Menzoberranzan Menzoberranzan , the City of Spiders , was a large underground drow city - state in the Upper Northdark . Menzoberranzan was possibly the most well known drow city in Faerûn . It was the home of Drizzt Do ' Urden , and many of his early adventures dealt with the political intrigue and characters of the city . It was located in the Upper Northdark , about 3 . 2km ( 2 miles ) below the Surbrin Valley , between the Moonwood and the Frost Hills . It was quite close to Mithral Hall and was connected through tunnels to that settlement . Other tunnels led to the surface , namely in the Moonwood and on the western edge of the High Forest . Drygully Tunnel was a tunnel leading from the Underdark near Menzoberranzan to the surface . The deep gnome city Blingdenstone was located about 45 miles to the west of Menzoberranzan . Ched Nasad was some distance to the southwest on the other side of Araumycos , a journey of several tendays from Menzoberranzan . The path through Ammarindar was the quickest journey between Menzoberranzan and Ched Nasad , but it was less traveled because of the danger that lurked there . Structure . Menzoberranzan was located in a huge arrowhead - shaped cavern , some two miles wide and a thousand feet high . The city was mainly carved from calcite and it was filled with blue , green , and violet faerie fire . Buildings were often covered with the city ' s main motif : the spider , in honor of Lolth . The roof of Menzoberranzan was covered in paths . Some homes were 1 , 000 feet above the floor . Ceiling houses had to have great magic to prevent them from falling , and many were empty . An enchantment in the city cavern reduced echos from all the noise . There were a fixed number of buildings in Menzoberrazan , meaning that the poorer areas were extremely crowded . Noble houses , once destroyed or abandoned , were not permitted to be reoccupied , meaning that there were a number of abandoned compounds both on the surface and roof of the city cavern . The city had around a hundred gates , all guarded . These gates led into the myriad tunnels surrounding the city ( collectively called the " Bauthwaf " ) . One of the most distinct structures in the city was the pillar - clock called Narbondel . It was enchanted each morning by the Archmage of Menzoberranzan 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 ) . History . Founding . Menzoberra the Kinless , a powerful priestess of Lolth , founded the city that bears her name in - 3917 DR . By the wishes of Lady Lolth , she led seven drow families into the Northdark from the city of Golothaer , one of the southerly drow holdings of Great Bhaerynden . Their goal was to escape from the constant warring between factions who venerated Lolth and those that worshiped Ghaunadaur . Lolth aided them on their journey directly via dream - sendings , but only when it seemed like all hope was lost . After battling several of the Underdark ' s natives , including a conflict with a clan of dwarves to whom they lost half their number , they slew a bindip in - 3917 DR that claimed a huge natural cave as its lair . The surviving drow took up residence in this cave , naming it after their leader . The original seven drow families , having no immediate external enemy , fell to attacking and undermining one another — exactly what they had hoped to escape - - to the greater glory of their evil goddess , who loved chaos . Only fifty years after the city ' s founding , in - 3864 DR , a great and terrible battle between the two most powerful Houses , House Nasadra and House Thaeyalla , occurred . This battle led to the collapse of a cavern wall that destroyed four houses and killed Menzoberra . The perpetrators , House Nasadra , were attacked by House S ' sril and House Baenre chose to side with them against Nasadra . House Nasadra were banished from the cave on the orders of Lolth , who ordered them to establish a second city in her name ( which would come , a few decades later , to be called Ched Nasad , and House Nasadra was still the First House there until the city ' s destruction ) and for the two cities to maintain an amicable relationship . House Baenre then rose as the First House of Menzoberranzan . The city ' s internal machinations continued unabated for millennia . The Houses that grow weak were destroyed , and newer Houses rose up to find Lolth ' s favor . The full history of each House would constitute a nearly endless logbook of treachery , spite , and unceasing ambition . 13th and 14th centuries DR . In the 13th and 14th centuries DR , this pattern seemed to have accelerated . House Do ' Urden ascended from the Tenth House to the Ninth House by destroying the Fourth House , House DeVir in 1297 DR . However House Hun ' ett took in the last DeVir survivor , an act which prompted a cold war between the two houses lasting decades . Finally in 1327 DR House Hun ' ett attacked House Do ' Urden with the latter narrowly winning due to the much - needed aid of Jarlaxle ' s mercenary band Bregan D ' aerthe . Thus did House Do ' Urden ascend to the Eighth House , although that status lasted only a mere year . House Do ' Urden lost the favor of Lolth due to the rebellion of Drizzt Do ' Urden , for the last time , when Matron Malice Do ' Urden failed to kill Drizzt with Zaknafein Do ' Urden after transforming him with Zin - carla . This