Mantol-Derith
Three miles below the surface, Mantol-Derith stands as a rare, peaceful trading cities for various Underdark denizens.
Female Drow. Well known to have been exiled from Menzoberranzan for a failed assassination attempt. She now makes ends meet as a mercenary, bodyguard, and protector. Ghazrim DuLoc
Human Male. Leads the garrison of Zhentarim forces in the city. From a noble family, but carries a disdain for much of the aristocracy of his home in Amn. Lorthuun
Beholder. A dedicated member of the Zhetarim, Lorthuun has been involved in keeping the peace during several trade disputes which have nearly broken out over the last years. Zilchyn Q'Leptin
Drow Male. A once respected wizard in Menzoberranzan, Zilchyn was found guilty of stealing components materials and forced to escape the city, losing his spellbook in the process. Along the way, he woke to find his camp ravaged by a black ooze and bears the scars of the encounter. Having recently arrived in the city, Zilchyn hopes to have a fresh start at life providing simple spells to benefit merchants and travelers. Sladis Vadir
High Elf Male. Member of the Emerald Enclave, Sladis has always been fascinated by the Underdark and its unique biomes. He treats Mantol-Derith as his home base when he is not patrolling the wild edges of the city's winding paths. Rystia Zav
Human Female. A fledgling member of the Zhentarim in the city. Brilmara and Horgar Strongpour
Duergar Female and Male. The married couple who own and operate the Nameless Inn, a tavern and inn designed to suit the comforts and expectations of surface dwellers who find themselves in town on business. As such, prices are often quite high, but so is the level of comfort in the bed chambers. Svuzzekt
Illithid. Operating the teleportation circle at the top of "Illithid Tower", Svuzzekt trades favors for secrets and is fascinated by the inner workings of the creatures around him.
Duergar Male. A boisterous merchant who wears chains around his shoulders throughout the day cause he "likes the way they sound when they clang together." Beyond the finely crafted chains, Clanker is the go-to source for many basic traveling supplies necessary in the Underdark. Gak Fixen
Gnome Male. A soft-spoken surface dweller among the Underdark denizens, Gak makes his wages selling instruments, all of which he is proficient with, and performing in the Nameless Inn for travelers who are more accustomed to the surface race's sense of culture and entertainment. As a result, he is often a source of news for those who do not interact with the surface dwellers regularly. Ghuldur Flagonfist
Duergar Male. A local leader amongst the Duergar, Ghuldar operates a shop selling a variety of wares including armor, arrowheads, locks, mining and smithing equipment. As a hobby, Ghuldur enjoys fishing off the docks of Darklake and smokes his catches, using the inviting scent to attract customers. Kurken Garshorn
Duergar Male. Exiled from his home of Gracklstugh for reasons he keeps to himself, Kurken works quietly in crafting the armor Ghuldur sells. Tawar Kroul
Human Male. A representative among the merchant's for humans of the surface, Tawar sold wine and spirits and any ales he could have shipped into the trade port. Krimgol Muzgardt
Duergar Male. An ale merchant who ships in his product from Gracklstugh frequently and supplies much of the drink served in the Nameless Inn. Addan Orshill
Human Male. An armor merchant hailing originally from Silverymoon. While once readily accepted amongst his peers, he finds himself out of favor with many other merchants after rumors of him stealing raw materials from other craftsmen surfaced. Mara Orshill
Human Female. The estranged wife of Addan, Mara is a clothing and textile merchant in the city. Kassawar Plickenstint
