Information

HOUSE PLATIN
Traits: Loving, Secretive, Shrewd
Power: 9
Membership: 12 house nobles (2 high priestess, 3 priestesses, 4 warriors, 2 wizards, 1 dragon), 200 soldiers and 1,850 retainers
Headquarters: Platin compound; West Wall
Religious Affiliation: Church of Eilistraee (weak)
Allies: Silversheen (surface colony), Fathomlin
Rivals: Higure, Druu'giir, and every house if only they knew…

History: According to Menzoberanzan legend some 1,000 years ago one of the caverns was taken over by The Demon Queen of Chains. Lady Platin, then known as Tirielle No-Clan was able to fight and defeat the Demon Queen and, in the process she freed Amethyst, Diamond, Ruby, and Emerald. The Caverns were supposedly then blessed by Lolth and given to Tirielle. She established her house and began selling platinum from the rich veins under the house. The house has since survived the cut throat politics of Menzoberanzan. They have helped slaves escape, spread heresy, and more since that time and yet the house remains.

Years 300 - 1297
The Matron mother ruling nobles of the family had few children of their own. The house was 20th is rank and basically known as barely above rabble only its wealth, hired mercenaries, and strategic position kept the house from falling out of the nobility.

Sable Years 1297 - 1358
Many more of House Platin's noble children were born and the house slowly rose in prestige. Much of this was from defeating houses higher in standing who attempted to gain the wealth of the Platinum mines. The fall of House Do'Urden brought it up another level in the hierarchy and since then the house has only risen in standing when a higher prestige house has fallen.

Time of Troubles - 1358
Eilistraee sent a calling to the Matron mother in the middle of the founding of a small a colony on the surface. The Children of the Matron Mother and her wives helped when the Lady of Dance manifested in the High Forest, in the location that became known as Darkmaiden's Leap (a site of pilgrimage sacred to her). The goddess and members of House Platin helped rescue a group of Drow refugees and lead them to the safety of the temple of the Promenade. The Promenade of the Dark Maiden has been, since that time, the most sacred temple to Eilistraee. It lies beneath Waterdeep, northeast of Skullport in Undermountain.

The Silversheen Colony was established nearby by House Platin and it, in turn, was blessed by Eilistraee and remains, to this day, a location where members of the family can retreat from the grueling life in Menzoberanzan.

1359 - 1372
House Platin has been making preparations for something, no-one is sure just what, but defenses have been strengthened and some Nobles who had been living in Silversheen have returned to provide advice and aid.

Matron Mother - Lady Platin – Cleric
Titles: Lady Platin, Matron Mother, Grande Dame, Mistress Platin, only private with her wives is she ever called Tirielle

Description: Lady Platin has greyish-red eyes and a light frame. She stands around five foot eight. She always takes a moment for a touch or hug with any of the children and adopted relatives. She has an inner warmth and kindness about her a sharp sword in a silk sheath. She is very shrewd and has secrets that barely anyone in the family even knows. Some whisper that she keeps a secret capable of destroying the city of Menzoberanzan itself but will only use it as a last resort and final act of defiance.

Amethyst Platin – Wizard
Titles: Lady Amethyst, Grand Librarian, Master Arcanist

Description: Deep red eyes, a plump sultry figure. Amethyst is the shortest of the ruling ladies at five foot six. She tends to wear a signature purple color. She has a keen intellect and indulges in hugs from time to time. When she meets any member of the family she always has something to say that ends up being important to that person later in the day.

Diamond Platin - Druid
Titles: Lady Diamond, Mistress of Plants, Mushroom Mother

Description: Diamond is blue eyed with purple hued skin and seems to have mushrooms in her hair and is always a bit dirty. She stands at five foot seven. Diamond is nearly always around the crops, green house, or the Sun Lit Cave. Once children get to a certain age they tend to dodge her hugs as she always seems to have dirt on her fingers but for those who aren't avoidant she's a hugger.