resulted in House Baenre utterly destroying House Do ' Urden in 1328 DR . In 1359 DR , during the Time of Troubles , House Oblodra , the Third House , aspired to become the First House of Menzoberranzan . Menzoberranzan was caught in a dead - magic zone , so magic did not work there . House Oblodra , however , was gifted in the rare art of psionics and seized upon this opportunity to strike at the other Houses . The matron of House Oblodra nearly reached her goal , but an avatar of Lolth answered Matron Baenre ' s pleas for help and came to Menzoberranzan after the Time of Troubles had ended . Although she loved chaos , she did not wish to see a House that did not whisper prayer to her to rule the city . Foreseeing her temporary loss of power due to the Time of Troubles , Lolth had asked the demon Errtu to protect her worshipers , should she herself fail to do it . She opened a portal for Errtu and his host of demons to lay siege to House Oblodra . By the time the Time of Troubles had passed , Lolth was restored to full power and single - handedly crushed House Oblodra , the remains of their stronghold being pushed into a deep chasm known as the Clawrift , and Matron Oblodra ' s spirit went to Errtu for eternal torment . Thus the ranks of the ruling Houses changed once again . All this she said was done for her greatest high priestess ( although it was really done for herself ) , the two thousand - year - old Matron Yvonnel Baenre . All Houses in the city witnessed this great miracle and knew that House Baenre was the most favored House of the goddess . In celebration , the city marched upon Mithral Hall in 1358 DR , viciously attacking the dwarfhold in what would be known as the Battle of Keeper ' s Dale . The drow lost the battle and the retreat was sounded after Matron Baenre herself was felled by Bruenor Battlehammer ' s axe . It was estimated that half of the city ' s 20 , 000 drow marched on Mithral Hall , but an unknown number returned , although some estimates said that 2 , 000 drow were killed and 4 , 000 slaves were lost . In addition , many of the city ' s slaves had been used as fodder , leading to a dearth of agriculture . Upon the army ' s return , the city had been badly weakened and its leadership was in chaos . Yvonnel ' s eldest daughter Triel took her mother ' s place as leader of the city but faced many hardships during her time in power . Despite an early victory against Blingdenstone in 1371 DR , the constant infighting between the noble houses resulted in a rapid depopulation of the drow citizens of the city . Lolth herself expressed her displeasure and imposed a forced Peace of Lolth in 1361 DR among the city ' s populace until Menzoberranzan ' s numbers had been restored . Silence of Lolth . In 1372 DR , not long after the peace was lifted , the Silence of Lolth began when Lolth stopped answering her priestesses ' calls and granting them spells . The city was beset by a slave revolt . A number of disillusioned drow males , drider s , and slaves banded together under the rule of the illithilich Syrzan in an attempt to weaken and take over the city . However , the plot was unraveled by Pharaun Mizzrym and Ryld Argith , who had been investigating the missing males , but not before the revolt began on Marpenoth 20 and great damage was done to the city due to stonefire flasks and slain slaves . The masters of Sorcere were able to cast a ritual spell to summon lightning and rain that ended the revolt . Almost immediately thereafter , a duergar army led by King Horgar Steelshadow of Gracklstugh and helped by Nimor Imphraezl of the Jaezred Chaulssin marched to attack the city . The most powerful houses mustered the Army of the Black Spider to meet the opposing army at the Pillars of Woe , where the duergar were joined by the traitorous contingent of House Agrach Dyrr and the Scoured Legion of Kaanyr Vhok . The Army of the Black Spider was soundly defeated and forced to escape back to the city . Menzoberranzan was then besieged by the invading army on Uktar 15 , 1372 DR . The Siege of Menzoberranzan was costly but when the Silence of Lolth ended several months later , Menzoberranzan ' s defenders turned the tide of the battle and drew victory from defeat . The Scoured Legion left the city on Ches 30 , 1373 DR . Menzoberranzan returned to form quickly . Quenthel Baenre killed her older sister Triel , taking her place as leader of House Baenre and eventually the city returned to the kind of life it had seen for the 5 , 000 years before the failed invasion of Mithral Hall , the only change perhaps would be the solidification of Lolth ' s worship after the deaths of her deific rivals in the years following her Silence . Inhabitants . In 1370 DR , there were approximately 20 , 000 drow in the city , with 1 , 000 of them considered nobles of the 60 - 70 noble houses . Slaves included bugbear s , goblin s , ogre s , ogrillon s , orc s , minotaur s , quaggoth s , troll s , and kobold s . According to Liriel Baenre in 1361 DR , human slaves were rare in Menzoberranzan , but not unheard of . In 1372 , the city had 32 , 000 inhabitants — approximately one - third drow and the rest humanoid slaves , namely orc s , kobold s , gnoll s , human s , and the occasional illithid . During the Rage of Demons ( 1480s DR ) , the city was back to 20 , 000 drow . As many 1 , 200 visitors might have been in