Underdark General Discussion Thread

[Empoweredfan]

Also, despite the fact that "kicking a puppy" may seem just too much, if said eilistreeans are caught dealing with the enemies of Lolth during an event, there isn't much that can be done with them, save perhaps a good old fashioned slaughter in the name of the Spider Queen.

I agree with you. If caught, they should be dealt with properly, as only Drow knows how.

But I do wonder how the followers of Eilistraee's brother are doing these days. (I never remember any other deity names than Eilistraee and Lolth. . . and maybe Helm, and Ilmanter, if I spelled that right,) . . . you know, the masked one. They must be hard at work as well right? A year ago there were several around and about (but there isn't all that many about and around these days . . . ).

without delving too much into detail, I assure you that the Conclave is far from uninvolved with all the recent mess, at least judging from what I have gathered in one of Wretch's events.

Now I really wish that I hadn't wimped out of hearing the whole conversation. =/

[illithid]

Sshamath is a drow city ruled by wizards; the clerics of Lolth play only a minor role here. In stark contrast to many other Underdark cities, especially those controlled by drow, religion is marginalized and even disdained in Sshamath. The Art is king here, and the wizards feel justified in their exclusivity. The quest for personal power made this city what it is and continues to drive it. This pride and the superior attitude it engenders make Sshamath suspect among other drow communities, but its power makes it impossible to dismiss. Sshamath is also home to one of Faerûn's most complete magic item markets.

Sshamath lacks the noble Houses of most other drow cities, but the arcane colleges fill much the same role. Each college has assumed certain privileges and duties within the city, and this arrangement has produced a tangled web of responsibility that can be difficult to unravel. For example, the College of Abjuration is charged with the immediate defense of the city, so it maintains the city guard and provides soldiers to garrison Sshamath's gates. The College of Evocation is charged with scattering threats outside the city walls, so it maintains soldiers that patrol the surrounding tunnels. The College of Enchantment is in charge of the slave markets and overseers, so it sponsors guard detachments who scour Sshamath inside and out for signs of slave unrest or escapes.

Surface elves, humans, and deep Imaskari are not only never kept as slaves by citizens of Sshamath, but any individual from one of these races who displays wizardly knowledge is considered free, regardless of who comes looking for her. Since only drow can be citizens of Sshamath, this policy has created a small, second-class ghetto of human and deep Imaskari residents who are free but not citizens. The Conclave does not allow this segment of society to get large, but it silently recognizes the value of these noncitizens as scapegoats or sacrificial lambs.

Bards, sorcerers, and the practitioners of divine magic are second-class citizens in the City of Dark Weavings. The dark elves of Sshamath view power that occurs naturally or because of service to another creature as inferior to power won through personal achievement.

The traditional Lolth-worshiping drow of House Sshamath founded the city that bears their name in -4973 DR. For two thousand years, the city existed as a typical House-dominated example of drow society. Then a timely conjunction of events predicated a radical shift. First, the faerzress around the city disappeared, severely weakening Sshamath's defenses. Second, a generation that included a great number of wizards and relatively few clerics grew into power. These two events led to a quick, bloody civil war that left all the matriarchs dead and the House wizards in control.

Over time, the wizards' influence on society ushered schools of magic into prominence and the House system into irrelevance. Sshamath's Houses still exist today, but a drow's House is no more meaningful than his tailor - perhaps noteworthy, but essentially unimportant.

Predictably, the silence of Lolth has had no significant effect on this city. A handful of wizards from other cities left their Houses and fled to Sshamath when they discovered their matron mothers had no power to stop them. These wizards have been welcomed into Sshamath but shunted into minor roles in the various schools. It's assumed that some number of them are spies or assassins, so they are watched carefully.

[Rasael]

For the S'shamath update I've added Levitating Skulls around the City: (not live)

This is a levitating skull used by the inhabitants of the City of Dark Weavings to keep track of time in the Underdark. The skulls came into common use around two-hundred years ago, first fashioned by the deserted Menzoberanzan Mage Kal'falius Pharn as a gift to his new home city S'shamath. The skull itself is refashioned from the remains of a mature Umberhulk while the teeth are collected from deceased slaves. The skulls are linked to the Mythal of S'shamath, which keeps track of time in Cycles. The system of cycles replaced the previous method of tracking time through magical sandglasses, which was deemed too inaccurate for the purposes of trade. It is widely known that Kal'falius joined the School of Enchantment to seek protection from retaliation by his house and former City. He is rumoured to have become a Lich after serving two terms as the First Artificer's Mindscalder. Today citizens common refer to getting the time as: "Asking the skull". It is public knowledge that whenever envoys from Menzoberanzan are admitted to the City their route is plotted along three skulls, each of which loudly proclaims Kal'falius of Pharn's full name while giving the time with a leering gesture.

