**Title:** The City of Shadowed Spires **Type:** Drow Underdark Metropolis **Location:** Beneath North [[Angoria]], woven deep into a canyon-sized chasm known as the Veiled Abyss **Affiliation:** Formerly ruled by Matron Shalynth Duskthorn; now fractured following her death --- ## Description Zirith'Morra is an ancient and formidable **Drow city**, carved into and across the massive stone walls of the **Veiled Abyss**, an immense vertical chasm hidden deep beneath the mountains of [[North Angoria|North Angoria]]. The city spirals around the void in levels of black-onyx walkways, hanging towers, magical elevators, and bridges strung like spiderwebs over the abyssal dark. Bio-luminescent fungi, arcane braziers, and eerie soul-lights illuminate the paths, giving the entire city an otherworldly glow. Above all, **Zirith'Morra is a city of secrets**, where magic and deception are tools of governance. --- ## Government & Society - Originally ruled by [[Xalyth Drezz'Vhun]], who held authority through fear, arcane supremacy, and assassination. - Power has splintered since her death by the black dragon, with factions of priestesses, assassins, and noble houses vying for dominance. - Houses in Zirith'Morra are built around **matriarchal rule**, arcane prowess, and divine favor (primarily from Lolth or other underdark deities). - The **[[Council of Shadows]]**, a hidden assembly of noble advisors and magical wardens, may still manipulate the city’s deeper operations. --- ## Key Features - **House Duskthorn Spire:** Former estate of [[Xalyth Drezz'Vhun]]; now in lockdown, possibly harboring secrets or magical vaults. - **Silken Markets:** Trade hubs of poisons, forbidden scrolls, enchanted daggers, and exotic slaves. - **The Whisperways:** Tunnels and shadow corridors only accessible through magical alignment, used by assassins and spies. --- ## Known NPCs - **[[Xalyth Drezz'Vhun]]** _(Deceased)_ – Former ruler, killed by a black dragon (possibly due to [[Talon Whisperwind|Talon]]’s manipulation). - **Lith Shacar** – Former elite assassin of the city; now aligned with Serina Warefox and opposed to [[Anam]]. - **Sheba** – Another rogue Bride who caused destruction during the Drow fallout. - **[[Council of Shadows]]** – Secretive ruling body possibly seeking to fill the vacuum left by Shalynth’s death. --- ## Role in the Campaign - The Drow of Zirith'Morra **stole the [[Shield of the Gods]] fragment** from the Storm Giants before being slaughtered by Cloud Giant forces. - The party discovered **20 dead Drow assassins** in the forest, their mission interrupted by outside forces. - The city is now in **chaos**, a powder keg of arcane conspiracies and shifting power. - The players may be drawn into **diplomatic or combative engagements** depending on their choices and allegiances. --- ## Themes and Tone - Deception, ambition, betrayal, and the desperation of a once-absolute regime falling into darkness. - A perfect location for **espionage missions, artifact recovery, rescue of imprisoned allies, or assassination quests**.