the heads of the Houses meet to make all their political, religious, military and social decisions. It hosts a single octagonal chamber with a large web woven table and high backed chairs, beautiful stained glass windows in shades of purple, silver and black denote the deeds and power of Lolth, with an ante-chamber for documentation storage and one which acts as a waiting room for honoured guests.Dune Vhargist:
The home to sick, outlawed, poor and the pathetic, Dune Vhargist serves as the city's slums. Built around the edges of the lava lake, the populace of this wreck suffer multitudes of respitory disorders due to the toxic smog and smoke, as well as frequent heat exhaustion and burns. The buildings, if they can be called that, are rough and shoddy. Carved loosely from the granite of the Whispering Hollow and thrown together with whatever scraps can be found or bartered for from the other districts. They are shacks at best, squats at worst. The only building of any repute in the district is the Fluttering Ibis, the brothel and alehouse. However, Dune Vhargist also hosts one of the underground cartels of Sharra'Morgul, able to act beyond the sight of the guards and Council to extort and blackmail, murder and thieve. The most notorious of these cartels is the Widow Marauders, lead by the infamous Lady Death.Nyendris Thayl:
Constructed to sit just slightly above the slums, Nyendris Thayl houses the majority of the city's commoners and mercenaries, their merchants and the cheaper brothels and fighting pits. Drastically better off than the populace of Dune Vhargist, it is still common to find a lack of wealth and overall ruggedness to the district. The houses here are in vastly better condition than those below, having full shape and structure, roofing and funishings for comfort. They are cheap and an easy comodoty, a luxury for those who have perhaps escaped the slum-life of Dune Vhargist to something a little better. It is denoted that the fallen nobility, House Duskrune originally resided here before their fall from grace. Now it is predominantly the stomping ground for the Ashen Arachnids, a select group of mercenaries who double their business with pleasure as prostitutes. They are said to be lead by Madame Carmine.Andelys Thayl:
Home to the more wealthy and astute commoners of the city, as well as well to do traders and businesses. The vast majorty of Sharra'Morgul's population originates from this district and is considered the most tolerant and peaceful region of the city. The houses and trade buildings in this area of the city are by far a sign of increasing wealth and better times. Large houses with space and private grounds rather than terraces of houses clutched and clumped together desperately. The families of Andelys Thayl are larger and often denote multiple children for prosperity. It is regarded that House Zaphryl, Maeduis and Thalack form an uneasy triumverate within this district. The tolerance and peace of the district can often be attributed to the Crimson Mist, lead by the mysterious and enegmatic Jack of Blades. Acting as both mercenaries and guards, the Crimson Mist keep the peace and prevent outbreaks of crime rising from the lower webs of the city. They are known to be on the payroll of the Council of Many Eyes, though rumour tells that their favour comes from the fear of Jack of Blades talents as an unseen assassin.Lolthelar:
This is the home of the wealthy and well to do, the vast majority of moderate and major nobility dwell within this district, rubbing shoulders and fake pleasantries. There are numerous grans estates and manor houses which levetate above the rest of the city, but always below the Council Chambers, connected by bridges and simple teleportation sigils, no fewer than 5 of the most powerful and prestigious noble families dwell here, alongside the most profitable and extravagant businesses. Houses such as House Blaeryth; Daevuil; Argith and Bael'tyr reside within these abodes. The finest wine houses, brothels, stores and tea houses can all be found here, selling the most high quality services possible. In the highest spire of Lolthelar, resides House Vo'Khalaer, the most powerful and overarching leadership of the city.Archemus:
Located in an offshoot of Andelys Thayl, the Archemus houses the two arcane academies of Sharra'Morgul. Protected by two enormous drider statues which were believed to be petrified versions of the real thing, the academies are considered a location of great importance for the education and upbringing of the next generations of successful Drow.The Khazzryn:
The site of religious practice in Sharra'Morgul, there are a number of beautiful temples and churches dedicated to Lolth, run and upkept by her loyal Clergy. The Khazzryn is located in the floating space between the Andelys Thayl and Lolthelar, a swirling cocophony of levetating islands, chained in place to prevent them drifting away to serve the Spider Queen. The Khazzryn is protected and guarded by the Order of Soul Spiders, an elite fighting organisation composed entirely of male crusaders, they serve directly the reigning Matron Mothers of Sharra'Morgul and once set to task will not stop until dead. It is believed, althought not known for sure, that a sect of the Handmaidens of the Spider Queen reside in the Khazzryn awaiting orders to march on other cities, to bring them back to heel.Guilds and Factions
Widow Marauders:
The roughest of the rough in Sharra'Morgul, the Widow Marauders mostly use Dune Vhargist as their stomping grounds, although they sometimes try their luck in the other districts of the city. They are known for their various exploits of keeping Dune Vhargist in check through extortion; bribery; violence; blackmail and murder. No task too dirty if it pays well. The Marauders are currently lead by the illusive Lady Death, a rough around the edges kind of woman with a roguish charm and short temper. She is known to be skilled with close quarters combat and prefers the use of daggers to be as close to her enemy as possible. It is believed she takes the eyes of her kills and decorates her office with them as trophies. Her second-in-command also acts as the Fence and port of contact for those wishing to do business with the Marauders, refered to only as the Maw, this male Drow is known for his silver tongue and sharp business mind.Ashen Arachnids:
Using Nyendris Thayl as their base of operations, the Ashen Arachnids are a cartel of females only, they have a far more delicate hand than the Widow Marauders, prefering to woo and tempt people into deals and bargains, instead of terrifying and threatening them. They are adept in hand to hand combat, as well as a spark of the arcane, but prefer to diplomatically resolve issues and qualms in the district. They are known to double as high quality prostitutes who quite often find themselves hired and requested by some of the nobility in Andelys Thayl and Lolthelar. At present they are lead by Madame Carmine, a beautiful and elegant Drow woman with a silver tongue and delicate attitude. She is skilled in speechcraft and magic, always prefering to resolve conflicts with pleasure instead of pain where possible. Her second in command is Miss Malbec, a blind Drow woman with a penchant for fortune telling.Crimson Mist:
Known to operate within Andelys Thayl, the Crimson Mist act as mercenaries and guards. This organised gang has a lot of say and power in Sharra'Morgul, they keep the peace and prevent outbreaks of crime rising from the lower webs, and are rumoured to be on the payroll of the Council of Many Eyes, serving at their behest. However, some believe the Council employ the Crimson Mist to prevent their mysterious leader, Jack of Blades, from using his talents as an unseen assassin to take out the Matrons, as it has been known for him to break into the Council Chambers undetected, a feat considered widely impossible. They are lead by Jack of Blades, a mysterious and enegmatic entity who's identity is unknown due to his habit of wearing a mask and keeping himself concealed. No one knows his race, only that he is male due to his voice and mannerisms. No one even knows what he looks like. Jack of Blades' second in command is known as the Lady of Blades, similar to her commander she remains seceretive as well.Climate
Due to the size of the cavern in which the city is built, the climate changes depending on the proximity to the lava lake around which it is built.
The closer to the lava lake one ventures, the more heated and clammy it becomes, the air turns stuffy and thick. In comparison, the further from the lake one ventures the colder it becomes, a chilly air fills the upper void of the cavern causing any nearby springs and water sources to be extremely cold.
Natural Resources
Coal; Fungus; Mother of Pearl; Ore; Spider Silk
Alternative Name(s)
City of Web
Type
Large city
Population
65,000
Inhabitant Demonym
free: 23,000 enslaved: 42,000
Characters in Location
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