S'shamaths roll of years starts the moment of liberation from matron rule. (-2872 DR) Each year is a progression. Each month is a turning. Each day is a cycle.

[illithid]

For the S'shamath update I've added Levitating Skulls around the City

You are too kind Rasael, and too awesome!

[Rasael]

PM Sent

The Augur Court (not live)

Representing an organisation responsible for Divining auguries for any newborn child and Drow wishing to attain Citizenship. Originally the Augur Council was staffed by Priestesses of Lolth. Since the liberation however, it has been known instead as the the Augur Court. Seperated from the Temple of Lolth, it was instead merged into the School of Divination, though it remains a seperate and indepdendent entity.

Roughly five hundred years ago a council of representatives from the Conclave was instituted to monitor the Augur Court for corruption, a move motivated by the events of the first trade war with Ched Nasad. During this conflict several mages from the Arcane Conservatory succesfully infiltrated S'shamath in an attempt to subvert the Mythal using a Divine ritual to be performed by an unknown priestess of Lolth. One of the mages had already attained a declaration of Aquisence, as required for Citizenship, by bribing the Augur holding Court. Further incident was avoided when one of the participating Mages betrayed the others in exchange for Citizenship and protection.

While staffed by the College of Divination most of the Augurs are actually priests of Mystra or Azuth, religions somewhat popular amongst S'shamath's Faerns. These priest-mages use their divine and arcane talents to perform ritual auguries and Divinations, determining the aptitude and talents of new born children for their further education. This allows those with Arcane talent to be discovered early in life, and brought into the high strata of the City's Arcane society.

Likewise a declaration of Aquiscence must be signed by the Augur Court for any Drow wishing to become a Citizen of S'shamath. The accuracy and reliablity of the Auguries has been a controversial and heated topic since the liberation. Traditionally the school of Divination defends the policy, joining forces in an unusual Alliance with the Temple of Lolth. The traditional outspoken critic of the policy is the school of Illusion, although the school of Necromancy has begun question its validity progressively more since the recent Illithilich Conflict. The Necromancers are especially divided on the Augurs apparant failure to predict the treachery from within accompanying the conflict. The school has yet to officially shift its stance however.

(Citizenship in turn lets you use the Ward spires to protect yourself, and you can call down the wrath of the Mythal against any who try to harm you while in the City)

[Passiflora]

where did you see them, if I may ask? Only divine caster (not necessarily cleric) of Lolth down there is Valaklith, more or less. Everyone else is either gone or long dormant.

Also, despite the fact that "kicking a puppy" may seem just too much, if said eilistreeans are caught dealing with the enemies of Lolth during an event, there isn't much that can be done with them, save perhaps a good old fashioned slaughter in the name of the Spider Queen.

How long has it been since you played in the Underdark? There are at least 7 or 8 running around now.

about 3 days

There's quite a few lolthite players down there with divine powers.

Keep bumping into them myself. Somes are not 'obvious' though.

[Empoweredfan]

This is a great deal of information, and something I'm looking forward to use IG. . . =)

[Rasael]

I've submitted the S'shamath update:

-Added Magical portal to and from Varalla's
-Areas prettied up some more
-Correct Teleport inhibition variables added
-Added messenger system for sending other characters messages
-A message will be delivered up to 7 days later, whenver that player comes across a messenger
-Message is deleted from the database after 7 days of being unable to deliver
-When recipient is located a messenger NPC spawns and delivers the message
-Messengers currently supported: Drow, Duergar, Servitor (unseen servant), Slave, Beggar Uchin boy, Messenger Biff (Human), Dwarf, Elf, Squire, Knight, Conclave Messenger.
-Added whispering news statue in S'shamath, news can be set from the private Conclave chamber via conversation.
-Whispering statue randomly whispers a news item to passersby
-Added fortifications in Varalla's passage, with a portal into the City
-Varalla's passage cleaned up a bit. Still some rubble remains.
-Sent Luna a model for a replacement Lantern in S'shamath. Will be used once included in the haks
-S'shamath now has garbadge disposal bins connected to the elemental plane of water
-Add Random Life system in S'shamath
-Add Vharr Latyema Spire at the Stonestave
-Add Mythal in the Stone Stave
-Add 7th Circle Guild Hall
-Add Conclave token
-Stone Stave interior
-Add news recorder NPC for in Conclave hall private room
-Add interior for the Stone Stave (Conclave Hall, with room for audience)
-Added "ssham" variable to librarian so local books are stored in S'shamaths library only
-Add Drow Craft weapons which burn in sunlight
-Add Message dispatcher NPCs for message system
-Add some stuff to the Misty Lake
-Add option to acquire S"shamath Citizenship for a total of 5000 gold
-Citizenship only aquirable if lore accurate requirements are met (drow or arcane class)
-Vharr Latyema / Ward spires added, Will protect citizens if activated
-Spires added in a few locations near the City, and in the City

