Izerath

Izerath is the capital city of the Dwin dark elves of Dwinmir. The city exists underground located in the mountains of the Grey Range.

## Places

Izerath is divided into two main parts: The Upper City and the Under City. Both parts have a roughly equal number of inhabitants.

### Upper City

The Upper City is located in a large cavernous expanse with towers and buildings built into the cave's natural framework, creating an elegant and beautiful cityscape. Gardens full of subterranean flora embellish the streets and the architecture is adorned with patterns and murals that show the best of Dwin artistic talent. The Upper City sits on the banks of an expansive underground reservoir called Lake Cath which provides pristine water to the city. The water level of Lake Cath often rise and lower and thus no buildings are built close to the water level. Canals consisting of water which is preassured upwards from Lake Cathrun through the city, segmenting the city into various island blocks. The upper city is mainly inhabited by the citizen class and the elites, with the only slaves and laborers being servants and housekeepers. Dwin overwhelmingly make up the population of the Upper City.

#### The Shadow Court

The Shadow Court is the main government facility used by the High Matron and the Shadow Council. It sits near Lake Cath and consists of a walled area filled with lush gardens, gazebos and administrative buildings. The main building here is the Cylindome, a round tower capped with a dome window on top. The Cylindome hosts the High Matron and the most important political gatherings take place at the Whispering Chamber at the ground floor.

#### Spire of Cath

The spire of Cath is the main academy for arcane and religious studies. Here, wizards, clerics and paladin's receive education in their arts. The Spire is viewed as one of the most prestigious institutions due to the prevalence of magic in elite circles of Dwin society, with many high-ranking members of Dwinmir having once studied here.

#### Sanctuary of Cath

The largest temple in Izerath, dedicated to the Nocturnal mother Cath. Many of the city's major religious ceremonies and celebrations take place here. Newly elected High Matrons come here to pledge their devotion to Cath and are baptized in the holy fountains within the temple.

#### Tribunal of Judgement

A court of law which handles criminal disputes. The Tribunal hands out sentences and punishments and is known for being highly punitive. Most cases against low-ranking members of society and slaves tend to be handled quickly with a high rate of conviction. Cases against high-ranking members of society tend to be more thorough and undergo more scrutiny.

#### The Nexus

A fortification that protects the main entrance to Izerath. It consists of a fortress with a draw bridge which leads out of the city towards a large complex containing various pathways to other parts underground and a lift system going towards the overground surface.

#### The Night Gardens

The largest park in the city. The park is surrounded by a selection of cafes, galleries and culture houses and attracts a wide variety of visitors. It is known to be a favored hangout spot for the young and the bohemian. It is notable for being relatively free of slave labor, with most locals and regular visitors being against slavery.

#### Library of Dhis

The largest library in Izerath. It contains tomes and texts millennia old and its wealth of knowledge is amongst the greatest libraries of the world.

#### The Silver Agora

The main marketplace for slaves in the Upper City. Slaves sold here are well-vetted and of a premium stock and quality and are usually meant for "prestigious" positions, such as housekeepers, bodyguards, tailors and even scribes and personal assistants. As these slaves are supposed to fulfill more skillfully demanding tasks, the purchaser of a slave is also vetted, to make sure that the owner does not abuse or waste the potential of these slaves. Most slaves sold here, although not free, often end up living lives with a higher quality of life and security compared to that of an average peasant.

#### Accalithyn

A district known as the commercial district of Izerath. It contains many stores, markets and places of hospitality.

#### Upper City Establishments

##### The Dripstone

One of Izerath's most well-known and oldest taverns. The Dripstone is build into a cave, featuring an organic architecture based on the original cave layout. The tavern is known for its high-quality dining and beverages based on a mix of local subterranean produce and imported ingredients from the surface woodlands of the Dwinvale.

##### Korlyn's Place

A tavern frequented by the upper class and the elite, located in the center of the Upper City. Korlyn's place is not just a place for lavish dining and drinking but also a place for the elite to mingle and discuss business.

### Under City

The Under City exists below the Upper City. It occupies a network of smaller caves and tunnels. People here live in much more squalid conditions and the racial makeup is much more diverse thanks to the many slaves and laborers living here. Dwin dark elves living here mainly consist of the lower classes or taskmaster who deal with management of slave labor. Crime is common and a large black economy dominates the Under City. The least valuable slaves are sent to the Under City to toil in harsh manual labor, many of whom die from exhaustion after several years of labor, although the labor is easily replaceable thanks to the many cheap slave markets located here.

#### The Meat Market

This morbidly named market is known as the largest slave market in the Under City. The Meat Market remains highly unregulated, with the legality, quality and mistreatment of slaves being of dubious nature. It is the preferred place to acquire cheap disposable slaves for the worst types of labor.

#### The Gnome Quarters

The Gnome Quarters is the main residence of the Deep Gnomes of Izerath. The quarters occupy a larger underground pocket and consists of many terraced stone houses. Their race generally enjoys a more respectable position in society compared to other races, thanks to their craftsmanship and ingenuity. It is the most livable of the Under City quarters and thus also hosts a large dark elf population. The Gnome Quarters hosts many well-regarded blacksmiths, factories and foundries. In spite of the high concentration of heavy industry, the air quality is surprisingly cleaner than most of the Under City thanks to an intricate filtering and sewage system developed by the gnomes.

#### Blackgate

Viewed as the roughest and most dangerous district of the Under City. Inhabited mainly by races perceived as savage by the Dwin, such as orcs, goblins, beastfolk. The only industries of Blackgate are the most menial and harshest of labor, including mines and quarries. Life quality is miserable and slaves living here are viewed as completely expendable. Often, if the Dwin of Izerath have an excess of slaves, they send them here to work them to death in order to cull numbers.

View from the Night GardensGnome Quarters in the Under CityBlackgatePassageway in the Under CitySurrounding caves
## Culture

#### Food

Izerath is surrounded by a large underground network of caves rich in minerals and water. The caves are rich in underground flora which allows it to sustain a large population. The nutritious and edible Bur Mushroom grows in large quantities even without cultivation, providing a stable food resource for inhabitants. Underwater plants are abundant and are a stable of the local cuisine. Many sizable reptilian creatures inhabit the caves, which constitute the main source of meat for Izerath. Giant spiders and insects are also used for food, mostly appreciated by the drow elite.