Ilvarandin

The Vault of Ilvarandin is located in Orv, deepest of the levels of the Darklands. The cavern is a single gigantic city that is largely uninhabited, earning it the title of the Mute Metropolis. At the heart of the Vault is a small inhabited section named High Ilvarandin that is the center of xoarian culture in the Darklands. It is perhaps best known on the surface world through the poem "Ilvarandin" by Vumeshki.

History

The city is ancient—some believe it was built by the Vault Keepers themselves. Its buildings were built in a variety of architectural styles, some of which are apparently unique, but having an ancient Azlanti character. It consists of gigantic plazas, small winding streets, high towers, domes, and arched bridges.

During Earthfall a group of surface elves took refuge in the western part of the ruins but fell prey to xoarians of High Ilvarandin. A handful of elves escaped to the surface and spread tales of Ilvarandin's horrors. The xoarians have since adopted more subtle tactics, spreading word that Ilvarandin is a subterranean utopia in order to lure fresh victims to the city. However, they also attracted unwanted attention. The neothelids of Denebrum have resolved to destroy the xoarians, and their army is now encamped in the northeastern district.

Geography

The Vault of Ilvarandin, located beneath northwestern Cheliax, is hundreds of miles wide and bisected by the Irikusk River. The Vault of Denebrum is to its north, the Midnight Mountains are to the east, Doga-Delloth to the south, and the Sightless Sea to the west. The entire Vault is lit by phosphorescent spores that hang high in the air.

Districts

Ilvarandin is a mostly uninhabited city the size of a country and can be divided into nine major districts, each with its own architectural style and inhabitants.

Ajamote

The collapsed district of Ajamote is inhabited by gugs, making this passage to the Midnight Mountains a risky endeavor.

Aumentral

The region of Aumentral is now controlled by the armies of the neothelids. Its varied architecture is a mix of old Garundi styles and primitive stone buildings. Its main features are a vast chasm and a fungal swamp.

The main inhabitants are the minions of the neothelids—seugathi and worms that walk. There are also drathnelars in the chasm who sometimes risk the dangerous depths to recover gemstones of great quality. They claim the depths of the rift are incredibly hot and home to monstrous ghorazaghs.

A strange fungal version of the shambler lives in the fungal swamp. These creatures often carry other dangerous fungi, such as yellow mold.

Duskport

The waterfront district of Duskport is located where the Irikusk River meets the Sightless Sea. Its inhabitants include drow, hryngars, cambions, mongrelfolk, and humans. There is a temple here to the demon lord Socothbenoth. The district is a gateway to trade across the Sightless Sea and is ruled by a mysterious figure known as the Rakehell.

Otha-Thola

The district of Otha-Thola also stands on the shores of the Sightless Sea, and is south of Duskport. The architecture here is mainly in elven style and extends into the sea, where lacedons have settled. Alghollthus and enslaved ulat-kinis live in the shallow water, while free ulat-kinis live on land. There is a tall plateau in the southern part of the district, which is home to a tribe of mongrelfolk.

Scales

The eastern district is known as the Scales, named after the disease of the same name, which is rife in the district. Much of the architecture is in the serpentfolk style, but there are also massive ruins in the southeast in the style of the cyclopes. The inhabitants of this region are fearsome gugs, led by four large specimens which are actually hosts for xoarians.

Urkalla

The architecture of Urkalla is in the xulgath style. It is currently controlled by urdefhans who have scavenged the buildings for materials to build their fortress of Irith-Arnakian. It is ruled by the warlord Vilthanter, who ensures the safe passage of merchants.

Warrens

The Warrens is Ilvarandin's southern mountain district. The architecture varies, but the two most common styles are dwarven and the style of ancient Thassilon. There are few intelligent creatures here, but the most common are deros, drathnelars, and hryngars. Its main feature is the Builder's Mark, a massive crater three miles in diameter. Great stairs lead down to the bottom of the crater, which appears to hold nothing of interest. According to legend, there is a secret entrance somewhere down there which leads to the personal domain of one of the Vault Builders. The dero mine the crater floor but their progress is hampered by a strange black sludge that seeps into their tunnels; they cart this away and use it to make clay golems.

High Ilvarandin

In contrast to the rest of the city, High Ilvarandin is full of life, if dominated by the xoarians.

Trade

Xoarians are avid consumers of luxury goods, and have a thriving trade with the Denizens of Leng. The black ships of Leng are a familiar sight in Duskport, Ilvarandin's main access to the Sightless Sea, and on the Irikusk River. Other races also trade in Duskport, and land-borne trade mainly arrives from the south via the district of Urkalla.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.