Ruby Platin - Fighter
Titles: Lady Ruby, Steel Mistress, The Sword of House Platin

Description: Ruby is the tallest of the ladies of the house standing at Six foot two and built with powerful muscles. Her eyes are deep red and her hair is actually a wig. She is strict and no-nonsense yet fair. If you've ever been in trouble in the house you've been chewed out by Ruby. She can quiet a room of screaming children just by standing there. When mad she makes people's sphincters clench with fear.

Emerald Platin - Rogue
Titles: Lady Emerald, Mistress of Shadows, The Silent Knife

Description: Green eyes, leather clothes, green outfit, and five foot eight. Emerald is probably the most 'fun' of the ruling ladies. She's known to sneak people sweets and treats. She's know to teach people how to hide and to this day is always willing to play hide and seek though everyone agrees she lets the youngest children find her. She'll greet older family members with a back pat and children with a hug and then find a coin in their ear and do some sleight of hand.

High Priestess - 1st Daughter Silveria
Titles: High Priestess, First Daughter, Lady Moondance

Description: Silveria is always garbed in flowing robes and little else. She is a tall six foot and has a lithe dancer's body. She is well known throughout the house to worship Eilistraee and hardly exits the house or grounds.

Magister - Vern (a lich)
Titles: Magister, Uncle Vern

Description: Vern is a mostly skeletal male Drow. He has a cruel streak and little love for anything except the house. He often complains about the living and will spend days on his own away from house members.
History: The Matron Mother collected Vern's phylactery in a battle with one of the other houses. She decided to keep him on in return for an oath to always protect the house and its people.

House Gardener - 1st daughter of Diamond - Canary[
Titles: Gardener, Lady Canary, Excursion Leader, Mom

Description: Canary leads small excursions outside of the city. She knows nearly all the dangers of the underdark and often brings plant samples back to the house gardens.

Leader of the Guard - 1st son of Ruby - Corubon
Titles: Master Corubon, General, Sir, Father

Description: Corubon looks like he is the son of Ruby and Lady Platin with blue eyes and a powerful build. He stands at six foot and is a powerhouse much like his mother.

House Wyrm - Dakon the Black (a black dragon)
Titles: Master Wyrm, Sir Black, Uncle Dakon

Description: When in Drow form Dakon is a pure ebony in color without any hair. As a black Dragon Dakon is huge, literally at fiteen by fiteen feet with a 100 foot wingspan. With his acid breath and fear aura few dare to visit Dakon in his lair.
History: Dakon was raised from a hatchling by the matron mother. He sees her and her family as his own family, and he will do anything for them. ANYTHING...

House Smith - Emmet Smith (A human smith)
Title: Master Smith, Mr. Smith, M

Description: Emmet is a relatively recent addition to the house. He's about 35 years old and around five and a half foot tall. He has a sort of desperate look about him and is always, always, working at some item or other in the forge.
History: Emmet was taken on a surface raid from what was apparently a human insane asylum. The Matron Mother determined that he was not insane and asked if he'd rather stay at your house instead of back in the asylum. He said yes and went to work soon after.

House Chatelaine: Avandra Eideria
Avandra is a surface elf origin unknown, she was held at least 100 years by house Oblodra and was taken by House Platin when that house fell. She has no memory of her homeland or personal history. Choosing to stay with House Platin, and the friends she made while recovering, she is in charge of the house servants and is who you receive an allowance from as well as any minor supplies she can approve items up to 1,500 gp.

Protector of Eilistraee Shrine in Oxaputral
Azalea (formerly Tyriana) - Daughter of Ruby
Tyriana failed out of Arach Tinilith killing twenty of the priestesses there. She was "killed" by House Platin in a "ritual sacrifice" to Lolth at the altar in Arach Tinilith. This was actually an immense bait and switch that pulled the wool over every other house. She was exiled from the house and then set up in Oxaputral where she has been attempting to convert the locals and killing worshippers of Lolth

Lolth: Known as the Queen of Spiders as well as the Queen of the Demonweb Pits was the most influential goddess of the drow, within the pantheon of the Dark Seldarine.