[illithid]

[Servin]

I've submitted the S'shamath update:

-Added Magical portal to and from Varalla's
-Areas prettied up some more
-Correct Teleport inhibition variables added
-Added messenger system for sending other characters messages
-A message will be delivered up to 7 days later, whenver that player comes across a messenger
-Message is deleted from the database after 7 days of being unable to deliver
-When recipient is located a messenger NPC spawns and delivers the message
-Messengers currently supported: Drow, Duergar, Servitor (unseen servant), Slave, Beggar Uchin boy, Messenger Biff (Human), Dwarf, Elf, Squire, Knight, Conclave Messenger.
-Added whispering news statue in S'shamath, news can be set from the private Conclave chamber via conversation.
-Whispering statue randomly whispers a news item to passersby
-Added fortifications in Varalla's passage, with a portal into the City
-Varalla's passage cleaned up a bit. Still some rubble remains.
-Sent Luna a model for a replacement Lantern in S'shamath. Will be used once included in the haks
-S'shamath now has garbadge disposal bins connected to the elemental plane of water
-Add Random Life system in S'shamath
-Add Vharr Latyema Spire at the Stonestave
-Add Mythal in the Stone Stave
-Add 7th Circle Guild Hall
-Add Conclave token
-Stone Stave interior
-Add news recorder NPC for in Conclave hall private room
-Add interior for the Stone Stave (Conclave Hall, with room for audience)
-Added "ssham" variable to librarian so local books are stored in S'shamaths library only
-Add Drow Craft weapons which burn in sunlight
-Add Message dispatcher NPCs for message system
-Add some stuff to the Misty Lake
-Add option to acquire S"shamath Citizenship for a total of 5000 gold
-Citizenship only aquirable if lore accurate requirements are met (drow or arcane class)
-Vharr Latyema / Ward spires added, Will protect citizens if activated
-Spires added in a few locations near the City, and in the City

[Empoweredfan]

The Dark Weaving Bazaar. . . anyone else feel that there should be more items there? That the 'legendary market of magical artefacts' doesn't entirely live up to it's reputation?

[illithid]

It's bothered me for a while, yes there should be more items especially wizardly stuff, but I don't think more merchants is the best way to go about it. Adding merchants creates a very static atmosphere, which isn't a true representation of a marketplace, and whilst possibly a short term fix would quickly age.

I came to the conclusion that for the bazaar to really function it has to be driven from player through either 'merchant characters' or 'adventurer traders'. I used to gripe when players muled UD found equipment to the surface for a better price and larger market, because not only did it remove my ability to buy the items (as a drow in the FAI...) but also took away RP from what should be the best trading post in the PW.

There are some great aspects to the way the bazaar is currently implemented, like the fact you can visit (virtually) all UD merchants with 2 minutes and 2 transitions; so all loot is sold in the one place giving that random element to the merchant inventories, and allowing players to have a one stop shop for everything they need, compare that with Nashkel to BG and 20 mins walking.

Rasael's update looks like it contains the drowcraft weapons adding a great deal of flavour, and I sent him a few left field ideas for increasing the possibly randomness of gear available and trying to give the bazaar a more alive feel, but I'm not too sure whether scripting them was/will be possible.

There's also this RP aspect:

At the bottom of the great cave lies the Dark Weaving Bazar, the marketplace of Sshamath. In hundreds of tents and small shops in stalagmites the visitor can buy almost everything. If he/she does not find what he is looking for, he can hire someone to find it for him, and even humans will go for the item in the World Above.

which I'd hope DM's would feel suitable reasoning for RP surface travel

[Servin]

Chests generate random loot, right? Merchants could generate random items. All that needs doing is getting the pricing right (like for mithral items).

[Ivan38Rus]

Chests generate random loot, right? Merchants could generate random items. All that needs doing is getting the pricing right (like for mithral items).

Cannot control store's inventory via scripts, iirc. You can only fetch store object and manipulate how much gold it has.

[Servin]

I see... Would the same apply if we replaced stores with auctioneer script though? As in have the stores use the auctioneer interface and items would be stored away in an external database like it does now, which would change daily?