Deep Gnome Male. Merchant representative of the recently revitalized city of Blingdenstone, Kassawar sells odds and ends from his home including scrolls, magical artifacts, spell components, and gems. Hadrogh Prohl
Drow Male. An elder drow walking with a cane and wearing a patch over his left eye, Hadrogh is one of the prominent slave traders in the city. Effran Redspur
Duergar Female. Effran makes the bulk of her business traveling through the Underdark as a merchant, but keeps a stand open when she remains in town. Grimmdar Szort
Duergar Male. Though considered rude and dismissive by his peers, there are few who wouldn't readily say Grimmdar is the best weapons smith in town. Zarell Tahaladar
Drow Female. Boasting a large collection of books and scrolls, Zarell manages a vast network of trade partners from both the Underdark and surface to keep her shelves stocked. Quite passionate about knowledge, she often has trouble parting with any book she hasn't gotten around to reading yet. Aphras Tirin
Drow Female. An alchemist primarily, Aphras sells her personally brewed potions, poisons, and spell components that are typically organic in nature. Frizanna Leadlegs
Deep Gnome Female. A mycologist from Blingdenstone, Frizanna carries a large supply of the mushrooms growing in the region. With the persistent dangers of the tunnels of the Underdark, she is willing to pay well for supplies brought in by travelers. Brulk
Bugbear Male. Though he serves alongside his fellow bugbears as mercenaries, Brulk's true passion is cooking. When he is not working a job, he runs a simple food cart selling kebabs of fish and rothe. Bibble
Kuo-toa Male. Though the kuo-toa do not typically have much business in Mantol-Derith when an extra boat is available, Bibble brings it to the Darklake dock to provide transportation to those who dare venture the journey.Mantol-Derith
Citizens:
Kinyel Druu'giirFemale Drow. Well known to have been exiled from Menzoberranzan for a failed assassination attempt. She now makes ends meet as a mercenary, bodyguard, and protector. Ghazrim DuLoc
Human Male. Leads the garrison of Zhentarim forces in the city. From a noble family, but carries a disdain for much of the aristocracy of his home in Amn. Lorthuun
Beholder. A dedicated member of the Zhetarim, Lorthuun has been involved in keeping the peace during several trade disputes which have nearly broken out over the last years. Zilchyn Q'Leptin
Drow Male. A once respected wizard in Menzoberranzan, Zilchyn was found guilty of stealing components materials and forced to escape the city, losing his spellbook in the process. Along the way, he woke to find his camp ravaged by a black ooze and bears the scars of the encounter. Having recently arrived in the city, Zilchyn hopes to have a fresh start at life providing simple spells to benefit merchants and travelers. Sladis Vadir
High Elf Male. Member of the Emerald Enclave, Sladis has always been fascinated by the Underdark and its unique biomes. He treats Mantol-Derith as his home base when he is not patrolling the wild edges of the city's winding paths. Rystia Zav
Human Female. A fledgling member of the Zhentarim in the city. Brilmara and Horgar Strongpour
Duergar Female and Male. The married couple who own and operate the Nameless Inn, a tavern and inn designed to suit the comforts and expectations of surface dwellers who find themselves in town on business. As such, prices are often quite high, but so is the level of comfort in the bed chambers. Svuzzekt
Illithid. Operating the teleportation circle at the top of "Illithid Tower", Svuzzekt trades favors for secrets and is fascinated by the inner workings of the creatures around him.