Lolth was a goddess of cold cruelty not out of place in the darkest depths of the endless Abyss, reveling in betrayal and bloodshed and toying with everyone from her minions to her victims. She not only enjoyed, but thrived upon torture, destruction, and death, whether personally performing it or causing it. Every interaction was ultimately done with malice, ill will seething from her every move, and even those who knew her well could be surprised by just how deep her viciousness went. Her malevolence could be compared to the rage of the brutal orc deity Gruumsh, but where his fury was as mindlessly violent as a force of nature, her malice was complicated and deliberate. Furthermore, Gruumsh could at least be said to be steady and constant in his hate, whilst Lolth's was utterly capricious.

Lolth was formerly Araushnee, the lesser elven goddess of destiny and artisans. She was Corellon Larethian's consort, and the main goddess of the dark elves. They had twins together, the elder Vhaeraun, the younger Eilistraee


Eilistraee was the chaotic good drow goddess of beauty, song, dance, freedom, moonlight, swordwork, and hunting, within the drow pantheon known as the Dark Seldarine. She was the patroness and protector of the few dark elves who longed to return to the surface and live there, at peace with other races, and to abandon the endless conflicts and intrigues that dominated the lives of most drow. She was often referred to as the The Dark Maiden, the Lady of the Dance, or Lady Silverhair, and sometimes The Dark Dancer, among other titles. Briefly, she was known as The Masked Lady, while her faith subsumed that of the Masked Lord Vhaeraun, her divine brother.

She was the daughter of Araushnee (later Lolth) and Corellon Larethian, a free-spirited and kind-hearted goddess, with a fiery streak in her personality. When, during her youth, a host of evil deities assaulted Arvandor (her home), Araushnee's treachery almost made her slay her own father. Even though she was cleared from any guilt, Eilistraee chose to share her mother's exile, because she knew that the drow would need her light in the times to come.

Vhaeraun also called the Masked Lord, the Masked God of Night, The Shadow, and, less frequently, the Shadow Lord, the Masked Mage and the Lord of Shadow was the drow god of drow males, thievery, territory, shadow magic, spellfilchers, and evil activities on the surface, aimed to further drow goals, interests, and power there.

Vhaeraun was the son of Araushnee and Corellon Larethian. He held the unique view among drow that males and females were equally valuable and was primarily prayed to by those drow males who sought a better life than slavery under Lolth's matriarchy and who opposed it.

Kiaransalee sometimes spelled Kiaransali, was the drow lesser goddess of revenge and undeath, a former necromancer queen consumed by thoughts of retribution. The Lady of the Dead was driven insane ages ago, yet retained her twisted cunning, recalling clearly every slight towards her whether real or imagined. The Vengeful Banshee was said to have repeatedly died before coming back with a vengeance, and the Revenancer gifted her favored drow with existence as undead driven by hate and spite.

1. Baenre
2. Barrison Dei'Armgo
3. Faen Tlabbar
4. Agrach Dyrr
5. Melarn
6. Fey-Branche
7. Xorlarrin
8. Vandree
9. Hunzrin
10. Kenafin
11. Srune'Lett
12. Freth
13. Druu'giir
14. Platin <--- You are here
15. Higure
16. Millithor
17. Shobalar
18. Despana
19. Symryvvin
20. Fathomlin

House Baenre: The autocratic ruling house of Menzoberranzan, head of the Ruling Council almost from the city's founding
Traits: Authoritarian, zealous
Power: 15
Membership: 63 house nobles (16 high priestesses, 31 priestesses, 4 warriors, 12 wizards) 2,600 soldiers, 700 slaves
Headquarters: Baenre compound; Qu'ellarz'orl
Religious Affiliation: Church of Lolth (strong)