the city at one time , including beholder s , deep dragon s , illithid s , naga , and fiend s . Trade . The city exported poisons , mushrooms , riding lizard s , spell scrolls , wine , and water ( clean water could be hard to come by in the Underdark ) . Other goods included body dyes , chains , everdark ink from deep dragon scales , giant slugs , herbal medicines , kayaks , musical instruments ( flutes , drums ) , obsidian carvings ( often used for sacrifices ) , perfumes , spells , spiced sausages , stone sculptures , surgical services , textiles , tortoiseshell goods , and ulaver wine . The city imported produce ( surface and Underdark ) , shellfish , slaves , and textiles . The neighboring drow city of Ched Nasad provided fully half of Menzoberranzan ' s goods . Various currencies were accepted in Menzoberranzan . Coins came in many shapes , including round , square , triangular , ring - , and spider - shaped coins . The greatest dozen houses in Menzoberrzan minted the coins . For example , House Baenre minted their own coins with the Baenre emblem , which were accepted throughout the city . Government . The city had many different factions , or Houses , all of which vied for power . As it was a matriarchal society , however , only females truly held power . Officially , the city was under the rule of the Ruling Council of Eight , composed of the eight matron mother s of the first ( and most powerful ) eight houses . For many centuries — as long any living drow could remember — it was under the indirect rule of House Baenre which was governed by Matron Mother Yvonnel Baenre , also known as Old Matron Baenre , perhaps the most powerful de facto ruler the city ever saw . House Baenre had been the First House of Menzoberrazan for centuries of uncontested power . Although drow culture was matriarchal , a few male drow in the city held some political power , including Gromph Baenre , the archmage of the city , and Jarlaxle , leader of the mercenary band Bregan D ' aerthe , which was often utilized by House Baenre . A separate council of mages dealt with affairs of the arcane — but as its members were all male , it was wholly within the grip of the matron mothers . Defenses . Menzoberranzan was guarded by huge magical jade spider constructs . The two dozen or so most powerful houses were able to muster an army , such as the Army of the Black Spider in 1372 DR , to defend the city at times of need . Culture . Religion . The worship of Lolth was prevalent , and the worship of any other deity was forbidden . However , there were a number of secret ( mainly male ) worshipers of Vhaeraun . The Academy . The Academy of Menzoberranzan was located in Tier Breche and was composed of three schools : Arach - Tinilith , the clerical school ; Sorcere , the wizards ' school ; and Melee - Magthere , the warriors ' school . Tier Breche and Qu ' ellarz ' orl ( see below ) were considered the " two heads " ( most important unifying parts ) of Menzoberranzan . Food and drink . Local food was primarily produced in and around Lake Donigarten . The Isle of Rothe in the lake housed the city ' s rothe herds , managed by House Hunzrin , which provided rothe cheese and meat to the city . The area in and around Donigarten also housed moss fields , giant mushrooms , fungus farms , fish , and orc and goblin slaves . " 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 Menzoberranzan 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 . There was also lace fungus brandy and some drow favored duergar brandy . Entertainment . Entertainment was perhaps not the most obvious word connected with Menzoberranzan , but the city nevertheless provided recreation and relaxation ( as much as possible ) to its ( drow ) 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 . " Houses of delights , " massage parlors , and public bath houses , all of which were usually manned by slaves , offered their services . Well - to - do drow , particularly nobles who were not busy plotting to overthrow their rivals or guarding against usurpers of their positions , were fond of wild parties and dances . Sava was a popular chess - like game that represented war between noble houses . It was often played in taverns . Another notable past time in Menzoberranzan was the plotting and carrying out of pranks . Customs . Because the drow worshiped Lolth , the Spider Queen , killing spiders ( even unintentionally ) was punishable by death by the law of Lolth . By law , parties had to end at start of new day ( the " Black Death of Narbondel " , or midnight ) . Dancing while armed was considered an insult ( as well as being hazardous ) , so dances , particularly the frenzied " nedeira " , were usually performed sans clothing . Death ( usually by intrigue ) was widespread in Menzoberranzan . The dead were usually placed in airtight stone crypts in the solid rock north of the city cavern so that they could later be reanimated as battle fodder . Only priestesses were cremated to prevent such a thing occurring to their corpses . " Rock , knife , and parchment " was game in Menzoberranzan after the manner of " rock , paper , scissors . " Sick and outlaw drow lived here , along with the many non - drow inhabitants of the city . This was definitely the slum of Menzoberranzan . Drunken drow sometimes hunted in this area , killing any and all who couldn ' t hide themselves . Most commoners , including mercenaries and lesser merchants , lived in this neighborhood . While better than the Braeryn , Eastmyr was still where you would find many poor and outlaw drow and non - drow of no discernible means . Despite the lack of wealthy residents , House Hunzrin and House Kenafin were based here . Home of the well - off commoners of the city , as well as wealthy non - drow . Tradesfolk and their shops / businesses were mostly found here . Most Menzoberranyr came from this area and it was the most varied and tolerant district in the entire city . It was located near Tier Breche . House Auvryndar was located here . This was the home of the wealthy and up - and - coming drow houses . No fewer than seven existing powerful noble houses and several of the most luxurious and profitable of businesses were located in this neighborhood . The best gems and perfumes could be found here , as well as the city ' s moneylenders . Narbondellyn was stretched out in front of Qu ' ellarz ' orl . The West Wall was covered in the fortresses of more minor noble houses and the proudest of the non - noble drow families . Elstearn ' s Escorts provided attractive drow of either sex to escort those who desired them or to act as tour guides to visitors . Menzoberranzan ' s embassy with Ched Nasad was located in the West Wall . This plateau was located in the southwestern corner of the city and was screened from the rest of the city by a forest of giant mushrooms . Contrary to the rest of the city , Qu ' ellarz ' orl was spacious and bare , no crowds were found here , nor any businesses . The space that was occupied was dominated by the most powerful noble houses : House Baenre , House Mizzrym , House Barrison Del ' Armgo , and House Agrach Dyrr . The location of the three academies of Menzoberranzan : Arach - Tinilith , Sorcere and Melee - Magthere . It was the highest point in the city and was protected by two giant spider statues that could be animated to protect the academy . It was located in a side cavern on the northern side of the city . The area around Lake Donigarten in the eastern side of the cavern was nearly uninhabited but was the source of all of Menzoberranzan ' s food . A rocky outcropping shaped like a claw on the end of a long arm situated between the Bazaar and Eastmyr . The ancient tunnels and walkways dug into the rock were used by House Oblodra to house their hundreds of kobold slaves , but was later infested by undead . Bregan D ' aerthe maintained a base here . A permanent market located in Duthcloim . Nearly anything could be bought here , for a price . It was also the location of many unlicensed and illicit activities . Traders in the Bazaar had to shift locations every 66 days . The council chambers were located in a small cavern off of the main city cavern and were where the Ruling Council met to discuss important matters . In the council chambers was the Hall of Petition . Outside that was a waiting room . Only those commanded to come were able to come . The floor was made of black marble and on the walls were friezes of Menzoberranzan ' s founding . This freshwater lake in the eastern side of the cavern was the source of much food in the city . A small amount of fishing was done in Lake Donigarten and , on an islet in the middle of said lake , the city ' s supply of deep rothé were kept , looked after by orc s and goblin s . House Hunzrin tended the rothé herds on the Isle of Rothé that fed the city . A few twisted passages and side caverns accessible from the main cavern could be found in the Mantle , actually part of the Dark Dominion but close enough to the city proper for residents to build homes . Organizations in Menzoberranzan . Several non - House organizations operated in Menzoberranzan , including All of the tunnels within an 8km ( 5 mile ) radius of the city were known as the Dark Dominion ; the nearest ones leading to the city were known as the " Bauthwaf " ( meaning " around cloak " ) Drow patrols were a constant presence of the region . They searched for banned creatures , monsters and surface elves and challenged them once spotted . A few guard outposts could also be found in these tunnels . At least ten of the tunnels that started here led to the surface . One that led straight past Blingdenstone and into Mithral Hall and one that led to the High Forest were the two most commonly used . The Dark Dominion was full of dangerous magical radiation known as " Faerzress " . The Cavern of Severed Tentacles and Ablonshier ' s Cave were caverns southeast of Menzoberranzan . About six days ' travel on foot from Menzoberranzan was a large " Faerzress " - free cavern . Most people who wanted to teleport to the city aimed for this cave and a few keyed two - way portals could be found here , along with a waterfall that provided free fresh water . Several noble houses had permanent scrying sensors here though they made pains to seem like they didn ' t care about the place . A cave with magical crystals only accessible via a river . Home to the deep dragon Zz ' Pzora until her death in 1361 DR . It was a " Faerzress " location . Appendix . Notes . The pronunciation of Menzoberranzan is given as " " men - zo - BEAR - an - zon " . " Appearances . Novels . Legend of Drizzt : Starlight & Shadows : War of the Spider Queen : Neverwinter Saga : Companions Codex : Homecoming