Merchants
ClankerDuergar Male. A boisterous merchant who wears chains around his shoulders throughout the day cause he "likes the way they sound when they clang together." Beyond the finely crafted chains, Clanker is the go-to source for many basic traveling supplies necessary in the Underdark. Gak Fixen
Gnome Male. A soft-spoken surface dweller among the Underdark denizens, Gak makes his wages selling instruments, all of which he is proficient with, and performing in the Nameless Inn for travelers who are more accustomed to the surface race's sense of culture and entertainment. As a result, he is often a source of news for those who do not interact with the surface dwellers regularly. Ghuldur Flagonfist
Duergar Male. A local leader amongst the Duergar, Ghuldar operates a shop selling a variety of wares including armor, arrowheads, locks, mining and smithing equipment. As a hobby, Ghuldur enjoys fishing off the docks of Darklake and smokes his catches, using the inviting scent to attract customers. Kurken Garshorn
Duergar Male. Exiled from his home of Gracklstugh for reasons he keeps to himself, Kurken works quietly in crafting the armor Ghuldur sells. Tawar Kroul
Human Male. A representative among the merchant's for humans of the surface, Tawar sold wine and spirits and any ales he could have shipped into the trade port. Krimgol Muzgardt
Duergar Male. An ale merchant who ships in his product from Gracklstugh frequently and supplies much of the drink served in the Nameless Inn. Addan Orshill
Human Male. An armor merchant hailing originally from Silverymoon. While once readily accepted amongst his peers, he finds himself out of favor with many other merchants after rumors of him stealing raw materials from other craftsmen surfaced. Mara Orshill
Human Female. The estranged wife of Addan, Mara is a clothing and textile merchant in the city. Kassawar Plickenstint
Deep Gnome Male. Merchant representative of the recently revitalized city of Blingdenstone, Kassawar sells odds and ends from his home including scrolls, magical artifacts, spell components, and gems. Hadrogh Prohl
Drow Male. An elder drow walking with a cane and wearing a patch over his left eye, Hadrogh is one of the prominent slave traders in the city. Effran Redspur
Duergar Female. Effran makes the bulk of her business traveling through the Underdark as a merchant, but keeps a stand open when she remains in town. Grimmdar Szort
Duergar Male. Though considered rude and dismissive by his peers, there are few who wouldn't readily say Grimmdar is the best weapons smith in town. Zarell Tahaladar
Drow Female. Boasting a large collection of books and scrolls, Zarell manages a vast network of trade partners from both the Underdark and surface to keep her shelves stocked. Quite passionate about knowledge, she often has trouble parting with any book she hasn't gotten around to reading yet. Aphras Tirin
Drow Female. An alchemist primarily, Aphras sells her personally brewed potions, poisons, and spell components that are typically organic in nature. Frizanna Leadlegs
Deep Gnome Female. A mycologist from Blingdenstone, Frizanna carries a large supply of the mushrooms growing in the region. With the persistent dangers of the tunnels of the Underdark, she is willing to pay well for supplies brought in by travelers. Brulk
Bugbear Male. Though he serves alongside his fellow bugbears as mercenaries, Brulk's true passion is cooking. When he is not working a job, he runs a simple food cart selling kebabs of fish and rothe. Bibble
Kuo-toa Male. Though the kuo-toa do not typically have much business in Mantol-Derith when an extra boat is available, Bibble brings it to the Darklake dock to provide transportation to those who dare venture the journey.Mantol-Derith
Demographics
Territory in the city is split relatively evenly between the four major factions: the Drow, the Deep Gnomes, the Duergar, and the Bugbear mercenaries. In addition, a small contingent of surface dwellers and other Underdark denizens call the trading outpost home.
Government
The city does not have a formal form of governance, but a leader from each of the four major factions is appointment to solve disputes when they arise.
The only certain laws of the city are the strict prohibition of magic used in altering goods for sale, trade negotiations, or disguising one's self through magic.
Defences
The trade outpost is heavily guarded with two sets of permanent mercenary guards in the form of the Zhentarim and the bugbear forces.
Industry & Trade
A tradehub for much of the Underdark, Mantol-Derith is one of the few bustling economies below the surface.
Guilds and Factions
The Zhentarim is the only surface organization with a strong presence within the city, although the Emerald Enclave keeps a member deployed to the region and it is rumored the Harpers have sympathetic surface dwellers living among the citizens.
Geography
Settled in a naturally formed cavern, the city's proximity to the Darklake means much of the cavern is filled with small rivers, waterfalls, and pools of still water. The city is built on a series of tunnels and bridges, using the highest parts of the cavern for the market and residences.
Natural Resources
The Darklake provides a multitude of fish, and the naturally growing mushrooms which bloom in the central market are harvested for their nutritious internal stalks.
Type
Trade post
Population
A few hundred
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