Matron Mother: Quenthel Baenre (1383 DR to present)
First Priestess: Sos'Umptu Baenre
House Wizard: Gromph Baenre
House Weapon Master: Andzrel Baenre
Patron: Velkryst Baenre (Xorlarrin)
Allies: Bregan D'aerthe, House Faen Tlabbar, House Xorlarrin, House Vandree
Rivals: House Barrison Dei'Armgo, House Melarn

Far older than most people realize, House Baenre has roots extending back past the founding of Menzoberranzan. The house was embroiled in civil war in the lost drow city of Golothaer, and its first families fled with Menzoberra on her exodus through the Underdark. As one of only seven families to stand with the Menzoberra at the founding of her city, House Baenre stood poised to reap many- glories in the Spider Queen's name. After a cataclysmic explosion slew Menzoberra and obliterated all but two other families, House Baenre seized control of the City of Spiders and has never lost its vaunted position in the five millennia since. Since then, House Baenre has remained the strongest and most envied house in Menzoberranzan. With sixteen high priestesses, few doubt the divine mandate bestowed upon the First House by Lolth.

While not as prestigious, House Baenre's arcane prowess is impressive as well, with House Wizard Gromph holding the title of Arch mage of Menzoberranzan, the highest-ranking mage in the city. House Baenre's elite warriors are second to none, well trained and equipped with the finest gear available in the city.

House Baenre's tendrils reach deep throughout Menzoberranzan, commanding the loyalty of more major houses than any other, as well as enjoying close ties with the masters and high priestesses of Tier Breche. Perhaps the First House's most cunning alliance is with the renegade mercenary band known as Bregan D'aerthe. Through that organization's spy network, House Baenre has been successful in ferreting out and eliminating numerous challengers to its rule.

Baenre Compound
House Baenre occupies the highest tier in the main cavern ofMenzoberranzan, at the eastern end of Qu'ellarz'orl. The compound is roughly oval in shape, three-eighths of a mile long and a quarter-mile wide, surrounded by a magnificent and magical fence that has the appearance of a silver spider's web wrapped around the general blue hues of the Baenre compound. Twenty feet high, this barrier is formed of iron strands as thick as a draw's arm, and enchanted
so that anything touching it becomes stuck fast until the matron mother of the house wills it to be freed. Rumors suggest that not even the sharpest of drow weapons can put a nick in this Lolth-given gift. Entrance is gained through one of several symmetrical web-gates, the principal one being set between the outer compound's tallest two stalagmites, which spiral out, creating a circular gap.

The central structure of House Baenre is a glowing, purple dome, which covers a chapel large enough to seat all 2,600 of the house drow. Around its anchoring symmetry, twenty huge stalagmite mounds extend upward in a variety of shapes, some tall and slender, others short and squat, all interconnected with gracefully sweeping and arching bridges and parapets. These chambers are hollow, with their interiors providing living space for the house members.

Even more striking are the inverse structures of the thirty stalactites that loom over the compound. Not all are hollow like the stalagmite mounds, but each is ringed with balconies, curving downward like the edges of a screw. Some connect tip-to-tip with stalagmite mounds; others hang freely, except for stone skywalks linking them to other structures.

A thousand soldiers, adorned in their meticulous Baenre silver uniforms and displaying badges distinguishing
their house and rank, are always on patrol along these skywalks and balconies. The largest garrison, forty-five elite female warriors, patrols the area around the central dome and the two stalagmite mounds immediately flanking it (where the noble family resides: females in the more elaborate structure, males in the lesser mound).

The great mound occupied by Matron Baenre and her daughters also houses its own inner garrison of fifty elite female warriors, twenty-five per shift, who patrol in groups of five.

