Deep Spire

Deep Spire is a trading settlement carved into a large column of rock rising from the sea. Once just a pillar of rock, a clan of Underdark Orcs decided it would serve as their future home, carving out a settlement through it. The Broken Spine Clan turned the pillar into a fortress, which grew into a trading hub for the entire Black Loch.

## History

### Founding

The Broken Spire Clan was once just a nomad raiding clan like many other Underdark Orcs. Attacking ships and looting coastal settlement in the deep, they lived aboard their ships and spent their lives on the sea. Under the successful leadership of Hakar Sea-Scourge the Broken Spines amassed a fortune. Hakar the ambitious wanted more for his tribe than nomadic raiding. His idea for a home port was a risky one. Their mobile society had always been a key to their survival. Settling down allowed their victims to more easily seek retribution against them. It would be a port in secret. As half the clan began work excavating the column of rock the other half would prowl the waters nearby, ensuring no passing ship would survive to report what they saw. When enough was excavated to allow enough space for them and their ships they contracted a Svirfneblin to cast their illusory magic, to conceal the settlement from the outside.

### Co-Rulership

For some reason the Svirfneblin magic failed roughly 40 years after being cast, exposing the location to the seaborne raiders enemies. The nearby Kou-Toa settlements—long considered easy prey by the clan, began organizing a war host to rid themselves of the raiders once and for all.

The Orcs were saved through and unlikely alliance. Within the Drow city of Vlyn'darastyl, the largest settlement within the Black Loch, a civil war was boiling. House Vaerixas, led by Matron Ysri, one of the great houses of the city were betrayed, outsmarted and thrown out of the city in a single night. A none too uncommon occurrence in Drow society, but one that occurred at just the right time. A displaced great Drow Noble House, and a fortification in need of defenders. It did not take long for the two leaders to reach an accord, and House Vaerixas was made co-rules of the Deep Spire. The two disparate forces united were more than enough to send the Kua-Toa scurrying.

### Open Secret

With the Deep Spire revealed to the Black Loch, its inhabitants could expand more quickly without worry of being discovered. The defenses were greatly improved by hired Duergar miners, as secrecy was no longer the bulwark it used to be. With the combined naval power of the Orcs with the martial prowess of the Drow knights they kept their enemies at bay. This let the Orcs raid with impunity and the Drow a safe place to re-group.

### Mercantile Focus

With the sudden influx of additional inhabitants the resources of the spire began to dwindle. Raiding would not be enough to supply them all. Something would need to change. The suggestion was controversial, but lieu of other options other than slow decline, it was put into trial. The Deep Spire would be converted into a settlement. They would allow others to come and settle in the city, as well as invite merchants to do business. For this all to work, the Orc piracy would have to stop. This was the crux of the issue and only the lack of a ban on raiding even allowed it to be put into trail.

Despite it all it worked, merchants came quickly, selling supplies in exchange for Orc plunder. Turning the captured plunder from raids had always been a headache for the Orcs, one now easily solved. Settlers arrived more slowly. At first were Duergar and Svirfneblin, who excavated their own home, and soon made a business excavation homes for others. Later, traders and craftsmen came in, a tavern was opened and a small community began to form.

As word got out that the spire was allowing settlers of any race to settle, a rarity in the Underdark, the population began to increase steadily. Many simply didn't conform to the strict expectations of the societies they left. Over time the spire gained a reputation for being the home of misfits and outcasts, some calling it "the Exiles' Tower".

## The Spire Today

Warlord-Captain Hakar Sea-Scourge is long dead, the current leader of Clan Broken Spine being Warlord Vorrikus. Warlord Varrikus is young and ambitious who wants to expand his clans holdings beyond the spire. This has brought him into conflict with Matron Ysri, who sees his ideas as too risky. Their reliance on each other seeing their fates intertwined.

Ysri herself continues her plans for vengence, as she has done the day she was forced to leave Vlyn'darastyl. She is accumulating money, resources, arms and alliences in preperation for the day whe nshe will return and reclaim her rightful place among the great houses of the city, and maybe even more. No one except Ysri knows how close this day might be.

## Tiers

Currently the spire has six tiers, as well as several other area.

### First Tier

The Harbor, housed in a large chamber below the spire. The 25 foot high ceiling of the chamber is not a problem as the ships of the Underdark do not use winds for propulsion, and thus does not have sails nor masts.

### Second Tier

Most of the spire's businesses are on this tier, which is devoted to trade and commerce. The tavern here is where most of the visiting sailors come to drink.

### Third Tier

This tier is largely populated by Duergar. A mushroom farm and a brewery are located here. These are the spire's only internally-produced sources of food and alcohol.

### Fourth Tier

This tier is predominantly populated by Svirfneblin. This is the site of many gem workshops. The local tavern is intentionally located in a place that makes it hard for outsiders to find.

### Fifth Tier

This tier is entirely occupied by the Drow nobles of House Vaerixas.

### Sixth Tier

This is the barracks for both the raiders of Clan Broken Spine and also the Knights of the Dark Song of House Vaerixas.

### The Citadel

Connected to the Sixth Tier by a drawbridge, this is the home of the Clan Broken Spine leader, Warlord Vorrikus.

### The Harbor Tower

This outlying rock formation has been turned into a defensive tower to watch over the Harbor Entrance. The local jail is on the lower levels. A bridge connects the tower to the Second Tier.

### The Grotto

A small pond has formed here which is used as a public bath. The entrance is a stairway leading down from the Second Tier.