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Menzoberranzan

Dungeon in Cold Wood, The Silver Marches · the City of Spiders

Menzoberranzan is the most famous drow city of the Underdark, carved into a vast cavern deep beneath the Silver Marches and ruled by priestesses of Lolth.

In a vast cavern, castles carved from stalagmites glow with faerie fire, spider silk glitters in the dark, and every silence hides a knife.

Menzoberranzan at a glance

Also known as
the City of Spiders, the Jewel of the Underdark
Type & size
Great drow city in the Underdark, About 20,000 drow and 40,000 slaves (1370 DR)
Allegiance & rule
  • Allegiance: Lolth, the Spider Queen, and the noble houses that serve her
  • Ruled by: Nominally the Ruling Council of the matron mothers of the greatest houses; in practice House Baenre
People & culture
Drow nobles and commoners, with countless slaves of other races; cruel, scheming and ruled by priestesses
Key exports & trade
  • Poisons and spell scrolls
  • Mushrooms, wine and water
  • Riding lizards and slaves

Overview

Menzoberranzan lies about two miles beneath the Surbrin valley, between the Moonwood and the Frost Hills, linked by tunnels to the surface and to Mithral Hall. Its noble houses live in fortresses carved from great stalagmites and stalactites, and the city is ruled by the matron mothers of its most powerful houses.

Its society is built on the worship of Lolth and on endless rivalry: houses rise by destroying each other, and anything is allowed as long as no one is caught. The drow academies train the city's priestesses, wizards and warriors.

In adventures

Menzoberranzan is the home city of Drizzt Do'Urden and a key place in Out of the Abyss. Few surface adventurers enter it and leave alive.

On the map

Map of Menzoberranzan and the land around it on the Sword Coast
Menzoberranzan at the centre, about 470 miles across.Open the interactive map

Regions nearby

Nearby places

Distances as the crow flies, measured on our map.

Sources

Description written by justroll. Forgotten Realms and its places are property of Wizards of the Coast. justroll is unofficial fan content, not approved or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.