House Hunzrin
Traits: Avaricious, duplicitous
Power: 9
Membership: 12 house nobles (1 high priestess, 3 priestesses, 7 warriors, 1 wizard), 200 soldiers, 1,850 slaves
Headquarters: Hunzrin compound; Eastmyr
Religious Affiliation: Church of Lolth (weak)

Matron Mother: Shakti Hunzrin
First Priestess: Charri Hunzrin
House Wizard: Xeva Hunzrin
House Weapon Master: Keptus Hunzrin
Patron: Barag Hunzrin
Allies: House Barrison Dei'Armgo, House Mizzrym, Brown Mushroom Coster
Rivals: House Baenre, Black Claw Mercantile, Xalyth's Company

Not all noble houses have the luxury of persisting on divine might and political intrigue alone. Lesser houses like Hunzrin must content themselves with pragmatic livelihoods in artifice or trade. Traditionally, this family of "stone head" farmers was notable for its near monopoly over agriculture within the city. Millennia past, Matron Ezka Hunzrin secured the parcel of land known today as Under Garden. The fungi farms, the moss bed, and the herd of deep rothe that sustain the citizens of Menzoberran all are property of House Hunzrin. If it were not for House Hunzrin's small number of priestesses, this agricultural powerhouse would hold a position on the Ruling Council. Much of the family's early success stemmed from a mutually beneficial alliance with House Baenre. As long as the Hunzrins limited their political aspirations and focused on the agronomic needs of the city, House Baenre agreed to lend its aid in policing the farm

House Melarn
Traits: Militaristic, zealous
Power: 11
Membership: 14 house nobles (3 high priestesses, 3 priestesses, 5 warriors, 3 wizards), 325 soldiers, 150 slaves
Headquarters: Melarn compound; West Wall (Lolth's Web)
Religious Affiliation: Church of Lolth (strong)
Rank: 7th [Ruling Council]

Matron Mother: Zhindia Melarn (Rule: 1383 DR to present)
First Priestess: Kyrnill
House Wizard: lltztran Melarn
House Weapon Master: Nar'dorltyrr
Patron: Sornafein Melarn
Allies: None
Rivals: House Baenre, House Fey-Branche, House Faen Tlabbar

The youngest of the ruling houses by far, House Melarn was formed from a union of House Horlbar and House Kenafin. In years prior, House Horlbar (the Twelfth House by the Time of Troubles) was distinguished primarily by its two matron mothers, the two posts traditionally being held by sisters or first cousins. Productive agriculture, ambitious trade, and long-simmering resentment helped the house maintain its standing, just below the status of those on the Ruling Council.

House Xorlarrin
Traits: Sadistic, secretive
Power: 12
Membership: 36 house nobles (5 high priestesses, 9 priestesses, 1 warrior, 21 wizards), 250 soldiers, 5,000 slaves
Headquarters: Xorlarrin Spelltower; Qu'ellarz'orl
Religious Affiliation: Church of Lolth (weak)

Rank: 3rd [Ruling Council]
Matron Mother: Zeerith Q'Xorlarrin
First Priestess: Kiriy Xorlarrin
House Wizard: B rack'thal Xorlarrin
House Weapon Master:Jearth Xorlarrin
Patron: Tathas Xorlarrin
Allies: House Baenre
Rivals: House Faen Tlabbar, House Mizzrym

House Xorlarrin is ancient and powerful, even though it defies drow convention in more than one way. It has held a position on the Ruling Council since late in the Founding Era, and in the centuries since the beginning of the Sable Years it rose from Eighth House to Seventh. This prominent position derives from more than its numbers-the true strength of House Xorlarrin is the role of its males, who are accorded an unusual (some might say heretical) level of near equality with the females of the house. Naturally, the priestesses of House Xorlarrin still hold the reins of power, and they are the ones who screen and steer young males. Those who display any aptitude for magic are drilled mercilessly in the arcane arts, while the rest are disposed o£ Some are sacrificed to Lolth; others are sold to Bregan D'aerthe or into slavery. Other houses, including Baenre and Barrison Del'Armgo, can boast of their arcane might, but even mighty Baenre keeps a wary eye on the wizards of House Xorlarrin. (It is no accident that Matron Mother Quenthel Baenre, in the Spellplague era, chose a Xorlarrin as her patron.) Even among the fanatically secretive drow, House Xorlarrin is unusually reclusive. All the house nobles, whether wizards or priestesses, conceal their identities when they venture into public. A veil or a mask covers the face, and loose, flowing clothing disguises the physique and even gender of the noble. The family badge is worn prominently, as if to communicate that House Xorlarrin is present, though the identity of the individual is immaterial.

House Higure: Trecherous and seeking power Higure rose from non-nobility and into nobility some 300 years ago and has quickly climbed up from obscurity.

Traits: Trecherous, Greedy
Power: 6
Membership: 8 house nobles (2 high priestesses, 2 priestesses, 2 warriors, 2 wizards) 600 soldiers, 100 slaves
Headquarters: West Wall near Manyfolk
Religious Affiliation: Church of Lolth (weak)
Matron Mother: Hazria Higure (1072 DR to present)
First Priestess: Fean'lyth Higure (1st daughter)
House Wizard: Marar'in Higure (2nd son)
House Weapon Master: Azaria Higure (2nd daughter)
Patron: Ra'niir Higure (Despana)
Allies: House Despana and House Symryvvin
Rivals: House Platin and House Millithor

3rd Daughter Hazriah - Priestess
4th Daughter Llwntym - Priestess
5th Daughter Melchoa - Wizard
1st Son Corolus – warrior

Silversheen
Traits: Protective, Chaotic Good, Suspicious
Power: 4
Membership: 4 house nobles (1 high priestess, 1 priestesses, 1 warriors, 1 wizard), 50 soldiers, 1,000 residents
Headquarters: Surface near Waterdeep
Religious Affiliation: Eilistraee (strong)

Matron Mother: Chalchiuitl Platin (Daughter of Emerald)
First Priestess: Luna Platin (Daughter of Silveria)
House Wizard: Quarzon Platin (Son of Amethyst)
House Weapon Master: Razlin Platin (Son of Diamond)
Patron: Narsil the Black (Son of Dakon)
Allies: None
Rivals: The Underdark

Time of Troubles - 1358
Eilistraee sent a calling to the Matron mother in the middle of the founding of a small a colony on the surface. The Children of the Matron Mother and her wives helped when the Lady of Dance manifested in the High Forest, in the location that became known as Darkmaiden's Leap (a site of pilgrimage sacred to her). The goddess and members of House Platin helped rescue a group of Drow refugees and lead them to the safety of the temple of the Promenade. The Promenade of the Dark Maiden has been, since that time, the most sacred temple to Eilistraee. It lies beneath Waterdeep, northeast of Skullport in Undermountain. The Silversheen Colony was, in turn, blessed by Eilistraee and remains, to this day, a location where members of the family can retreat from the grueling life in Menzoberanzan.

Faerzress
An unusual magical energy the drow call faerzress pervades much of the Underdark. The origin of this mysterious arcane power is unknown. Legend claims it is an ancient elven magic dating back to the time when the dark elves were first exiled from the world above.

The drow and other Underdark creatures use the properties of areas suffused with faerzress to protect their settlements.

Areas suffused with faerzress can range in size from a few dozen feet across to several miles in diameter, and feature the following effects:

Areas suffused with faerzress are always filled with dim light.

A creature in an area suffused with faerzress has advantage on saving throws against any divination spells. If a divination spell doesn’t allow a saving throw, the caster must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw to cast the spell. Failing this save means the spell is wasted and has no effect.

Any creature attempting to teleport into, within, or out of a faerzress-suffused area must succeed on a DC l5 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 1d10 force damage and the teleportation attempt fails. Even if the save succeeds. the teleportation attempt can suffer a mishap as if the destination was known only by description. regardless of how familiar the destination actually is. See the table in the teleport spell for more information.

Though faerzress can’t be dispelled, its effects are temporarily suppressed in the area of an antimagic field.

Faerzress-infused gems can be mined to created neverdust.